Bat-Computer Database: The Essential Batman Web Supplemental (Bibliography Part 3 of 3)

 

 

With the dawn of digital age, web masters, podcast hosts and bloggers have taken to the frontier of the internet in order to stake a claim with some incredible independent content. While it’s arguable that a majority of the web has fallen prey to mediocrity and ignorance at large with sweeping devotions to crude and poorly produced materials and nonsense, there are diamonds in the rough to be discovered once it becomes clear that the internet is a blank canvas waiting to become what you make of it.

 

And when it comes to a subject as fascinating and beloved as Batman, there’s no shortage of incredible and entertaining outlets spanning the depths of the internet.

 

So plug in and log on with these 5 incredible Batman related web sources, followed by a list of 10 more resources:

 
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1: “Fatman on Batman” - http://smodcast.com/channels/fatman-on-batman/

 

 

 

 

A wonderful podcast that’s both parts entertaining and informative, “Fatman on Batman” is a weekly Smodco show hosted by filmmaker, comic book writer and hardcore Batman fanatic Kevin Smith. Through his geek cred and contacts, Kevin brings on a host of guests all on the basis of speaking with those who’ve either been directly responsible for aiding in the legacy of the character or have had their lives forever touched by the dark knight detective and, very often, it’s a combination of both. Ranging from legendary comic book creators including Neal Adams, Jeph Loeb, Scott Snyder and Jim Lee to Batman media guests like Paul Dini, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill and Adam West, “Fatman on Batman” is an excellent insight into Batman through the lens, reverence and humor of a fellow Bat-Fan from the Jersey Burgs.

 

2: “Batman News” - http://batman-news.com/

 

 

 

From casting announcements to comic reviews, “Batman News” is a premiere website for staying up to date with all things Batman in comics and all subsequent media.

 

3: “Legions of Gotham” - http://www.legionsofgotham.org/

 

 

 

 

Sub-titled as “The Premiere Batman Resource,” “Legions of Gotham” provides everything from an online timeline of Batman’s complete history to Message Boards for connecting to fellow Batman fans and stands as one of the strongest Batman fansites on the web.

 

4: “DC Comics – Batman” - http://www.dccomics.com/characters/batman

 

 

 

 

The official DC Comics page devoted to Batman. As good a place to start as any to get your online Batman fix under the watchful eye of DC’s current custodians.

 

5: “Batman-On-Film” - http://www.batman-on-film.com/

 

 

 

Created by fellow Texan and Batman fan Bill “Jett” Ramey, “Batman-On-Film” was one of the first fansites devoted to Batman in non-comic media. While the website has since adopted discussion of the comics (you can find a link to www.Batman-In-Comics.com on the home page), the page continues to focus on film and television efforts past, present and future.

 

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6: “1966 Batfan” - http://www.1966batfan.com/

 

 

 

7: “66 Batman Message Board” - http://www.66batman.com/

 

  

 

8: “1989 Batman.com” - http://www.1989batman.com/

 

 

 

9: “Bat-Blog” - http://tomztoyz.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

10: “Batman Fan Films.com” - http://www.batmanfanfilms.com/

 

 

 

11: “The Batman Universe” - http://thebatmanuniverse.com/

 

 

 

12: “The Bat Squad.net” - http://thebatsquad.net

 

 

 

13: “Brotherhood of the Bat” - http://bbrotherhoodofthebat.runboard.com/

 

 

 

14: “Steve and Andy Meet Batman” - http://steveandandy.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

15: “The World’s Finest Online” - http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/

 

 

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Historical Analysis: The Essential Batman Documentary Supplemental (Bibliography Part 2 of 3)

 

Not only are there tremendous reference tools for Batman in print, but there are also a number of noteworthy documentaries that take a critical and educative look at Batman both in his fictional history as well as his literal history in publication, film and popular culture.

From the story of co-creator Bob Kane himself to the creation of the "Batman" feature films to a look into the psychology of the character, here is a collection of essential Batman Documentaries:

(NOTE: Some Documentaries are unavailable on YouTube. Information on their locations will be provided as is necessary).

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"Batman & Me: The Bob Kane Story"

 

Based on the biography of the same name, "Batman & Me" tells the story of "Batman" co-creator Robert Kahn, who would go on to be known as Bob Kane. From his early childhood and introduction to the fantasy of Zorro and Sherlock Holmes to the creation of Batman and his subsequent pride and interest in the wealth and fame as a result of the character's success, this documentary is a fascinating insight into the man who's idea started it all.

This documentary can be found on the DVD/Blu-Ray release of 2008's "Batman: Gotham Knight" animated feature and the DVD/Blu-Ray release of 2012's "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1."
 
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"Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight"

 

Created in anticipation for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," "Batman Unmasked" is a fascinating look at Batman and his rogues gallery through the utilization of psychological analysis to educate and enrich viewers with the character complexities these mythic figures possess. Includes interviews with prominent psycho-analytical authorities and authors as well as filmmakers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and actor Christian Bale.

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"Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman"

 

 

Narrated by Mark Hamill, this documentary (included in the Special Edition DVD/Blu-Ray release of Tim Burton's "BATMAN" (1989), spans the publication and film/TV production of Batman from his creation in 1939 to both "BATMAN" and "Batman: The Animated Series" with interviews from quintessential Batman participants including Dennis O'Neil, Paul Dini, Frank Miller, Alex Ross, Les Daniels, Jeph Loeb and several others.

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"A Mirror for the Bat"

 

 

A series of talking heads including "Batman" comics scribes and DC Comics heavy's such as Greg Rucka, Paul Dini, Brian Azzerello, Dan Didio, Paul Levitz, Geoff Johns and Gregory Noveck weigh in on all of Batman's greatest foes, shedding personal insight onto what makes them tick and what makes them perfect foils for the caped crusader.

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"Batman Tech"

 

  

  

Plunging into the world of Batman's gadgets and cutting edge technology, "Batman Tech" offers insight on the real world applications of the equipment designed and created by Wayne Enterprises and the possibilities of whether or not items such as the Grappling Hook, the Batsuit, the Batarang or the Batmobile could actually be utilized in the real world of crime fighting and forensics.

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"Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight"

 

 

Composed within the Special Edition DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher directed "Batman" films, "Shadows of the Bat" takes us on an incredible journey through the history and production of these four films in a wonderful 6-part odyssey from Michael Uslan's initial desires to produce a definitive Batman film to Joel Schumacher's actual apology for "Batman & Robin."

Portions of this documentary are unavailable on YouTube, including the first two parts of "BATMAN" and the "Batman Forever: Reinventing a Hero" portion.
 
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"Legends of the Knight" (Brett Culp, 2013)
 

 

Through a combination of heart, humanity and crowd-sourced funds, Miami-based filmmaker Brett Culp has successfully directed and produced an inspired feature length observation on the emotional, spiritual and moral influence of Batman on culture, society and the world by following and telling a handful of stories across the nation including Miles Scott, a who gained feverish acclaim as

Featuring a number of interviews including Michael E. Uslan, Dennis O'Neill and pop culture blogger Jill Pantozzi, the trailer for the documentary can be found at the following link, along with instructions on how to request and schedule a screening in your city.

  www.wearebatman.com

 

 

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Textual Reference: The Essential Batman Literature Supplemental (Bibliography Part 1 of 3)

 

As a character born on the page, Batman has his own wealth of texts based on numerous aspects of his creation and existence, not only as Gotham City’s heroic crusader but as a comic book property, a film icon, a psychological curiosity, a spiritual barometer and a pop culture phenomenon.

Here now is a highlight of my 10 favorite in-depth texts about the Batman character spanning across several topics of discussion followed by a subsequent alphabetical list documenting 40 additional texts categorized from topic to topic:

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1: “The Batman Files” (Matthew Manning)

 

 

2: “Batman: The Complete History” (Les Daniels)

 

3: “Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul” (Mark D. White and Robert Arp)

 

4: “The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir” (Michael E. Uslan)

 

5: “Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight” (Travis Langley)

 

6: “Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon” (Will Brooker)

 

7: “The Essential Batman Encyclopedia” (Robert Greenberger)

 

8: “Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight” (Scott Beatty)

 

9: “Batman & Me” (Bob Kane and Tom Andrae)

 

10: “Wisdom from the Batcave: How to Live a Super, Heroic Life” (Cary A. Friedman)

 

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Autobiographies:

 

11: “Back to the Batcave” (Adam West and Jeff Rovin)

 

12: “Boy Wonder: My Life In Tights” (Burt Ward and Stanley Ralph Ross)

 

 

Film (Official):

13: “BATMAN: The Official Book of the Movie” (John Marriott)

 

14: “Batman Returns: The Official Movie Book” (Michael Singer)

 

15: “Batman Forever: The Official Movie Book” (Michael Singer)

 

16: “Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie” (Michael Singer)

 

17: “Batman Begins: The Visual Guide” (Scott Beatty)

 

18: “The Art of Batman Begins: Shadows of the Dark Knight” (Mark Cotta Vaz)

 

19: “The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy” (Jody Duncan Jesser and Janine Pourroy)

 

20: “The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays” (David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan)

 

Film (Behind the Scenes):

21: “Billion Dollar Batman: A History of the Caped Crusader on Film, Radio and Television From 10¢ Comic Book To Global Icon” (Bruce Scivally)

 

22: “The Batman Filmography (Second Edition)” (Mark S. Reinhart)

 

23: “Holy Franchise, Batman: Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen” (Gary Collinson)

 

 

Live Action Television:

24: “Gotham City 14 Miles: 14 Essays on Why the 1960s Batman TV Series Matters” (Jim Beard et. al)

 

25: “The Official “BATMAN” Batbook: The Revised Bat Edition” (Joel Eisner)

 

Animation:

26: “Batman Animated” (Paul Dini and Chip Kidd)

 

27: “Batman: The Animated Series Guide” (Scott Beatty)

 

28: “Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Guide” (Scott Beatty)

 

In-Canon Texts:

29: “Batarangs and Grapnels: The Science Behind Batman’s Utility Belt” (Agnieszka Biskup and Heidi A. Burns)

 

30: “Batman: The World of the Dark Knight” (Daniel Wallace)

 

31: “Batmobile: The Complete History” (Mark Cotta Vaz)

 

32: “The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual” (Scott Beatty)

 

 

33: “The Batman Vault: A Museum-In-A-Book featuring Rare Collectibles from the Batcave” (Robert Greenberger and Matthew Manning)

 

34: “The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave” (Brandon T. Snider)

 

35: “The Joker” (Daniel Wallace)

 

Collector’s Texts:

36: “Batman Collected” (Chip Kidd)

 

37: “Batman: The Unauthorized Collector’s Guide” (Alan J. Porter)

 

38: “The Unofficial Reference to Collecting Everything Batman - Volume I” (Scott Elder)

 

 

Cultural Texts:

39: “Bat-Manga: The Secret History of Batman in Japan” (Chip Kidd, Geoff Spear and Saul Ferris)

 

40: “Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Super Hero” (E. Paul Zehr)

 

41: “Fan Phenomena: Batman” (Liam Burke)

 

42: “Hunting the Dark Knight: Twenty-First Century Batman” (Will Brooker)

 

43: “The Unofficial Batman Trivia Challenge” (Alan Kistler)

 

Psychological Texts:

 

44: “What’s the Matter with Batman?: An Unauthorized Clinical Look Under the Mask of the Caped Crusader” (Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D)

 

Spiritual Texts:

45: “God on the Streets of Gotham: What the Big Screen Batman can Teach us about God and Ourselves” (Paul Asay)

 

46: “Soul of the Dark Knight: Batman as Mythic Figure in Comics and Film” (Alex. M. Wainer)

 

 

Educational Texts:

47: “Batman: The Story of the Dark Knight” (Ralph Cosentino)

 

48: “Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman” (Marc Tyler Nobleman and Ty Templeton)

 

49: “The Batman Masterpiece Edition: The Caped Crusader’s Golden Age” (Les Daniels)

 

Miscellaneous Visual Texts:

50: “Batman Cover to Cover: The Greatest Comic Book Covers of The Dark Knight” (Various)