Which decade of Batman do you consider the best?

[Spider-Kurt!]

When and why?

 

[CConn]

The 70s for several reasons:

The 70s were a great age for comics in that, comics were just beginning to emerged and transcend the camp of the previous two decades, but they still retained what had always made comics a great and unique medium; entire, massive storylines of the grand and fantastic could be told within just 22 pages, and those stories maintained a wonderfully naive sense of right and wrong, just and unjust.

And Batman comics were no exception to that rule. Batman could be harsh, Batman could be adult - at times threatening to shove knives down criminals throats, sideways! - but at the same time, he wasn't crime. He was still the Caped Crusader. He could walk down the streets in broad daylight, and inspire children, and help the innocent just by his presence and demeanor.

Meanwhile, the stories themselves were very of the iconic sort of Batman stories that everyone is accustomed to; they were mysteries, they were lavish European and Asian excursions, they encapsulated the core essence of the quintessential Batman. And did it in just 22 pages. Batman was a detective, Batman was an adventurer, Batman was disturbed and troubled man plagued by the demons of the past. But he wasn't a demon himself. He was always a hero. He was always what people should aspire to be; talented, selfless, driven, kind, intelligent and good.

I honestly haven't seen that character since the Frank Miller/Alan Moore grimfest of the mid-80s and beyond. Not to insult their seminal work - they are deserving of all of their praise and more - they set up a tone in comics - in Batman comics in particular - that could not, and I don't think will ever capture Batman as completely as those comics of the 70s and early 80s did.

 

[RustyCage]

^ SUCH a good post. Everything CConn said.

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

The 70s for several reasons:

The 70s were a great age for comics in that, comics were just beginning to emerged and transcend the camp of the previous two decades, but they still retained what had always made comics a great and unique medium; entire, massive storylines of the grand and fantastic could be told within just 22 pages, and those stories maintained a wonderfully naive sense of right and wrong, just and unjust.

And Batman comics were no exception to that rule. Batman could be harsh, Batman could be adult - at times threatening to shove knives down criminals throats, sideways! - but at the same time, he wasn't crime. He was still the Caped Crusader. He could walk down the streets in broad daylight, and inspire children, and help the innocent just by his presence and demeanor.

Meanwhile, the stories themselves were very of the iconic sort of Batman stories that everyone is accustomed to; they were mysteries, they were lavish European and Asian excursions, they encapsulated the core essence of the quintessential Batman. And did it in just 22 pages. Batman was a detective, Batman was an adventurer, Batman was disturbed and troubled man plagued by the demons of the past. But he wasn't a demon himself. He was always a hero. He was always what people should aspire to be; talented, selfless, driven, kind, intelligent and good.

I honestly haven't seen that character since the Frank Miller/Alan Moore grimfest of the mid-80s and beyond. Not to insult their seminal work - they are deserving of all of their praise and more - they set up a tone in comics - in Batman comics in particular - that could not, and I don't think will ever capture Batman as completely as those comics of the 70s and early 80s did.

Preach! I don't think I could have said this better myself.

 

[Young Superman]

The 70s for several reasons:

The 70s were a great age for comics in that, comics were just beginning to emerged and transcend the camp of the previous two decades, but they still retained what had always made comics a great and unique medium; entire, massive storylines of the grand and fantastic could be told within just 22 pages, and those stories maintained a wonderfully naive sense of right and wrong, just and unjust.

And Batman comics were no exception to that rule. Batman could be harsh, Batman could be adult - at times threatening to shove knives down criminals throats, sideways! - but at the same time, he wasn't crime. He was still the Caped Crusader. He could walk down the streets in broad daylight, and inspire children, and help the innocent just by his presence and demeanor.

Meanwhile, the stories themselves were very of the iconic sort of Batman stories that everyone is accustomed to; they were mysteries, they were lavish European and Asian excursions, they encapsulated the core essence of the quintessential Batman. And did it in just 22 pages. Batman was a detective, Batman was an adventurer, Batman was disturbed and troubled man plagued by the demons of the past. But he wasn't a demon himself. He was always a hero. He was always what people should aspire to be; talented, selfless, driven, kind, intelligent and good.

I honestly haven't seen that character since the Frank Miller/Alan Moore grimfest of the mid-80s and beyond. Not to insult their seminal work - they are deserving of all of their praise and more - they set up a tone in comics - in Batman comics in particular - that could not, and I don't think will ever capture Batman as completely as those comics of the 70s and early 80s did.

Agreed

 

[SpideyInATree]

I'm reading a lot of the 1950's Batman era right now and some of that stuff was kind of bad ass for the time. It's corny as all hell and they say "*****" a lot in the book it introduced a lot of stuff that is around in the book today. You have the Knight and Squire introduction. Then that led to the Batmen of Many Nations storyline. Then shortly after that we had that Batman of Zur En Arr, or whatever. Plus the introduction of the Bat-Mite. Most of those aspects are being used in, or had been used, in the recent run of Grant Morrison.

Honestly though...I have to say I'm quite a fan of the era of RIGHT NOW. I've been reading Batman steadily since 1993 and this is the best the book has been since I've read it ever. So, I'm going to say that Grant Morrison's run on Batman is the best.

And a special mention of the 1950's because while it was corny it was kind of cool. I suggest if people can get their hands on collections, etc, to do it and see for yourselves.

 

[The Joker]

What CConn said. 70's ftw.

 

[antsman41]

70's because of the rules...

But, 1988-1998 is the best ten years of Batman comics...

 

[Cain]

The 70's were highly influential yes, they feature some of the greatest Batman stories ever told. They were before my time but I did revisit those books and loved a lot of what I read. Though I'm more of an Englehart/Rogers guy than I ever was O'Neill/Adams (still No Hope In Crime Alley and the story with the mute mutant seal boy are some of my all time favorites). However I can't call them the greatest because the 80's only greatly improved on the foundations set by the 70's.

So I vote for the 80's. I admit nostalgia is a bit of the reason why I vote that way. Since I've been reading since 1988 a lot of the stories of the end of that decade are MY Batman. However it was also a brilliant decade in general for the books.

Some of the most underrated gems were released during the beginning of that period (Ie: The Strange Saga of Rupert Thorne epic that picked up from Englehart/Rogers' plot threads). I had the privilege of reading a lot of them cause of my cousin's back issues back in the day. Many of them were never shown any TPB love though so many bat fans have never even heard of them.

Yet alot of these stories were tremendously well executed and took things up a notch without sacrificing the tone from the 70's books. For one thing this was the period where Gotham became more vibrant and alive. Jim Gordon became a THREE dimensional character during the early 80's. The Bat family had a very prominent role during this period etc.

 

[Cain]

I honestly haven't seen that character since the Frank Miller/Alan Moore grimfest of the mid-80s and beyond.

I just can't fathom how this conclusion has ever been drawn. You know I always respect your opinions CConn. However I completely and utterly disagree that a Batman with the sensibilities of the one from the 70's books was gone by the mid-80's. I've seen people parrot that notion all over the net for like 10 yrs now. Yet I've never seen any real basis for such a claim at all. Not before Bob Gale left the books to make way for the likes of Rucka & Brubaker at least.

Go back and read any Batman book from '87 to the early 90's and you'd see for yourself. Alan Grant always wrote a sympathetic, altruistic and adventurously heroic Batman, just like the one from the 70's. Same with the fill in writers during that time like John Ostrander.

Even when Moench took over which is an era known for Kelley Jones' gothic art. Keep in mind they had the setting of the post-Destroyer Gotham to work with. A Gotham similar to the expressionistic & noirish influences of Burton/Furst. As well as the original supernatural crime Gotham from Finger's early days. So it looked like a ****hole yet you'd never read about jerkaholic anti-social Bats in it. He was a bright spot in a bleaker world.

Same with Dixon when he took the reigns. I'd say the only time those guys wrote a grumpier Batman was during Knightfall. Considering that Bruce was supposed to be burnt out it made thematic sense. Yet that wasn't something consistent beyond that arc.

On top of that even Miller's Batman wasn't this serious ultra grim avenger either. He was a vet and an ass kicker but he still seemed human. Not Batgod the Antisocial beast man who shuns his own extended family of superheroes on top of everyone else. Mind you many people HAVE indeed misinterpreted Miller's approach and ran with something a bit extreme,but outside of All-Star that was never Miller's Batman.

Now yes sometime after the New Gotham era began things started to get a little ridiculous. Batman was this cold and distantly obnoxious fellow and not the guy many of us grew up reading about. Even Rucka and Brubaker who a lot of their work I did enjoy fell victim to this later on in their runs.

The people that followed them took it even further though and this is why Bat jerk became so prominent. This also turned me off from the books for a while as a lot of those arcs like Orca, War Games, As The Crow Flies, Hush and Broken City (which did grow on me now years later) initially repulsed me. But that's a prominent product of the early 00's and not the mid-80's.

 

[Cain]

So, I'm going to say that Grant Morrison's run on Batman is the best.

I don't think it's there just yet but it's very well on it's way as it just keeps getting better and better. If you haven't read BATMAN #702 yet I urge you to run to your local store and bag it up RIGHT NOW. It was such a nice treat to read since Morrison just completely gets Bruce's voice so damn well. Hell not just Bruce, he seems to pretty much have a great groove with all the bat characters he's worked with. A rarity with a lot of other Batman writers who either get Tim but don't get Dick or get Bruce but don't really know Alfred or Gordon etc.

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

I'm reading a lot of the 1950's Batman era right now and some of that stuff was kind of bad ass for the time. It's corny as all hell and they say "*****" a lot in the book it introduced a lot of stuff that is around in the book today. You have the Knight and Squire introduction. Then that led to the Batmen of Many Nations storyline. Then shortly after that we had that Batman of Zur En Arr, or whatever. Plus the introduction of the Bat-Mite. Most of those aspects are being used in, or had been used, in the recent run of Grant Morrison.

Honestly though...I have to say I'm quite a fan of the era of RIGHT NOW. I've been reading Batman steadily since 1993 and this is the best the book has been since I've read it ever. So, I'm going to say that Grant Morrison's run on Batman is the best.

And a special mention of the 1950's because while it was corny it was kind of cool. I suggest if people can get their hands on collections, etc, to do it and see for yourselves.

This was an unexpected answer and response but a respectful one as well. I haven't read those stories from the 50's but I think it's cool that Morrison had the courage to put out the effort to tackle an era of Batman most,if not all writers had since ignored and tried to bridge the gap between then and now.

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

70's because of the rules...

But, 1988-1998 is the best ten years of Batman comics...

Why was this eleven year period your favorite?

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

The 70's were highly influential yes, they feature some of the greatest Batman stories ever told. They were before my time but I did revisit those books and loved a lot of what I read. Though I'm more of an Englehart/Rogers guy than I ever was O'Neill/Adams (still No Hope In Crime Alley and the story with the mute mutant seal boy are some of my all time favorites). However I can't call them the greatest because the 80's only greatly improved on the foundations set by the 70's.

So I vote for the 80's. I admit nostalgia is a bit of the reason why I vote that way. Since I've been reading since 1988 a lot of the stories of the end of that decade are MY Batman. However it was also a brilliant decade in general for the books.

Some of the most underrated gems were released during the beginning of that period (Ie: The Strange Saga of Rupert Thorne epic that picked up from Englehart/Rogers' plot threads). I had the privilege of reading a lot of them cause of my cousin's back issues back in the day. Many of them were never shown any TPB love though so many bat fans have never even heard of them.

Yet alot of these stories were tremendously well executed and took things up a notch without sacrificing the tone from the 70's books. For one thing this was the period where Gotham became more vibrant and alive. Jim Gordon became a THREE dimensional character during the early 80's. The Bat family had a very prominent role during this period etc.

This is a great response as well. When coming up with his question,I was torn between the 70's and the 80's. Both had their strengths and both had their weaknesses. Most likely,if I were to narrow it down as to my favorite consistant period of Batman it would be somewhere between 1975 or so til about 1983 I think. While I'm leaning towards the 70's,I can't help but to agree that the 80's era,for the most part did only improve and add on to what the 70's accomplished.

 

[antsman41]

Why was this eleven year period your favorite?

haha...

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

haha...

lol It's cool. I get the idea of what you mean.I was serious about asking you what about those years makes them your favorite.

 

[Frankenmation]

The 70s for several reasons:

The 70s were a great age for comics in that, comics were just beginning to emerged and transcend the camp of the previous two decades, but they still retained what had always made comics a great and unique medium; entire, massive storylines of the grand and fantastic could be told within just 22 pages, and those stories maintained a wonderfully naive sense of right and wrong, just and unjust.

And Batman comics were no exception to that rule. Batman could be harsh, Batman could be adult - at times threatening to shove knives down criminals throats, sideways! - but at the same time, he wasn't crime. He was still the Caped Crusader. He could walk down the streets in broad daylight, and inspire children, and help the innocent just by his presence and demeanor.

Meanwhile, the stories themselves were very of the iconic sort of Batman stories that everyone is accustomed to; they were mysteries, they were lavish European and Asian excursions, they encapsulated the core essence of the quintessential Batman. And did it in just 22 pages. Batman was a detective, Batman was an adventurer, Batman was disturbed and troubled man plagued by the demons of the past. But he wasn't a demon himself. He was always a hero. He was always what people should aspire to be; talented, selfless, driven, kind, intelligent and good.

I honestly haven't seen that character since the Frank Miller/Alan Moore grimfest of the mid-80s and beyond. Not to insult their seminal work - they are deserving of all of their praise and more - they set up a tone in comics - in Batman comics in particular - that could not, and I don't think will ever capture Batman as completely as those comics of the 70s and early 80s did.

Wow, what a fantastic post

Basically, my favourite era would be the 70s for all the reasons that CConn posted, but I also really like the 1940s a lot. Not just the first year when Batman was fighting stuff like the Mad Monk and Doctor Death (that was great, don't get me wrong) but also when Robin first showed up and how he and Batman would get into all these great pulp and mystery stories. They were lighter sure but they were still fairly dark and they were tons of fun.

 

[TeejTurtle]

I like the 70s through to the 90s.
The 00s Batman has been written by people who grew up reading the Dark Kight returns and misunderstood it and now we have the too serious, gritty, two dimensional Batman. Or should I say 'had' as I wonder how he's going to be now once he returns.

 

[Frankenmation]

I imagine that when Bruce Wayne returns he'll probably be less "grim and gritty", it's what Grant Morrison has been trying to do since 52 and the start of his Batman run. Whether other writers decide to follow Morrison's footsteps and write Bruce that way remains to be seen.

 

[antsman41]

lol It's cool. I get the idea of what you mean.I was serious about asking you what about those years makes them your favorite.

Death of Todd -> Tim Drake
Year One
One shot issues of Det and Batman after Todd died
relationship with Gordon increased...
Norm Breyfogle!
BANE
Azeral/JPV
Knightfall
Knightsquest
KnightsEnd
KELLY JONES!
SOTB
LOTDK
Contagion -> Legacy
Nightwing (yellow) -> Nightwing (w/ McDaniel)
Scarecrow's/Penguin's/Two-Face's characterization
Montoya/Bollock
3 of the best Batmobiles

Just a great ten years of Batman comics.

It does pain me that though doesn't include the best Batman arc, Cataclysm -> No Man's Land. But, everything from Todd's death to Legacy was boiling up to the earthquake and is why it was great ten years...

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

Nice list antsman. I agree with some of those highlight more than others but for myself,i still can't decide 70's or 80's.

 

[returntovoid]

For me it's a tie between 1939-1942 and 1970's.

But I think 1939-1942 is the best because there would be no Batman comics if it weren't for that decade. That's also the most atmospheric decade of Batman comics, IMO.

 

[Brother Jack]

But I think 1939-1942 is the best because there would be no Batman comics if it weren't for that decade. That's also the most atmospheric decade of Batman comics, IMO.

That's not a decade. And the "because it came first" argument doesn't hold a lot of water. Superman couldn't fly in his first years and Batman carried a gun. The characters were ironed out (improved upon) later.

 

[CrimsonMist]

The people that followed them took it even further though and this is why Bat jerk became so prominent. This also turned me off from the books for a while as a lot of those arcs like Orca, War Games, As The Crow Flies, Hush and Broken City (which did grow on me now years later) initially repulsed me. But that's a prominent product of the early 00's and not the mid-80's.

I think Broken City gets dumped on unfairly. Personally, it's my favorite Batman story of the last few years. It came out after HUSH, which everyone goes gaga for, but HUSH was a story I never liked. It's a convoluted mess, and nothing more than Jeph Loeb once again employing as many villains as he can to tell a story that doesn't quite make sense and Jim Lee's flashy artwork that did nothing for me.

Broken City sticks out much like Frank Miller's work and David Lapham's brief work on the character stick out. Those stories are kind of elevated Batman stories, which I would REALLY love to see more of.

What I mean is, these stories feel like crime stories, that just happen to have Batman in them. Go read a story in Detective Comics and you'll find your run of mill generic Batman mystery story. Broken City is beyond that. It's a noir story, with all of the underpinnings of a noir/crime tale, reminiscent of Raymond Chandler or Mickey Spillane(Miller's stuff especially when it comes to Spillane). Broken City is just a great crime story that doesn't feel like a generic Batman mystery tale. But at the same time, it's very much Batman. And even so, it's not all that grim. There's that bit of optimism at the end that makes the whole story very much a classic Batman story.

Don't get me wrong though: I love the basic Batman mystery tales, but I love the stories that feel more elevated than that much more, like Broken City and even City of Crime(which is kind of convoluted, but an awesome read, nonetheless).

anyways, favorite decade of Batman? I'd say the 80's. We got Batman: Year One, The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight Returns, Batman #400(which really needs to be reprinted. This is just a great story.) and we also had Max Allan Collins's run on BATMAN. With Collins, we got the last of the pre-crisis Jason Todd stories and the beginning of the post-crisis Jason Todd stories, all of which are wonderful reads. With Collins being as famous as he is, it's surprising that his run hasn't been collected yet. And then I believe we got the Alan Grant/John Wagner/Norm Breyfogle stuff. Alan Davis doing art duty on Detective Comics with stories by Mike W. Barrr were pretty good, too.

This might also have something to do when the writing kind of changed. My problem with the '70s stories, regardless of how well-received they were, was just how melodramatic the writing was. Between the overbearing caption boxes and the over-written thought balloons, the stories, regardless of content, just come off as silly and I can't really get into them. In the '80s, atleast in the later half, the writing became a bit more real and down to earth, and as a result, more bearable to read.

 

[antsman41]

^Broken City and City of Crime are both wonderful...