The first volume of the Justice League of America in Showcase Presents, DC's competitor to Marvel's budget-priced black-and-white Essentials line, collects 20 early issues of the super team, starting in The Brave and the Bold 28-30 and continuing into the first 16 issues of the JLA's own book and Mystery in Space 75 (featuring Adam Strange).Truthfully, a lot of the issues have a sameness to them, with the Leaguers generally splitting up to tackle menaces (usually alien) individually and having to figure out how to handle something specifically designed to neutralize each member's powers, e.g., Green Lantern against something yellow (if only they'd selected those assignments a little better...).Notable issues include the JLA's first appearance, facing Starro the conqueror; the introduction of teen "hipster" Snapper Carr; the "origin" of the League; and the addition of Green Arrow and the Atom to the core lineup of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, the Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman.Fortunately this 1960-62 run by the classic team of Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky (with occasional other contributors) improved as it went along, with more use of teamwork and story lines involving Doctor Light, Felix Faust, the untouchable aliens, and the cavern of deadly spheres.--David Horiuchi

    Bruce Wayne becomes a member of a secret society of detectives to battle the decades old criminal conspiracy that left him an orphan in this stunning original hardcover graphic novel! Babe Ruth, Teddy Roosevelt, Selina Kyle and others are just a few of the players in a Batman story unlike any before.

    To uncover more clues as to why a mysterious assassin is targetting him, Nightwing joins the circus’s tour. But as Dick becomes reacquainted with the big top he once called home, he learns there are darker secrets to be discovered.Collects NIGHTWING #1-7.

    Soon Bruce Wayne drops out completely, having seemingly become the victim of mental illness and abandoning his Batman identity for a life on the streets of Gotham City. Capitalizing on the fall of their greatest foe, the Club of Villains begin a crime spree through the streets of Gotham that threatens to bring the city to its knees.Collecting: Batman 676-683

    What will this mean for Bruce Wayne? Secrets shared years ago between Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliott begin to have dangerous repercussions in the present. Why is this mystery driving Hush to destroy Batman's life? What part does Catwoman play in Hush's plans?Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #846-850.

    Batman's immortal foe, Ra's Al Ghul, should be dead at last — so how has he returned to haunt The Dark Knight? Find out in this 256-page hardcover volume collecting the intense tale originally presented in BATMAN ANNUAL #26, BATMAN #670-671, ROBIN #168-169, ROBIN ANNUAL #7, NIGHTWING #138-139, and DETECTIVE COMICS #838-839! Ra's al Ghul is back…but what does his return have to do with Batman's teenaged son, Damian — whose mother is Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia? It will take the combined skills of Batman, Robin and Nightwing to get to the bottom of these mysteries and stop Ra's al Ghul's insidious plans!

    This volume also includes stories from Gotham Knights #23 and #33, and Solo #1 and #5. Older teens.

    Decades later, the story became the structural basis for Batman Begins, which rebooted the Batman film franchise in 2005.

    It all begins with a council of the underworld and continues when costumed criminals from Deadshot to Mr. Freeze get involved. Batman is aided by Nightwing, Robin, Catwoman, Batgirl, Tarantula, Orpheus and Onyx, but are even they enough to keep the city from being bathed in blood?Collects:- Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure #1- Detective Comics #797- Legends of the Dark Knight #182- Nightwing #96- Gotham Knights #56- Robin #129- Batgirl #55- Catwoman #34- Batman #631

    Reporter Elana Karadian interviews aging thespian Richard Grayson to hear from his perspective the legendary tale of the Batman, a worker's hero during the Industrial Revolution.

    Jonathan Crane or "The Scarecrow" as he is better known, was a brilliant psychologist but suffered through a torturous upbringing. Through the use of a "fear gas", The Scarecrow wreaks havoc on Gotham City by exploiting the deepest, darkest fears of his enemies.District Attorney Harvey Dent, a one-time friend of Batman and champion for justice, has his life changed forever when his face is disfigured by acid in an attack ordered by one of Gotham's crime bosses. When he "recovers", the justice seeking Harvey Dent that the people of Gotham once looked up to is gone, replaced by a homicidal maniac out for revenge.

    One of the influential and popular illustrators of the Dark Knight is Tim Sale, who, in addition to providing artwork for the hit TV series Heroes, illustrated the Eisner Award-winning graphic novels BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, BATMAN: DARK VICTORY and SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS. Sale's distinctive vision of the Dark Knight put the iconic hero back in the shadows and updated his image for a new generation of fans. Now, for the first time ever, these Batman tales drawn by Tim Sale early in his career are collected in one sensational volume.

    The Court of Owls have shown their hand, and it's up to the collective effort of these heroes, some more unlikely than others, in this sprawling tale of corruption and violence.This epic springs from the pen of Scott Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of Batman, Volume 1: Court of Owls, Batman: The Black Mirror, & American Vampire, as well as creators Judd Winick, David Finch, Peter J. Tomasi, Pat Gleason, Tony Daniel, Scott Lobdell, Duane Swierczynski, JH Williams III, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray!Collecting: Batman Annual 1, Detective Comics 9, Batman: The Dark Knight 9, Batwing 9, Batman and Robin 9, Red Hood and the Outlaws 9, Birds of Prey 9, Batgirl 9, & All-Star Western 9

    Now, he brings that vision to Batman in a story that pits the Dark Knight against the Joker -- all under the unforgiving eye of the media. Their confrontation is caught on film, and Gotham City's protector appears to pummel his archenemy without mercy. The Joker uses this to frame Batman in the court of public opinion while the media hover like vultures, ready to convict before all the facts are in.

    Freeze and Catwoman. Plus, the serial killer named Holiday seems to have returned to a life of crime, but who is committing Holiday's murders this time?