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Batman
Batman: Tales of the Demon
Ra's al Ghul, longlived ecoterrorist and founder of the League of Assassins, has proven through the years to be one of Batman's most formidable adversaries. Accompanied by his beautiful daughter Talia, Ra's has proven elusive, tempting and very, very dangerous.
This volume collects the earliest Ra's a Ghul stories, all written by long time BATMAN author and editor Denny O'Neil, aided by some of the Batman's bestknown artists Neal Adams, Michael Golden, Irv Novick, Bob Brown and Dick Giordano. There's also an introduction by Sam Hamm, screenwriter of 1989's Batman.
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1971
34 people are currently reading
1681 people want to read
About the author
Dennis O'Neil
1,751 books274 followers
Dennis "Denny" O'Neil
was a comic book writer and editor best known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until his retirement.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 6, 2020
Way back in the ‘70s when I was a kid who rode his pet dinosaur to school I started reading and collecting comic books. One of my favorites was a super-sized Batman collection that featured his first encounter with Ra’s al Ghul, and I probably reread it at least a hundred times. Later, when I was in my 20s, a broken water pipe at my parent’s house soaked some stuff I had stored with them, and that comic was one of the things that was ruined. Oh, and that book which had sold for $2 originally now goes for around $150. More’s the pity.
I didn’t fully appreciate how important that book was in my journey to full blown comic book nerd until much later. Not only was it the introduction of a major Batman villain, but it also came at a time when Denny O’Neil was in the middle of rehabbing the Caped Crusader’s image after he’d become a symbol of camp goofiness. As a stupid kid all I knew of Batman came from Superfriends cartoon and Adam West TV show. So this darker, more adult version of crime fighter driven by childhood trauma was shocking to me.
I also didn’t realize until later how the Neal Adams art locked an image in my brain that became the default setting of MY Batman. To this day that’s what I measure all other versions against.
Revisiting the story after all these years was a treat, and I was shocked at how so many of the panels were burned into my brain. This has some additional early Ra’s stories as well, and while I still think the ones with Adams’ art are the best there’s a lot of fun stuff here courtesy of O’Neil’s writing.
There’s some dated ‘70s silliness to the stories, but this was an important transition phase from the days of Batman using a handy can of shark repellent to the super gritty Dark Knight Returns. It was a great stroll down memory lane for me, and I won’t be storing this copy under any water pipes.
I didn’t fully appreciate how important that book was in my journey to full blown comic book nerd until much later. Not only was it the introduction of a major Batman villain, but it also came at a time when Denny O’Neil was in the middle of rehabbing the Caped Crusader’s image after he’d become a symbol of camp goofiness. As a stupid kid all I knew of Batman came from Superfriends cartoon and Adam West TV show. So this darker, more adult version of crime fighter driven by childhood trauma was shocking to me.
I also didn’t realize until later how the Neal Adams art locked an image in my brain that became the default setting of MY Batman. To this day that’s what I measure all other versions against.
Revisiting the story after all these years was a treat, and I was shocked at how so many of the panels were burned into my brain. This has some additional early Ra’s stories as well, and while I still think the ones with Adams’ art are the best there’s a lot of fun stuff here courtesy of O’Neil’s writing.
There’s some dated ‘70s silliness to the stories, but this was an important transition phase from the days of Batman using a handy can of shark repellent to the super gritty Dark Knight Returns. It was a great stroll down memory lane for me, and I won’t be storing this copy under any water pipes.
March 23, 2020
Batman: Tales of the Demon collects Batman's earliest clashes with his greatest nemesis, Ra's Al Ghul, the Demon's Head!
The cover of Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 has been burned into my brain for decades so this collection caught my eye right away. I've never had the opportunity to read Denny O'Neil's Ra's Al Ghul stories until now...
Batman: Tales of the Demon collects stories from Detective Comics #411, Batman #232, 235, 240, 242, 243, 244, DC Special Series #15, and Detective Comics #485, 489, and 490. Denny O'Neil writes them all, with art by Bob Brown, Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Michael Golden, Don Newton, and Dan Atkins. Needless to say, the creative team is top notch. Neal Adams lead the charge in revitalizing Batman but the rest of the crew were able to pick up the torch and run with it.
The stories feature Batman getting entangled in the machinations of Ra's Al Ghul and his League of Assassins. What does a megalomaniac with world domination aspirations have in mind for the Dark Knight Detective? His daughter's hand in marriage, of course! Denny O'Neil does a great job of painting Ra's Al Ghul as the Batman's greatest foe. Al Ghul is part Fu Manchu, part James Bond villain. Throwing Talia into the mix throws more gasoline onto the fire.
The Batman of this era isn't the godlike character of today. So much happens in this volume that would never happen to post-Knightfall Batman. Batman makes mistakes. Batman is defeated. Batman gets knocked flat by a woman wielding a ski pole. He makes some leaps in logic that rival Sherlock Holmes but he is the World's Greatest Detective, after all. These stories are Batman stripped down to the essentials: no Bat family, no uber-planning. Just the Dark Knight Detective living up to his name.
Early 1970s Batman is where it's at for me and Batman: Tales of the Demon may be the best of the best. 4.5 out of 5 Batarangs.
The cover of Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 has been burned into my brain for decades so this collection caught my eye right away. I've never had the opportunity to read Denny O'Neil's Ra's Al Ghul stories until now...
Batman: Tales of the Demon collects stories from Detective Comics #411, Batman #232, 235, 240, 242, 243, 244, DC Special Series #15, and Detective Comics #485, 489, and 490. Denny O'Neil writes them all, with art by Bob Brown, Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Michael Golden, Don Newton, and Dan Atkins. Needless to say, the creative team is top notch. Neal Adams lead the charge in revitalizing Batman but the rest of the crew were able to pick up the torch and run with it.
The stories feature Batman getting entangled in the machinations of Ra's Al Ghul and his League of Assassins. What does a megalomaniac with world domination aspirations have in mind for the Dark Knight Detective? His daughter's hand in marriage, of course! Denny O'Neil does a great job of painting Ra's Al Ghul as the Batman's greatest foe. Al Ghul is part Fu Manchu, part James Bond villain. Throwing Talia into the mix throws more gasoline onto the fire.
The Batman of this era isn't the godlike character of today. So much happens in this volume that would never happen to post-Knightfall Batman. Batman makes mistakes. Batman is defeated. Batman gets knocked flat by a woman wielding a ski pole. He makes some leaps in logic that rival Sherlock Holmes but he is the World's Greatest Detective, after all. These stories are Batman stripped down to the essentials: no Bat family, no uber-planning. Just the Dark Knight Detective living up to his name.
Early 1970s Batman is where it's at for me and Batman: Tales of the Demon may be the best of the best. 4.5 out of 5 Batarangs.
March 1, 2025
I guess this was never really going to live up to the hype but I still can't help feeling disappointed at how flat these stories felt to read. It's a transitional period for Batman who had gone through many iterations until he became supposedly "dark" in the 70s under the guidance of O'Neil. I get the sense that O'Neil had a direction but unlike Frank Miller who is probably really responsible for retooling Batman, among others, he just doesn't have the chops as a storyteller to make you stand up and listen. The ideas just aren't here - for instance Talia Al-Ghul is obsessively in love with Batman seemingly on a whim because he saved her life. Batman seemingly loves her back for no obvious reason since she's an evil crime-lord-type-person, speaking of which Batman, after partnering with Ra's on a few occasions in an admittedly rocky relationship one day just randomly decides he's going to travel around the world and kill the man ... I get that he's an evil crime boss, but it's badly prepped. As is Ra's dying and being reborn as an evil demon with super strength.
It's hard to call these stories shoddy because they were designed for a certain market and to fulfil a particular need and they do contain some fresh ideas, but in hindsight they simply don't read as classics in either character or storytelling terms. Honestly, I was quite bored and ended up skimming the final League of Assassin stories since they'd become repetitive and stupid. Intriguing enough then to see the introduction of some now classic Batman characters, but not intriguing enough that I'd like to pick them apart or give them a second look. Some nice artwork here and there, though.
It's hard to call these stories shoddy because they were designed for a certain market and to fulfil a particular need and they do contain some fresh ideas, but in hindsight they simply don't read as classics in either character or storytelling terms. Honestly, I was quite bored and ended up skimming the final League of Assassin stories since they'd become repetitive and stupid. Intriguing enough then to see the introduction of some now classic Batman characters, but not intriguing enough that I'd like to pick them apart or give them a second look. Some nice artwork here and there, though.
September 12, 2019
This collection introduces us to Talia and Ra’s al Ghul! It was so cool reading about their first interactions with Batman and even in this small assortment of issues, we see the foes relationship grow and change. There is one issue that I really love as it showed the detective side of the Batman and not just the great fighter Bats (as another issue did feature). The final issue was a little disappointing as this war between Ra’s and The Sensi is concluded in an unsatisfying way. However, the majority of the issues were good and introduced a lot of aspects of these characters that would stick with them for a long time.
May 31, 2012
I really love Batman stories from the '70s. I started reading the comics at some point in the '80s, but the issues from the late '70s are probably the first Batman comics I ever saw when I was a pre-literate little kid in the supermarket who was fascinated by the covers.
Unlike what a lot of people think, Batman was not the sunny, goofy do-gooder of the '60s TV show until Frank Miller came along and shook things up with The Dark Knight Returns in 1986. I've read random Batman stories from every decade, and while the issues from the '50s and '60s tend to be pretty silly, after Denny O'Neil took over writing the series in the '70s he returned the Dark Knight Detective to his sinister, pulpy roots. This was an era of beautiful Batman art and decent storytelling, and it saw the introduction of a number of memorable adversaries like Man-Bat.
Probably the most memorable of all was Ra's al Ghul (and his daughter Talia). This volume collects a bunch of Ra's al Ghul stories. A variety of artists penciled and inked these stories, but Denny O'Neil wrote all of them, so this collection is fairly consistent. Ra's al Ghul is cut from the same cloth as Fu Manchu (who also has a dangerously alluring daughter), but he's less racially specific. His name comes from Arabic, and Ra's does spend a fair amount of time in the desert, but he also seems equally comfortable in the snowy wastelands of the Himalayas.
If you're the kind of Batman fan who thinks a story isn't "dark" enough unless there's a child prostitution ring or a villain who wears other people's faces, then you might find this volume laughable, but I think it strikes a nice balance between sinister goings-on and a pulpy sense of fun.
I'd give this maybe three stars as an "objective" judgment, but I tacked on another star for myself, since I love the art, storytelling, and general mood of '70s Batman stories.
Unlike what a lot of people think, Batman was not the sunny, goofy do-gooder of the '60s TV show until Frank Miller came along and shook things up with The Dark Knight Returns in 1986. I've read random Batman stories from every decade, and while the issues from the '50s and '60s tend to be pretty silly, after Denny O'Neil took over writing the series in the '70s he returned the Dark Knight Detective to his sinister, pulpy roots. This was an era of beautiful Batman art and decent storytelling, and it saw the introduction of a number of memorable adversaries like Man-Bat.
Probably the most memorable of all was Ra's al Ghul (and his daughter Talia). This volume collects a bunch of Ra's al Ghul stories. A variety of artists penciled and inked these stories, but Denny O'Neil wrote all of them, so this collection is fairly consistent. Ra's al Ghul is cut from the same cloth as Fu Manchu (who also has a dangerously alluring daughter), but he's less racially specific. His name comes from Arabic, and Ra's does spend a fair amount of time in the desert, but he also seems equally comfortable in the snowy wastelands of the Himalayas.
If you're the kind of Batman fan who thinks a story isn't "dark" enough unless there's a child prostitution ring or a villain who wears other people's faces, then you might find this volume laughable, but I think it strikes a nice balance between sinister goings-on and a pulpy sense of fun.
I'd give this maybe three stars as an "objective" judgment, but I tacked on another star for myself, since I love the art, storytelling, and general mood of '70s Batman stories.
February 1, 2022
2.5 stars.
January 16, 2014
This out of print trade tells the story of some of the Bat-man's earliest meetings with Ra's al Ghul. It wouldn't be fair to say they were battles because half the time, Batman is on Ra's side or at least they didn't fight.
Tale of the Demon makes you appreciate the features of many modern day trades. There are no issue numbers and no covers. If you just go by what's in the book, all you know about the stories is that they happened some time in the 1970s.
The big surprise is that Talia al Ghul, Ra's daughter introduced first in a story in which Batman rescues her and she helps save Batman from a criminal.
This sets up the class, "Daughter of the Demon" story that has Robin being kidnapped and Ra's coming to Batman because Talia has been kidnapped. This is a classic mystery story that was adapted into the first Batman animated episode to feature Ra's.
"Swamp Sinister" has Ra's once again coming to Batman for help with a rogue with a deadly biological toxin who has become too dangerous. Batman once again teams with the Ghuls but he's definitely uncomfortable with the tactics.
In "Vengeance for a Dead Man" though, Ra's going too far and Batman goes on an epic three part story to track Ra's down and gets partners to join him and fakes Bruce Wayne's death. The story is solid even if it has its problems. In the end, Batman gets Ra's and takes him to the proper authorities (whoever that might be.)
Then comes the silliest and most out of place story of the book, "I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife." Batman is kidnapped and when he awakes he finds himself on Ra's ship and Ra's said that he's now married to Talia and is Ra's country, only the consent of the Bride and the bride's father is required not the groom. And this is all a puerile ruse so that while Batman's honeymooning ,Ra's al Ghul and his goons can loot the city. So not only didn't they explain how al Ghul escaped from wherever he was taken at the end of the last series of stories, O'Neil decided to have him acting like the Penguin. Ra's al Ghul doesn't do Gotham City heists.
The pace picks up again with a final multi-part story where a martial arts master named the Sensei (who is also a rival of Ra's al-Ghul for leadership of the League of Assassins) kills Kathy Kane who was the silver age Batwoman and earns Batman's ire. This story has a question as to whether Ra's himself provided information that led to the Sensei's attack. Regardless, Batman is determined to take care of the Sensei, and thus becomes Ra's reluctant ally.
The series had a lot of different artists and all were at least competent. The three stories drawn by Neal Adams were the best in the book and his art helped. The splash page of Batman climbing the mountain from Al Ghul was fantastic as was the scene of them deling.
While the book doesn't feel the type of credits and time markers I like, it does contain an intro by Sam Hamm and an Afterword by Dennis O'Neil. Hamm argues that while some have criticized the 1966 Batman show for departing from the comic book, it's biggest problem for Batman was that it matched pretty well with the comics and that the whole thing looked silly and Hamm credits O'Neil with making a darker Batman.
However, the book isn't as dark as today's Batman (a point that O'Neil basically apologizes for in the Afterwards). O'Neil points out that Stan Lee and Marvel influenced many young writers and that influence shows. It's not as lighthearted as early Spider-man, but Batman is a shade less or more dark than any given Marvel book of the time. Overall, I liked the tone and it makes me want to read more 1970s Batman reprints.
Tales of the Demon introduces a great villain and reprints some solid 1970s Batman stories. The book isn't without its problems. "I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife" is completely out of character for Ra's. There are a few stories where some elements are just unintentionally weird and DC definitely had some issues with keeping a good continuity.
Still, this is good Batman. He's edgier than his 1960s format, but he's still a force for justices who operates by a code. He's also very human and the relationship between him and Talia is pretty fascinating. Overall, it's a solid Batman read.
Tale of the Demon makes you appreciate the features of many modern day trades. There are no issue numbers and no covers. If you just go by what's in the book, all you know about the stories is that they happened some time in the 1970s.
The big surprise is that Talia al Ghul, Ra's daughter introduced first in a story in which Batman rescues her and she helps save Batman from a criminal.
This sets up the class, "Daughter of the Demon" story that has Robin being kidnapped and Ra's coming to Batman because Talia has been kidnapped. This is a classic mystery story that was adapted into the first Batman animated episode to feature Ra's.
"Swamp Sinister" has Ra's once again coming to Batman for help with a rogue with a deadly biological toxin who has become too dangerous. Batman once again teams with the Ghuls but he's definitely uncomfortable with the tactics.
In "Vengeance for a Dead Man" though, Ra's going too far and Batman goes on an epic three part story to track Ra's down and gets partners to join him and fakes Bruce Wayne's death. The story is solid even if it has its problems. In the end, Batman gets Ra's and takes him to the proper authorities (whoever that might be.)
Then comes the silliest and most out of place story of the book, "I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife." Batman is kidnapped and when he awakes he finds himself on Ra's ship and Ra's said that he's now married to Talia and is Ra's country, only the consent of the Bride and the bride's father is required not the groom. And this is all a puerile ruse so that while Batman's honeymooning ,Ra's al Ghul and his goons can loot the city. So not only didn't they explain how al Ghul escaped from wherever he was taken at the end of the last series of stories, O'Neil decided to have him acting like the Penguin. Ra's al Ghul doesn't do Gotham City heists.
The pace picks up again with a final multi-part story where a martial arts master named the Sensei (who is also a rival of Ra's al-Ghul for leadership of the League of Assassins) kills Kathy Kane who was the silver age Batwoman and earns Batman's ire. This story has a question as to whether Ra's himself provided information that led to the Sensei's attack. Regardless, Batman is determined to take care of the Sensei, and thus becomes Ra's reluctant ally.
The series had a lot of different artists and all were at least competent. The three stories drawn by Neal Adams were the best in the book and his art helped. The splash page of Batman climbing the mountain from Al Ghul was fantastic as was the scene of them deling.
While the book doesn't feel the type of credits and time markers I like, it does contain an intro by Sam Hamm and an Afterword by Dennis O'Neil. Hamm argues that while some have criticized the 1966 Batman show for departing from the comic book, it's biggest problem for Batman was that it matched pretty well with the comics and that the whole thing looked silly and Hamm credits O'Neil with making a darker Batman.
However, the book isn't as dark as today's Batman (a point that O'Neil basically apologizes for in the Afterwards). O'Neil points out that Stan Lee and Marvel influenced many young writers and that influence shows. It's not as lighthearted as early Spider-man, but Batman is a shade less or more dark than any given Marvel book of the time. Overall, I liked the tone and it makes me want to read more 1970s Batman reprints.
Tales of the Demon introduces a great villain and reprints some solid 1970s Batman stories. The book isn't without its problems. "I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife" is completely out of character for Ra's. There are a few stories where some elements are just unintentionally weird and DC definitely had some issues with keeping a good continuity.
Still, this is good Batman. He's edgier than his 1960s format, but he's still a force for justices who operates by a code. He's also very human and the relationship between him and Talia is pretty fascinating. Overall, it's a solid Batman read.
February 28, 2020
Meh. Não fez o meu estilo, em nenhum aspecto.
May 1, 2020
I've read most of these before, but it's a great treat to have all of these Bronze Age Ra's al Ghul stories by O'Neil collected in one spot. Art by Don Newton, Neal Adams, and Irv Novick, so can't can't wrong there.
May 30, 2025
This book has the first and second appearance of both Talia Al Ghul and Ras Al Ghul.
First appearance of Matches Malone and the Lazarus pit. First appearance of Molly Post. Iconic panel of Batman and Talia kissing by Neil Adams.
Ras Al Ghul is one of my favourite Batman Villains. The stories by Dennis O'Neil and Neil Adams and Irv Novick are amongst my all time favourite Batman tales.
This paperback contains the best Dark Knight stories from the 70's which revived the legend of the Batman after the campy 1960's comics. This shows the Dark Knight as the greatest detective facing off against his greatest nemesis Ras and the beautiful and irresistible Talia Al Ghul. So much temptation for poor Batman.
These are such brilliant Batman and Detective comics stories full of high stakes adventure, romance, danger, mystery and the most fascinating locations all across the globe to make even James Bond jealous.
First appearance of Matches Malone and the Lazarus pit. First appearance of Molly Post. Iconic panel of Batman and Talia kissing by Neil Adams.
Ras Al Ghul is one of my favourite Batman Villains. The stories by Dennis O'Neil and Neil Adams and Irv Novick are amongst my all time favourite Batman tales.
This paperback contains the best Dark Knight stories from the 70's which revived the legend of the Batman after the campy 1960's comics. This shows the Dark Knight as the greatest detective facing off against his greatest nemesis Ras and the beautiful and irresistible Talia Al Ghul. So much temptation for poor Batman.
These are such brilliant Batman and Detective comics stories full of high stakes adventure, romance, danger, mystery and the most fascinating locations all across the globe to make even James Bond jealous.
August 2, 2025
I liked the majority of this. It was fun reading the way the Batman was originally. He is dark of course but at the same time he has a lot of funny quips that he says throughout his battles.
There was no real mystery to a lot of these but it was fine just watching Batman chase down Ra’s Al Ghul. Worth the read just to see the origins of the League of Assassins. And some of the like art in this is really good actually.
There was no real mystery to a lot of these but it was fine just watching Batman chase down Ra’s Al Ghul. Worth the read just to see the origins of the League of Assassins. And some of the like art in this is really good actually.
April 6, 2020
This was so much fun! I’ve always loved the al Ghul’s and started reading Batman: Birth of the Demon, but felt like I was missing too much, so I looked for a collected addition with the origin of Batman & the al Ghul’s & found this.
As a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, it was interesting to see the original stories compared with the excellent adaptations. Most of these issues actually felt like I was reading episode scripts, they were fast, interesting, & kept me wanting more. It was interesting seeing the development of Batman & Talia’s relationship, and his antagonism against Ra’s. I loved how dramatic Batman is & how he described like everything here. I love that random lady, Molly Post who knocks Batman down & tackles Talia (for that alone, you should this). I want to see more Molly Post—she was great! I also liked that Mongolian guy who helped Batman, Lo Ling—he was cool. I just really enjoyed this! It was so fun!
I haven’t read many comics that came out before the 1980s because it was a generally more campy era of comics & there’s always a fear that I’ll get bored or not get the comics because of the generational gaps in between (I was born in the late 90s). However, again, I find myself realizing I get in my head for no reason except delaying something I might really enjoy, like Casablanca, Roman Holiday, The Godfather, and this story.
Now I don’t like the last three issues of this collection very much. I didn’t find the stories as interesting & both made me uncomfortable in some way. The main one I didn’t like was the issue “I Now Pronounce You Batman & Wife” because it was just problematic. Any marriage that only requires one person’s consent is sketchy at best, I know this is an older comic and the al Ghul’s have Middle Eastern ancestry, but it’s still weird & feels wrong. Also, Batman hits Talia to knock her out, which sure he apologizes, but my god, why does Batman hit so many people? Also how was this not turned into a meme, like with Robin? Or a serious problem, like Hank Pym? I don’t get it.
Also, didn’t like that racist Asian caricature called ‘The Sensei’. I know it was the 70s, but even then, it was racist & they knew it. Also, he was just so annoying and really, didn’t enjoy those two stories with him (not just because his racist portrayal, the story just wasn’t as interesting to me).
But overall, I had a lot fun these stories, but less enjoyment from the last few. Still would recommend, especially if you’re a fan of Ra’s and Talia al Ghul, or if you want to see Batman get knocked over by some random bystander, check it out.
As a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, it was interesting to see the original stories compared with the excellent adaptations. Most of these issues actually felt like I was reading episode scripts, they were fast, interesting, & kept me wanting more. It was interesting seeing the development of Batman & Talia’s relationship, and his antagonism against Ra’s. I loved how dramatic Batman is & how he described like everything here. I love that random lady, Molly Post who knocks Batman down & tackles Talia (for that alone, you should this). I want to see more Molly Post—she was great! I also liked that Mongolian guy who helped Batman, Lo Ling—he was cool. I just really enjoyed this! It was so fun!
I haven’t read many comics that came out before the 1980s because it was a generally more campy era of comics & there’s always a fear that I’ll get bored or not get the comics because of the generational gaps in between (I was born in the late 90s). However, again, I find myself realizing I get in my head for no reason except delaying something I might really enjoy, like Casablanca, Roman Holiday, The Godfather, and this story.
Now I don’t like the last three issues of this collection very much. I didn’t find the stories as interesting & both made me uncomfortable in some way. The main one I didn’t like was the issue “I Now Pronounce You Batman & Wife” because it was just problematic. Any marriage that only requires one person’s consent is sketchy at best, I know this is an older comic and the al Ghul’s have Middle Eastern ancestry, but it’s still weird & feels wrong. Also, Batman hits Talia to knock her out, which sure he apologizes, but my god, why does Batman hit so many people? Also how was this not turned into a meme, like with Robin? Or a serious problem, like Hank Pym? I don’t get it.
Also, didn’t like that racist Asian caricature called ‘The Sensei’. I know it was the 70s, but even then, it was racist & they knew it. Also, he was just so annoying and really, didn’t enjoy those two stories with him (not just because his racist portrayal, the story just wasn’t as interesting to me).
But overall, I had a lot fun these stories, but less enjoyment from the last few. Still would recommend, especially if you’re a fan of Ra’s and Talia al Ghul, or if you want to see Batman get knocked over by some random bystander, check it out.
September 25, 2024
It's quite curious that I like this compilation of Dennis O'Neil's Batman stories surrounding Ra's Al Ghul that came out over the whole 70s decade, more than some of the more acclaimed Batman comics. The '70s was when Batman was trying to be a bit serious again, I guess. But it was more about moving away from the goofy versions from the 60s and not exactly the very dark version that would be reimagined by the likes of Frank Miller and Alan Moore in the 80s. Here, Batman shows his emotions, makes mistakes, and is openly proud of his abilities. It really marks that era where the comics try to hold the hands of the readers at a lot of points. But a compilation such as this is able to work with that in a way that's not possible if you just try to read every comic in order. Here, the core story of the conflict and relationship between Batman, Ra's and Talia are in focus, and the story spread over a decade comes together beautifully. It has got all the signs of the time but nothing is too much because of it being spread and not exactly the month-to-month releases. The focus on Batman being a detective this much is something I haven't really read before because I've mostly read famous stories where he has to be a detective but not too much. But here, there are so many instances where he has to be a detective. Also, a lot of this was outside Gotham, so that was also refreshing to read. It was really fun to read the beginnings of so many of the, now classic characters and storylines.
August 9, 2019
This is a nice little collection of the first 10 or so stories introducing Ra's and Talia Al Ghul. Not all of them are dynamite, but they do set the foundation for everything that will happen with these characters for years to come. The creation of Ra's Al Ghul is a fantastic addition to the Batman mythos, as he is a villain who has such a level of respect for Batman. Ra's can't harm Batman because he believes Batman should/will be his successor and will marry his daughter Talia. The fact that Talia is so infatuated with Batman also keeps her from letting Batman be killed. That doesn't stop Batman from trying to thwart their evil schemes however, so it all plays out like a never ending chess match between three very intelligent and capable characters that will continue for many years. Other than Talia and Ra's, we get appearances by The Sensei, the Bronze Tiger, Ubu, and the all-powerful Lazarus Pit that will all hold importance in the future of Batman's life. Art is solid of course, a lot of it is done by Neal Adams who is fantastic. The writing is pretty much what you expect from the 70's, however Dennis O'Neil's grimmer Batman is a very nice step in the right direction, and his ideas and plotlines are fun even if the actual dialogue is hit-or-miss. If you are a Batman fan, these stories are important. Get them.
July 16, 2022
*3.5
This was fine. I didn’t really find that many stories too interesting or entertaining. I’m not a huge fan of Detective Comics. But I love Talia Al Ghul, and the way Bruce x Talia was written before Gr*nt Morrison started writing them is so well done. Ra’s Al Ghul is also, probably, my favorite *comic* Batman villain (I’d say live action wise, it’d be 2022 Riddler), so seeing his and Talia’s early stories and introduction was really fun. The last few stories were good as well as the first few. Everything else was just above mediocre. Not bad, but not great either. Still an enjoyable reading experience overall. I love reading old DC stuff, it’s so much better than old Marvel.
This was fine. I didn’t really find that many stories too interesting or entertaining. I’m not a huge fan of Detective Comics. But I love Talia Al Ghul, and the way Bruce x Talia was written before Gr*nt Morrison started writing them is so well done. Ra’s Al Ghul is also, probably, my favorite *comic* Batman villain (I’d say live action wise, it’d be 2022 Riddler), so seeing his and Talia’s early stories and introduction was really fun. The last few stories were good as well as the first few. Everything else was just above mediocre. Not bad, but not great either. Still an enjoyable reading experience overall. I love reading old DC stuff, it’s so much better than old Marvel.
March 11, 2024
This included 4 parts and each had 2 stories of Batman's first encounters with Ra's Al-ghul . Funnily i had seen the first 2 and the penultimate story detailed in this book in Batman the animated series , which was a pleasant surprise to learn , since i never knew that Batman TAS drew episodes with direct inspiration from comics .
That said , the action was copious and entertaining , the story telling was fast paced and often displayed Batman's intellectual strength which always feels more cool to see than him punching 10 thugs with ease .
That said , a few chapters in the middle felt like they were dragged and slow and there were quite a few plot convenience
That said , the action was copious and entertaining , the story telling was fast paced and often displayed Batman's intellectual strength which always feels more cool to see than him punching 10 thugs with ease .
That said , a few chapters in the middle felt like they were dragged and slow and there were quite a few plot convenience
February 17, 2020
This was not as compelling as I thought it would be. The preface would have you believing this was a turning-point -- when Batman went dark. But I didn't get that, nor any real weight to these stories at all.
They try to play up the relationship between Batman and Ra's as epic and super adversarial and the one between Batman and Talia as super dark and passionate, and I'm just like "Ok, if you say so." Because the book does say so. It's just not supported in what's actually there.
So meh.
They try to play up the relationship between Batman and Ra's as epic and super adversarial and the one between Batman and Talia as super dark and passionate, and I'm just like "Ok, if you say so." Because the book does say so. It's just not supported in what's actually there.
So meh.
December 13, 2019
Old and old-fashioned now (over 20 years separate these tales and those of the Batman and Damian Robin era!), but valuable background on an arch-foe-'friend', a daughter-lover-mother-foe, and the Batman himself. So-so art, some corny dialog, yet some decent storytelling. Probably should only be read by completists, collectors, and newbies.
July 29, 2025
This is iconic! I genuinely got so much joy out of reading these classic stories!
May 13, 2023
3.5 stars
August 11, 2024
It’s Denny O’Neill, of course it’s brilliant. Ra’s Al Ghul has been one of my favorite Batman villains for years but I had never read all of the original O’Neill-penned storylines involving him until reading this omnibus. A must read for Batman fans, even if it suffers from some of the silly yet understandable stylings of a comic published in the 70s.
May 5, 2020
Goofy fun from an era of the character where I've not previously spent much time. It's hilarious the number of times this strip features Batman wearing the cowl in incongruous situations: stripped to the waist for a sword duel, in the hospital, while skiing, while climbing mountains, etc. Seeing Batman banter is deeply weird.
February 24, 2021
The stories contained in this volume are really fun to read. However, the collection itself leaves much to be desired, as alot of the stories collected here are left without resolution, which makes for a very grating reading experience.
The artwork is very much of its time, but it's aged suprisingly well. The artists deliver pretty good work. Very impressed with how it holds up even today.
I would have prefered if they had collected all the issues pertainning to Batman's earlier clashes with the Al Ghul's in two volumes, instead of just gathering bits and pieces from issues, which leaves some stories unresolved. Hopefully one day, they will properlycollect them all in a complete and comprehensive collection.
The artwork is very much of its time, but it's aged suprisingly well. The artists deliver pretty good work. Very impressed with how it holds up even today.
I would have prefered if they had collected all the issues pertainning to Batman's earlier clashes with the Al Ghul's in two volumes, instead of just gathering bits and pieces from issues, which leaves some stories unresolved. Hopefully one day, they will properlycollect them all in a complete and comprehensive collection.
July 5, 2024
I am reviewing the original 1991 book, not the horrifically recolored 2000s edition. A game of cat and mouse. Batman the detective at the top of his game.
This review is about the 2005 recolored edition:
When I was a small child, I loved Batman. I watched re-runs of the '60s TV series, watched the Superfriends cartoons, had the 8" Mego doll, the whole bit. Along the way, I was convinced that Marvel ruled and DC sucked, likely from the influence of others. The occasional glance at the Distinguished Competition's '80s output confirmed this belief. Here is where I officially and publicly rescind my disliking of DC Comics. These stories are every bit as good as what Marvel was doing at the time. Dennis O'Neil crafts some first class stories, and the artwork by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano (among others) is top notch as well.
The thing that I like the most about these issues is that while Batman fights Ra's Al Ghul physically, most of their fighting is a psychological game of cat and mouse and manipulation. It works on so many levels and is so good on all of them.
The only negative thing that i can say about this book is the modern re-coloring, which appears dark and murky. I guess that earlier printings have the original color palette. I wish that I had known that when I picked this up.
This review is about the 2005 recolored edition:
When I was a small child, I loved Batman. I watched re-runs of the '60s TV series, watched the Superfriends cartoons, had the 8" Mego doll, the whole bit. Along the way, I was convinced that Marvel ruled and DC sucked, likely from the influence of others. The occasional glance at the Distinguished Competition's '80s output confirmed this belief. Here is where I officially and publicly rescind my disliking of DC Comics. These stories are every bit as good as what Marvel was doing at the time. Dennis O'Neil crafts some first class stories, and the artwork by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano (among others) is top notch as well.
The thing that I like the most about these issues is that while Batman fights Ra's Al Ghul physically, most of their fighting is a psychological game of cat and mouse and manipulation. It works on so many levels and is so good on all of them.
The only negative thing that i can say about this book is the modern re-coloring, which appears dark and murky. I guess that earlier printings have the original color palette. I wish that I had known that when I picked this up.
July 4, 2012
I've never been that crazy about Denny O'Neil. Honestly, I think most of his reputation rests on the fact that his work came out at a pretty dire time for Batman comics and must have been a breath of fresh air by comparison, and that he got paired with one of the all-time greats on pencils. His stories are nice in theory: they're street-level and gritty (in contrast to silver age Batman), they take place in exotic locales and they have mystery and thrills, but they fall apart on even the slightest amount of inspection. The "mysteries", the plot twists, hell the whole mechanics of the plots make absolutely no sense if you take even a minute to think about them. And while I guess it gets by on being dumb fun, there's always a sense of wasted potential in O'Neil's writing. Shit was always so close to being good and just missed it. Ra's al Ghul is super interesting in concept, but the delivery here is lacking.
But oh yeah, Neil fucking Adams drew this. Neal Adams, second only to Kirby in the pantheon of super-hero artists. Everything Adams drew in the 60s and 70s looks amazing and is worth your time, including this. And whatever his faults as a writer, O'Neil did give him some neat stuff to draw.
But oh yeah, Neil fucking Adams drew this. Neal Adams, second only to Kirby in the pantheon of super-hero artists. Everything Adams drew in the 60s and 70s looks amazing and is worth your time, including this. And whatever his faults as a writer, O'Neil did give him some neat stuff to draw.
September 25, 2010
This is a collection of the earliest Ra's Al Ghul stories written by Dennis O'Neil. Ra's has never been my favorite villain and I find the father/daughter relationship between him and Talia to be disturbing. This compilation did nothing to change my mind. Also, I don't understand the relationship between Talia and Batman. I don't think that they are right for each other. In my mind, Batman only belongs with Catwoman and even then...never more than a nighttime dalliance that builds to a kiss. Talia just seems like a crazy b who has some major daddy issues.
November 8, 2021
The comic book issues in this collection are pretty good, they just don't form the most cohesive story when put together like this. Back when these stories were first printed, a lot of writers tried to make each issue its own self-contained story, which isn't great when each issue is about 15-20 pages long.
There's no question that Denny O'Neil was a great writer, but some of these stories seem to end in an abrupt manner. Also, some of them barely featured Ra's or Talia al-Ghul at all!
All in all, this book is good for what it is, but in my opinion, it's by no means a classic.
There's no question that Denny O'Neil was a great writer, but some of these stories seem to end in an abrupt manner. Also, some of them barely featured Ra's or Talia al-Ghul at all!
All in all, this book is good for what it is, but in my opinion, it's by no means a classic.
April 26, 2024
This is one of those comic book collections that's a great piece of history but takes a certain type of brain to properly enjoy. O'Neil deserves credit for making Batman the character we think of today, in large part due to how he shepherded him all the way from the post-Adam West era of the early 70s to the post-Frank Miller era of the early 90s. Such a long career means reading O'Neil's Batman stuff can feel like doing cultural archaeology— you can see standards changing throughout his work, often due to efforts he himself spearheaded. This trade paperback is a representative of "earlier" O'Neil stuff which doesn't fit the modern sensibility well. But if you're interested in missing links in the evolution of Batman which aren't well captured by his movie counterparts, this is a great read despite the dated sensibilities.
"Tales of the Demon" is a particularly good representative sampler of 1970s O'Neil Batman because it focuses on a Batman villain who endured but represented a new innovation rather than a return to the "pre-Hays Code gangster flick" villains. (That said, returning violent gangsters to Batman stories is another aspect of O'Neil's 70s comic-writing that's much appreciated.) Overall, "Tales of the Demon" feels similar to the most enduring of 70s exploitation cinema. Ra's al Ghul himself at this stage is very knockoff "Bond villain", and Talia feels very "Bond girl". Like characters in exploitation cinema, Ra's, Talia, and Batman are usually shallow here, without being able to embody the depth or wit of the expensive films which are being mined for ideas. Yet like the best of exploitation cinema, the whole affair is carried by the strength of the premises. Batman-as-Bond is a genius direction to take things. The set pieces are interesting beyond the cardboard characterizations that are managed. Although things are merely in embryo, it's easy to see how stories like these signaled to writers that there are far more things that can be done with Batman— and superhero comics in general— than have been tried.
"Tales of the Demon" is a particularly good representative sampler of 1970s O'Neil Batman because it focuses on a Batman villain who endured but represented a new innovation rather than a return to the "pre-Hays Code gangster flick" villains. (That said, returning violent gangsters to Batman stories is another aspect of O'Neil's 70s comic-writing that's much appreciated.) Overall, "Tales of the Demon" feels similar to the most enduring of 70s exploitation cinema. Ra's al Ghul himself at this stage is very knockoff "Bond villain", and Talia feels very "Bond girl". Like characters in exploitation cinema, Ra's, Talia, and Batman are usually shallow here, without being able to embody the depth or wit of the expensive films which are being mined for ideas. Yet like the best of exploitation cinema, the whole affair is carried by the strength of the premises. Batman-as-Bond is a genius direction to take things. The set pieces are interesting beyond the cardboard characterizations that are managed. Although things are merely in embryo, it's easy to see how stories like these signaled to writers that there are far more things that can be done with Batman— and superhero comics in general— than have been tried.
February 24, 2025
Despite being a collection of classic issues of Batman/Detective Comics this unfortunately falls flat in both storytelling and character portrayal. While the book has historical significance in Batman’s mythos, it ultimately feels bogged down by excessive exposition and an unrecognizable version of the Dark Knight.
One of the biggest issues is Batman himself. He doesn’t act, think, or behave like the Batman we know and love. His characterization feels off, making it hard to stay invested. His relationship with Talia is equally unconvincing, lacking the depth or chemistry that should make it compelling. Ra’s al Ghul, despite being one of Batman’s most formidable foes, is rushed as a character, never fully developing into the complex villain he should be.
The writing is overly wordy, dragging down the pacing and making the book feel like a chore to get through. The narration and dialogue often explain things unnecessarily, taking away from the natural flow of the story. While the art style is a redeeming quality, it isn’t enough to save the book from its structural flaws.
Overall, Tales of the Demon may appeal to die-hard fans (or not, in my case) who want to see the early Ra’s al Ghul stories, but for those looking for a compelling Batman story, this collection is disappointing. The writing and pacing make it a slog, and the uncharacteristic portrayal of Batman makes it difficult to enjoy.
One of the biggest issues is Batman himself. He doesn’t act, think, or behave like the Batman we know and love. His characterization feels off, making it hard to stay invested. His relationship with Talia is equally unconvincing, lacking the depth or chemistry that should make it compelling. Ra’s al Ghul, despite being one of Batman’s most formidable foes, is rushed as a character, never fully developing into the complex villain he should be.
The writing is overly wordy, dragging down the pacing and making the book feel like a chore to get through. The narration and dialogue often explain things unnecessarily, taking away from the natural flow of the story. While the art style is a redeeming quality, it isn’t enough to save the book from its structural flaws.
Overall, Tales of the Demon may appeal to die-hard fans (or not, in my case) who want to see the early Ra’s al Ghul stories, but for those looking for a compelling Batman story, this collection is disappointing. The writing and pacing make it a slog, and the uncharacteristic portrayal of Batman makes it difficult to enjoy.
November 2, 2020
Usually, I don't like reading older comics because they are filled with racist, chauvinistic, and/or jingoist language that gets really hard to ignore. But sometimes, my curiosity propels me enough that I finish reading one. Batman: Tales of the Demon was one of those. Recently I decided to start reading more DC comics since I've been giving almost my entire focus to Marvel comics. And to do that, I planned on going back to the old comics before Crisis on Infinite Earths and get a bit acquainted with the heroes of the time. My perusal took me to a handful of issues that centered around the introduction of Ra's al Ghoul and his daughter Talia and the transformation of Batman into the Dark Knight we are more familiar with.
This handful of comics were written by Denny O'Neil, an author I don't have a very high opinion of since he was one of those responsible for setting back feminism in comics by stripping Wonder Woman of her powers in the '60s. Anyway, despite his own recognition that almost none of the comic writers of the time would admit to taking comics seriously, he managed to write a cohesive narrative that doesn't rely too much on coincidences and deus ex machina. It's kind of a fun story. Admittedly, you have to ignore the offhanded racist or chauvinistic remarks now and then to be able to find any enjoyment in reading this collection.
This handful of comics were written by Denny O'Neil, an author I don't have a very high opinion of since he was one of those responsible for setting back feminism in comics by stripping Wonder Woman of her powers in the '60s. Anyway, despite his own recognition that almost none of the comic writers of the time would admit to taking comics seriously, he managed to write a cohesive narrative that doesn't rely too much on coincidences and deus ex machina. It's kind of a fun story. Admittedly, you have to ignore the offhanded racist or chauvinistic remarks now and then to be able to find any enjoyment in reading this collection.
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