Batman Begins and the Comics [Paperback]

Julian Darius (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2005

Batman Begins and the Comics studies the 2005 film, directed by Christopher Nolan, paying particular attention to how it draws on its comic book source material. Grossing over $200 million at the U.S. box office, Batman Begins was co-written by comic book writer David S. Goyer and was widely praised for its fidelity to the comics that inspired it. This book contains scene-by-scene annotations, including notes on scenes cut from the film, as well as an essay on previous attempts to film Batman's origins, an essay on the film's relationship with past Batman films, and a week-by-week study of the film's box office performance.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is the first on the landmark film to not be authorized by DC Comics or Warner Bros. As far as can be determined, this represents the briefest time in history between a film's release and the appearance of an independent, analytic book.

Batman Begins and the Comics is also the first book for Sequart.com, which was founded in 1996 "for the sophisticated study of comic books and graphic novels." The website has risen steadily in popularity in the intervening years. The site now features news, columns, articles, and other materials on comic books -- in addition to The Continuity Pages, a massive hyperlinked study of comics by continuity rather than by title. Sequart.com is a labor of love and an all-volunteer effort by people who love comics.

About the Author

The son of a professor and an ordained minister (the two occupations most likely to produce psychosis in offspring), Julian Darius holds an M.A. in English literature and has presented at numerous scholarly conferences. He is presently studying for his Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he also teaches. He lives on the 27th floor of a skyscraper in Waikiki, where he dreams often of his sweet baby Tatiana, his parents' Welsh terrier who likes to kill squeekies. This is his tenth book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (September 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141164543X
• ISBN-13: 978-1411645431
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,127,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After graduating magna cum laude from Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), Julian Darius obtained his M.A. in English, authoring a thesis on John Milton and utopianism. In 2002, he moved to Waikiki, teaching college while obtaining an M.A. in French (high honors) and a Ph.D. in English. He currently lives in Illinois.

In 1996, while still an undergraduate, Dr. Julian Darius founded what would become Sequart Research & Literacy Organization, which publishes non-fiction and documentary films on comic books and promotes the medium as a legitimate form of art.

In 2011, he founded Martian Lit, which publishes odd and aggressive literature, non-fiction, art, poetry, and other material.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sequart.com Publishes it First Book: Batman Begins and the Comics, November 22, 2005

By 

Robert A. Emmons "Robert A. Emmons Jr." (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman Begins and the Comics (Paperback)

Sequart.com has published their first book written by the online journal's creator and editor Julian Darius. Batman Begins and the Comics is as well written, informative, and fun as the website that has come to be known for its thoughtful comics scholarship and news.

With Batman Begins and the Comics Darius has created a well organized comparative study of the films and comics of Batman. From the better, to the just awful attempts at bringing the Dark Knight to the screen, Darius builds to his thesis that Batman Begins is the best of the filmic translations thus far.

The book is full of interesting clusters of obscure information. The chapter "Unproduced Attempts to Film Batman's Origins" was as delightful to read as any gossip column. After this setup, Darius moves into a BLOW by BLOW, PUNCH by PUNCH, WHAM! by WHAM! (Yes, comics puns intended here folks!) analysis of the film. Darius constructs a methodical study and provides a frame to understand not only the film itself, but the entire context of the film in the history of cinema and comics. One device Darius has created to aid in his study is the "Actor Note" blowout boxes. I particularly found these tools quite useful as they allowed for the author to comment on this important aspect of the film without becoming disruptive to the main discourse.

Finally, Darius ends the book with an essay titled, "Erasing Burton: Batman Begins, Realism, and the Anxiety of Influence". The inclusion of this essay was a sharp decision by the editors because it contextualizes the entire film series. I believe Darius achieves his goal of re-establishing the Burton films to the position they once held while simultaneously showing how memory and influence work on art.

This text proves to be a fun and informative read for anyone that is interested in either Batman, comics, or film, and it is the perfect read for those that happen to like all three.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very insightful look at a great film., October 20, 2005

By 

Michael Phillips "halflingsinger" (Shamong, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman Begins and the Comics (Paperback)

What can I say. This book is incredible for a number of reasons.

First / foremost, it was put together so quickly, which would normally indicate a "hack" job. But it isn't hack work at all. For the time it took to make, it is an AMAZING read. It is very detailed and Julian's eye for detail is uncanny.

Second, it's a FUN read. It has so much more than just film annotations. It has a great section in the beginning that talks about a TV show that never got off the ground that details the life of a young Bruce Wayne (in a similar fashion to Smallville). It has box office numbers, comparisons to the comics that "Batman Begins" derives from, and so much more.

I finished it in a day or two. It's a fun insigtful read. Buy it and enjoy!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A totally fun read, and really informative, November 9, 2005

By 

Stephen A. Pakula (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman Begins and the Comics (Paperback)

If you are a fan of "Batman Begins" then you DEFINITELY need to check this book out. It's packed with great information about the movie itself and the comics that came before it, and how they all connect. I've been a comics fan all my life, but I never really got into Batman until the movies came out, and this book really helped me understand how the comics really shaped the way Batman is portrayed on the big screen. I loved it! The book is analytical, but at the same time lots of fun. It is never boring, and once you start it, it is really hard to put down.

For any comics fan, this would make a great gift. For any fan of the movie that doesn't really know too much about the comics, this is a TERRIFIC resource. And if you're a fan of good reads and fun books, I highly recommend this book.