Wanting to get into Graphic Novels, What are the essential Batman, and Carnage\Venom Spiderman ones?
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I must ask; why those specifically? Because honestly, there's a lot more graphic novels out there that are a lot more creatively and literary engaging.
Not that there's not some good stuff to be found in the traditional superhero comics, like Batman's Arkham Asylum for the absolutely demented art direction and allegorical story, but the world of graphic novels is so much bigger than that.
Not that there's not some good stuff to be found in the traditional superhero comics, like Batman's Arkham Asylum for the absolutely demented art direction and allegorical story, but the world of graphic novels is so much bigger than that.
For Batman, "The Killing Joke" will be mentioned a lot. And various other things published before most users here were born.
I can definitely recommend some Batman ones! Not entirely sure how "essential" these are but these are the ones I got when I decided to try and get into the Batman comics. I have 2 I'd highly recommend and a couple others from when I decided to try and get into Batman comics and might not be as high quality but I still think are worth a read for various reasons.
The 2 I'd wholeheartedly recommend are:
- The Killing Joke: This is probably the one you'll always see listed. Alan Moore's take on the Joker, it's relentlessly grim and brilliantly written. Definitely pick this one up.
- The Dark Knight Returns: Frank Miller nailed this one. It's got an old Bruce Wayne taking the mantle of the Batman once again and taking on some old and new enemies despite his advancing age. I love the story (especially the ending), I love this comic's interpretation of Robin and there are some really striking panels but the artwork is a little odd and might take some getting used to. Still a cracking read.
As for the others, these might not be the best reads but as I said, I have a couple of reasons for picking them up and they might be worth a look.
- Year One: This is Frank Miller taking on the start of Batman's career, in contrast to The Dark Knight Returns. It's nowhere near as solid as The Dark Knight Returns but I bought them together and it was neat to read them back-to-back, if only for progression's sake.
- Year 100: This is a weird one. The story is super-grim and the writing's a little wonky but the interpretations of some of the key elements of the Batman mythos are very cool but it was the artwork that really drew me in. It's got this gnarled, almost goblin-like vision of Batman that caught my eye.
- Gotham by Gaslight: What if Batman fought Jack the Ripper in Victorian Gotham? Yeah, that's this story. Aside from the What If? factor, the artwork is lovely and the story is actually pretty solid. There is a second story included in the version of the book I picked up which isn't as strong, but it's still worth a read.
- Hush: Hush is one of my favourite Batman villains, so I had to get this. The artwork is absolutely perfect, definitely the best reason to read this one and the story, which involves a plethora of the Rogues Gallery and a guest spot for Superman, is actually well-written. Watch out for the ending though, it let me down a bit.
Finally, I want to recommend this one. It's actually a Superman story but it has a fantastic depiction of Batman in it so whatever. Superman: Red Son is another What If? scenario, but this time it's what if Superman landed in the Soviet Union and became their symbol instead of America's? The comic uses a lot of imagery based on Soviet propaganda in terms of style and presentation, a lot of heroes appear but with great tweaks to their characters and images and, as I said, the version of Batman here is marvelous. Though he only appears for a short segment of the book, it's probably the big stand out bit for me. Worth a read for sure.
The 2 I'd wholeheartedly recommend are:
- The Killing Joke: This is probably the one you'll always see listed. Alan Moore's take on the Joker, it's relentlessly grim and brilliantly written. Definitely pick this one up.
- The Dark Knight Returns: Frank Miller nailed this one. It's got an old Bruce Wayne taking the mantle of the Batman once again and taking on some old and new enemies despite his advancing age. I love the story (especially the ending), I love this comic's interpretation of Robin and there are some really striking panels but the artwork is a little odd and might take some getting used to. Still a cracking read.
As for the others, these might not be the best reads but as I said, I have a couple of reasons for picking them up and they might be worth a look.
- Year One: This is Frank Miller taking on the start of Batman's career, in contrast to The Dark Knight Returns. It's nowhere near as solid as The Dark Knight Returns but I bought them together and it was neat to read them back-to-back, if only for progression's sake.
- Year 100: This is a weird one. The story is super-grim and the writing's a little wonky but the interpretations of some of the key elements of the Batman mythos are very cool but it was the artwork that really drew me in. It's got this gnarled, almost goblin-like vision of Batman that caught my eye.
- Gotham by Gaslight: What if Batman fought Jack the Ripper in Victorian Gotham? Yeah, that's this story. Aside from the What If? factor, the artwork is lovely and the story is actually pretty solid. There is a second story included in the version of the book I picked up which isn't as strong, but it's still worth a read.
- Hush: Hush is one of my favourite Batman villains, so I had to get this. The artwork is absolutely perfect, definitely the best reason to read this one and the story, which involves a plethora of the Rogues Gallery and a guest spot for Superman, is actually well-written. Watch out for the ending though, it let me down a bit.
Finally, I want to recommend this one. It's actually a Superman story but it has a fantastic depiction of Batman in it so whatever. Superman: Red Son is another What If? scenario, but this time it's what if Superman landed in the Soviet Union and became their symbol instead of America's? The comic uses a lot of imagery based on Soviet propaganda in terms of style and presentation, a lot of heroes appear but with great tweaks to their characters and images and, as I said, the version of Batman here is marvelous. Though he only appears for a short segment of the book, it's probably the big stand out bit for me. Worth a read for sure.
Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is a bit overrated in my opinion. The Long Halloween is great though.
If you want some Carnage ones check out Minumum Carnage and Carnage USA, both books featuring great art and awesome use of the symboite that every Spiderman fan should check out
Maximum Carnage is often criticized as poorly written, but I find it great fun. Though I admit that the plot doesn't always make sense, the insane darkness of Cletus Kasady is clearly shown. And Venom makes an appearance, too!
When it comes to Venom stories, Venom: Lethal Protector is darn fun. Venom goes to San Francisco for some anti-heroing. This was one of the first stories where Venom wasn't a complete villain.
Venom: Carnage Unleashed is some more classic 90's stuff. Lots of blood and fun when Carnage gets interested in computer game development and Venom needs to stop him.
Venom: Sinner Takes All is my all-time favorite Venom story. Several plot elements are connected to Carnage Unleashed, so I'd advice you to read that miniseries first. A new Sin-Eater is in town, and Venom takes it upon himself to take him out. But someone else is in town too, planning to take Venom out...!
When it comes to Carnage, though, the best story of all time is Carnage: Mindbomb by the amazing Warren Ellis, with haunting art by Kyle Hotz. It's not a long story, just one issue. But if you want to learn how Carnage sees the world, then this is a story that you simply must read.
With the light on.
When it comes to Venom stories, Venom: Lethal Protector is darn fun. Venom goes to San Francisco for some anti-heroing. This was one of the first stories where Venom wasn't a complete villain.
Venom: Carnage Unleashed is some more classic 90's stuff. Lots of blood and fun when Carnage gets interested in computer game development and Venom needs to stop him.
Venom: Sinner Takes All is my all-time favorite Venom story. Several plot elements are connected to Carnage Unleashed, so I'd advice you to read that miniseries first. A new Sin-Eater is in town, and Venom takes it upon himself to take him out. But someone else is in town too, planning to take Venom out...!
When it comes to Carnage, though, the best story of all time is Carnage: Mindbomb by the amazing Warren Ellis, with haunting art by Kyle Hotz. It's not a long story, just one issue. But if you want to learn how Carnage sees the world, then this is a story that you simply must read.
With the light on.
The Batman we know and love today was born in the mid-to-late 80s, through a series of one-shots, story arcs and graphic novels largely helmed by Alan "Watchmen" Moore and Frank "Sin City" Miller.
The Dark Knight Returns (1986) - Frank Miller's take on "old Batman". On the one hand it works as a grand finale for the character, but on the other it kickstarted Batman's dark 'n gritty career in pop culture.
Year One (1987) - Case in point, Miller revisited the character with this sort of reboot that tells the origins of Batman. Nolan largely based Batman Begins on this story.
The Killing Joke (1988) - The "definitive" take on the Joker, courtesy of Alan Moore. You know the drill: Joker's tragic origin story, his crippling of Batgirl, etc. The story arguably inspired Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's Batman.
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989) - A very weird and creepy one-shot that explores Batman's fucked up psyche through a nightmarish night in Arkham Asylum. Despite the place-holder plot, it loosely inspired the Arkham Asylum game.
Then there're a couple of good 90s stories.
Knightfall (1993-1994) - Bane "breaks the bat", and protege Azrael breaks Bane in return. As Azrael takes crime-fighting with Robin he grows violent and unstable and becomes everything Batman swore he wouldn't be. So he has to get his game together and bring Azrael down.
The Long Halloween (1996-1997) - An excellent murder mystery and mafia tale that shamelessly rips off The Godfather, but hey at least it knows where to steal from. It's about Batman/Gordon/Dent trying to solve the case of the "Holiday Killer" while the Falcones and the Maronis wage war on each other and Catwoman is up and about doing her thing.
Mind you, many of these stories are built on plot holes the size of YouTube, and a lot of people agree this and that are "overrated", but overall I think they prove essential (and quite fun) to the Batman canon.
The Dark Knight Returns (1986) - Frank Miller's take on "old Batman". On the one hand it works as a grand finale for the character, but on the other it kickstarted Batman's dark 'n gritty career in pop culture.
Year One (1987) - Case in point, Miller revisited the character with this sort of reboot that tells the origins of Batman. Nolan largely based Batman Begins on this story.
The Killing Joke (1988) - The "definitive" take on the Joker, courtesy of Alan Moore. You know the drill: Joker's tragic origin story, his crippling of Batgirl, etc. The story arguably inspired Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's Batman.
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989) - A very weird and creepy one-shot that explores Batman's fucked up psyche through a nightmarish night in Arkham Asylum. Despite the place-holder plot, it loosely inspired the Arkham Asylum game.
Then there're a couple of good 90s stories.
Knightfall (1993-1994) - Bane "breaks the bat", and protege Azrael breaks Bane in return. As Azrael takes crime-fighting with Robin he grows violent and unstable and becomes everything Batman swore he wouldn't be. So he has to get his game together and bring Azrael down.
The Long Halloween (1996-1997) - An excellent murder mystery and mafia tale that shamelessly rips off The Godfather, but hey at least it knows where to steal from. It's about Batman/Gordon/Dent trying to solve the case of the "Holiday Killer" while the Falcones and the Maronis wage war on each other and Catwoman is up and about doing her thing.
Mind you, many of these stories are built on plot holes the size of YouTube, and a lot of people agree this and that are "overrated", but overall I think they prove essential (and quite fun) to the Batman canon.
Go read Saga.
I know that it is not any of those.
But you should read Saga anyway.
http://cdn.bleedingcool.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Saga-Issue-11.jpg
I know that it is not any of those.
But you should read Saga anyway.
http://cdn.bleedingcool.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Saga-Issue-11.jpg
It's a science-fiction adventure comic. Everybody in the comics world loves it. It's about a man and a woman who are in love even though their homeworlds are at war. Very funny, and tremendously exciting. It's how sf adventures ought to be.thaluikhain said: