Guide to Batman

So, your looking for a guide to Batman comics (or you need to be refreshed)? Well than welcome to the greatest comic book hero of all time! I’ve been reading Batman from almost 16 years and I can assure you, you’re in for some good reading. I’ve found that the key to good Batman reading is to not get too caught up in what is and what isn’t in continuity. It does matter to a certain degree but so many creators have taken their stab at Batman that my best advice would be to have fun and read what interests you the most. Some of the most hated stuff is my favorite, and vise versa. Enough chit chat though…here is my Top 10 Batman stories, in order, to help get you started.

Batman: Year One

In 1987 Frank Miller rebooted Batman and his origin with a 4-issue run that has gone down as one of the greatest Batman stories ever. It follows Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon during their first year in Gotham fighting crime. There’s no Joker, no Ra’s Al Ghul, or Catwomen (wink wink) just Batman, petty thugs, and the Gotham City Police. This is the definitive place to start and will do more than just get your feet wet.

Batman: The Man Who Laughs

Ed Brubaker writes a sequel to Year One telling the first encounter of Joker and Batman. Based off of Joker’s first appearance in Batman #1 and taken from the movie The Man Who Laughs, where the inspiration for Joker came from, it’s a classic story worthy of this list giving a great Joker vs. Batman foundation.

Batman: Long Halloween and Dark Victory

Set just a year or two after Year One, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale team up to write what is in my opinion one of the greatest Batman stories ever.  Now, it’s two collections here but Dark Victory is a direct sequel to Long Halloween. This is basically Godfather meets Batman mixed with some crazies like Joker, Scarecrow, and Poison Ivy. We also get the origin of Two-Face and Robin. It doesn’t get much better than these two stories. And Tim Sale, my favorite Batman artist of all time, there…I said it.

Batman: The Killing Joke

I’ll admit, this isn’t my favorite Batman story, but it’s a classic and the events in the story not only remind me just how sick and dangerous the Joker really is but have effects on certain characters that changed Batman’s history forever. If you want to call your self a Batman fan than this is an absolute must; it’s one of the most talked about books.

Batman: A Death in the Family

Not only is this story absolutely critical to the life of Batman as a character but it marks one of the biggest comic book deaths of all time. Now, it’s the oldest book on the list, so prepare yourself for some 80’s art (big chinned Joker) and dialogue but this is a must for any Batman reader. One of the scariest moments I’ve ever had reading comic books was as kid watching the Joker do his thing to Robin.

Batman: Knightfall Part 1, 2, & 3

Although the events that happen in Knightfall are but a thinning memory for today’s Batman, the story is awesome and the consequences were, in it’s time, monumental. Bane breaks the Bat, the Bat picks someone to fill in, and eventually comes back (but things have changed). It’s classic, it’s 90’s comic books, and it’s an event that rocked Batman to the core.

Batman: Cataclysm & No Man’s Land Vol. 1-5

I’m going to be honest with you, you can skip Cataclysm (it’s terrible). Basically Gotham City suffers an enormous earthquake, the city tears itself apart, and the U.S. seals it off. There are some elements to the story that are a little eye rolling but for the most part it still holds up. And even today’s Batman is effected by the cataclysmic events that took place when Gotham was all sealed off (see what I did there?).

Batman: HUSH Vol 1 & 2

A lot of people complain about HUSH but in my opinion this is the best Batman comic in the last 10 years. Together Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb put together a mystery thriller that includes a lot of the classic villains and one big new one. The artwork is stunning and the story is full of twists and turns. Whenever someone comes to me telling me they want a good modern Batman book this is always where I point first. Here’s my biggest advice; DO NOT buy this in paperback. Spend the extra bucks and buy this in a hardcover edition; Jim Lee’s art is more than deserving.

Batman: Under the Hood

For the sake of assuming you are really new to Batman comics I won’t spoil much of this story but it’s essential for anyone wanting to get caught up with the current Batman. It’s also really good. Judd Winick takes a lot of heat as a comic book writer but this is one of my modern favorites. The mix of pencilers can be a little distracting at times but more than mystery or crime, this is just a lot of fun.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Set in an alternate future where Batman is old and retired from crime fighting, the Dark Knight Returns tell the story of exactly that, Batman coming back. Although out of continuity this is one of the absolute best Batman stories ever written. Frank Miller takes on both the writing and art duties and like Year One is one of the works that helped re-spark Batman. Out of all the books on the list put this in the top 3 category.

Well there you have it. My Top 10 essential Batman stories to help get you caught up. Now, I do want to say 2 things before leaving you to go start your Bat-journey:

#1. There are a lot of books that didn’t make the list, and it isn’t because they aren’t good or essential, but because in my mind don’t make the top 10, I wanted to give you a list that would give you enough to handle right off the bat. For some bigger more complete lists visit batmantrades.com or IGN’s Top 25 Greatest Batman books but be careful; both are pretty big and both are not exactly in chronological order. Also, go to your local shop and look around for what looks the most appealing to you. And never be afraid to ask those weird guys behind the counter.

#2. Currently Grant Morrison is writing for Batman and his story has already left a pretty big mark on Batman’s history; the biggest being the supposed death of Bruce Wayne. I didn’t include any of his work because as a whole it’s incomplete. If you are completlly new to Batman I would suggest catching up in these other areas before trying to read what Grant has started. His stories rely pretty heavily on a previous knowledge of Batman and although the world won’t stop spinning should you decide to pick up his stuff, I can almost guarantee it would be hard to understand. If you do want to start reading his run though than Batman and Son is where to start.

So there yah go! I hope this was helpful to both new readers and any one else just looking for some suggestions. Batman is one of the greatest comic characters not just because he’s been around since the 40’s but because they’re are some GREAT stories out there. So start at the beginning or just pick something that looks cool, but mostly just enjoy soaking up the mythology of one of comic’s best.