Newbie Interested in Getting into Batman RIP

[hoaznod]

Over the past few months I've been steadily getting more and more into comic books -- only recently began buying issues as I started with trades. The only DC books I've read is new Green Lantern stuff and Allstar Superman though. Final Crisis looks cool but I lack so much knowledge about the universe that I couldn't really start there.

Getting into Superman would be easy as there is no giant event going on right now, but with Batman R.I.P going on I didn't really know where to start. My main question is, which books do I need to buy to get the main chunk of the story?

Thanks in advance. Sorry it took so long to get the question out :x

[vickvega]

If you want to understand Completely Batman R.I.P. you gotta start at the beginning of Grant Morrisons run. Luckily they have The Trades out now, so I would start with the Batman and Son trade, then the Black Glove Trade. Basically, go to your local comic shop and get the back issues when Morrison began his run. Its completely worth it in my opinion, though many people on this site dont like it. I like following a story however long it may be. Final Crisis is for veterans, but comics are a hobby, so if you like exploring the DC universe, go for it, you will be buying alot of background stuff, but to me thats the fun. Though my wallet is much lighter, understanding DC continuity is FR#*$%king awesome.

[Kiryu]

Yeah, the story will improve for you the further back into Morrison's run you go as he is literally dropping hints for RIP in his first issue.

Starting with Batman and Son is the best, but the bare minimum you can get by with is starting with the Club of Heroes issues drawn by JH Willaims II.

Really, you are much better off having waited as long as you did. I imagine reading in massive chunks Batman 655-681 is an unbelievably awesome saga.

[nepenthes]

yep RIP began with Morrisons very first issue. After you pick up those books you may be interested in Son of the Demon for background on Bruce and Talia. Or The Cult if you want to continue reading a Batman that's a little wacky; or Blind Justice or Ego for questioning why Bruce is Batman, what toll does it take, is he really balanced etc

reader comments on these books
http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Son-Demon-Jerry-Bingham/dp/0930289250
http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Blind-Justice-Sam-Hamm/dp/156389047X
http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Other-Tails-Darwyn-Cooke/dp/1401215297

IGN's Top Batman trades, with reviews
http://au.comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

[hoaznod]

So Batman 655-681 is Morrison's run, or is there more on other Batman comics? Do I need to read Detective Comics, Nightwing, Robin, or Batman and the Outsiders? They are part of Batman RIP too right? or are they more the side stories that aren't necessary to the awesomeness?

[4thHorseman]

Don't worry about the RIP "tie-ins" in the other books. The closest one to being relevant is Robin, but Morrison is doing fine saying what he's doing. Most of them just mention one line in dialogue to warrant it a RIP tie in, but I wouldn't worry about books like Detective, Robin, and Nightwing

[kalika]

I'm trying to figure this out too!

I have all the up-to-date Batman issues that are officially R.I.P. and all the 'Tec comics too (even though -- please help -- even though 'Tec is about Hush and happens after R.I.P.??:confused: ) Have the first Robin, and the first two Nightwing tie-ins, 149 sold out before I could get to it, but yeah, it doesn't seem too connected to the story.

Where do I start learning about Bruce's relationship with Jezebel? Is that collected in trades already? Because I just DON'T GET IT! I can't for the life of me believe Bruce when he's telling her how much awesome she's brought to his life!

I just picked up the Hush TPBs to understand the back story to what's going on in 'Tec and comparing his romance with Selina to this crap with Jezebel really shows how unbelievable the attraction is.

Some great detective to fall for her! **hmmph!** I expect better from Bruce, I really do.... unless there's something totally awesome about her in the early books that introduce her.......? :confused:

[nepenthes]

I'm trying to figure this out too!

I have all the up-to-date Batman issues that are officially R.I.P. and all the 'Tec comics too (even though -- please help -- even though 'Tec is about Hush and happens after R.I.P.??:confused: ) Have the first Robin, and the first two Nightwing tie-ins, 149 sold out before I could get to it, but yeah, it doesn't seem too connected to the story.

Where do I start learning about Bruce's relationship with Jezebel? Is that collected in trades already? Because I just DON'T GET IT! I can't for the life of me believe Bruce when he's telling her how much awesome she's brought to his life!

I just picked up the Hush TPBs to understand the back story to what's going on in 'Tec and comparing his romance with Selina to this crap with Jezebel really shows how unbelievable the attraction is.

Some great detective to fall for her! **hmmph!** I expect better from Bruce, I really do.... unless there's something totally awesome about her in the early books that introduce her.......? :confused:

I saw a video interview with Dini where is says Hush definitely happens before RIP, not after. no link I cant remember what it was called you just have to trust me :smile:. it was at the recent convention

Even if you read from the very beginning the Jezebel and Bruce relationship definitely feels rushed. Either we just take it that alot more has passed than we realised (factor in all the event of Detective, Countdown etc if it helps to reconcile the timespan better :wink:) or that there is something more going on, something has a special influence on his mind. Which isn't that outlansish considering how he's been played by Dr.Hurt

You have the 'official RIP' titles but that's not enough. You need the first two trades of Morrisons run, and they're quality, you won't regret it. It may not say so on the covers but RIP actually begins way back in those issues.

[hoaznod]

So I've been looking at the trades and the back issues of Batman to decide what is the cheapest thing to buy. I decided to try and get Batman 655-681. I'm definitely going to buy the Batman and Son, but I have a question about the trades "The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" and "The Black Glove".

The Resurrection TPB includes a Batman 670-671 and bunch of other titles. I'm wondering if I should get it. Amazon sells it for $19, or I could just get those two Batman issues for a lot less. I'm just afraid I wouldn't understand those two issues without the other ones.

I apparently suck at googling because I can't find out what The Black Glove TPB includes. But I have the same sort of questions. If this is another crossover book, then is it worth getting this or should I just go get the back issues?

Lastly, there are four issues missing in the Batman and Son trade but it's not Grant Morrison's work. Do I need those to get the full R.I.P experience?

Thanks, I hope this wasn't too confusing.

[4thHorseman]

The Resurrection TPB includes a Batman 670-671 and bunch of other titles. I'm wondering if I should get it. Amazon sells it for $19, or I could just get those two Batman issues for a lot less. I'm just afraid I wouldn't understand those two issues without the other ones.

I'm not sure how big of a deal this arc is. Truthfully, it's a terrible story and you might want to avoid it.

I apparently suck at googling because I can't find out what The Black Glove TPB includes. But I have the same sort of questions. If this is another crossover book, then is it worth getting this or should I just go get the back issues?

I believe it's issues 676-679 or so. It's not a tie-in, so don't be looking for it in Detective, Robin or Nightwing. And yes, it is definately worth getting.

Lastly, there are four issues missing in the Batman and Son trade but it's not Grant Morrison's work. Do I need those to get the full R.I.P experience?

Thanks, I hope this wasn't too confusing.

No, it's not necessary. Just some fill-in issues

[hoaznod]

I'm not sure how big of a deal this arc is. Truthfully, it's a terrible story and you might want to avoid it.



I believe it's issues 676-679 or so. It's not a tie-in, so don't be looking for it in Detective, Robin or Nightwing. And yes, it is definately worth getting.



No, it's not necessary. Just some fill-in issues

Thanks a lot. It was easy to get the Batman R.I.P issues, but I'm having a hard time getting all the back issues at the two stores near me. I think I'll order the Batman and Son TPB and then get all the others as issues.

Ordering them online takes awhile though, so I was wondering if I can read the Batman RIP issues right now?

I'm sure that it would be a better read if I waited until I got all the comics and started from the beginning, but I'm not so good with controlling myself.

I guess my question in, Will reading the Batman RIP issues now ruin any of the goodness of the back issues?

[4thHorseman]

A lot of the stories are pretty self contained, but they are supposedly linked to this arc. There are things that happened in other arcs that are mentioned here (such as Joker) that might confuse you, but I think for the most part you could read RIP and you would be ok.

[Kiryu]

All you're going to need in the end is Batman 655-683. There are three issues of Batman, I think 658-652 that you can skip because it isn't Morrison. You can also skip the Ra's Ah Ghul crossover because it doesn't mattered and Ra's was taken out of the picture the issue after it all ended, big waste of time imo.

681 ends RIP and 682/3 is the Post RIP Last Batman story.

[hoaznod]

Sweet. I figured it out. I guess I'll summarize if anyone else is wondering.

Demon and Son trade goes from 655-658 and 663-666. (659-662 is separate arc that is irrelevant to RIP)

The Black Glove trade goes from 667-669 and 672-675. (670-671 is The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul arc that most people said was irrelevant to RIP)

Then 676-681 is the Batman RIP storyline.

So if you pick up the two trades (three if you wait long enough for the RIP trade) and the RIP issues that are pretty easy to find, then you got the whole run.

[nepenthes]

^ that should be a sticky thread :cool:. someone asks this every two days