"For the first time, the entire scope and history of the Bat arsenal, from the famous cowl, the awesome Batmobile, the catacomb-like Batcave to the tank-like Tumbler is documented in this encyclopedic chronicle by Matt MacNabb. It is really Batman's equipment and the unique gizmos he employs to keep Gotham safe that not only defines him but transforms him into a superhero. After all, he's one of the very few superheroes who's as human as the rest of us. Survey the many iterations of the Batman legend since its debut in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939: the original ferocious and bitter avenger, the campy crusader of the '60s TV series, the dark brooding antihero of the graphic novels and the recent Chris Nolan Dark Knight films. What's the one thing that remains consistent about this most mysterious of superheroes through the decades? His gear, his arsenal. When the Bat signal hits the night sky all the world knows who's been called. If you really want to get to know Batman, and his 75-year legend, you must know his material. You think you know Batman? You don't know the tenth of it. Matt MacNabb unravels the how and why of each significant piece of the Batman toolbox, along with intimate behind the scenes stories and knowledgeable commentary by the people who designed them. To really know Batman, you must know this army of dedicated, talented artists, writers and technicians who are the ones who have really brought the Caped Crusader to life over the decades. They are Batman's secret pit crew, swapping the Bat tires and equipping the Bat utility belt. Most of them grew up as super fans of the comics and the books and the TV shows and the movies the same way everyone else did, but they got the lucky break to contribute to the legend. This book includes: Entire history of the Batman legend, in all media; In-depth interviews with the people behind the Bat cosmos; Expert analysis of the Bat legend by the author and other Bat-gurus; Exhaustive, intimate catalog of Batman's incredible crime-fighting tools; Comparison of the various Bat incarnations, from comic book to film and beyond; The Bat foes from the Joker to Bane expert analysis and commentary."--provided by publisher.