What came before Morrison?

[Chino]

I had just come back to comics when Morrison started on Batman. From OYL to right before Morrisons run, is there anything worth reading? Does anything that happened during that time span matter to what Morrison is doing right now?

Thanks.

[Captain Jim]

I had just come back to comics when Morrison started on Batman. From OYL to right before Morrisons run, is there anything worth reading?

"Face the Face" by James Robinson ran in both Batman & Detective at the beginning of OYL and concluded immediately before Morrison's debut. A good story, and available as a trade.

Does anything that happened during that time span matter to what Morrison is doing right now?

Not really.

[Choppa]

A lot of stuff happened, but none of it matters since it's pretty much ignored.

[Jack Zodiac]

And thank God for that.

To answer your question, Chino, no. Nothing that has happened before Morrison's run matters to his run. Nothing you need to read, anyway. Grant's run is entirely independent and enjoyable on its own.

[AlistairCrane]

I'd like to see the Jason Bard from Robinson's stint turn up in BoP as a love interest for Barbara or something.

[FortKnox]

I'd like to see the Jason Bard from Robinson's stint turn up in BoP as a love interest for Barbara or something.

Wasn't he going to marry Barbara at one point before she got shot? Or has that been changed?

[brundlefly]

Like Captain Jim noted, I'd recommend Robinson's Face the Face TPB. Although it doesn't affect Morrison's current storyarc, so it's not a "must-read" if your only concern is picking up stories that affect his run.

But prior to that, it was the nightmarish duo of Winnick and Lieberman on the Bat-books. And that era is best ignored and never spoken of again. You didn't miss anything there.

[Joe Acro]

"Face the Face" by James Robinson ran in both Batman & Detective at the beginning of OYL and concluded immediately before Morrison's debut. A good story, and available as a trade.
And although it may not affect Morrison's story, it might play a part in R.I.P., as Harvey Dent is scheduled to appear in one of the Nightwing tie-ins.

[The Xenos]

I'd like to see the Jason Bard from Robinson's stint turn up in BoP as a love interest for Barbara or something.

Yeah. That was dropped like a brick, never to be seen again. What glorious continuity DC doesn't have. You read a story with a neat idea with an open ending one day, expecting someone to pick it up later. Then you never hear from that idea again.

Meanwhile, conversely, Morrison had some neat ideas for Final Crisis. Then DC sabotages, even if unintentionally, it by not paying attention to the story he gave them early. All just to hype up the lead up stories to Final Crisis, just to make more damn books to buy. Doesn't matter if they actually mesh with Final Crisis. Then again, it could be worse. It's not quite as bad as half the One Year Later books or Amazons Attack. Bah. Though now I'm getting into my problems with DC rant.

Anyway, makes me glad I skipped Countdown and its tie ins. I just went from 52 to Final Crisis. Works so much better that way. If you liked Morrison's Batman, I suggest Final Crisis. You also see Morrison's imprint as one of four group writers on 52. Actually, there's a bit in 52 that ties in with Batman.

[josh straightedge]

Whomever wrote Batman after Winnick was absolutely terrible. Granted, Winnick wasn't the best but it was the first and only thing I've ever liked from him.

[AlistairCrane]

Whomever wrote Batman after Winnick was absolutely terrible. Granted, Winnick wasn't the best but it was the first and only thing I've ever liked from him.

That would be Robinson. I loved Winick's run--it's my favourite mainstream superhero work from him.

[Sean Walsh]

Oh man, I was really hoping this would be a vaguely asked question, so I could reply with names like "Doug Moench. Jim Aparo. Steve Englehart. Neal Adams. Carmine Infantino. Sheldon Moldoff. Bill Finger. Bob Kane."

Alas......

[The Xenos]

Oh man, I was really hoping this would be a vaguely asked question, so I could reply with names like "Doug Moench. Jim Aparo. Steve Englehart. Neal Adams. Carmine Infantino. Sheldon Moldoff. Bill Finger. Bob Kane."

Alas......
You rather forgot Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Denny O'Neil, Frank Miller, Jeph Loeb (stuff like Long Halloween and Haunted Knight not Hush), Matt Wagner and maybe some other notable creators. Also, Grant Morrison again. His Arkham Asylum is an amazing book.

Also, I would limit the list to writers are you're comparing them to Morrison. Actually, I wouldn't bother listing Bob Kane. He already gets too much credit as it is.

[Harding Prime]

You rather forgot Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Denny O'Neil, Frank Miller, Jeph Loeb (stuff like Long Halloween and Haunted Knight not Hush), Matt Wagner and maybe some other notable creators. Also, Grant Morrison again. His Arkham Asylum is an amazing book.

Also, I would limit the list to writers are you're comparing them to Morrison. Actually, I wouldn't bother listing Bob Kane. He already gets too much credit as it is.

Though their so no forgetting ignoring the actual question and throwing in your own douche like ideals that are irrelevant to the thread. That aside, I really think Face the Face was excellent and if you like Two-Face and how he will be used in R.I.P., definitely pick it up.

[AlistairCrane]

My major, major problem with Face the Face was that they went back to Two-Face before Harvey had even been explored. Face the Face was Harvey's first appearance since the finale of Hush when he had his face repaired. They never even used fixed-face Harvey in the 2.5 years between Hush and Face the Face, so I was pissed with that regression.

[The Xenos]

What good are douche like ideals if you don't throw them around?

Also, did I miss where it said Two Face was going to be in R.I.P.? None of Face the Face has been mentioned since! Hell, Dent, Bard, or even Bullock. Has anyone at DC used them? Maybe Dini used Bullock. I enjoyed Face the Face, but was it ever followed up on?

Too often the Bat books, as well as other DC books, feel like they're in a vaccum. When an author changes, so does the entire world. Isn't it the job of editorial to make these damn things seem like they're in the same world. They keep trying to sell us on his shared continuity. If you ask me, it's the only damn thing Marvel and DC from any other comics company. A shared superhero universe.

Also, I would suggest Dini's Detetive Comics issues. It's a nice compliment to Morrison's stuff even if it's not directly linked.

[thehod]

Oh man, I was really hoping this would be a vaguely asked question, so I could reply with names like "Doug Moench. Jim Aparo. Steve Englehart. Neal Adams. Carmine Infantino. Sheldon Moldoff. Bill Finger. Bob Kane."

Alas......

You rather forgot Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Denny O'Neil, Frank Miller, Jeph Loeb (stuff like Long Halloween and Haunted Knight not Hush), Matt Wagner and maybe some other notable creators. Also, Grant Morrison again. His Arkham Asylum is an amazing book.

Also, I would limit the list to writers are you're comparing them to Morrison. Actually, I wouldn't bother listing Bob Kane. He already gets too much credit as it is.


Dick Sprang!!!!!

Don't forget Dick Sprang.

[Chino]

Cool, Thanks alot guys. Ill def pick up the Face the Face TPB. Think I'll also pick up Hush and maybe look for someplace to pick up on Robin and Nightwing, but that's a different topic entirely.

Thanks.

[Captain Jim]

Also, did I miss where it said Two Face was going to be in R.I.P.?

http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=9931

[The Xenos]

Ah. I was thinking of the Morrison story directly. Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing that solicit for Nightwing.

[Choppa]

My major, major problem with Face the Face was that they went back to Two-Face before Harvey had even been explored. Face the Face was Harvey's first appearance since the finale of Hush when he had his face repaired. They never even used fixed-face Harvey in the 2.5 years between Hush and Face the Face, so I was pissed with that regression.

Amongst a bunch of other changes and ideas that were either dropped, forgotten, or never fully explored.