The latest edition of Total Film is available now, and tucked away behind all the comic book coverage of the likes of Dredd, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel and The Avengers 2 is a short review of my book, Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.
If you have the magazine, it’s on page 144, or you can check it out here…
“Gary Collinson’s exhaustive look at Batman on-screen spans his first showing in a 1943 serial up to (but not including) The Dark Knight Rises. He’s a passionate guide, even if he apparently thinks The Animated Series (1992-95) top-trumps Nolan.”
Side note… I’m not exactly sure why they think I prefer Batman: The Animated Series to The Dark Knight Trilogy, but I would say that at it’s very best the series is right up there with Nolan’s movies.
And next up comes a rather splendid review from Simon Gallagher of WhatCulture!; here’s a brief excerpt…
“The book feels a lot like the space where fandom and film criticism meet – the sheer weight of information and dedication to the smallest details comes from an obvious genuine passion for the characters and adaptations, while the authoritative tone and easy presentation of someone who has honed their craft – as Collinson has through his own film website Flickering Myth. And thanks to that, the book doesn’t feel like a eulogy to bygone films – as some critical texts can – instead it urges you to go back and rediscover the joys of earlier Batman films.“
Read the entire review here.
HOLY FRANCHISE BATMAN: BRINGING THE CAPED CRUSADER TO THE SCREEN:
Since the Caped Crusader first made the leap from comics to silver screen in the early 1940s, generations of audiences have been captivated by the screen adventures of Batman, establishing the celebrated comic book hero as a true icon of popular culture. Now, Gary Collinson traces the entire screen history of Bob Kane’s Dark Knight Detective, providing a fascinating insight into one of the most successful media franchises of all time.
Beginning with the early movie serials of the 1940s, Holy Franchise, Batman! charts the development of Batman’s many exploits across both live-action and animation, presenting a comprehensive overview of his illustrious screen career. From the classic 1960s television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward to the hugely successful blockbuster feature films from directors Tim Burton (Batman, Batman Returns), Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever, Batman & Robin) and Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises), as well as early Saturday morning cartoon outings through to the acclaimed ‘DC Animated Universe’, this book explores the evolution of Batman – a journey that has taken him from ‘camp’ crime-fighter to Dark Knight.
Holy Franchise, Batman! is available now via Amazon.co.uk, or click here for a full list of stockists.
Originally published August 8, 2012. Updated December 6, 2019.
