Gotham City 14 Miles (Lulu – Beard / various)

Gotham City 14 Miles offers the 1960s Batman TV series the critical reevaluation it deserves. Its essays examine Batmania, camp, the role of women, the show’s participation in ’60s counter-culture, its many celebrated actors, its lasting cultural effects, and other critical subjects.

A fist-to-cuffs Adam West in prime time was only slightly before my day, but I was raised on his Batman reruns – watched them daily!  Between he and Burt Ward’s mehttp://thepullbox.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=6052&action=editlodramatic heroics and the costumed curves of sirens Yvonne Craig and Julie Newmar – I know I was forever changed by this show.

Point blank, I have to admit I started out excited about this book – but with each essay I read, I only got more pumped up about the next.  I devoured this collection rapidly and with maximum enjoyment!

This is a collection of 14 intelligent essays on a TV show that to this day still has a deep impact on American culture.  Gotham City 14 Miles will appeal to comic geeks, history buffs, TV enthusiasts and American nostalgia fans alike.  This collection hits how the TV show and the comics had an effect on one another including how West had an an impact on the ongoing evolution of  Batman.  There are a few fascinating pieces that dissect the history of the show (and the accompanying movie) and the huge ripples it made on the rest of the entertainment landscape of the time and since!

While I enjoyed each essay, the one that really got me was comic creator and iconic Batman author Chuck Dixon’s piece on the villains of the series.  I have always been a a believer in the theory that a hero is only as good as his enemies and for me the strange and bizarre baddie that set up every two-parted was always part of the fun.  Mr. Dixon sets the record straight on his take of the Rogue Gallery and how the TV show impacted his work.

Batman had it all – Celebrities! A memorable look and special effects! A fanbase that just grows with every generation!  Yes, it is cheeseball – but people love it anyway. America had and to some extent still has a love affair with this one-of-a-kind series and and this book explains why.  Gotham City 14 Miles is a perfect match for Back to the Batcave on my shelf!  Also included is a complete detailed episode list and discography of music used and inspired by the TV show – it was a very impressive list!

$22.95 from the publisher for 296 pages of geeky goodness is not a bad deal at all!

Click HERE to go to lulu.com to purchase!

Bottom Line: A phenomenal read and a must buy for any Bat-Fan!