New to the comics...where should I start?

[thebatandthecat]

So I've always been a Batman fan...mostly the movies & TV shows. However these days I find I need to get my Batman fix quicker than they can release the movies and I'm thinking about picking up some comics.

I just don't know where to start...anybody have a suggestion?

 

[Lord]

Hello, i used to be like you.
These comics take place during the begining of Batman's career:
Batman: Shaman
Batman: Year One (recomended)
Batman & the Monster Men
Batman: Gothic
Batman & the Mad Monk
Batman: The Man who Laughs
There are also some stories about Batman's first encounter with many of his known villain.
Batman: The Long Halloween
Batman: Dark Victory
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: Knightfall
And if you want to read Batman's original comics published during the 30s and 40s you should pick Batman: Chronicles (There are multiple volumes but they're cheap), but those stories from the 30s and 40s are semi canon or non-canon (DC Universe is kinda confusing).

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

Start with graphic novels. I'd recommend ...

Batman: Hush;
Batman: Year One;
The Dark Knight Returns;
Batman: The Long Halloween.

JB

 

[thebatandthecat]

Thanks guys...I picked up "Year One" yesterday!

 

[Lord]

I think The Dark Knight Returns is not for everybody.

 

[Ipodman]

Start with graphic novels. I'd recommend ...

Batman: Hush;
Batman: Year One;
The Dark Knight Returns;
Batman: The Long Halloween.

JB

Hush... meh.

But the other 3, definitely

I think The Dark Knight Returns is not for everybody.

But it's still a great story... and there are some great Joker stuff in there

 

[thebatandthecat]

Started "Year One" today and so far its a great story! The only issue I have is that I havn't read a comic book in about 20 years & I am struggling a little with that. Are any of these books available in actual novel form? I enjoyed the illustrations at first but I think I'm not getting into the story as much as I could if it were an actual novel.

 

[BatmanGoesToRio]

I doubt that there's a "Year One" novel. But it's a great comic to start with.
I recommend you to continue with The Long Halloween and Dark Victory.

 

[Hound55]

Yeah, Millerverse is an acquired taste.

My advice is to go through it in line with it's release.

The Dark Knight Returns is a must have though... If you don't think it's awesome then don't get The Dark Knight Strikes Again... and in turn if The Dark Knight Strikes Again seems too over the top for your tastes, then don't get Allstar Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder.

I'm going to chime in with No Man's land as a recommendation too... I think that's pretty underrated, but probably more enjoyable if you've read some other stuff first.

I liked Hush too, but I think that benefits from being familiar with the extensive rogues gallery Bats has.

Batman's pretty much the only title where you'll ever catch me saying this, but; get anything Loeb that you can... But for pretty much any other title in recent years, the opposite's been better advice.

While I'm in here... What do people think of Cataclysm? Worth getting?

 

[thebatandthecat]

Finished "Year One"...definitely enjoyed the story! Thanks for the recommendation guys...think I'm gonna move forward with "The Long Halloween" as that seems to be on everyone's list! Is there a site out there anywhere that has a good chronological list of the titles? I think the most intimidating thing is not knowing what direction to move forward with.

 

[Hound55]

Well, since you've read Year One... Some of the major books in chronological order would probably be Batman and the Monster Men, Batman and the Mad Monk, Batman: The Man Who Laughs and then those big Loeb 2 of The Long Halloween and Dark Victory.

Now there'd be some stuff in between and around, and Shaman as well I guess, but I reckon it's better to go back to Shaman later.

 

[CConn]

Finished "Year One"...definitely enjoyed the story! Thanks for the recommendation guys...think I'm gonna move forward with "The Long Halloween" as that seems to be on everyone's list! Is there a site out there anywhere that has a good chronological list of the titles? I think the most intimidating thing is not knowing what direction to move forward with.

The main problem you're going to run into is that a ton of books that are in the middle of Batman's chronology are either out of print or never even collected in trade.

So really, don't worry so much about the direct order and instead just enjoy the books in their own right.

Year One
Batman and the Monster Men
Batman and the Mad Monk
The Man Who Laughs
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory
Tales of the Demon
The Killing Joke
A Death in the Family
Knightfall
Hush
Under the Red Hood

Is probably the best order of the current books in print that covers the main points of Batman's history. Those are the books that introduce most of Batman's big villains and storylines.

Then once you're done with that, come back and we'll talk about Morrison.

 

[sideburnking]

I definitely recommend 'The Long Halloween' and its sequel, 'Dark Victory.' Another pretty good (Though much shorter) comic miniseries created by that same creative team is 'Batman: Haunted Knight.'

 

[GothamAlleys]

I dont think just reading graphic novels which are outside of normal continuity is a good idea. If you ask me, my advice would be to read 1986's Year One and continue reading chronologically from there up till KnightQuest

 

[dc587]

Hush was my first GN and IMO it is a great starting point because it shows a fully developed Batman at the top of his game (very cool stuff), while at the same time explaining a lot about his supporting cast and rogues gallery through flashbacks and references to other works. It was a great introduction to the Batman universe and made me want to find out more about these characters' history, etc. which resulted in me reading:

Year One
Batman & The Monster Men
Batman & The Mad Monk
The Man Who Laughs
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory
The Killing Joke
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
The Dark Knight Returns
The Dark Knight Strikes Again

Among others... But these titles form a very solid base and I can strongly recommend all of them.

 

[Hound55]

Personally, I think Hush works better as a later work as a curve when you think you've got Batman's rogues gallery all figured out.