Favorite Non -comic Batman Literature?

Batman's roots are deep in the fertile ground of one of America's few indigenous art forms; however over the years there have been many anthologies, biographies, paperbacks, children's books etc. involving the Dark Knight. I would love to know what if any are your favorites and perhaps there are some unheard of ones to be discovered as well.

The first one I'd like to mention is Batman Unmasked : Analyzing a Cultural Icon by Will Brooker.

Has anyone read this? I'd love to hear any opinions before I tell you mine!

I really enjoyed "batman & philosophy: dark knight of the soul" (Barnes & Noble)

a collection of essays that aren't too heavy or academical, but more rhetorical ... actually tackles a lot of issues that I'm sure every Batman fan has often thought about more than twice

A great addition! Not too academic, which can turn the average reader away but more accesible and focus upon topics that as Zurr En Arrh says has crossed the mind of a fan more than once. A personal favorite was written by "Bat Tzu".

The only other non-comic Batman related book I've read was Batman: Unauthorized - not groundbreaking but it covers a lot of good topics in a collection of essays.


I saw "batman & philosophy: dark knight of the soul" was availble in audio format on iTunes?

Wow, I have to check all of these out! I have a few books about the science of superheroes, but there's not much about Batman in there - more about the super-powered heroes. I've been meaning to get a book that's something like "Superman on the Couch: The Psychology of Superheroes" or something like that, but I haven't gotten it yet.

I thought you were talking about novels and whatnot, and I read one or two when I was a child that I loved to death - I dunno where I got them or where they went. One was something about the Joker being a pirate I believe, and another had the Joker killing people and leaving them in bat-suits for Batman to find - not unlike "The Dark Knight". I wish I could remember what their titles were...they were actual books, and not childish - but I have no idea how to find them. I guess I could Google 'em, but it's too late right now. Maybe tomorrow.

I've also read the novel of No Man's Land, which I loved. But nothing as cool as the one you guys mentioned haha.

-Gary

The History Channel made a short doc about all this, I think it is one of the bonus features on the "Dark Knight" Blu-ray. I'll have to check some of these books out. Does it say anything about Psychology of Batman fans?

iod1974 wrote:

The History Channel made a short doc about all this, I think it is one of the bonus features on the "Dark Knight" Blu-ray. I'll have to check some of these books out. Does it say anything about Psychology of Batman fans?

Yeah it covers a lot of fan perception and interpritation throughout the book. It's a good read.

jondoe297 wrote:

iod1974 wrote:

The History Channel made a short doc about all this, I think it is one of the bonus features on the "Dark Knight" Blu-ray. I'll have to check some of these books out. Does it say anything about Psychology of Batman fans?

Yeah it covers a lot of fan perception and interpritation throughout the book. It's a good read.

That sounds really awesome...it's on my list!

-Gary

Haven't read any of the non-fiction stuff--though I DEFINITELY want to now--but two novels I liked were:

Batman: No Man's Land, by Greg Rucka -- great adaptation of the series
Batman: Dead White, by John Shirley -- very cool original Year One era take on Batman as he's fighting Neo-Nazis on steroids.

Jay Kay wrote:

Batman: No Man's Land, by Greg Rucka -- great adaptation of the series

Agreed! I mentioned that up above, but nobody said anything...glad to find another fan of that awesome novelization.

-Gary