Ok, just finished reading my copy of The Batman Files….so much information to read and assimilate! And its all that was promised in previous reviews.
Yes. Matthew Manning has crafted this masterpiece by going through exhaustive research to bring back Batman World’s of over 70 years and try to fit it in just over 300 pages covering Bruce Waynes life as the Batman since his sad beginnings after his parent’s death and covering the most important events in the Caped Crusader’s life
The book has an impeccably black matte guilding as well as a high-tech fabric cover, and has a magnetic clasp, depicting a chrome bat, to keep it all tidy by securing the contents. A simple dustcover shows an awesome negative picture drawn by David Finch and tthe presentation is just very attractive.
From the Batman’s own perspective, the volume includes everything from childhood pictures, “newspaper” reports, Arkham files (supposed to be classified) on all of the Gotham rogues as well as information on the Bat-family members (Oracle, Nightwitn, Jason Todd, Tim Drake) Batman’s allies, (Gordon, Lucius Fox, and others) and a comprehensive guide to the Batcave and all its secrets and gadgets.
Want to know what triggered the Bat costume? Want to see a whole blueprint of the Batwing? Want to see the early designs of the Robin costumes? Wants to explore the tumultous relationship between Talia and Bruce? It is all here. From the technical data, to file pictures (copiled from innumerable comics and books) and even excerpts from Bruce’s own diary.
Whatever was not of public knowledge, has been ingeniously weaved with “additional” information and resources not available anywhere else making this a realistic and plausible copilation of the evolution of one of the most iconic figures of the DC Universe.
You’ll enjoy the batcave plans, the Bat-gyro and the Batwing schematics, an analysis of the development of the Batman mind set as well as Bruce’s evolution as a detective. Most of all you will enjoy the Arkham Files Batman keeps on all his rogues (who knows how he got access to those) and the close watch Bruce keeps on his allies too.
The whole volume is a celebration of the Batman persona, and closes with information updated to the Batman’s death, the birth of the RED ROBIN and the evolution of Bruce’s vigilante to the pages of THE DARK KNIGHT.
Definitely it is a piece of memorabilia that will enrich every Batman fan out there. My favorite parts was obviously the careful and complete coverage over all the rogues and especially Joker. Very insighful, informative and fun to read, with literally hundreds of pictures to flesh the mythos even further.
I’ve heard that the First print of the book already sold out, but I don’t doubt that DC will soon produce either a second edition or a softcover version of this book. In the meantime, if you have the oportunity to get it, you will not regret it. It is worth the investment.
In the meantime, I have included some previews on the book for your enjoyment, especially those pages that relate to Joker
Check out Barnes and Noble Editorial review:
Whether you think of him as Bruce Wayne or The Caped Crusader, Batman ignites the imagination. The truly spectacular Batman Files coffee-table giant qualifies as the ultimate treasure trove of this incomparable superhero. Beyond its high-tech fabric cover, complete with a stunning metallic Batman emblem lies a wealth of materials including Wayne’s childhood drawings, mementoes from Batman’s famous cases, news article, in-depth computer files, crime scene photographs, blueprints, schematics, documents about his enemies and friends, maps of Gotham City, and much, much more.
— James Killen
