The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Vol. 1: Batman - Paperback

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COMIC BOOK HEROES: Volume I. Batman is a complete account of the adventures of one of the greatest crime fighters of the twentieth century. A massive work of research, clearly written, this book answers every question that the "batmaniac," pop culture student, nostalgia buff, or general reader might ever have. Browsing through its pages, you will renew your acquaintance with such diabolical masters and mistresses of villainy as the Joker, the Penguin, and the Catwoman, and perhaps meet for the first time such crafty lesser lights as the Thinker, an "arch criminal, whose wasted body houses a restless, writhing brain." Look up the "Joker" and find a detailed account of one of the most nefarious careers in crime known to the world. Look up the "batmobile" and find a long article detailing its origins, its evolution through four decades, and its various crime-busting gadgets, complete with illustrations of each of the models over the years. The "Batman" article itself, over one hundred pages long, is the definitive "biography" of the character. Volume I contains the detailed and definitive chronicle of the first 27 years of Batman's career: • accounts of more than 1,000 separate adventures • nearly 1,100 entries, ranging from a few lines to more than 100 pages • 220 rare illustrations culled directly from the comics • 408 pages, 380,000 words of text • the culmination of 7 years of research • convenient A-Z format It has been designed for both the browser and the researcher. Great care has been taken to make it enjoyable as well as functional, entertaining as well as informative. It will stand as the ultimate source book on the life and times of a mythic lawman whose exploits have become the stuff of American legend. MICHAEL L. FLEISHER is a writer who lives in New York City with his dog, Pre