Best of 2012 in Batman Comics

[InformationGeek]

And so with the end of the year approaching us rapidly and the last of the Bat-books have now been released, let’s all take a moment to remember the fun, memorable, and or painful times we had reading them all. This is where we look back on them and decide which were the best and what were worst things about these comics. This is: Best and Worst Batman Comics 2012!

Categories For Best in Main Batman Book: This is for the books that Batman is the lead in, which includes: Batman, Detective Comics, Batman & Robin, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Batman Inc.

Best Arc:

The Court of Owls (Batman #1-7)

Most Memorable Moment:

Batman Stabbed(Batman #5)

Best Fight:

Batman Vs. Talon Round 2 (Batman #6)

Best Villain:

Scarecrow (Batman: The Dark Knight)

Best Portrayal of Batman:

John Layman’s Detective Comics

Best Cover:

Batman #11

Best Issue:

Batman #5

Best Artist:

Greg Capullo

Best Writer:

Scott Snyder

Best Comic:

Batman

Categories for Best in the Bat-Family Books: This is for every other title in the Batman line that doesn’t feature Batman as the lead. So this includes: Nightwing, Batwing, Catwoman, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batwoman, Batgirl, Talon, and Birds of Prey.

Best Arc:

To Drown the World (Batwoman #6-11)

Most Memorable Moment:

The encounter with Nyx (Batwoman #13)

Best Fight:

Nightwing Vs. Talon (Nightwing #9)

Best Villain:

Maro (Batwoman)

Best Hero (Not in Batman Category since he technically wins by default):

Batwoman

Best Cover:

Batwoman #5

Best Issue:

Batwoman #13

Best Artist:

J.H. Williams III

Best Writer:

Judd Winick (Batwing & Catwoman)

Best Comic:

Batwoman


Now those were all of my opinions and what I thought were the best, but what about you guys? Do you agree, do you have something that would fit a category better, etc.?

[batGRRRl4ever]

So you're only using Bruce Wayne versions of Batman? I notice you excluded Batman Beyond Unlimited from your discussion.

[InformationGeek]

So you're only using Bruce Wayne versions of Batman? I notice you excluded Batman Beyond Unlimited from your discussion.

Sorry, I wanted to keep this stricky to the main universe titles.

[batGRRRl4ever]

Outside of Batman I have to pick Batgirl as the best title of 2012. While the art was admittedly fair to middling most of 2012, Gail Simone's writing was incredibly smart, nuanced, and intelligent.

[Aquacatlungfish]

Uh the choice between Inc and Batman is so tough. But the zero of Inc sucked, so got to with Batman.
Best Arc:

The Court of Owls (Batman #1-11) (Inc and DotF haven't finished yet) Hounourable mention: Born to Kill

Most Memorable Moment:

The whole of Batman #5. Plus the fantastic unintentional "Bloodbath" and "One-Face".

Best Fight:

Batman Vs. Talon Round 2 (Batman #6)

Best Old Villain:

The Joker (I'll get trolled for this big time)
Honourable mentions: Scarecrow in Hurwitz's stuff (the rest of the book is mediocre but he's pretty good) and Talia

Best New Villain:

Nobody

Best Portrayal of Batman:

John Layman’s Detective Comics/ Batman Inc

Best Cover:

Batman #13 die cut

Best Issue:

Batman #5, Batman 13 and Batman Inc 5

Best Artist:

Can I call a tie between Greg Capullo and Chris Burnham?

Best Writer:

Grant Morrison

Best Comic:

Batman

[maxpower00044]

Batman by a county mile.

[DragonPiece]

Batman....though Batman Incorporated is still FANTASTIC. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I'd choose Inc...but the main Batman title just brings the character back to his core so very well...

[JasonTodd428]

Categories For Best in Main Batman Book: This is for the books that Batman is the lead in, which includes: Batman, Detective Comics, Batman & Robin, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Batman Inc.

Best Arc:

The Court of Owls (Batman #1-7)

Most Memorable Moment:

Batman Stabbed (Batman #5)

Best Fight:

Batman Vs. Talon Round 2 (Batman #6)

Best Villain:

Scarecrow (Batman: The Dark Knight)

Best Portrayal of Batman:

John Layman’s Detective Comics

Best Cover:

Batman #11

Best Issue:

Batman #5

Best Artist:

Greg Capullo

Best Writer:

Scott Snyder

Best Comic:

Batman

Categories for Best in the Bat-Family Books: This is for every other title in the Batman line that doesn’t feature Batman as the lead. So this includes: Nightwing, Batwing, Catwoman, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batwoman, Batgirl, Talon, and Birds of Prey.

Best Arc:

The Lost Kingdom (Batwing 1-7)

Most Memorable Moment:

Jason revealing his past to Kori (Red Hood and the Outlaws #6)

Best Fight:

Nightwing Vs. Talon (Nightwing #9)

Best Villain:

Massacre (Batwing)

Best Hero (Not in Batman Category since he technically wins by default):

Batwing

Best Cover:

Red Hood and the Outlaws #9

Best Issue:

Red Hood and the Outlaws #6

Best Artist:

Kenneth Rocafort (Red Hood and the Oulaws)

Best Writer:

Judd Winick (Batwing & Catwoman)

Best Comic:

Toss up between Batwing and Red Hood and the Outlaws

[zur en arrh]

I don't feel like doing categories but I voted Inc. for best.

[cactusmaac]

I would probably have voted for Inc if we'd had more issues in the year. Not easy to decide between Williams III, Capullo and Burnham for best artist.

[Raptor13]

Categories For Best in Main Batman Book: This is for the books that Batman is the lead in, which includes: Batman, Detective Comics, Batman & Robin, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Batman Inc.

Best Arc:

The Court of Owls (Batman #1-7)

Most Memorable Moment:

Talon reawakens in ambulance on the way to morgue (Batman 3 or 4 i believe)

Best Fight:

Batman in powersuit vs. several talons in the batcave (Batman 9)

Best Villain:

Scarecrow (Batman: The Dark Knight)

Best Portrayal of Batman:

Scott Snyders Batman

Best Cover:

Batman 15 variant cover

Best Issue:

Batman #5

Best Artist:

Greg Capullo

Best Writer:

Scott Snyder

Best Comic:

Batman

Categories for Best in the Bat-Family Books: This is for every other title in the Batman line that doesn’t feature Batman as the lead. So this includes: Nightwing, Batwing, Catwoman, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batwoman, Batgirl, Talon, and Birds of Prey.

Best Arc:

Knightfall (Batgirl)

Most Memorable Moment:

Damian giving the pearl (Batman and Robin)

Best Fight:

Nightwing Vs. Talon (Nightwing #9)

Best Villain:

Nobody (Batman and Robin)

Best Hero (Not in Batman Category since he technically wins by default):

Nightwing

Best Cover:

Red Hood and the Outlaws #9

Best Issue:

Nightwing 9

Best Artist:

Ed Benes (Batgirl)

Best Writer:

Gail Simone (Batgirl)

Best Comic:

Batgirl

[batman23]

Batman Incorporated.

[Vil_Dee]

Best Arc:

The only arc I've liked is Dotf, but it's not finished soooo. . .*shrugs shoulders*


Most Memorable Moment:

Bat slapping Dicky's tooth out.
Joker having his face cut off
Joker having his cut off face upside down on his face.
Joker's creepy eyes and the lurve that Batman sees in them.

Best Fight:

*shrugs shoulders*

Best Villain:

Joker, duh.


Best Portrayal of Batman:

All of them are fine except B&R and Batman Inc(the real Batman doesn't hang out with lesser loser Batmen, and would have sent that brat son of his off to one of his sensei buddy's monasteries in the Himalayas after issue#1)

Best Cover:

Batman #13

Best Issue:

Batman #15

Best Artist:

tie between Cupullo's creepy Joker eyes in Batman#15 and Gleason's nightmarish Joker in B&R#15

Best Writer:

Scott Snyder

Best Comic:

Batman

(Actually I've liked everything Snyder has written after the Court of Owls ended. The 0 issue, the harper row issue, and Doft. Meanwhile I think the other titles have either gotten worse or stayed just as meh. Batman Inc is a different subject, it's written well, I just don't like the concept).


As far as the Batfamily, I'll just pick Batwoman for everything because at its worst it's just average. The other batfamily titles are unreadable to me.

[Quinnhop]

#1: Batman Inc.
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#2: Batman
#3: Batwoman

[T Hedge Coke]

Odyssey was still going half into 2012, right? Odyssey wins, hands down, for me as best Bat-title of the year, then.