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Micheal E Uslan: The Capeless Crusader4 Out Of 5 Stars
"The Boy Who Loved Batman" is the almost unbelievable story about a Jewish Kid from Asbury Park who was so in love with comic books that he made it a single-minded goal to be a part of that magical world. By the time he was a teen, he had cajoled his way into the homes of artists and authors like Bill Finger (renowned artist) and Otto Binder (creator of The Marvel Family). By the time he enters college, he brazenly proposes that there be a college course on Comic Books and clinches the deal by comparing the origins of Superman to the biblical tale of Moses.
Soon after, Stan Lee comes knocking and before you know it, Michael is headed for DC comics. This young, purpose driven man is one step closer to being the Batman Writer he has always dreamed of, and "The Boy Who Loved Batman" is an enjoyable book into the love-affair Michael and his hero have carried from the day he first picked up a comic book. But what he doesn't realize is that his dream, to bring a dark, non-campy version of Batman to the screen is going to be a long and difficult slog, through the world of professional rejection, family tensions, and endless search for ways to keep his dreams headed forward.
Fortunately, Ulsan is one driven man. "Batman" was built on the blood of my knuckles" he comments at one stage, after 10 years of development hell stall his dream just as he thinks he's on the brink of achieving it. This may be the books only slow-point, as Ulsan makes choices to keep himself in the running (anyone remember the syndicated animated TV series 'Dinosaucers'?) until his expanding team finally locks down to Peter Guber, Tim Burton, Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Ulsan not only has his dream come true, but beyond his greatest expectations. He then becomes invloved in all the Batman movies since (including the coming 2012 Dark Knight Rises) and writing both graphic Batman Novels and some surprisingly non-Batman titles.
He also hints at "disappointments" but is too kind to dish any dirt. (My guesses are at the "Batman and Robin" movie, given a quote about if a studio exec says you need two heroes and two villains, all they really want you to do is make an infomercial for merchandising.) However, Ulsan writes about many important aspects about comic history - there's even a Comic Book 'Museum' at Indiana University that bears his name - and the wheeling/dealing of Hollywood with such enthusiasm that it's really easy to be entertained throughout "The Boy Who Loved Batman," and that his unflagging enthusiasm for his dream allowed it to become real.
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