The Batman Vault
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Running Press; $49.95
Running Press has given fans of the Dark Knight a treasure trove of history and memories inside a beautifully designed book. This massive, spiral bound volume holds everything from the obvious to the obscure. Written by Robert Greenberger and Matthew K. Manning, The Batman Vault examines every aspect of Batman’s life. Detailed chapters include looks at Batman and his family, Gotham, Robin, and of course, the memorable villains that populate the mythos of the Dark Knight. It celebrates Batman’s history in comics, serials, radio, newspapers, movies, animation, action figures and world wide culture with flair
While the book holds many standout features that include illustrations, original art, photos of long-forgotten toys, marketing campaigns, and very many memorable covers, the greatest thrill for a true Batman fan may come from the forward written by Jerry Robinson. The legend puts the reader right there in the earliest days of Batman by reminding us that this was the time of the celebrity criminal in America. He than recounts his inspiration and the thought process behind the creation. Robinson also pays tribute the work of Bill Finger with one word: “genius.”
The entertaining text revels in the complex history of the Caped Crusader while also featuring rare collectibles from the Batcave. Looking for the sketchbook that Darwyn Cooke designed for the special limited edition of Catwoman: The Life and Times of a Femme Fatale? How about a facsimile of the napkin that Bob Kane used to create the first known drawing of the Boy Wonder? Did you ever want your own Batplane glider? These artifacts and many more are lovingly reproduced inside The Batman Vault.
Also featured are rare art, drawings done for promotional material, magazine covers, toys and just about anything you can think of that has been associated with Batman.
Like the two previous volumes in the “Museum-in-a-Box” series (tributes to the history of DC and Marvel) Running Press has done an incredible job. From the detailed reproductions of rare memorabilia to the stunning clarity of all the images in the book, The Batman Vault is a historical triumph.
