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Batman. Where to start?
- Thread starter Enforcer
- Start date
Paragon Kobold
First Post
Oddly, just last week DC comics released BATMAN: CHRONICLES VOL. 1, reprinting
192 pages of batman stories from 1939. In a sense it is the logical place to start.
If you want the best Batman story ever then buy THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. This classic
by Frank Miller (Currently in the news for being the creator of Sin City) really made
Batman the phenomenon he is today. Just make sure you don't get the inferior sequel
THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. Another great story written by miller is YEAR ONE.
Also among the classics is BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS collecting a celebrated run from the 70s.
For more contemporary stories I recommend BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS.
If you want to delve into current continuity you should read the WAR DRUMS and WAR GAMES books,
reprinting a huge crossover taking place in all the Batman and related titles. If huge
crossovers scare you then go for the collection of stand alone stories in BATMAN:
BLACK AND WHITE.
Also you might want to check out the GOTHAM CENTRAL books; IN THE LINE OF DUTY
and HALF A LIFE. They are about being cops in Gotham City, which is not a fun job...
Hope this helps.
192 pages of batman stories from 1939. In a sense it is the logical place to start.
If you want the best Batman story ever then buy THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. This classic
by Frank Miller (Currently in the news for being the creator of Sin City) really made
Batman the phenomenon he is today. Just make sure you don't get the inferior sequel
THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. Another great story written by miller is YEAR ONE.
Also among the classics is BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS collecting a celebrated run from the 70s.
For more contemporary stories I recommend BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS.
If you want to delve into current continuity you should read the WAR DRUMS and WAR GAMES books,
reprinting a huge crossover taking place in all the Batman and related titles. If huge
crossovers scare you then go for the collection of stand alone stories in BATMAN:
BLACK AND WHITE.
Also you might want to check out the GOTHAM CENTRAL books; IN THE LINE OF DUTY
and HALF A LIFE. They are about being cops in Gotham City, which is not a fun job...
Hope this helps.
Cthulhudrew
First Post
I'd try to pick up Batman: Year One, by Frank Miller. Some of Miller's best work, IMO, and a really good Batman story. Aside from that, I don't know. The recent Jeph Loeb Hush storyline has been collected in trades (two, IIRC), and I loved it, but fan opinion of the storyline is very divided- people either hate it or love it.
I personally haven't read too much Batman since the Pre-Crisis stuff (with the exception of Year One and Hush).
Dark Knight Returns (again, Miller) is supposed to be awesome (I've only skimmed it), but I wouldn't say it's a good introduction to the character.
I personally haven't read too much Batman since the Pre-Crisis stuff (with the exception of Year One and Hush).
Dark Knight Returns (again, Miller) is supposed to be awesome (I've only skimmed it), but I wouldn't say it's a good introduction to the character.
Klaus
First Post
Thy these:
Batman: Year One
Batman: Year Two
Batman: Year Three
Batman: The Cult
Batman: A Death in the Family (death of Jason Todd)
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying (iirc... introduces Tim Drake)
Batman: Cataclysm (Gotham is destroyed by an earthquake)
Batman: No Man's Land (Batman defends the former Gotham)
Batman: Hush
Batman: Year One
Batman: Year Two
Batman: Year Three
Batman: The Cult
Batman: A Death in the Family (death of Jason Todd)
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying (iirc... introduces Tim Drake)
Batman: Cataclysm (Gotham is destroyed by an earthquake)
Batman: No Man's Land (Batman defends the former Gotham)
Batman: Hush
Desdichado
Hero
I second Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. I'm not a huge fan of Batman (although I like him well enough), but I am a huge fan of those two trades. Really made the character for me.
WayneLigon
Adventurer
The recent Hush trades are probably one of the best places to start. You'll get a good overview of the villians, the current situation, you get to see the entire supporting cast, etc.
Batman Year One is good, as well.
Frank Millers Dark knight Returns is an excellent stand-alone book, but it has nothing to do with current continuity - it takes place in an alternate future, so it might be confusing. You will recognize it, though, from one of the animated series episodes.
These are all the current Batman trades.
I'd also suggest Batman in the Seventies and Batman in the Eighties. Both are good overviews of the character.
Batman: Greatest Stories Ever Told comes out/reissues in a couple of weeks; that would be a good thing to look at as well.
Batman Year One is good, as well.
Frank Millers Dark knight Returns is an excellent stand-alone book, but it has nothing to do with current continuity - it takes place in an alternate future, so it might be confusing. You will recognize it, though, from one of the animated series episodes.
These are all the current Batman trades.
I'd also suggest Batman in the Seventies and Batman in the Eighties. Both are good overviews of the character.
Batman: Greatest Stories Ever Told comes out/reissues in a couple of weeks; that would be a good thing to look at as well.
Last edited:
ddvmor
I'm a little teapot!
The No Man's Land saga was pretty cool. It's 5 books long, though and you also need to read the Cataclysm trade beforehand.
Also the Jeph loeb and Tim Sale books Long Haloween and Dark Victory are pretty good.
One the all time best Batman stories, though, has to be The Killing Joke. pretty dark, but absolutly fantastic.
Also the Jeph loeb and Tim Sale books Long Haloween and Dark Victory are pretty good.
One the all time best Batman stories, though, has to be The Killing Joke. pretty dark, but absolutly fantastic.
Cthulhu's Librarian
First Post
Killing Joke-Best Batman story ever, IMHO
Year One-Very good place to start, Frank Miller retells Batmans origin
Dark Knight Returns-Great story, set in an alternate future. Avoid the sequel.
Arkham Asylum-Great, dark story, but if you don't like Dave McKean's art, you'll hate it.
Long Halloween-One of my favorite stories, I love Loeb & Sale as a writer/artist team
Dark Victory-Sequel to Long Halloween, very good, Loeb & Sale.
Haunted Knight-3 great stories by Loeb & Sale
Year One-Very good place to start, Frank Miller retells Batmans origin
Dark Knight Returns-Great story, set in an alternate future. Avoid the sequel.
Arkham Asylum-Great, dark story, but if you don't like Dave McKean's art, you'll hate it.
Long Halloween-One of my favorite stories, I love Loeb & Sale as a writer/artist team
Dark Victory-Sequel to Long Halloween, very good, Loeb & Sale.
Haunted Knight-3 great stories by Loeb & Sale
Desdichado
Hero
I'm not familiar with Killing Joke; what's the premise of that one?
dreaded_beast
First Post
It deals with Barbara Gordon as Batgirl and delves into the origin of the Joker.Joshua Dyal said:
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