Glen Weldon has been a theater critic, a science writer, an oral historian, a writing teacher, a bookstore clerk, a movie usher, a PR flack, an inept marine biologist, and a slightly-better-than-ept competitive swimmer. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, Slate, The Atlantic, The Village Voice, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and many other places. He is a panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and reviews books and comic books for NPR.org. The author of Superman: The Unauthorized Biography and The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture, he lives in Washington, DC.
"A roaring getaway car of guilty pleasures—film gossip, comic-book
esoterica, hilarious tales of nerd rage. . . . Weldon writes with
humor and Day-Glo élan." —Jennifer Senior, The New York Times
"Smart, witty and engrossing." —The Wall Street Journal
"The Caped Crusade is a great read for those who are proud
Gothamites, those less initiated, and those who flip the switch on
the Bat-Signal in order to find themselves. . . .A sharp, deeply
knowledgeable and often funny look at the cultural history of
Batman and his fandom...both a page-turner and a Riddler Trophy."
—Chicago Tribune
“Engaging. . . . What Weldon ultimately achieves here is a
character and comic-franchise history that is itself flexible
enough to become what the reader needs it to be. If you’re a
Bat-neophyte, this is an accessible introduction; if you’re a
dyed-in-the-Latex Bat-nerd, this is a colorfully rendered magical
history tour redolent with nostalgia.” —The Washington Post
"For fans of Gotham’s Batman, this is the perfect book to pick up
before you head to the movie. . . . Even casual fans will find
themselves quickly turning pages to learn more about how our comic
heroes affect and even shape our everyday lives." —Bookish
"[The Caped Crusade] accomplishes what so many supervillains, from
The Joker to Bane, have long desired to do: pin down Batman and
systematically dissect him. Weldon navigates Batman's history with
an expert step...a winning mix of humor, and incisive social
analysis. Even his footnotes are funny. Under that famous cowl, he
sees ugliness, wonder, and the undercurrents of pop culture in all
their conflicting glory." —NPR
"Writing a book about Batman is tricky. He is a cultural icon
deeply meaningful to many because his story touches on themes of
loss, adversity and perseverance. Also, he is an implausible
character who defies laws of physics and common sense every time he
swoops on gun-blazing lunatics. Weldon successfully walks the
tightrope, showing reverence for the character but keeping it fun."
—Associated Press
"Excellent, insightful. . . .Weldon has crafted that rare jewel: a
book of comics analysis that nerds and “normals” alike can enjoy."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Sprawling in scope, yet written with breezy flair. . .An
enthusiastic, immersive, entertaining guide for both die-hard
Batfans and curious onlookers." —Kirkus Reviews
“The Caped Crusade is breezy, insightful, and surprisingly moving.
Glen Weldon is the illuminating, hilarious writer Batman
deserves—and the one we need right now.” —DC Pierson, author of The
Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To and Crap Kingdom
"Simply put, The Caped Crusade is the best book I’ve read this
year....Highly addictive reading, with just the right blend of
comic book history and nerd culture analysis." —Comic Book
Herald
"The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture doesn’t
read like a history book, and it’s not just due to the author’s
fantastic storytelling. Weldon informs the reader of the history of
Batman with a passion that can be found in any tried and true
Batman fan and with a level of knowledge I’ve never encountered
before. It is the book that Gotham City deserves, and I can’t
recommend it enough." —ComicsVerse
“Weldon, a critic for NPR, offers possibly the most erudite and
well-researched fanboy manifesto ever.” —Booklist
“There's no better time to stop, relax, take a breath and read NPR
critic Glen Weldon's history of Batman…Because here, in these
entertaining pages, you will discover that nerd rage over the Dark
Knight is nothing new.” —Mashable (Geek Book of the Week)
“[A] smart, engaging dissection of Batman’s pulpy comic-book roots,
his rise to campy ’60s TV stardom, his takeover of toy shelves and
his resurrection as the dark knight of the silver screen.”
—Parade
“Sinkinginto the pages of `The Caped Crusade’ is the next-best
thing to debating who’sthe better Batman.” —Detroit Free Press
"Anyone familiar with Weldon’s frequent NPR appearances will
delight in this book’s near-perfect translation of his verbal and
comedic sensibilities. Its tone is reverent and analytical,
acknowledging the absurdities of Batman and celebrating its
wondrous appeal in equal measure." —DCist
"Strikes a seemingly impossible balance in its own right, serving
as both a reasonably concise crash course in the character’s
history and an astute pop-sociological analysis of what this all
means. . . . It’s at once brisk and breezy and exceedingly well
researched and lovingly constructed, offering something for both
nerds and 'normals' alike in a time when the nerds have won."
—Playboy
“If you looked at Glen Weldon’s utility belt, you’d find wit, humor
& endless knowledge about Batman. Thankfully he's condensed that
utility belt into a book where you will learn the origin, the ups,
the downs and the sideways of one of the most iconic bat-based
superheroes of all time.” —Kumail Nanjiani, comedian and star of
HBO’s Silicon Valley
“This is the hero’s journey of Batman from a raw idea of a
character to a cornerstone of pop culture. Weldon pulls the back
the cowl and reveals us—creators, performers and fans—all
collaborating to shape a modern myth that bends with the times to
endure. Once I started, I kept reading every chance I got.” —Jeff
Parker, writer of BATMAN ’66
"The Caped Crusade is seriously informed, daringly opinionated and
endlessly charming...It’s not just a book about Batman, its Nerd
Culture’s origin story." —Guy Branum, host of Pop Rocket
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