This is what I like - so what Batman books and trades do I read?

[NoChildren]

Hi, everyone! I'm a longtime Marvel reader, but I've always loved the idea of Batman - I loved the first two movies, and have picked up a few issues and trades over the years ("Knightfall", "The Dark Knight Returns," and "Venom" in particular).

Lately, I find myself wanting to "get into" Batman - to grab a few crucial trades from the past and start picking up one or two of the regular series.

Here's what I like out of Batman - I like "Batman as Detective." Dark crime stories, that noir vibe, Gotham at its most Gothic and imposing and beautiful, Arkham Asylum. I also like "traditional" Batman - Wayne Manor, Commissioner Gordan, Alfred, the Batmobile.

Turn Offs include: most of the Batman villains, especially the more cartoony ones (like the idea of "OMG, Batman fights every Bat-villain ever!" as seen in "Hush"), stretching the concept or setting (aka "Batman fighting sharks in aruba wearing only the mask" as seen in "Venom"), Batman interacting with extraneous DC characters that aren't part of the Batman Mythos, Batman as part of a team.

Basically, I'm looking for the type of Batman stuff that the Tim Burton Batman movie was derived from, both thematically and stylistically.

I recently picked up JLA: Classified (the one that starts the new Batman story) and "Planetary and Batman: Night on Earth." Both are perfect.

So, what trades do I pick up? What regular series should I start reading?

[Adem]

Theres a sticky at the top of the forum that lists the best trades and describes them better than I ever could you should go check that out.

[NoChildren]

Theres a sticky at the top of the forum that lists the best trades and describes them better than I ever could you should go check that out.

Of course I read that first. It's handy for one-sentence summaries of Bat-TPB's (which anyone could easily find on Amazon.com). Re-read the post - I'm asking for specific rec's based on specific criteria, not just "what are some good Batman trades, LOLZ?!"

Thanks!

[Adem]

Well I just assumed you could pick from that by the descriptions. Anyways Broken City, The Long Halloween, Batman:Year One, Gotham By Gaslight, Arkham Asylum, and The Killing Joke those are some good ones.

[NoChildren]

Well I just assumed you could pick from that by the descriptions. Anyways Broken City, The Long Halloween, Batman:Year One, Gotham By Gaslight, Arkham Asylum, and The Killing Joke those are some good ones.

Thanks, man!

[Headhunter]

Hush Parts 1 + 2/Broken City are trades you should pick up.

[dancj]

I'd have a look at the Gotham Central books too. Not much Batman, but they're good for the dark noir-y crime stories

[Huh?]

I'd have a look at the Gotham Central books too. Not much Batman, but they're good for the dark noir-y crime storiesI was going to suggest those also. They are good noir detective stories set in Gotham.

[JohnZ]

The Long Halloween and Dark Victory are pretty good and fit your criteria.

[ExoKnight]

Long Halloween and Dark Victory: Both Detective story, but they also have alot of appearances of Batman's rogue gallery, but done in a great way. Also Calender Man is done perfectly(as a hannibal lector type character). Must reads.

Hush: Mystery story, but not as good as the previous two. Nice twist and turns, introduces Hush. Well-written and excellent art.

The Legend of the Dark Knight: Most of the early issues below 100 are great early detective stories and more focusing on single villians or story over five issues. A few of them are in tpb form like Venom, Shaman, etc. Worth it.

[NoChildren]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was under the impression that the whole point of Hush was "OMG, Batman totally fights every batvillain EVAR!", which seems kind of lame. Is that a fair impression?

[Adem]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was under the impression that the whole point of Hush was "OMG, Batman totally fights every batvillain EVAR!", which seems kind of lame. Is that a fair impression?

Yes it is and sadly I wasted my money on it.

[Charagon]

Don't listen to that. Hush was great. It wasn't "Batman fights all his villians" any more than The Long Halloween was.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

Did you just say you didn't like most of Batman's villains?

Like, the villains that make up the greatest rogues gallery in comics history?

*head explodes*



P.S. - Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and Hush all rock. As for the monthly books, the one that seems to fit your criteria the most would be Detective Comics. It's pretty far into a twelve-part story right now, so it might be hard to catch up, depends on your comic store.

[pesmerga316]

I've been thinking of getting more into it as well, heck I personally know the current inker lol and Batman Begins was one of my fav movies well EVER

as far as the Rogues Gallery though, I still don't, nor ever will, think it comes close to SPider Mans

Joker is cool, Cat Woman is cool (but I think of her more as nutral) HATE HATE HATEEEE the Penguin I think he's retarded both in design and concept, hate The Riddler, I dunno I guess Im more into super powered baddy's as opposed to plain lunatics with a plot device

[ouiyahtsiouiyah]

All these stories don't have traditianal Batman villians.

a really good run is the Rucka detective story in TPB form Evolution.

a really really good run is the Brubaker Batman run first from 580-582 then like 590-596ish (if anybody can confirm these issue #'s I would be greatful)

after that it gets into Bruce Wayne Murderer and Bruce Wayne fugitive TPB series.

really cool Noirish story is the 2 part Batman/Grendel crossover by Matt Wagner the Batman Grendel 2 is good as well, that and Trinity TBP

of course Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year one.

Batman does some cool stuff in Kingdom Come which is arguably the greatest comic story ever.

I also recommend getting all the JLA trades by Grant Morrison and Tower of Babel is pretty good too, that followed by JLA Terror Incognita.

If you can find it get the 48 page one shot JLA: A Day in the life of the JLA or something like that. It has this kid reporter that hides in the JLA watchtower for a week and he see's some cool stuff.

[jboncha]

Since you say you like Tim Burton's Batman I'd have to suggest you check out Child of Dreams by Kia Asamiya.

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/news/images/0406/dc/bmcdfrontsm.jpg

Its drawn and written by a big name manga artist and from what is said in the afterword most Japanese pwoplw only now of Batman from the movies so thats mostly what his version of Batman is based on.

Another book that I really like is the first Batman/Predator crossover.

http://www.superherostuff.com/OtherItems/comics/images/batman_Predator_collected2.jpg

Its one of my Top Ten books of all time.
It really shows Batman doing sum great detective work and also near death as well.





J B