Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino

Meeting Carmine Infantino briefly twice in my life at several convention has been a highlight for me. Getting several autographs, I informed him that he had drawn my favorite comic book covers ever. He was tickled pink when I told him that, and told me some of the history behind those images.How can I explain what those few minutes meant to me?The late, Mr. Infantino provided the sixties and the newly reconstituted Darknight Detective, a new direction with his sensationalist, but great covers. These were his best. Just look at the cover of the collection: Batman and the Boy Wonder pitched on a roof with a slightly orange moon and a purple background. This image defined the Caped Crusader as he left the fifties behind and he evolved even further. Under Julie Schwartz's direction, Mr. Infantino brought bright colors and dangerous traps which revived the Batman comic book. Some critics could say these covers were somewhat "sensationalistic," but they are as hardly as outwardly graphic as today's comics. And as a child they certainly caught my attention."The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl," perhaps one of Infantino's best known stories is included. Reprinted often, the story had an influence on the latter Adam West series, which further established the character, who is introduced here.It's nice to see that the paper is high quality and that DC hasn't cut corners.Slight warning. While these stories are great, reading them all together at once, they can sort of blur in your mind. Character development wasn't necessarily a high point in the sixties superhero comics, but adventure, dangerous situations, and action were. It must be remembered that Mr. Infantino was more an artist than a writer, and here a great selection of his most remembered Batman covers are included. Also, the price might be a bit high for those who just want a sampling of the artist.Sadly, like so many other recent DC anthologies, this collection needs an introduction. However, all is not lost since the internet provides plenty of material on the late artist. Perhaps someday DC will release a second Tales of the Batman by Carmine Infantino.JSmithWilliston ND and it was one of the greatest thrills

This volume covers 2 periods for Carmine Infantino: the 60s and the 80s, when he illustrated Batman for several Brave & the Bold issues. Carmine Infantino was the first illustrator to give Batman a more realistic look.The stories never achieve the moodiness and action-level of the seventies, but Batman is often using his detective skills to investigate crimes. Some stories attempt to be more creative. John Broome and Gardner Fox make their special-guest appearance in a couple of their own stories: The Secret War of the Phantom General (Sep 1965) and The Strange Death of the Batman (Jan 1966). Influenced by TV, Gardner Fox brings in the Batgirl to stay permanently as a DC superhero, an interesting story. Alfred isn't around in these issues, and Aunt Harriet has taken his place (The Clue Master's Topsy-Turvy Crimes). Most of the times, Batman and Robin are fighting common thugs or new, challenging villains. Interestingly enough, there is only one story with the Joker, but during this period, the Joker is far from the sadistic criminal he once was back in Batman #1 (1939). He has become a puny criminal who commits absurd crimes. A new foe, Blockbuster, is introduced by Gardner Fox in The Blockbuster Invasion of Gotham City (Nov 1965).Although many of these stories were entertaining, there were others that tested my suspension of disbelief. These were the "Batman Battles the Living Beast-Bomb" (May 1965), and "The Deep-Freeze Menace" March 1965. in these stories, a gorilla with superhuman powers and a caveman from prehistory become Batman's foes. Another terrible story illustrated by Infantino and showcased in this volume was the very last one, published in 2004 where Batman battles Clayface. I thought this story was too absurd.Readers get to see Infantino's contributions in the 1980s illustrating a Detective Comics story where he teams up with Deadman, and some Brave and the Bold issues showing team-ups with Firestorm, the Riddler, Adam Strange, and the Flash. I thought that these stories were among the most interesting ones.In spite of some eyebrow raising moments, this volume is made for the Batman fan, and it does a pretty good job in collecting these stories from such an important period.

I'm not going to refute what previous reviewers have already stated, they make some valid points. But what they seem to forget is that this book is THE best collection of Carmine Infantino's BATMAN artwork - both stories and covers to date (note to readers: some of the BATMAN/DETECTIVE comics which Carmine did the covers for contained interior artwork by other artists and so only those covers are included and not the stories themselves). Over 500 pages of Carmine's beautiful art from the 1960's is reprinted in glorious color.Carmine was a Master of Comic Book Covers. Each one had some kind of hook that drew you in, made you want to know how the story inside was going to turn out. Remember the house which resembled the Joker's grinning face? The introduction of the new Batgirl? Batman putting up his crime fighting gear for auction? Batman about to reveal his secret identity to Batgirl while Robin looks on in astonishment? Or Robin weeping openly as he holds a newspaper which proclaims Batman is dead?Carmine Infantino was THE Batman artist of the 60's. His artwork appeared on quite a lot of the Batman merchandising in the 60's and 70's. I'm glad to see DC Comics finally recognize this talented artist who helped keep Batman's popularity so high. If you are familiar with Carmine's artwork, this book is a real treasure. For those unfamiliar with this master of art, you are in for a real treat.

No one needs to tell you to pick this volume up, there are so many reasons to do so.There are just so many reprinted comics here that it’s a massive tome – AND covers are reprinted from issues Carmine did not do the interiors for.The era’s stories are like the TV series but not quite so camp. Indeed the third series – including Batgirl, is probably the most familiar to these comics.It’s the guest-stars that excited me the most, beautiful classics such as Batgirl’s origin tale and her earliest adventures in the cowl sit wonderfully alongside Brave and Bold appearances of silver age stalwarts such as Deadman and Adam Strange as well as ‘newcomers’ like Firestorm!Infantino is an icon, his style as unique and identifiable as the greatest in the industry.Highly recommended.

This is an absolutely excellent book - I'd have liked to have had a full chronological sequence like you find in the Marvel volumes but you can't have everything...

Does Batman get better than this? Infantino at his near best only beaten by his Flash run. Delivered in time for Christmas.

very well packed and exactly as described, very good dealer

Este volume abrange 2 períodos para Carmine Infantino: os anos 60 e 80, quando ele ilustrou Batman por várias edições e também a revista Brave & the Bold. Carmine Infantino foi o primeiro ilustrador a dar a Batman uma aparência mais realista.As histórias nunca alcançam o humor e o nível de ação dos anos setenta, mas em muitas vezes vemos Batman usando suas habilidades de detetive para investigar crimes. Algumas histórias tentam ser mais criativas. John Broome e Gardner Fox fazem sua aparição especial em um par de suas próprias histórias: A Guerra Secreta do Fantasma Geral (setembro de 1965) e A Estranha Morte do Batman (Jan 1966). Influenciado pela TV, Gardner Fox traz a Batgirl para ficar permanentemente como um super-herói de DC,em uma história interessante. Alfred não está por perto nessas questões, e a tia Harriet tomou seu lugar (The Clue Master's Topsy-Turvy Crimes). Na maioria das vezes, Batman e Robin estão lutando contra bandidos comuns ou vilões novos e desafiadores. Curiosamente, há apenas uma história com o Coringa, mas durante este período, o Joker está longe do criminoso sádico que ele estava de volta em Batman # 1 (1939). Ele se tornou um criminoso insignificante que comete crimes absurdos. Um novo inimigo, Blockbuster, é introduzido por Gardner Fox em The Blockbuster Invasion de Gotham City (novembro de 1965).Embora muitas dessas histórias fossem divertidas, havia outras que são difíceis de ler,com tramas absurdas,pouco atrativas aos leitores.Os leitores podem ver as contribuições de Infantino na década de 1980, ilustrando uma história de Detective Comics onde ele se relaciona com Deadman, e algumas questões de Brave e Bold mostrando team-ups com Firestorm, Riddler, Adam Strange e Flash. Pensei que essas histórias estavam entre as mais interessantes.Apesar de alguns momentos baixos, este volume é feito para o fã de Batman, e faz um trabalho muito bom na coleta dessas histórias de um período tão importante.