Best Batman Comics for New Readers, Current Titles, Top Trades and Recent Events

[Punkrat13]

as a newbie to the series after reading year 1 should i then read year 2 & 3. Im confused

[MartinNL]

as a newbie to the series after reading year 1 should i then read year 2 & 3. Im confused

It's all in the first post of this thread. After Year One just pick up The Long Halloween (the story is continued in Dark Victory), The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight Returns, Hush, Batman & Son and continue on Morrison's run. After that take a look at the top 50 favorite stories as voted by the members of the Batman forum for more suggestions.

[nepenthes]

Thanks for comments everyone, glad we can help (by we I mean the board since I rely on general opinions and gathered info to put this together)

as a newbie to the series after reading year 1 should i then read year 2 & 3. Im confused

If you check out the reading order links you'll see that the sheer volume of Batman stories published over the years makes "reading in order" a non issue. It's usually a pointless excercise. Year Two for example is no longer "canon", Year Threee is un-collected.


Many people after reading Year One want to continue with other "early years" type stories, similair in setting and style - The Long Halloween follows on from Year One quite well, from there I'd look at Batman & the Monster Men and The Man Who Laughs as other stories from around this era.

Which of Morrison's storylines are the best?

The whole run is a collection of small story arcs that form a giant saga all together. If you don't want to start at the very beginning then try Batman Reborn, this is the beginning of the Dick & Damian era and is a great midway jump on point. The run became wildly popular when it entered this phase

Best chapter of the run in general? You'll get a dozen different answers to this. I don't think I could even pick one....

I've been following a pretty extensive list that I happened across on the web of the Batman reading order:

http://thebatsquad.conforums3.com/in...num=1173148575

wow, thanks for posting this. I think I'll add it to the front page,.

[mplscyclone]

Thanks to the OP and others for all their help. I really like Batman and have been overwhelmed by all of the options. I get what people are saying about lack of reading order.... I just want to be sure that I don't pick up something without having enough background knowledge to understand what's going on, and I think that's why so many of those types of questions/concerns come up. It isn't fun to read something and not know what the heck is going on, and I have definitely had that with some comics...

I have read Year One, Dark Knight Returns (a few years ago), and Long Halloween. I am thinking about picking up Dark Victory because I liked Long Halloween so much. I am assuming that after I read that, The Killing Joke, and Hush, that I could jump into Grant Morrison's run without being lost?

[nepenthes]

Thanks to the OP and others for all their help. I really like Batman and have been overwhelmed by all of the options. I get what people are saying about lack of reading order.... I just want to be sure that I don't pick up something without having enough background knowledge to understand what's going on, and I think that's why so many of those types of questions/concerns come up. It isn't fun to read something and not know what the heck is going on, and I have definitely had that with some comics...

I have read Year One, Dark Knight Returns (a few years ago), and Long Halloween. I am thinking about picking up Dark Victory because I liked Long Halloween so much. I am assuming that after I read that, The Killing Joke, and Hush, that I could jump into Grant Morrison's run without being lost?

It's not so much that you need to read earlier stuff to keep from being lost, but more that the Morrison run draws on so much of Batmans diverse stylistic history that it will just give you a deeper contextual appreciation of what he's doing. But to understand the bare minimum of the run, no you don't actually need to read anything else.

That said Killing Joke is easily the most important of the two you've mentioned. Hush is a good idea if you're already interested in the basic premise (the larger Batman universe, a big and somewhat silly popcorn action movie, same writer as Long Halloween)

Also keep in mind the Morrison run was never supposed to be an easy read, it's designed for multiple readings and interpretations, it skips around, it doesn't spell everything out for you and when it's disorienting it's actually quite deliberate. Have fun!

[mplscyclone]

It's not so much that you need to read earlier stuff to keep from being lost, but more that the Morrison run draws on so much of Batmans diverse stylistic history that it will just give you a deeper contextual appreciation of what he's doing. But to understand the bare minimum of the run, no you don't actually need to read anything else.

That said Killing Joke is easily the most important of the two you've mentioned. Hush is a good idea if you're already interested in the basic premise (the larger Batman universe, a big and somewhat silly popcorn action movie, same writer as Long Halloween)

Also keep in mind the Morrison run was never supposed to be an easy read, it's designed for multiple readings and interpretations, it skips around, it doesn't spell everything out for you and when it's disorienting it's actually quite deliberate. Have fun!

Maybe you can PM me, but what do you think I should read before jumping into the Grant Morrison run? I get the whole jumping around and reading what's interesting, but I would like to have an appreciation for what Morrison did as well.

[Castel]

Awesome thread. I was looking for some Bat-goodness to read and there sure is some good reading ideas here.

[AaronStC]

I have the 2 new editions of Knightfall on preorder. Should I also get Batman vs Bane and Venom?

[mplscyclone]

I have the 2 new editions of Knightfall on preorder. Should I also get Batman vs Bane and Venom?

I am interested in seeing the responses. It seems to me like Knightfall is kind of a polarizing run. That said, I would guess from what I read that Batman vs Bane is probably an influence on The Dark Knight Rises, but not entirely sure.

[nepenthes]

I have the 2 new editions of Knightfall on preorder. Should I also get Batman vs Bane and Venom?

Batman VS Bane is the most relevant to Bane's story and the overall better book I think. Venom doesn't feature Bane at all.

Maybe you can PM me, but what do you think I should read before jumping into the Grant Morrison run? I get the whole jumping around and reading what's interesting, but I would like to have an appreciation for what Morrison did as well.

If you've read a handful of the classics (Year One DKR Killing Joke Hush etc) that's enough to go in with. Being familiar with the various eras adds appreciation but I wouldnt suggest you go out and amass a whole Batman libabry just to get into the run. If anything I'd simply urge you to get Dark Knight Returns, and re-read it often.

That said, since you asked, there are a few books that will really help complement the Morrison run. Most of these you could just read afterwards, if you're still interested



Birth of the Demon collects the Demon Trilogy including the the brief romance between Talia and Bruce and conception of Damian Wayne. An overall excellent Al Ghul trade, captures the globe trotting, 007-inspired "hairy chested love god" style of Batman comics that Morrison has mentioned as major influence.

Dark Knight, Dark City classic Riddler story by Peter Milligan featuring occult and horror themes, this is referenced as the origin of key villain Dr Hurt and becomes particularly relevant around the Return of Bruce Wayne / Batman Must Die climax. An excellent story in itself, reprinted last year in a one-off DC Presents collection - you'll probably need to look on Ebay or Amazon but shouldn't be too hard to find and definitely worth the effort.

Batwoman: Elegy introduction and origin of Kate Kane, whose war with the cult Crime Bible continues in the Batman & Robin arc Blackest Knight (collected in Batman VS Robin)

Battle for the Cowl portrays the fallout of Batman's dissapearance and Dick Graysons gradual acceptance of the role. Set between the events of RIP and Batman Reborn yet can easily be skipped on a first reading of the Morrison run. Silly, cheesy, Bat Family fun.





Gothic one of Grant Morrison's earliest Batman works shares several themes with his later epic, in particular the character of Doctor Hurt and the events of R.I.P and Batman Must Die. A prologue of sorts. Eerie, unusual and densely interwoven, highly recommended.

Legends of the Dark Knight: Alan Davis reprints a classic arc first published in the late 80's and cited as by Morrison as a "brilliant" influence to his run, particularly in Batman & Robin, for returning to Batman a sense of fun and humor in a modern Silver Age vibe. AVAILABLE FEBRUARY

Under the Red Hood the original return of Jason Todd, from which themes and events are picked up again in the Batman & Robin arc Revenge of the Red Hood (collected in Batman Reborn)

The Black Casebook reprints issues from the 50's and 60's that helped influence the Morrison run, including stories featuring the Batmen-of-Many-Nations, Batman of Zur En Arrh, space medicine experiments, Batmite. Keep in mind these are literally reprints of goofy old comics from a simpler era. They're fun as novelty but personally I can't read them for more than 10 minutes.

Final Crisis Grant Morrisons mind bending DCU cosmic opera. Often mentioned in regards to Batman because it contains the first portrayal of Bruce Wayne's death, in a very brief half dozen pages - however these scenes are actually retold to much better effect in the Morrison trade Time and the Batman. Best attempted by the converted Morrison junkie or hardcore DCU fan.

[mitchie1980]

I have only been collecting batman comics since the lauch of the new 52, so please forgive my ignorance.

But what TPB/Graphic novel/comic run should I read to see the transformation of Dick Grayson from Robin
to nightwing. And furthermore how long did it take for a new robin to enter batmans life? And finally what
TPB/Graphic novel/comic run should I read for that.

Any answers are appreciated!

mitchie

[Godlike13]

Nightwing Year One has all the answers u seek. Also New Teen Titans: Judas Contract (except for the new Robin part), but i don't think NTT is even cannon anymore.

[mitchie1980]

Thanks for the reply, I shall order this book and if I have any unresolved questions I will post them

[mitchie1980]

Many people after reading Year One want to continue with other "early years" type stories, similair in setting and style - The Long Halloween follows on from Year One quite well, from there I'd look at Batman & the Monster Men and The Man Who Laughs as other stories from around this era.

I can highly recommend picking up the "Legends of the Dark knight" comic series (most of which have been collected in various TPBs) if you are interested in the early years.
I have just started on a reading list and I really enjoy the early years (after year one). Currently I am skipping most TPBs on the list and just reading this series.
I picked up a bunch of Legends of the Dark knight comics

[OldschoolAL]

Hey, where would Long Shadows Go on your List?