From School Library Journal
---------------------------
By studying Batman's fan base over the superhero's 80-year
history, Weldon, a devotee himself, arrives at an interesting
theory: the Batman brand exploded when marketers figured out how
to appeal to both "nerds" and "normals." The key to Batman's
survival has been his mutability. First appearing in 1939, he
appealed to boys. A decade later, the censorship of comics pushed
Batman underground, where he was picked up by rebellious teens;
by the 1960s, pop culture, spearheaded by fan Andy Warhol, had
transformed him into campy fare. These boys, teens, and men took
from Batman's iconography their own definitions of what it meant
to be male, and to be a hero, in distinctly changing times.
(Female admirers are few, although Weldon does include them when
he can.) Batman's competing identities threatened his future as a
character and an industry. Over the last five decades, young
artists from three media—print, TV, and film—achieved a synthesis
of Batman iterations while reestablishing his core persona as a
childhood survivor of violence who swears to avenge his parents'
death by fighting crime. Comics began to reference the pointy
ears and slick capes of the first comics, and nerd culture was
born. Today Batman is grim but not nihilistic, obsessed but not
crazy, and as a hero, he resonates. Weldon puts all this together
in an analysis enhanced by beautiful color plates of Batman
comics dating back to the hero's inaugural year. VERDICT A must
for comics fans who will be first in line for a go at this dense
but readable text.—Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School,
Long Island City, NY
Read more ( javascript:void(0) )
Review
------
"A roaring getaway car of guilty pleasures—film gossip,
comic-book esoterica, hilarious tales of nerd rage. . . . Weldon
writes with humor and Day-Glo élan." —Jennifer Senior, The New
York Times
"Smart, witty and engrossing." —The Wall Street Journal
"The Caped Crusade is a great read for those who are proud
Gothamites, those less initiated, and those who flip the switch
on the Bat-Signal in order to find themselves. . . .A sharp,
deeply knowledgeable and often funny look at the cultural history
of Batman and his fandom...both a page-turner and a Riddler
Trophy." —Chicago Tribune
“Engaging. . . . What Weldon ultimately achieves here is a
character and comic-franchise history that is itself flexible
enough to become what the reader needs it to be. 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
"For fans of Gotham’s Batman, this is the perfect book to pick up
before you head to the movie. . . . Even casual fans will find
themselves quickly turning pages to learn more about how our
comic heroes affect and even shape our everyday lives." —Bookish
"[The Caped Crusade] accomplishes what so many supervillains,
from The Joker to Bane, have long desired to do: pin down Batman
and systematically dissect him. Weldon navigates Batman's history
with an expert step...a winning mix of humor, and incisive social
analysis. Even his footnotes are funny. Under that famous cowl,
he sees ugliness, wonder, and the undercurrents of pop culture in
all their conflicting glory." —NPR
"Writing a book about Batman is tricky. He is a cultural icon
deeply meaningful to many because his story touches on themes of
loss, adversity and perseverance. Also, he is an implausible
character who defies laws of physics and common sense every time
he swoops on -blazing lunatics. Weldon successfully walks the
tightrope, showing reverence for the character but keeping it
fun." —Associated Press
"Excellent, inful. . . .Weldon has crafted that rare jewel:
a book of comics analysis that nerds and “normals” alike can
enjoy." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Sprawling in , yet written with breezy flair. . .An
enthusiastic, immersive, entertaining guide for both die-hard
Batfans and curious onlookers." —Kirkus Reviews
“The Caped Crusade is breezy, inful, and surprisingly
moving. Glen Weldon is the illuminating, hilarious writer Batman
deserves—and the one we need right now.” —DC Pierson, author of
The Boy Who Couldn’t and Never Had To and Crap Kingdom
Read more ( javascript:void(0) )
About the Author
----------------
Glen Weldon has been a theater critic, a science writer, an
oral historian, a writing teacher, a bookstore clerk, a movie
usher, a PR flack, an inept marine biologist, and a
slightly-better-than-ept competitive swimmer. His work has
appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New
Republic, Slate, The Atlantic, The Village Voice, The
Philadelphia Inquirer, and many other places. He is a panelist on
NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and reviews books and comic books
for NPR.org. The author of Superman: The Unauthorized Biography
and The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture, he
lives in Washington, DC.
Read more ( javascript:void(0) )