Showing Batman: Strange Apparitions by Steve Englehart

From the depths of DC Comics' illustrious archives comes this little gem from 1977 when The Dark Knight was returning to his dark roots but, amazingly, was regularly getting a sales pummelling from Marvel's arch-rival Spider Man. These classic tales represent the beginnings of Batman's return to critical and commercial success, remaining a stand-out segment in Detective Comics' decades-long run.

This Batman is the classic grim avenger: a battle-hardened professional who nightly faces a ghastly menagerie of assorted villainy; from twisted madmen(The Joker) and hideous monsters (Clayface, Dr Phosphorous) to corrupt bureaucrats (Boss Rupert Thorne) and vengeful criminals (The Penguin, Deadshot). And if that wasn't enough, Batman faces the dual headache of a fiendish plot by mad scientist Hugo Strange to steal Bruce Wayne's identity and juggling a beautiful girlfriend with his hectic life.

Complementing the beautiful and impressive artwork by Marshall Rogers--all moody and foreboding--writer Englehart creates short, sharp adventurous tales while skilfully managing an ongoing story line, and imbuing hitherto unexplored depth into the Bat-mythos. Bruce Wayne's inner conflict between his dark alter-ego and his love for Silver St. Cloud is superbly handled (and since much repeated) and Englehart provides a marvellous twisted logic as to why The Joker will never kill his nemesis a she deserves: "The Batman! What would be the fun in humbling mere policemen?" This is a definitive template for the modern Batman, showcasing taut drama, action and mystery. An essential history lesson for Bat-fans. Danny Graydon