The Batman TPB List

[Morpheus]

Just so we can cut down on the weekly "what are good TPBs," I've decided to compile a list of the required Batman trades. If we could sticky this, or maybe bump it, it'd be nice.

-- Batman - Year One by Frank Miller & David Mazucchelli

A story about Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham and his fight against crime running concurrently with(then) Lt. Gordon moving to Gotham and his fight against police corruption.

-- The Killing Joke by Alan Moore & Brian Bolland

This, basically, is a story about the possible origin of the Joker and created an interesting change in the Batverse with the Joker paralyzing Barbara Gordon.

-- The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

A film-noir mystery story with the Batman tracking down a serial killer that's been plaguing Gotham for a year. Establishes the great relationship with Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, & Batman that ends in tragedy. (Probably the best story that has Batman working as a detective instead of superhero)

-- Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

The sequel to Long Halloween. Another serial killer strikes, and Batman takes on a protege named Richard Grayson.

-- The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley

In the near future, Batman comes out of retirement to end the tyranny, corruption, and crime that has thrived in his absence.

Good reads about the Bat: (For the most part, these books don't have much of an effect on the Batverse today)
-- Haunted Knight by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
-- Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison & Dave McKean
-- Night Cries by Archie Goodwin & Scott Hampton
-- The Cult by Bill Wray, Jim Starlin & Berni Wrightson
-- The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told
-- The Last Arkham by Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogle
-- The Many Deaths of Batman by John Byrne & Jim Aparo
-- Ten Nights of the Beast by Jim Starlin & Jim Aparo
-- Nine Lives by Dean Motter & Michael Lark (Elseworlds)
-- Black & White Vol. 1 & 2
-- Blind Justice by Sam Hamm
-- Gothic by Grant Morrison & Klaus Janson
-- Thrillkiller by Howard Chaykin & Daniel Brereton (Elseworlds)
-- Strange Apparitions by Steve Englehart & Marshall Rogers
-- Batman in the Seventies
-- Collected Legends of the Dark Knight
-- Batman & Dracula (3 TPB Elseworlds) by Doug Moench & Kelley Jones
-- Gotham Noir by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips (Elseworlds)
-- Gotham by Gaslight by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola (Elseworlds)
-- Gothic by Grant Morrison & Klaus Janson
-- Thrillkiller by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton
-- Secret Origins

Important books/storylines:
-- Birth of the Demon by Dennis O'Neil and Norm Breyfogle (Important for Batman Begins if you want to learn more about Ra's)

-- Son of the Demon by Jerry Bingham & Mike Barr (Develops relationship of Ra's, Bats, & Talia)

-- Death & The Maidens / Evolution by Greg Rucka (Two other stories revolving around Ra's Al Ghul)

-- A Death in the Family by Jim Starlin & Jim Aparo (Death of Jason Todd)

-- Mad Love by Bruce Timm & Paul Dini (Introduction of fan-favorite Harley Quinn)

-- A Lonely Place of Dying by Marv Wolfman & George Perez (Tim Drake becomes Robin)

-- Knightfall/Knights End by Various (Azrael & Bane are introduced. Bane breaks Batman)

-- Contagion by Various (Huge plague hits Gotham, weakens it just before Cataclysm)

-- Cataclysm by Various (This is actually when the earthquake hit Gotham)

-- No Man's Land Vol. 1-5 by Various (Huge earthquake hits Gotham. Chaos. Batfamily tries to fix everything)

-- Bruce Wayne: Murderer? / Fugitive Vol. 1-3 by Various (Bruce is charged with murder of Vesper Fairchild and must clear his name)

-- Officer Down by Greg Rucka (Jim Gordon is shot, and Batfamily tries to track down his assailant)

-- Hush (Vol. 1 & 2) by Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee (Introduction of new villian, Hush, as well as the mystery of location of Jason Todd)

Any other suggestions?

NOTE: JUST BATMAN-ORIENTED BOOKS.

[methanolcereal]

No suggestions, only the compliment that is one thorough, comprehensive list. I think I'm going to add a few things to my list of trades to pick up now.

[Arvandor]

That is pretty thorough, but add another couple to the 'other good-reads'

Birth of the Demon, by Dennis O'Neil and Norm Breyfogle. The origin of Ra's al'Ghul.

Night Cries, by Archie Goodwin and Scott Hampton. Batman must track down a vigilante who kills child molesters. VERY DARK!

[tk421atpost]

A Lonely Place of Dying by Wolfman, Perez, Grummett & Co.
Presenting the first appearance of Tim Drake, it's a story arc dealing with the effects of Jason Todd's death on both Batman and Nightwing. This arc highlights why Batman needs a Robin and sets Tim on the path to becoming the new Robin.

[The Shadow]

Batman: The Cult Batman is broken but rises to defeat an attack on Gotham.

Kingdom Come More of a Superman story but Batman has a pivitol role

Superman Batman: Generations 1 & 2 Great John Byrne stuff (the 3rd series sucked)

Batman - Captain America Another Byrne story that has a golden age feel. A fun read

[Jaye]

Thanks guys, this is great!


Death and the Maidens The story of a new Ra's al Ghul

Evolution After No Man's Land, Ra's al Ghul comes to Gotham and causes trouble in an already chaotic time.

[Captain Jim]

Cataclysm An earthquake devastates Gotham City, setting in motion the events that lead to No Man's Land.

[thetechnocrat]

Here are a few that I enjoy

The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told - A good collection of Batman stories from the beginning to modern times. A must have!

The Last Arkham - Norm Breyfogle beautifully illustrates the madness of Arkham & Batman's struggle to break out after murdering a detective in front of witnesses.

The Many Deaths Of The Batman - A mysterious man begins murdering all the men who trained Batman while dressing him up like him.

[mgs]

Lest we forget, Mad Love. ;)

[methanolcereal]

Oh, of course, I should mention if you're looking for a weird, F'ed up look into Batman's psyche (and the psyche of his enemies), Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean is awesome.

[The Shadow]

I JUST, monents ago, finished DK2... and enjoyed it more as a straight read. This was the 1st time I have read it since it came out and I remember not liking it... but that could have been because of the HUGE delay in #3's arrival.

The art isn't as good as in the original Dark Knight... but like Dark Knight it's very much a critique on the times it was written in.

Very good IMO anyway.

[Calamas]

If you can find it, I would only add the graphic novel:

Batman: Son of the Demon

by Mike W. Barr & Jerry Bingham

[jetter_cheeze]

A great Elseworlds tale with Art by Michael Lark

The Batman in Nine Lives , by Dean Motter and Michael Lark

ANd of course:

Batman/Grendel: Devil's Riddle and Devil's Masque, by Matt Wagner

[Screwtape]

Just gotta add:

Batman: Gothic by Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson,

Hothouse by John Francis Moore and P. Craig Russell from LOTDK

and Neil Gaiman's little known (but excellent) When is a Door. from Secret Origins.

Also very fun is Thrillkiller, both volumes, by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton.

And finally, may I recommend Batman: Black and White, either volume (or both) as probably the best book for a Bats newbie, as it is fun, interesting, and requires very little knowledge of Bat-arcana to read and enjoy.

Good call on Night Cries, Morpheus. Up with Scott Hampton!

[Slam_Bradley]

There's a glaring omission that I'm a little surprised the good Captain didn't pick up on. Batman: Strange Apparitions reprints Detective 469-479. This was Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers' magnum opus (with assists by Len Wein and Walt Simonson). Quite simply the best regular issue run in Detective Comics history. Rogers rivals Adams and Mazzuchelli as the ultimate Batman artist. This is what The Batman should be, but hasn't been since he was permanently Millerized.

[Apathy Boy]

Good choices, everyone. The only one I could think to add was:

"Blades" by James Robinson and Tim Sale (LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #32-34, reprinted in BATMAN: COLLECTED LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT): Batman pursues a serial murderer of senior citizens and contends with the Cavalier, a young crimefighter who's about to learn that evil exists in the hearts of every man. Chilling crime story, a heartbreaking love story and a Batman you really care about. You can't help but be awed by a line as brilliant as "He can't die. He knew Tyrone Power."

[Ruthless_Pryde]

Also from LOTDK, Batman: Prey and Batman: Venom

[Andy S.]

For a cool alternate universe story, I really enjoyed the Batman/Dracula trilogy wonderfully drawn by Kelley Jones.

Red Rain

Bloodstorm

Crimson Mist

[stealthwise]

Although I'm not a big fan of it, Batman: Tenses is certainly worth a read.

[benking]

Here's a couple more that are great:

Contagion -- where a deadly virus sweeps across Gotham. I totally recommend this mid-nineties series. Written, illustrated by various.

Ten Nights of the Beast -- the first encounter between Bats and the KGBeast. Written by Jim Starlin, drawn by Aparo. I just finished re-reading it, and it still rocks. See Batman 417-20.

[dancj]

Contagion -- where a deadly virus sweeps across Gotham. I totally recommend this mid-nineties series. Written, illustrated by various.

Ten Nights of the Beast -- the first encounter between Bats and the KGBeast. Written by Jim Starlin, drawn by Aparo. I just finished re-reading it, and it still rocks. See Batman 417-20.

Noooooo!!! Contagion is the worst case of 'too many cooks' I've ever seen - really bad. Ten Nights of the Beast was pretty mediocre too IMO

[Spastic Minnow]

Gotham by Gaslight: A Tale of the Batman by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola
Notable for being the first Elseworlds story, before there was an "Elseworlds" imprint. Batman in the Victorian era fighting a visiting Jack the Ripper. Well written and fantastically drawn. The leather design for Batman's costume is one of the best looking Batman designs ever done. A good read.

[pennywisdom]

I think Gotham Noir by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips is a modern classic.

It's an Elseworlds tale that puts Batman and Gordon in the world of the pulp detective. Anyone who's read Sleeper knows these guys are brilliant.

[davidboring]

one particular must read classic for me at the time was the "Robin - Joker's Wild" mini series, but maybe because it was one of the first comcis I read. I do consider it an important story of 90s Robin

[JolietJake]

I'm rather partial to Batman in the Seventies. Not because I'm a closet disco freak, mind you, but rather because of the great teaming of O'Neill and Adams.

[dancj]

one particular must read classic for me at the time was the "Robin - Joker's Wild" mini series, but maybe because it was one of the first comcis I read. I do consider it an important story of 90s Robin

I did enjoy that one. I'm not a huge fan of Chuck Dixon (though I like him well enough), but he does write a great Joker

[The Sentry]

Batman: Blind Justice by Sam Hamm and Denys Cowan.

An entertaining read, IMHO.

[Morpheus]

List updated.

[clt123456789]

did anyone but me ever read the elseworlds in darkest knight where bruce becomes green lantern/bat or the one gotham by gaslight where a 19th century batman faces off against jack the ripper? what about castle of the bat? or the untouchables noir elseworld? batman league of the bat of the other one that typed into it was tight too? then don't even get me started on that neat story from after crisis where with the aid of doctor moon the joker turns catwoman evil again with a machine and a mindwipe type thing?
hey did anyone besides me when they read that last sentence realize that at one time the secret jla did a IC mindwipe/ repersonality trick on selena kyle? shit if you look those seven jlaer have been all over the dcu for years and years haven't they? i'm gonna go start a thread about how many mindwipes can we identify! come check it out..i'll toss it under the dcu topic ok? laters folks

[clt123456789]

anyone get into this early morrison/bat/dc work..its the one about the catheral or something in gotham and a huge evil or something..damn that early onset alhimizer's disease!laters

[chiefdog]

good list.
what i'm after however is a list of all the tpbs starting from knightfall to present day.
including batman and detective and any crossovers but not mini series.
i guess that's around batman 500-present and detective 658ish-present

any help would be greatly appreciated

[Poltrgeyst]

Batman & Superman: World's Finest. Great 10 issue mini exploring the relationship between Bruce and Clark.

oops, just read the post above.

Still a great series.

[Super Hero Guy]

Made of Wood

[dancj]

good list.
what i'm after however is a list of all the tpbs starting from knightfall to present day.
including batman and detective and any crossovers but not mini series.
i guess that's around batman 500-present and detective 658ish-present

any help would be greatly appreciated

Off the top of my head:
Knightfall vols 1 + 2
Knightsend (later subtitled Knightfall vol 3)
Prodigal (crap)
Contagion (crap)
Legacy (probably crap)
Cataclysm (crap)
No Man's Land vol 1-5
Evolution
Officer Down
Bruce Wayne Murderer
Batman: Fugitive vols 1-3
Hush vols 1-2
War Drums
Broken City (if it's out yet?)

[chiefdog]

nice one, much appreciated

[mgs]

What I just bought and read, thanks to the suggestion of Captain Jim, the Batgirl: Year One trade, Excellent Book!! :)

[cletus510]

I think the first poster got most of the good reads...except one of the best

"Blades" by James Robinson and Tim Sale. I don't know if it was every in TPB, but you can pick it up in the bins pretty cheaply I bet. It is issues 32-34 of Legends of the Dark Knight. If you haven't read it, I thoroughly suggest you go pick it up.

[colintoy]

i've been reading about the return of steve englehart to writing batman and his great run during the 70s. would any of you happen to know if these 8 issues were ever collected in tpb?

thanks a lot!

[dancj]

I think the first poster got most of the good reads...except one of the best

"Blades" by James Robinson and Tim Sale. I don't know if it was every in TPB, but you can pick it up in the bins pretty cheaply I bet. It is issues 32-34 of Legends of the Dark Knight. If you haven't read it, I thoroughly suggest you go pick it up.

It is a fantastic story, but there isn't a trade of it. It might have appeared in one of the LOTDK compilation TPBs, but I don't think it did.

Dan

[watsonlives]

there are a few good trades that have not been mentioned so far.

Batman: Year Two This is no longer considered continuity, but it is still a very good story. this is where the character of Joe chill, who is in the new movie comes from.

Speeding bullets this is an interesting elseworlds trade in which a kryptonian ship land in Gotham city rather than kansas and the young alien grows up as bruce wayne

JLA New World Order and JLA: Tower of Bable These are both not solo Batman titles, but batman plays a major part in both stories, and they do very interesting things with his character.

[Bright-Raven]

The James Robinson / Marshall Rogers story that appeared in LOTDK around... #132-#135 I think? Hasn't been collected, but should be.

Uhm... let's see... I'm probably the only person who wants a collection of the Nocturna related issues, so I guess we can skip those issues.

I think the LOTDK story by Moench and Gulacy about Scarecrow and Hugo Strange has been collected, but I cannot remember the name of the storyline.

Did anyone mention the Gerard Jones / Gena Ha One-shot, FORTUNATE SON?

[soda]

couple of my favs:

Batgirl, year one - the story is now out as a trade, but finding the individual issues yet shouldn't be too hard.

emperor Joker - maybe the most hysterical Batman/Superman story ever. It's done mostly in the Superman books, but it's a terrific Batman story. This entire arc is the #1 "why doesn't this great arc have a trade yet?" discussion, now that the Age of Apocalypse stuff has finally been re-released. This is comic-book geekdom at it's absolute finest (for the single greatest modern example, stay tuned to the upcoming Superman/Batman arc, starting in issue #20), a story idea that sounds ridiculous to anyone who isn't a fan, but you know someone at DC got out of bed one day, scratched their beard, and said "hey, what it we gave the Joker Mr. Mitzilplick's powers?" He/She brought the idea to the office, and everyone thought it was the coolest thing ever. And it certainly was.

Gotham Central, in the line of duty - collects the first two arcs of this eisner award winning series, a must have for any true bat-fan.

and finally,

Any Batman comic book written by Paul Dini this man is a freaking genius. I was at my local bookstore today, and they had a huge pile of dime books, and as I was sorting through them, I found a cache of Paul Dini/Templeton Batman Adventures stuff. Made my day. I can't believe some idiot was willing to sell pure gold like this. There is nothing better, in the Bat-univers, than watching Paul Dini tell a classic Harley/Ivy story.

[dancj]

Did anyone mention the Gerard Jones / Gena Ha One-shot, FORTUNATE SON?

The problem with that is it's not very good

[RustyShackleford]

Picked up "Tales of the Demon" a few weeks ago. Good stuff, but the afterward in the book appears to be cut off. Anyone else have that problem with their copy?

[Jaye]

Here is what is included in the Batman: Greatest Stories Ever Told TPB.

Detective Comics 33, 439, 572 (two page spread), 574
Batman 5, 62, 156, 250, 251
DC Special Series 15
1980 Super-Star Holiday Special
Legends of the Dark Knight 79
Gotham Knights 32

[jboncha]

One of my faves which doesnt appear to be on this list is:

Batman v. Predator

Great story and sum great artwork by Andy Kubert too.






J B

[dancj]

One of my faves which doesnt appear to be on this list is:

Batman v. Predator

Great story and sum great artwork by Andy Kubert too.

Excellent story. Much better than any Batman/Predator crossover has any right to be!

[Daniel from Chile]

let's not forget SWORD OF AZRAEL, GREAT STORY,GREAT ART AND GREAT INKING TOO , O'neill, Quesada,Nowlan. :evilsmile, one of the best team of artist in miniserie in my opinion.

[Daniel from Chile]

I forgot FACES by Matt Wagner . great story and art.

[1HELLBOY]

Batman: Child of Dreams . Not really a fan of anime, but in this kind of style it was actually pretty good.

[Charagon]

Any way to get this list in chronological order?

[SpecialAgentPunk]

just gonna ask the same thing. I've just started to get back into comics again, and wow, Bruce Wayne: Murderer & Fugitive was really really good.

[Charagon]

I've got two lists of trades from two sources that contridict each other. What belongs where, what isn't in continuity, what have I missed, and what it bad enough that it should just be dropped?

List 1

Batman: Year One
Batman: Shaman
Batman: Prey
Batman: Gothic
Batman: Venom
Batman: Faces
Batman: Terror
Batman: Four of a Kind
Batman: The Long Halloween
Batman: Dark Victory
Batman: A Death In The Family
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: Blind Justice
Batman: Many Deaths of the Batman
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Robin: A Hero Reborn
Batman: Bride of the Demon
Batman: Night Cries
Batman: Knightfall - Broken Bat
Batman: Knightfall – Who Rules the Night
Batman: Knightfall – Knight’s End
Batman: Prodigal
Batman: Contagion
Batman: Legacy
Nightwing: A Knight in Bludhaven
Nightwing: Rough Justice
Batman: Cataclysm
Batman: No Man’s Land Volume 1-5
Batman: Evolution
Nightwing: The Hunt For Oracle
Batgirl: Silent Running
Batman: Officer Down
Batgirl: A Knight Alone
Batman: Bruce Wayne: Murderer
Batman: Bruce Wayne: Fugitive 1-2
Batgirl: Death Wish
Batgirl: Fists of Fury
Batman: Absolution
Batman: Hush 1
Batman: Hush 2
Batman: Tenses
Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds




List 2

Batman: Year One
Batman: The Man Who Laughs
Batman: Tenses
Batman: Four of a Kind
Batman: The Long Halloween
Batman: Year Two
Batman: Night Cries
Batman: Dark Victory
Batman: The Gauntlet
Batman: Full Circle
Batman: Fortunate Son
Batman: Tales of the Demon
Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: A Death in the Family
Batman: Blind Justice
Batman: The Many Deaths of The Batman
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying
Batman: Sword of Azrael
Batman: Vengeance of Bane
Batman: Knightfall – Broken Bat
Batman: Knightfall – Who Rules the Night
Batman: Knightfall – Knights End
Batman: Prodigal
The Joker: Devil’s Advocate
Batman: Contagion
Batman: Legacy
Batman: Cataclysm
Batman: No Man’s Land 1-5
Batman: Evolution
Batman: Officer Down
Batman: Bruce Wayne Murderer?
Batman: Bruce Wayne Fugitive 1-3
Batman: Hush 1-2
Batman: Broken City
Batman: As the Crow Flies
Robin: Unmasked
Batman: War Drums
Batman: War Games

[The Shadow]

Continuity with Batman is an ever changing beast. Writers pick and choose what they want to use from pre-existing stories and ignore what doesn't fit what THEY want it to. There are so many Batman mini's, one shots, graphic novels as well as numerous ongoing titles AND the Bat Family books too, that it's impossible to figure it all out.

The Man Who Laughs by Ed Brubaker directly follows Year One... and yet Gordon has grey hair now. Year 2 is apparently gone as are all Joe Chill stories BUT in the current IN CONTINUITY Dark Detective mini has flashbacks to one of Joe Chill's lackeys.

Just read em and enjoy em. Otherwise you'll give yourself a headache!!!

[Doom Hammer]

I just want to say how useful this thread is, and to thank everyone who has posted in it.

The first Batman comic I bought was the Dark Knight Returns trade paperback, at the behest of the guy who owns the comic shop I go to.

So yeah, it was amazing. I had a renewed interest in Batman after seeing the movie, and after taking a look at this thread, I ordered

Batman: Year One HC
Batman: The Long Halloween TPB
Batman: A Death in the Family TPB
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again TPB
Batman: Hush - Vol 2 TPB (I've already read volume 1)

So, I can't wait for them to arrive, and I just wanted to let everyone know this thread is great.

[Daniel Hopkins]

Speeding Bullets is great book which isn't exactly batman though.
It is the story of Supermans arrival on earth being changed by a current of wind hitting his capsule as it plummets towards earth. Instead of landing in Smallville, lands in Gotham. The Waynes stumble across the baby and keep him for themselves already wanting to have a child (what would have been the origianl bruce). The story starts of like the original but when the young krypton witnesses his parents murder, begins to cry, then suddenly beams shoot out of his eyes and kill the murderer. From then a super strong Batman is born. ..::READ IT ::..

[dancj]

I always hold up Speeding Bullets as a prime example of a bad Elseworlds book. Mix two superheroes together and follow the story through to its logical conclusion with no twists or surprises to make the story actually interesting.

[Blain0]

Is the War Games Storyline worth getting because im think of buying it in TPB

[Daniel Hopkins]

Is the War Games Storyline worth getting because im think of buying it in TPB
I didn't think much of the ending but the twists throuhgout the story were OK IMO. The cast was pretty awesome to. If u do decide to get them u should probably buy the couple of issues after war games to see the aftermath of the story.

[Daniel Hopkins]

I always hold up Speeding Bullets as a prime example of a bad Elseworlds book. Mix two superheroes together and follow the story through to its logical conclusion with no twists or surprises to make the story actually interesting.

Yeah i'll give u that, it didn't excell in the area of suspense but it appealed to me because of the difference it made to Superman not having any parents for guidence.
IMO it was OK anyway.

[seaidan]

Batman: Year Two This is no longer considered continuity, but it is still a very good story. this is where the character of Joe chill, who is in the new movie comes from.


Joe Chill predates Year Two by nearly four decades.

[SdotCopp]

year two is a very good story? :confused:

[zandt]

I haven't enough time to really go through this entire thread, but I'm really interested in Harley Quinn and was wondering what the best books with her in them are (with her being the main character, or very important with a lot of comic time)

If there was already a list of her books in this thread, if someone could kindly point me to the page number I'd appreciate it.

[dancj]

Well there's Mad Love, which is highly regarded (though I thought it was merely okay), and Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam which is absolute rubbish

[jimmyboy]

New member here. Hi, all!

OK, I'll put in a mention for the Knightfall series. I thought it was very moving and well-written. Also, the War Games series is good, though I haven't finished it yet. I'm reading it in TPB right now.

I'm enjoying the Superman/Batman series, which I'm also reading in TPB.
JLA New World Order and JLA: Tower of Bable These are both not solo Batman titles, but batman plays a major part in both stories, and they do very interesting things with his character.
Excellent recommendation! These stories highlight why Batman is "the most dangerous man on earth", as Supes said, and one of the most valuable members of the Justice League.

[dekard49]

Batman: Sword of Azrael is also a great read - Denny at his best, and leads nicely into BK. Cool list :)

[Optimus]

I want DC to release a TP that collects Jason Todd stories. The only collection I know of with his stories is the Death in the Family. I want a best of Jason Todd TP. Seems like that would be a smart decision given recent events. Marvel would have it out already and be prepping the sequal...

[Watchman]

The Man Who Laughs

I don't know about the rest of the users here, but I enjoyed it. Immensely.

[Major Danger]

I really enjoyed War Drums.

[Guts/Batman]

I only got War Games Act II and III tpb out of a morbid fascination of why it is so reviled and because I cam a continuity freak.

[Jape]

I bought the Dark Knight Returns a few weeks back and it recindled my interest in comics that had been dormant for some time. Even if I did think the twist at the very end was unessecary and kind of ruined the tone, it was a fantastic read nonetheless and I plan to buy Year One and Long Halloween in the next few days.

[d newton]

Prodigal (boring)
Contagion (boring)
Legacy (probably boring)
Cataclysm (boring)

I've read or are going to read these 4 trades. What exactly is so bad about them? ;) :D

[dancj]

I've read or are going to read these 4 trades. What exactly is so bad about them? ;) :D

Cataclysm and particularly Contagion are two very bad cases of too many cooks. The stories are spread accross several books, some of which aren't even Batman's books which causes the story to have to focus on particular characters at the whim of when the comics came out in the schedule rather than when the story demanded it. The artists and writers change with each chapter which is very jarring (especially when characters bare no resemblance to themselves in the previous chapter). The driving writers
in (I think) all three books are Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon and Alan Grant who were all at the tail end of very long runs and seemed to be seriously running out of steam - and depending on your tastes, Moench was never that goodin the first place).

[d newton]

The stories are spread accross several books, some of which aren't even Batman's books which causes the story to have to focus on particular characters at the whim of when the comics came out in the schedule rather than when the story demanded it.
Just because they're spread over several books doesn't make them bad trades to read! :D

[dancj]

Just because they're spread over several books doesn't make them bad trades to read! :D

It doesn't have to. They've pulled it of much better than this before and since, but on these occasions it was jarring

[TheSaltedSuperman]

I liked Legacy, not so big on contagion.

Never read Cataclysym, I just jumped into NML.

[dancj]

I haven't read Legacy. I would do if I could find it cheap enough, but it's out of print now and copies on eBay tend to get quite pricey

[divinebrown]

I've only read the last "No Man's Land" trade. I thought it was great. Great interactions between Bats and Bane, Luthor, Harley Quinn, and, of course, the Joker. This is one of my favorite depictions of the Joker, right up there with "Dark Knight Returns" and "The Killing Joke." I don't think he has ever been more evil. A heart-wrenching ending that everyone should experience.

[Valhalla]

No-one mentioned

"Seduction of the Gun"


or am I the only one who Enjoyed it?

[dancj]

No-one mentioned

"Seduction of the Gun"


or am I the only one who Enjoyed it?

I thought that story was pretty poor. It felt like they went in with a message they wanted to deliver (albeit one I do agree with) and clumsily fitted a story around it.

[TigerDogg]

I recently reread year one and two and will start with dark knight soon.

[Hellstormer]

Does anyone kow if Batman Year One-Hundred, Secrets, Journey into the Knight, and The Monster Men is coming to tpb?

[Watchman]

Does anyone kow if Batman Year One-Hundred, Secrets, Journey into the Knight, and The Monster Men is coming to tpb?
Dude, half those titles haven't finished and half those titles haven't even started. :(

But yes, considering they're Batman miniseries, they will most definitely come to TPB.

[Hellstormer]

Dude, half those titles haven't finished and half those titles haven't even started. :(

But yes, considering they're Batman miniseries, they will most definitely come to TPB.
Yeah I know I just wanted to know in advance wether to get them or not ever since I missed Batman City of Light.

[Guts/Batman]

Any reports on a a Jekyll and Hyde tpb?

[Watchman]

Yeah I know I just wanted to know in advance wether to get them or not ever since I missed Batman City of Light.
You might have to wait till the end of the year or longer for those TPBs. You might as well just buy them monthly. :)

[Guts/Batman]

You might have to wait till the end of the year or longer for those TPBs. You might as well just buy them monthly. :)

Yea.

Even at the pace that DC is putting out recent tpbs (due to relation to Infinite Crisis), those will take at minimum a year to get to tpb form.

[Hellstormer]

That's fie with me I'm good at waiting, I mean I waited for Secret Wars and Spider-man/Blackcat

[Guts/Batman]

Spider-man/Blackcat

That was a looooooooongggggggggggg wait for this one.

[Hellstormer]

That was a looooooooongggggggggggg wait for this one.Tell me about it, think he'll ever finish Daredevil Target?

[Watchman]

That's fie with me I'm good at waiting, I mean I waited for Secret Wars and Spider-man/Blackcat
Bah, curse all you TPB'ers! The only way to buy comics is monthly! :mad:

Heh, j/k. Do what you like, man. Not really good for discussing if you read a story one year after it's been published.

[Hellstormer]

I but all my ongoings monthly and don't have enough money to get minis too

[Xothermic]

Are there any good older Batman comics?

[Watchman]

Are there any good older Batman comics?
You're going to have to specify your question.

[Xothermic]

You're going to have to specify your question.

I mean, the 50s, 60s, or 70s era.

[Guts/Batman]

I mean, the 50s, 60s, or 70s era.

There are tons of them...

[Watchman]

There are tons of them...
Lol.

So you want a list of Batman, or Detective Comics? Which issues are you interested in? :D

That said, to be a bit helpful, I heard Neal Adams' (or was it Dennis O'Neil? Someone clear this up for me) Bat-run was good. Haven't read it myself, but what I've heard from majority of people.

[DCKar2nist]

A great site for crucial Batman TPBS...

http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/continuity/index.htm

[effang]

A great site for crucial Batman TPBS...

http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/continuity/index.htm

is it? it doesn't even seem accurate. it's missing war crimes, the TPB before war crimes...a lot of stuff i think.

[snipe]

A great site for crucial Batman TPBS...

http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/continuity/index.htm

Thanks for the plug!

is it? it doesn't even seem accurate. it's missing war crimes, the TPB before war crimes...a lot of stuff i think.

You're right - we're no longer updating that page, as we're working on getting a more comprehensive continuity section going. This will include not only Batman and related characters (Nightwing, Robin, etc.), but also other DCU events and characters (Flash, Superman, etc.).
http://www.thebatsquad.net/continuity

[Hellfan]

Snipe? Do you work on Batsquad.com?! It's my favourite Bat-guide site! I use it constantly! Great work! :cool:

[snipe]

Snipe? Do you work on Batsquad.com?! It's my favourite Bat-guide site! I use it constantly! Great work! :cool:

Thank you much!

[Rob H]

I've been visiting Batsquad.com for a week or so now. Thanks for the great guide.

[Chudy]

TheBatSquad.net is wonderful site. I often enter it to know what's happened in Batman universe. Keep working, Snipe! :D

I have one question: What could yoo tell me about Batman: Absolution HC?

[soapmaker]

Loads of great reads there. Good work real BatFan!!!

[Effect]

Is there a reverse listing of the TPBs? From the current issues/TPB counting backwards in order?

Would help with buying the TPBs since I want to start with the most recent stories and work backward to go along with reading current issues.

[Magneto's_Servant]

I'm new to Batman comics. Which ones should I begin with?

[riftt]

1. is there a tpb that collects both volumes of under the hood?
2. is under the hood a sequel to hush?
3. Are there recent batman tpb's that deal with/in the time period of the omac project and the brother I satellite?

[Magneto's_Servant]

Please, anyone... I'm new to Batman comics and I don't know where to start. I know that Batman first appeared in the late 1930's but I'm not going to start from all the way back there so is there a good starting point where beginners could start with.

[Hellstormer]

Please, anyone... I'm new to Batman comics and I don't know where to start. I know that Batman first appeared in the late 1930's but I'm not going to start from all the way back there so is there a good starting point where beginners could start with.
Buy Batman Year One, then Batman Four of a Kind, Batman/Ra's Al Ghul Year One, and Batman the Monster Men to start off.;)

[Magneto's_Servant]

Buy Batman Year One, then Batman Four of a Kind, Batman/Ra's Al Ghul Year One, and Batman the Monster Men to start off.;)

Thanks alot! Does anyone think I shouldn't start with these?

[david r]

Please, anyone... I'm new to Batman comics and I don't know where to start. I know that Batman first appeared in the late 1930's but I'm not going to start from all the way back there so is there a good starting point where beginners could start with.

Unfortunately, there is no "perfect" starting point for Batman like Man of Steel or Birthright for Superman.

Arguably, the greatest Batman story ever told was Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns from 1986. The art is an acquired taste, but this story was INCREDIBLE. A gripping roller-coaster ride and one of the greatest superhero books I've ever read!! If you want one of the best Batman tales, buy this one and try it.

Again, with Batman and Superman, it's hard to point to a particular starting point because there are SO MANY series and SO MANY stories throughout the decades. One of the greatest periods for Batman was in the early 1970s when he became more serious and almost "film noir"-ish in style. This vintage era was recently put in tpb format in the Neal Adams: Batman volumes. There are three, and this was a great period. One of the stories by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams is the inspiration for the movie Batman Begins.

Batman: Year One and Batman: Year Two are great reads.

Also recommended is the 2002 run on Batman by Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb. Gorgeous artwork, and a crackling good story with many of Batman's rogue gallery in attendance. This is in trade paperback and is called Hush. I really liked this one too.

Also consider Batman: The Long Halloween trade and the Batman: Dark Victory trade. There are many good stories to choose from.

Or you could go with the two The Greatest Batman Stories ever Told trades, which has a nice variety of fantastic Dark Knight tales throughout the decades.

[Magneto's_Servant]

Unfortunately, there is no "perfect" starting point for Batman like Man of Steel or Birthright for Superman.

Arguably, the greatest Batman story ever told was Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns from 1986. The art is an acquired taste, but this story was INCREDIBLE. A gripping roller-coaster ride and one of the greatest superhero books I've ever read!! If you want one of the best Batman tales, buy this one and try it.

Again, with Batman and Superman, it's hard to point to a particular starting point because there are SO MANY series and SO MANY stories throughout the decades. One of the greatest periods for Batman was in the early 1970s when he became more serious and almost "film noir"-ish in style. This vintage era was recently put in tpb format in the Neal Adams: Batman volumes. There are three, and this was a great period. One of the stories by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams is the inspiration for the movie Batman Begins.

Batman: Year One and Batman: Year Two are great reads.

Also recommended is the 2002 run on Batman by Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb. Gorgeous artwork, and a crackling good story with many of Batman's rogue gallery in attendance. This is in trade paperback and is called Hush. I really liked this one too.

Also consider Batman: The Long Halloween trade and the Batman: Dark Victory trade. There are many good stories to choose from.

Or you could go with the two The Greatest Batman Stories ever Told trades, which has a nice variety of fantastic Dark Knight tales throughout the decades.

And all of these talk about Batman's origin? :eek: That's alot to pick from. I guess I'll begin with "The Dark Knight Returns" since art isn't all that important to me. Maybe after that, I could pick up some other origin stories just to get the perspective of other writers.

[david r]

And all of these talk about Batman's origin? :eek: That's alot to pick from. I suppose I'll begin with "The Dark Knight Returns" since art isn't all that important to me.

I'm not sure you'll find what you're looking for. I do not know of a Batman equivalent to Man of Steel. I cannot think of a "Batman: Origins" book that spells out exactkt what happened to young Bruce Wayne and how the damaged boy evolved into the Dark Knight. As in: an exact telling of his beginnings.

Usually, his origins are always told in "flashbacks". We learn about him from flashbacks in stories showing the adult Bruce Wayne. Maybe other posters could recall a trade paperback that specifically shows us the tramatic early days of Bruce, but I cannot recall one. (Even his earliest issues from the 1930s only show us his beginnings in flashback moments.) There is no straight "origin" issue.

[david r]

No, all the trades I mentioned do not show Batman's origins. You said you wanted a good starting point.

I listed some of Batman's best tales. Again, a good "starting point" is so tricky, because there is SO MUCH to choose from. I'd say read Dark Knight Returns. (Do NOT waste your money on the sequel titled "Dark Knight Strikes Again" !)

Then try Hush. Hush is a great Batman story IMO. Then try Batman: Year One and Batman: Year Two.

[Magneto's_Servant]

No, all the trades I mentioned do not show Batman's origins. You said you wanted a good starting point.

I listed some of Batman's best tales. Again, a good "starting point" is so tricky, because there is SO MUCH to choose from. I'd say read Dark Knight Returns. (Do NOT waste your money on the sequel titled "Dark Knight Strikes Again" !)

Then try Hush. Hush is a great Batman story IMO. Then try Batman: Year One and Batman: Year Two.

Sounds good! I'll check out all of those but once I finish with those, will I be at the point where I could pick up a random Batman series and not be lost. Are most of the big villians introduced in the books that you mentioned?

[david r]

Dark Knight Returns is like "Batman: The End". It takes place in an alternate reality from regular DC Universe, where Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement because Gotham has become so corrupt and unlivable. Only Batman can save it. The Joker does appear in this mini-series, but it is really a separate tale. But don't be turned off by my words, this book is high quality and a gripping must-read title. I have no regrets in saying you should read this one first.

Many of the villains you're probably looking for appear in Hush. We see the Joker, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Croc and a few surprises. Possibly Hush is what you're looking for in terms of a "pure" Batman story.

I don't think Penguin appears in any of these, could be wrong. Batman books are very accessible. Don't you know the basics about Batman and his origins? The Bat-Cave, Robin, etc. If you've seen the movies, then all of these books should be easy to follow.

[Magneto's_Servant]

Dark Knight Returns is like "Batman: The End". It takes place in an alternate reality from regular DC Universe, where Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement because Gotham has become so corrupt and unlivable. Only Batman can save it. The Joker does appear in this mini-series, but it is really a separate tale. But don't be turned off by my words, this book is high quality and a gripping must-read title. I have no regrets in saying you should read this one first.

Many of the villains you're probably looking for appear in Hush. We see the Joker, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Croc and a few surprises. Possibly Hush is what you're looking for in terms of a "pure" Batman story.

I don't think Penguin appears in any of these, could be wrong. Batman books are very accessible. Don't you know the basics about Batman and his origins? The Bat-Cave, Robin, etc. If you've seen the movies, then all of these books should be easy to follow.

I see... thanks. You've been a great help so far and I really appreciate it. ;)

[Hellstormer]

Again, with Batman and Superman, it's hard to point to a particular starting point because there are SO MANY series and SO MANY stories throughout the decades. See I disagree there, all of the trades I mentioned (Batman Year One, then Batman Four of a Kind, Batman/Ra's Al Ghul Year One, and Batman the Monster Men ) cover Bats early years as the caped crusader


O and try to skip the Bat Dick era (Under the Hood vols 1 and 2 come to mind)

[Magneto's_Servant]

http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

That's IGN's list of 25 greatest Batman Graphic Novels. Thought I'd share it.

[Magneto's_Servant]

And one more question. Is there a site that lists the Batman TPB's in chronological order.

[randy]

I know of no such website with a chronological listing. I've in fact chronologically ordered my approximately 50 Batman TPBs and hardcovers. For books of reprinted material, I've taken care not to order them by copyright date of the book, but rather by publication date of the original comics. Original graphic novels then can be more accurately put into the sequence. I've done this after purchase to guide my reading order. While it would be more involved, it could also be done before purchase to, presumably, guide your purchasing pattern.

[dancj]

And one more question. Is there a site that lists the Batman TPB's in chronological order.

Yes there is, and it's run (or at least contributed to) by someone who posts on these boards, but I don't know what it's called or who it is that contributes to it.

Hopefully they'll see your question and point you in the right direction

[dancj]

http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

That's IGN's list of 25 greatest Batman Graphic Novels. Thought I'd share it.

Hmm... even if ou overlook some of their dodgy choices, this list has to prove that there aren't 25 great Batman graphic novels

[drone]

Batman Chronicles volume one. Worth picking up?

[david r]

Batman Chronicles volume one. Worth picking up?

Yes, actually. I was skeptical about those 1938-39 Batman stories. But I just HAD to read Batman from the beginning.

And frankly, they weren't half-bad. Yes, there is some old-fashioned stuff, and they are dated (being produced in the Great Depression, what'dya expect?!)

But these were fine stories. I read the first Batman Archive, but most of those same stories are printed in the Batman:Chronicles book. Those early Superman stories are hard to get through, but I found the earliest Batman stories entertaining. So I'd recommend this Chronicles volume.

[drone]

Cool, thanks. Yeah I'm really interested in getting into some early Batman, and this volume definitely helps.

[Magneto's_Servant]

I know of no such website with a chronological listing.

Will that be a problem for me? How will I know which TPB's come before the others?

[randy]

How will I know which TPB's come before the others?
For original graphic novels, you can use the copyright date indicated on the title page. For reprinted material, the title page also lists the issues reprinted. If you want this information before purchase, its usually listed at websites like:

http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?cat=BATMAN
http://tplist.millarworld.net/batman.html

Retailer websites sometimes have this information as well. Usually the websites and even the title page only lists the issue numbers of the reprinted comics, and to find out the cover date you have to use a website like:

http://www.comics.org

Hope that helps.

[snipe]

And one more question. Is there a site that lists the Batman TPB's in chronological order.

My site has a continuity page for Batman. It's horribly outdated due to the fact that I'm re-working it into a DCU continuity...
The horribly out-dated Batman section:
http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/continuity/

the incomplete DCU section:
http://www.thebatsquad.net/continuity

Note: though I'm incomplete with the descriptions, there is an in-progress pdf with about 400 titles listed.

[Magneto's_Servant]

^ Thanks, both of you for those sites. They will definately come in handy.

On one of those sites, it says that Hush reprints Batman #608-619. So when were those issues originally made and what was the exact name of the series?

[jboncha]

On one of those sites, it says that Hush reprints Batman #608-619. So when were those issues originally made and what was the exact name of the series?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean...:confused:
They were issues 608-619 of the BATMAN series
I think they were published from late 2002 thru mid-late 2003.



J B

[Magneto's_Servant]

When dealing with Batman comics, is there any specific order I need to follow when reading them. Are there any books I should read before all the others or are most of the Batman serieses un-related.

[Magneto's_Servant]

Sorry... double post.

[david r]

When dealing with Batman comics, is there any specific order I need to follow when reading them. Are there any books I should read before all the others or are most of the Batman serieses un-related.

The vast majority of the stories are unrelated. Magneto's Servant, unlike X-Men, Batman does not run in any particular order. (Well, I take that back, sometimes it does. It really depends on the writer of the stories. Whether he acknowledges the past. It seems to me, most writers do not acknowledge 99% of Batman's past in any important way.)

My advice is do not be concerned about "which stories come first." Batman has such a gigantic wealth of stories to choose from, trying to start from a specific beginning will be a huge task. Simply because: WHERE to start? In 1939? In the 60s? In the 70s? Where??

I'd say, buy the trades that you've heard good things about. Cherry-pick the good trades. It's really too bad the DC Archives are so expensive, because then you get the very VERY beginnings of Batman. And honestly, those old tales are not half-bad.

[Magneto's_Servant]

The vast majority of the stories are unrelated. Magneto's Servant, unlike X-Men, Batman does not run in any particular order. (Well, I take that back, sometimes it does. It really depends on the writer of the stories. Whether he acknowledges the past. It seems to me, most writers do not acknowledge 99% of Batman's past in any important way.)

My advice is do not be concerned about "which stories come first." Batman has such a gigantic wealth of stories to choose from, trying to start from a specific beginning will be a huge task. Simply because: WHERE to start? In 1939? In the 60s? In the 70s? Where??

I'd say, buy the trades that you've heard good things about. Cherry-pick the good trades. It's really too bad the DC Archives are so expensive, because then you get the very VERY beginnings of Batman. And honestly, those old tales are not half-bad.

Thank for the advice.

Now, I want to get Hush but I'm not sure if I should get Batman: Hush volume 1 and 2 or Absolute Batman: Hush. Together, both volumes of the Batman: Hush cost $20 and reprints Batman #608-619. Absolute Batman reprints the same issues but is hardcover and has a few extras. I don't really care if it's hardcover or not but are the extras worth the extra $15.

"FROM THE PUBLISHER
The complete 12-part saga written by Jeph Loeb (SUPERMAN/BATMAN, Smallville) with art by fan-favorites Jim Lee & Scott Williams (SUPERMAN, Uncanny X-Men) collected together for the first time in the oversized Absolute format!

This slipcased edition includes BATMAN #608-619 as well as the the 2-page origin of Batman (originally seen only on dccomics.com) and the special story from Wizard: The Comics Magazine. The year-long "Hush" — an epic tale of friendship, trust, and betrayal that spans a lifetime — reinvigorated the Dark Knight, pitting him against the deadliest members of his Rogue's Gallery and introducing his newest foe!

This Absolute edition includes an all-new cover by Lee and Williams, a Jim Lee Sketchbook, and issue-by-issue commentary by the creative team!"

So do you all think it's worth it?

[randy]

So do you all think it's worth it?
Above and beyond the extras, the major attraction of absolute editions are their being "oversized." That's 8.25 x 12.5 versus 7 x 10. I don't have the floppies or TPB to compare, but I can't imagine giving up the larger space for Jim Lee's (or most anyone's) art.

Due out next month is an absolute edition combining Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Dark Knight Strikes Again. If you can afford it and don't mind DKSA, you might want to hold off for the absolute.

Edit: You also mention hardcover versus softcover. There aren't a lot of Batman hardcovers, but you might want put some thought to those that are available -- such as Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Year One, and the Neal Adams volumes. If you wanted, you could go to a comic book store to compare. Even if they don't have the exact books you're looking for, you'd get a general idea of the difference in "feel" between hardcovers versus softcovers -- as well as the difference in price.

[Magneto's_Servant]

Above and beyond the extras, the major attraction of absolute editions are their being "oversized." That's 8.25 x 12.5 versus 7 x 10. I don't have the floppies or TPB to compare, but I can't imagine giving up the larger space for Jim Lee's (or most anyone's) art.

Thanks... I might just get the absolute.

Due out next month is an absolute edition combining Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Dark Knight Strikes Again. If you can afford it and don't mind DKSA, you might want to hold off for the absolute.

Thanks. I was planning to get Dark Knight Returns now but I think I might wait for the absolute.

Edit: You also mention hardcover versus softcover. There aren't a lot of Batman hardcovers, but you might want put some thought to those that are available -- such as Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Year One, and the Neal Adams volumes. If you wanted, you could go to a comic book store to compare. Even if they don't have the exact books you're looking for, you'd get a general idea of the difference in "feel" between hardcovers versus softcovers -- as well as the difference in price.

With novels in general, I don't really care if it's paperback or not. I'm not worried about ripping or damaging the paperback versions.

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll get the absolute. :)

[john_moser1]

We should do a list of bad tpb instead of good ones because the list would be alot shorter.

[RogSternfan]

We should do a list of bad tpb instead of good ones because the list would be alot shorter.


lol depends on who u ask!!, i know a certain Ray from another site, whos bad Bat TPB list would fill the page!!

[dancj]

We should do a list of bad tpb instead of good ones because the list would be alot shorter.

That list would have all of the same books (plus Digital Justice which won't be on anyone's good list)

Hush would be right up at the top of the list (or possibly just behind DKSA)

Dan

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

The Monster Men tpb should be out in August, I hear.

[Maestro]

Are the recent LOTDK arcs collected? There seems to be a couple of good stories there but I like to buy things in trade

[dancj]

Are the recent LOTDK arcs collected? There seems to be a couple of good stories there but I like to buy things in trade

I'm not sure why, but they don't seem to collect them very often. I think the Terror TPB is from LOTDK, but before that I can't think what the last one was.

[sePL]

Hi,
does anyone know wheter a Batman: Secrets TPB has been announced?
I´ve seen the 5th issue on the shelves and Sam Kieth´s art is very nice.
Thank you in advance,
sePL

[Sparda]

Hmmm hey guys. Im not usually a DC type of guy but I love batman. I wanted to know how good is batman:dark knight returns? Is it action packed, with into the mind type of comic? I owned batman:year one and it's one of my favorite tbp and everyone tells me DKR is awesome.

How good is it so I can reserve a copy?

[Tony Starkz]

Hmmm hey guys. Im not usually a DC type of guy but I love batman. I wanted to know how good is batman:dark knight returns? Is it action packed, with into the mind type of comic? I owned batman:year one and it's one of my favorite tbp and everyone tells me DKR is awesome.

How good is it so I can reserve a copy?

DKR was my first Batman read in a long ass time.If you enjoyed Y1,you will without a doubt love DKR.Miller's noirish/gloomy style is evident in both and works on all kinds of levels.

After you get DKR,pick up Long Halloween and Dark Victory.

[david r]

Hmmm hey guys. Im not usually a DC type of guy but I love batman. I wanted to know how good is batman:dark knight returns? Is it action packed, with into the mind type of comic? I owned batman:year one and it's one of my favorite tbp and everyone tells me DKR is awesome.

How good is it so I can reserve a copy?

I would rank DKR as the greatest mini-series I've ever read. It is also the greatest Batman story I've ever read.

[Sparda]

Thanks guys. Now Im going to reserve a copy at borders. By next month I'll go on and try out long halloween and dark victory :)

[Sparda]

Hey just finished reading Dark knights returns and it is way better than year on batman (opinion). Now Im curious on what happens in the Sequel of dark knight strikes again but everyone's been telling me the artwork is hideous and the writing horrible. What's your take on the sequel?

[dancj]

DK2 is a very different book. The art is very loose and jarring, and the story is a fast paced funny pile of silliness. I liked it, but a lot of people really hate it

[Harding Prime]

Face the Face: One Year Later - A new but classic detective story of the re-birth of one of Batman's Greatest Foes.

[Sparda]

Hey guys. Currently I got Batman year one, DKR, and the long halloween arcs. I know people told me Dark victory is also good but is haunted house by Loeb good?

Oh ya any other recommendations of great batman stories that invole his early hey days after year one events? I personally don't like the continuite batman with the Hush stuff and Wayne getting frame. Any other good reads?

I'm planning on getting Batman Confindential when it comes out (love those early batman stories).

[Harding Prime]

The only good reads are the ones in con'. I seriously don't see the point of going out of con' unless it's for something big like elseworlds, something to that degree. If you think you got something so good to add to the character, then actually add it to the character!

[dancj]

Hey guys. Currently I got Batman year one, DKR, and the long halloween arcs. I know people told me Dark victory is also good but is haunted house by Loeb good?

I assume you mean Haunted Knight. The art is very good (as Tim Sale always is), and the stories are decent enough if a bit unsatisfying (as Jeph Loeb is on a good day)

[Sparda]

Hey guys. Is there a trade of when Batman first encountered the joker in post-crisis? Taking place right after Batman:Year One?

[Gaspard]

The Man Who Laughs? I'm really lost in these continuity things.

[Lorendiac]

The only good reads are the ones in con'. I seriously don't see the point of going out of con' unless it's for something big like elseworlds, something to that degree. If you think you got something so good to add to the character, then actually add it to the character!

One problem with trying to do it that way is that sooner or later, someone will come along who hates what you did, so he subtracts it from the character and tosses it out of continuity in order to "fix" the "problem" you created! Or he changes things around so much that even if what you "added to the character" is still supposed to have happened, it doesn't matter any more because all the details of whatever you thought you added have been replaced by what this other guy added instead. (For example, the way the things that other writers added to Cassandra Cain's character in previous years have now been torn to shreds and replaced by the terrible things that are now being "added" to her character. Her old stories "still happened in continuity" -- but her character has been butchered by the recent changes that ignore anything we thought we knew about her personality and motivations.)

And of course there is a deep and burning desire in many writers to write a story about something happening for the first time! The first time Batman fought the Joker, the first time Batman fought Hugo Strange, the first time Batman and Catwoman started dating, the first time Batman did this, or that, or the other thing . . . many writers seem to feel that telling a story about the hundredth time Batman fought the Joker, or the twentieth time he went out on a date with Selina Kyle, or the tenth time Hugo Strange tried to drive him into a nervous breakdown, just doesn't have the same appeal as talking about The First Time!

As an example, suppose I want to do a brand new story about the First Time Batman met a vampire and found out they really exist. If my story is supposed to be in continuity, then that means it is kicking out whatever story used to be the "first time Batman met a vampire in continuity." A few years from now, if someone else comes along with a new and different idea for how Batman first discovered that vampires are real, and gets it approved, then his story replaces my story. A few years later, someone else comes along with another burning desire to do a story about "Batman is horrified to meet a real vampire for the first time!" and on and on it goes . . .

On the other hand, if I get to do my story as a special little miniseries, or story arc in "Legends of the Dark Knight" or "All-Star Batman" or something, where it is not firmly set in continuity, then I can do my "Batman meets his first Vampire" story without offending another writer who did the exact same thing four or five years ago! Because his story and my story implicitly happen in different timelines! And -- within the context of my story and its own little world -- anything new and exciting that I added to the character can be considered, by my fans, to have stayed with the character instead of getting thrown away the minute I turned my back! :)

Just as, in Elseworlds stories, Batman can actually get married and stay married, become a father and then stay a father, get old and gray and stay old and gray, retire and stay retired, die and stay dead, kill the Joker and see the Joker stay dead, or whatever a writer wants him to do for the sake of a good story. If any of that stuff was attempted in stories in his "continuity," someone else would come along who thought it was his sacred duty to undo it and put everything back the way it used to be, five or ten or twenty years ago!

(As it is, I hate to think how many different variations on the "origin and first adventure" of the first Robin (Dick Grayson) we've seen over the years. Even if at least one of them (Dark Victory) wasn't really in continuity anyway.)

[Ungoliantschilde]

Batman: a Death in the Family Jason Todd had it coming.

Catwoman: When in Rome Loved it.

Superman/Batman vol.3 - Absolute Power Batman stops the murder of his parents, and we get to see Bruce Wayne as a happy, loving son who enjoys a fulfilling life, but Superman has to make him give it up to save the world from Ra's Al Ghul.

Punisher/Batman #2 - First and last time John Romita, Jr. ever drew the Bat.

[CapFan]

-- Bruce Wayne: Murderer? / Fugitive Vol. 1-3 by Various (Bruce is charged with murder of Vesper Fairchild and must clear his name)

-- Hush (Vol. 1 & 2) by Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee (Introduction of new villian, Hush, as well as the mystery of location of Jason Todd)



My recommendations.

[Guts/Batman]

Superman/Batman vol.3 - Absolute Power Batman stops the murder of his parents, and we get to see Bruce Wayne as a happy, loving son who enjoys a fulfilling life, but Superman has to make him give it up to save the world from Ra's Al Ghul.

I'll have to pass. Anything with the name Loeb on it, I have ceased to buy.

Hush is an overrated pile of comic book crap that gets more attention than it deserves.

[lcy840710]

Really awesome~

[Sparda]

I'll have to pass. Anything with the name Loeb on it, I have ceased to buy.

Hush is an overrated pile of comic book crap that gets more attention than it deserves.
Hush was only popular cause of annoying fanboys buying anything with Lee's work. Loeb is good but I'd buy Batman long halloween with dark victory over Hush any day of the week.

Is batman and the Monster men good?

[TheLazy]

http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

That's IGN's list of 25 greatest Batman Graphic Novels. Thought I'd share it.

Seems about right, I haven't read half of the stuff there though. Year One before DKR! Oh yeah! I was shocked at this one, I thought I was alone out there.

I know its not 'Batman', but has anyone read 'Catwoman: When In Rome' or 'Haunted Knight'. Ive read LH and DV and I think Loeb/Sale are the shizzle. I stopped reading monthlies a few years back and missed everything after Broken City, so I was wandering if the War Games Trades are worth getting.

Cheers for any help:)

[Gaspard]

I think someone recommended When in Rome. I haven't read it myself but will probably someday. Oh yeah and Year One is excellent. I just like the art in DKR more so that's my pick to be the best Bat book of all-time.

[dancj]

I think someone recommended When in Rome. I haven't read it myself but will probably someday. Oh yeah and Year One is excellent. I just like the art in DKR more so that's my pick to be the best Bat book of all-time.

I love the art in TDKR, but Mazzucchelli's art in Year One is possibly the finest art ever to grace a comic!

[SMMM]

Can you mark which are canon and which are not? (Pre-infinite)

[bw38]

I'm a new poster here but just this summer I went on a Batman comic book shopping frenzy. My only desire is to buy TPBs because it's more economical and does not leave me waiting in suspense for the next issue to come out.

Here's the problem I've encountered. I've been reading some of these TPBs out of order. I remember reading Under the Hood 1& 2 before I read A Death in the Family. Needless to say as I read Under the Hood I had to do a bit of searching on who Jason Todd was because I was pretty lost. That also took me into Infinite Crisis (I think that's the name of the comic book or maybe it could be: Identity Crisis or Zero Hour....I don't really follow much of anything else besides Batman). Needless to say, it is rather annoying to read things in continuity only to learn that you're reading a book that happened in Year Y when you should have started reading from Year X. A lot of people say it's nearly impossible to read the comics in order but there has to be at least a general way to find out how to put them all in sequence.

Now I've attempted to do this by following this list here: http://tplist.millarworld.net/batman.html

However that lists has some books missing. Don't ask me which because I wouldn't be able to tell you right now as I can't recall.

What confuses me are the comic book issues. For example: Batman: No Man's Land 4 (Batman 571-572; Batman Chronicles 18; Legends of the Dark Knight 125; Shadow of the Bat 92-93; Detective Comics 736,738-739)

I'm guessing that DC Comics has a couple of different series out such as Batman, Legends of the Dark Knight, Detective Comics, etc. Now I notice how NML4 says that it collects from all these issues from different series that came out. My question is how can one tell which comes first? Did Batman 571 come before Detective Comics 736? And why do they overlap this way? Most of the Batman TPBs seem to come from the Detective Comics and Batman series so if I can get an idea of how to know which one comes first I'd appreciate it.

[elias_A]

If you only read the trades, I think you don't need to care about the order of the original issues. But No man's land was a crossover, that means, while normally each series like Detectice comics and Legends have their own, separated storyarcs, in a crossover one story is continued over several titles.
They have to be read then in the order of the weeks they are published, and most of the time have a "part X" tag to help keep the order. The solicitations on DCs webside (or elsewhere) also help to keep track.

As for the order of paperbacks: There are stories supposed to be more or less out of continuity, like "Long Halloween", and other "year one"-type stories.

But the in-continuity events had the following order:

Killing Joke
Death in the Family

Knightfall
Contagion/Legacy
No Man's Land
Officer down
Bruce Wayne: Murder/Fugitive
Hush
War Games
Red Hood
Face the Face

But I don't think it's necessary to read them in order. For the NML-officer down-fugitive block it makes sense, because they had the same writers (Rucka), but don't expect a very satisfying continuity otherwise.

[bw38]

Thanks for that. Gives me an idea of what to do.

Here's another question. What is the difference between an Original Graphic Novel and a Minis?
For example, Batman: Tenses is considered an Original Graphic Novel while The Dark Knight Returns is considered a Mini (spanning over 4 issues).

What's the difference?

[bw38]

I would still like someone to answer my last question in the previous post.

Anyways I spent quite some time doing this. It's probably nuts but I made a comic book checklist of all Batman comic books (TPBs, not single issues) that I could find. Here is where you can view the list: www.geocities.com/freebw38 (sorry for the ads but it's the only place I could find to host it for free)

I made it all in a Excel spreadsheet (it's in a zip file that can be downloaded at my site as well) and just made the webpage out of it. I'll briefly describe the sections and some other things.

The basic sections are:
Reprinted Collections, Absolute Edition, Mini-Series, Chronicles, Elseworlds, Original Graphic Novels, Team-ups, Gotham Central, Greatest Stories Ever Told, Batman Adventures, Archived Editions, and Novels (non-comic).

The very first column allows you to put a check mark. (You can do this in the computer through copy and paste or by printing out the list and doing it by hand.) The other columns indicate the following comic book series: Detective Comics, Batman, Gotham Knights, Legends of the Dark Knight, Shadow of the Bat, Chronicles, and Miscellaneous (anything else that doesn't fall in the other columns). This has allowed me to put the issues that are collected in some of these TPBs. I tried to organize the Reprinted Collections by order of issue, based on what I know came out first or what is meant to be grouped together. I did the best I could.

I've also highlighted each line with a light gray and a pale blue to make it easy on the eyes to follow the title and the issues on the same row. And most (I'd say more than 50%) of the titles have links to the DC website. Sooner or later I might just add links to sites where the comic books could be purchased such as Amazon or MidtownComics but I think for now this will do.

Check it out. Let me know if something is missing or incorrect because I'm sure there are mistakes in there.

By the way, I gathered most of my information from the following sites:
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?cat=BATMAN
http://www.thebatsquad.net/batman/index.htm
http://tplist.millarworld.net/batman.html

The basis of all this was really the Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Batman_comics) on Batman comic books which I've updated to include many issues which originally were missed. It doesn't actually have all the comic books I've listed in my spreadsheet, but when I get around it I guess I'll update and see what's missing.

I'm such a nut for doing this lol.

I'd like some feedback if at the very least just to know that I didn't do this without reason. I'm hoping that list will help new comic book fans looking into Batman TPBs.

[bw38]

Did Many Deaths of Batman ever come out on TPB?

[Lorendiac]

Thanks for that. Gives me an idea of what to do.

Here's another question. What is the difference between an Original Graphic Novel and a Minis?
For example, Batman: Tenses is considered an Original Graphic Novel while The Dark Knight Returns is considered a Mini (spanning over 4 issues).

What's the difference?

Okay, let me take a crack at sorting out my own understanding of the proper definitions.

1. If one multi-part story (or "story arc," or whatever we want to call it) is published as small installments, in several consecutive issues of a "regular series" that will continue to be published after this story arc is over, then that's "a story arc within a series."

For example: Frank Miller's "Year One" was published as four consecutive issues of the "Batman" title in the late 80s, but of course that Batman title had already been around for decades before that and continued to come out every month after "Year One" had ended and Miller had moved on.

2. If one multi-part story (or "story arc," or whatever we want to call it) is published in small installments as part of its own temporary title, a title which everyone knows will come to a screeching halt at the same time this story arc ends, then that's usually called a "miniseries."

For example: Jeph Loeb's "The Long Halloween" was published as 13 monthly issues of its own little series. Everybody who was paying attention at the time was told from the start that it would be just 13 issues long. "The Long Halloween" was a miniseries, for our purposes.

Note: Some people argue that when it's, say, more than 8 issues long, it's too big to be called a "mini" anything, and it should just be called a "limited series" or a "maxiseries." (But as near as I can tell, most fans these days just casually refer to anything that was planned to only go to a certain pre-set number and then stop as a "miniseries" or "mini." Three issues, six issues, twelve issues, whatever.)

3. If a story is a lot longer than what you would expect to see in a single regular-sized issue of a comic book series (which would be about 22 pages of actual story, say), and if it's only published in a single volume all at once, in "trade paperback" or "hardback" format, instead of coming out in smaller installments the first time around, then that's called "an Original Graphic Novel" (or OGN).

For example: I own a copy of Michael Uslan's "Detective No. 27," which was published as a 96-page TPB. It is an Elseworlds, featuring a Bruce Wayne who becomes a heroic detective in the late 1930s without ever dressing up like a bat. Since it was first published as one complete story in a package deal (instead of being released as,say, four small installments and then collected in TPB later), it can reasonably be called an Original Graphic Novel. I walked into the store, bought it in one volume, took it home, read it.

I think most fans will agree with the general thrust of the three definitions I just offered. Now let's move on to a somewhat more controversial subject: The proper definition and use of the phrase "graphic novel," without the word "original" necessarily getting involved.

4. If the story is illustrated, comic book style, and if it is long enough to be worthy of the word "novel" -- as opposed to being a 17-page or 22-page "short story" in a single "issue," for instance -- then I feel it can be called a "graphic novel" regardless of whether it was "originally published" as a hardcover, or as a TPB, or as a miniseries, or as a "story arc within a regular series."

After all, if a "mystery novel" or "science fiction novel" was first published as several monthly installments in a magazine, and then was later collected as a paperback, we still call it a "novel," don't we? Because of its sheer size and better opportunities for character development and elaborate plotting and so forth, regardless of the "format" in which it was "originally" offered to the public!

So:

I have the TPB collection of Frank Miller's "Year One" and I call it a "graphic novel."

I have the TPB collection of Jeph Loeb's "The Long Halloween" and I call it a "graphic novel."

I have the original TPB edition of Michael Uslan's "Detective No. 27" and I call it a "graphic novel."

Each of them was published in a different way the first time around, but I simply don't care about that! If a piece of work is long enough and substantial enough to be called a "novel," graphic or otherwise, then I don't nitpick over how it was first made available to the public.

But some people do nitpick over that. Some people argue that we should only say "graphic novel" if the story was published as one big fat package deal in a single volume, right from the start! This would mean that "Year One" is not a graphic novel, and neither is "The Long Halloween," and neither is Alan Moore's "Watchmen," and neither is any other long story that was first published in shorter chunks and then got collected in a TPB.

I think their argument is very flimsy. After all, many of the longer works of Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert A. Heinlein, etc., were first published as magazine serials, and yet people still accept the books reprinting those lengthy narratives as "historical novels," "adventure novels," "science fiction novels," or whatever. But in all fairness, I feel obligated to let you know that the definition of "graphic novel" that I just offered you is not yet Universally Accepted among fans. (I've never actually done a Poll on the subject, but I suspect that the majority of regular customers in the comic book industry would tend to go along with my thinking, however. Most people would concede that "Watchmen" is definitely a "graphic novel," for instance.)

I hope that helps clear things up! (As I warned, not everyone can agree on exactly the same definitions for everything, so make allowances for that if someone confuses you by his own usage!)

[dancj]

For example, Batman: Tenses is considered an Original Graphic Novel while The Dark Knight Returns is considered a Mini (spanning over 4 issues).

What's the difference?
Batman: Tenses is a 2 issue mini, not an OGN.

Other than that Lorendiac said it all perfectly

[bw38]

Yea I realize Tenses is a 2-issue mini because I just finished getting the second part this week. Thanks for the clarifications Lorendiac.

[randy]

Did Many Deaths of Batman ever come out on TPB?
Yep, as listed in tplist. Got one off of eBay.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Hush was only popular cause of annoying fanboys buying anything with Lee's work. Loeb is good but I'd buy Batman long halloween with dark victory over Hush any day of the week.

Is batman and the Monster men good?

In my opinion, its a decent enough story. Takes the character into some pulpish scifi action while only a year or so after he became Batman, which is cool. Maybe not the best Batman story ever, but worth reading at least once.

Well, if you like pulp scifi action.

[TheLazy]

Does anyone know of any prose written batman books? I heard somewhere that the big two usually do prose versions of popular story arcs, but I cant seem to find anywhere that sells them on google.

Cheers for any help.

:)

[Rabid Trekkie]

Does anyone know of any prose written batman books? I heard somewhere that the big two usually do prose versions of popular story arcs, but I cant seem to find anywhere that sells them on google.

Cheers for any help.

:)

Batman No Man's Land by Greg Rucka is really good.

The Stone King is a pretty good read also written by Alan Grant.

There are some older ones as well. Both Barnes and Noble in my area have those two as well as a novelization of Knightfall. There are also three short story collections for Batman.

[Lorendiac]

Does anyone know of any prose written batman books? I heard somewhere that the big two usually do prose versions of popular story arcs, but I cant seem to find anywhere that sells them on google.

Cheers for any help.

:)

I wouldn't say "usually." DC has done prose novelizations of "Crisis on Infinite Earths," "Knightfall," "No Man's Land," and "The Death and Life of Superman" (a novelization of the events that ran back-to-back in the Superman titles for the better part of a year, I think, and are collected in three separate TPBs in the comic book format -- the TPB versions are "The Death of Superman, "World Without a Superman," and "The Return of Superman.")

That only makes what, four cases I can think of where a successful event from the comics got novelized? There may be others that I don't know about, but I don't think there are many. And offhand, I don't remember ever hearing of Marvel doing the same thing with any of its most successful comic book story arcs!

Now: there have also been a fair number of "original novels" published about Superman, Batman, etc. And I believe Marvel has authorized a lot of original novels about Spider-Man and the X-Men, and at least a few about some of their other heroes. But if someone told you that popular story arcs from the comics are "usually" rewritten as regular prose novels and then released in bookstores, then I'm afraid he probably was getting very confused.

(Incidentally, superhero movies sometimes get "novelized" as well. I don't know just how often that has happened, though.)

[Jaye]

Kingdom Come was novelized, by Elliot Maggin.

[Lorendiac]

Kingdom Come was novelized, by Elliot Maggin.

As I was typing the post above yours, I vaguely thought I remembered hearing something about that. But I wasn't sure. I've never seen that novelization. I decided to post what I had and take my chances!

Even with "Kingdom Come," that only brings us up to a grand total of five "novelizations" of comic book events for DC, and I think we're still looking at zero for Marvel. Still a far cry from "usually" happening that way! :)

[AMrBean]

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but I am really interested in a chronological order of TPBs from as far back as possible to present of the regular Batman series. For example, a list of in print trades listed like this (all numbers are example numbers):

Batman Trade #1: issues 500-506
Batman Trade #2: issues 507-512
Batman Trade #3: issues 513-518
etc.

Anyone know where I can get a list like this? Or can anyone help me out?

[riftt]

how many issues of detective did Greg Rucka write and were they collected?

[dancj]

Anyone know where I can get a list like this? Or can anyone help me out?
http://tplist.millarworld.net/index.html

[Chudy]

Hello,

I wanna ask whether the lat volume of Gotham Central (Gotham Central v4: The Quick And The Dead) have some errors in editorial? I remeber, that Rich Johnston from Lying in the gutters pay attention for errors in previous volume.

http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=725236#post725236

Thanks for help :)

[batmite76]

For all Batman fans out there (still) wondering how to order their comics (trades & issues) in reading order, or for those curious to find out if X issue of Nightwing happened before Y issue of Batman (without reading 4-5 issues again), or if you're just looking for the names of creators of a certain issues, here's the link to a .pdf document (50+ pages) of my exhaustive "personal" continuity.


http://www.box.net/public/s7e3x4g4yr


It includes most post-crisis on infinite earths Batman-related stories, so pretty much any batman title (and related characters) that has been published after 86/87 should be in there somewhere... except elseworlds, a few (IMO uninteresting) GNs and some (ok, lots) LotDK story arcs... and the pre-crisis stuff of course (though I'm slowly working at incorporation some more of these stories that are still relevant).

There's still some stuff I need to insert, but I've listed whatever is pending/missing in the notes section at the end, and figuring out where they fit in shouldn't be too much of a problem others (except for the JLA and Gotham Central stuff).

It's a work in progress, so don't hesitate to give me your feedback/comments.

Enjoy!

[batmite76]

Here's the latest version of the list (fixed some classification errors for Batman and Tec 1991 issues (gordon's stroke)).


pdf verison: http://www.box.net/public/soc0dvj7f2

Now also available in HTML flavor!

html version: http://www.box.net/public/stoi07dq1m

[batmite76]

Oki, here's the latest update of my post-crisis Batman continuity list


html version: http://www.box.net/shared/ny34uqqm00

pdf version: http://www.box.net/shared/735z84k6jx


Just Added:

- Both Batman / Punisher books
- Underground Railroad (last missing NML core title arc not in there)
- JLA: The Tornado's Path
- Green Arrow: Seeing Red
- Scream If You Love Me from 1998 Batman Villains secret files and origins
- 3 stories from 1997 Batman secret files and origins

Also, even though they're still listed in the "Insertion Uncertain" category in the notes, I've decided not too include the Matt Wagner Dark Moon Rising series (Monster Men and Mad Monk) for various reasons. Not because I disliked them, but because they (Monster Men at least) "clash" too much with Prey and the initial post-crisis interpretation of Hugo Strange. For those who are wondering where "exactly" they would fit, I would put Monster Men between "Catwoman: Year One" and "Prey," and Mad Monk would go between "Prey" and "Gothic."

No changes / corrections otherwise (that I remeber as I post this)

So there you go. I don't think I'll have much time to update this until WWIII starts at least, but I'll definitely come back once I get some more done.

As always, feedback is are more than welcome.

Cheers!

[batmite76]

Latest version (and last for a while... at least until WWIII / Countdown)

html: http://www.box.net/shared/n4qooaasii

pdf: http://www.box.net/shared/77796do9nr


with new insertions:

Pre-Crisis Origin of Black Mask
JLA: WWIII
Catwoman 76-77 (last NML tie-ins)
Detective annuals 2 & 3
Azrael 51
Siege (Tec 829-830)

[batmite76]

Latest update:

html: http://www.box.net/shared/u90sgu6mfl

pdf: http://www.box.net/shared/u81zibd0jo


Additions:

Three Ghosts of Batman 1 (& 2... might change)
Birds of Prey 37 (Last Laugh Aftermath issue)
Batgirl Annual #1: Aruna
52: Week 47


Corrections:

Last laugh: Birds of Prey 36 moved around.
JLA: Year One moved BEFORE Batgirl: Year One.

[SMMM]

First of all, these are all the TPBs for the following as far as I can figure:

Batgirl

01. Silent Running (1-6)
02. A Knight Alone (7-11, 13-14)
03. Death Wish (17-20, 22-23, 25)
04. Fists of Fury (15-16, 21, 26-28)
06. Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood (58-59)
06. Kicking Assassins (60-64)
07. Destruction's Daughter (65-73)

Notes

#12 is in "Officer Down"
#24 is in "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"
#27 & 29 are in "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"
#55 is in "War Games: Act 1"
#56 is in "War Games: Act 2"
#57 is in "War Games: Act 3"

NOT COLLECTED: #30-54


Birds of Prey

01. Birds of Prey (Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey, Birds of Prey: Manhunt, Birds of Prey: Revolution and a story from Showcase '96 #3)
02. Old Friends, New Enemies (Birds of Prey: Wolves, Bird of Prey: Batgirl, Birds of Prey #1-5)
03. Of Like Minds (56-61)
04. Sensei & Student (62-68)
05. Between Dark and Dawn (69-75)
06. The Battle Within (76-85)
07. Perfect Pitch (86-90, 92-95)
08. Blood and Circuits (96-103)

Notes

#20-21 are in "Nightwing: Hunt for Oracle"
#27 is in "Officer Down"
#39-40 are in "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"
#41 and #43 are in "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"

NOT COLLECTED: #6-19, 22-26, 28-38, 42, 44-55



Nightwing

01. Ties that Bind (Nightwing: Alfred's Return 1 + Nightwing (miniseries) 1-4)
02. A Knight in Bludhaven (1-8)
03. Rough Justice (9-18)
04. Love and Bullets (1/2, 21-22, 24-29)
05. A Darker Shade of Justice (30-39, Secret Files #1)
06. The Hunt for Oracle (41-46)
07. Big Guns (47-50, Secret Files and Origins #1, 80-Page Giant #1)
08. Razor's Edge (52, 54-60)
09. Nightwing: Year One (101-106)
10. Mobbed Up (107-111)
11. Renegade (112-117)
12. Brothers in Blood (118-122)

Notes

#19-20 are in "Cataclysm"
#53 is in "Officer Down"
#65-66 are in "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"
#68-69 are in "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"
#96 is in "War Games: Act 1"
#97 is in "War Games: Act 2"
#98 is in "War Games: Act 3"

NOT COLLECTED: #23, 40, 51, 61-95, 99-100
#23 is in the "Brotherhood of the Fist" crossover [Green Arrow #134, Detective #723, Robin #55, Nightwing #23, Green Arrow #135; Not Collected]

----------------------------------------

Ok, now a couple questions.

1. Is all that right? Probably not perfect, so point out anything to improve it, please.
2. Is there anything there not collected, but still worth reading?

[Starba]

First of all, these are all the TPBs for the following as far as I can figure:

Batgirl

01. Silent Running (1-5)
02. A Knight Alone (7-11, 13-14)
03. Death Wish (17-20, 22-23, 25)
04. Fists of Fury (15-16, 21, 26-28)
05. Kicking Assassins (60-64)
06. Destruction's Daughter (65-73)

Notes

#12 is in "Officer Down"
#24 is in "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"
#27 & 29 are in "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"
#55 is in "War Games: Act 1"
#56 is in "War Games: Act 2"
#57 is in "War Games: Act 3"

NOT COLLECTED: #6, 30-54, 58-59


Birds of Prey

01. Birds of Prey (Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey, Birds of Prey: Manhunt, Birds of Prey: Revolution and a story from Showcase '96 #3)
02. Old Friends, New Enemies (Birds of Prey: Wolves, Bird of Prey: Batgirl, Birds of Prey #1-5)
03. Of Like Minds (56-61)
04. Sensei & Student (62-68)
05. Between Dark and Dawn (69-75)
06. The Battle Within (76-85)
07. Perfect Pitch (86-90, 92-95)
08. Blood and Circuits (96-103)

Notes

#27 is in "Officer Down"
#39-40 are in "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"
#41 and #43 are in "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"

NOT COLLECTED: #6-26, 42, 44-55



Nightwing

01. Ties that Bind (Nightwing: Alfred's Return 1 + Nightwing (miniseries) 1-4)
02. A Knight in Bludhaven (1-8)
03. Rough Justice (9-18)
04. Love and Bullets (1/2, 21-22, 24-29)
05. A Darker Shade of Justice (30-39, Secret Files #1)
06. The Hunt for Oracle (41-46, BoP 20-21)
07. Big Guns (47-50, Secret Files and Origins #1, 80-Page Giant #1)
08. Razor's Edge (52, 54-60)
09. Nightwing: Year One (101-106)
10. Mobbed Up (107-111)
11. Renegade (112-117)
12. Brothers in Blood (118-122)

Notes

#19-20 are in "Cataclysm"
#53 is in "Officer Down"
#65-66 are in "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?"
#68-69 are in "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"
#96 is in "War Games: Act 1"
#97 is in "War Games: Act 2"
#98 is in "War Games: Act 3"

NOT COLLECTED: #23, 40, 51, 61-95, 99-100
#23 is in the "Brotherhood of the Fist" crossover [Green Arrow #134, Detective #723, Robin #55, Nightwing #23, Green Arrow #135; Not Collected]

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Ok, now a couple questions.

1. Is all that right? Probably not perfect, so point out anything to improve it, please.
2. Is there anything there not collected, but still worth reading?


Fun list. From what I can tell, you need to note that #28-38 of BoP isn't collected, and you also need to note under BoP that 20-21 are collected in that one Nightwing trade.

I've heard that the storyline regarding the character Alpha is never resolved in the Batgirl trade it's introduced in, but it's a great story nonetheless and the character returns at the end of the series. If you can find the issues, Batgirl is worth reading up to the end of the Kelley Puckett run, which ends at #37 and introduces Cass's friendship with Spoiler, a significant plot point for Batgirl in War Games and the Gabrych trades. Gabrych also pens a one shot for issue #38 playing on the Cass/Steph friendship. #6, 12, and 24 are also probably worth picking up. I don't know why they're not collected.

[SMMM]

Fun list. From what I can tell, you need to note that #28-38 of BoP isn't collected, and you also need to note under BoP that 20-21 are collected in