So Ive never read any Batman comics before...

[cjam93]

I want to read the main story behind Batman. I asked on another forum for what was considered canon and I was told that I should read these story arcs:

"The Man Who Falls" · "Year One" · "Gothic" · "Year Two" · "Year Three" · "Joker's Millions" · "A Death in the Family" · "The Last Arkham" · "Knightfall" · "Contagion" · "Legacy" · "Cataclysm" · "No Man's Land" · "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" · "War Games" · "War Crimes" · "Hush" · "Broken City" · "Face the Face" · "Batman & Son" · "The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul" · "Batman R.I.P." · "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" · "Battle for the Cowl" · "Batman: Reborn"

Are these all considered canon? Im just making sure before I start buying these. I was also told to get them from instocktrades.com. Is that a good website? thanks

[Don Quixote]

I don't think either Year Two or Year Three are canon anymore.

I'm no expert on what's canon and what isn't, but I think those two stories were effectively replaced by The Long Halloween and Dark Victory.

And Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader isn't really canon, either. More of an encapsulation of Batman's history. Still an excellent story, though.
.

[cjam93]

ok thanks ill put them in the list then. Also do you know how that website is? thanks again
Edit: also is this the order I should read them in?

"The Man Who Falls" · "Year One" · "Gothic" · "The Long Halloween" · "Dark Victory" · "Joker's Millions" · "A Death in the Family" · "The Last Arkham" · "Knightfall" · "Contagion" · "Legacy" · "Cataclysm" · "No Man's Land" · "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" · "War Games" · "War Crimes" · "Hush" · "Broken City" · "Face the Face" · "Batman & Son" · "The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul" · "Batman R.I.P." · "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" · "Battle for the Cowl" · "Batman: Reborn"

[ScottyQuick]

Do you really care if something's canon, though? I mean, War Games/Crimes is canon but it's very, VERY bad.

[Don Quixote]

Do you really care if something's canon, though? I mean, War Games/Crimes is canon but it's very, VERY bad.

I don't think too much of Cataclysm, either. And the only bits of Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul I enjoyed was the Dick/Tim interaction.

As for the website, I can't comment, as I only ever use Amazon for buying books online. I don't see how any other site could be better.

[cjam93]

Well I thought Id like to know what was canon but really im just looking for whats the most enjoyable to read. Id like to read whatever I read in order though so I see how it fits in the batverse. I saw the sticky on here about tpb. Should I just read the ones in there?

[ScottyQuick]

Well I thought Id like to know what was canon but really im just looking for whats the most enjoyable to read. Id like to read whatever I read in order though so I see how it fits in the batverse. I saw the sticky on here about tpb. Should I just read the ones in there?

Oh! Well, if you want to know what's most enjoyable to read, I'd heartily avoid most continuity-focused series. There's some really, really great Batman stories that don't affect canon, like Paul Dini's run on Detective Comics (#821-828, 831, 833-834, 837-850), which is mostly done-in-one mysteries. Anderson Gabrych's is great as well, also using the done-in-one style. (#790-796, #800). Devin Grayson's Batman: Gotham Knights series was FANTASTIC (#1-11, 14-18, 20-32), focusing on the relationship between Batman and the Batman family. Showcase Presents Batman vol 4 is a black-and-white 500 page series collecting lots of Batman comics from the 70's, and I highly recommend it as well.

[cjam93]

ok thanks. So where is a good place to look for those to read? I also wanted to read the killing joke, would you reccomend that?

[ScottyQuick]

Eh. Not really. It's got some great art, but it's kind of failtastic in it's treatment of Barbara Gordon. The creator himself doesn't like it.

However, everyone besides me seems to love it, but it's just so bland to me.

[cjam93]

oh ok, i might still read it just because ive always loved the joker in pretty much everything. So where would be a good place to find some of those comics you mentioned?

[Beacon]

I want to read the main story behind Batman. I asked on another forum for what was considered canon and I was told that I should read these story arcs:

"Year Two" • "Year Three" • "War Games" • "War Crimes" • "Hush" • "Broken City" • "Battle for the Cowl"

The person making recommendations clearly doesn’t like you very much.

Are these all considered canon?

It’s hard to say. DC reboots its continuity every few years now. I just assume that everything is canon unless its contradicted by something more recent. Frankly I’m of the opinion that if the story is good enough it doesn’t really matter. No Man’s Land would still be one of my favorite Batman stories even if it didn’t fit into continuity.

Im just making sure before I start buying these.

I’d just start with a relatively recent jumping-on point (like Batman and Son).

I was also told to get them from instocktrades.com. Is that a good website? thanks

They’re a great website.

[cjam93]

ok thanks, are there still comics that come out every month? If I got caught up on most of this id like to start reading all the new ones.

[ScottyQuick]

Hmm, well, most comic shops have back issue bins where you can buy them. Devin Grayson and Gabrych's Batman work hasn't been collected, but Dini's is available in several TPB's and HC's

Batman: Detective (http://dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=6926) collects #821-826
Batman: Death and The City (http://dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=8185) collects #827-834
Batman: Private Casebook (http://dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=13243) collects #840-845 and a story from the Halloween secial
Batman: Heart of Hush (http://dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=11152) collects #846-850

If your comic shop doesn't already have these, they can order them for you. You can also try Amazon and eBay.

[cjam93]

ok cool thanks. When I said I was new to Batman comics I should have said Im new to all comics, so Im not sure where or even if there is a comic store where I live. Ill just keep a look out for them on ebay and amazon. thanks again

[Batman Fan 31593]

Im not sure where or even if there is a comic store where I live.

Click on this link and enter your zip code.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=csl

[cjam93]

Thanks I found a couple, the closest is 20 miles from me so thats not real bad I might check that out one saturday.

[Beacon]

ok thanks, are there still comics that come out every month? If I got caught up on most of this id like to start reading all the new ones.

Actually the new “Batman and Robin” series (which just started and isn’t anywhere near being collected) might just be one of the better jumping-on points.

[nepenthes]

^ AGREED


I don't see how any other site could be better.

Try 30% off rrp and free shipping :wink:


I also wanted to read the killing joke, would you reccomend that?

absolutely


I wouldn't worry too much about reading the books in order. By and large they weren't published or created to be read that way and you won't have too much trouble fitting them in as you go.

Your intial list is ridiculousy long and contains books of varying quality, I suggest you ignore it completly and start with what are generally considered the newbie essentials first: Year One, Long Halloween, Hush and Killing Joke. That is in the proper continuty order as well. After that I'd skip right to the end so to speak and get Dark Knight Returns.

http://media.comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619/img_2862022.html

[Beacon]

Try 30% off rrp and free shipping :wink:

Often 37% off. Plus, unlike Amazon, they actually acknowledge when the books are supposed to come out in comic shops instead of claiming they won’t be published until a month later.

[Sn4tcH]

I wouldn't worry too much about reading the books in order. By and large they weren't published or created to be read that way and you won't have too much trouble fitting them in as you go.

Exactly, I got back into Batman by reading The Long Halloween, and just tried to pick up other "classic" stories as I went along. Up until the late 90's I would say it was pretty rare for a Batman story to really effect the ongoing continuity anyway.

Also, the Killing Joke is one of the finest, if not THE finest, Joker story ever told. It also shows what is, at this point, the accepted version of the Jokers origin. It is both important and great, and you should read it.

[Chris S.]

I just recently started reading the Bat titles a month or so ago. I had seen how well Batman and Robin sold and I looked for preview art. I thought it looked pretty good and thus picked up the issue. Some people over on the Spider-Man boards encouraged me to just pick them all up and I did. They books are at a superb jumping on point, and for the most part are really good.

I started doing some trade reading this past week and have just been blown away. In the last week I've read: Year One, The Long Halloween, and Dark Victory. I really can't say how much I enjoyed them.

I have been using this list http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html as a reading list. We have an off topic mega-thread over in Spider-Man where I ask people, and I started a Noir thread here where I've been taking suggestions. Using all three of those, as well as writers I'm familiar with, to make a good trade reading.

[cjam93]

ok thanks everyone. Is there a website that I can order the batman and robin comics?

[Chris S.]

ok thanks everyone. Is there a website that I can order the batman and robin comics?

The current ones you mean? Yes, there is a ton; seems like you want to shop online right? Midtowncomics.com is my favorite. MyComicShop.com is pretty good too. Mile high isn't bad. I know with Marvel you can subscribe to ongoings. I've never tried it with DC but I'm sure they have a similar program.

Also I would recommend looking for a LCS (Local Comic Store). Those guys can give you a good idea if you ask too. Most people that work in Comic stores love talking comics so if you ask I'm sure they can tell you.

[cjam93]

awesome thanks.
I found this Batman and Robin:
http://www.midtowncomics.com/Neshop/Product_detail.asp?PR_ID=1030919

I thought this was the current one and the first in the series but I wanted to make sure. So is it the one I should get?

[Captain Jim]

Yeah, that's a 3rd print, as long as that doesn't bother you. But if I were going to order it online, I'd order both 1 & 2, since they're both out. Your shipping will probably be the same either way.

However, if you have a comic shop nearby, I'd recommend you support them instead.

[cjam93]

i just want to read them I dont really have any interest in collecting them so a third print is fine. Well I would go to the local shop but I dont have time lately to go.

[Batman Fan 31593]

I agree with Captain Jim, if possible, please support your local comic book store.

Personally, I've been a loyal customer at my local comic book store for 14 years, and they have been in business for 15 years. So I've been going there since almost the beginning. I exclusively buy my new issues there.

However, I've done a lot of my back issue shopping online at http://www.milehighcomics.com/. They have a VERY large selection, and also decent prices and good customer service. I'd recommend them if you ever want to do some back issue shopping.

[arp2008]

ok cool thanks. When I said I was new to Batman comics I should have said Im new to all comics, so Im not sure where or even if there is a comic store where I live. Ill just keep a look out for them on ebay and amazon. thanks again
You can buy all your comic online here (http://www.mycomicshop.com/?AffID=612462P01) in the comfort of your own home.