The inimitable Darwyn Cooke showcases the best of his work in the Batman world in BATMAN: EGO AND OTHER TAILS. Given that this collection contains his acclaimed CATWOMAN: SELINA’S BIG SCORE graphic novel in its entirety, plus several more stories should be all the reason you need to buy.

Not only his first Batman story, but also his first work for DC, the BATMAN: EGO one-shot kicks off the book. It’s an unexpectedly dark tale of The Dark Knight battling – at least verbally – his own ego, here rendered as a bat-eared shadow with horrendous teeth. Batman wonders if he shouldn’t just throw in the cowl and call it quits; his ego urges him to go the extra mile and end it all.

SELINA’S BIG SCORE comprises the largest section. After hearing so much about it over the years, it’s tough not to be a little disappointed by it, even if I totally appreciate its uniqueness. Although not appearing as Catwoman – save for a few flashback panels – Selina Kyle plots a train robbery with a few friends in this hard-boiled heist thriller. It’s authentic, with Lee Marvin and Pam Grier archetypes, locales ranging from Vegas to Miami, and an unhappy ending.

Four shorter stories round out the book, including two black-and-whiters that feel a little experimental, which is to your benefit – especially the quasi-parody “The Monument,” with art from the great Bill Wray. The also-great Tim Sale illustrates “Date Night,” a light-on-dialogu, heavy-on-invention pas de deux between Batman and an amorous Catwoman, originally seen in the late, lamented SOLO series. Also from that title is “Déjà Vu,” in which Batman sees eerie parallels in a crime to the one that took his parents and made him the conflicted hero he is today.

A Catwoman pinup – gleefully spoofing the glamour-girl style of Bill Ward – and a couple of covers from BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES pepper the proceedings, and one in particular – #79 – is so much fun to look at, I wish I could frame it.

As a writer, artist or both, Cooke operates at the top of his game. His sleek, angular style – fueled by noir and retro influences – is instantly identifiable, and one of the best things about comics today. If you’ve never tried his work, this is a good start, but so is THE NEW FRONTIER or THE SPIRIT. –Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• BATMAN/THE SPIRIT by Darwyn Cooke