Batman Highlights in DC Vault
Monday, September 08, 2008 3:02:03 PM

Back cover showcasing the interior's contents

THE DC VAULT (Oct 2008)

Comic and movie fans know that the Dark Knight is a star with a long history. Running Press is getting ready to celebrate that history as part of their DC Vault release. Scheduled to ship in October the spiral bound hardcover takes the reader back to the very earliest days of the publishing company’s entry into the comic world. You can find out more about the book at Running Press.

The book, written by Martin Pasko with a forward by Paul Ovitz, President and Publisher of DC Comics, contains images, art, and promotional recreations from the entire history of DC. The book not only tells the story of one of America’s most solid and successful publishing houses, but it also walks through the history of America. From the early days of the pulps in the Depression to World War II and into the turmoil of the 1960s and early 1970s, Pasko doesn’t miss a beat on the cultural and historical landscape. 

Batman has been an important part of the DC Universe since his debut in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). The DC Vault takes the reader back to the very beginnings of Batman with stories from Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson. There is even a quick look at a Batman story written by Gardner Fox for Detective Comics #32 that featured Batman fighting vampires! 

The book opens with a full color reprint of the seldom seen Batman: Secrets of the Batcave litho by Dick Sprang. Created in 1994 and limited to 500 copies, the litho is a much sought after collectible. One of the most notable, never before seen pieces is a pastel created as a poster for the Batman movie in 1988. There are several other important Batman related collectibles and images to be found in the book.  

You can see more interior art from the book as well as read more of the details for the release in the Scoop articles "Celebrate DC History with Running Press" and "Running Press Details DC History in DC Vault."