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Batman: Tales of the Demon by Dick Giordano, Irv Novick, Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, J.C. Wells
georgesc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
fandom4ever's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Behold! Our companion has been felled! (Because I can’t not mention this hilarious 1971 goon statement.)
Batman: Tales of the Demon contains eleven stories that have Batman dealing with Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins from 1971-1980. The introduction and afterword in this collection provide some fascinating insights into comics at the time, how they were only just starting to realize that some stories might last longer than a single issue and how villains might be able to have more depth than just simple burglary and the like. These are both shown here as Ra’s continues to pop up, first with many issues in between to starting to get arcs of two or three comics in a row! I could also tell that the stories got stronger as we moved through the years. My favorites were Daughter of the Demon, The Demon Lives Again! and I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife. These really showed Batman having to investigate into crimes and also how he wasn’t invincible. Overall, I liked this collection; despite the stories taking place over so many years O’Neil was correct in saying how amazing it was that it’s such a cohesive story! It was a great way to see the first introduction and stories of Ra’s and his daughter Talia and their fascination with the Detective.
ladyk2387's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Batman: Tales of the Demon collects Batman's earliest clashes with his greatest nemesis, Ra's Al Ghul, the Demon's Head!
The cover of Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 has been burned into my brain for decades so this collection caught my eye right away. I've never had the opportunity to read Denny O'Neil's Ra's Al Ghul stories until now...
Batman: Tales of the Demon collects stories from Detective Comics #411, Batman #232, 235, 240, 242, 243, 244, DC Special Series #15, and Detective Comics #485, 489, and 490. Denny O'Neil writes them all, with art by Bob Brown, Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Michael Golden, Don Newton, and Dan Atkins. Needless to say, the creative team is top notch. Neal Adams lead the charge in revitalizing Batman but the rest of the crew were able to pick up the torch and run with it.
The stories feature Batman getting entangled in the machinations of Ra's Al Ghul and his League of Assassins. What does a megalomaniac with world domination aspirations have in mind for the Dark Knight Detective? His daughter's hand in marriage, of course! Denny O'Neil does a great job of painting Ra's Al Ghul as the Batman's greatest foe. Al Ghul is part Fu Manchu, part James Bond villain. Throwing Talia into the mix throws more gasoline onto the fire.
The Batman of this era isn't the godlike character of today. So much happens in this volume that would never happen to post-Knightfall Batman. Batman makes mistakes. Batman is defeated. Batman gets knocked flat by a woman wielding a ski pole. He makes some leaps in logic that rival Sherlock Holmes but he is the World's Greatest Detective, after all. These stories are Batman stripped down to the essentials: no Bat family, no uber-planning. Just the Dark Knight Detective living up to his name.
Early 1970s Batman is where it's at for me and Batman: Tales of the Demon may be the best of the best. 4.5 out of 5 Batarangs.
The cover of Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 has been burned into my brain for decades so this collection caught my eye right away. I've never had the opportunity to read Denny O'Neil's Ra's Al Ghul stories until now...
Batman: Tales of the Demon collects stories from Detective Comics #411, Batman #232, 235, 240, 242, 243, 244, DC Special Series #15, and Detective Comics #485, 489, and 490. Denny O'Neil writes them all, with art by Bob Brown, Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Michael Golden, Don Newton, and Dan Atkins. Needless to say, the creative team is top notch. Neal Adams lead the charge in revitalizing Batman but the rest of the crew were able to pick up the torch and run with it.
The stories feature Batman getting entangled in the machinations of Ra's Al Ghul and his League of Assassins. What does a megalomaniac with world domination aspirations have in mind for the Dark Knight Detective? His daughter's hand in marriage, of course! Denny O'Neil does a great job of painting Ra's Al Ghul as the Batman's greatest foe. Al Ghul is part Fu Manchu, part James Bond villain. Throwing Talia into the mix throws more gasoline onto the fire.
The Batman of this era isn't the godlike character of today. So much happens in this volume that would never happen to post-Knightfall Batman. Batman makes mistakes. Batman is defeated. Batman gets knocked flat by a woman wielding a ski pole. He makes some leaps in logic that rival Sherlock Holmes but he is the World's Greatest Detective, after all. These stories are Batman stripped down to the essentials: no Bat family, no uber-planning. Just the Dark Knight Detective living up to his name.
Early 1970s Batman is where it's at for me and Batman: Tales of the Demon may be the best of the best. 4.5 out of 5 Batarangs.
nannersreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
mjthomas43's review against another edition
2.0
But for the whole "fountain of youth" crap, I usually like story lines with Ra's Al Ghul and this is a whole book of them (11). Unfortunately they range from 1971 to 1980 and this is a little old in my opinion for Batman stories. It's a little painful reading the over the top lines and the overall lack of subtlety in Batman's actions. Good to get the history but it was a little difficult to get through.
rltinha's review against another edition
4.0
As issues dos early 70's são datadas e sintomáticas de uma certa ingenuidade de época.
Já a belíssima graphic novel [Mike W. Barr e Jerry Bingham] na linha temática da Guerra Fria com pitada de enredo JamesBondiano , é um mimo e puxa a classificação global da compilação.
Já a belíssima graphic novel [Mike W. Barr e Jerry Bingham] na linha temática da Guerra Fria com pitada de enredo JamesBondiano , é um mimo e puxa a classificação global da compilação.
absolutely's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
abinthebooks's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
This was fine. I didn’t really find that many stories too interesting or entertaining. I’m not a huge fan of Detective Comics. But I love Talia Al Ghul, and the way Bruce x Talia was written before Gr*nt Morrison started writing them is so well done. Ra’s Al Ghul is also, probably, my favorite *comic* Batman villain (I’d say live action wise, it’d be 2022 Riddler), so seeing his and Talia’s early stories and introduction was really fun. The last few stories were good as well as the first few. Everything else was just above mediocre. Not bad, but not great either. Still an enjoyable reading experience overall. I love reading old DC stuff, it’s so much better than old Marvel.
This was fine. I didn’t really find that many stories too interesting or entertaining. I’m not a huge fan of Detective Comics. But I love Talia Al Ghul, and the way Bruce x Talia was written before Gr*nt Morrison started writing them is so well done. Ra’s Al Ghul is also, probably, my favorite *comic* Batman villain (I’d say live action wise, it’d be 2022 Riddler), so seeing his and Talia’s early stories and introduction was really fun. The last few stories were good as well as the first few. Everything else was just above mediocre. Not bad, but not great either. Still an enjoyable reading experience overall. I love reading old DC stuff, it’s so much better than old Marvel.