The "must have" monthly Batman books?

[Hellfan]

There's like a gazillion Bat related books out there at the moment – but which are actually essential to get the bigger picture?

What do you guys pick up and read on a regular basis?

[The Shadow]

BY FAR the best Batbooks on the shelves aren't the main books!

Batgirl and Birds of Prey are about the best of the best right now!

My thoughts:

Batman
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HORRIBLE! Winnick is bringing back Jason Todd and the pace is comparable to a snail. Jason comic back SMACKS of lack of ideas for the title and a desperation move to up the sales... and it's not even being done very well. The art is OK though.


Detective
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COULD be GREAT... but the story is very decompressed. When stuff happens it's great, but the gaps are long and the talking and introspection are too frequent. Indy creator Lapham is telling a decent mystery, but it's a 12 issue story (padding it for 2 trades!) and it reads like it. Hopefully it will pick up as it nears the end.


Superman/Batman
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All over the map! The arc with art by Carlos Pacheco was a blast... Superman and Batman as dictators in an alternate timeline! Cool reading. The other stories have been hit and miss. I'm a fan of the new Supergirl, so I liked her introduction and the last issue by Ian Churchill... but there are a lot of people that don't like her... it's a "if you enjoy BIG fights and minimal plot" type of book. Lots of FLASH and fun but minimal substance. Like a Jerry Bruckheimer movie!


Legends of the Dark Knight
The Batman Strikes
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Don't read either of em... but I know Batman Strikes is aimed at younger kids.


Gotham Knights
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Should be renamed Hush Knights as the last years worth of stories have managed to focus on a one note crap villain with a "mystery" that's taken so long to unravel nobody cares anymore.


Batgirl
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IMO currently the BEST Bat-book on the stands! The art has slipped a bit the last few issues but the stories are always top notch and there is a new artist onboard now.


Birds of Prey
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IMO the SECOND best Batbook on the stands... and JUST below Batgirl. Gail has NAILED the characters and the art has been top notch since she and Ed Benes took over with #56.

Dark Detective[b/] is the best superhero book on the stands right now. It really makes a lot of the ongoing stuff look rather amateurish in comparison. I hope the creative team stays together... forever... on Batman books.


[b]All Star Batman... first issue was a resounding "meh" but the pedigree behind the book looks awesome, so we'll see.



I've been reading Batman for 20 years now and for me this is a low point. The highlight is a secondary Bat-book and I pray the comic gods swallow Winink and he's taken off of Batman. He has ruined everything he's touched and only the fact Batman is... well, BATMAN is going to keep the title safe. I'm just wondering when it will be revealed Alfred had a gay affair and is HIV positive.

And this is coming from a lifelong Batman fan who has pretty much every Batman related comic and book from the past 20+ years, so it's not easy to admit that.

[Hellfan]

Thanks! It's really nice reading a post from a hardcore fan (seeing as I'm a new kid on the Bat block).

You don't read Nightwing and Robin? How is the Catwoman book?

[kash]

Now coming from the other side:

Im loving the new Batman, IMHO the best Batman I've read ever sicne Rucka left Tec. WInnick gets a lot of heat for many things, especially for his love of bringing social issues in his books, but his Batman is an all out superhero story, not to mention he's made Black Mask fun to read. His Batman and Nightwing are also spot on, if you have any doubts, read parts two and three of Under The Hood, which both basically focus on the dynamic duo

[Huh?]

Now coming from the other side:

Im loving the new Batman, IMHO the best Batman I've read ever sicne Rucka left Tec. WInnick gets a lot of heat for many things, especially for his love of bringing social issues in his books, but his Batman is an all out superhero story, not to mention he's made Black Mask fun to read. His Batman and Nightwing are also spot on, if you have any doubts, read parts two and three of Under The Hood, which both basically focus on the dynamic duoI too am enjoying Batman. But the most recent issue (which wasn't written by Winick) felt really out of place to me.

As for the thread topic, the best Bat books right now IMO are...

Detective Comics
and
Gotham Central

I was reading Nightwing and Gotham Knights, but they lost my interest quickly. I also read Batman, which isn't bad, but not as good as Detective or GC.

[Andy S.]

You should definitely pick up the regular Batman title, as the biggest continuity developments usually take place in that book. I personally enjoy Winnick's writing on that title. I've seen alot worse.

The current story in Legends of the Dark Knight is worth picking up, too.

[Windbreaker]

I don't have Shadow's credentials, but I am a Bat-lover. I'm not quite as down on the books right now.

BATMAN
Winnick's run in general is good, but not great. Personally, I think #641 was awesome. I've said before the jury's out for me on whether or not this Jason Todd resurrection is worth it. I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to DC right now, with the new Crisis coming. Also, if you're going to read Bat titles, you need to know what's going on here to keep up on continuity.

DETECTIVE COMICS
Completely agree with others who say the potentially great noir story is just moving way too slowly. #807 was particularly irritating. An entire issue devoted to Batman finding one lead. Bah!

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
Crap. Of course, there are a lot of Penguins out there buying comics. (You flush it, I flaunt it). For some nice escapism, look into back issues from #1 to around 100.

GOTHAM KNIGHTS
Hanging on to my pull list by a thread. Really, just to complete a decent run I have in my collection. It's getting dropped real soon.

BATGIRL
Love, love, love. I recommend starting with #60 if you can still find it. If you like the Bat-verse, you will not be disappointed. Also, the overall Bat-continuity is alive and well in this title.

BIRDS OF PREY
I would read this if I could afford another pull.

NIGHTWING
Or, How I learned to stop worrying, and love Devin Grayson's departure.

Can't comment on the other titles, other than more than a few people have been disappointed with ROBIN.

[Aufbach]

.

DETECTIVE COMICS
Completely agree with others who say the potentially great noir story is just moving way too slowly. #807 was particularly irritating.



I only collect Batman and Detective, but I agree with the above statement. In fact, despite it's slow movement, I'm probably enjoying the story-arc in Detective much more than in Batman right now. Really well-written detective work going on ... potentially classic Batman stuff in the making.

[The Shadow]

You don't read Nightwing and Robin? How is the Catwoman book?
Yeah I forgot Nightwing... it's like a train wreck... I just can't take my eyes off of it. Grayson is slowly building the character up again after she deconstructed him... and the current story is quite interesting with Dick working for the mob.

Unfortunatly I don't read Robin or Catwoman. I've heard Catwoman hasn't been very good recently... but that's only hearsay. I'd love to get Robin... but only so much money.

I too am enjoying Batman. But the most recent issue (which wasn't written by Winick) felt really out of place to me.
See and I liked the last issue for several reasons. It wasn't drawn out and by that I mean it didn't feel like it was written for the trade like Batman or Detective, there was actual ACTION in a Batman comic not just standing around and lots of talk (like 4 of the last 5 Batman issues where he talks to people, talks to Jason, talks to Superman...) and lastly he used ACTUAL Detective skills!! Who would have thought that from the best Detective in the DCU! As I said, Lapham is writing a detective story as well, but this one went a bit faster.

[lonesomefool]

Here is what I think of each

Batman-Buy, if you like a more super heroy Batman
Detective Comics-Buy if you like a more gritty, detective focused Batman
Legends of the Dark Knight-BUy depending on the creators, buy the current arc and then wait and see
Gotham Knights-Skip, it's not a Batman book. It's A Hush book.
Nightwing-Skip
Robin-Skip
Catwoman-Buy
Gotham Central-Buy
Batgirl-Buy
Birds of Prey-Buy

[cletus510]

Batman is your safest bet if you're going to collect one book. As someone said above, it's the book that will keep you up-to-date on continuity. Winnick is doing well. Yeah, I detest the idea of bringing back Jason, and the story is dragging on as much as the Hush story in GK, but he writes well.

You shouldn't pick up Detective right now. You'll be right in the middle of a year-plus storyline and won't know what's going on. I collected the first 6 parts first and then read them in one sitting. I'll wait until it's over to read the last 6 parts.

Legends of the Dark Knight has consistently good stories, but you might not want to choose that one because it is not continuity-based (or is it?). If you don't mind that, it's worth a thought to pick up.

I like GK better than most people. Yeeeeessss itttssss drrrraaagggging ooonnnn, but it's entertaining.

Superman/Batman gives you two characters for the price of one. I enjoy Loeb's interpretation of Batman more than anyone else's, but I'm not digging the storylines at all.

All-Star? Oooo. The jury's still out on this one. Avoid for now.

Batgirl? I don't care if it is written by God, I detest the character. How I deeply pray she gets killed off soon. Open a 1-800 line!

Catwoman started out as an incredible book under Brubaker. I haven't collected for a long time, but picked up the new issue and thought it was pretty good.

Nightwing: I gave it a try and dropped it, although I really like the character (come back to Gotham, Dick!).

Robin: Two words why I won't buy it...Scott McDaniel.

Gotham Central: This is the one non-Batman-centric book that should be on your list. You won't see much of Batman, but you'll love the stories.

[The Shadow]

Batgirl? I don't care if it is written by God, I detest the character. How I deeply pray she gets killed off soon.
:eek: :eek: Why's that?

I think you are the first person I've encountered to HATE Cassandra!
Most seem to like her as a character and Batgirl of course!

[Phil Kollar]

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
Crap. Of course, there are a lot of Penguins out there buying comics. (You flush it, I flaunt it). For some nice escapism, look into back issues from #1 to around 100.

I disagree. I think it's great. Aaron King, comic shop worker, buys five every month! :eek:

[Hellfan]

Thanks guys. I've been snooping around these boards trying to figure out how I should compile my monthly pull-list (money issues). I’m not the type of guy who likes to read a lot of different books, I like to focus and get the bigger picture.

I've been thinking about looking into Superman, because it's easy keeping up with his books. I think there's too many Bat related comics at the moment, but I love the Character to death.

[Phil Kollar]

I like to focus and get the bigger picture.

As far as comics go, especially in big universes like DC and Marvel, focusing on a few titles and getting the bigger picture don't go hand-in-hand -- they're at odds with eachother. In order to get the "bigger picture" of what's going on in the universe you need to either read a lot of different titles or at the very least keep updated on what's happening in a lot of different titles.

Still, if you want to stay focused on just a few books that don't require reading other books to know what's happening, you should check out the All-Star Batman and Robin and All-Star Superman books. Out-of-current-continuity stories and they're just getting started. Seems like a perfect fit.

[lonesomefool]

Dont forget Legends of the Dark Knight either, not a regular creative team, but I actually think the current Snow arc two issues in is ten times better than the first issue of Miller and Lee.

[Andy S.]

Dont forget Legends of the Dark Knight either, not a regular creative team, but I actually think the current Snow arc two issues in is ten times better than the first issue of Miller and Lee.

I completely agree.

[Windbreaker]

As far as comics go, especially in big universes like DC and Marvel, focusing on a few titles and getting the bigger picture don't go hand-in-hand -- they're at odds with eachother. In order to get the "bigger picture" of what's going on in the universe you need to either read a lot of different titles or at the very least keep updated on what's happening in a lot of different titles.
Or just keep checking back on the CBR boards to read about other titles. That's what I do, since my pull list can only be so long.

[Phil Kollar]

Or just keep checking back on the CBR boards to read about other titles. That's what I do, since my pull list can only be so long.

Like I said: or at least keep updated. The CBR forums definitely act as a way to do that.