Batman Collected

Batman

by Chip Kidd

A detailed resource on the comics and collectibles inspired by the classic character provides close-up photography and information on everything Batman, from the history of the character's graphic design to sixteen new pages of obscure memorabilia. Reprint.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Pop Culture, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction

292 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 1996

About the author

Chip Kidd is an American author, editor and graphic designer, best known for his innovative book covers.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Kidd grew up in a Philadelphia suburb, strongly influenced by American popular culture. While a design student at Penn State, an art instructor once gave the assignment to design a book cover for Museums and Women by John Updike, who is also a Shillington native. The teacher panned Kidd's work in front of the class, suggesting that book design would not be a good career choice for him. However, Kidd later received professional assignments to design covers for Memories of the Ford Administration and other books by Updike.

Kidd is currently associate art director at Knopf, an imprint of Random House. He first joined the Knopf design team in 1986, when he was hired as a junior assistant by Sara Eisenman.

Publishers Weekly described his book jackets as "creepy, striking, sly, smart, unpredictable covers that make readers appreciate books as objects of art as well as literature." USA Today called him "the closest thing to a rock star" in graphic design today, while author James Ellroy has called him “the world’s greatest book-jacket designer.”

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a look-at book, filled with an overwhelming number of photos showing closeup details of hundreds of collectibles (stickers, pez dispensers, dolls, toy cars, puppets, trading cards, marionettes, lots of other things, and of course figurines and statues) all of or associated with the Batman. It’s sort of chronologically organized and it mostly documents the world-wide awareness and appreciation for Batman, the pervasiveness of his influence on popular culture, and the crazy lengths and ways businesses tried to capitalize on him. You really can’t believe the number of crazy, stupid, surprising things pictured.

I read a bunch of captions whose dates showed the majority of stuff came from the late 60’s sparked by the TV show (or maybe that’s because those were the author Chip Kidd’s main collecting years). I read the text starting with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns which segued into the movies, also discussed the 4 issue Year One along with the Death in the Family stories, and ended with Batman: The Animated Series. Not eye-opening insightful but again reminded me (even though I lived through it) of Batman’s almost ever-present influence on so much of popular culture.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know if Chip Kidd owns every Batman doo-dad and tchatchke in this amazing book, but nevertheless he’s done a phenomenal job compiling every Batman toy, souvenir and what-have-you that spans decades, countries and probably even galaxies! The most eye-popping book of collectibles ever published.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos, and the text - although sparse - is not bad either. Hardly a long and gripping read though. For what it aims to be, I guess it couldn't be carried off with much more style and panache. Interesting enough for the Batman aficionado, but not necessarily recommended for Joe Public. I would've preferred a little more about the 1930s-70s and a bit less of the Batman Forever era. 4.25/5

[R.Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lush, beautifully curated volume by one of the world's premier book designers, who had the amazing opportunity to design around his most prized possession--his own obsessive collection of Batman memorabilia.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing collection of Batman memorabilia, from the 60's to the present, lovingly photographed and curated by the author. There's things in here only the most fanatical Bat-fan would have!
The book oozes quality, fantastic reproduction, and nice anecdotes/ insights.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating pictorial review of the Batman merchandising produced over the decades since the character was first published. I remember seeing some of this stuff.

[Einnar Espinosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se vale ¿no? Hace que cualquier bat-maniaco le entre duro a su memorabilia, y vea que tanto le hace falta... :D