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

**XBWillem** · 08-01-2012, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by El Sombrero

For the most part in between Final Crisis and Flashpoint, Bruce Wayne is missing and Dick Grayson (the original Robin) takes up the mantle as Batman. The best stories are collected in Grant Morrison's "Batman and Robin" trades, there are three volumes. That then leads into Morrison's "Batman Inc," which is still continuing after Flashpoint, more or less the same. If you really like RIP and Final Crisis then you absolutely have to get B&R and Inc, they're by the same writer and I think most people would consider B&R and Inc to be a lot better than RIP. "The Return of Bruce Wayne" is also a story in there that is kind of self-explanatory in what it sets out to do; I thought it was a mess and really disappointing, but if you are a completist then you should get that too.

Let me know if the above was confusing and I can rephrase it or break it down more clearly.

You're clear enough. Thanks for the help. I'm definetly looking into the Morrison Batman & Robin then.

Originally Posted by vampiric_cannibal

Hope you read Batman and Son and Black Glove first. And, as stated above, B&R and INC afterwards. Which are both better than RIP, particularly in art. You might want some other DickBats stuff, if so, get maybe Streets of Gotham or Black Mirror or Gates of Gotham or all of them.

Of all the titles you mention I've only read The Black Mirror, which I think is insanely awesome.

I'm not neccesarily interested in all stories, I just want to bridge the stuff between RIP, Final Crisis and Flashpoint.

**batmanfan80** · 08-01-2012, 05:57 AM

I love to get involve in this forum and thanks for all information about batman comics

**Concept Coop** · 08-01-2012, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by XBWillem

You're clear enough. Thanks for the help. I'm definetly looking into the Morrison Batman & Robin then.

Of all the titles you mention I've only read The Black Mirror, which I think is insanely awesome.

I'm not neccesarily interested in all stories, I just want to bridge the stuff between RIP, Final Crisis and Flashpoint.

You're REALLY going to want to read Batman and Son and The Black Glove BEFORE RIP. Good news: They are collected in one title (Black Glove Deluxe HC) for under $20 on Amazon. Morrison's run should be read form the begining - both for understanding and enjoyment.

**XBWillem** · 08-01-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Concept Coop

You're REALLY going to want to read Batman and Son and The Black Glove BEFORE RIP. Good news: They are collected in one title (Black Glove Deluxe HC) for under $20 on Amazon. Morrison's run should be read form the begining - both for understanding and enjoyment.

Okay, thanks for the tip. I'll just put RIP on the shelve then, until I've found/read Batman and Son and The Black Glove.

**coveredinbees** · 08-03-2012, 05:31 PM

When did Dr. Strange last run a production like this?

This is from that time Roulette sent Phosphorous, Roxy Rocket, and Riot after Batman for nefarious gambling.

**Rake** · 08-04-2012, 06:30 AM

Hi All,

First post so please be gentle lol,

Im 28 and married kids etc living in the UK, never bought a comic book in my life or had any interest if I am honest but after watching the conclusion of the Nolan Batman saga a couple of times now I have a thirst for some more Batman/Gotham related lore but have absolutley no idea where to start

I am just looking for any pointers towards any series worth starting or picking up im more interested in the more darker and gritty works (a'la watchmen) done a few google search but im left even more confused and baffled there is so much content out there.

Thanks in advance for any help offered looking forward to browsing and hopefully contributing to these boards

//Rake

**Filip** · 08-04-2012, 06:36 AM

I would recommend (since you're coming fresh from the Nolan trip)

Batman: Year One
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: Death and the Maidens
Batman: The Long Halloween
Joker by Brian Azzarello

And welcome aboard.

**DebkoX** · 08-04-2012, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Rake

Hi All,

First post so please be gentle lol,

Im 28 and married kids etc living in the UK, never bought a comic book in my life or had any interest if I am honest but after watching the conclusion of the Nolan Batman saga a couple of times now I have a thirst for some more Batman/Gotham related lore but have absolutley no idea where to start

I am just looking for any pointers towards any series worth starting or picking up im more interested in the more darker and gritty works (a'la watchmen) done a few google search but im left even more confused and baffled there is so much content out there.

Thanks in advance for any help offered looking forward to browsing and hopefully contributing to these boards

//Rake

You live in the uK like me so the first thing to do is get down Whsmith and buy a comic, simple, the best one is 'Batman legends' with 3 different stories. Then go onto 'Trades' which are a whole run of comics into a paperback/Hardcover book

**The Man From Room X** · 08-04-2012, 06:49 AM

**manduck37** · 08-04-2012, 06:55 AM

Welcome! Always glad to have a new reader to jump into Batman comics. If you like Nolan's Batman saga, I'd recommend reading what inspired his movies. So here's a list of some trades you can pick up.

Batman: Year One by Miller
Batman: The Long Halloween by Loeb
Batman: Dark Victory by Loeb
The Man Who Laughs by Brubaker
Batman: The Killing Joke by Moore

They all have that gritty and dark tone to them. If you want to start reading the regular titles, they're just releasing trades of the first story arc for each title Under DC's Nu52. Last September DC set all their titles back to #1 so new readers could jump on, no prior knowledge required. So check out Batman: The Court of Owls by Snyder, as well as the trades for Batman and Robin and Detective. Then you can go single issues if you like, once you have a feel for the books. I'd also recommend the series, The Dark Knight, starting at issue 10. That series started off pretty weak but got a new writer on issue 10 named Hurwitz. His writing style is more like what you're after. It's not necessary to read the series up to that point to pick up Hurwitz's story.

So I hope that helps.

**net06** · 08-04-2012, 06:56 AM

I'm in the same boat as you man. I'm 31 and have never been a comic book reader, aside from the occasional non super hero graphic novel. I just got on board because of this recent reboot allowed me to get in with out feeling like I'm walking into the middle of a story, but the thing is they didn't entirely reboot Batman. If you are going to start buying the monthly books I would recommend Detective Comics, it stays away from the complicated continuity that some of the other Batman comics delve into. I would also recommend you pick up the new Batgirl collection that just came out. this comic gets allot of criticism from the comic book community, but it's the title that is the most like the Nolan movies in how down to earth and grounded it is, and I just love it http://www.amazon.co.uk/Batgirl-Dark...4089665&sr=8-1 Detective comics also has a new collection of it's first story ark that's just come out, and it's pretty popular http://www.amazon.co.uk/Batman-Detec...4120138&sr=1-1

Now as far as batman history goes these are the books that inspired the Nolan Movies, (more or less) and this is the order.
Year one
The Man Who Laughs
The Long Halloween
Son of the Demon
The killing Joke
Knightfall volume 1-3

These 3 are just essential, grown up batman stories of genuine literary merit.
Arkham: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Redemption
War on Crime

This one is just a really good read. Not as deep as the other on the lilst, but it's a great book for a newer batman fan and it focuses on the relationship between Batman and Catwoman.
Hush

**Rake** · 08-04-2012, 07:10 AM

Wow thanks for the replies definatley give me a good place to start.

I think I was a little apprehensive as I assumed (like a total newbie) that it was a case of buying a comic either online or in a store and starting like mid way through a story arc, but knowing there are the whole novels out there is pretty cool, Another silly question a few of you guys mention "trades" what do you mean by that?

**OptimaX** · 08-04-2012, 07:24 AM

Hi Rake! Welcome to Gotham!

If you want to get into comics after seeing the Batman Films then you should realise a few things. In the comics there are a few things different. One of them is that the story arcs are less set in time and successive as you're used to in films. Don't let the numbers on the comics misguide you, they just represent the order of release. Sometimes story arcs start in the middle of a 'volume' and last for a few issues. getting issue #1-999 doesn't mean you have one story collected, neither does it mean you have a set of 999 'one shots'.

Stories are written and drawn by different artist and they change quite a bit.

What you also should know is that sometimes story arcs overlap with those of a different series. For example, Batmans "Night Owl" story arc has references in the Batgirl and Catwoman series (aswell as some others). This does not mean that if you don't get those issues you will loose out of a complete story, they are just complementary to the original.

Often, after a few months or so, Story arcs are bundled into a Graphic Novel. Officially they are called Trades (or trade paperbacks). But in the shops they will all be 'graphic novels'.

Now... some people already have bombarded you with some suggestions on what to get, and what they suggest to you is story arcs that tell 'the origin' of batman according to the comics. This does not mean that these are the oldest stories out there, just the most favourable ones to start reading.

I'm pretty new to comics myself, but i've learned a lot via browsing the internet. Especially wiki's and such. I've not bought any of those suggested books, because I think I have a good idea on the origin of Batman already. I wanted to dive straight into the 'modern day' batman trades and comics.

Good news for you is that DC Comics have decided to reboot ALL their current comic series just about a year ago. Comics are released once a month so that means for each series you only have to go back #12 issues. This is still very doable, although it might be expensive for some series and especially if you want 'first prints' of the issues. Alternatively, DC comics is releasing Trades (Trade Paperback or TPB) of each of the series and covers about 6-7 issues. The first ones of the major series are already out and are easily to obtain in the WH Smith or Waterstones Book stores. If you live nearby London I would recommend going to Forbidden Planet cause I was there yesterday and saw that many of them have discounts on the retail prices.

Also a good idea is to spend some time researching the characters. Do you like Batman? Or Batman & Robin? Catwoman? Mr Freeze? etc etc. This will help you decide what to go for.

Lastly I strongly recommend reading through THIS TOPIC. If you have a good understanding of all that is said there, you are basically ready to do whatever you want with your new addictive hobby!

Good luck!