Art Book Review: BATMAN COVER TO COVER

BATMAN COVER TO COVER: THE GREATEST COMIC BOOK COVERS OF THE DARK KNIGHT by Robert Greenberger (Editor).  (DC Comics, May 2005)  Hardcover, 240 pages. ISBN # 140120659 / 9781401206598.  

 

Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

Get ready for BATMAN COVER TO COVER =  a 240-page hardcover, oversized, coffee-table extravaganza spotlighting over 250 of the best BATMAN covers of all time. Organized by theme, readers can see the Batman Family, Fearsome Foes, Death Traps, Bizarre Settings and much, much more in this lavish collection culled from eight decades of the Dark Knight's exploits.

 

Commentary on personal favorites is provided by Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan, TV's first Batman Adam West, the voice of the Joker Mark Hamill, as well as comic book creators Neil Gaiman, Alex Ross, Brad Meltzer, Mark Waid, Jeph Loeb, Brian Bolland, Paul Levitz, Sheldon Moldoff, Jim Lee, Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, Jerry Robinson and many more.

 

My review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     This is a great book for hard-core Batman fans, as well as anyone who appreciates dynamic cover art. It's essentially a coffee-table item, one that you will return to time and again to marvel at many of the fantastic images.

 

     Covering the best Batman covers from 1939 through 2005 (date of publication), there are some classic images ranging from gothic settings to vibrant splashes of color to minimal black and white and red used to best dramatic effect. 

 

     It's impossible for me to pick a favorite. I might be able to narrow it down to 25 if forced to, but there are very few covers here that I would consider disappointing or unsuccessful in doing what they are designed to get -- entice a reader to purchase the book. 

 

     Organized into thematic chapters with occasional commentary and creative insights from various artists, editors and Batman celebrities, it's a worthwhile hour or two at a time spent in perusing the contents. 

 

     There are some great illustrators whose work is featured here: Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, Jim Lee,Tim Sale, Alex Ross, Jae Lee, Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, etc. I guess if I had to pick a favorite cover illustrator for Batman, I'd go with Brian Bolland.