Batman Stories Criminally underated.

[Vidocq]

Let's have a thread for the good but lesser know Batman stories out there.

To me the Batman story that should have a place amongst the Greats but is forgotten is Batman Night Cries by Archie Goodwin, Like many great Batman stories is set early on Batman's Carrieer, It's a Batman/Gordon go SVU story as the serial killer they go after is someone killing Child Abusers. We are revealed some interesting memories of Gordon's childhood and we get to know exactly what broke his First Marriage. No Supervillains in this book, just to Detectives looking for a Serial Killer and realizing that even with all the power they have to fight against Gotham's underworld, their still is plenty of evil out there.

If you liked Year One and TDK you will most likely enjoy Night Cries.

Anybody else has a criminally Underated Batman story?

[jgiannantoni05]

LOTDK The Demon Laughs

Blind Justice might be a little underrated.
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[The Joker]

The Great Pretender
&
King Joker

These stories were featured in "Showcase '94" #1-2, and basically take place in the Joker's imagination. And upon seeing the first picture of Ledger in Joker makeup, I have to say I was reminded on the Joker's look in these two particular stories.

[Choppa]

Batman # 603. It's right at the end of the Fugitive storyarc where Bruce has gone schizo and abanded his Bruce Wayne persona.

He gets word from a dying cop that wants him to solve the one unresolved case of his- the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.


http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/batman/603-1.jpg

[Immortal]

Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.

In my opinion, its up there with Morrison's "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earths" as far as the depiction of Arkham Asylum. It shows Warren White's transformation into Great White. Aside from the whole demon resurrection at the end, it gave us a very dark and mildly realistic side of the home for Batman's rogues.

[Schornforce]

I think a good portion of the comics based on DCAU Batman were excellent and don't get the respect that the regular DCU titles get since the stories were 'all ages.'

Ty Templeton, IIRC, had some incredibly interesting ideas including Black Mask, the Red Hood, a reformed Riddler (before Dini), and Mayor Penguin.

It's a crying shame that DC'll cancel a good, solid title (partially?) because the show isn't on (that's their claim to cancelling JLU, anyhow-- although admittedly, it could be they weren't selling but I don't follow the numbers).

[Zerubbabel]

I always liked J.M. DeMatteis' Going Sane arc in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 65 to 68.

Its a nice intelligent look at the Batman / Joker dynamic. But it is still relitively obscure. Doesn't even have a trade paperback. Most likely The Killing Joke took it's thunder by dealing with slighty similar topics. Though I think Going Sane is actually the superior story.

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.

Amen!

I think a good portion of the comics based on DCAU Batman were excellent and don't get the respect that the regular DCU titles get since the stories were 'all ages.'

Amen, again!

Templeton and Slott have written some of my favorite Batman stories ever.

[carabas]

Batman # 603. It's right at the end of the Fugitive storyarc...
Seconded.

Also, Blades (LotDK#32-34), by James Robinson and Tim Sale.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Gugenheimer/47741185612_32.gif

[Pixie_Solanas]

Orca by Larry Hama and Scott McDaniel.

Best tits ever on a wheelchair-bound scientist turned ambulatory marine mammal.

Not to mention some of the best classism doctrine this side of the SparkNotes version of "Mein Kampf".

Criminally unavailable in tpb. Go scour your lcs backbins now.

[jgiannantoni05]

I always liked J.M. DeMatteis' Going Sane arc in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 65 to 68.
Its a nice intelligent look at the Batman / Joker dynamic. But it is still relitively obscure. Doesn't even have a trade paperback.
Actually, Going Sane does have a paperback as of last week FYI.
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[brundlefly]

I don't know if it's criminally underrated, but with all the hype and hubbub about the launch of Batman Classified, the final issue of Legends of the Dark Knight (which got canned to make room for Classified) got overlooked, imo. LOTDK # 214 was an excellent one-issue story about Bats trying to stop Deadshot from pulling off an assassination in Gotham.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7854/300pxlodk214oz8.jpg

[rwe1138]

Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.

In my opinion, its up there with Morrison's "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earths" as far as the depiction of Arkham Asylum. It shows Warren White's transformation into Great White. Aside from the whole demon resurrection at the end, it gave us a very dark and mildly realistic side of the home for Batman's rogues.

Hells yeah. Fantastic mini.

[Vidocq]

I think a good portion of the comics based on DCAU Batman were excellent and don't get the respect that the regular DCU titles get since the stories were 'all ages.'

Ty Templeton, IIRC, had some incredibly interesting ideas including Black Mask, the Red Hood, a reformed Riddler (before Dini), and Mayor Penguin.

It's a crying shame that DC'll cancel a good, solid title (partially?) because the show isn't on (that's their claim to cancelling JLU, anyhow-- although admittedly, it could be they weren't selling but I don't follow the numbers).

They didn't cancelled it because of the series not being on, the cancelled it to make room for The Batman Strikes. Damn Shame.

[Zerubbabel]

Actually, Going Sane does have a paperback as of last week FYI.

Whoa! Missed out on that one.

[Seraku]

Whoa! Missed out on that one.

it also includes the story where Batman puts Joker in the emergency room from LotDK #200 :biggrin:

[squeek2334]

I think a good portion of the comics based on DCAU Batman were excellent and don't get the respect that the regular DCU titles get since the stories were 'all ages.'

Ty Templeton, IIRC, had some incredibly interesting ideas including Black Mask, the Red Hood, a reformed Riddler (before Dini), and Mayor Penguin.

It's a crying shame that DC'll cancel a good, solid title (partially?) because the show isn't on (that's their claim to cancelling JLU, anyhow-- although admittedly, it could be they weren't selling but I don't follow the numbers).

Agree. I have a couple of these comics and they are great. The 1990's show is partly how I got really hooked on Batman.

[Batman Fan 31593]

An Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle classic:

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/batman-shadow-of-the-bat/13-1.jpg

[Greg Anderson]

An Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle classic:

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/batman-shadow-of-the-bat/13-1.jpg

What happened in that?

[Young Avenger]

LOTDK The Demon Laughs

Blind Justice might be a little underrated.

A Joker/Ras Al Ghul team-up?

[Seraku]

A Joker/Ras Al Ghul team-up?


yes

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/Seraku_Youngwind/LegendsOfTheDarkKnight143pg00.jpg

[Libaax]

Batman: Tales of Demon
Blind Justice
Batman: Bodygaurd,Murderer,Fugitive

[Batman Fan 31593]

What happened in that?

I don't want to spoil too much because it's a great story, but here's the basic setup: Bruce Wayne encounters a 'nobody' who has discovered his secret life as Batman by accident.

[Batman Fan 31593]

"Fades to Black", by Doug Moench and Eduardo Barreto, from 1995's Batman # 520 was a great single issue as well. Although the story is as much about Harvey Bullock is it is about Batman.

In this story, Batman hunts for Black Mask after the events of the previous two-parter starring Black Mask and featuring the first appearance of Jonny Lamonica aka Black Spider II (who would be killed years later in Gotham Central).

Meanwhile, Harvey Bullock begins a romance with his nurse (Charlotte) upon his release from the hospital (where he has been since being injured by the KGBeast during the Troika crossover a few months earlier).

There are also several great scenes involving Jim Gordon and Sarah Essen.

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/batman/520-2.jpg

[nepenthes]

Contaigon :redface:

[JerryvonKramer]

"The Origin of the Batman-Superman Team", World's Finest #94, 1958

[Pól Rua]

Detective Comics #574, a retelling of Batman's early years, is one of the few single issues I still have in my collection. Basically covering the period where he dedicated himself to training and becoming who he would need to be in order to become The Batman.
A fantastic self-contained story with glorious Alan Davis art.

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/detective-comics/574-13.jpg

[dancj]

Contaigon :redface:
I hope you're joking

[nepenthes]

not at all. it's short and gripping from beginning to end and has lots of great moments. I don't understand why it doesn't get more love, it's like a poor stepchild of batman events. l enjoy rereading it more than I do Knightfall or sometimes No Mans Land even, both which I find too tedious and cheesy. So I let Contaigon represent that whole era of 90's event-driven fun and tumultuous times in the batfamily. So much so I don't keep any Knightfall or NML books on my batman shelf, they just ruin it. ha ha. comics are funny things arent they

[Choppa]

"Fades to Black", by Doug Moench and Eduardo Barreto, from 1995's Batman # 520 was a great single issue as well. Although the story is as much about Harvey Bullock is it is about Batman.

In this story, Batman hunts for Black Mask after the events of the previous two-parter starring Black Mask and featuring the first appearance of Jonny Lamonica aka Black Spider II (who would be killed years later in Gotham Central).

Meanwhile, Harvey Bullock begins a romance with his nurse (Charlotte) upon his release from the hospital (where he has been since being injured by the KGBeast during the Troika crossover a few months earlier).

There are also several great scenes involving Jim Gordon and Sarah Essen.

Oh man, reading that description makes me nostalgic for continuity.

[thor25]

Not sure if "criminally" underrated but I think that the stories of brave and the bold

wroted by Alan Brennert also brave and the bold #200 are very underrated

[Chad]

Not sure if "criminally" underrated but I think that the stories of brave and the bold

wroted by Alan Brennert also brave and the bold #200 are very underrated

The fact that his works aren't mentioned in the same breath as Dark Knight Returns or Killing Joke or whatever stories always make the top of the "Essential Batman reading" lists makes Alan Brennert criminally underrated. His Last Batman Story from Detective 500 is likely the best Batman story ever told and his Brave and the Bold 182 isn't too far behind. It should be noted that two of his stories were reprinted in The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told and at this point he had only written something like four or five Batman tales. Since then, he's written my favorite Elseworlds story of any character Holy Terror.

[The Joker]

brave and the bold #200 are very underrated


Yeah, pretty good story there. And also notable for having the final appearance of the Earth-2 Joker as well.

[Maestro]

I love Blind Justice! It's better than any of the Jeph Loeb stories

[Vidocq]

I love Blind Justice! It's better than any of the Jeph Loeb stories

Amen. Someone Should expand the Character of Ducard.

[thor25]

The fact that his works aren't mentioned in the same breath as Dark Knight Returns or Killing Joke or whatever stories always make the top of the "Essential Batman reading" lists makes Alan Brennert criminally underrated.

Man I think
you are sooo rigth.. I agree with you.. also the brave and the bold issues show that evena realistic character as batman can work well with the concept of multiverse....

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

Some favorites of mine from the Doug Moench/Kelley Jones era:

Batman #521 & 522 ("Fast Train To The Wet Dark" & "Swamp Things"): Killer Croc escapes from Arkham with the help of a mysterious benefactor who seems to be acting from afar. Chasing his foe across the country all the way to the swamps of Louisiana, Batman-- who is now stranded, to boot-- is then left with the task of not only recapturing one of his toughest opponents, but also dealing with Croc's new ally: Swamp Thing. Once read a write-up of the Moench/Jones run that said this probably should've been the last Killer Croc story. Also probably my favorite of the run.

#530-532 ("The Deadman Connection"): A mysterious suicide at a scene where Batman had suprised a black-market sale of Incan artifacts may have been triggered by supernatural means. Fortunately, the DCU's favorite ghostly body-hopper is in town on what very well could be related business. A plane-trip to Peru later to investigate, and the last surviving remenents of the Incan empire are uncovered. As well as the plot to loot what's left by ruthless mercenaries who've beaten Batman & Deadman there.

#539 ("Boneyard Blues"): A wacky new criminal-- with a penchant for breaking into song-- known as "The Undertaker" is in town, robbing some of Gotham's oldest graves for an unclear purpose. Can Batman stop this human ghoul before he reaches the graves of two certain people who were once very close to him?

[joe27]

Some favorites of mine from the Doug Moench/Kelley Jones era:

Batman #521 & 522 ("Fast Train To The Wet Dark" & "Swamp Things"): Killer Croc escapes from Arkham with the help of a mysterious benefactor who seems to be acting from afar. Chasing his foe across the country all the way to the swamps of Louisiana, Batman-- who is now stranded, to boot-- is then left with the task of not only recapturing one of his toughest opponents, but also dealing with Croc's new ally: Swamp Thing. Once read a write-up of the Moench/Jones run that said this probably should've been the last Killer Croc story. Also probably my favorite of the run.

#530-532 ("The Deadman Connection"): A mysterious suicide at a scene where Batman had suprised a black-market sale of Incan artifacts may have been triggered by supernatural means. Fortunately, the DCU's favorite ghostly body-hopper is in town on what very well could be related business. A plane-trip to Peru later to investigate, and the last surviving remenents of the Incan empire are uncovered. As well as the plot to loot what's left by ruthless mercenaries who've beaten Batman & Deadman there.

#539 ("Boneyard Blues"): A wacky new criminal-- with a penchant for breaking into song-- known as "The Undertaker" is in town, robbing some of Gotham's oldest graves for an unclear purpose. Can Batman stop this human ghoul before he reaches the graves of two certain people who were once very close to him?

Batman #521-522 were the first comic books I bought. And I re-read #539 recently and was very impressed, so that's what I thought of when I saw this thread.

I actually think the majority of the Moench/Jones run is criminally underrated. I don't think any of it has even been collected.

[Cornelius Stirk]

The Last Arkham. SOTB 1-4. I know it's been previously in TPB , but it's out of print. The first Mr.Zsasz appearnce , 'nuff said.

[dancj]

not at all. it's short and gripping from beginning to end and has lots of great moments. I don't understand why it doesn't get more love, it's like a poor stepchild of batman events.
To me it is about the worst example I can think of of too many cooks spoiling the broth. The story jumps around erratically with the plot seemingly driven by the order in which the different characters' books came out rather than the needs of the story.

Conversely NML and Knightfall which you didn't like I found enjoyable because they were structured in such a way that the constant changing of creative teams didn't mess with the story.

[dancj]

I love Blind Justice! It's better than any of the Jeph Loeb stories
You're not wrong
The Last Arkham. SOTB 1-4. I know it's been previously in TPB , but it's out of print. The first Mr.Zsasz appearnce , 'nuff said.
I found that story to be quite good, but the introduction of Zsasz definitely elevates it. He's one of my favourite Bat-villains.