I just realized...I Dont Like Batman...

[WeaponZed3]

Batman pretty much is the reason I got into Comics. Batman: TAS was my cartoon of choice, compeating with the likes of TMNT, the Real Ghostbusters and Transformers. My grandma every brithday or christmas would by me a new batman action figuar, I had (still do) have a life size poster of Micheal Keatan in Batman Returns on my wall. And recently I bought some Batman Graphic novels. Year One, The Long Hollween, Dark Victory and Arkam Asylum.
Well reading the first three stories I found Bruce Wayne and his darker half to be less intresting then the future Commissioner Gordan and his family troubles. And when I wasn't reading about Gordan I was sitting there waiting for one of Bats villians to pop up in a cameo.
I'd flip through the pages and catch a quick glimps of the Joker a few pages a head and I'd read faster, just so I could hear Mark Hamils voice in my head. Scenes with just the Dark Knight though?... I was bored, made me want to stop reading... Its then that I realized.... my attraction to Batman was his rogues gallery. I loved the bad guys and Gordan.
That was, and has always been my appeal to Batman. So I make this thread, asking for two things.

1. What are some great stories featuring some of the Rogues in the for front appose to the Bat.?
2. What TPB or GN's show Batman in a compelling light that makes him... intresting?...

 

[sclabguy]

this thread is pointless

 

[Cobblepot]

It's Gordon, not Gordan.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Batman pretty much is the reason I got into Comics. Batman: TAS was my cartoon of choice, compeating with the likes of TMNT, the Real Ghostbusters and Transformers. My grandma every brithday or christmas would by me a new batman action figuar, I had (still do) have a life size poster of Micheal Keatan in Batman Returns on my wall. And recently I bought some Batman Graphic novels. Year One, The Long Hollween, Dark Victory and Arkam Asylum.
Well reading the first three stories I found Bruce Wayne and his darker half to be less intresting then the future Commissioner Gordan and his family troubles. And when I wasn't reading about Gordan I was sitting there waiting for one of Bats villians to pop up in a cameo.
I'd flip through the pages and catch a quick glimps of the Joker a few pages a head and I'd read faster, just so I could hear Mark Hamils voice in my head. Scenes with just the Dark Knight though?... I was bored, made me want to stop reading... Its then that I realized.... my attraction to Batman was his rogues gallery. I loved the bad guys and Gordan.
That was, and has always been my appeal to Batman. So I make this thread, asking for two things.

1. What are some great stories featuring some of the Rogues in the for front appose to the Bat.?
2. What TPB or GN's show Batman in a compelling light that makes him... intresting?...

That's a fair comment. Batman, if not handled properly, can be just as boring as some readers find Superman to be. I personally find the late 90's-mid 00's version of Batman, the stone-faced, almost-emotionless SWAT-team like leader to be deadly dull. It was really an attempt at the time to turn the regular Batman into Frank Miller's Dark Knight version, but is really missed the mark by a long way.

The most intresting version of Batman is right back at the beginning, 'The Bat-Man.' The creepy, weird figure of the night, the eerie detective/vigilante. Secondly I would choose the dynamic, emotive, talkative superhero of the Neal Adams/Dennis O'Neal era.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Batman pretty much is the reason I got into Comics. Batman: TAS was my cartoon of choice, compeating with the likes of TMNT, the Real Ghostbusters and Transformers. My grandma every brithday or christmas would by me a new batman action figuar, I had (still do) have a life size poster of Micheal Keatan in Batman Returns on my wall. And recently I bought some Batman Graphic novels. Year One, The Long Hollween, Dark Victory and Arkam Asylum.
Well reading the first three stories I found Bruce Wayne and his darker half to be less intresting then the future Commissioner Gordan and his family troubles. And when I wasn't reading about Gordan I was sitting there waiting for one of Bats villians to pop up in a cameo.
I'd flip through the pages and catch a quick glimps of the Joker a few pages a head and I'd read faster, just so I could hear Mark Hamils voice in my head. Scenes with just the Dark Knight though?... I was bored, made me want to stop reading... Its then that I realized.... my attraction to Batman was his rogues gallery. I loved the bad guys and Gordan.
That was, and has always been my appeal to Batman. So I make this thread, asking for two things.

1. What are some great stories featuring some of the Rogues in the for front appose to the Bat.?
2. What TPB or GN's show Batman in a compelling light that makes him... intresting?...

Check out "The Killing Joke". Pretty much the definitive Joker story. "Knightfall" is also a great showcase for Batman's rogues gallery. It was the first TPB I ever read, and so it's always stayed with me.

Also, check out the weekly mini-series - "The Joker's Asylum" - running through July. It's a series of one-shots, each week focusing on a different Bat-villain, with all of them narrated by The Joker.

However, the more comics you read, the more I think you'll realise: Batman's villains may be exciting and interesting, but it's Batman whose the backbone holding the stories together.

 

[BubbaGump]

However, the more comics you read, the more I think you'll realise: Batman's villains may be exciting and interesting, but it's Batman whose the backbone holding the stories together.

Very true. The books weaponzed's mentioned:

Year One (more of a Gordon story)
The Long Halloween (Loeb's non-existent characterization)
Dark Victory (one-dimensional villain showcase )
Arkham Asylum dry

 

[Keyser Soze]

Very true. The books weaponzed's mentioned:

Year One (more of a Gordon story)
The Long Halloween (Loeb's non-existent characterization)
Dark Victory (one-dimensional villain showcase )
Arkham Asylum dry

I like all of those books, but for various reasons, none of them are the best showcases for Batman as a character.

Actually, I think Paul Dini's current run on "Detective Comics" boasts some strong characterisation of Batman. While more and more we see Batman portrayed as a bit of a jerk, Dini has a real strength in making Batman/Bruce Wayne seem, for the most part, to be a likeable, cool guy.

Morrison has, at points, provided some high-quality characterisation for Batman in his current run on "Batman". But he's less consistent, I feel, with some great stories mixed in with ones that are kinda weird and alienating. And if it's showcases of the classic villains you're looking for, you're best sticking with "Detective Comics". That said, "Batman R.I.P." is, in my opinion, off to a promising start so far. And it's a really good BATMAN story.

 

[Omega Wizard]

Well, if you dont find Bats interesting. Id highly recomend Gotham Central.

 

[Microchip]

Get Batman: Hush. You'll be bludgened with every Batman villain/ally they can think of spread over two TPBs. Although, it manages it very well, and it also might make you like Batman himself more.

But if you really want to see Batman himself at his best, get Batman: Blind Justice. You might like it since you like villains too, since you get a new, unusual one.

 

[donk70]

Personally, I think TLH is one of the best reads out there. Get that one

 

[BubbaGump]

I like all of those books, but for various reasons, none of them are the best showcases for Batman as a character.

Actually, I think Paul Dini's current run on "Detective Comics" boasts some strong characterisation of Batman. While more and more we see Batman portrayed as a bit of a jerk, Dini has a real strength in making Batman/Bruce Wayne seem, for the most part, to be a likeable, cool guy.

Morrison has, at points, provided some high-quality characterisation for Batman in his current run on "Batman". But he's less consistent, I feel, with some great stories mixed in with ones that are kinda weird and alienating. And if it's showcases of the classic villains you're looking for, you're best sticking with "Detective Comics". That said, "Batman R.I.P." is, in my opinion, off to a promising start so far. And it's a really good BATMAN story.

Paul Dini is one of my favorite Batman writers, and as much as I love his current run on Detective, he's more of a villain-oriented writer. He wrote that way in TAS, he's writing in that fashion with Detective.

Grant Morrison (not a fan of his run though) writes stories about BATMAN. So if you're looking for a Batman pop-psychology story, check out R.I.P.

 

[November Rain]

it's kinda strange that it's always about five books that are mentioned with a character who has such a long back history.

I'm kinda with you on bats, I was far more interested in the older bruce wayne in batman beyond than i was in batman as a younger dude with only a handful of eps holding my attention.

but not sure he'd ever strike me as a consistently good comic read, I guess i prefer more team interaction. Probably why I enjoy robin more as a teen titan/outsider.

 

[Brick]

I wish people could be bothered to use the Batman comics recommendation thread.

 

[WeaponZed3]

Very true. The books weaponzed's mentioned:

Year One (more of a Gordon story)
The Long Halloween (Loeb's non-existent characterization)
Dark Victory (one-dimensional villain showcase )
Arkham Asylum dry

I've also read the Killing Joke and DKR... but thats all for my Batman reading. I actually forgot about Dark Knight Returns. I found Batman intresting there...

Also, check out the weekly mini-series - "The Joker's Asylum" - running through July. It's a series of one-shots, each week focusing on a different Bat-villain, with all of them narrated by The Joker.

Thanks John. Sounds intresting.

I wish people could be bothered to use the Batman comics recommendation thread.

I didn't mean for this to become just about recommandations. I'm actually more cerious about the appeal of Batman. He's one of the most loved characters in comics, with some of the most devoted fans there is.

I understand aspects of what makes him so compelling to people. He's a powerless hero who battles against the inpowered, he's devoted to his mission to near insain lengths, visually intresting. But from the few stories I've read which from what I understood were some of the best, I didn't see the great appeal.

I don't want that to be a comment that begins a flame war of any sort. Cause clearly I'm ignorant to the mytho's, and I do like Batman, plan on going to TDK opening night. But I want to know what makes him so appealing to everyone.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I understand aspects of what makes him so compelling to people. He's a powerless hero who battles against the inpowered, he's devoted to his mission to near insain lengths, visually intresting. But from the few stories I've read which from what I understood were some of the best, I didn't see the great appeal.

That's the appeal of superheroes in general. The appeal of Batman is that he himself shares almost every trait with his enemies, except they are on different sides of the law. Gotham is full of obsessive freaks driven by tragedy, and the darkest of the lot happens to be the only one protecting the innocents from the others.

 

[Ammo]

Hush.

Awesome book.

 

[BubbaGump]

I've also read the Killing Joke and DKR... but thats all for my Batman reading. I actually forgot about Dark Knight Returns. I found Batman intresting there...

Because that was a BATMAN book first and foremost.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

2. What TPB or GN's show Batman in a compelling light that makes him... intresting?...

There's a lot, Dark Knight Returns, Year One and Killing Joke like most Bat-fans will agree are seminal works, it somehow explains in tiny bits why Bruce must become Batman, whether it be to avenge his parents or some weird sworn oath he's made to rid the world of the criminal element, good stuff.

To tell you the truth I started out a Superman fan but it wasn't until I read some Batman reprints of him fighting vampires (don't laugh) it became clear to me that this was a total departure from the 60's or Superfriends TV show.

If you don't like Batman that's fine, go on and enjoy your Savage Dragon and Youngblood comics.

 

[Nepenthes]

Weaponised it sounds like you might enjoy Batman Ego and Hush

 

[Keyser Soze]

Thanks John. Sounds intresting.

How do you know my name?

 

[CLARKY]

Batman pretty much is the reason I got into Comics. Batman: TAS was my cartoon of choice, compeating with the likes of TMNT, the Real Ghostbusters and Transformers. My grandma every brithday or christmas would by me a new batman action figuar, I had (still do) have a life size poster of Micheal Keatan in Batman Returns on my wall. And recently I bought some Batman Graphic novels. Year One, The Long Hollween, Dark Victory and Arkam Asylum.
Well reading the first three stories I found Bruce Wayne and his darker half to be less intresting then the future Commissioner Gordan and his family troubles. And when I wasn't reading about Gordan I was sitting there waiting for one of Bats villians to pop up in a cameo.
I'd flip through the pages and catch a quick glimps of the Joker a few pages a head and I'd read faster, just so I could hear Mark Hamils voice in my head. Scenes with just the Dark Knight though?... I was bored, made me want to stop reading... Its then that I realized.... my attraction to Batman was his rogues gallery. I loved the bad guys and Gordan.

Well, I agree with you on a lot of point. Year one is a real pityfull story if you want batman, and I keep saying it is not batman:year one, but Gordon:year one, like a Gotham central book 1, so to speak.
Like you I wasn't a big big fan of batman, I loved the 70 and the 80 but not later, and the cartoon made me a big fan of the character. This and the Burton movies. The villains were magical, monstruous, and mean. They were exploring the bad guys deeply. I've never found that in the comicbook. The batman villains are just shadows of what they could or should be. And IMO, it is certainly not the demystification/realism of C.Nolan that is going to help. I think batman has become a bad guy "acting" for good. That what makes him interesting for a generation, but not for me.
I used to say Batman villains were the best villains in comicbooks (mainstream), when all I knew was Batman. Now, I think the best villains are the Flash ones. If I just consider the comicbooks, Flash rogues are the best IMO.
Now, I admit that through Burton vision or Timm's excellent vision, Batman rogues are the best.

1. What are some great stories featuring some of the Rogues in the for front appose to the Bat.?
2. What TPB or GN's show Batman in a compelling light that makes him... intresting?...

1.The Killing Joke is an absolute IMO. Definitive Joker history. And I remember an excellent ManBat story from the good ol' days in detective comics #400,401 ... by N.Adams.
2.if you liked B:TAS, I would advice you to take a look at the comicbooks based on the show. Very often, I found the stories more interesting than the "normal" books.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

I like the Darknight Detective Batman but I loathe the Dark Knight and the Bat-god.

 

[BatFan1986]

I agree with the post that Batman if handled correctly can be a dull, horrid and loathesome experience. I've got several issues where the art and stories just are plain ridiculous and half assed.

Hush is an awesome piece of work, as well as The Long Halloween...A bit "wordy" or "lengthy" if you will, but it's got some great insight.

The one thing that drives me nuts though is how DC gets one dimensional artists to work for them, and their characters end up looking like caricatures of their formerselves. Combine that with lameass story writing capabilities and it gets boring really fast.

The Killing Joke is really good though, don't care for Bat's ears coming out of the side of his head at some parts though...But that's just me haha.

 

[rzatherazor]

It's probably been mentioned alot so far, but I like Batman: Hush. I recommend it.

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

I just wanted to point out that sure some Batman stories may be great but suffer from awful artwork, case in point: Dark Knight Returns.

I read it collected as a TPB the first time in 1990 and had heard good things about it so I read it in three days because I was so enthralled by this massive epic of a story but only one thing I disliked was Frank Miller's art.

It's takes a little getting used to especially the way he drew Selina as a fat ****e, but then the sequel Dark Knight Strikes came out and to this day I still haven't read it, I have it tucked in some boxes but flipping through the pages the artwork sucked real bad.