The Dark Knight Rises Which Batman GN or TPB will you be reading before the movie comes out?

[Nave 'Torment']

The release date for The Dark Knight Rises is still a good while away, and in the mean time the only way a true Bat-fan can pass the time is by experiencing Batman as he has been, perhaps even historically.

We know that the Nolans, David S. Goyer, and even Christian Bale are big fans of the source material(s), for Batman Begins and The Dark Knight the more informed reader immediately saw scenes making a transition to the big screen, such as Bruce's training in the icy-plateaus with Ra's Al Ghul (Denny O' Niel's first appearance of Ra's), a young Wayne's mournful visitation of his late parents' bedroom (a scene from Dark Victory, albeit with a much older Bruce); the Joker's appearance sans make-up as a fake cop is also from his first Golden Age appearance; the scene of Batman saving Gordon's son from a fall echoes the climax of Batman Year One, Harvey dropping a note that "it's my father's lucky coin", among so many others (I almost lost track there for a sec).

With TDKR we already see scenes that mirror memorable instances from the comics such as a Gotham besieged and amidst chaos in a wintry setting (echoes too much of Dark Knight Returns' scene of a nuclear winter, not that this has to be that), or the set-pics of Anne Hathaway wearing the kind of dresses (and necklaces) that Tim Sale's Selina Kyle is remembered for. It's not that crazy to assume that the filmmakers would continue their faithful adaptations for the third go.

I was wondering what graphic novels, trade-paperbacks or even story-arcs you would be considering to re-read (or read) before the movie comes out? I've already started my umpteenth helping of DK:R and Dark Victory (and the potential echoes are mighty tasty indeed), and am thinking of reading Bane of the Demon and the Knightfall trilogy. What about yourself? Would you re-watch BTAS or TNBA? Play Arkham Asylum and City another time? Give Adam West a shot (since we're looking at a Catwoman who seems to share cat-suits with her 60s counterpart)? I didn't want to limit the discussion with lists, so yeah, discuss away!

 

[chintai80]

re-read some knightfall.

there's a part in it where joker and scarecrow flood the sewer and batman has to save the mayor.

you think tdkr will use this as inspiration for the assumed batman and bane showdown in the sewers?

 

[Nave 'Torment']

I haven't read Knightfall in a long time but, yeah it could be a big possibility. I think Nolan is trying to mesh Bane and Azrael together in the whole "darker saviour of Gotham" sort of way. That shot in the trailer where, I can only assume, Bane is crawling his way out of a tunnel (which looks like the original cave hole from which bruce fell through) reeks of Bruce's final encounter with Jean-Paul Valley!

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

Batman: Leviathan Strikes!

 

[Lord]

From what it seems Nolan is mixing elements from Knightfall, The Dark Knight Returns, No Man's Land, that one story that had Bane as a possible successor for Ras All Ghul, and possibly a mix of Batman R.I.P., it doesn't mean Batman will die but the movie may take some clues from that story in other aspects.

So yeah, these are the TPB's i recomend to read before watching the movie

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Knightfall
The Dark Knight Returns
No Man's Land
Vengeance of Bane
Bane of the Demon
Year One

My guesses thus far.

 

[Sharkboy]

DKR...clearly.

 

[Tatsumarushinob]

Well for me its gonna be a doozie: I take the law bar exam on September, which means most of my reading will be focused on that. That said, I'll find a way to re-read, yet again:

Year One
The Dark Knight Returns
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory
Hush
All Star Batman and Robin
Batman Ego
Batman & The Monster Men
Batman & The Mad Monk

*Maybe Hush and Knightfall

*Not to mention a dose of watching Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, select animated episodes (including Batman Beyond) plus Arkham games and listening to music from the movies.

Yeah, I'm going all out. Hell, I might even put on bat costume and take out some thugs for ****s and giggles.

 

[Ramsay Snow]

No Man's Land's concept really intrigued me and had me glued to each page. I like the concept of several gangs ruling their turf, GCPD doing the same and Batman slowly taking care of things.

Also, I don't remember much, but did Batman fight in daylight in this comic?

 

[DaveMoral]

I'll read the Knightfall novel. I like it better than the comics.

The Dark Knight Returns
No Man's Land
Contagion/Legacy - that's the one where Bane is betrothed to Talia and the successor to Ra's.. along with that I'll read the Bane one shot that came out at the same time B&R was in theaters. It continues Bane's story in the immediate aftermath of Legacy.

Whatever I think

 

[AnneFan]

Knightfall
The Dark Knight Returns
No Man's Land
Vengeance of Bane
Bane of the Demon
Year One

My guesses thus far.

These would be my selections as well.

 

[CConn]

None. I'll just continue reading the ungodly goodness of Morrison's Leviathan, Synder's Batman, Tomasi's Batman and Robin, and Williams' Batwoman.

 

[slimshady247]

None. I'll just continue reading the ungodly goodness of Morrison's Leviathan, Synder's Batman, Tomasi's Batman and Robin, and Williams' Batwoman.

I as well will continue reading Morrison and Snyder's Bat books.

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Well for me its gonna be a doozie: I take the law bar exam on September, which means most of my reading will be focused on that. That said, I'll find a way to re-read, yet again:

Year One
The Dark Knight Returns
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory
Hush
All Star Batman and Robin
Batman Ego
Batman & The Monster Men
Batman & The Mad Monk

*Maybe Hush and Knightfall

*Not to mention a dose of watching Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, select animated episodes (including Batman Beyond) plus Arkham games and listening to music from the movies.

Yeah, I'm going all out. Hell, I might even put on bat costume and take out some thugs for ****s and giggles.

Haha, well goodluck on all counts You could pass off as a Matt Murdoch type as well in the future.

No Man's Land's concept really intrigued me and had me glued to each page. I like the concept of several gangs ruling their turf, GCPD doing the same and Batman slowly taking care of things.

Also, I don't remember much, but did Batman fight in daylight in this comic?

I think he did... especially near the end. I loved what NML did to Batman - Gotham City was stripped to its bear essentials, and it was Batman in a world where the law was... well, one big joke for survival.

I especially loved Sarah Essen in these, and Jim's struggles with a moral sense of order. And... oh yes, Barbara!

That's what I love about Batman's comics - it's always the world around him that gets so heavily detailed. That alone is one of the reasons why I still hold Year One so closely.

 

[obin_gam]

none.
Bu I am going to do a Batman Begins -> The Dark Knight marathon right before I get to the cinema.

 

[AnneFan]

Upon reflection, I'd add When in Rome.

 

[Lord]

Last year i made a Batman Begins, Batman: Gotham Knight, The Dark Knight marathon

 

[Nave 'Torment']

im seriously considering a by the decades re-reading of my entire Bat-collection... it'd be an exercise in madness... but i guess i'll end up doing it?

 

[DaveMoral]

I'm watching BTAS/NABM- Over the Edge. The one where Batgirl is killed by Scarecrow(or did he?) and Gordon hunts Batman and hires Bane to finisg the job. Police storm Wayne Manor and the Cave etc.

 

[TDK Joker]

Last year i made a Batman Begins, Batman: Gotham Knight, The Dark Knight marathon

I will be doing the same the night before TDKR

 

[TDK Joker]

I'm watching BTAS/NABM- Over the Edge. The one where Batgirl is killed by Scarecrow(or did he?) and Gordon hunts Batman and hires Bane to finisg the job. Police storm Wayne Manor and the Cave etc.

That is a brilliant episode.

 

[Sharkboy]

Batman Begins - the man who falls (bruces origin), year one (gordon, flass, young batman)

The Dark Knight - the man who laughs (joker's story), The long halloween (dent's story, the mob)

The Dark knight rises - Knightfall (bane's story) no man's land (decrepit winter gotham under siege) Dark Knight Returns (older bruce near the apparent end of his career)

It's funny because what we've seen and heard about TDKR so far happens to mix three of my favourite batman stories of all time.

 

[Lord]

Actually they didn't base the Joker in the man who laughs comics, they based his appearance on the film on his first appearance in Batman #1 from the golden age, the same source used by The Man who laughs comic, it's even evident when the Joker falls from a building and is caught by Batman in both, Batman 1 and The Dark Knight

 

[Ramsay Snow]

I think he did... especially near the end. I loved what NML did to Batman - Gotham City was stripped to its bear essentials, and it was Batman in a world where the law was... well, one big joke for survival.

I especially loved Sarah Essen in these, and Jim's struggles with a moral sense of order. And... oh yes, Barbara!

That's some of things I really liked about that comic. All the characters were so fleshed out.

One thing I don't remember is: how can Barbara have all eyes on Gotham? Are there security cameras planted everywhere or something? This applies to all the comics that involve her as Oracle.

 

[DaveMoral]

That's some of things I really liked about that comic. All the characters were so fleshed out.

One thing I don't remember is: how can Barbara have all eyes on Gotham? Are there security cameras planted everywhere or something? This applies to all the comics that involve her as Oracle.

In NML Babs has a huge network of informers.