Batman Masterpieces retells a story that became an instant classic when it first appeared in the DC Comics/Fleer Master Series card set: the murder of Batman. Narrative and art--spectacular paintings by some of today's best comic and fantasy artists and reproduced here for the first time in larger than trading-card size--combine to present a fully realized vision of the Dark Knight's world. Yet the book is much more than a coffee-table version of a trading-card set. As the story progresses, it becomes increasingly clear why Batman, his foes the Joker and Catwoman, and Gotham city itself are among the most well-known fictional creations of the twentieth century: They come alive on the page because they are alive in the minds of the writers and artists who collaborate to tell their stories. Doug Moench's narrative goes beyond the usual trading-card text, featuring brief but vivid biographical sketches of most of the major supporting characters and villains whose paths have crossed Batman's. In a wonderfully twisty sequence, the Joker, on the trail of Batman's killer, imagines himself "Sherlock Jokes," and the deranged trickster delivers hilarious mad monologues as he ponders the demise of his dear-departed nemesis. The book also illuminates the creative process, revealing how top fantasy artists go from idea to image. Ruth Morrison interviewed the artists about every painting used in the main card set. Their observations range from general reactions to the art directions, to how they went about the practical task of turning concept into finished illustration, to some specific tips on medium, color use, and technique.

Based on a trading card series from DC Comics. Batman created by Bob Kane. Featuring art by Carl Critchlow, Duncan Fegredo, Scott Hampton, and Dermot Power.