Batman comics' popularity before the 70 or 80s

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Usually when Batman fans talk about his comics, they always seem to refer to comics that came out in the 80s and beyond, such as The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, A Death in the Family, The Killing Joke, Knightfall, The Long Halloween, The Court of The Owls/Night of the Owls, etc. But no one ever seems to talk about the comics before the mid-70s or early 80s. Like from 1939 to the 70s.

Do any of you consider his comics before the more popular titles relevant or interesting? Or are they just relics of their time?

[Redeemer]

Definitely One of the most importance comics in all of Batman was introduced in 71' Batman 232 Daughter of the Demon.
Done by Neal Adams and Dennis O'neil
This was the first appearance and creation of Ra's Al Ghoul!!!!!
This book introduces Talia, Ra's, League of Assassins and eventually spawns Damian Wayne the latest Robin.
Also during this time Batman is started to be considered a more serious character and Batman was breaking away from his silver age/ Batman 66' self. The 70's was defiantly a significant period for the Batman Comics!!

[ZariusTwo]

Steve Englehart's run at the time was fantastic. The animated series even adapted his finale "The Laughing Fish"

As good as he is, Englehart is a weirdo...he takes credit for everything the animated series and movies did later.

[Spike Spiegel]

I really enjoy the Adams/O'Neil run, along with the aforementioned Englehart stuff.

I think the late Marshall Rogers might be my favorite Batman artist ever.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Why do you suppose that no one seems to ever talk about the earlier comics from the 40s to 50s, though? The only time I ever hear them brought up is when they say Batman used to kill. Do you think they're irrelevant to some?

[Spike Spiegel]

I've read some of the early Kane/Finger stories, but the Silver Age era after the publishing of "Seduction of the Innocent" and the implementation of the Comics Code isn't all that interesting to me. It was written for children, after all.

I think the Golden Age stuff has a historical relevance that goes beyond that.

Early 60s Marvel (the first issues of Fantastic Four, for instance) is about as close to the Silver Age as I like to get.