There is an expected rise of interest in Batman with the releases of director Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Batmovie, The Dark Knight (the follow up to Batman Begins).  The Essential Batman Encyclopedia from Ballantine Books/Del Rey (in conjunction with DC Comics) is meant to capture that interest, and I think that for many Batman fans it will.

Written by author and former DC editor, Robert Greenberger, The Essential Batman Encyclopedia is intended to be a comprehensive sourcebook on the “Batman universe.”  This book offers details (many fascinating) and a thorough background on Batman’s origin and his life as both Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight of Gotham City.  Biographies of every major character that has played a role in the Batman mythology abound.  This includes sections on close allies like Robin the Boy Wonder, faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth, and Commissioner Jim Gordon and also on Batman’s eclectic rogues gallery including the Joker, Penguin, the Riddler, Rā’s al Ghūl, Two-Face, and the enigmatic Catwoman, among many.

Greenberger uses as a springboard Michael Fleisher’s The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Volume One: Batman (originally published by Collier Books in 1976 and brought back to print by DC Comics in a facsimile edition in 2007).  In a short instructional piece at the front of this tome, entitled “How to Use This Book,” Greenberger states that his master list of characters was limited to characters that “appeared at least twice in core Batman titles,” such as Batman, Detective Comics, Batman Family, World’s Finest, The Brave and the Bold, and a few others.

Because of this, The Essential Batman Encyclopedia is for longtime fans of the Batman comic books or at least someone fairly familiar with Batman from having read Batman comics for several years.  It’s a mind-boggling collection of Batman mythos and character trivia tailor made for the fan that just has to have a giant Batman reference in reach.

If I have to have a gripe, it’s this:  The Essential Batman Encyclopedia is illustrated throughout with black and white comic book artwork and details from comic book pages, as well as two 16-page full-color artwork inserts.  A lot of that art is placed out of context, as if it were merely frivolous and obligatory art added just to break up the text.  Sometimes a name, a title and/or issue number, and some background info would be good on all of the pictures – not just some.

Otherwise, The Essential Batman Encyclopedia is… well, essential to lovers of all those Batman comic book series.  Be sure to get one because if this goes out of print, not many of us will be willing to let go of our copies.