Comic Books: I need some help

[Vault101]

so it turns out theres a couple of comic book stores in my city (amazing I know) also one ehich happens to deal in figurines (I now have Thane from ME on my desk)

so I got the Killing joke, and yeah it was pretty good, I can see how influentual it is (though I did find it short...mabye thats just me, reading it too fast)Ill probably also eventulaly get V for Vendetta since I loved the movie (at the time)

so anyway essentially what Im asking is, mainly in regards to batman what other specific titles/stuff is there? or even other stuff that somone with my limited knowlege could get into?

 

[WolfThomas]

Spoiler: Same advice I always give when comics are brought up

Good advice is to find a writer you enjoy, their stuff is usually quite consistent across titles.

Some of my favourite writers are:

Warren Ellis (Next Wave: Agents of Hate, The Authority, Transmetropolitian)
Garth Ennis (Hellblazer, Punisher MAX, Preacher)
Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)
Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, Animal Man, The Invisibles)
Neil Gaimon (Sandman)
Brian Michael Bendis (Alias, Powers)
Mike Carey (Lucifer, The Unwritten)
Brian K. Vaughn (Y - The Last Man, Runaways, Pride of Baghdad, Ex Machina).

so anyway essentially what Im asking is, mainly in regards to batman what other specific titles/stuff is there? or even other stuff that somone with my limited knowlege could get into?

Year one and The Dark Knight Returns are considered two of the best batman stories written. The Long Halloween also, if you're interested more in the detective side of Batman.

Grant Morrison's current run on Batman is pretty divisive. Some people think it's the best stuff written, others than it's ruined forever. I'm one of the former. It's been collected I think into Batman and Son, The Three Ghosts of Batman, The Black Glove and Batman RIP. Along with Batman and Robin (with Dick as Batman) and Batman INC.

 

[Volkerfrau]

Well, there are obviously a stupidly large amount, concidering that Batman has been out and about since the late 30's. But I'm really big on Batman myself, and have read quite a lot, although I admittedly only picked up the hobby like a year ago (in a dedicated fashion, that is.)

The Killing Joke was a good place to start - I personally find it the best Batman book I've read, and there's a pretty general concensus it's at the very least in a top three of best Batman books. Other ones typically mentioned there are:

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller - I personally did not care much for the visual style of this one, but the story is without a doubt absolutely brilliant. It explains the origins of Batman (and is, at least along the big lines, considered canon)

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Back by Frank Miller - Both are also worth checking out. They tell the story of how Batman might be when he's old. Pretty fascinating, although again, I'm not a big fan of the drawings.

Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb - Introduced a new, major villain in the batverse. Loeb does some epic writing, and Lee is, in my personal opinion, the most bad-ass artist currently around. his visuals are absolutely stunning with fantastic attention to detail.

Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale - two books set in the early Bat-verse (Year Two). They have much of the same feel as Miller's stuff (and build directly on it). Real dark, murder mystery-like. Some of my absolute favorites, as well.

Batman: No Man's Land - After Gotham has been decimated by an Earthquake and practically been left to its own, Batman returns to the broken-down society that is his home to set it right. It's in like 5 books and crawling on 1000 pages total, but it's pretty epic.

Batman: The Man Who Laughs - Like The Killing Joke, deals with the early days of the Joker. Good read.

Batman: KnightFall Trilogy (Broken Bat,Who Rules The Night, and Knightsend)- Introduced the supervillain Bane to the Batverse, and deals with the very central question: What happens if Bruce Wayne can no longer be Batman?

All the stuff Grant Morrison has written the last few years, starting at Batman R.I.P., for example (there's also stuff before that (The Black Glove, and Batman and Son - but I've not read that yet, myself), and especially his run on Batman & Robin - I personally think Morrison is one of the best writers I've read. His plots are crazy tight, and he's an uncanny ability to tie up so many loose ends in the most epic moments and reveals. The books deal with Bruce Wayne's struggle against himself, and the passing-on of the Mantle of the Bat (BTW; you might also want to look at "Battle for the Cowl" by Tony S. Daniel if you look at the newer stuff).


Those are my recommendations. Last bit of advice: if (read: when!) you encounter some minor character/villain/hero you don't know who is, just google the person. You will probably need some help keeping track of everyone. It's not that easy.

And enjoy a lovely hobby!

 

[Vault101]

Well, there are obviously a stupidly large amount, concidering that Batman has been out and about since the late 30's. But I'm really big on Batman myself, and have read quite a lot, although I admittedly only picked up the hobby like a year ago (in a dedicated fashion, that is.)

!

thanks for the adive, very helpful

just a question,those books you mentioned, they are "more or less" self containted stories right?

also I dont know if it was in the original or not, but in my version (the 2008 special or whatever) there was that bit in the end, the guy with glasses making that Video (and monologing about morality...and well other disturbing things) mabye I need to read again but...

....what the bloody hell was THAT about?

 

[Volkerfrau]

Glad to be able to help - they're self-contained stories as I wrote them - The Long Halloween is one story, etc. Some of it might need a bigger context, though - like, for example, you won't get a lot out of Knightfall if you don't know some of Azrael's background. But that can be googled.

And the guy at the end of The Long Halloween: I personally analyze it as a comment on Batman's influence on the weak-minded and somewhat unstable types who might potentially become villains of the Batverse.

 

[Queen Michael]

Well, there are obviously a stupidly large amount, concidering that Batman has been out and about since the late 30's. But I'm really big on Batman myself, and have read quite a lot, although I admittedly only picked up the hobby like a year ago (in a dedicated fashion, that is.)

!

thanks for the adive, very helpful

just a question,those books you mentioned, they are "more or less" self containted stories right?

also I dont know if it was in the original or not, but in my version (the 2008 special or whatever) there was that bit in the end, the guy with glasses making that Video (and monologing about morality...and well other disturbing things) mabye I need to read again but...

....what the bloody hell was THAT about?

Your version of what? The Killing Joke? In that case I've got to get my hands on that edition.

I'd recommend The Runaways, for three reasons.

1. It's about six tenagers who run away from home after finding out that their parents are supervillains. Pretty good idea for a comic series.

2. It's written by Brian K. Vaughan, one of the best writers in the field.

3. Since the mains characters are runaways, there's no "They Have To Balance School With Superheroics!"

4. They don't have any suits. They always dress like they do regularly.

5. The dialogue's great.

6. The volumes are cheaper than most other comics.

7. You don't need to read any other titles to understand what's going on in this one. Okay, so there was a couple of cross-overs with the Young Avengers, but those are never mentioned in the main series and can be skipped with no repercussions. They weren't even that good.

 

[Vault101]

Well, there are obviously a stupidly large amount, concidering that Batman has been out and about since the late 30's. But I'm really big on Batman myself, and have read quite a lot, although I admittedly only picked up the hobby like a year ago (in a dedicated fashion, that is.)

!

thanks for the adive, very helpful

just a question,those books you mentioned, they are "more or less" self containted stories right?

also I dont know if it was in the original or not, but in my version (the 2008 special or whatever) there was that bit in the end, the guy with glasses making that Video (and monologing about morality...and well other disturbing things) mabye I need to read again but...

....what the bloody hell was THAT about?

Your version of what? The Killing Joke? In that case I've got to get my hands on that edition.

I'd recommend The Runaways, for three reasons.

1. It's about six tenagers who run away from home after finding out that their parents are supervillains. Pretty good idea for a comic series.

2. It's written by Brian K. Vaughan, one of the best writers in the field.

3. Since the mains characters are runaways, there's no "They Have To Balance School With Superheroics!"

4. They don't have any suits. They always dress like they do regularly.

5. The dialogue's great.

6. The volumes are cheaper than most other comics.

7. You don't need to read any other titles to understand what's going on in this one. Okay, so there was a couple of cross-overs with the Young Avengers, but those are never mentioned in the main series and can be skipped with no repercussions. They weren't even that good.

Glad to be able to help - they're self-contained stories as I wrote them - The Long Halloween is one story, etc. Some of it might need a bigger context, though - like, for example, you won't get a lot out of Knightfall if you don't know some of Azrael's background. But that can be googled.

And the guy at the end of The Long Halloween: I personally analyze it as a comment on Batman's influence on the weak-minded and somewhat unstable types who might potentially become villains of the Batverse.

sounds cool,

anyway sorry should have been more specific, yes at the end of killing joke is what i ment (however the description you gave fits perfectly well) it just seemed weird to me because it didnt have any direct connection with the main story

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Arkham Asylum. Grant Morrison/Dave McKean.

Just to show you how BAD certain people are.

 

[octafish]

The big Miller ones, Year One, Dark Knight Returns, and Dark Knight Strikes Back are pretty influential.

The Hitman series is pretty self contained and firmly set in the DC universe. Plus it has Section 8.

I think the Grant Morrison run on Doom Patrol is the best that mainstream superhero comics have ever been outside of Suicide Squad, but people sometimes find it difficult.

If you are just starting out in comics or even if you have a dozen long boxes under your bed you need to buy Maus: A Survivors Tale Volumes 1 and 2. If nothing else Maus is what you use when people say Aren't comics just for kids?

 

[Layz92]

Might want to try a series titled Concrete. I personally have not read it but a bunch of people I know recommend it highly. It has more of a focus on story and character rather than action of ant variety.

Also if you can find them the High Moon series is pretty damn good. You may have to order it online from somewhere though.

 

[Corax_1990]

It really depends what sort of stuff you're into. I tend to steer clear of the big boys of the industry i.e Marvel and DC. I can highly recommend comic such as Transmetropolitan, The Fables, The Boys, The Walking Dead and Sandman. Another good one is Freak Angels, a free online comic that just finished up > http://www.freakangels.com/ < These are all just books I enjoy however, like Movie Bob says 'COMICS.ARE.WEEEIIIRDD', flick through a few books in store and find something you like.

 

[Tsukuyomi]

It really depends what sort of stuff you're into. I tend to steer clear of the big boys of the industry i.e Marvel and DC. I can highly recommend comic such as Transmetropolitan, The Fables, The Boys, The Walking Dead and Sandman. Another good one is Freak Angels, a free online comic that just finished up > http://www.freakangels.com/ < These are all just books I enjoy however, like Movie Bob says 'COMICS.ARE.WEEEIIIRDD', flick through a few books in store and find something you like.

Um, if we're thinking of the same Fables, that's Vertigo imprint...which is a brainchild/offspin of DC. But yes, all those titles (aside from Fables which I've heard mixed reactions on) are excellent. Not worth skipping the Big Two entirely, but any time your head hurts from some of the sillier things they do, go ahead and pop one or two of those and call us in the morning.

Morrison's stuff is indeed some of the best you can get for Batman. Also for Batman I recommend Under the Red Hood. Or you can just watch the film, which works as a good Batman fix too. If you're into the villains, Joker's Asylum isn't bad. Little one-shot stories. Not all of them are the best, but I had a good time reading it.

I'd suggest Return of Bruce Wayne, but that's waaaaayyyy bogged down in Crisis-related continuity. Even I don't get the last bit entirely. Most of it makes sense, and it's really fun to see Bruce spasm his way through time, always becoming some Batman-like figure, but I think it would have been better had they not tied it in with the Darksied business too much. There's also "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" but....I really, really don't think two issues is worth the price of even a softcover trade. If you can find both halves in a bargain-bin go nuts as it's fun to see the different stories of Batman (Alfred's tale is still enjoyable.), but I wouldn't waste the trade money on it.

Right now is actually a PRIME time to get into DC. They've just re-started their continuity, so if I were you, I'd take a cruise past and just...look at covers. Maybe thumb through a few pages. If it seems interesting, pick it up. I don't know about other places but my usual shop always carries two or three issues back. So if you come in at issue 3, there's...actually a fair chance you'll find issues 2 and 1 there too.

What Bob has said really is true: Start Wherever you Want. Take whatever looks interesting and give it a try. Generally I've not had too many missteps by doing this. Ones that I'm not sure about I only buy one issue, and if I don't like it? Eh. at least it's not like buying a game where no matter what you've wasted at least ten bucks. 2, 3 bucks? You spend more than that on popcorn at a movie these days. JUST popcorn. Not even the ticket. So yeah, if something isn't to your liking, it's not like it's a huge investment lost.

Naturally if you're REALLY on the fence? Either look it up, or ask someone. Dunno how good it'd be to ask around here since it seems like many folks here either loathe comics entirely for reasons that have been disproved, or they're not exactly fans of anything Marvel or DC puts out. There's nothing wrong with having those viewpoints, but I just don't think you'd get a fair shake just polling Escapists about a title.