About the Book Since his debut in Detective Comics #27, Batman has been many things: a two-fisted detective; a planet-hopping gadabout; a campy Pop Art sensation; a pointy-eared master spy; and a grim ninja of the urban night. Yet, despite these endless transformations, he remains one of our most revered cultural icons. [In this book, Weldon provides a] look at the cultural history of Batman and his fandom--Amazon.com. Book Synopsis A roaring getaway car of guilty pleasures ( The New York Times Book Review ), Glen Weldons The Caped Crusade is a fascinating, critically acclaimed chronicle of the rises and falls of one of the worlds most iconic superheroes and the fans who love him--now with a new afterword. Since his debut in Detective Comics #27, Batman has been many things: a two-fisted detective; a planet-hopping gadabout; a campy Pop Art sensation; a pointy-eared master spy; and a grim ninja of the urban night. Yet, despite these endless transformations, he remains one of our most revered cultural icons. In this smart, witty, and engrossing ( The Wall Street Journal ) cultural critique, NPR contributor and book critic Glen Weldon provides a sharp, deeply knowledgeable, and often funny look at the cultural history of Batman and his fandom ( Chicago Tribune ) to discover why it is that we cant get enough of the Dark Knight. For nearly a century, Batman has cycled through eras of dark melodrama and light comedy and back again. How we perceive his character, whether hes delivering dire threats in a raspy Christian Bale growl or trading blithely homoerotic double entendres with Robin the Boy Wonder, speaks to who we are and how we wish to be seen by the world. Its this endless adaptability that has made him so lasting, and ultimately human. But its also Batmans fundamental nerdiness that uniquely resonates with his fans and makes them fiercely protective of him. As Weldon charts the evolution of Gothams Guardian from Bob Kane and Bill Fingers hyphenated hero to Christopher Nolans post-9/11 Dark Knight, he reveals how this symbol of justice has made us who we are today and why his legacy remains so strong. The result is possibly the most erudite and well-researched fanboy manifesto ever ( Booklist). Well-researched, insightful, and engaging, The Caped Crusade , with a new afterword by the author, has something for everyone: If youre a Bat-neophyte, this is an accessible introduction; if youre a dyed-in-the-Latex Bat-nerd, this is a colorfully rendered magical history tour redolent with nostalgia ( The Washington Post ). Review Quotes The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture doesnt read like a history book, and its not just due to the authors fantastic storytelling. Weldon informs the reader of the history of Batman with a passion that can be found in any tried and true Batman fan and with a level of knowledge Ive never encountered before. It is the book that Gotham City deserves, and I cant recommend it enough. --ComicsVerse The Caped Crusade is a great read for those who are proud Gothamites, those less initiated, and those who flip the switch on the Bat-Signal in order to find themselves. . . .A sharp, deeply knowledgeable and often funny look at the cultural history of Batman and his fandom...both a page-turner and a Riddler Trophy. -- Chicago Tribune The Caped Crusade is breezy, insightful, and surprisingly moving. Glen Weldon is the illuminating, hilarious writer Batman deserves--and the one we need right now. --DC Pierson, author of The Boy Who Couldnt Sleep and Never Had To and Crap Kingdom The Caped Crusade is seriously informed, daringly opinionated and endlessly charming...Its not just a book about Batman, its Nerd Cultures origin story. --Guy Branum, host of Pop Rocket [ The Caped Crusade ] accomplishes what so many supervillains, from The Joker to Bane, have long desired to do: pin down Batman and systematically dissect him. Weldon navigates Batmans history with an expert step...a winning mix of humor, and incisive social analysis. Even his footnotes are funny. Under that famous cowl, he sees ugliness, wonder, and the undercurrents of pop culture in all their conflicting glory. --NPR [A] smart, engaging dissection of Batmans pulpy comic-book roots, his rise to campy 60s TV stardom, his takeover of toy shelves and his resurrection as the dark knight of the silver screen. --Parade A roaring getaway car of guilty pleasures--film gossip, comic-book esoterica, hilarious tales of nerd rage. . . . Weldon writes with humor and Day-Glo lan. -- Jennifer Senior, The New York Times Anyone familiar with Weldons frequent NPR appearances will delight in this books near-perfect translation of his verbal and comedic sensibilities. Its tone is reverent and analytical, acknowledging the absurdities of Batman and celebrating its wondrous appeal in equal measure. --DCist Engaging. . . . What Weldon ultimately achieves here is a character and comic-franchise history that is itself flexible enough to become what the reader needs it to be. If youre a Bat-neophyte, this is an accessible introduction; if youre a dyed-in-the-Latex Bat-nerd, this is a colorfully rendered magical history tour redolent with nostalgia. --The Washington Post Excellent, insightful. . . .Weldon has crafted that rare jewel: a book of comics analysis that nerds and normals alike can enjoy. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) For fans of Gothams Batman, this is the perfect book to pick up before you head to the movie. . . . Even casual fans will find themselves quickly turning pages to learn more about how our comic heroes affect and even shape our everyday lives. -- Bookish If you looked at Glen Weldons utility belt, youd find wit, humor & endless knowledge about Batman. Thankfully hes condensed that utility belt into a book where you will learn the origin, the ups, the downs and the sideways of one of the most iconic bat-based superheroes of all time. --Kumail Nanjiani, comedian and star of HBOs Silicon Valley Simply put, The Caped Crusade is the best book Ive read this year....Highly addictive reading, with just the right blend of comic book history and nerd culture analysis. --Comic Book Herald Sinkinginto the pages of The Caped Crusade is the next-best thing to debating whosthe better Batman. --Detroit Free Press Sprawling in scope, yet written with breezy flair. . .An enthusiastic, immersive, entertaining guide for both die-hard Batfans and curious onlookers. -- Kirkus Reviews Theres no better time to stop, relax, take a breath and read NPR critic Glen Weldons history of Batman...Because here, in these entertaining pages, you will discover that nerd rage over the Dark Knight is nothing new. --Mashable (Geek Book of the Week) This is the heros journey of Batman from a raw idea of a character to a cornerstone of pop culture. Weldon pulls the back the cowl and reveals us--creators, performers and fans--all collaborating to shape a modern myth that bends with the times to endure. Once I started, I kept reading every chance I got. --Jeff Parker, writer of BATMAN 66 Weldon, a critic for NPR, offers possibly the most erudite and well-researched fanboy manifesto ever. --Booklist Weldons The Caped Crusade is Batman: sometimes hilarious, sometimes frightening, but always intelligent, fascinating, and impossible to put down. --Tom King, New York Times bestselling writer of DC Comicss Batman Writing a book about Batman is tricky. He is a cultural icon deeply meaningful to many because his story touches on themes of loss, adversity and perseverance. Also, he is an implausible character who defies laws of physics and common sense every time he swoops on gun-blazing lunatics. Weldon successfully walks the tightrope, showing reverence for the character but keeping it fun. --Associated Press About the Author Glen Weldon has been a theater critic, a science writer, an oral historian, a writing teacher, a bookstore clerk, a movie usher, a PR flack, an inept marine biologist, and a slightly-better-than-ept competitive swimmer. His work has appeared in The New York Times , The Washington Post , The New Republic , Slate , The Atlantic , The Village Voice , The Philadelphia Inquirer , and many other places. He is a panelist on NPRs Pop Culture Happy Hour and reviews books and comic books for NPR.org. The author of Superman: The Unauthorized Biography and The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture , he lives in Washington, DC.