Every month Graphic Content curates a book list that thematically ties in and builds on our chosen film. For Batman: The Movie we’ve gone back to some of the the caped crusader’s most bizarre and over the top moments in publication history to show the literary inspiration for the camp aesthetic of the film, and the television show its based on, as well as how the film has influenced the books.
Batman and Robin Book One: Batman Reborn
Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely and Philip Tan definitely kept the hyper-stylized aesthetic of the Batman television show in mind when developing this excellent book. Where the TV series and movie perfectly encapsulated the idea of 1960s “pop”, this comic goes one step further and imagines what its 2000s descendant might look like. With Bruce Wayne temporarily M.I.A., it falls to his partner Dick Grayson to assume the mantle of Batman, while Wayne’s son, 10-year old Damian, becomes the all-new Robin. Damian is the breakout star in this volume, the “bad cop” of the pair, having been raised by a supervillain mother and trained from birth by her League of Assassins. But will this new Dynamic Duo be able to fend off a legion of bizarre new villains, counting among them Professor Pyg, the Circus of Strange and Flamingo, the King of Killers? Or will they spend more time fighting against one another than fighting crime? There’s only one way to find out for sure, and that’s to pick up this book.
Batman in the Sixties
This collection spans the entirety of the decade, and gives a good cross-section of what Batman’s life would have been like during this period. From the magical antics of Bat-Mite and the introduction of Barbara Gordon’s “chic crimefighter” persona Batgirl, to the turn towards realism and social conscience of the early 70s, this book is full of action and drama. The stories are written and drawn by such comics luminaries as Bill Finger, Dick Sprang, Sheldon Moldoff, Carmine Infantino, Gardner Fox, Bob Kanigher, Gil Kane, Dick Giordano and many others. If you want to see how the comics influenced the Batman TV show and movie (and how they got influenced right back), check out this volume.
Batman: The Black Casebook
If the over the top psychedelia that occasionally reared its head on the television series is more your style, check out the Black Casebook. A collection of Golden Age strange tales referenced by Grant Morrison throughout his epic run on the Batman titles, this book displays some of the most bizarre situations that have ever befallen the Caped Crusader. Witness the introduction of Man of Bats, and his son Little Raven! The first meeting of the Batmen of All Nations and the Club of Heroes! The secret of the First Batman (it wasn’t Bruce Wayne…)! And finally, Batman’s trip to the planet Zur-En-Arrh! If you’re up for something a little out of the ordinary (and if you’re Batman, that’s kind of saying a lot…), take a look at this book.
These titles will be for sale at Warp One Comics and Games leading up to the screening, and afterwards, as well as on site before and after the film.
