- Library Binding: 191 pages
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 143522356X
- ISBN-13: 978-1435223561
- Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 14 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,762,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Hey, kid, wanna grow up and be Batman? Then ensure you re the son of rich parents who get shot down in a back alley and then with vengeance in your heart and an unlimited bank balance, get educated and dress as a human bat to scare the felons that you re after. Of course, there s a lot more to it than that and The Batman Handbook gives you a lot of the necessary tips to take up your vigilante activities against evil-doers in five chapters dealing with everything from education to physique as well as pointing out how Batman dealt with some of his villains and traps. Let s hit on some highlights. There s an interesting comment in the opening chapter about the Batman s costume colour choices for him to be camouflaged at night, saying that he avoided bright blue, red and yellow. Odd choices to avoid but to use them and add green for Robin. Why not just put a target on his chest? He doesn t even have any head protect compared to what Batman wears. I should point out that under the section on side-kicks, Tim Drake s choice of darker colours and tights is acknowledged as an improvement in the costume. Batman s choice in the shape of his utility belt has changed over the years. I remember seeing the contents of the original where everything was in the tube-like structures wondering how things could be so compact. Interestingly, the 1966 TV series went for box units which at least looked a little more practical but it wasn t really until Frank Miller s time on the comicbook that the utility belt really did look like it would be practical. Logistically, it might have made more sense had the double-tipped bullet shapes on the belt had been twistable to open up bigger compartments. What this handbook doesn t really explain is where do you go to buy the equipment you need for such a belt and how time-consuming it is to make your own gear. Come to that, nor does it explain why the Batman needs a nice shiny yellow target like that around his waist when a duller colour would make sense. The best bit is making the Bat-Signal for the police headquarters although author Scott Beatty fails to inform that you need a cloudy night for it to be really effective. The section devoted to the Batman s interrogation technique should certainly not be copied, not unless you re happy holding a concerned twelve stone citizen from a skyscraper one-handed. I found this book an interesting read and a definite page-turner. By playing it reasonably straight, Scott Beatty does give you a lot of practical information on all manner of subjects but not enough to cause you any serious harm. It s important to note that those of you buying this book and not living in the USA that the wiring noted on page 176 will not correspond to domestic wiring you might have but shouldn t try anyway. After reading this book, you will no doubt realise that you would have to be exceptional to even do a fraction of the things the Batman is capable of doing, let alone them all. However, if you eat all your vegetables and be an upright citizen, you will also avoid having him smashing down your door for a little chat. --SF Crow's nest, Sept, 2010
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Is the ultimate real-world training manual for any aspiring caped crusader, showing how to: train a sidekick; execute a backflip; survive a poison gas attack; and throw a grappling hook. Included are original two-colour illustrations by a DC Comics artist.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
Despite his fantastic abilities and state-of-the-art equipment, at his core, Batman is human-and therefore everything he does is based in real-world skills. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Despite his fantastic abilities and state-of-the-art equipment, at his core, Batman is human-and therefore everything he does is based in real-world skills. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
bought the book for my sons 30th birthday. he is into Batman. it arrived on time and safely packaged. he love it. thought it was great. ideal for any one into superheros.!!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
24 reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
For the aspiring vigilante...
15 Jun 2005
Format:Paperback
Scott Beatty's The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual, opens with the following disclaimer:
"Attempting to exact vigilante-style justice is illegal, no matter what the situation. Even Batman himself, if he really existed, would be subject to prosecution, despite his close relationship with Commissioner Gordon... We urge you to obey all laws and respect all rights, including the property rights of others -- even the criminally insane."
DC's lawyers not only know their audience, they also have a sense of humor, something that's fully on display in Beatty's entertaining How To guide. Broken down into five chapters - The Basics, Bat Skills, Fighting Skills, Detective Skills and Escape Skills - Beatty offers up a realistic look at the caped crusader's methods and gadgets, along with a heaping helping of pure fanboy snark. Important information like how to make a Batsuit, how to drive the Batmobile on two wheels, and how to take out a roomful of goons is all presented in relatively straight-forward fashion, with real-world examples and common sense explanations, and frequently cut with wry observations such as: "Camouflage can save your life. Only a virtually invulnerable hero who operates in the daytime would wear bright blue, red and yellow."
Formatted like an actual training manual, it's very similar in tone to the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series, an oft-hilarious guide to surviving such potential disasters as escaping from quicksand or performing a tracheotomy. Besides explaining which martial arts are best to master and how to withstand poison kisses, The Batman Handbook is also rich in references to Batman history, making it a double treat for the fanboys and girls. In Chapter 5's "How to Win a Coin Toss," for example, Beatty briefly recounts Two Face's origin before suggesting, perhaps to future writers of the Dark Knight: "If your life is at stake or, more importantly, an innocent's fate is to be determined by the flip of a coin, you might be better off using the time it takes to toss a coin to launch an attack or slip from your bonds... Then decide the outcome yourself -- with your fists."
Batman's appeal has always been his universal relatability due to his lack of super powers. He's just a man - albeit an extraordinary man - the self-made hero that any of us could be if we had his willpower and drive, and of course, his bazillion dollar family fortune! The Batman Handbook is the perfect accessory for anyone who's ever dreamed of the vigilante lifestyle and answered the age old question of who they would rather be, Superman or Batman, with a derisive laugh: "Batman, of course."
"Attempting to exact vigilante-style justice is illegal, no matter what the situation. Even Batman himself, if he really existed, would be subject to prosecution, despite his close relationship with Commissioner Gordon... We urge you to obey all laws and respect all rights, including the property rights of others -- even the criminally insane."
DC's lawyers not only know their audience, they also have a sense of humor, something that's fully on display in Beatty's entertaining How To guide. Broken down into five chapters - The Basics, Bat Skills, Fighting Skills, Detective Skills and Escape Skills - Beatty offers up a realistic look at the caped crusader's methods and gadgets, along with a heaping helping of pure fanboy snark. Important information like how to make a Batsuit, how to drive the Batmobile on two wheels, and how to take out a roomful of goons is all presented in relatively straight-forward fashion, with real-world examples and common sense explanations, and frequently cut with wry observations such as: "Camouflage can save your life. Only a virtually invulnerable hero who operates in the daytime would wear bright blue, red and yellow."
Formatted like an actual training manual, it's very similar in tone to the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series, an oft-hilarious guide to surviving such potential disasters as escaping from quicksand or performing a tracheotomy. Besides explaining which martial arts are best to master and how to withstand poison kisses, The Batman Handbook is also rich in references to Batman history, making it a double treat for the fanboys and girls. In Chapter 5's "How to Win a Coin Toss," for example, Beatty briefly recounts Two Face's origin before suggesting, perhaps to future writers of the Dark Knight: "If your life is at stake or, more importantly, an innocent's fate is to be determined by the flip of a coin, you might be better off using the time it takes to toss a coin to launch an attack or slip from your bonds... Then decide the outcome yourself -- with your fists."
Batman's appeal has always been his universal relatability due to his lack of super powers. He's just a man - albeit an extraordinary man - the self-made hero that any of us could be if we had his willpower and drive, and of course, his bazillion dollar family fortune! The Batman Handbook is the perfect accessory for anyone who's ever dreamed of the vigilante lifestyle and answered the age old question of who they would rather be, Superman or Batman, with a derisive laugh: "Batman, of course."
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Great buy! If you like Batman, chances are...
13 April 2005
Format:Paperback
If you like Batman, chances are at one time in your life you have thought about what it would be like to be involved in his line of work. Therefore, this book is for all Batman fans! I'd say it was a quick read, because I read the whole thing the day I got it, but seriously I was not keeping track of the time because I was so engaged in the book! A nice mix of fact and fun, it convinced me I could be Batman! Cool diagrams, insights into the character of Batman as well as his training, tactics, and abilities. I loved this thing and would recommend it to any comic reader.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Great Book for Kids at Heart
31 Mar 2005
Format:Paperback
Entertaining and well-researched, this manual is an enjoyable read for any one who ever fantasized being Batman as a kid. Written in an easy to understand, how-to format, it comes aross as being a book the caped crusader would give to one of his proteges. I agree with another reviewer about the disclaimer for parents. In fact, any parent should have a talk with their kid about not trying the things in that book, especially the jumping out of a tall building stunt. I had great fun reading through this, though, and was impressed with the amount of illustrations and technical terms. Well done!
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