the buzz log

In a recent Wired blog post, Geekdad lists the top 10 things to remember while watching "The Dark Knight." Among the run-down of pointers, he states emphatically: "No matter how hard you trained, or how much money you suddenly had, you couldn't become Batman."

Not so, says University of Victoria professor E. Paul Zehr. The academic and martial artist has popped up on sources from NPR to Trendhunter with news of his upcoming book, "Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero." How long would you have to train to achieve optimum crime fighter status? 10 to 12 years, says the good scholar.

Sure, fitness is essential. But let's get down to dollar amounts. Everyone knows it takes more than muscles to transform Bruce Wayne into the Joker's greatest foe. Darren Hudson Hick, who delved into the topic for "Batman Unauthorized," calculates how much money you would need to procure the necessary suit, belt, cave, signal, car, training, and computer set-up.

"You'd need to be on the Forbes list of richest people in the world to be Batman," Mr. Hick declares. (He adds: "But not at the very top... because, otherwise, everyone would know who you were." Well, that's a relief.) The ex-comics editor estimates it costs a cool $300 mil to make it all happen.

So, it's possible. Just get in really, really good shape—and make a lot of money. Now get cracking, crime fighter. Gotham needs you.