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The Batman Files
Unearthed from the depths of the Batcave by Mathew K. Manning, The Batman Files begins with Wayne's childhood drawings and continues along a time line of significant events in Batman's life. Complete and authentic in every way possible, all of Batman's friends and foes--from Poison Ivy, Catwoman, the Riddler, and Penguin, to the Joker, Batgirl, Mr. Freeze, and of course, Robin--appear throughout the dossier to provide a framework of the Caped Crusader's entire career.
Completely outlining Batman's war on crime, The Batman Files includes in-depth computer files, news articles, crime scene photos, blueprints, schematics, and actual maps of Gotham City that were collected, and in many cases even drawn, by the Caped Crusader himself.
High production values include black matte gilding, as well as a high-tech fabric cover--complete with a metallic Batman emblem to secure the secret contents within. Each detail of Batman's life is carefully and faithfully detailed with the involvement of DC Comics inside The Batman Files--destined to be the must-have gift for every avid Batman fan and collector.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2011
31 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Matthew K. Manning
229 books40 followersMatthew K. Manning is the author of over eighty books and dozens of comic books. He has written books for Scholastic, Disney Press, Abrams, Amazon, Capstone, DK Publishing, Insight Editions, Andrews/McMeel, and Running Press, dividing his time between writing original chapter book series and coffee table books. His chapter books include the six-book series Xander and the Rainbow-Barfing Unicorns (Capstone), the four-book Drone Academy series (Capstone), Backstories: Batman and Backstories: Batgirl (Scholastic), and Artemis Fowl: How to be a LEPrecon (Disney Press), released in both paperback and on Audible. Many of his books have reached best-seller status on Amazon, including DC Comics: Anatomy of a Metahuman, DC Comics Encyclopedia, and Batman: A Visual History. In addition, Manning specializes in comic books, writing for the titles Beware the Batman, Teen Titans Go!, The Batman Strikes!, Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century, Justice League Adventures, Scooby-Doo, and Looney Tunes for DC Comics, Marvel Action: Avengers for IDW/Marvel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures and TMNT: New Animated Adventures for IDW, and the top-selling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures for DC/IDW, nominated by the Diamond Gem Awards for comic of the year. Manning’s work has received acclaim in Entertainment Weekly, People Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and The Washington Times. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife Dorothy and his daughters Lillian and Gwendolyn.
Buy his books and support independent booksellers on Bookshop at https://bookshop.org/shop/matthewkman...
Buy his books and support independent booksellers on Bookshop at https://bookshop.org/shop/matthewkman...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 21, 2016
The files to Gotham's War on Crime!
This is a reference book featuring information about "Batman" and its related characters, technology and places.
DARK KNIGHT'S WAR JOURNAL
This can be easily the coolest and most elegant reference book that you may get about Batman...
...EVER!!!
First, in its first edition is a hardcover with leathered work and magnetic seal (yes, you read right!) and I hope that if you are interested in the book, you may be able to find it in this first edition, since I noticed that following editions have just paperback covers (a pale comparison to the first edition).
Also, in the interior, you'll get fastened notes (as separate paper items from the pages), maps, and even a CD with extra info.
The reference book is made as if Bruce Wayne would make it, and written personally each piece of information there from his personal point of view on each topic.
Profiles of Batman's Rogue Gallery, his allies and other related characters, each with an insightful narrative "from Bruce Wayne himself" giving without reservations and raw honesty of what Bruce thinks about each character.
Schematics of Batman's technology and resources: Bat-Cave, Bat-Computer, Batmobile, Batwing, Batboat, Weapons, etc...
A detailed map of Gotham City! With all the tourist sites like Wayne Manor, Arkham Asylum, GCPD Headquarters, Wayne Enterprises Tower, Crime Alley, etc...
The newspaper article of Waynes' murders.
Detailed weekly schedule of Bruce Wayne's training exercises.
The angle of the presentation of the topics isn't attached to some particular incarnation of the Caped Crusader (comics, animation, TV or films) but aspiring to show a general concept of the character and his world appealing to any Batman's fan, not matter which media is of his/her preference.
Everything in the book is full color and published using high quality materials.
And each section full of comments and notes "written" by Bruce Wayne himself. So, in that way, you'll get inside the mind of World's Greatest Detective as never being possible before!
Definitely, any Batman book collection is not complete until having this outstanding publication (once again, definitely ideal in its first edition).
The Gotham's War on Crime never ends, and this is the ultimate testimony to read about it!
This is a reference book featuring information about "Batman" and its related characters, technology and places.
DARK KNIGHT'S WAR JOURNAL
This can be easily the coolest and most elegant reference book that you may get about Batman...
...EVER!!!
First, in its first edition is a hardcover with leathered work and magnetic seal (yes, you read right!) and I hope that if you are interested in the book, you may be able to find it in this first edition, since I noticed that following editions have just paperback covers (a pale comparison to the first edition).
Also, in the interior, you'll get fastened notes (as separate paper items from the pages), maps, and even a CD with extra info.
The reference book is made as if Bruce Wayne would make it, and written personally each piece of information there from his personal point of view on each topic.
Profiles of Batman's Rogue Gallery, his allies and other related characters, each with an insightful narrative "from Bruce Wayne himself" giving without reservations and raw honesty of what Bruce thinks about each character.
Schematics of Batman's technology and resources: Bat-Cave, Bat-Computer, Batmobile, Batwing, Batboat, Weapons, etc...
A detailed map of Gotham City! With all the tourist sites like Wayne Manor, Arkham Asylum, GCPD Headquarters, Wayne Enterprises Tower, Crime Alley, etc...
The newspaper article of Waynes' murders.
Detailed weekly schedule of Bruce Wayne's training exercises.
The angle of the presentation of the topics isn't attached to some particular incarnation of the Caped Crusader (comics, animation, TV or films) but aspiring to show a general concept of the character and his world appealing to any Batman's fan, not matter which media is of his/her preference.
Everything in the book is full color and published using high quality materials.
And each section full of comments and notes "written" by Bruce Wayne himself. So, in that way, you'll get inside the mind of World's Greatest Detective as never being possible before!
Definitely, any Batman book collection is not complete until having this outstanding publication (once again, definitely ideal in its first edition).
The Gotham's War on Crime never ends, and this is the ultimate testimony to read about it!
February 26, 2012
This book is every inch the lovingly detailed history of Batman and his associates that I wanted it to be. More could have been done with the textures and photographs that were not excerpts from old comic books, but I say that only as someone who studies fictional blueprints with painstaking care. All told, it was beautiful. And yet one cannot read these detailed histories of DC continuity without a sharp melancholy these days. With all of this history gone by the wayside, declared unimportant by the New 52, what does any of it matter.
Of course it does matter. We can still laugh at Dick Grayson's "kind of funky disco suit" and coo at little Jason Todd stealing the tires off the batmobile. We can still fall in love with Tim Drake's obsessive stalking of the batfamily and ache to hug Stephanie Brown when she takes down her father. But arranging the facts this way, a scrapbook of the past over and done, makes it clear that all of these feelings are history. We have no choice but to move on--to the bizarre doppelgangers of the new universe or to part ways with the comic detectives completely. Still, we are left with the memories.
Of course it does matter. We can still laugh at Dick Grayson's "kind of funky disco suit" and coo at little Jason Todd stealing the tires off the batmobile. We can still fall in love with Tim Drake's obsessive stalking of the batfamily and ache to hug Stephanie Brown when she takes down her father. But arranging the facts this way, a scrapbook of the past over and done, makes it clear that all of these feelings are history. We have no choice but to move on--to the bizarre doppelgangers of the new universe or to part ways with the comic detectives completely. Still, we are left with the memories.
January 5, 2012
AWESOME..just AWESOME!! Anything you ever wanted to know about Batman is in this book. The art is simply stunning, as is the presentation of this volume.
(Side note: I now have all the blueprints and schematics to build all of the "Bat-Toys"..! Be afraid) (-^^-)
(Side note: I now have all the blueprints and schematics to build all of the "Bat-Toys"..! Be afraid) (-^^-)
August 12, 2018
Part photo album, part scrapbook, part journal, and part secret files, The Batman Files was written and collected by Matthew K. Manning, containing all the intricate information needed to carry on his mission, just in case something happened to Batman and his allies.
The Batman Files opens with Bruce Wayne's childhood and his journey on how he became Batman and his personal quest on crime – from the beginning of his crime fighting career to the present (as of publishing) and chronicles the major and significant events in Batman's crusade.
The Batman Files is a concise catalogs all of Batman's family, friends, colleagues, and foes appear throughout the book in dossier to provide a framework of Batman’s entire career. The book also includes in-depth computer files, news articles, crime scene photos, blueprints, schematics, and maps of Gotham City that were collected.
Manning has meticulously collected the various and many information out there on Batman and tried to concisely merge them all into one narrative – a bible of sorts. Organization wise, it is rather chaotic, but a logical chaotic mess, when reading it through as a novel. Using it as a data file or a reference tool is a tad more problematic, because the information is listed chronologically and not by subject.
All in all, The Batman Files was wonderfully constructed and illustrated reference of the life and times of Batman, his allies, contemporaries, and villains.
The Batman Files opens with Bruce Wayne's childhood and his journey on how he became Batman and his personal quest on crime – from the beginning of his crime fighting career to the present (as of publishing) and chronicles the major and significant events in Batman's crusade.
The Batman Files is a concise catalogs all of Batman's family, friends, colleagues, and foes appear throughout the book in dossier to provide a framework of Batman’s entire career. The book also includes in-depth computer files, news articles, crime scene photos, blueprints, schematics, and maps of Gotham City that were collected.
Manning has meticulously collected the various and many information out there on Batman and tried to concisely merge them all into one narrative – a bible of sorts. Organization wise, it is rather chaotic, but a logical chaotic mess, when reading it through as a novel. Using it as a data file or a reference tool is a tad more problematic, because the information is listed chronologically and not by subject.
All in all, The Batman Files was wonderfully constructed and illustrated reference of the life and times of Batman, his allies, contemporaries, and villains.
December 17, 2017
This took me a really long time to read, but I absolutely loved it. It gives you such a good taste for the majority of Batman's stories, incarnations, friends, villains... Just enough to make you want to go read all or them without ruining them. I personally found it a nice way to get my head around all the Batman lore, just because there is so much of it. Jumping straight into the comics can just be more confusing (albeit enjoyable lol). Plus, I just love how the information is presented in general, from Bruce's perspective like a scrapbook. I loved reading Bruce's case files on his friends, especially Clark. That one made me laugh. If you're fairly new to Batman comics and want some background knowledge, this is a great place to go.
February 19, 2025
The older I get the more I realize that a large chunk of the human experience is fantasy. Fiction, fan fiction, movies, comics, fan art, novels, literature, video games, and now AI-generated content. We as a species amuse ourselves every day seven ways to Sunday, always have, and most likely always will. I'm trying to cut back on all of that, intending to become more intentional with my spare time. Batman holds his own among all fiction though. I've always looked up to him as the ultimate polymath ever since I watched Batman: the Animated Series as a kid. To date no other adaptation beats that animated series. This hardbound beautiful piece of work is like reading the personal journal Bruce Wayne left you. A very unique, impressive experience, gritty and yet inspiring.
April 14, 2023
Simplesmente melhor compra para os amantes do Batman. Eu como uma apaixonada pela personagem, pude conhecer mais sobre a sua história. E um grande resumão sobre o universo do Batman. Muito bom, eu adorei
Read
August 28, 2020I absolutely love it but I am also extremely disappointed that they are missing some key players in the book itself like Harley Quinn and a few others
May 11, 2021
Welded Ibrahim 🏔🌋🗻🏕🌋🏚🏟🏡🏜🏡🏖🕋🏚🏛🌎🕋🕌🏙🕋🏟💒🏫🏯🌃🏫🌄🕍and and the door of London and construction industry to w
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2022
This book is a reference guide to many things Batman related. It is written as a journal kept by Batman about all of the important people, places, and things in his career and life.
February 15, 2017
This is a pretty cool book. I'm not huge into comics, but really you'd have to under the dirt to not know Batman. It was supposed to be his life story so far, which I though would be a nice cliff notes version to help fill in some gaps for me.
It's more of a journal/scrapbook from Bruce Wayne. It begins with some cute pictures of Bruce as a baby with his mom. It has everything! Blueprints, pictures, criminal case files on all enemies, sketches of the progression for the batmobile/cycle/gyro, and more photos. It even holds sketches of what Bruce's great great grandfather had drawn up for Gotham to look like originally. It's sad ending of Robin, his death certificate, and a snapshot of Batman carrying him away. Reading the story through Bruce's eyes gives a new element as well.
Truly put together well and planned out amazingly to include the progression of Batman, the Justice League, the Joker, and Catwoman. They've all transformed over the years and this book embraced that. A great read!
It's more of a journal/scrapbook from Bruce Wayne. It begins with some cute pictures of Bruce as a baby with his mom. It has everything! Blueprints, pictures, criminal case files on all enemies, sketches of the progression for the batmobile/cycle/gyro, and more photos. It even holds sketches of what Bruce's great great grandfather had drawn up for Gotham to look like originally. It's sad ending of Robin, his death certificate, and a snapshot of Batman carrying him away. Reading the story through Bruce's eyes gives a new element as well.
Truly put together well and planned out amazingly to include the progression of Batman, the Justice League, the Joker, and Catwoman. They've all transformed over the years and this book embraced that. A great read!
January 4, 2013
The concept is Bruce Wayne has returned to Gotham City after the events of the Infinite Crisis and feels the need to leave a record of Batman's career for the next wearer of the mantle.
Matthew K. Manning does a terrific job of giving an overview of the post-Crisis On Infinite Earths Batman's comic book life, incorporating personal journal entries, Arkham Asylum patient write-ups, newspaper articles, etc., weaving the various comics we've enjoyed over the decades into a narrative that chronicles the Dark Knight's crusade against crime.
I would have liked to have seen more from the "New Look" era, but that's my personal fave, as well as more on Bruce's struggle to return from the distant past where Darkseid sent him. Those who pay attention to creator credits will get a smile from the "authors" of the articles.
Speaking of creator credits, I would have liked to have seen some attribution of the art credits.
This book is not only entertaining, but is heavy enough to improve your biceps while you read. The production is top-notch and I hope we'll see more books about other DC characters.
Matthew K. Manning does a terrific job of giving an overview of the post-Crisis On Infinite Earths Batman's comic book life, incorporating personal journal entries, Arkham Asylum patient write-ups, newspaper articles, etc., weaving the various comics we've enjoyed over the decades into a narrative that chronicles the Dark Knight's crusade against crime.
I would have liked to have seen more from the "New Look" era, but that's my personal fave, as well as more on Bruce's struggle to return from the distant past where Darkseid sent him. Those who pay attention to creator credits will get a smile from the "authors" of the articles.
Speaking of creator credits, I would have liked to have seen some attribution of the art credits.
This book is not only entertaining, but is heavy enough to improve your biceps while you read. The production is top-notch and I hope we'll see more books about other DC characters.
September 20, 2013
The batman files is a good way to, if you like batman to find out his nemesis's and how his bat cave started and found about.
The files describes the way of how he made the bat suit.
files also tells about his enemies and there own description.
It also the concept of how Bruce Wayne became batman.
The joker is batmans biggest enemy it is also a joking sycomanic
The files describes the way of how he made the bat suit.
files also tells about his enemies and there own description.
It also the concept of how Bruce Wayne became batman.
The joker is batmans biggest enemy it is also a joking sycomanic
April 18, 2018
this is a must have addition to any batman lovers out there. this book is full of fun facts and lots of information on everything batman related from the characters, to the vehicles and the world of gotham. i recommend anyone who loves to read batman books that you give this a read.
June 22, 2012
Five stars if you're a batman fan. Doubt anyone else will care.
May 1, 2015
nice book a little wordy for batman fans though.
Want to read
June 14, 2016FALSE
January 1, 2013
great history of Bruce's files in this realistic journal
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews