batman comics

[HUNTER]

ive loved batman since i was little the old tv show, the movies e.t.c.
iam not a big comic book reader ive never even bought a comic book in my life. but now for some reason i wanna see what there like.
but it seems so difficult trying to get into it, theres all these differnt batman comics and differnt vershions which for me is very confussing

any one got any ideas on which comic to start or where to start?????

[DrayvensCrow]

That's hard to say....usually, the best place to start is at the beginning of a new arc (story line). Elseworlds have nothing to do with any current or past story lines, as they are meant to stand alone. Kinda like FanFic in a way. Try the new two part BOP....it's as good a place to start as any.

[StoyBoy720]

I just got into the comics myself after a near-life-long fandom of the shows and films. I've stuck mainly to Trade Paperback collections with a few exceptions, but I like the whole collections appeal. Here's my suggestions:


Batman: Year One: Frank Miller's telling of how Bruce Wayne became the Batman and his first encounters with then-Lieutenant James Gordon.

Batman: Year Two: Three of the four issues of this little arc were drawn by Todd McFarlane of Spawn fame, and it's a pretty good story about why Batman doesn't carry a gun.

Robin: Year One: I just got this before I went home for Spring Break, and it is one of the best Robin stories out there.

The Killing Joke: This is the story in which Barbara Gordon is handicapped by the Joker, but the story itself features the backstory of the Joker and how he came to be the Clown Prince of Crime.

A Death in the Family: This story takes place soon after the Killing Joke (refers to that story arc once or twice) and tells the story of the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin.

A Lonely Place of Dying: Tells the story of how Tim Drake became the third Robin. There's a nice portrayal of the psychology of Two-Face in this one. The story takes place right after A Death in the Family.

Cataclysm: This is the story that features the earthquake that makes Gotham City an official No Man's Land. Almost like a DC version of 9/11.

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: This is almost a must-have for a comics collection. This was the first Batman comic I ever bought back in August of last year and it's one of the most important Batman comics out there. Written and drawn by Frank Miller in 1986. This was the comic that inspired Tim Burton's Batman movie. Technically it is an elseworld now, as it doesn't fall into the "official" Batman continuity but it is a tremendous story that is definitely worth reading by any (and every) Batman fan.

The Dark Knight Stirkes Again: This is Frank Miller's sequel to the Dark Knight Returns. It has gotten mixed reviews as it a very, well, different interpretation at Batman and the rest of the world right now, but I enjoyed it. It's a good read.



There are also a bunch of other comics that I haven't gotten to yet but I have heard are good and I'm planning on getting them soon:

Long Halloween and Dark Victory: I hear that these are two of the best story arcs for Batman out there. They take place at the beginning of Batman's career. These were written by Jeph Loeb, who's writing the current "Hush" story arc that's going in the Batman monthlies right now.

Contagion: All but impossible to find these days, this story tells of a disease that plagues Gotham. This takes place right before Cataclysm.

No Man's Land: I've read part one (it's a series of five TPBs) and so far it's amazing. Takes place right after Cataclysm.



There are also a bunch of one-shot comics which have stories featured around some of the Bat-Villains. The Harley Quinn one is a very nice piece of work.

There are also trade paperback collections of the Bat-spin-offs, including Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, BoP obviously, and the new Batgirl.

The DC Comics website also has a list of the more popular collections they have printed.

Hope this enormous post helped out in some way.

[StoyBoy720]

Oh yeah, I totally forgot the KNIGHTFALL saga. This three-book series from the mid 90s introduced Bane and featured the breaking of Batman's back, causing him to make Jean-Paul Valley his replacement. The series begins with Broken Bat, continues with Who Rules the Knight and concludes with Knight's End.

There's also Batman: The Sword of Azreal that is a prelude to the Knightfall saga and Batman: Prodigal which takes place after the Knightfall saga.

[HUNTER]

thanks very much for the info, stoyboy720

[StoyBoy720]

It's what I'm here for.

[StoyBoy720]

Also if you want to see what's out there the thing that helped for me was going to Amazon.com (or BN, either way really) and typing "Batman" under the Books section. They have a decent collection there, and most do have reader reviews.

That's what I did, it's a really good way just to see what's been printed and all.

[Cassandra Cain]

I would start with the Batman 10 Cent Adventure book and the Bruce Wayne: Murderer? and Fugitive series. I think it's a good starting place and then you can go backwards or forwards from there :)

[Jesse321]

Also BOP has been released in several Graphic Novel format books colleting the various mini series and several of the first story archs as well.

[StoyBoy720]

Especially when the spin-offs are thrown in, there is A LOT out there. I'm a bit overwhelmed at times, but it helps to try to get as much info as you can, either online, or from friends, or from comic shop dealers, anywhere.

[DrayvensCrow]

SB, DC will be re-releaseing Contagion and Cataclysm I believe in June and Diamond is taking advance orders now.

Hunter, If you can find it, you can also try Zero Hour. This mini-series started the revamp of the DC universe(the 2nd revamp actually, the first being Crisis On Infinite Earths. In COIE, you will find the Huntress that Ashley's character was partially modeled after). Crisis will be easier to find by far! You can also go with Kingdom Come! It is an Elseworlds, but it is considered one of the greatest minis in history, and the artist, Alex Ross, is highly sought after! If you like, just look on a search for his web site, unless SB can link you to it. I forget site addy's too easily these days....:D

[StoyBoy720]

And I just got Cataclysm two days ago, too...

lol

Well that's some reall good news about Contagion though, now if they'd only re-release Nightwing: Ties That Bind I'd be a really happy camper.


As for Kingdom Come...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2U9MK9XEVX&isbn=1563893304&itm=1

[DrayvensCrow]

I think I saw Friday when I went in for my weekly fix......

[DBZ_EXP]

elseworlds may not connect woth anything but they are fun.