I am a huge DC comics superhero fan, and Batman has always been my (Rob) favorite. I grew up reading Batman comics in the mid-1970s (thanks to my dad) and loved them. Little did I know that it would be one of the BEST periods of Batman comics in history. Neal Adams, an incredible artist brought a new, darker, more serious side of Batman, and I also loved the art of Irv Novick. Writers like Dennis O'Neil,Frank Robbins and Mike Friedrich made him much more of a detective. Recently I finished reading an incredible collection of some of the BEST Batman stories and artwork EVER!
A Classic Batman Collection Worth Getting! Showcase Presents Batman Vol. 5
SUMMARY: Written by FRANK ROBBINS, DENNIS O'NEIL and MIKE FRIEDRICH Art by IRV NOVICK, NEAL ADAMS and others - Cover by NEAL ADAMS 512 pg, B&W
Reprinting tales from DETECTIVE COMICS #391-407 and BATMAN #216-228, this value-priced collection includes the introduction of Man-Bat and Batman's battle with The League of Assassins.
LEFT: One of my favorite Batman illustrations by Neal Adams: