Orphan Bruce Wayne swore to strike fear into the hearts of the criminals ruling the streets of Gotham City -- and the mysterious legend of Batman was born. This definitive celebration of one of the world's most popular fictional heroes contains full details of the extraordinary events and bizarre and sinister characters in Batman's thrilling career. Created by Bob Kane in the late 1930s, Batman is on the of the world's greatest fictional heroes. "The Caped Crusader," "The Dark Knight," "The Guardian of Gotham" -- each generation has coined its own favorite nickname to describe this ultimate crime fighter as he wages war on a gallery of bizarre villains. For Batman: the Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight, DK Publishing has been permitted unparalleled access to the archives of DC Comics, shapers of the Batman legend.