Paul Dini Books

What a visially stunning book. Bruce Timm's artwork is sensationally brought to the reader through Chip Kidds fantastic use of photo design. This book thoroughly examines the behind the scene design concepts of Bruce Timm and Paul Dino and company with insightful reading on how they got to create one of TV's best animated series. A valuable piece of work collecting wonderfully laid out illustrations. Highly recommended for the curious and pure fans of the Batman character.

A very good buy, i was waiting to have this book in my hands for a long time and i finally have it, it's just excellent for those who love the batman animated series and animation. It has a lot of tips and information "behind the scenes" of the series.
very recomendated, the only bad thing is that it was the only book this kind, i'm still waiting for something similar but of justice league and batman beyond.

"Batman: The Animated Series" was one of the most revolutionary and influential cartoons ever created. This book, written by B:TAS writer/producer Paul Dini, is an essential look into the creation and phenomenon of the series. While a little slim on actual reading, what is there gives you that most coveted "behind-the-scenes" info on what it took to make "Batman". (For another perspective on the show's creation, check out the "Modern Masters: Bruce Timm" interview book.)

The real meat of the book lies in its visuals: photos, line art, animation cels, background keys, licensed toys, etc. The layout of these materials seems a bit haphazard (for being done by the "design-god" Chip Kidd), with captions sometimes hard to correlate with their images and numerous fold-out pages (which I really don't care for). However, the sheer number and quality of images is amazing, and some of the full-page renderings of production key art is breath-taking. I question some of the image choices in the character-design section, particularly the villians. But, again, there's a lot of ground to cover here and the quality and quantity of pictures is overwhelming.

The book was published before Batman Beyond and Justice League, so the ending comments might seem a little off. Still as a retrospective on the "B:TAS", you can't ask for much more. This would have been a 5 star review, if only there'd been a little more reading and a bit less visual confusion.

Bottom line: Love "Batman: The Animated Series"? Buy this book.

Who best to write a book about this justifiably award-winning animated series than one of the series writer/producers--Paul Dini (who wrote one of my favorite episodes--"Heart of Ice")? And with graphic designer Chip Kidd involved, you have a book that looks great on the coffee table. The best word I can use to describe this book is "thorough." It contains superlative art in full color, storyboards, character designs, in-house memos, licensed products, an episode guide from the animated series, plus great information on why the series was created, why the censors said no to certain aspects, as well as facts about the movies based on the series (SUBZERO, MASK OF THE PHANTASM). My only complaint is that the book isn't longer. But that's not the authors' fault. They put together such a great book, you'll want as much insight into the creation of this series as you can get (like a good DVD provides). And these guys deliver! This is a great "backstage" look for fans of the series.

I really was blown away by how meticulously put-together this book was. Besides the animation being great, this documentive source included everything from the episode guide title cards, merchandise (including ice cream and bubblegum cards), storyboards, character concepts, and a hell of a lot more! It also includes a great photo of Bruce Timm's drawing desk- complete with all the references he uses such as G.I. Joes & knick knacks. Color photos are adorned throughout, but besides that, there are also great stories of what the animation department went through with the head leaders of Warner Bros. There is even a charicature drawing that includes everything that the animators were restricted to draw (a nude, smoking Catwoman, a boozin' Joker, Batman strangling his foe, etc- it's really a treat!)
Even if you've had the misfortunate of not being familiar with this cartoon series, owning this book will make you realize how much effort is needed to create something this vast, and how much more we need to practice to ever reach this level!

I am not a knowledgable comic person but the art work and the information for me was just outstanding.

Ross and Dini did a fantastic job in delivering powerful and heartfelt stories surrounding these great characters. Its A+ work from some of comicdoms most fantastic creators. A must own.

Alex Ross is an incredible artist and this is the type of book that really showcases his art. If you are a dc comics fan and a fan of incredible art work get this book.

This collects the large format stories put together by Paul Dini and master artist Alex Ross- Ross' photo-realistic artwork is absolutely incredible. The stories feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel and the Justice League- however, these are no ordinary superhero stories. Rather than fighting villains with death rays or armies of killer robots, the stories focus on the superheroes' frailties and failures, making them feel more accessible and 'human'. Superman takes on world hunger, Batman attacks the root cause of crime- poverty, Wonder Woman fights for women's rights, Captain Marvel reconciles the child and adult sides of himself, and the Justice League fight an alien virus- which the world thinks they might have created.

This is fantastic value- much cheaper than buying the stories individually. Plus you get to see some of Ross' original sketches and photo-references. Highly recommended.

From beginning to end, this book is gorgeous. This hardcover slipcased edition is a tactile wonder. Everything from the cover to every single page has a pleasant, glossy sheen not found even in other DC Absolutes. Now in previous absolute editions, I have lamented the inclusion of both a slipcase AND a dust jacket, (hello, redundant!) I am pleased that this book features both, because it's just more canvas to feature the Ross's to-die-for art.
Now if you're expecting to see a lot of the Justice League together, you'll be disappointed because 2/3 of this book is Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel in their own stories. However, the 80 page LIBERTY AND JUSTICE story that concludes the book is the cream of the crop. If you need a bigger JLA fix, then look to Ross's series JUSCICE.

In short, this should be on the shelf of any DC comics fan, and considering that the BATMAN and WONDER WOMAN paperbacks are selling for more than this collected edition, it's a friggin' steal at 32.99.

Wow. This book is stunning. Let's see... Great Story, Good humor/tragedy, No bad language/unneccessary gorey violence, and it showed you can have mature themes/plots while still being kid-safe! TAKE THAT, DC! I have a good idea... instead of releasing garbage like Bruce Wayne: Murderer?, how about making Batman Adventures into an ongoing series?
Forever to Bruce Timm and Paul Dini!

Timm and Dini are the masters and this book further proves it!

Sometines scary, sometimes racy but just plain fun.

This is the first version of Harley's origin story that was ever written. It did not make it on the air of the original Batman animated series and was instead written and illustrated as a one shot by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, producers for the show.

When Batman went back into production on the WB as the New Adventures, Mad Love finally got the animated treatment it deserved. Looking back at this now it's clear they used this to storyboard the episode which work perfectly. Of course there were scenes that had to be cut for the show whether it was length or content. Read the novel to find out how Harley really made it through college and got her degree. But all in all, the episode is a pretty solid adaptation of this fantastic story and Harley remains one of the best additions to Batman in the show and in comics.

This is the original origin story of Harley Quinn, written years before she made the transition from cartoon character to mainstream DC comic book character. The Batman: Gotham Knights episode "Mad Love" was based on this graphic novel, and they are almost identical in both design and dialogue. There are a few key differences and additions to the story which were not shown in the animated episode however. For example, the ending is basically the same, but worded differently. (Personally, I prefer the wording in the cartoon, but no matter.)

Despite all the character changes, interpretations, and adaptations that have been made from Paul Dini/Bruce Timm's original vision of Harley, accept no substitutes. The original IS the best. This is Harley as she was meant to be characterized. And you will be hard-pressed to find a comic book written and drawn as vividly and engaging as this one; I own hundreds of comic books, and this is one of my very top favorites. Definitely one of Paul Dini/Bruce Timm's best works, and a testiment to why Harley Quinn became the character so intriguing that she did the impossible and made the crossover to mainstream DC continuity.

Based on one of the best of the animated Batman episodes, "Mad Love" tells how Harley Quinn, chief henchwoman and paramour of the Joker, got her warped start. Once, a respected psychiatrist at infamous Arkham Asylum, Dr. Quinn becomes infatuated with her "patient", The Joker", turns her life topsy-turvy, and allies herself with "the clown prince of crime".

After falling from The Joker's favor, Quinn plots to capture Batman, the one that she blames for her "rift" with The Joker. Her "solution" to a backfired Joker prank is priceless.

For fans of both the series and the legend of Batman, this is a visit that one must make.

This is the first compilation of Paul Dini's MUTANT, TEXAS comic stories. The star is Ida Red, a winsome yet spunky orphaned Texas gal who discovers amazing powers lurking just beneath her supposedly "normal" exterior. J. Bone's artwork has the timeless look of classic cartoons and the amusing supporting cast of talking armadillos, comical Texas politicians and villainous coyotes make this series a winner. I can't wait for more!

The creative genius behind BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES, JINGLE BELLE and writer of the current hit ABC series LOST delivers his most imaginative work to date. Set in a marvelous, mystical corner of the southwest, MUTANT, TEXAS chronicles the adventures of Ida Red, a young cowgirl blessed with amazing powers. When her humanlike animal and plant friends are kidnapped and sold as freaks, it's up to Ida to assume the role of Sheriff and track down the villain varmints. Think Buck Rogers meets Roy Rogers with a big helping of Dale Evans thrown in, too. J. Bone's illustrations perfectly match the wit and whimsy in Dini's script. Bone's Ida Red is the consumate cowgirl, brave and strong of course, but playful and prone to the occassional moments of doubt that every young heroine must (and does) overcome. The chapter where Ida faces down an angry jaguar and tames it like a bucking bronco is a tall tales scene that would do old Pecos Bill proud. MUTANT, TEXAS is a delight for all ages. Kids will love Ida and her talking animal friends (Rolly the armadillo in particular is a hoot) and adults will enjoy the sly humor found in Dini and Bone's western wonderland.

I like Ida because she is fun and is a good role model for girls. I am tired of wonder woman. It was good to read about someone who is around my age and could maybe be my friend someday. It makes me also think I am a hero too.

JINGLE BELLE is a refreshing change from the same old stale holiday fare. It's nice to see that even Ol' St. Nick has parenting issues when it comes to keeping his wild teen-age daughter in line. Lots of fun here for teens, a readership all but ignored by most holiday-themed books.

If you like Christmas and jinglin', then you will love this comic. It's written by Paul Dini who is one of the geniuses behind the animated Batman cartoon. Seriously, this is a fun romp through coolness.

Alex Ross should be the only artist to draw the Amazonian princess! His work is breathtaking and does justice to the creation of envisioned when Princess Diana was first conceived.

First rate graphic novel, brilliantly executed!

The authors are able to reach the core of the heart of the Superman carachter. This volume combines Alex Ross beautifully illustrated pages with Paul Dini very simple and meaningful storyline. Also read Batman War on Crime from the same authors.

This is a great story line and incredible art(literally beautiful art, this book should be bought just for the art work). The story revolves around Superman seeing the incredible needs of mankind and chooses to solve one...hunger. He does all the right things and finds out soon enough even a Superman is no solution to the deep fears and hatreds of man that seem to be the root of these evils.
I really enjoyed this rather short but very touching and human touch to a Superman. Even the frustration of a man of such power being powerless to stop even one problem that you would think everyone would be glad to eliminate. A very thought provoking scenario for all of us. Though he is SUPERMAN he is no GOD and he knows this..I highly recommend this one on many levels...JB

Superman : Peace on Earth is a bigarse sized character spotlight by Alex Ross, basically. Also, it is Superman looking at the everyday basic problems that people on the planet face, as opposed to chasing Lex Luthor around. What to do about people that are hungry, and that sort of thing. So, lots of people will find this tame.

I love this book. The art is what drew me to it and a double plus is that it is Superman, the world's greatest hero. EVER!

The bigger the better for ross's beautufl paintings, so this supersized book is a joy. Collect them all!

Continuing the collaboration started with Superman: Peace on Earth, Dini/Ross continue their look at DC's Big Three (+ Captain Marvel) :-) with Batman: War on Crime.

No one--and I mean *no one* (I'm looking at you, Frank Miller!)--knows Batman better than Dini. How he continues to have fresh ideas after writing x number of Batman: The Animated Series episodes I'll never know, but god bless him for it.

His Batman is an amalgamation of the Batman shown to us by all the major creators who have come before: at once campy, grim, obsessive, frightening, determined, even possibly crazy.

And yet Dini puts his own mark on the Dark Knight Detective.

Ross's artwork, of course, is unspeakably gorgeous.

Highest possible recommendation.

This is one of the four large formatted books written by Paul Dini (Batman The Animated Series, Mad Love) and illustrated by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Uncle Sam). The premise of the story is simple...it is basically a day/night in the life of Bruce Wayne/Batman. However, just because it is a simple premise does not mean that it is not enjoyable. The story basically revolves around a boy whose parents are killed in a robbery. This case interests the Dark Knight because it has intimate parallels with his life. But the similarities end there because unlike Bruce Wayne, the boy has no financial endowment left by his parents and soon turn to crime. This leads the Batman to question his own life and motivation as to whether he would not do the same thing if he had the financial backings stripped away as well. A pretty standard premise but with Paul Dini's writing style, it is quite enjoyable.

Now for the art....stunning. There is no other way to describe it. This is how Batman would look in real life. The costume stays true to the comics and is a far departure from the rubber and leather outfits shown in the movies. Also, forget the overly muscled, vein popping, juiced up characters usually portrayed in comics. This is how Batman should and would look. Alex Ross is truly a master of his craft and this book is mainly a showcase for his talent.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone. It is recommended for adults and children (there are no graphic violence as prevalent in some comics). You do not have to be familiar with any of Batman's history or complicated continuity in order to enjoy this book. Highly recommended.

It's always nice to see the comics industry providing books which vary from the usual formula: quipping spandex-clad hero pummeling outrageously garbed and gimmicky villains into submission. The story and art are both a cut above the norm, and I hope Dini and Ross continue this series of collaborations for a good, long time.

Warning: there are no arch-villains or spectacular fights in this book; there is not much of a plot either.
But if you belong to one of these types of people, this book MUST reside in your library:
* Batman followers
* Classic Graphic Novel enthusiasts
* Alex Ross' art collectors

The story line is simple - Batman sees a reflection of himself in a young boy whose parents are killed by an act of futile violence, which Batman was too late to prevent. Unlike young Bruce Wayne who had the family wealth and a loyal butler to fall back on, the boy has nobody to look out for him, and he is just on the brink of submitting himself to a life of violence. Batman reaches out through both his identities to make better of the boys life as well as the part of town he lives in.

But don't buy this book for the story.
Batman has never been more human then in this book. Both in text (which, thank God, is elegantly placed amongst the pictures, without the typical "balloons") and in the artwork.

What can I write about the artwork that has not been already written?
If you are not familiar with the work of Alex Ross, this is a very good starting point. If you are, you may appreciate it even more.
I find his work in this book downright touching. Unlike works like "Kingdom come" where the fine lines of the muscular superhero forms and the details of their costumes and weapon sometimes compete with the amazing depiction of human faces and bodies, in "War on Crime" there is more then enough canvas space to let a true master show off his skill. Here Alex Ross shows you Batman for what he is, a man in and out of a costume, his face showing a spectrum of human expressions, and his body showing the scars of many years of harsh crime fighting. The sheer power and strength embodied in this human form are ever so evident, without the anatomically-exaggerated, pumped-up, vein-throbbing muscles so frequently found in other comic artists works.
In addition, some of the full-pane pictures are utterly breathtaking, like the classical two-page view of Batman looking down on Gotham, understanding that he may never have a complete victory over crime.

Well, this is one of the cornerstones of *my* graphic novel library, anyway...

"War on Crime" is less of a comic and more of an art collection. Each page exudes such intriguing detail and captivating motion that your eyes are drawn to each page. The characters come to life; it is as though you can see the grief that contorts Batman's face as he battles the evils that killed his parents.

Paul Dini is the primary figure behind "Batman: The Animated Series." To me, that legacy of excellence has successfully been carried over to "Batman: War on Crime." The book is not as long as a graphic novel, and twice as large. The artwork, done by Alex Ross, is the show-stealing feature of this work, however.

I believe it was Alex Ross who wrote some of the Marvel comics titled "Marvels." The art in these books was so gripping that I have often just gone through the book again to look at the pictures.

Like any great literary work, Ross and Dini personify the elements of humanity that the Batman embodies: fear, guilt, loneliness, and grief. "Batman: War on Crime" is a wise investment for any fan of Batman.

Some of the finest artwork in comic books today. Alex Ross is unsurpassed in the quality of painted artwork being created for comic books today. "Power of Hope" is an encouraging, uplifting story with dynamic artwork to go with it. I've enjoyed virtually everything that Ross has worked on, and this book is no exception.

Take it from someone who had barely heard of Captain Marvel before now, this book is GREAT! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's a fitting homage to an amazing and all but forgotten character.I don't think I need to further praise either Paul Dini's storytelling(he did both the Batman and the Superman Animated Series, Justice League, Batman: War on Crime, Superman: Peace on Earth, etc.) or Alex Ross' artwork(Kingdom Come, Justice 1, 2, and 3, etc.); the other reviewers have already.This is a simple, short, and touching story which directly contradicts just about everything else DC has done lately. And what a relief THAT is! Forget the whole Infinite Crisis mess and stick with stuff like this; it's the result of honest hard work and effort. As a matter of fact, I advise avoiding all continuity. Stand alone graphic novels and Elseworlds are the way to go.

Here, Alex Ross and Paul Dini take a crack at the Big Red Cheese, and he is definitely in Big Red Cheese mode in this book. Ross has again done a fine job with his artwork, and so this is very nice to look at, as we see both Captain Marvel and Billy Batson enjoy their lives and take down the odd villain in the process.

Dini and Ross really capture what the Big Red Cheese is all about beautifully. It's also very moving-the Cap's struggles as a nieve hero in the complex world of today is nicely handled, with some suprising and powerful emotional pay offs. The action is terrific as you'd expect. Highly recommended!

I'll admit that this book wasn't entirely what I was expecting. The artwork by Alex Ross was fantastic, just as expected. I learned more about the personality of Captain Marvel than I had hoped. However, I was expecting more of a comic book, like Ross' Kingdom Come series. Instead, I found the story geared more towards children. It is a tale of hope, as the title suggests and it is a powerful story that I would have no problem reading to young children. Don't buy it and expect a knockdown drag out fight. Instead, expect a wonderful parable about a boy with super powers helping other children who ends up learning something about himself in the process. And this is coming from a cynic. If I ever have children, I'll be sure to read it to them.