Let me preface this by saying I started collecting in 2006 at 22 years old, grew up with Batman so I started with him, moved to Superman then to Marvel and then filled out my DC collection. Joined these forums 2007 and I would estimate that 90% of my collection I owe to die-hard fans HERE who told me, "BUY THIS... DON'T BUY THIS... THIS IS A MUST... IGNORE THIS" etc. So... for those who helped with recommendations, THANK YOU, guys.
I feel like since the 2011 reboot, recommendations havent been as frequent. Granted, I have NOT been here regularly in a few years... BUT, how has DC/Batman/etc. changed since 2011 and has it been for the better when compared to his evolution from 1960's to the 2000's?
Are his post 2011 stories as iconic as the biggies pre-New52?
Naturally, it depends on who you talk to, but...
There was a point in the New 52, around the DCYOU phase of it, where I was not reading any DC at all. Any book that started strong very quickly devolved into one big homogenous mess that left me turned off. I think Swamp Thing was the only book I was reading at a certain point and even then, I wasn't enjoying it.
Rebirth brought me back. Tom King's Batman was the first time in a long time that I had been truly excited by a Batman title. Even then, it still took him one arc to do that. I was on the fence until his "I Am Suicide" run won me over. Despite other opinions shared here, I love King's Batman and I go back to it with some frequency. Superman was in solid hands. Wonder Woman was as well, with Greg Rucka returning to the character. The Sandman Universe books were excellent, especially Lucifer and Hellblazer(the latter being one of the BEST DC books in a very long time). Tom King unleashed Mister Miracle on us all.
And despite what Bendis did with Superman a few years into Rebirth, he managed to bring some very high ranking talent into DC. Kelly Sue DeConnick did a solid run on Aquaman. Matt Fraction and Steve Leiber did the excellent "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" book. Greg Rucka came back and did a great Lois Lane series. Ivan Reis and Steve Epting drew Superman and Action Comics. David Marquez is working for DC now.
And now that Didio's gone, and Marie Javins(who is apparently one of the most-liked people in comics) is in charge, we're seeing a lot more stability on books, and the better treatment of, and focus on, well loved characters. Wonder Woman has a stable creative team, the first since Rucka left. Nightwing is GREAT. The Flash, as Wally West, is GREAT. John Stewart has the lead in the Green Lantern book and Geoffrey Thorne has been doing a fun job with Jo Mullen (from GL: Far Sector) and Teen Lantern (a Bendis creation). There's a lot of diversity among the creative teams on these books and in the characters in the books. We're getting a GREAT Supergirl book from Tom King, and Greg Smallwood is doing the art on Human Target. And Garth Ennis is always popping by to do some fun stuff. Joshua Williamson seems to be the new head architect and despite a weak, and over-long run on the Rebirth Flash book, seems to be having a blast on Batman, Robin, Justice League Incarnate, et al. Perhaps most importantly, Mark Waid is back at DC and is not only writing World's Finest, but is also writing another Superman series to be drawn by Bryan Hitch that is said to be a sequel to Birthright.
The overall sense I get from DC right now is that everyone's having fun. And it seems very genuine, and not part of some publishing initiative. The reigns of so many books are in the hands of newer, fresh writers that seem to be operating on the idea that superhero comics should be fun. And it shows.