The Caped Crusade
Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture
1 of 1 copy available
Since his debut in Detective Comics #27, Batman has been many things: a two-fisted detective; a planet-hopping gadabout; a campy Pop Art sensation; a pointy-eared master spy; and a grim ninja of the urban night. Yet, despite these endless transformations, he remains one of our most revered cultural icons. In this "smart, witty, and engrossing" (The Wall Street Journal) cultural critique, NPR contributor and book critic Glen Weldon provides "a sharp, deeply knowledgeable, and often funny look at the cultural history of Batman and his fandom" (Chicago Tribune) to discover why it is that we can't get enough of the Dark Knight.
For nearly a century, Batman has cycled through eras of dark melodrama and light comedy and back again. How we perceive his character, whether he's delivering dire threats in a raspy Christian Bale growl or trading blithely homoerotic double entendres with Robin the Boy Wonder, speaks to who we are and how we wish to be seen by the world. It's this endless adaptability that has made him so lasting, and ultimately human.
But it's also Batman's fundamental nerdiness that uniquely resonates with his fans and makes them fiercely protective of him. As Weldon charts the evolution of Gotham's Guardian from Bob Kane and Bill Finger's hyphenated hero to Christopher Nolan's post-9/11 Dark Knight, he reveals how this symbol of justice has made us who we are today and why his legacy remains so strong. The result is "possibly the most erudite and well-researched fanboy manifesto ever" (Booklist). Well-researched, insightful, and engaging, The Caped Crusade, with a new afterword by the author, has something for everyone: "If you're a Bat-neophyte, this is an accessible introduction; if you're a dyed-in-the-Latex Bat-nerd, this is a colorfully rendered magical history tour redolent with nostalgia" (The Washington Post).
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 22, 2016 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781508223283
- File size: 271707 KB
- Duration: 09:26:03
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Weldon explores the history of Batman from his creation in 1939 to his most recent iterations in comics, film, and television. The author positions Batman's transformations as an ongoing dialogue among creators, companies, and fans. Though somewhat capable with his narration, Weldon ultimately proves disappointing in that nearly all the fans quoted sound like "the comic book guy" from "The Simpsons." At times, he also uses overly dramatic, stereotypical, and clichéd tones to depict artists, creators, and celebrities. The use of these caricatures seems to mock the fandom in a way that is not found in the prose itself, which reveals Weldon to be the very "comic book guy" that he so readily dismisses in his narration. L.E. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine -
May 1, 2016
This fascinating cultural history of Batman in all of his incarnations covers most of a century: comics, television, film, and video games. It's not just a history of the character, though; NPR podcaster Weldon weaves critical discussion of Batman's media appearances with an examination of fan response over the decades. The author describes a tug of war between the Dark Knight's creators and adapters, who continually push the character in new directions, and the fans who push back with demands for a more "badass" dark avenger version of the hero. Weldon's clear and confident narration provides a surprising and amusing range of character voices (comics nerds, radio announcers, British film directors, and, of course, various Batmen) for a work of nonfiction. VERDICT Recommended for Bat-fans and readers interested in superhero media and anyone seeking a deep-dive examination of a favorite character.--Jason Puckett, Georgia State Univ. Lib., Atlanta
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Starred review from February 22, 2016
In this excellent, insightful book, Weldon (Superman: The Unauthorized Biography) returns to comic book history with an expanded thesis. He charts the growth of the 20th century’s most popular superhero and tries to determine Batman’s role in catalyzing what’s now considered “nerd culture.” Beginning with the character’s origins as a quick-and-dirty Shadow rip-off and continuing through the alternately beloved and despised 1966 TV series to the movies of Chris Nolan and the present day, Weldon provides a concise history of the Dark Knight with sharp humor and a personal charm that more than makes up for any gaps in detail. By turning the same analytical eye on both Batman and his fans, Weldon makes some keen observations absent from other, more character-focused histories, particularly in regards to Batman’s sexuality and hardcore fans’ ever-shifting but omnipresent dissatisfaction with onscreen portrayals of the character. Weldon has crafted that rare jewel: a book of comics analysis that nerds and “normals” alike can enjoy. Agent: Eric Nelson, Susan Rabiner Literary.
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