New to comics, need Batman advice.
Droccord
Posts: 1
I have never read or been into comics at all my whole life. I was listening to a podcast and they were talking about Batman comics. They seemed quite interesting what they were talking about and interested me so since I have a iPad I decided to download the comixology app and downloaded some Batman comics. There is tons of Batman comics I don't even know where to start I noticed the new 52 series. From what I understand it is a new take on the new 52 heros of the DC universe. Should I start on the new 52 serious since its a new reboot? Would jumping 2 different series of Batman confuse the story? I just have no idea where to start from what I understand anything from Grant Morris is probably my best shot, would it throw things off if I read the old comics of Grant Morris and none of the others? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
P.s. anyone have any good podcast about comics? ATM I been listening to comic vine and ign assemble.
P.s. anyone have any good podcast about comics? ATM I been listening to comic vine and ign assemble.
Answers
Comic Geek Speak
Uncanny X-Cast
Around Comics
11 o'clock comics
Comic Book Queers
Word Balloon
Comic News Insider
iFanboy
Marvel Noise
The new 52 detective might interest you.
Batman inc and batman & robin will require some previous knowledge.
Gates of Gotham, dark victory, and black & white are all good reads also.
Stay away from odyssey. It's crap.
And remember, if it looks cool, get it and read it. Develop your own taste.
Let us know what you read and what you enjoyed!
And welcome to the pah-Tay!
27 is part of a crossover with Batman and Detective
59-63 is part of the whole Knightfall thing
116-126 are part of No Man's Land
182-184 are part of War Games
I'll list a few of my favorites from the run as long as you keep a few things in mind - 1. Your tastes may very well be different than mine, 2. I've read most of the run of LOTDK but I know there are a handful of issues here and there I've missed, 3. This is going strictly from memory using the cover gallery at comicbookdb.com and there may have been another one that I liked but forgot about, 4. Some of these I haven't read for a while and since I was 14 when the series started (I'm 36 years now), my opinions may have changed if/when I read them again, although I find that in general, a lot of stuff I liked back then I still like now. I'm more likely to go the other way where there was something I just plain didn't get back then that clicks for me when I read it at an older age.
I'm listing these by storyline. For example 1-5 is one story. If you read issue number 6 it's a completely different story by a completely different creative team, oftentimes taking place at a different point in Batman's history. So when you buy the first issue of the next arc, you really don't need to know much else other than who Batman is (and I suppose whatever supporting cast appears in those particular issues, but they usually do a good job on the more obscure characters, and I'm assuming you know who people like Alfred and the Joker are). But on the other hand, if you read just issue 3 without 1-2 and 4-5, you're only getting part of a story
So the recommendations....
the Halloween Specials
1-5
6-10 (these are by Grant Morrison and are a bit more accessible than his later run on the main book)
11-15 and 46-49 and 137-141 are three separate stories, but are kinda sequels and are all very good. There were rumors that the next movie would be based on 11-15, but I don't think that's the case anymore. If you like those, 86-88 and 146-148 are by the same author, Doug Moench, who has also written a lot of the main continuity Batman and Detective books
16-20 - if you're just reading some of these on their own, these wouldn't be my first recommendation, but if you're reading some of the big storylines in the main continuity, this is a great lead-in to the Knightfall saga. And if you see the new movie and like Bane, you'll want to check out Knightfall
28-30
42-43
50
65-68 - great concept to this story. The Joker thinks he's finally killed Batman so he doesn't know what to do next and he snaps and "goes sane."
100
192-196
I know there are more, but those are a few favorites to get you started.
But most importantly, if you read something and don't like it, try something else. Either by another writer/artist or even the same (even the best have duds once in a while). If you find something you like, look the person up on comicbookdb.com and find out what else he/she has written/drawn and see if you like their other stuff. And remember that all of these recommendations are exactly that - recommendations. These are all things that I (or Mike or whoever else responded to you) think are good, but you might disagree. If you get a whole bunch of people telling you the same story is good, it's definitely worth checking out, but you might think it's crap. And same with the other way around, if everybody else tells you to avoid something, it's probably for a reason, but you might like it (for instance, I really like the Ang Lee Hulk movie). Scour the internet and local stores/cons for good deals on cheap runs of books. Or see what your local library has on its shelves. It's the best way to find out what you like without spending too much money on the stuff you don't.
You don't sell a lot of deserts do you? :D
I kid! :)
Any of the Animated Series collections or singles are AWESOME. I dare say, not a klunker in the whole bunch, and no prior knowledge required.
Also, a lot of the Elseworlds books are great fun... and they tend to distill whatever characters they use down to their essence, and tell you all you need to know. Detective 27, Gotham by Gasslight, and such come to mind.
* The Knightfall trades were just re-released and super affordable
* Dark Knight Returns (Year One doesn't do much for me even though many people rate it highly, you may like it though)
* Hush
*Arkham Asylum
* Court of Owls (again it does less for me than the hype/rave reviews that abound but it is very good)
* Long Halloween
* Dark Victory
* Penguin: Pride and Prejudice (I loved this)
And speaking of universally loathed comic book movies, I keep seeing Howard the Duck in the discount DVD section and I'm always tempted to pick it up, but I'm almost certain I'll regret it when it serves as a reminder of just how easily amused I was at 10-years old (or however old I was when I saw it... somewhere in that area).
Then again, Marvel has completely lost the point of the character by7 having him be a gung-ho military leader now...
Wait, weren't we talking about Batman?
You can NEVER go wrong by picking up the Greatest Batman stories ever told and the greatest Joker stories ever told trades.
Raging Bullets
DC Noise
Bat-Radia
As for stories with Batman, the new 52 Batman would be a great place to start. My favorites are Batman and Batman and Robin. As for specific stories, I would check out:
Batman: The Cult
Batman: The Long Halloween
Batman: Dark Victory
Batman: A Death in the Family
Batman: Knightfall, Knightquest & Knightend
If you like to try out Batman in different eras, they have Batman trades from specific decades as well as The Batman Chronicles which are trades the have Batman stories in the order they came out which is a fun way to read older Batman stories.
Now, Howard the Duck, is a different story! I LOVED that movie when I was younger, and watched it MANY times! But have held off watching it recently, lest I get hit with the same kick to the crotch that finds me when I watch Swamp Thing, Land of the Lost or some of the other stuff I loved as a kid...
Still doesn't change the fact that I would love to own a car like KITT though.