The Batman covers the second year of Bruce Wayne’s war on crime, Before the Batman: An Original Movie Novel, covers the years leading up to that noir tale. The hardcover book by author, David Lewman, is a hard cover novel for youg readers. Lewman is an author who who wrote the novelization of Sing 2 (2021) and also wrote for animated shows. The grade level is 3 - 7, but of course can be enjoyed by Bat fans of any age. In fact, if the target audience is young readers, then this complicates anticipation for the movie since it features a serial killer and other adult content. The novel is only 144 pages which makes for a fast read, but while it may be based on the Matt Reeves and Peter Craig script, the back story may be only worked out by Lewman. Bruce begins the novel saying that he lived at Wayne Manor until age six when his father moved them to Wayne Tower.
Thomas Wayne turned over the mansion to an orphanage. This may be a connection I didn’t make watching the movie, the same orphanage where he tracks The Ridder? If so, then this novel may explain why it was run down, but not how a mansion could be poorly maintained. The orphans look down on the wealthy Waynes and are not tasked with cleaning and fixing up the mansion? Also, it seems like oversight on the part of Thomas Wayne not to provide maintenance and proper care of the orphans in his will. Then, Bruce explains at ten years old, Thomas Wayne decides to run for mayor. He holds his announcement at the orphanage and there is a choir made up of the orphans. Slight spoiler for the movie! Young Bruce Wayne feels self-conscious and manages to look at the orphan and a strange one with glasses looks back at him. Seven years later, Bruce returns from boarding school to Wayne Tower where he is seen by Alfred Pennyworth, the butler and ex-British Intelligence officer.
Bruce notes that his parents were killed, no `pearl scene’, after the mayor announcement. He tells Alfred he has made top marks at school and he had focused on his school work to avoid his classmates. This is actually sudden, Bruce takes up his normal life as a student, there is no period of sadness or anger with the death of Thomas and Martha, Martha!, Wayne. Alfred asks him about his plans for the summer, but Bruce doesn’t have any as long as it doesn’t involve Wayne Industries. The next morning, Bruce goes to work out and Alfred joins him for martial arts practice which he jokes as “Brucejitsu.” Alfred had trained in several fighting styles in British intelligence. So we get a clear picture of Bruce’s fight training. Alfred easily takes down Bruce. Later, Bruce goes to his private space, a train stop from the old underground train that ran through Wayne Tower.
He studies forensic science taking samples from a park bench. His summer project though is working on his car. The boy who wore glasses in the choir is Edward Naughton. He is bullied by other orphans who call him “Ed-weird.” Edwards interest is in crossword puzzles. His job is delivering pizzas on his bike. Bruce takes his car out to race Gotham streets, but he is stopped by a police car. Still, the officers recognize him and let him go with a warning which frustrates him. He does catch the officer’s mention of a racetrack. The next day, he drives to the racetrack office, but the two workers again recognize him and send him away since he is underage by a year. He heads out the next night in an army jacket, cap, and work boots. Bruce finds that another car is racing him. The driver is a girl his age with brown hair. Her name is Dex short for Dorothy Alexander.
The driver is a girl his age with brown hair. Her name is Dex short for Dorothy Alexander. She brings up street racing and asks for his name which Bruce says is Paul. He joins the street race with Edward Naughton sabotaging a car. Alfred inspires Bruce not to run away from the death of his parents, but to find "something to run toward." Part two, picks up with Bruce graduating from boarding school and then studying various fields at colleges around the world. He returns to Wayne Tower in his "late twenties" and then stops a mugger. The act inspires him to fight crime, but not recognized as Bruce Wayne. Bruce needs an identity like his anonymous jacket and boots as Paul. Edward has saved enough to become a forensic accountant to find fraud. He has also been collecting greeting cards from garage sales.
Alfred brings up to Bruce that Salvatore Maroni is arrested and that Carmine Falcone will take his place. Bruce has been working on a suit, armored with plates, that he modifies like his car. He goes out to Gotham streets to find crime and discovers an unusual explosive used by a robber. Bruce has to discover the source of the explosive and makes an ally from Alfred's contact, Lieutenant Janice Dure. It all ties back to his past, Oswald Cobblepot, Falcone's lieutenant, while Edward tries to eliminate his past. The epilogue features the beginning of The Batman film, but we are left from the book how Bruce Wayne came up with the name The Batman, his partnership with Lt. Jim Gordon, and the first use of the batsignal. Maybe this will be covered in a follow-up book! Before The Batman has a slow beginning, but starts detailing the steps Bruce Wayne has taken to become The Batman!
Four Crossword Puzzles out of Five!
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