What are the must-have Batman comics?
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The Killing Joke is regularly cited as one of the real greats, though I personally feel it's a bit over-rated. It's good, but not teh best evah as it is often claimed to be.
Personally, I generally find Batman uninteresting in of himself. It's how the Bat-family do things around him that I find interesting.
Personally, I generally find Batman uninteresting in of himself. It's how the Bat-family do things around him that I find interesting.
I don't generally read comics, so my opinion may be a bit moot, but if the graphic novel is anything approaching the quality of the animated films based on it, then Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is one I would consider. Especially if you've already got Year One, which is set in the same universe. Apparently it had a sequel which was pretty bad, too.
I was always a bit iffy about getting into Frank Miller's take on Batman what with the art direction he took toward the thing and his whole general extra "grimdark" thing. Admittedly, I did enjoy the Sin City film as well, so I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to say that I may be a fan of his after all. But the two parts of The Dark Knight Returns the animated film came together to form probably my favorite animated Batman feature once I'd finally watched them the other week.
I was always a bit iffy about getting into Frank Miller's take on Batman what with the art direction he took toward the thing and his whole general extra "grimdark" thing. Admittedly, I did enjoy the Sin City film as well, so I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to say that I may be a fan of his after all. But the two parts of The Dark Knight Returns the animated film came together to form probably my favorite animated Batman feature once I'd finally watched them the other week.
You might look for "battle for the Cowl", it's kinda continuity-heavy but a lot of fun to read. Basically it's about the conflict within the Bat-family caused by Bruce Wayne being absent, Damien Wayne and Dick Grayson finding a way to get along with one another, an imposter Batman showing up and outright murdering criminals.
It follows the events of final crisis and assumes the reader is familiar with that, so you might want to read that first.
It follows the events of final crisis and assumes the reader is familiar with that, so you might want to read that first.
Arkham Asylum remains one of my all-time favorites. Some other really good ones are Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Dark Knight Returns, Gotham by Gaslight, the Black Mirror, Red Rain/Bloodstorm/Crimson Mist(love those, its an Elseworld story about Batman becoming a vampire trying to fight the curse).
Then there is also the newer stuff like collections of Scott Snyder's excellent run on Batman. Death of the Family in particular is fantastic. Greg Capullo's artwork is also particularly good, been a big fan ever since his Spawn days. Another recent book is Batman by Doug Mounch and Kelley Jones which collects some really good stories from the '90s Mounch/Jones/Beatty run on Batman(one of my favorites). Hopefully DC will put out a collection of Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle's late '80s/early '90s run on Batman as well(another one of my favorites).
Anyways there is a lot of really good stuff to choose from when it comes to Batman books. Loved Batman for as long as I can remember!
Then there is also the newer stuff like collections of Scott Snyder's excellent run on Batman. Death of the Family in particular is fantastic. Greg Capullo's artwork is also particularly good, been a big fan ever since his Spawn days. Another recent book is Batman by Doug Mounch and Kelley Jones which collects some really good stories from the '90s Mounch/Jones/Beatty run on Batman(one of my favorites). Hopefully DC will put out a collection of Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle's late '80s/early '90s run on Batman as well(another one of my favorites).
Anyways there is a lot of really good stuff to choose from when it comes to Batman books. Loved Batman for as long as I can remember!
While I have not read it myself but I seen the motion comic version of Batman Black and White which I would liked to back the graphic novel at some point.
It's just a bunch of short stories of Batman but colored in black and white however each stories is done by different artists which one of them is Bruce Timm so each stories got a different style. Also the stories are not canon so they are free to make the story. Overall it look fantastic.
It's just a bunch of short stories of Batman but colored in black and white however each stories is done by different artists which one of them is Bruce Timm so each stories got a different style. Also the stories are not canon so they are free to make the story. Overall it look fantastic.
-Hush: Out of the Batman comics I've read, this one is probably my favorite. It deals a lot with Batman and Catwoman's relationship, and it's got a really good mystery story going on. Hush is a really neat villain and a welcome addition to the rogues gallery.
Superman shows up at some point as well.
-The Killing Joke: This one is always the most recommended. It delves into the Joker's character and sort of gives you an idea of how his mind works and why.
-The Long Halloween: A lot of stuff happens in this one, the most memorable being it was Two-Face's origin.
-Noel: it's 'A Christmas Carol' with Batman, it's more of a one-off novelty book, but I liked it.
-Black Mirror: Dick Grayson as Batman, very good story with a lot of pretty disturbing imagery. You learn something about Jim Gordon's family that legitimately caught me off guard. It's a really, really good read and I hardly ever see anyone recommend it.
Superman shows up at some point as well.
-The Killing Joke: This one is always the most recommended. It delves into the Joker's character and sort of gives you an idea of how his mind works and why.
-The Long Halloween: A lot of stuff happens in this one, the most memorable being it was Two-Face's origin.
-Noel: it's 'A Christmas Carol' with Batman, it's more of a one-off novelty book, but I liked it.
-Black Mirror: Dick Grayson as Batman, very good story with a lot of pretty disturbing imagery. You learn something about Jim Gordon's family that legitimately caught me off guard. It's a really, really good read and I hardly ever see anyone recommend it.