More than a year after I first sat down and started working on the manuscript, Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen finally becomes a reality this Friday when the book comes out in the UK, and Paul Metcalf at Pissed Off Geek has been kind enough to post a rather nice review ahead of its release. Here’s an excerpt from the review:
From the very origins of the Batman character Collinson looks at Batman’s impact not only on TV but on the big screen, giving an overview on the story, what it took to get it onto the screen and of course fan reaction to what was delivered. This is an interesting and informative way to present the information, especially when he provides a full episode guide to the 1960’s Adam West show as a starter before moving onto the films.
I particularly enjoyed the overlook of the films as he pulled a lot of rumours out from what happened during production and what the actual truth was. Learning about Jack Nicholson’s reaction to some of the studios decisions for example was very interesting, but I won’t spoil it for you, it has to be read to be believed.
For fans of film in general it may be an interesting read but the book is hiding nothing really, this is a book about Batman and that is it. It examines the phenomenon of Batman and what has made it a success, and what will arguably make it a success in the future, a must read for all fans.
Be sure to read the full review.
If you’d like to get your hands on a copy of Holy Franchise, Batman! and are yet to pre-order the book (you fools!), then you might want to check out competitions running over at Film-News.co.uk and Filmoria.co.uk, as well as our very own caption contest.
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 published by Robert Hale and is available for pre-order via Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. Alternatively, click here for a full list of stockists.
Originally published June 26, 2012. Updated December 6, 2019.
