SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

October 31, 2012 by Mike Pawuk

Review – LEGO Batman: The Visual Dictionary

October 31, 2012 by Mike Pawuk   Leave a Comment

LEGO DC Super Heroes – Batman Visual DictionaryWritten by Daniel Lipkowitz
DK Publishing, September 2012
96 pages, ISBN 978-0-7566-9787-7 $21.99

LEGO Batman cover

One of the most enduring comic book heroes is the Dark Knight himself, Batman. He’s been forever immortalized in comic books, film, animation, and video games, as well as decade’s worth of toys and collectibles. In 2006 he also became an overnight hit with the perennially loved LEGO toys, and since then the Batman has been a popular part of LEGO as toys as well as two hit video games aptly called LEGO Batman and LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. In September 2012, DK Publishing, in partnership with LEGO and DC Comics, took a look at the phenomenon of Batman in LEGO form with the LEGO DC Universe Super Heroes: Batman Visual Dictionary.

Aimed for readers 6+, the book has the same tried and true format as the LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary and LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World books. The book is divided into several chapters – The World of LEGO Batman; LEGO DC Super Heroes; Beyond the Brick, and Going Digital. Also included is a timeline of all the LEGO toys from the original release from 2006-2008 and the recent 2012 rebranding of the line to DC Super Heroes, which adds in other DC Comics heroes and villains including an up-to-date minifigure checklist of all the figurines in the series that have been released up to the date of publishing.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The World of LEGO Batman chapter focuses on the original toy line from 2006-2008. The series was inspired by both the original DC comic books as well as the motion pictures. Featured, of course, is Batman featuring photos of the minifigure variations from the line as well as brief history of the hero and his butler Alfred. Featured also in the section are details of the LEGO toys of the Batmobile, the Batcave, and other Bat-Vehicles for land, sea, and air. Also included are all the supporting cast made into LEGO toys from sidekicks to villains, fun facts on them, as well as the vehicles and gadgets they use in their respective LEGO sets. Each listing includes the set number and release date for all the LEGO sets.

The LEGO DC Super Heroes chapter focuses on the 2012 series of toys, which now includes other popular DC Comics superheroes as well, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor and others as well as updated vehicles, buildings, and more.

The Beyond the Brick chapter is a fun behind-the-scenes chapter on the making of the toy line and how the LEGO sets are designed and released, as well as many of the merchandise tie-ins that LEGO Batman has spawned, including pajamas, McDonalds Happy Meal toys. There are also several pages dedicated to the LEGO Batman video game series and a look at the variety of Batman and Robin costumes used to play both games, all the unlockable characters to play, as well as the vehicles and settings.

The book has a lot of charm. Spread throughout the book as well are two-page spread comic book stories that feature the LEGO minifigures; “brick facts” that are quick fun facts for readers on almost every page; fun descriptions of the heroes, villains, ships and more throughout the book; a flip-book animation of Batman vs. the Joker; and to top it off, the book includes an exclusive Batman minifigure of Batman’s electric suit from the LEGO Batman 2 video game. In short – if you have a Batman fan young or old, this book is for you. Read it and enjoy the wonderful world of fun that DC Comics and LEGO has created.

LEGO Batman

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
BatmanDC ComicsLegotoys

About Mike Pawuk

Mike Pawuk has been a teen services public librarian for the Cuyahoga County Public Library for over 15 years. A lifelong fan of comic books and graphic novels, he was chair for the 2002 YALSA all-day preconference on graphic novels, served as a judge for the Will Eisner Awards in 2009, as well as helped to create the Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection committee for YALSA. He is the author of Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and More, and co-author of the follow-up book Graphic Book II both published by Libraries Unlimited/ABC-CLIO Publishing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Review: Swim Team

by Mike Pawuk

March 2023

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Mike Pawuk

March 2023

Review: Victory! Stand!

by Mike Pawuk

March 2023

Nayra and the Djinn | Review

by Mike Pawuk

March 2023

Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Donald's Happiest Adventures | Review

by Mike Pawuk

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

U.S. Gov: ‘All Books Must Have Round Corners’

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know. Read What You Don’t, a guest post by Lauren Thoman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

12 Graphic Novel Series Updates for Young Readers

Best Graphic Novels 2021 | SLJ Best Books

26 Chapter Books, Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels for Latinx Heritage Month and Beyond

18 Superb Graphic Novel Adaptations for Kids and Teens

15 Franco-Belgian Comics That Go Beyond "Tintin"

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023