This is a very good comics anthology. The comics are drawn in black and white, which gives the collection a very classic feel and look that can range from noir to gritty. Mark Chiarello, one of the editors, wrote in the introduction about pitching the idea to DC: "Most everyone at DC tells me it won't sell. No one likes black and white comics. No one likes anthologies." The series did go on to be a success and win awards. I will write and add that some of us do like black and white comics when done right, and this series definitely does it right by bringing together a great group of artists. And some of us do like anthologies when they feature good stories. This collection does bring some pretty good writers. I did not give it that fifth star because, like most anthologies, this one did have a story or two that was just so-so. For me, it was often that the story may have been a bit short, maybe I wanted to see more. However, that little detail aside, this is a very solid collection of Batman stories that I think both hard fans and casual readers will enjoy.

I will note that the anthology includes the Neil Gaiman story "A Black and White World," drawn by Simon Bisley, where Batman and Joker are waiting to go "on scene" (like in the old Looney Tunes cartoons). I had read that story elsewhere, but I can't recall where at the moment. Anyhow, it is a favorite of mine. If you have not read it, you should. I think Gaiman did a fun thing with that story. I also enjoyed the Two-Face story. Many of the tales deal with small scenes and vignettes rather than big battles with the big villains. This gives the stories an element of poignancy at times that is a nice and different look, maybe more humane, at the Dark Knight.

I will certainly look forward to the second volume. ( )

When I started reading this, the B&W was a novelty; by the time I was finished I wondered why comics have color at all (or at least Batman ones). This collection of twenty stories is remarkable: there's a great array of styles, from hyper-realistic to impressionistic and the stories are almost all good, some with O. Henry endings and some a bit stranger. There are interesting headnotes about each artist and writer and sketches of outtakes and layouts what helped me appreciate how complicated telling a story with words an pictures can be. I really enjoyed the whole experience of reading this and looking at the artwork. ( )

I love it when Batman is stripped back to his absolute core - a detective on the mean streets of Gotham.

While there’s still a lot of stuff in this volume that takes the Caped Crusader in totally different directions, the majority of the stories rely heavily on the gritty Gotham streets in which Batman uses his intellect to conquer crime. The absolutely stellar opener, Ted McKeever's "Perpetual Morning", is flat out one of the best Batman tales I've ever read. Nominated for an Eisner Award, The Dark Knight conducts an autopsy on a murder victim, internally narrating why he does what he does and how those he had failed live on within him.

Other standouts include Bruce Timm's "Two of a Kind", a tale of Harvey Dent’s attempt at redemption, Neil Gaiman’s amazing "A Black and White World" in which Batman and Joker are actors inside the comic, breaking the fourth wall Deadpool style. There's also Bill Sienkiewicz's strange "Bent Twigs" wherein Batman plays family counselor for a strained father/son relationship. It's a strange premise but for whatever reason, it works.

There's a few duds but the good definitely outweighs the bad here. I can see why people may have initially been hesitant about the style but it ultimately works when you apply the kind of storytelling that they all seem to share. ( )

A lovely collection of short stories about Batman in black and white graphic style. Several revered comic artists come together to create this lovely anthology ( )

Batman: Black and White Volume 1 is a collection of short stories, all drawn in black and white, by various artists. Each one gives their own special spin on the Batman story or their own vision of different sides of the Batman. ( )