Batman Alternatives

[Quamen]

Hi
Not to sure where to put this but I guess this is the best place.

I have been reading Batman Comics amd TPB's for a short while now, and as much as I enjoy Batman it would be nice to explore other comics and characters.
I'm not a huge fan of Superman,Spiderman etc I guess I'm looking for something a little less mainstream. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[md62]

If you like Batman - Marvel's Moon Knight is similar (although it is more violent). Also Daredevil features "street level" crimefighting.

[PastePotPete]

I second the suggestion of Moon Knight, especially if you enjoy stories where Batman's sanity is questionable. I know I do!

I guess I'd recommend Wolfman and Perez's Vigilante series from the 80s. Extremely realistic street level stories that examine the real problems someone would face taking the law into their own hands. Great writers like Alan Moore wrote some of the stories.

[Chad]

Regardless of whether or not you're looking for something that's completely different from Batman, I think you'd like Jonah Hex. It's a character and concept that's far enough removed from Batman that you'd still be broadening your outlook while at the same time I can't help but think that a Batman fan would be predisposed towards liking this character. There have been four or five tpbs released thus far of the current series and I would recommend you either pick up one of those (I think the first two have been the best thus far) or get the Showcase Presents tpb which reprints his earliest adventures.

[TVsGrady]

Green Arrow would be worth checking out, in that it's another title with a non-superpowered hero fighting street-level crime.

[Lew Moxon]

Not a comics figure but I've always liked the Shadow.

Might want to read a few of those novels.

Personally I prefer the Orson Welles version, but thats mainly because Orson Welles was awesome.

[pressdarlings]

Hi
Not to sure where to put this but I guess this is the best place.

I have been reading Batman Comics amd TPB's for a short while now, and as much as I enjoy Batman it would be nice to explore other comics and characters.
I'm not a huge fan of Superman,Spiderman etc I guess I'm looking for something a little less mainstream. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Sandman Mystery Theater.

[nepenthes]

Swamp Thing (Alan Moore)
Watchmen
Sandman vol.4
Planetary
Preacher
Daredevil Born Again
Y the Last Man
Punisher MAX

it would help if you mentioned what batman comics you like or what characters or series you think you might be interested in. there's alot of good comics out there

[bscheur]

Its a bit more mainstream, but Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps are absolutely incredible right now. The current runs are each about 35 issues in, respectively and i have immensely enjoyed the characterization of the Green Lanterns from Earth as well as the other Lanterns from all over the universe. The Sinestro Corps War was epic, The Blackest Night is starting in 2009. I am enjoying GL more than i have Batman over the past few months.

Also, i have heard good things about Green Arrow/Black Canary. I haven't read them yet, but only 15 or so issues in will make it easy to catch up.

[HaroldAllnut]

I guess I'm looking for something a little less mainstream. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

If you're into sci-fi, I've got plenty of recommendations.

Jonathan Hickman's been putting out some fantastic work over at Image. I'd check out the following: Transhuman, Pax Romana, and Red Mass for Mars are all quite fantastic. I have yet to sample The Nightly News, but I've heard that that made his name in comics.

Th3rd World Studios had a great series a little while back called Space Doubles. It might be a bit difficult to track down, but I think it was totally worth it. Heck, it might even be available in trade form. Go give it a look.

Rick Remender just started a new series called Gigantic over at Dark Horse Comics. It's kind of like Godzilla and Ultra Man meets The Truman Show. The first issue was enough to hook me.

Finally, go look up Terminal City by Dean Motter and Michael Lark. It oughtta be available in trade form. It's a great, retro-ized mystery story, and there was a sequel that I'm tracking down as we speak (or communicate via message board) called Terminal City: Aerial Graffiti. Robots, hidden puns galore, and a human fly named Cosmo Quinn. Who could ask for more?

I strongly second the Jonah Hex recommendation. That book deserves much more coverage. It is probably the most consistent book on the market these days. Even if you don't like Westerns, you'll like Jonah Hex.

I guess I'd recommend Wolfman and Perez's Vigilante series from the 80s. Extremely realistic street level stories that examine the real problems someone would face taking the law into their own hands. Great writers like Alan Moore wrote some of the stories.

It was indeed good stuff, especially Alan Moore's stories (which are available in his "DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore" trade).

I believe Marv Wolfman and Rick Leonardi will be taking a stab at a new Vigilante series come late December. It will feature a new incarnation of Vigilante recently depicted in Nightwing.

[Red_Knight]

I'd also suggest Marvel's "Kick-ass", written by Mark Millar. The slogan is: "What if super heroes were real?", i.e., the book examines the issues someone would face if he actually decided to put on a mask and go looking for trouble with the criminal element in our world. It's harshly violent at times, but a captivating read with a true street-level hero!