Each of these stories combine to form a wonderful book . The art in each story is drastically different but each vision is fully conceptualized and realized. I was engrossed by each of these small windows into the life of Batman and I think this is a fantastic start to a new series. I can not recommend it highly enough. Read Full Review

The five separate stories were very refreshing in comparison to the sort of dragged out long-winded over arcs in the main stories. This was a very nice distraction from wondering what's going on with Bane and why he's hanging out with Psycho Pirate since Batman #50. Read Full Review

If you're new to the BATMAN series, or just want to dive a little deeper into Bruce's world, this is a story I'd recommend! Read Full Review

To reiterate, the reason we keep getting Batman stories is because there never seems to be enough of them. They go in so many different directions and speak to something unabashedly human that we as the reader connect to as we follow along on the panels and pages. Read Full Review

Looking at the entire issue as a whole: I really like the idea, and everything was well executed. Some stories were superior to others, but it was an all-around fun read. Read Full Review

Jordie Bellaire, Jill Thompson, Cheryl Lynn Eaton and Elena Casagrande contribute to the other two stories that involve Wayne Tech in a gang dominated area of Gotham and a hunt for Man-Bat. There's no bad story in the bunch and is a supplemental Batman book that's worth checking out. Read Full Review

Overall, Batman Secret Files comes out a winner, combining a new tale by regular writer Tom King with four stories by up-and-coming and new-to-DC writers. Read Full Review

Its not like one is going to learn any new secrets about Batman from these files, but they do make for a decent read. Read Full Review

A very good side-step to the Batman canon, allowing for even more material than books like "Detective Comics" can offer in one shot. Read Full Review

Short stories around one character in a wider universe have a lot of freedom. You can say a lot without really risking anything, because they're not part of a wider narrative. The many talents that contributed to this issue were able to ask brave questions and I respect that effort in this collection. Read Full Review

An interesting look at the dynamic between these two detectives and how they work together. It also gives Detective Chimp some fun, character building moments. Read Full Review

With an incredible amount of heart in just a few short pages, I found myself relating with Detective Chimp more than I'd ever thought. Read Full Review

Kudos to DC for putting this selection together and choosing a bunch of creators who put together a good showing. Read Full Review

Batman Secret Files #1 is a highly entertaining comic that features five fun stories. There are some real gems in this anthology, and while it's true that some of these gems overshadow somewhat weaker stories, I think that every one is worth reading, even if it's just for the artwork, which is of high quality throughout the book. If you're a Batman fan, and particularly enjoy detective stories, then you'll likely love this anthology. Enthusiastically recommended! Read Full Review

Overall, this is a mixed bag, with a tad more good than bad. They should have cut out the second and third stories and expanded on the others. But this is a enjoyable read overall. Read Full Review

Batman Secret Files (2018) #1 feels like an experiment more than it does a cohesive collection of stories; however, Tom Taylor teams the Dark Knight with Detective Chimp in a tale worthy of its own mini-series. There's not necessarily something here for everyone,but Bat-fans may enjoy a story or two. Read Full Review

It's a fun and interesting book, and DC should definitely consider doing an ongoing anthology series. And hey, why do just Batman? I would love to see similar books with other characters. Read Full Review

BATMAN: SECRET FILES #1 is a great collection of shorts for longtime Bat-fans, or anyone looking for a more deconstructive take on the character and superhero tropes. I recommend it. Read Full Review

BATMAN SECRET FILES #1 may not give away any real secrets, but it provides a series of solid stories and introduces readers to creators they will not have normally had a chance to experience. Read Full Review

Batman Secret Files #1 is a primarily an exploration into the internal struggles of Bruce Wayne as Batman. It is a collection of stories that each delve into personal aspects such as fear and retribution that help to define the character of Batman and his relentless quest for justice. Though the artistic quality fluctuates, it's well worth reading for any fan of the Worlds Greatest Detective. Read Full Review

Batman Secret Files #1 works well enough for what it is at its very nature: a collection of work. The quality varies greatly from poor to excellent. Two of the stories fail to hit their mark, two stories are solid outings, and one is highly successful. Despite the various quality of work, the issue is worth a read, serving as a litmus test of creative combinations that could be commissioned for future Batman outings. Read Full Review

This is one of those issues that may not be essential reading but has some things to like. Tom Taylor's Detective Chimp story steals the show and made it all worthwhile. If you are looking for something to buy on this Annuals week, you might want to check this out...just don't go in expecting too much. Read Full Review

I would have preferred that if they were going to make this a Secret Files book, I think there should have been more connective tissue between the individual stories. Batman Secret Files #1 stands with the other recent anthology books that DC has published, and while I dont think that every single story was a home run, theres enough value to make this book worth the time to read it. Read Full Review

Great stuff. I would love to have this on a monthly basis featuring different DC heroes.

With this you can’t do anything wrong. You are getting two great stories& a few good stories& only 1 bad story. The one with Scarecrow ( even so he himself unfortunately is only mentioned) was my favorite. The idea of how his fear gas works on normal humans isn’t anything new, but the way Batman was portrayed& the dark ending was interesting& also kind of funny, if you have a thing for black humor.
The Detective Chimp story was great too& you are going to see Batman& Detective Chimp doing detective work together. I especially liked the ending.
The cabin& drone stories aren’t anything special, but still entertaining.
The only real bad story is the one written by Tom King. The way he portrayed Superman seems just wrong to me, because Superman respects Bruce& also humans, so I can’t see him mocking Batman by suggesting him to gain more powers. In my opinion this story should have been left out& instead character bios of the heroes/ villains should have been put in this issue like it was in the old Secret Files. Or interviews with the villains in Arkham would have been a nice idea too. more

Tom King story is fucking atrocious. But rest of them are interesting.

I didn't plan to take this issue. This is thanks to the sneak Peek that I was interested on this.
True Stenght show a Bruce with some pain in his wrists. I didn't like it, and don't know what King try to tell there. Janin is a strange choice, more cold that I remember.
The Nature of choice - If the art isn't my style, I find this story really good. And the art made a good job specially on the hallucination part.
O'ne - Could have been more clear. I cannot tell if lucius is implicated or not. If he is I find Batman very calm in front of this treason. And at the end I don't know if we see the drone chase in real time or the replay.
Enough - Is enough. I really hate this one. I didn't recognize Thompson at all.
The Greatest Detective & Batman - Is a worth Buying itself. It's fun, intelligent, very good. Tom Taylor is a hell of a Writer as always. And the art is easily the better.

Notation :
Cover - I like the mix between floppy & metal (But just the bats). Really good art even if not in link. 1/2
Writings - Some good, some bad, and a really good. 2/3
Arts - Some good, some not very god and a magnificent part. 2.5/3
Feeling - I don't regret taking this. I'm just surprise to not find any heroes or villain files for a title like this one. 2/2
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Every anthology book is a mixed bag, this is no exception.

I think perhaps the story that irked me the most was the one written by Jodie Bellaire, in part because Gotham is canonically a goddamn island, not a place next to the rocky mountains!

I thought some of these were better than others, but I really liked the last one, so 6/10.

There's almost an equalizing amount of ups and downs in this anthology. The Tom King story, in true Tom King fashion, squanders away an interesting idea but I guess this anthology really needed that framing... (that's sarcasm). The scarecrow story was pretty good. I liked the ending because it's dark, if not at all original. The drone story was not good. I just didn't find it compelling. The cabin story was okay, but I don't think the ending hit the mark like it should've. The Detective Chimp story was great though. Tom Taylor is a really good writer and he manages to make the ending land.

Unfortunately, it's just not very good. The Tom King story is horrible (as usual for King).