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Batman
Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City
Batman Unauthorized explores Batman's motivations and actions, as well as those of his foes. Batman is a creature of the night, more about vengeance than justice, more plagued by doubts than full of self-assurance, and more darkness than light. He has no superpowers, just skill, drive and a really well-made suit.
One of the most recognized superheroes ever created, Batman has survived through campy TV shows and films, through actors such as Adam West, Michael Keaton and Christian Bale. Batman Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City covers expansive territory ranging from the silly to the solemn. Why is the Joker so good at pushing Batman's buttons? What does Batman's technology say about the times? Why are Batman's villains crazier than average? And why is Batman the perfect, iconic American hero?
One of the most recognized superheroes ever created, Batman has survived through campy TV shows and films, through actors such as Adam West, Michael Keaton and Christian Bale. Batman Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City covers expansive territory ranging from the silly to the solemn. Why is the Joker so good at pushing Batman's buttons? What does Batman's technology say about the times? Why are Batman's villains crazier than average? And why is Batman the perfect, iconic American hero?
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2008
8 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Alan J. Porter
50 books14 followersAlan J. Porter has been a regular writer on various aspects of popular culture and technology for over fifteen years.
He is best known as a writer of pop-culture reference books, as well as a critically acclaimed Beatles biography, business books focused on content strategy, and various comics.
He is also an Editor-At-Large at RevolutionSF.com where he mainly writes movie reviews.
He is president and founder of 4Js Group - a Content Strategy consulting company focused on helping companies and organizations recognize and leverage their largest hidden asset, their content.
He is best known as a writer of pop-culture reference books, as well as a critically acclaimed Beatles biography, business books focused on content strategy, and various comics.
He is also an Editor-At-Large at RevolutionSF.com where he mainly writes movie reviews.
He is president and founder of 4Js Group - a Content Strategy consulting company focused on helping companies and organizations recognize and leverage their largest hidden asset, their content.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 3, 2018
Bruce Wayne has been Batman since 1939, nearly seven decades.
August 30, 2019
Enjoyed this quite a bit. I thought I'd left reading comments after some of the essays, but it seems not. I'm not going back to do so - I've been reading this over 6 years. That may seem bad, or that I was bored, but it's actually more a story of (a) being electronic, I read it a lot less often and (b) being electronic it got buried among all the other electronic downloads. Out of sight out of mind, as they say.
There were a few dumb essays in here, but for the vast majority it was a solid, even entertaining and informative, read. Some authors really know stuff and are smart; some are blowhards with obnoxious opinions. Worth a read if you enjoy The Batman or analyzing our infatuation with super heroes.
There were a few dumb essays in here, but for the vast majority it was a solid, even entertaining and informative, read. Some authors really know stuff and are smart; some are blowhards with obnoxious opinions. Worth a read if you enjoy The Batman or analyzing our infatuation with super heroes.
March 19, 2020
Critical essays useful for a Batman focused English elective. A variety of topics are explored: Batman and Joker's symbiotic relationship--exploration of all the different ages (golden, silver, and year one); Schumacher's failed film adaptation, Batman the neo-fascist, and even superhero puberty. The collection, released right after the third resurgence of the franchise, makes the conversation a decade too early. It would have been more interesting if the villains were explored in greater detail. A little less collegiate, a little more geek, then Batman Unauthorized would be the go-to for enjoyable Batman discourse.
You can learn a little bit from each essay, but not much more than a 5 second google search of the aforementioned topics would give you.
You can learn a little bit from each essay, but not much more than a 5 second google search of the aforementioned topics would give you.
February 13, 2012
For a while now, I've been a fan of the Smart Pop imprint of Benbella Books. They take an idea from pop culture--literature, movies or television, and get authors to write essays on that topic. I've enjoyed the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Superman, King Kong, and other Smart Pop Books, but somehow I missed their 2008 take on Batman until now.
Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City came out just before The Dark Knight. Edited by longtime Batman comics writer Dennis O'Neil, it's a (usually) entertaining look at the Caped Crusader through the lens of eighteen different authors. The 220-page paperback is a great one for casual reading; you can pick it up, read one essay, and then put it down again until you're ready to explore Batman further.
The essays range from serious literary criticism to historian-like explorations of Batman's origins to tongue-in-cheek looks at how much it would cost to "really" become Batman. And one rather shocking essay that had butler Alfred Pennyworth having "the talk" about the birds and the bees with Bruce Wayne in three different time periods. It was shocking, but it made me laugh...
Some of my favorite essays included here:
Keeping It Real in Gotham -- a treatise by Robert Brian Taylor begging authors to keep the supernatural out of Gotham City. Batman works best when his world is more grounded--magical or sci-fi elements always water him down. Taylor uses examples from the movies and comics to illustrate his story, and does it well.
The Cost of Being Batman -- Darren Hudson Hick's expense sheet of how much it would cost to do things like train with expert martial artists, excavate your own Batcave, build a Batmobile, and everything else you need to become Batman. The biggest expense isn't what you'd think, but more than 90% of the cost comes with one really big ticket item.
Ra's Al Ghul: Father Figure as Terrorist -- an essay by Michael Marano studying the villain of Batman Begins in the film and comics, and how he's most effective not because of his world-conquering acts of villainy, but as a supplanter of Bruce Wayne's dead parents. An interesting essay that made that villain more interesting to me than it's ever been before.
The Batman We Deserve -- Daniel M. Kimmel explores every version of Batman that's been on the screen, from the serials to Adam West to Tim Burton's movies to the ones we have now. While some might be mocked or derided, Kimmel explains how we got the various versions of Batman, and why each can inform us about the era that it was produced in.
There are many other essays I liked, including one comparing Batman to George W. Bush (not necessarily favorably)(for President Bush), another exploring the contributions of writer Bill Finger to Batman's origins, and several dissecting the "dark" version of Batman compared to his happier days in the fifties and sixties.
Truthfully, I'm enough of a geek that I enjoyed most of these essays, with only one or two that I skimmed instead of reading every word. If you're a fan of Batman from any era, you'll find something to enjoy in this volume.
Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City came out just before The Dark Knight. Edited by longtime Batman comics writer Dennis O'Neil, it's a (usually) entertaining look at the Caped Crusader through the lens of eighteen different authors. The 220-page paperback is a great one for casual reading; you can pick it up, read one essay, and then put it down again until you're ready to explore Batman further.
The essays range from serious literary criticism to historian-like explorations of Batman's origins to tongue-in-cheek looks at how much it would cost to "really" become Batman. And one rather shocking essay that had butler Alfred Pennyworth having "the talk" about the birds and the bees with Bruce Wayne in three different time periods. It was shocking, but it made me laugh...
Some of my favorite essays included here:
Keeping It Real in Gotham -- a treatise by Robert Brian Taylor begging authors to keep the supernatural out of Gotham City. Batman works best when his world is more grounded--magical or sci-fi elements always water him down. Taylor uses examples from the movies and comics to illustrate his story, and does it well.
The Cost of Being Batman -- Darren Hudson Hick's expense sheet of how much it would cost to do things like train with expert martial artists, excavate your own Batcave, build a Batmobile, and everything else you need to become Batman. The biggest expense isn't what you'd think, but more than 90% of the cost comes with one really big ticket item.
Ra's Al Ghul: Father Figure as Terrorist -- an essay by Michael Marano studying the villain of Batman Begins in the film and comics, and how he's most effective not because of his world-conquering acts of villainy, but as a supplanter of Bruce Wayne's dead parents. An interesting essay that made that villain more interesting to me than it's ever been before.
The Batman We Deserve -- Daniel M. Kimmel explores every version of Batman that's been on the screen, from the serials to Adam West to Tim Burton's movies to the ones we have now. While some might be mocked or derided, Kimmel explains how we got the various versions of Batman, and why each can inform us about the era that it was produced in.
There are many other essays I liked, including one comparing Batman to George W. Bush (not necessarily favorably)(for President Bush), another exploring the contributions of writer Bill Finger to Batman's origins, and several dissecting the "dark" version of Batman compared to his happier days in the fifties and sixties.
Truthfully, I'm enough of a geek that I enjoyed most of these essays, with only one or two that I skimmed instead of reading every word. If you're a fan of Batman from any era, you'll find something to enjoy in this volume.
June 20, 2010
I've always been a Batfan, and so this book of lit-crit essays on the Caped Crusader's exploits fairly jumped off the shelf at me. It's edited by Denny O'Neil, the writer who brought the character out of the camp of the mid-60's to adult relevance (O'Neil authored the incredibly twisted Joker-fish story and created terrorist-villains Ra's and Talia al Ghul). A few of the essays presented are mildly interesting (the editor's introduction, which explains the economic realities of the comics publishing business is fascinating, as is "Batman in the Real World," which argues that Batman's wild West self-righteousness makes a fine metaphor for American imperialism), so a devoted reader may wish to take this book up. However, most of the essays here lack much in the way of depth, reading in many cases as if they're ripping off fanblogs rather than theses.
The book is riddled with pop-psychotherapy aplenty ("Ra's al Ghul: Father Figure as Terrorist," "Robin: Innocent Bystander," "What's Wrong with Bruce Wayne?" and the especially ludicrous "To the Batpole!" an overlong excuse for imagining three awkward intro-to-puberty parody dialogues between different versions of teen Bruce and butler Alfred). You'd think that Freudianism would be considered a bit dated as an analytical tool by now, but here it's making a comeback in a big way. Then there are all those essays which pointlessly question the premise of the comic mythology itself, making the usual snide comments about the illogic of trying to drive a Batmobile in the equivalent of New York City, the clumsiness of a cape, the inherent silliness of a multibillionaire who fights crime by punching out the lights of small-time felons and self-inspired costumed crazies on a nightly basis. These self-important lit-bits seem especially foolish inasmuch as they follow an otherwise strong chapter ("Keeping it Real in Gotham") which argues that such absurdities play best when grounded in a facsimile of rational backstory (as the recent films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) seek to do.
Surprisingly, the only article here which describes Batman's chronicles as a form of (young male) fantasy does so by way of explaining why chicks think he's hotter than Superman (see "Heroes of Darkness and Light"). Of course, this essay would be stronger if it didn't denigrate women readers as "girls," but the flaw is indicative of the book as a whole. Here you have a work which, while aspiring to adult pretensions, can at best manage to come across as something of a juvenile exercise. That fits many Batman incarnations come to think of it, though I still think the poor guy deserves better.
The book is riddled with pop-psychotherapy aplenty ("Ra's al Ghul: Father Figure as Terrorist," "Robin: Innocent Bystander," "What's Wrong with Bruce Wayne?" and the especially ludicrous "To the Batpole!" an overlong excuse for imagining three awkward intro-to-puberty parody dialogues between different versions of teen Bruce and butler Alfred). You'd think that Freudianism would be considered a bit dated as an analytical tool by now, but here it's making a comeback in a big way. Then there are all those essays which pointlessly question the premise of the comic mythology itself, making the usual snide comments about the illogic of trying to drive a Batmobile in the equivalent of New York City, the clumsiness of a cape, the inherent silliness of a multibillionaire who fights crime by punching out the lights of small-time felons and self-inspired costumed crazies on a nightly basis. These self-important lit-bits seem especially foolish inasmuch as they follow an otherwise strong chapter ("Keeping it Real in Gotham") which argues that such absurdities play best when grounded in a facsimile of rational backstory (as the recent films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) seek to do.
Surprisingly, the only article here which describes Batman's chronicles as a form of (young male) fantasy does so by way of explaining why chicks think he's hotter than Superman (see "Heroes of Darkness and Light"). Of course, this essay would be stronger if it didn't denigrate women readers as "girls," but the flaw is indicative of the book as a whole. Here you have a work which, while aspiring to adult pretensions, can at best manage to come across as something of a juvenile exercise. That fits many Batman incarnations come to think of it, though I still think the poor guy deserves better.
July 16, 2014
If you are not a fan of the Batman of the comics and movies, this book is not for you. This is not an apologetic to get you to like the character, nor is it a critical look at the character. This is book by Batman fans for Batman fans. The essays cover a wide variety of topics, from fairly serious looks at whether Batman has a clinical mental disorder, to the ridiculous, how three different Alfreds (from 60's TV, Tim Burton's movies, and Batman Begins) would have explained the birds and the bees to a young Bruce Wayne.
As with all collections, some of the essays are better than others. You will not agree with all of them for the simple reason that some of them disagree with each other. For example, one author makes a case that the best depiction of Batman is the 60s TV show, while the majority favor Christopher Nolan's take on Batman as the best Hollywood version. I should also note that the book is a little dated now, and was released, somewhat unfortunately, between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. One of the essays about the Joker speculates on how that character would fair in The Dark Knight. Based on the essay, I can only assume the author was pleased.
So if you are a fan of the character, either one who has been around since the 60s TV show like I have, or even a new fan who is interested in Batman's history, this is a great read. Not fantastic, and certainly in need of a little updating, but well worth your time.
As a footnote, some of the authors agree with my opinion that Batman is the personality, and Bruce Wayne is the facade. One author, at least seems to, disagree. But the case is well made for my view. Another view that I agree with expressed in one of the latter essays, which compares Batman to his long time ally, Superman, notes that the situation is reversed in Superman's case. Superman really is Clark Kent. Not the bumbling version that is sometimes portrayed, no, but the son of a Kansas farming family. His values and morals come from there, not from Krypton. Despite the genetics, his mom and dad, if not his mother and father, are the Kents. These are the kinds of discussions you will find throughout the essays, which is just as I hoped.
As with all collections, some of the essays are better than others. You will not agree with all of them for the simple reason that some of them disagree with each other. For example, one author makes a case that the best depiction of Batman is the 60s TV show, while the majority favor Christopher Nolan's take on Batman as the best Hollywood version. I should also note that the book is a little dated now, and was released, somewhat unfortunately, between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. One of the essays about the Joker speculates on how that character would fair in The Dark Knight. Based on the essay, I can only assume the author was pleased.
So if you are a fan of the character, either one who has been around since the 60s TV show like I have, or even a new fan who is interested in Batman's history, this is a great read. Not fantastic, and certainly in need of a little updating, but well worth your time.
As a footnote, some of the authors agree with my opinion that Batman is the personality, and Bruce Wayne is the facade. One author, at least seems to, disagree. But the case is well made for my view. Another view that I agree with expressed in one of the latter essays, which compares Batman to his long time ally, Superman, notes that the situation is reversed in Superman's case. Superman really is Clark Kent. Not the bumbling version that is sometimes portrayed, no, but the son of a Kansas farming family. His values and morals come from there, not from Krypton. Despite the genetics, his mom and dad, if not his mother and father, are the Kents. These are the kinds of discussions you will find throughout the essays, which is just as I hoped.
January 12, 2009
I'm biased as I wrote one of the essays in the book ("The Batman We Deserve" treating the eight films prior to "The Dark Knight" as a single genre), but if you're a Batman fan it really is a fascinating collection. Although some of the essays are humorous, they all take Batman -- the character, the comic books, the graphic novels, the movies, etc. -- quite seriously.
September 4, 2015
Read this to prep myself for "The Dark Knight." Decent collection of essays on the Batman mythos, definitely some insight into things I did not know. Worth a read if your a Batman fan.
January 1, 2025
3.5 Stars
I think a testament to the power of Batman is that countless people write these think pieces on him all desperate to have a new and novel input into his existence, something usually reserved for real historical figures and politicians. I really enjoyed some essays here, like the history of Bill Finger and Bob Kane or the one about the evolving public perception of Batman. Some essays were a clear time capsule of when this was published, mainly focusing on Adam West, Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Frank Miller eras. So I'd love to read an updated version. Some essays lost me in trying to be too critical and gotcha with the logistics of him. I don't care that you think this fictional man should use his fictional money to end fictional poverty in his fictional city. The puberty essay was quite unfunny and felt like a Robot Chicken bit. I'm in support of the one emphasizing that Joe Chill should be random and isolated from Batman later. The essay on the al Ghul's was interesting and definitely in need of updating. So overall, a very mixed bag that I think could be modernized, since we know every one has an opinion on Bruce at this point.
I think a testament to the power of Batman is that countless people write these think pieces on him all desperate to have a new and novel input into his existence, something usually reserved for real historical figures and politicians. I really enjoyed some essays here, like the history of Bill Finger and Bob Kane or the one about the evolving public perception of Batman. Some essays were a clear time capsule of when this was published, mainly focusing on Adam West, Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Frank Miller eras. So I'd love to read an updated version. Some essays lost me in trying to be too critical and gotcha with the logistics of him. I don't care that you think this fictional man should use his fictional money to end fictional poverty in his fictional city. The puberty essay was quite unfunny and felt like a Robot Chicken bit. I'm in support of the one emphasizing that Joe Chill should be random and isolated from Batman later. The essay on the al Ghul's was interesting and definitely in need of updating. So overall, a very mixed bag that I think could be modernized, since we know every one has an opinion on Bruce at this point.
June 7, 2019
This was a fascinating book to read a definite must have for any Batman collectors out there. This book gives a in depth detail to the psyche of Bruce Wayne aka Batman and how his grieving process and life choices ended up with him becoming the dark knight. I liked how this book explored different parts of his persona to his relationships with those around him. I enjoyed reading about the Batman Tv show in the 1960s to the live action movies from 1989 to 1997 to the Christopher nolans batman begins film how the different directors chose to show the different sides of batman being portrayed on screen from Adam Wests cartoonish gimmicky style to Keaton's broody loner living in the shadows until he is summoned as batman to Christopher Nolan's batman being methodical and very well organised. This is a very enjoyable book to read as it gives a different perspective on the character of Batman
May 30, 2019
One of my favorite things about comics - especially the longrunners, like Batman - is that there is room for just about any and every interpretation of the characters and that so much has been done that it's pretty easy to pick and choose what you want to read/watch/interact with while ignoring the stuff you don't like. If you don't like a particular interpretation of a character, you just ignore the media that has that interpretation. For example, if you prefer dark, gritty, noir Gotham, then feel free to ignore the Silver Age entirely, and if you like silliness and camp, feel free to ignore the 80s onward, and so on.
Batman Unauthorized was a book with different essays on different interpretations of Batman throughout his 75+ year existence. A wide range of topics were covered from the world of Gotham, to character interpretations in general and in specific ages, to how the world of Batman influences and is influenced by the real world. I didn't agree with all of it - the case for Miller's interpretation of Batman and Gotham was interesting, but it will never make me agree that it's "right" or that I should like his comics - but it was worth the read. This was a very interesting book and I'm happy to have stumbled across it.
Batman Unauthorized was a book with different essays on different interpretations of Batman throughout his 75+ year existence. A wide range of topics were covered from the world of Gotham, to character interpretations in general and in specific ages, to how the world of Batman influences and is influenced by the real world. I didn't agree with all of it - the case for Miller's interpretation of Batman and Gotham was interesting, but it will never make me agree that it's "right" or that I should like his comics - but it was worth the read. This was a very interesting book and I'm happy to have stumbled across it.
April 27, 2025
Some very entertaining - if sometimes dated (in good and fun ways) - takes on the greatest and most enduring hero other than Superman. Takes on comic movies pre-MCU are so fascinating. Also, the multiverse era we live in now has made it clear that all takes on Batman are valid - silly, sci-fi, serious, etc. So this 2007/08 “NOLAN MADE BATMAN SERIOUS WE MUST REJOICE” slant to this book is so funny.
September 15, 2017
The book is almost a decade old, and some of the essays didn't age particularly well... They weren't all bad, of course, but some were terribly frustrating! And that one where Alfred explains the facts of life? Maybe it was meant to be funny - and maybe some people will find it to be so - but I thought it was pathetic, if not bordering on offensive.
January 30, 2018
It wasn't all bad - some of the contributions may be a bit dated by now, some are just ridiculous, but there were few exceptions which I immensely enjoyed - mainly "Keeping it real in Gotham City" by Rober Brian Taylor, "The Madness of Arkham Asylum" by Paul Lytle, and "Heroes of Darkness and Light" by John C. Wright.
March 6, 2025
You know how Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons is an asshole about absolutely everything? Almost every essay is like that here. They all have these parts where these folks just can’t help themselves but to be an asshole.
I almost stopped listening and gave this zero stars when I got to the essay about how the cinematic Alfred’s would discuss erections with young Bruce or Dick. Really stupid stuff!
I almost stopped listening and gave this zero stars when I got to the essay about how the cinematic Alfred’s would discuss erections with young Bruce or Dick. Really stupid stuff!
April 30, 2020
Great collection of essays from a lot of different perspectives about Batman
November 20, 2022
It makes a approach to Batman's world
October 19, 2024
Some good essays. Some really stupid essays. Some in between. Ultimately, unnecessary, but entertains.
March 13, 2016
Different views of Batman, since his first apparition on Detectve Comics from the pen (pencils) of Bob Kane till now. Experts talk of the differences between the first Batman and, mostly, Miller's Batman (Return of the Dark Knight). All the different Robin: Dick Grayson (who has his own comics right now and it's not so bad), the life, death and resurrection of Jason Todd and the actual Tim Drake. The father figures in Batman's life like Alfred, Commissioner Gordon and Ra's Al Ghul, who even stole the coffins of Bruce Wayne's parents. There is even a diagnosis following the DSM-IV and we have our vigilante declared an antisocial personality with a PTSD. What is missed are mostly his realtionships with women: Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Talia of course, who will give him Damian, Batman of the future. If you love Batman this is the book for you.
Differenti visioni di Batman, dalla sua prima apparizione su Detective Comics, dalle matite di Bob Kane fino ad oggi. Diversi esperti parlano delle differenze tra il primo Batman e, fondamentalmente, il Batman di Miller (Il ritorno del Cavaliere Oscuro). Tutti i vari Robin: da Dick Grayson, che ora gode di una serie di fumetti tutta per lui e non é neanche male; la vita, la morte e la " pessima" resurrezione di Jason Todd; l'attuale Tim Drake. Le varie figure paterne che si susseguono nella trama come per esempio Alfred, il commissario Gordon e anche Ra's Al Ghul, che arriva addirittura a rubare le bare dei genitori di Bruce Wayne. In un capitolo c'é anche la diagnosi di disturbo di personalitá antisociale con possibile Disturbo Post Traumatico da Stress, il tutto seguendo le linee guida del DSM-IV. In realtá quello che salta all'occhio é la quasi totale assenza delle donne nella vita di Batman: Catwoman, Poison Ivy e Talia, figlia di Ra's Al Ghul che gli dará anche un figlio: Damian, che prenderá poi il suo posto diventando il Batman del futuro. Se vi piace Batman, questo é il libro per voi.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND BEN BELLA BOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!
Differenti visioni di Batman, dalla sua prima apparizione su Detective Comics, dalle matite di Bob Kane fino ad oggi. Diversi esperti parlano delle differenze tra il primo Batman e, fondamentalmente, il Batman di Miller (Il ritorno del Cavaliere Oscuro). Tutti i vari Robin: da Dick Grayson, che ora gode di una serie di fumetti tutta per lui e non é neanche male; la vita, la morte e la " pessima" resurrezione di Jason Todd; l'attuale Tim Drake. Le varie figure paterne che si susseguono nella trama come per esempio Alfred, il commissario Gordon e anche Ra's Al Ghul, che arriva addirittura a rubare le bare dei genitori di Bruce Wayne. In un capitolo c'é anche la diagnosi di disturbo di personalitá antisociale con possibile Disturbo Post Traumatico da Stress, il tutto seguendo le linee guida del DSM-IV. In realtá quello che salta all'occhio é la quasi totale assenza delle donne nella vita di Batman: Catwoman, Poison Ivy e Talia, figlia di Ra's Al Ghul che gli dará anche un figlio: Damian, che prenderá poi il suo posto diventando il Batman del futuro. Se vi piace Batman, questo é il libro per voi.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND BEN BELLA BOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!
June 24, 2016
'Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City' is edited by Dennis O'Neil which should give lie to the "unauthorized" part of this title. It may not have the blessing of DC Comics, but it's edited by a Batman legend.
It's a series of essays and criticisms about the Caped Crusader. I found it much better than a similar one I've recently read about Superman, but I am biased towards the character. The essays include an argument in favor of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Strikes Again, which left most fans wondering what happened. There is an essay on what the true cost of being Batman would be (including time spent in forensics and martial arts classes). It turns out you really would need to be a billionaire to pull it off. There is an essay about the murky origins of Batman and how we've heard one story, but there is much more to who is owed credit. The wacky stories of Batman in the 1950s are defended and praised in 'Batman in Outer Space.' And we learn that we get the Batman we deserve, as we look at how the character evolves with the times he lives in.
Most Bat-related things are discussed, but I would have liked a bit more on the really fine animated series. Since the book was writing about 10 years ago, only the first Christopher Nolan work is discussed. It's also nice that nobody came to the defense of the truly dreadful Joel Schumacher Batman films. This book would have lost a star or two if anyone had defended them.
I received a review copy of this ebook from BenBella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
It's a series of essays and criticisms about the Caped Crusader. I found it much better than a similar one I've recently read about Superman, but I am biased towards the character. The essays include an argument in favor of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Strikes Again, which left most fans wondering what happened. There is an essay on what the true cost of being Batman would be (including time spent in forensics and martial arts classes). It turns out you really would need to be a billionaire to pull it off. There is an essay about the murky origins of Batman and how we've heard one story, but there is much more to who is owed credit. The wacky stories of Batman in the 1950s are defended and praised in 'Batman in Outer Space.' And we learn that we get the Batman we deserve, as we look at how the character evolves with the times he lives in.
Most Bat-related things are discussed, but I would have liked a bit more on the really fine animated series. Since the book was writing about 10 years ago, only the first Christopher Nolan work is discussed. It's also nice that nobody came to the defense of the truly dreadful Joel Schumacher Batman films. This book would have lost a star or two if anyone had defended them.
I received a review copy of this ebook from BenBella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
April 16, 2009
Anyone well versed in the Batman mythos will find this book informative and fun. It tackles a lot of issues and aspects of Batman from within the continuity to the people making the comics at different angles and perspectives (each chapter is written by a different person), so it really has no set agenda other than to entertain and make you think about the Dark Knight in ways you may not have before.
It also gave me some closure, personally. As much as I loved Kill Bill, David Caradine's little riff about how Superman is the real person, and Clark Kent is the disguise is DEAD WRONG. That's Batman, Tarantino, you weird little man-thing. Kent's a hick Eagle-scout since...shortly after his birth (andthedestructionofhishomeplanet). His powers are incidental to his personality! One of the authors pointed this out, and I was quite pleased that I wasn't alone there...It's the little things that bug me, if you didn't notice.
My only complaint is I wished the various writers would have waited until after "Dark Knight" came out to write their pieces for this. There are several of them who make mention of it, so they wouldn't have had to hold out very long. I'd have loved to see what these guys thought about that movie, particularly good ol' Heath.
It also gave me some closure, personally. As much as I loved Kill Bill, David Caradine's little riff about how Superman is the real person, and Clark Kent is the disguise is DEAD WRONG. That's Batman, Tarantino, you weird little man-thing. Kent's a hick Eagle-scout since...shortly after his birth (andthedestructionofhishomeplanet). His powers are incidental to his personality! One of the authors pointed this out, and I was quite pleased that I wasn't alone there...It's the little things that bug me, if you didn't notice.
My only complaint is I wished the various writers would have waited until after "Dark Knight" came out to write their pieces for this. There are several of them who make mention of it, so they wouldn't have had to hold out very long. I'd have loved to see what these guys thought about that movie, particularly good ol' Heath.
June 14, 2012
Although it's a bit dated (most of the essays write in anticipation of the Dark Knight release) the writers bring up so many valid points and talk about comic books like they should be spoken of - like literature. All of the essays are well thought out, and many are obviously extensively researched. Each author brings a different perspective and the varied opinions (sometimes extreme, from one essay to the next) are what made it so interesting. I feel like I learned so much more about my favorite hero. This book is a must read for any Batman fan.
February 28, 2016
This is a very interesting behind the scenes look at Batman, and what it would take to be the sleuth himself. I like the fact that the author makes sure to remind the readers that the character of Batman is not, nor has ever been a super hero. This is one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book. It also goes into what it would take and how much it would cost to actually be Batman. This was one of the most interesting parts of the book. Really good read and smart and informative. If you get a chance to read this one, you won't be disappointed.
Danny
Danny
December 5, 2012
This is a collection of essays by various authors. The quality varies considerably. Some are humorous, and others are more serious. The ones that were particularly interesting were on the cost of being Batman and one considering whether Batman has a mental disorder. A few of them didn't really say much of anything interesting (e.g. one considering the effect of the sex talk coming from the various Alfreds over the years.) And a few were utterly unmemorable.
July 9, 2014
This was a really fun read, and makes me wonder why literary criticism should be about. The essays open up Batman for me, rather than trying to have the final word. Do I agree with all of them? Nope! Do I disagree with some of them? Of course! But they all made me see Batman in a different way, and that's most important.
October 27, 2019
This book is a collection of essays by various writers studying the social, cultural and literary history and significance of Batman over nearly eighty years in all types of media. Unusually for such collections in my experience, this book maintains both variety and quality throughout and is filled with interesting facts and fascinating analysis. A must-read for serious Bat-fans.
December 11, 2012
A book of essays analyzing the many faceted nature of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Each authors takes a turn at trying to explain why he is the way he is and why the American readers take to him the way we do.
February 7, 2017
A very interesting, and often fun look into what makes Batman so interesting to so many people. A lot of great analysis and speculation about the various worlds that the character has inhabited. Recommended for any fan of Batman.
December 4, 2023
Wish the articles were more critical of the Batman mythology overall but there were a couple gems in this collection.
February 11, 2013
excellent detailed essays and articles on Batman and his universe
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