Comics Books

I've never read any Alpha Flight comics before, so I figured this was a good place to start. The way John Byrne writes and draws the series makes me wanna go to Canada. I think my favorite stories were the ones with Northstar and Aurora.

It seems like Marvel's Classic series is like the Essentials but in color and on a smaller scale. I'm looking forward to the second volume that comes out in a few months and will get it not long after. My guess is it'll include #9-15 and their first annual.

During Chris Claremont and John Byrne's revolutionary run on Uncanny X-Men, the duo introduced Alpha Flight: Canada's premiere superhero team that has a connection to Wolverine. Byrne would write and draw Alpha Flight during it's original run, and thankfully, the same success he brought to X-Men and Fantastic Four translated here. Byrne's talent for team dynamics and dynamic action really helped Alpha Flight shine, as he gives heart and soul to characters like Vindicator, Sasquatch, Northstar, and Puck. Byrne's artwork is wonderful as always, but it's treatment of the characters as a whole that sets Alpha Flight apart from many of Marvel's typical secod-rate hero teams, and nearly propels them to the top. This, along with many appearances from familiar faces in the Marvel universe, make this first volume of Byrne's run on Alpha Flight worth picking up for new fans and old readers alike.

Alpha Flight has been through many iterations since it premiered years ago, but the orginal series (at least Byrne's run) is still the best. This volume collects the 1st 8 issues of the series, and what's good about it is that it isn't like many other comics that you'll read that bring together groups of superheroes. Basically, everyone on the team has some sort of issue, and Byrne crafts great back stories for each character.

The artwork is dead on, and it's a great read.

Whats better than Alpha Flight?
Can't wait for Volume two to be released.....
until then I'll be Curling and drinking a beer

John Byrne has gone on record saying that his heart was never really into "Alpha Flight", that they were basically created as a team that could successfully battle the X-Men. Despite all this, Byrne's run on AF (he did 28 issues total) are an example of his mastery of the form and yet another look at how much the comics medium has fallen since the 80s. There's never been another book like "Alpha Flight." The team had been created four years before the book came out, but Byrne was faced with the task of instilling each character with a personality and origin, which he painstakingly did, bit by bit.

Included here are the first 8 issues of the book presented in a nice new format. Some people have said the new format is a little too bright, but I think it works well and doesn't take away from the stories at all. We get the classic battle with Tundra, Snowbird's battle in a blizzard which has to be "seen" to get the full effect, the troubled twins - split-personality Aurora and gay Northstar - as well as the development of James Hudson's cyber helmet that started the whole mess. My only complaint is that there should have been more issues included because it will take us that much longer to get to my favorite part of Byrne's run: issues 18-28.

It's so much fun to revisit these characters and adventures again but those discovering them for the first time will have just as much fun. Thanks to all who finally put this book together.

My wife bought a used copy of this book for me.....she wasn't sure if I would like it but since it was related to architecture, she thought she would take a chance...She was right on. It has a fresh take on a lot of the issues in the design and construction world. The author is not afraid to take on all disciplines and he is very successful. Some are a little "Far-Side-ish" but there is a lot of insight in the humor. And the drawings are really well done. I loved it. If you aren't sure this is for you, the author has an [...] website you can use for a test drive. My recommendation: This is a good book to have.

Great illustrations, Great Wit. Nicely packaged. The "Architect's Dream Sequence" cartoons resonated with me too. I didn't buy it but I would now- (It was a summer party gift to all employees from one of the principals in my office.)

I laughed and laughed! These cartoons are histerical! Every person who has ever built or designed a home or constructed any building whatsoever will enjoy this book! Its unique size and cover makes a great socking stuffer for all my "construction clients."

I think it is great that a professional can make fun of his profession and make other people laugh. It is all done in a very "non-bashing" way and should be read by all architects and design workers. They will learn a few things about their profession from Archi-Toons that they did not know.

What a delightful and humorus approach by an architect about his own profession. I am sure that everyone in the architectual and design profession or anyone in a family associated with someone in this profession will enjoy the humor in these delightful cartoons.

Jeff Smith is one of the greatest comic artists of our times, and it is inevitable that with the end of his epic series Bone, that we would have a one volume art collection of that series. If you're a fan of Bone, you won't be disappointed. Seeing the Bone covers and other color work in a larger size brings them to life. The artwork is amazing. The only reason that I give this four stars instead of five is that a lot of the work in this volume has been printed before, so if you've been following the series from the beginning, you probably already have 90% of the art that is included. This is not necessarily a bad thing since the images are printed in a larger format in this volume, but it would have been nice to see more sketchbook material. Another thing that dropped the rating is that there is hardly any text included other than a few captions. I appreciate that as much space as possible was kept for art, but it would have been nice to read about about the creation process, the origin and development of the Bone story, or Jeff Smith's philosophy on comics. Regardless of these minor quibbles, this is an excellent collection, and would make a wonderful gift to fans of Bone.

Bone was a real surprise, many years ago. B&W art was uncommon and the story was magnetic, pulling you into a world where cartoon characters wondered about with humans. From the very first issues thev reader was presented with plots and beasts that seemed like many other universes we know, but with a charm that was totally magic.
This book presents us with some marvelous art, sketches and behind the scenes info on how these stories came to be, form and style wise.
If you like to know a bit how Jeff works and structures ideas and styles and how the wonderful mix of Bone was born just don't miss this book.
There's a few extras as well... but I won't spoil you the surprise.

My son became "addicted" to the Bone series about a year and a half ago. I've never been a fan of comics but when my non-reader decided these books were what he wanted to read I was on a quest. He started by reading the color re-releases of the first few books and when Old Man's Cave had not come out yet I bought him the all-in-one book with 1000+ pages. My non-reader finished it in a short amount of time and was left with wanting more. When I came across "The Art of Bone" I was thrilled. It talked about how Jeff Smith created the characters when he was 9 years old. My son turned 9 last month so I got it for his birthday. As he was going to bed and talking about the day (which included 9 friends and The Reptile Guy) he said his favorite part was receiving "The Art of Bone"! THAT made MY day! It is a beautiful book and is very informative. I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in this series, beautiful comic book art or looking for inspiration.

(from an extended article, copyright 2007 Michael F. Hopkins)

For those who have come to treasure the Sequential masterpiece known
as BONE, this coffee-table volume will be an extra-special treat. For those who have never heard of the phenomenal epic which established storyteller Jeff Smith as a prime mover in the fields of Comics and Children's Literature, THE ART OF BONE will serve as an eye-popping introduction to one of the finest authors in any field.
The latest hardcover project from Dark Horse Comics, THE ART OF
BONE is a feast of information. Detailing why and how Smith became
a cartoonist, the book showcases his interest from schooldays to professional practice decades later.

Rich in Smith's probing, versatile illustrations, the volume
pinpoints the essential and unique balancing act which the
Sequential author must play between narrative and visualizing.
In an era where too many throw all their logs on one fire,
showboating without focus or meaning, the success of a skillful talespinner with much to say and share with all is as refreshing
as it is encouraging.
A stirring, insightful whimsy worthy of Walt Kelly (Pogo) and
Charles Schulz (Peanuts) is complemented by reflective pathos and
intense character interplay that Will Eisner (Sundiata, The Spirit)
could take great pride in.
In Jeff Smith's aesthetic, a tale can cross all boundaries, whether through animated cunning or larger-than-life Fantasy, and bring its points effectively home.

Whether lost in the wilderness, or deep in the throes of a life-shaping
quest, the imperative of journey informs the heart Smith's work. THE
ART OF BONE is a delightful look into the way of that path, and how much fun using one's head can be.
Very uplifting, in fact, for the heart and soul.

Give it a read.
Give it several.

Jeff Smith truly has lived the American Dream...he found one thing he liked to do and he's done it for his entire life. OK, that may be simplifying things a bit. But even as a child, Smith knew he wanted to be a cartoonist. In fact, inside this fantastic book you'll get to see one of the very first Bone comics, drawn by Smith when he was just ten years old. The characters had yet to be refined in terms of their look and personalities, but the spirit is still there. Bone is really one of the great comics and one of the great comics success stories of the modern era. A wacky and wise-cracking strip that is one part Walt Kelly, one part J.R.R. Tolkien, and the rest all Smith. Smith took a chance on his creations, and self-published them. While most self-publishers fail quite quickly, Smith proved that talent rises to the top. Bone soon became a cult-hit on the part of Cerebus the Aardvark.

This volume from Dark Horse Books is chock full of 200 pages of rare Jeff Smith Bone art. Some of it unpublished, some of it pencil versions, alternate covers, etc. You get a little bit of everything in this book: Finished panel pages, completed, full color covers, unfinished panel sequences, rare sketches, pencil versions of completed covers, often side-by-side with the finished product, and so much more. The editors are along to provide captions to the art at the bottom of the page, often noting Smith's influences such as the valley scene from Bone #1 and its comparison to a similar scene from one of Joe Kubert's Tarzan pages. Not that it is a copy of the Kubert scene, but rather how smith uses perspective in the scene, dwarfing the characters by the sheer expanse of the area that Bone is looking over.

The book also reprints perhaps the seminal page in Bone's history. Bone is being chased by two of the fearsome Rat creatures that are ever after him. He leaps to a tiny branch thinking he is safe as the two large predators could not possibly fit on the same branch, and would be stupid to try. When they are both on the branch, Bone screams the immortal words, "Stupid, Stupid Rat Creatures!" This phrase has even been included in Random House's Cyberspeak dictionary.

The book introduces the reader to all of the main characters including Fone Bone (the star), scheming Phoney Bone, dim-witted Smiley Bone, Thorn (bone's human love interest), Gran'ma Ben, and Lucius who runs the local tavern. With heroes you need villains and we can't leave them out...they include The Lord of the Locusts, The Hooded One, and Kingdok, who rules the Rat Creatures.

Bone is so rich in its story and scope that it really humbles comics that have been put out by the "larger companies". Even if you haven't read the comics you're sure to be dazzled by the art in this book. Smith is without a doubt one of the best cartoonists and best storytellers of the past twenty years. And if you are a Bone fan then the book will provide a lot of interesting anecdotes to many of the stories that you've enjoyed over the years. The good thing is that even though the series ended in 2004, Scholastic Books is reprinting the series in collected editions and in full color. This book gets my highest possible rating. Get it...NOW!


REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

This book is big and chock full of beautiful Linsner paintings (many of which are of his greatest creation: Dawn). If you have ever seen any of his work and you liked it, I would recommend this book. There is an intro by Linsner that's pretty interesting and there are snippets about each painting throughout the book. It's a stout book that would be better as a hardcover, but that's my only complaint.

The Art of Joseph Michael Linsner is essential to any JML collector, but also an awesome item for anyone who appreciates the beauty of art. The softcover edition of this collection makes it affordable to the big fans with small bank accounts. Looking through the eyes of Joe, one will see a woman as a work of art or poetry and not a piece of meat. The colors are vibrant, the details are lucid, and the annotations throughout truly give insight into the mind of the artist, who he is, how he feels, and what inspires him.

Edited by JML and Eva Hopkins, with special thanks to Zeke Feldhaus, The Art of Joseph Michael Linsner is cleverly divided into sections. It begins with a nice introduction by Richard Kane Ferguson, then proceeds to a fabulous story by JML about the first artbook he bought which reveals how his taste for art began when he was just a boy. After that, we see exquisite images of Dawn, Death, and Dark Ivory along with many others (women, men, and vampires, oh my!) throughout the Love, Hate, Heaven and Hell sections. Then we move on to About the Art, comments by JML (about art, of course) which include images from the creation of the Dawn: Three Tiers #1 cover from its birth/sketch stage to the gorgeous finished painting. And of course, no collection of art would be complete without an About the Artist segment (with pictures). But wait, that's not all, there is also a two-page spread with photographs of Dawn Lookalikes from DragonCon, some Dawn collectors items, and a few other odd and end pictures. This definitely adds a personal touch to the entire thing. Well, if you've read this far, you must be interested, so what are waiting for? Get your copy today.

WOW! If one could give out 10 stars on the 5 star scale this would be the book to score that high.

More that just a detailed, beautiful look into one of America's leading illustrators, this is an insightful prose into the mind of that artist. Here is the successor of the great artists of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Done in a style that is very today, and very much his own.

An amazingly well produced book, with quality throughout. From the paper, the binding, to the wonderful reproductions, everything is top notch. This is an art book you would expect to pay two to three times more for.

I feel this is a chance to glimpse into tomorrows major gallery artist, before he explodes on the scene. Live a little dangerously and venture into some unknown areas. ENJOY!

WOW! If one could give out 10 stars on the 5 star scale this would be the book to score that high.

More that just a detailed, beautiful look into one of America's leading illustrators, this is an insightful prose into the mind of that artist. Here is the successor of the great artists of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Done in a style that is very today, and very much his own.

An amazingly well produced book, with quality throughout. From the paper, the binding, to the wonderful reproductions, everything is top notch. This is an art book you would expect to pay two to three times more for.

I feel this is a chance to glimpse into tomorrows major gallery artist, before he explodes on the scene. Live a little dangerously and venture into some unknown areas. ENJOY!

I believe the book is now out of print, but if you're lucky you might be able to pick it up at a comic book shop which is where I got mine. This book is FANTASTIC!!! Definitely one of the best fantasy art books out there. Great colors, excellent depictions of Dawn - the fiery redhead with one eye showing *grins* and some of the most imaginative and creative art pieces you'll ever see!

Even the backgrounds are incredibly detailed, with everything from dragons to architecture to detailed walls and textures. He really sets the mood in every piece he does.

Excellent work of art. Absolutely excellent.

The Artist Within showcases comic artists and cartoonists, usually inside their own workspaces, for a unique and thrilling look at how these creative people surround themselves (and therefore what drives them to do the work they do). The photos are stunning, the reproduction brilliant, and any fan of comic art will find many favorites represented inside, with huge black and white photos by Greg Preston, brief bios, and samples of their work.

There is no other book quite like this on the market, and it's about time we got one--and more than that, such a splendid one.

This book, without question is AMAZING! This book should be in every photography class, on every library and a standard for what the artist behind the camera can do.

Mr. Preston has run us through all emotions with this stellar work - he obviously threw his heart and soul into it - enjoy it!! The background of his shots makes one feel they are getting the best vew from his eye.

Thanks for a superior work!!

This book is an amazing study of artists and people. Even if you're not a comic book fan, these images open up the unbelievably private world of an artists' workspace and it's a fascinating study. Every time I leaf through these pages, I notice something new, some detail that you can see reflected in the pen and ink beside it.

And if you are a comic book fan... how can you resist this glimpse backstage?!

You can't. This book is irresistible. Thanks, Greg Preston!

Greg Preston has done an amazing job of photographing some of the worlds most talented and creative artists and getting that extra insight into their personalities by having them pose where they work, in their studios. Since he's been at it for well over a decade, the book luckily remembers many that have since passed away. It's fantastic to see so many people that have inspired me while turning page after page of this huge hardcover, Hogarth, Toth, Wrightson, Kaluta, Smith, Romita among, well, around 95 others! This collection should also put Greg on the map as an exceptional artist himself. You wouldn't even have to care about who he's snapping a camera at to enjoy and appreciate his knockout skill. I'm looking forward to a volume two!

As an artist myself, I am always fascinated to see the working environments of other artists. This book shows a ton of them. It's a huge, over sized book filled with gorgeous photos. I highly recommend it!

This I by far my favorite out of the four books in this series. Not only is it the funniest one, it has a perfect ending. I can't tell you much more, but I can tell you that they all live happily ever after. That is, if it were a fairy tale. I suggest you read them in order though. You want to save the best for last!

Me being the impatient person I am, I bought this volume first and ruined most of the story for myself ;_;
...but you probably really don't care.
By this time, through 3 books, you'll have picked out your favorite character, related to them in some way, figured out who in your life relates to Mr. Kimura (keep him away from me), and what the heck Azumanga Daioh's come to mean to you. This is the last volume of this story. That's right, go get a hankerchief, I don't want you smearing up the pages. The ending is really meaningful, because the author doesn't go into the whole epilouge thing that leaves you wondering even more. Also, the first few color pages contain some of the funniest moments in the whole book. *sigh* I can't say much else, but that if you like the whole random, really about nothing, overly charming and funny pages Azumanga's been, you know to get this book as darned fast as you can type in the search word and buy it.

This was such a wonderful purchase. I would recomend this book to any Anime or Manga fan.

I have had the awesome pleasure of reading the last volume of Azumanga Daioh (the manga version). By now, everyone who follows this series (that should be a reasonable majority of those with a good taste for manga) will have been familiar with all of the characters in the story. However, the third year, and in effect, the series, begins to come to an end.

Some highlights that I want to point out to all include:

* The story of Maya, in which Sakaki finds the young Iriomote cat, and relishes in having someone to play with.
* Nyamo at the study session in Chiyo's home, where she begins to literally unravel.
* Chopsticks: Osaka seems to have been a bit clairvoyant in corrolating chopsticks with Center exam success.
* Graduation. A wonderful ending to this volume.

With all the manga volumes out for sale, I encourage everybody (you know who you are) to purchase these four treasures, or at least browse through them at your local store if you can. Azumanga is a classic, and if you though the manga was good, wait till you see the anime!

ADV's manga translation team is to be commended. Their cultural notes section is without flaw - except in two cases. I'll get to that.

By now, Osaka has dropped most of her Osak... Italian accent. (why did they make her a mobster in the manga and a hick in the anime?) Chiyo's changed her hair. Sakaki is able to touch a cat without being mamed. A wind of change comes through the world of Azumanga Daioh.

This final volume crams in more funny than the previous three. Along with a good dose of comedy, you learn more about the characters and their lives.

The highlights of this book lie in the shiisaa, the sata andagi, Yamapikaryaa, Osaka's good luck charm, and the final summer vacation... Where, unfortunately, Yukari is awake already.

However there are two problems with the translation. When Tomo buys souveniers, she picks up two notable things: "Chinsuko" and "ukoncha." The cultural notes didn't tell us this, but Tomo was being dirty - thus Yomi's flustered reaction. "Chinsuko," when pronounced a certain way, kinda sounds like one of the terms for the male.. Y'know. "Ukoncha" kind of sounds like "poop tea." I am not making this up. I suppose I can understand why ADV Manga didn't translate this (or maybe they didn't get it), but with the 13+ rating you'd think they would.

Despite the two errors (yay only two!) this fourth volume is a great end to a great story. It makes me cry every time I read the end, and I've read/seen Azumanga a bajillion times.

The wicked witch throws a curve ball at a hapless, rookie baseball player! Die with each twist (and sunset) of this horrible tale! Get your Mojo, baby!

I just picked this book up, and can't wait for the next one. (At least I hope there IS another installment; it really deserves a follow-up.)

Bad Mojo is the ultimate "in the wrong place at the wrong time" type of story, and should appeal to anyone who loves horror comics or the work of Stephen King and Clive Barker. Good art, good writing, and the undead...who doesn't like that?

What a twist! William Harms proves that the mastery of the medium he displayed with his previous effort, Abel, wasn't a fluke, with Bad Mojo. More playful than the weighty Abel, Bad Mojo boasts an ingenious premise: a major league ball player, Bruce, wreck's a witch's Volvo. When he tries to throw money at her to make it right, she curses him: each day he'd die at dawn, to be resurrected at dusk. This puts a bit of a dent in his career aspirations.

Harms' command of dialog, pacing and storytelling is augmented perfectly by the masterful art of Steve Morris. The dark story is perfectly complimented by the moody, shadowy black and white drawings. Harms and Morris both prove are both alchemists of the graphic novel medium, turning paper and ink into pure gold. Bad Mojo is a must for any comic fan. I look forward to Harms' next work with high anticipation.

I really dug William Harms' graphic novel Abel, so I was excited to learn that Bad Mojo had hit shelves. And better yet, that it involved witches and (sorta) zombies!

If you've followed his writing in PC Gamer magazine, you know that Harms is a MEGA-fan of the horror genre, and that love and delight definitely come through here. Bad Mojo is infinitely less bleak than Abel, but it keeps the same refreshingly down-to-earth feel that you're pleasantly surprised to find in a comic.

This isn't the stuff of capes and villains---it's regular people coping with the craziness that life sends you...with a supernatural twist. These characters talk like you do; they act like you do; they screw up like you do. And then they try to figure out what the hell to do.

Part 1 leaves you with a serious itch for the rest of the story. You WILL enjoy it.

William Harm's tale of what happens when you mix witchcraft, curses, and zombies with a couple of hapless baseball players makes me remember why the real world can't compare to comics. A wildly imaginative plot, in-your-face dialog, and perfect pacing makes this a must read for the year. I don't remember the last time i finished reading a story feeling like I had to find out what happens next. You won't regret your purchase.

Be aware that the book shown when you take a "Look Inside" is NOT the book you get. What they show is a bound copy of the musical score with the libretto added. What you get is the libretto described in the written review, no musical score. That having been said, the book you get is useful and of interest, and the CD is a great recording.

This is a wonderful study score to Rossini's wonderful masterpiece. The story of a Barber named Figaro, who is the person that everyone comes to seeking advice.
It's easy to read and the size is standard (9in x 12in). It lies easily on a music stand or desk. It's low price is great for the starving music student. I highly reccommend this for professionals and opera-goers alike.

One of Rossini's best operas, the Barber of Seville, is immortalized here in another one of Dover's fine scores. From the fast-paced overture to the "Figaro" aria (both made famous in old Bugs Bunny cartoons), this opera is nonstop greatness.

As usual, Dover has provided us with a book of the highest quality: they sew their books instead of gluing them so as for them to stay bound and be flexible, and they print legibly. Unfortunately, legible print is becoming disappointingly rare in modern scores, but Dover is the exception.

For a great score of a great opera at a great price, you can't go wrong with Rossini's Barber of Seville.

This book and CD set are the perfect combination for those who are new to the world of opera and not fluent in foreign language. Better than just a synopsis, the libretto in English lets you read every word so you won't miss the humor or pathos. As a homeschooling mom, I really appreciated this set as a teaching tool. I hope to increase my collection of The Black Dog Opera Library series.

I have several "Black Dog Opera" recordings, and they are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to opera WIHTOUT spending a lot of money. This label primarily offers recordings of extremely well-known operas. I had some initial concerns regarding sound quality given the price, but I have yet to be disappointed by them -- Barber of Seville is no exception. Each opera comes in a neatly packaged book that contains the full libretto in its original language and in translation; the history of the opera and its performance; and short biographies of the composer and cast. The books are just the right size to tuck them in your purse (or bag!) so that you can follow the libretto along at a live performance -- I took Barber with me to last year's Chicago Opera Theater production and plan to take Tosca along to Lyric later this year! What a great idea!

This book explores all the dark side of batman. The Catwoman is also great, and the game of the Joker is great.

This is the best book of the trilogy (I bought the other books because of this one). This book summarizes the personal hell of one man, addicted and alone, unable not to bring death to those he loves. It is about conflict, guilt, isolation, alienation ...about heroism in its rawest, truest form.

I first read this over five years ago, and it continues to fascinate me to this day. I don't care about the vampire monsters, per se, for to me they are only a necessary plot device. The same can be said for Selina's character. They only exist to further the true story, which is Batman's struggle with his own nature ...the horror of recognizing we receive pleasure from another's harm, the helplessness of an addiction to things we've not necessarily even experienced -- the overwhelming urge to satiate a thirst at the cost of our own soul. That is the heart and soul and core of this book for me.

What would we do, given his power, his isolation, and his horrible thirst? At one point he narrates this for us:

"Thirst haunts me,
Life tempts me,
Death mocks me.

Together, the three, they curse me."

That moment for me, sitting in that bookstore, galvanized an experience I had never been able to put words to ...his isolation, his thirst, his utter loneliness and despondency -- they were so real! Deep calls out to deep, as I've read elsewhere, and in spite of this book's gore and melodrama, that moment called out to me and still does to this day. I felt connected to his guilt, his shame, to his sinful pleasure and self-disgust in a way that no media ever has before or since. Selina's character, the strength and nobility she provides, and the heartbreak of her loss, bring the entire story to an unstoppable head between the maniacal Joker and a Batman now drenched in the blood of his lover.

The authors deserve top credit for making a Batman that is, ironically, more human as an undead vampire than he ever was in life. May he rest in peace...

Get this if such things interest you.

In a pitch meeting, this might sound like one of the dumbest ideas ever: What if Batman turned into a vampire? [A vampire *bat*, get it?!] But writer Doug Moench actually manages to create a powerful and affecting tale from this premise - one whose Edgar Allan Poe-like meditation on guilt and monstrousness ends up rivalling "Arkham Asylum" and "The Killing Joke" as one of the most penetrating psychological studies ever drawn of the Dark Knight. And if there has ever been more dynamic and expressive pencilling in a Batman story than Kelley Jones's outstanding work here, I haven't seen it.

As a follow-up to the awesome Red Rain, Bloodstorm succeeds. It is set prior to the time when, in modern continuity, Batman discovered Dick Grayson. Incidentally, there is no Robin, and it's a good thing, as Batman must struggle with his lust for blood, hating what he has become, but not wanting to leave Gotham unprotected. The iussue is: By sticking around in his present state, is Batman actually damning Gotham rather than saving it? Batman has to put that question on the backburner,however, when the Joker takes over the remnants of Dracula's undead legion. It's an awesome battle, believe me, and Catwoman is even along for the ride! Bloodstorm also succeeds quite nicely in creating a parallel universe; this story seems like it could be another storyline in a monthly comic. Of course, we know this isn't so because our Batman isn't a vampire, but it still has that feel to it. Finally, with the team of Doug Moench, Kelley Jones, and John Beatty, how can you lose?

In many ways, Bloodstorm is superior to the book that is continues, Red Rain. Whereas Red Rain was bogged down by the need to introduce the concepts of vampire lore, character reaction and setup, and other formalities, this book can leap right into things and get to the important business of telling the story.
In this Elseworld's tale, Batman is now a vampire. In many ways it is a vindication of his self image as a creature of the night apart from normal humans. At the same time, Batman is built on the one thing that separates him from the monsters he fights- he will not kill. As the vampiric urge to kill grows, however, he must go to extraordinary measures to fight it or lose all that he is.
Great storytelling with an ending that even shocked the hell out of me. If you liked Red Rain, you'll love Bloodstorm.

This is a fantastic collection of Batman stories from the 60's. It also has some neat tidbits of information along the way to help the novice Batman fan. The book also included beautiful art work by many talented artists, including Bob Kane himself. This book is a nice book to add to an existing or new collection of superhero fiction.

this is a great book.
plenty of action.
for this price you get
a lot of stories.
you can see how
the charactors grows
with the times.

This is the best of the Batman "decade" collections...much more thought-out than "Batman In The Fifties" and funner and more interesting than "Batman In The Seventies." While Bat-Girl (Betty Kane), Bat-Mite and Batwoman (Kathy Kane) show up briefly, the majority of the book focuses on Batman and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon). The art is great and the stories are smart and fun.

Plus, fans of the Batman TV show will enjoy this collection. While not as dim-witted as the TV show, this collection is just as fun!!!

This book is a must have for any fan of classic Batman. I have all the Batman decade books and this one is by far my favorite.
Not only do you get some great classic Batman and Robin team-up stories,but each one gets a solo story as well. Many other key Bat-family members appear in this book as well including both Batgirls (YES there were two...Betty Kane and Barbara Gordon) and Barbara's Batgirl not only gets one story with Batman and Robin but also a solo story too. Batmite also appears and Batwoman has a cameo.

Villains everywhere in this book. ALL the major crims are here...Joker,Penguin,Riddler,Catwoman,Scarecrow,Poison Ivy and Clayface. This book is a must. Do yourself a favor and buy this book and re-live those childhood memories.

What I enjoy about these tales from Batman in the 60s is that it takes to back in time when the stories were not so dark,and grimm as they are today.If you enjoy the more softer,funner,and colorful side of the caped crusader than this is for you.I'm 16 yeard old and I enjoy everyone of these stories.Every page is fun to read.If there's any graphic novel of Batman collections.Pick up the ones from the sixties.The fifties are nice too.So sit back relax and enjoy this book