The Batman comics recommendation thread! - Part 1

[GothamAlleys]

Im currently rereading the late 80s/early 90s Batman run. Its as good as I remember it and its amazing how many horror/supernatural stories there were in that time and theyre all fantastic, reading them is like watching classic X Files with creepy mystery unraveling. Another recommendation I have is a story by Milligan and Aparo called A Hungry Grass

 

[Janomeister]

Well I would recommend Lonely place of Dying as fine read.... If the reader is familiar with Detective Comics #38, pre-crises on infinite earths, Legends of the Dark knight #100 and is also familiar with two-face. But if you're dead stuck on a good two face read try Detective Comics #66, it doesn't have as much background.

If the comic book reading is too much work you can find all the back stories on wikipedia.

 

[Cobblepot]

LOTDK also had some good Riddler stories. Hell all of the early arcs where awesomesauce!

 

[Comics N' Toons]

Well I would recommend Lonely place of Dying as fine read.... If the reader is familiar with Detective Comics #38, pre-crises on infinite earths, Legends of the Dark knight #100 and is also familiar with two-face. But if you're dead stuck on a good two face read try Detective Comics #66, it doesn't have as much background.

If the comic book reading is too much work you can find all the back stories on wikipedia.

Anyone who doesn't read comics and is interested at all in Batman is absolutely an idiot! Sorry, but yeah, it's true!

 

[lordofthenerds]

 

[-Catwoman-]

Catwoman When in Rome, Hush, New justice leagues,are good too, Arkham Asylum.

 

[SimbaRises]

Year 100 ... FANTASTIC art, FANTASTIC read

 

[uniqueweasel]

Batman: Face The Face is a good story.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

Disliked by many, but I always loved this story because of its dark, noir-ish tone and controversial story:

City Of Crime by David Lapham

I just loved the portrayal of Batman and the vibe of the supernatural elements of the story. Really really great book, that, I think, is still a big unknown to a lot of people.

I also loved the entire Morrison run and everything Snyder does right now, but I think thats not as interesting to recommend, because everyone know those books^^

 

[CConn]

^ I wholeheartedly agree with that.

I read City of Crime in single issues back when it came out, I was new to comics at the time, and I absolutely hated it. It was boring, it was long winded, it was weird.

But about two months ago I went back and reread it all at once, and found it to be possibly the most under appreciated Batman story I've ever read. While it is definitely slow-moving, it features incredible exposition of Batman and his world. It both gets into Batman's head really well plus creates a villain that is both inventive and a perfect philosophical fit for Btman, and this story.

While it can still drag at times, I honestly think I was more moved by the sheer concepts and very horror-based themes presented in it than I even was by Morrison's Batman issues.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

Nice to see some love for the Lapham stuff^^

 

[MrWayne]

Catwoman: When in Rome.

Thinking of picking this up is it a worthy read, if so can anyone tell me why? (I'm sure it's good, but I just wanted to get some reader input) Thanks!

Also, anyone know what comic this Batman picture is from? Is this a Jim Lee or.....?

 

[shallbecomeabat]

That pic must've come from one of the nwe 52 comics, because of those lines on his chestarmor. Can't tell you which, cause I'm a trade-waiter, so I haven't even started the new 52 yet. Still waiting for may.

About when in rome: I was a bit bored by it, but because of the lack of Batman in it, it being a Catwoman book and all.
Love the muscular look of Tim Sales Selina, but the story wasn't deep or well thought out, in my eyes. The typical Loeb stuff. A lotta action. If you really loved Long Halloweens art style and Catwoman, I think it should be a good read for you, but it won't set your comicbook world on fire.

Just bought the Batman versus Bane trade, to finally read Vengeance of Bane and Bane of The Demon. Always kinda missed those two.

 

[MrWayne]

Thanks Shall, I'll research the New 52 stuff.

Yea, I'm a HUGE Sale/Loeb fan so I would collect anything they threw at me. I may pick it up just because.

Batman: Year One

I was surprisingly really unimpressed by this book. The art was not the best for me and although I enjoyed the story I just didnt enjoy the execution of how the art and story meshed. I really didn't like how it never got into all of the years Bruce trained abroad. He just returns from his hiatus and starts phase two of his mission. I'm surprised its so well regarded as a must have. I'm sure someone else on here will disagree with me and give me their thoughts on why. But I just was expecting much more from Year One...

Enjoy the Knightfall

 

[shallbecomeabat]

I love Year One. It is the only Frank Miller comic I truly enjoyed (even if I somewhat like TDKR but for my tastes its a bit too depressing)!

I love the real world feeling of it all! Miller did there what Kick ass attempted to do decades later: show how a Superhero can exist in a completely real world. Batman Begins is Blade Runner-esque Sci-Fi compared to Year One. I know it is somewhat unspectacular, nest to most Batbooks, but thats just what makes it unique. I would've loved an Elseworld ongoing Batman Series that would keep that style and tone intact for a few years.

Its not my favorite Batbook (that is Morrisons Black Glove and RIP run), but its definately in my top ten, even if it doesn't really match the tone of the DCU or of most other Batbooks.

 

[MrWayne]

See, when I read a post like yours it makes me re-think my own thoughts on it. Idk, i wanted to enjoy it, and dont get me wrong it wasnt wack, I guess my expectations where higher. I enjoyed the story though, but hated the art. I do wish there was more story concerning Bruce's time abroad, traveling and studying, learning, becoming a master. I think what really bummed me out was that it was a quick read for me. I like taking days to finish a story (LH & DV).

I think Millers -TDKR is calling me!

 

[CConn]

YO is kind of a subtle kind of story. I had to reread it once or twice to really get the full effect of it.

 

[redhood91]

War Games was a great series, very interesting.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

See, when I read a post like yours it makes me re-think my own thoughts on it.

Thanks

Yeah, I know its a very short read. I myself love the longer arcs I can dive in for days or even weeks (thats one thing why I love Morrisons 5 year run so much!)

YO is kind of a subtle kind of story. I had to reread it once or twice to really get the full effect of it.

Thats just it! I love the fact that its also almost more of a James Gordon story. We don't have that many Gordon centric comics.

to redhood91's recommendation: I also really liked War Games, which is, again like City Of Crime, almost universally hated. Sure it is a bit heavy on the action side of things, which, in my eyes, makes it in some parts a bit of a drag to read, but all in all one of the coolest batbook crossovers.
I love the way Black Mask gets handled here and his confrontation with Joker in the War Crimes follow ups.
he has one of my favorite lines there, too.
He acquires a lot of Kryptonite and is asked what he's going to do with it and he replies with something like:"Heres what I'm not going to do with it: I won't build a giant mech suit, go to Metropolis and play King of the Mountain." t:

Oooops, I just checked. That line's from Under The Red Hood, which started directly after War Games and before War Crimes. Still... really really like War Games.

Batman Black Glove and Batman RIP

follow up to Batman and Son by Morrison, in those two books the story really kicks of. Its dark, its philosophical, its deep, its crazy, stupid and fun, all at the same time. Cannot remember another Batman book I read with such a sense of danger and dread, which could've something to do with the "will he/won't he kill Batman"- thing. Morrison writes the Joker like no other writer and transforms the character into something even more terrifying than ever before! The Black Glove is a new enemy to be reckoned with, who has Batman in its grasp for longer than he would be willing to admit. The stakes are high, the masks are off and sanity is only an afterthought. I LOOOOOVE this run!

The follow up, Batman and Robin run was also great, but did not really grab me by the throat like these two books. To fully understand what happens to Batman after RIP you also need to read "Time and The Batman" and "Final Crisis", because everything ties together.

 

[MrWayne]

I havent touched any of the New 52 Bataman stuff, I'm wondering how those are doing. The story and art seems to be pretty good from what I hear.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

Reviews for Snyders Batman are very good. Batman and Robin by Gleason also. But I think its pretty safe to stay away from Finchs Dark Knight. That book sucked even before the relaunch.
Tony Daniel on Detective could still go either way.

 

[Naked Shia]

Snyder's run on Detective comics was great. But his run on Batman is even better.

I would highly recommend Batman: The Cult by Starlin. Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison may be my favorite bat story ever. I also think credit should be given to matt wagner for Batman and the Monster men and batman and the mad monk. His take on classical stories written in the 40's is quite good.

No Man's Land is also a must read to me.

Englehart wrote some damn great bat stories in the late 70's, and you can purchase his work in the "Legends of the dark knight - Marshall Rogers" anthology.
Batman Prey and Batman Terror are also good read.

 

[CConn]

I gotta disagree with shallbecomeabat, Detective is pretty bad.

One line of dialogue from Batman actually reads: "Someone's taking a bath. A blood bath."

That is a pretty good indication of the overall quality of writing.

 

[Naked Shia]

I gotta disagree with shallbecomeabat, Detective is pretty bad.

One line of dialogue from Batman actually reads: "Someone's taking a bath. A blood bath."

That is a pretty good indication of the overall quality of writing.

Same here. I really like Tony Daniel as an artist, but his writing skills are not that good.

 

[MrWayne]

They should have given Jim Lee a Batman new 52 title to pencil.