Batman: the Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight

by Scott Baetty

If you're already well versed in Bat-trivia, you probably won't find The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight anywhere near ultimate enough. But as a broad history of Batman's friends, foes, and high-tech hardware and hideouts, this oversized, illustration-filled DK guide just can't be beat. Just as DK did with the people and paraphernalia of Star Wars in Star Episode Incredible Cross-Sections and Star Episode Visual Dictionary , this guide pulls apart and pokes at the many gadgets and backdrops found in the Dark Knight's world. Exploded diagrams reveal the innards of the new and old Batcaves, and stat-packed tags and captions spell out everything from how the Bat-Signal works to where Catwoman stashes her bullwhip. Batman scholar Scott Beatty has compiled hundreds of excellent panels and covers from the original comic, and he displays commanding knowledge cataloging Gotham's most colorful characters in big, splashy spreads. (And no doubt future historians will appreciate his capsulized, 1939-on Batman timeline as an uncanny window into American pop consciousness.) Die-hard fans will find much lacking here, though, like the near-omission of Frank Miller's genius Dark Knight Returns series and not even a passing reference to Batman's poignant love-hate relationship with the Man of Steel. But what DK's Ultimate Guide does, it does well--examining neat Bat-minutiae and providing a primer on the post-no-man's-land comic continuity. --Paul Hughes

Genres: Batman, Comics, Reference, Nonfiction, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

They're not kidding when they titled this the ultimate guide. It's especially good for those who don't know much about Batman besides the movies and it's a nice addition for standard Batman fans or those who simply did not acquire every graphic novel about him in the past several decades.

Each topic is typically two pages that are 85% pictures and 15% information.

Contents are divides as follows: Batman's World (which covers the Bat-Suit, Bat Gadgets, Lovers and so forth), Allies of the Bat, Rogues Gallery (Arkhan Asylum and the usual villains) and then Batman's Career (which has a history of the highlights of Batman's career up until 2005).

As an intermediate of Batman culture I learned several new things and had a few clarified.

ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B plus to A minus; INFORMATION: A minus; CONTENT SETUP: B to B plus; WHEN READ: late September 2012 to early October 2012; OVERALL GRADE: B plus to A minus.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as I can tell, a good intro to the mythos of Batman. I really appreciated that there was a timeline in the back of the book--it helped me put the characters and plotlines into a historical context. I underestimated how well-written and literary some of the characters and stories are; some of them seem downright elegant. I feel like a snob. (But then, some of the shit in the Batman universe sounds hokey and terrible and just really silly, so I guess, as with any medium, there's good and bad.)

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big, fun book full of color pictures and stories that walk the reader through the history of Batman.

Heavy on images but light on information.

Notes
Good reference material for old and new readers.

Learning Curve
Low: Good for new readers

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also love this book too! It really appeals to a limited audience (mainly Batman nerds like me) but it's still really cool!

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good and enjoyable guide to all things Batman. I especially got a kick out of the gadgets section of this book.

[VebamaHu · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is absolutely amazing and I like the reviews.

[cia sunshine ☭ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a good introduction to Batman without having to go back and read every single comic! But a part of me would prefer to just read the comics.

[Shahid Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is cool.i like this book.

[Maryse · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it said "Ultimate", I thought it would cover everything. It does, in a way, but most of the facts come from the modern, dark Batman comics rather than the Bob Kane incarnation. I would have appreciated it more if it traced the Batman's story through the years and how it changed, similar to what Tim DeFalco did for Spiderman's ultimate guide. Nevertheless, considering that it came at a cheaper price than my Spidey guide, I'd say it's still a pretty good guide.

[Rahmat Romadon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seneng banget pertama kali dapetin buku ini. Seperti ensiklopedia yang isinya menjelaskan segala sesuatu tentang Batman mulai dari sejarah, rekan/musuh, hingga aksesoris/peralatan terkecil yang dipergunakan Dark Knight saat memberantas kejahatan di Gotham City. Wajib dimiliki bagi para fans berat Batman.

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great brief introduction to the batman universe. it covers the batfamily, associates, gadget & vehicles and rogues gallery; although now horrendously outdated as this is pre-New 52. although thsat is about to get muddled around with so i doubt there will ever be a definitive guide to Batman any time soon :)
a good selection of pictures from across the decades and a fun read.

[Ismail menasterly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because batman is another one of my favorite heroes, and this book tells of all his adventures and all of his weapons. it tells of every villain he encounters and all his allies and his looks throughout the silver age, golden age and now

[Tue Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. I loved it when I first encountered it. I love it still. I think it should be updated, though, to include some of the finer stories published or aired since it was published in 2001.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems to me that quite a bit of what I consider to be essential Batman was missing...but it was still cool.

[Jack glatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book but to many pictures

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great guide to batman, his allies, and his foes.
all batman fans, read this!

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, simple and informative. An absolute must have for any fan of the Dark Knight and his fellow caped crusaders.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, I'm partial to superheroes.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice book about batman!

[Eloise-mae Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book their is nothing rong with its book exept its so cool.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff. Tons of info in this. I learned a few things, this is great if You want to know some origin stories of villains and Batman's allies as well.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little rundown on the history of the Dark Knight. B-

[Marcos Yannelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a best guide to know more better the Caped Crusader