Batman and Joker fans, you might want to check out these books

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

It’s still a painfully long wait before THE DARK KNIGHT RISES swoops into theaters, but Batfans will be able to ease some of that misery by stomping on crime’s face in the highly anticipated videogame sequel BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY (hitting on the 18th).

But if your hands aren’t too occupied with a game controller, there are also a couple of books coming out in October that may interest followers of the Dark Knight and his nemesis.

THE BATMAN FILES is presented as a dossier assembled by Batman himself: “Unearthed from the depths of the Batcave by [writer] Matthew K. Manning, The Batman Files begins with Wayne’s childhood drawings and continues along a time line of significant events in Batman’s life. Complete and authentic in every way possible, all of Batman’s friends and foes–from Poison Ivy, Catwoman, the Riddler, and Penguin, to the Joker, Batgirl, Mr. Freeze, and of course, Robin–appear throughout the dossier to provide a framework of the Caped Crusader’s entire career.

Completely outlining Batman’s war on crime, The Batman Files includes in-depth computer files, news articles, crime scene photos, blueprints, schematics, and actual maps of Gotham City that were collected, and in many cases even drawn, by the Caped Crusader himself. (Example below.)

High production values include black matte gilding, as well as a high-tech fabric cover–complete with a metallic Batman emblem to secure the secret contents within. Each detail of Batman’s life is carefully and faithfully detailed with the involvement of DC Comics inside The Batman Files.”

It ain’t cheap, but you can preorder THE BATMAN FILES here.

Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite painted maniac gets the spotlight in THE JOKER: A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME. It comes from writer Daniel Wallace, who’s also done loads of books on STAR WARS and comics, and features an intro by longtime Joker voice actor Mark Hamill.

The description of THE JOKER: “A comprehensive look at the greatest comic book villain… ever. Since his first appearance in 1940’s Batman #1, the Joker stands alone as the most hated, feared, and loved villain in the DC Universe. Though his true origins may be unknown, the Clown Prince of Crime’s psychotic appearances in hundreds of comic books has shaped the way we look at Batman, comic books, and ourselves. Indeed, a hero is only as good as his nemesis, so the Joker’s heinous crimes, including murdering the second Robin and paralyzing Batgirl, have elevated Batman to the highest levels of crime-fighting, and we, the readers, to the finest levels of quality pop-culture entertainment.

The Joker is the first retrospective chronicling one of the most groundbreaking and game-changing villains of all time, and contains images from his more than seventy years in comics by comic book artists and writers such as Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, Grant Morrison, Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, Brian Azzarello, Bruce Timm, and Paul Dini. Also included are images from his various film, television, animated, and video game incarnations, such as the timeless interpretations by Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, and Heath Ledger, who won a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight. This book is a must-have for fans and anyone who wants to die laughing.”

THE JOKER is available next week, you can preorder it here.