Batman and related titles

[Davmeister84]

Due to the buildup to Infinite Crisis and my own unholy desire for metric tons of comics, I've decided to branch out into the Batman books and his little gang.

It's weird that I don't have any already, outside of Birds of Prey and All-Star.

Has anyone here been reading them all consistantly? If so, which are worth adding and which are worth taking a pass.

Also, I'm asking mostly for the ongoing ones (Batman, Detective Comics, Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, and all the rest) as opposed to miniseries (such as Journey Into Knight).

Thanks.

[GeorgeG]

I like Judd Winick's Batman. His re-introduction of the Red Hood character intrigues me. There's a TPB (either out already or soon will be) of his first story arc, so that could be a good jumping point for you. There has been a few fill-in issues, I couldn't recommend them because I skipped over them.

Gotham Knights has centered itself around the Hush character for the most part. I like it, because I'm also interested in that character. Some of the issues have been hit or miss however.

Nightwing seems to have turned a corner. There's a better direction on the book now than there was during the buildup towards issue # 100.

Gotham Central is usually a satisfying read.

If I was trying to get into the books at this time, I'd probably wait until Crisis ends to see how everything shakes out.

[The Shadow]

Has anyone here been reading them all consistantly?
I have a 22 consecutive run on Batman and a 21 consecutive year run on Detective Comics... so I'm fairly up to date

My two favorites are Batgirl and Birds of Prey.

The plots and characterization of both books is spot on while the art (especially in Birds) is FANTASTIC and the stories are always fun!!! What more could you ask for??

Detective is alright but doesn't seem to have BATMAN in it... ever.

Gotham Knights is a waste of space... it could be good but the dragged out Hush from being a one trick pony (is it even Tommy anymore??? and more importantly... does anyone even care??)into some really long and lame story. The art is good though.

Nightwing has been enjoyable... if you enjoy long boring plots and horrible charachterization. Hester's art is solid enough though.

Batman... where to begin with this crap fest... I have said so much... yet it feels like so little.

He resurrects Jason Todd because he voted to save him in '88 and always felt his death was unjustified... his first arc was about a viscious Scarecrow monster (wow), he can't write Batman to save his life and I just hate the man's work. Pedro was great (if somewhat overrated) and I am just blown away at the fact the guy is on DC's biggest gun. The last issue was the type of filler issue I would expect between one creative team leaving and another coming onboard... not a filler issue by the current creative team. As I said, I've got a 22 year uninterupted run on Batman (and my earliest issue is #38!) and this is about as bad as its EVER been. Ever.

On the plus side Batman's sales have been dropping so maybe Winick will be gone soon... I can dream can't I???

All Star Batman is too new to have a complete picture on it... but so far I am lukewarmn about it. It seems more Punisher than Batman.

I don't read Legends, Catwoman or Robin.

[Sean Whitmore]

I'm enjoying Batman at the moment because Batman is interacting with the rest of the DCU quite a bit. And that looks to continue with the upcoming "Villains United" tie-in.

Detective Comics is winding down a huge 12-part story arc, so I wouldn't recommend diving into it right now.

Gotham Knights is doing absolutely nothing for me. It's spending much too long focusing on a villain I find completely uninteresting.

Nightwing and Robin are both in very weird places right now. Nightwing thinks he's a super villain and Robin is fighting evil magicians and teaming up with army men. If that's your cup of tea, there you are.

Batgirl is very good. Batgirl is trying to carve out a life for herself for the first time, and is going up against a lot of cool opponents lately (including Deathstroke and Shiva).

Legends of the Dark Knight is a completely mixed bag, as new creators come on with every story arc.


SEAN

[Guts/Batman]

Gotham Knights is doing absolutely nothing for me. It's spending much too long focusing on a villain I find completely uninteresting.


SEAN

Agreed. Hush is too uniteresting to me to have a book that is essentially Hush is the core character.

Agreed with Shadow's take on Detective.