The best Batman comics to introduce new readers?

[jaguarshark]

I'm posting a similar thread to this in the Superman forum, but as far as Batman goes, what do you think are the best issues and stories to show someone who doesn't read comics? The ones that will get them hooked, or at least show them the great things about comics, and specifically Batman comics?
I ask because my girlfriend had never read comics before, but was interested in seeing some examples of this stuff that I'm so into, and I was keen to show her. My favourite characters are the classics, Superman and Batman, so I just grabbed the nearest Superman and Batman trades I could find and picked a story for her to read from each. The Batman story I chose was "There Is No Hope In Crime Alley", the classic Denny O'Neil tale. She seemed to like it, so I took it as a positive result.
So, what are some other good ones to show her? Have people got stories about introducing friends and loved ones to comics, or not being able to do so?

[DOVETAILS]

it's hard to find an episode of the animated series that isn't good.

Also find out what villians she likes the most? Sometimes they damn well make the tale.
Year one and killing joke are the cliche answers. But honestly.. Two of my faves.

[jaguarshark]

Great suggestions. I know someone's getting me the first season of the animated series for Christmas, so that's a great idea.
As far as villains go, I know she likes the Joker the most out of the movie villains, but she really doesn't know the characters well enough to have "favourite villains" at this point. Criminally, I don't have "The Killing Joke" in my collection (a problem that must be corrected) since I lost my old copy of it a few years ago. I've got the Chip Kidd-designed Year One TPB though, so that's a good idea too.
My best friend has also been getting into comics since I showed him "All-Star Superman" #1; he wasn't as grabbed by "All-Star Batman" funnily enough. So "Year One" might be a better place to start him off, or even "DKR".
Anyway, thanks! Keep the suggestions coming!

[Panman]

The Knightfall books were what I read first and what got me into Batman. I highly recommend them. The Long Halloween is my second favourite and would also make a great introduction to Batman and a lot of his villians.

[jaguarshark]

Yeah, I remember loving "Knightfall" when I was a kid. But it's so damn huge, and you need to read "Knightsquest" and "KnightsEnd" for the full story, so I don't know if I'll show her that stuff just yet. "Long Halloween" is a great choice, thanks!

[Young Avenger]

"The Man Who Laughs" is a good read. Retells Batman's first run-in with the Joker.

[Panman]

Yeah, I remember loving "Knightfall" when I was a kid. But it's so damn huge, and you need to read "Knightsquest" and "KnightsEnd" for the full story, so I don't know if I'll show her that stuff just yet. "Long Halloween" is a great choice, thanks!
Probably need to read Sword of Azrael and Vengence of Bane as well to understand those characters. So Long Halloween would definitly be the better option.

[megladon8]

The TPB titled "Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told" is a fantastic little trade that has, literally, some of the greatest Batman stories ever.

It contains the very first stories about Batman, and spans his entire 60+ run right up into the 2000s.

[Young Avenger]

IGN did a 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels list back in June. Maybe theres something on that list for your girlfriend to read

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

[Guts/Batman]

Hush #10?!?

*Long whistleeeeeeeeee*

[jaguarshark]

megladon8, it's funny you suggested "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told", because that's the trade I got "There Is No Hope In Crime Alley" from when I showed it to her. My copy of that trade is outdated now, I got mine in the mid-90's, but you're referring to the newer version, I assume, if your copy has stories from the 2000's. Still, my older version should have a few things to interest her. The reason I haven't shown her a lot of stuff from that one yet is that much of it is interesting from an archival point of view, for Batman fans like us, but I don't know how well it'd all play with someone who isn't that into the character. I'm sure lots of it would go over well, though.

[jaguarshark]

Young Avenger, that's an awesome list! Thanks!

[Young Avenger]

Hush #10?!?

*Long whistleeeeeeeeee*

You think that's bad? IGN named House of M #8 as the best comic of the month of November. No joke.

[Guts/Batman]

You think that's bad? IGN named House of M #8 as the best comic of the month of November. No joke.

Holy crap.

IGN has lost nearly all credibility to me.

[jaguarshark]

Sure, Hush at #10 is a little... odd, but it got a lot else right. And it made me really psyched to read the ones I hadn't read yet, particuarly the Elseworlds stuff!

[DOVETAILS]

The no man's land story certainly needs to be in the top 12 somewhere though..

[Young Avenger]

The no man's land story certainly needs to be in the top 12 somewhere though..

It's in the "honorable mention" part of the list.

[Nighthawk]

Batman:year one
Batman:The Dark Knight Returns
Batman:The Long Halloween
Batman: Dark Victory(Long Halloween's direct sequel)
The Killing Joke (Joker Rules!)

[jwd]

Batman: Year One
Batman: Prey
Batman: Venom - prequel to Knightfall series of sorts
Batman: Death in the Family
Batman: Year Three (not sure if its collected - Dick Grayson/Robin's origin included 1st appearance of Tim Drake (3rd Robin) as a kid.

Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying (introduces 3rd Robin) - Kind of a followup to Year Three.

Knightfall story arc
Batman: Sword of Azrael
Batman: Vengenance of Bane
Batman: Knightfall Vol 1 and 2
Batman: Knightquest - Not collected in tpb - Story of Jean Paul as Azbats
Batman: Knightsend

Batman: Prodigal - Dick Grayson in the batsuit. (rumor floating around he might be wearing it OYL )

Batman: The Man Who Laughs - Latest telling of the first Joker meeting.

Superman: Speeding Bullets - An Elseworlds tell - What if Superman's rocket ship crashed near Gotham and he was raised by the "Waynes" Not sure if this is more Superman or more Batman comic.

Those are some I've liked over the years.