Batman Begins [Mass Market Paperback]

Dennis O'Neil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 14, 2005

Based on the eagerly awaited new feature film–the exciting origins of the ultimate crime fighter!

Bruce Wayne is dead. The young heir to the Wayne empire disappeared seven years ago. His vast fortune has been given away, and the crime wave that began with the brutal murder of his parents has turned Gotham City into a living hell. The last holdouts against corruption–the cops who can’t be bought, the D.A.s who can’t be intimidated–are outnumbered and outgunned. They need help . . . fast.

A world away, in a dank Himalayan prison, a nameless, hardened man fights every day to survive. He has spent seven years scouring the globe, studying the criminal mind, looking for an answer to the ugly riddle of his childhood. But something has been looking for him, too. Here, in the darkest places of his own anger, Bruce Wayne will discover his destiny–and an ordinary man will become a legend.

Editorial Reviews

Review

6 Degrees Film.com June 2005: " O'Neill perfectly captures the atmosphere, tension and white-knuckle excitement of the movie, all while delving deeper..." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

For more than twenty years, editor and writer Dennis O’Neil put the “dark” in the Dark Knight and was the guiding force behind the Batman mythos at DC Comics. O’Neil began his career as Stan Lee’s editorial assistant at Marvel Comics and went on to become one of the industry’s most successful and respected creators. As a freelance writer and journalist, he has produced several novels and works of nonfiction, including the national bestseller Batman: Knightfall and The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics, as well as hundreds of comic books, reviews, teleplays, and short stories. O’Neil has written for almost all of DC’s and Marvel’s major titles, including Green Lantern, Shazam!, Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Daredevil, Justice League of America, and Azrael. An expert on comics, pop culture, and folklore/mythology, O’Neil is a popular guest at conventions and on radio and television. He lives and works in New York with his wife, Marifran.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (June 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345479467
• ISBN-13: 978-0345479464
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Media

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Next time, try Mace!, June 27, 2005

By 

Low Coup (Detroit, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman Begins (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this novelization. Enthralled by the first 135 pages, I was able to widen the voyeur lens on Master Wayne. I also met characters not introduced in the movie. Young Bruce has a tutor named Miss Daisy. Later, Vagrant Bruce has an encounter with a bosun named Hector, and hijacks a truck with a bandit Bruce nicknamed "Stocky". We also get the scoop on Ra's Al Ghul/Ducard: He is a "methodical man" of "rationality and science" who "keeps records"; he has "sired 414 children", yet "must have a son"; has a daughter named Talia who he wants Bruce to impregnate because up until now "no man . . . has ever been worthy of mingling his genes with his" [Note that Talia is not mentioned again in the novel after this, which is a misstep in my opinion]; and one more surprise regarding his "origin".

Unfortunately, by page 136 the novel dips ever so slightly, but provides some insight into motives of the main players. The creation of Bruce Wayne's backstory was the high point. Some of the dialogue is verbatim from the movie, which works 80% of the time.

It took me 6 hours to read this novel. If you enjoyed the movie, you may enjoy the book. Ra's Al Ghul's journal almost steals Bruce's thunder, but who can really steal anything from Batman? He's the Guardian of Gotham City.

5 stars: pages 1-135
3 stars: pages 136-320
Total: 4 stars

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "All Those Push-Ups For Nothing...", July 5, 2005

By 

HavokPiggy "HXP" (My Room) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman Begins (Mass Market Paperback)

I always read the novel before I see the movie, rule of thumb. I have not yet seen Batman Begins but after reading this book I can only hope it's as good. The first few chapters are entertaining and suck you into the story of an only child raised by his billionaire parents. The plot thickens as young bruce discovers a crevice in the well he has fallen into, while playing, and bats fly at him and nearly scare him to death. The story trudges on, chronicling the death of bruce's parents, his insane travel across the globe in dark trashy shipbottoms, his discovery of an ancient temple dedicated to martial arts, and his rise into the role of Gotham's own Dark Knight.

Overall this book is an excellent telling of Batman's origins, but lacks in thematic elements. Most action scenes are rushed through and written poorly, and some moments don't seem to make much sense.

Being the complete comic book nerd I am, this story seems too good to be true. I reccommend this if your looking for a short fun read.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If the movie is half as good as the book, it will be great., June 13, 2005

By 

Bregman (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman Begins (Mass Market Paperback)

Dennis O'Neil adaptation of the screenplay of Batman Begins is a great read from the first page to the last. The story packs a real punch and tells how Batman began his career. A few surprises are thrown into the mix and you get a top notch read all the way.

If the movie is half as good as the book was, it will be great.

Four Stars