Inferno (Batman novel)
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| Author | Alex Irvine |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English genre = Superhero |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
| Released | 31 October 2006 |
| Media Type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 352 pp. |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-345-47945-9 |
| Preceded by | Batman: Dead White |
| Followed by | Batman: Fear Itself |
Batman: Inferno is a novel set in the universe of DC Comics superhero Batman and was penned by Alex Irvine, a writer and assistant professor of English at the University of Maine. The novel is a tie-in with the film Batman Begins and features Batman's archenemy The Joker and new villain Enfer (similar to the villain White Eyes being introduced in Batman: Dead White, this novel's predecessor).
Contents |
[edit] Back cover description
Gotham’s never been so scorching, the Joker’s never been more despicable, and Batman’s never been in such grave danger.
With more than thirty fires raging out of control across the city, Gotham is indeed a hell on earth. But torching the population is small potatoes for the arsonist extraordinaire known as Enfer. The pyromaniac’s mad masterpiece is Arkham Asylum, blazing like a Roman candle and engineered to provide the perfect escape for Arkham’s most infamous inmate, the Joker. But the dire situation goes from bad to beyond monstrous when the archvillain’s path to freedom leads directly to the Dark Knight’s cave.
The Joker believes in striking while the iron is hot ... and now it’s never been hotter. After all, the diabolical villain has devised the ultimate joke: launch the mother of all crime waves, masquerading as the Caped Crusader himself! With Gotham erupting in flames and its #1 crime fighter fast becoming its #1 enemy, the burning question is: Who’s going to get the last laugh?
[edit] Continuity
- The majority of the novel takes place between July 26 at 9:09 a.m. and August 5 at 10:44 p.m. An epilogue takes place nearly four months later, on December 1 around 7:16 p.m.
- The novel is set approximately two years after the events of the film Batman Begins. (Irvine, 4)
- Additionally, this novel appears to be set after the events of the upcoming sequel, The Dark Knight, as Vicki Vale, a columnist for the Gotham Gazette in the novel, remarks that "Hearing that Two-Face or the Joker is definitely off the streets will let us all sleep better at night," in reference to the arson that destroys Arkham Asylum and frees several notorious prisoners. (Irvine, 39)
- Soon after the Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum following the arson that destroys it, he finds the cave beneath Wayne Manor. After an encounter with Alfred, the Joker steals a Batsuit, a number of gadgets and tools, and most strikingly the Batmobile. (Irvine, 53-60)
- The Joker wearing the Batsuit in this novel is similar to The Laughing Bat, an episode of the animated series The Batman, where the villain disguises himself as Batman and forces payment from those persons he saves while fighting crime. Joker's use of the Batman is vastly different in this novel, with the villian using the suit and the Batmobile to frame Batman.
[edit] Characters from Batman Begins
- Dr. Jonathan Crane is director of Arkham Asylum and has an office in the prison. (Irvine, 25)
- Capt. James Gordon contacts Batman via e-mail and enjoys free time with two year old son, James Jr. in this novel. (Irvine, 206)
[edit] External links
- Del Rey Online | Batman: Inferno
- Alexander Irvine
- When You Stop Believing in It, It Doesn't Go Away: Burn, Baby, Burn - Alex Irvine Blogger blog about the novel and its cover.
- Book Review: Batman: Inferno at The Trades.
| Batman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Bob Kane and Bill Finger • Other writers and artists |
| Supporting Characters: | Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock |
| Villains: | Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains |
| Locations: | Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor |
| Miscellanea: | Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman |
