The Folio Society continues their foray into the world of classic comic books with their first DC Comics solo hero collection focusing on Batman.
DC: Batman is a deluxe format, hardcover collection of twelve seminal comics by writers and artists such as Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland and Kelley Jones.
All entries were selected by former DC President, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of DC, Jennette Kahn (who also provides a Introduction to the Folio edition). Along with the 320-page one-of-a-kind deluxe book, DC: Batman also comes with a stand-alone replica copy of 1940’s Batman #1 (which includes the original back-up strips and vintage ads).
We got a chance to speak to The Folio Society Head of Editorial James Rose about DC: Batman and other upcoming projects in this exclusive interview.
The Folio Society is well known for their deluxe novel and story compilations. How did the company become involved with DC Comics?
James Rose: The Folio Society matches the world’s best illustration with great texts, and in terms of comics, DC is up there with the very best. We initially reached out to DC in 2022 and in 2023 brought out our first collaboration: DC Comics: The Golden Age, a selection of the most incredible DC comics from that era. However, we were really keen to follow this up with some character-based projects and Batman was absolutely our first choice – he’s a favorite of mine, a favorite of Jenette’s and very much a fan favorite too.
You have worked with a number of classic DC and Marvel titles, but when it comes to Batman, you reached out to former Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of DC, Jennette Kahn. What can you tell us about the selection process for the collection?
Rose: Jenette has been fantastic throughout and brings a knowledge of Batman that is simply unsurpassed. I began by sending Jenette a very long list of potential comics that could be included, but it was Jenette who made the final selection, taking some of my own ideas and adding plenty of her own of course. The main issue we had though was simply deciding on which comics from across the 85 years of Batman we could include in a 320pp selection. There’s just too many great comics to include them all, which is why we neatly end our selection at the turn of the millennium.
Along with the 320-page one-of-a-kind deluxe book, DC: Batman also comes with a stand-alone replica copy of Batman #1. Why do you think it is important to represent the comic in its entirety?
Rose: What I really wanted was for people to have the same experience as those that bought the comic from the newsstand in 1940. As such it was really important to stay absolutely faithful to the original, which is why we scanned the pages from an original first issue and included all of the pages – ads, second features, and the whole comic from cover to cover. As part of that experience we also wanted the comic to feel just right, so our production department have gone to great lengths to replicate the original newsprint paper of the original. The comic should feel and look just like it did in March 1940.
Do you have a personal favorite story from the collection?
Rose: It’s so hard to choose as there are some simply great stories included. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Batman’s debut in Detective Comics #27 which lays out so much characterization in just 6 pages, or Frank Miller’s incredible Dark Knight Returns, but my favorite is probably Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s 1988 The Killing Joke. The Joker is utterly relentless and it is a dark and sinewy tale that blurs the boundaries of sanity and madness.
Other upcoming comic, sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror projects that you are working on?
Rose: Gosh, we’ve got so much coming up. There’s some amazing fantasy and sci-fi books, as well as an anniversary edition of one of the most famous novels of the twentieth century. Not to mention some great non-fiction books, a Marvel tome, a dash of Edgar Allan Poe, and, of course, we’ll be working on a follow-up with another incredible DC character.
DC: Batman is currently available to purchase from The Folio Society.
