Batman Returns [Paperback]

Craig Shaw Gardner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 1992

A film tie-in. In Gotham City, big-time crime and Batman never sleep, but today a new evil is born in the guise of a grotesque, comic figure with an umbrella-full of savage tricks. He's the Penguin, and he has an ally - a sleek, mysterious being with nine ways of evading death. She's Catwoman.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Mandarin (July 10, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749313455
• ISBN-13: 978-0749313456
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,282,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Better & Darker Than The First, May 15, 2005

By 

David A. Smith "Happy Valentine's Day2012" (Webberville, Mi, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman Returns (Paperback)

Craig Shaw Out Did himself on this book. The characters and plot is more darker than the first. He gives you more info on the Penguin & Catwoman. The Action Is Tense and full of suspense.


If You liked this book then read Batman, Batman Forever & Batman & Robin

1.0 out of 5 stars It's unfortunate, because Gardner is a great author!, January 8, 2004

By 

flynn cook (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman Returns

The adaptation of the 1989 film by Craig Shaw Gardner is my most favorite book. It was a masterful and touching a truly exciting and excellent book. Completely moving, and it adds wonderful depth to the film. My favorite book for my favorite film, for my favorite character.

However, I am sincerely disappointed with the adaptation of Batman Returns by Gardner. He is an excellent writer. I haven't read a single 'licensed property' book he's written without finding it to be excellent. Until now. I suppose it's because it was based on a somewhat mediocre screenplay. He must have been under contract to write another book, and pumped out a crappy book because he didn't want to write it. The book is terrible. It's a bare bones adaption of the screenplay, the bad screenplay, with crappy things and lines that were cut from the film, making the film better then the book! For example, the Organ Grinder has the gatling gun hidden in his organ, and he fires it, at the giant Christmas tree in Gotham Square. In the film, that's all he does. But in the book, he yells the absolutely REDICULOUS line: "Take that, Tannembaum!" I cringed, and tried to continue.

Gone is the great writing of the first book. Gone is the moving, tortured Batman. He gets less 'screen-time' in the book then in the film! Absolutely NO DEPTH is added to the film. No deleted scenes, the best part of the book was the last paragraph, which came incredibly close to replicating the amazing writing of the first film's adatation. Perhaps if the script hadn't been so bad in the first place, the book might have been decent. Not that I'm bashing Batman Returns, because I hold Returns in higher regard then the last two films.

Rather disappointing to fans of Gardner's 1989 film adaptation, and his amazing Comic-Book based book; 'The Batman Murders'. Buy it for collection only.