The Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams collection

[Indigo Al]

Has anyone purchased them? Do you like them, story-wise, and are they worth the 49.99?

Also, do they contain "Son of the Demon"?

[Paul Dee]

I think they're worth the money, I truly do. People seem to take umbrage with the re-colouring which I can understand but I still think the art looks fantastic and the stories are from such a fantastic era.

Son of the Demon isn't in it incidentally as the art wasn't done by Neal Adams.

[Mia]

I'm guessing you meant 'Tales of the Demon'. Yes there are excerpts in volume 3 of it. I wasn't too crazy about volume 1, but I did like #2&3. Especially #3.

[Chad]

I picked up all three and am glad I did. Neal Adams has touched up the art and redone the coloring and the results are amazing. The original works remain completely recognizable and all the retouching Adams has done only enhances what was already there.

I'll second Mia's recommendation to pick up volume 3. Not only does it include Ra's Al Ghul's first appearance, it also includes his return, the first Silver Age appearance of Two-Face, the Joker's Five Way Revenge, and the Night of the Reaper.

I'll just give you a run down of what's in each volume:

Volume 1

1.World's Finest 175 - The Superman-Batman Revenge Squad

2. World's Finest 176 - The Superman-Batman Split

3. Brave and the Bold 79-85 - team-ups with Deadman, Creeper, the Flash, Aquaman, Teen Titans, Sgt. Rock, and Green Arrow (in his first New Look appearance).

Note: Brave and the Bold's 82-85 haven't been retouched.

Volume 2

1. Brave and the Bold 86 - team-up with Deadman

2. Detective 395 - The Secret of the Waiting Graves (first time he worked on Batman with Denny O Neil).

3. Batman 219 - Silent Night of the Batman

4. Detective 397 - Paint a Picture of Peril

5. Detective 400 - First Appearance of Man-Bat

6. Detective 402 - Second appearance of Man-Bat

7. Detective 404 - Ghost of the Killer Skies

8. Detective 407 - Return of Man-Bat

9. Brave and the Bold 93 - team-up with the House of Mystery

10. Detective 408 - The House that Haunted Batman

11. Detective 410 - A Vow from the Grave


Volume 3

1. Batman 232 - first Ra's Al Ghul

2. Batman 234 - first Silver Age Two-Face

3. Batman 237 - Night of the Reaper

4. Batman 243 - Return of Ra's Al Ghul part one

5. Batman 244 - part two

6. Batman 245 - The Bruce Wayne Murder Case

7. Batman 251 - The Joker's Five Way Revenge

8. Batman 255 - Moon of the Wolf

9. Power Records Joker story

10. Power Records Man-Bat story

[Indigo Al]

Thanks very much for the information, everyone. Volume 3 it is!

[curefreak]

i wish i could afford that :(

[Babylon23]

I have all 3. Volume 3 is definitely the pick of the crop, containing all of the best O'Neill/Adams collaborations. However, Volume 2 is also very good.

[shyguy]

I was tempted by these books until I looked at one at a local bookstore and saw the awful coloring and retouched art.

No thanks.

I'd like a Showcase of this material. I assume that when the Batman Archives get far enough ahead the material will be in its original form.

[The Shadow]

I have all 3. Volume 3 is definitely the pick of the crop, containing all of the best O'Neill/Adams collaborations. However, Volume 2 is also very good.
Yeah... Vol 1 is weak... but Adams hadn't found his stride.

Vol 2 is good and 3 is awesome (it flew right past great!). All three are worth the money though as a time capsule. You can see Adams and Batman progress from the campy to the Dark Knight.

[Babylon23]

Yeah... Vol 1 is weak... but Adams hadn't found his stride.

Vol 2 is good and 3 is awesome (it flew right past great!). All three are worth the money though as a time capsule. You can see Adams and Batman progress from the campy to the Dark Knight.

There's a definite progression in Adam's depiction of Batman. He certainly becomes more lithe and athletic as the issues progress.

Volume 2 contains soon great Man-Bat stories.

[Gary Joyce]

Yep agreed with everyone here.I have all three and Volume 3 is essential Batman.