An opening
along the lines of “Holy book reviews, Batman!” or even “Pow! Zap! A Batman
book!” would do this title a disservice, especially seeing as how author and
NPR comic-book critic Glen Weldon tirelessly points out how the legion of Bat-Nerds
have desperately tried to bury any references to the full-color, high-gloss
Batman of the late sixties in favor of the Denny O’Neil comics of darkness and
night, and Christopher Nolan’s growling films. Weldon covers this and a whole
lot more in his meticulously researched, thesis-in-the-making, THE CAPED
CRUSADE, which provides the ultimate pop-culture look at all things Batman.
Weldon’s
book, to stay within a theme, hangs between a historical look at the character’s
comic book origins, a healthy discourse on the Adam West series from 1966, and
a deep cut insider-look at the Burton-Schumacher-Nolan films. All of these insights
are heavily intertwined with nerd backlash and fandom praise. Weldon shows the
fine balance of acceptance between how Batman plays into pop culture, and how
outside events, shaped by various creator control, influence the stories of the
Caped Crusader.
Loaded with
interviews, quotes, and plenty of subjected barbs at fandom foolishness, THE
CAPED CRUSADE is a fun, quick read. Weldon maintains his nerd credentials
throughout, but also provides an impartial take on the character to satisfy the
reading pleasure for the occasional “normal” who might only be familiar with
all things Christian Bale. Or Adam West.
What Weldon
fails to properly show, or doesn’t focus nearly enough on, is the primary reason
that most of the silent majority of Batman fans, that is those not taking to
the cons or the internet with their scornful posts and rants, are simply Batman
fans… because it’s fun. Many fans might understand, or probably just blatantly
ignore, the editorial mandate in the comics to replace Batman with an
armor-wearing psychotic, or to isolate the brooding tactician from the rest of
the DC Universe, or a filmmaker’s decision to give the character a rubber suit
complete with nipples. Fans want to be entertained with stories and the legend –
both the fantastical and the grounded – of Batman, regardless of Dr. Hugo
Strange is ridiculous or Poison Ivy just plain silly. Or if the animated series
of the nineties kicks ass in just about every imaginable way.
A great
deal of fans already understands some of the inherent foolishness at the idea
of a man who mourns the loss of his parents by dressing as a bat – and ignores such
dogma. They want metaphor, or fisticuffs, or over-the-top action, or a
long-running opera. Batman has survived this long in the public eye and public consciousness
because, as Weldon does point out, everyone has their favorite version of the
character. And there are plenty to choose from. So enjoy. Dive into the book
and perhaps be inspired to revisit, or just plain discover, some of those
great, and maybe not-too-great, Bat stories available everywhere. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel.
As Always,
theJOE
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