Product Description

Although strong and relentless, Batman has no super powers. Instead he relies on Sherlock Holmes-like abilities of deduction and detection. Forensic Files of Batman features two dozen entries from Batman’s Case Files. Most are written by Batman himself, but two are from Police Commissioner Gordon, and there are a couple of other entries from Batman’s right hand man, Alfred the butler. Cases range from the puzzling to the bizarre, and feature such classic Batman villains as The Joker, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face. Interspersed among the Case File reports are sidebars that explain the specific kinds of forensic science that Batman uses to solve his cases.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #94464 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781596871151
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Doug Moench has been writing fiction for periodicals, comic books and graphic novels for over three decades, incluidng long runs on both Batman and Master of Kung-Fu.

Customer Reviews

Good intro to forensics
The idea of using Batman to discuss forensic pathology is quite clever. (Indeed, one can easily imagine a CSI-Gotham City series.)
Moench does a good job intermixing research and storytelling. Much of the research is well done and interestingly told, although the interested reader might wish to consult DiMaio & DiMaio's Forensic Pathology regarding analysis of knife wounds and drowning deaths, where the textbook differs from the information in this book.
All in all, a good read and a good introduction to forensics.

Superhero Fiction at its best
This book deserves more comment. I've read and own hundreds of prose works that have been described as "superhero fiction," a subcategory, I guess, of the science-fiction/fantasy category. Plucked from the comic-books for the "more discerning" reader of costumed do-gooders, virtually the complete stables of mainstream superheros have been portrayed in black and white print instead of their usual four color, picture format: Spiderman, Hulk, X-Men, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc., etc. Some are novelizations of superhero movies, some are merely the prose form of a particularly popular comic-book storyline, others are original stories meant to supplement that characters' continuum as established in the comics. Of course, a fourth type of superhero fiction is the novel starring an entirely original character(s) not beholden to a decades-in-the-making comic-book backstory. For numerous reasons not relevant for this already wandering review, the latter version usually makes for the better novel, in my opinion.

With that said, The Forensic Files of Batman is one of the best portrayals of a mainstream, comic-book hero in prose fiction today. Ironically, it is the author's seemingly conscious effort to understate or ignore the more "superheroic" elements of the Batman mythos that makes this book so appealing. In his almost 70 years of existence, Batman has been the rare mortal hero in the pantheon of otherwise godlike champions of justice. Nonetheless, having paired off or teamed up with many of those immortal superheros, Batman certainly has the trappings of the superhero: garish costume with cape, bright chest emblem, machines and weapons that defy laws of science generally and physics specifically . . . ooh, and the cherubic, young sidekick. The Batman of "The Forensic Files . . . " has none of this. The costume is described as nothing more than "cape and cowl," draped over a chair when not in use. The "batmobile" isn't mentioned. It is merely Batman's "black car." The author gives Batman his "Batarang" - but it is little more than a less-than-perfectly manipulated club. Batman does make a swing or two from building to building - an act that would tear the arms off even a seasoned Olympic gymnast - but this too is kept to a minimum.

I agree with another review that described "The Forensic Files . . . " as more a forensics 101 course or a prose adaptation of a CSI episode. I would add that there are shades of "Silence of the Lambs" as well. Batman's story and origin aren't compromised, merely muted in favor of emphasizing the true core of this hero's mission - solving crimes. The Joker, Two-Face, Catwoman and other known villains make their appearances, but each is brought to justice through existing, practical investigative techniques.

Some parts of this book seem pointless (like the inventory of Batman's forensics lab) and gratuitous (a detailed description of a full autopsy), but each ultimately served as a point of reference when similar equipment or events occur later in the book.

"The Forensic Files of Batman" should attract a broader readership than merely comic-book or Batman fans. It really is an excellent murder/mystery, suspense/thriller on top of being great superhero fiction.

Makes Batman come to life in a whole new way
This book is not a graphic novel that supplies illustration to the events that take place. Rather, this is a novel that provides insight into the thorough steps Batman takes to retain the title of "World's Greatest Detective."

Written as case files, there is a detailed explanation as to how Batman gathers evidence and draws conclusion. Using the latest methods of criminologists and other crime scene investigators, Batman must make a case that will definitively prove that a criminal is guilty.

The book also provides a more detailed look at forensic science as a practice today. Even Batman benefits from the advances in knowledge of forensics, ballistics, and other "crime" sciences. If you have an interest in history of unusual subjects, another cool aspect of this book is the introduction to criminology and how it has developed over the years.

What also connects in this book is the effectiveness with which the superhero mythos can seem so tangible, anchored in the mechanics of the real world. Batman seems just like a detective in everyday life, adamantly combing over a crime scene to catch a killer. This book thus serves to bring
Batman to life in a whole new way. I love it when people can make fantasy seem so real and feasible. This book rocks!