Hello, I am trying to find a good place to start reading Batman comics and overall become an active reader. Can the fellow fans out there point me in a general direction to start based on your own opinion please. Also I would appreciate if you also told me where to branch out and continue reading after where I start.
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Scott Snyderâs new 52 would be a great jumping on point
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@piotroj is spot on. Mr. Snyderâs run begins with Batman (2011) #1, and runs through the end of the series. Also, Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder is fantastic.
it takes place just before the New 52 relaunch, starting in Detective Comics (1939) #871. Itâs not bogged down by continuity too much, although it does feature Dick Grayson as Batman because of various things that were happening in the comics back then. Batman Year One, written by Frank Miller, is also required reading for any Batman fan. I believe that starts around issue number 401 of Batman (1940), although I could be wrong about that. And then, once youâre done reading those, you can jump straight to Batman: the Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, which is essentially just Batman: Year Two (Year Two is actually a different storyline, but I havenât read it yet, so I canât exactly recommend it).
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I jumped on just after A Death in the Family in 1989. Granted, that was Thirty years ago⊠but for my experience, it was a great time to jump on. because they followed the storyline with a few Done-in-One issues before hitting us with The Many Deaths of Batman, Batman Year Three and A Lonely Place of Dying. As to the current books⊠I say just jump in. Pick up an issue and see if it grabs you.
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Batman: Year Two is actually a really good read! Not quite the level of Year One, but itâs great for what it is.
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I would second the âstart at Snyderâs run.â then go on to Rebirth if you want. Tom Kingâs run is kind of all over the place. His arcs have been super hit or miss so either just power through it or after New 52, just start looking up stories that interest you and go from there.
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Thatâs the whole point of the New 52, to be an introduction to the character. Scott Snyderâs run is a good a place to start as any.
Where to Start Reading Batman Comics
Joshua Lapin-Bertone
thursday April 11
Batman is everywhere these
days- games, toys, and countless other medie And the Dark Knight gains new comic book readers with his every appearance. If youâre just starting to read the Batmanâs adventures and wondering where to begin, weâve got a few ideas that may help. Just click on the links below to start your reading adventure.
Batman: Year One
THE STORY: Batman: Year One
is a modern retelling of the Dark
Knightâs origin, which has gone
on to become one of the most
celebrated comics in the medium. The story is about two
men, Bruce Wayne and Jim
Gordon. and how their arrival in the corrupt city of Gotham shakes the underworld. Bruce seeks to eradicate crime by becoming a masked vigilante; Jim wants to clean up the crooked police department. The two men eventually realize their missions wonât succeed unless they put aside their differences and work together. This masterpiece was written by Frank Miller and brilliantly penciled by David Mazzucchelli.
FOR FANS OF: The 2005
Batman Begins film and Foxâs
Gotham both took many of
the best elements from Batman:
Year One and brought them to
live-action life.
WHATS NEXT check out the Legends of the Dark Knight comic-book series. It picks up where"Year One" left off and tells a series of self-contained tales about Batmanâs earliest adventures each of them crafted by some of the top creators in comics. And Frank Millerâs groundbreaking masterpiece (which be both wrote and illustrated) Batman The Dark Knight Returns is required reading for ALL pop culture fans. (It arrives on DC Universe on Tuesday, April 16th.)
WHERE TO FIND IT: Batman
#404-407
BONUS: Did you know that
Warner Brothers produced an
animated adaptation of Batman:
Year One in 2011? Fans of Foxâs
Gothamwill recognize Ben
McKenzie as the voice of Bruce
Wayne. Bryan Cranston did an
inspired job voicing Jim Gordon,
and. thanks to the aninmation
evoking Mazzucchelliâs pencils,
this is one of DCâs very best
animated films.
Batman Year two
THE STORY A costumed serial
killer named the Reaper is
slaying Gothamâs citizens and
evading the Dark Knight at
every turn. Batman wonders if
itâs time to rethink his âno guns,
no killingâ policy and starts
carrying a firearm. As if the
Reaper wasnât enough to deal
with, Bruce Wayne finds his
heart torn apart when he falls in
love with a girl named Rachel
and comes face to face with the
man who killed his parents.
Writer Mike W. Barr tells a
Batman story that breaks all the
rules, and leaves you guessing
what will happen next right up
until the final chapter.
FOR FANS OF: If you enjoyed
the animated Batman: Mask of
the Phantasm youâll be thrilled
to discover some of the movieâs
best beats were inspired by this
Comic.
WHATâS NEXT: Batman: Year
Three is the next chapter in the
chronicles of the Dark Knightâs
early career. And if you love the
team of writer Mike W. Barr and
penciler Alan Davis, check out
Detective Comics #574 another classic take on Batmanâs origin that the two teamed up on, as well as the duoâs run on Batman and the Outsiders, starting with issue #21.
WHERE TO FIND IT Detective
Comics #575-578
BONUS: Some of this storyâs chapters were illustrated
by a young Todd McFarlane, the
creator of Spawn.
Batman: Hush
THE STORY: A mysterious
bandaged villain begins
manipulating the people in
Batmanâs life, setting the Dark
Knight up for one of his biggest
mysteries. Along the way,
Batman finds himself falling for
Catwoman, who is all too eager
to reciprocate those feelings.
But can Batman truly trust his
emotions when Hush is pulling
the strings? Batman: Hush is a
great primer on the Dark
Knightâs world, with new-reader
friendly introductions to most of
Gothamâs key heroes and
villains. Writer Jeph Loeb crafts
amystery with enough twists
and turns to keep even the
greatest of detectives guessing,
while artist Jim Lee illustrates
some of the most iconic images
of Batman and his allies in
recent history.
FOR FANS OF: Do the Batman
and Catwoman scenes from
Batman Returns warm your
heart? Are you shipping Bruce
and Selina in Foxâs Gotham? lf
youâre a fan of Batman and
Catwomanâs romance, then
youâll love this story!
WHATâS NEXT: This story sets
the stage for the return of the
second Robin, Jason Todd. who
had died in the classic âA Death
in the Familyâ storyline. If youâd
like to see how that goes down,
check out the classic"Under the
Hood. )
WHERE TO FIND IT Batman
#608-619
BONUS: Warner Brothers wil
release an animated film
adaptation of Batman: Hush this
summer, making this the perfect
time to read the fan-favorite
story.
âDaughter of the Demonâ
THE STORY: When Robin is
kidnapped, Batman is
approached by a man named
Raâs al Ghul, whose daughter
Talia has also been kidnapped.
(Batman had met Talia in
Detective Comics #411âs"Into
the Den of the Death
Dealers!") The two men agree to
work together to find their
missing loved ones in a journey
that takes the Dark Knight
across the globe. This issue
introduces the rivalry between
Raâs and the Caped Crusader.
In the Bronze Age of comics,
writer Denny Oâ Neil and atist
Neal Adams redefined the
Batman from the campy figure
in the 1966 Batman TV series
into a dread avenger of the
night. This story is one of the
high points of their legendary
run.
FOR FANS OF: Batman: The
Animated Series patterned its
tone after this issueâs era,
drawing heavy inspiration from
the stories of OâNeil and Adams,
which featured a grimly
determined Batman. but one
who still possessed a sly sense
of humor. When you read their
classic stories, youâll feel like
youâre watching an episode of
the show.
WHATâS NEXT: If you love the
team of Denny OâNeil and Neal
Adams check out their
collaboration on Batman #234
which features one of the
best Two-Face stories. If you
want to see Batman and Raâs
second encounter. then be sure
to read the OâNeil scripted Batman #235 OâNeil and Adams both returned to Raâs for an epic two-parter in issue #243 and issue #244.
WHERE TO FIND IT Batman
#232
BONUS: Check out the Batman
The Animated Series episode
âThe Demonâs Questâ which
brilliantly adapts this issue
Batman: The Long Halloween
(Arriving on DC Universe on
Tuesday, April 16th)
THE STORY: Set in the early
days of Batmanâs career, the
Dark Knight teams up with Jim
Gordon and District Attorney
Harvey Dent to stop the
mysterious Holiday Killer.
Nobody knows who this
murderer is, but on each holiday
they leave behindanew
victim. The case becomes more
complicated when Harvey Dent
falls from grace and begins to
transform into the villainous Two-Face. Writer Jeph Loebtells an eerie whodunit, one perfectly
complimented by the moody art
of Tim Sale. Together, Loeb and
Sale wound up telling one of the
most unforgettable Batman
sagas of the Modern Age.
FOR FANS OF: Christopher
Nolanâs Dark Knight Trilogy
borrowed some elements from
this story, including Harvey
Dentâs fall from grace and the
intrigue from Carmine Falcone
and Gothamâs crime families.
WHATâS NEXT: Jeph Loeb and
Tim Sale reunited to craft a
sequel to this story called
Batman: Dark Victory, The
sequel picked up where The
Long Halloweenâs crime saga
left off, adding a mysterious new
killer and introducing the first
Robin, Dick Grayson.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Batman:
The Long Halloween #1-13
BONUS: Are you a gamer? The
video game Batman: Arkham
City features an unlockable skin
for Catwoman based on Tim
Saleâs design for the character in
this story. Meow!
Batman: Strange Apparitions
THE STORY. This classic run of
Bronze Age Batman stories
features the Dark Knight going
up against mob boss Rupert
Thorne, mad professor Hugo
Strange, and the Clown Prince
of Crime himself The
Joker. Italso introduces Silver
St. Cloud, setting up Bruce
Wayneâs first truly adult
romance, The team of writer
Steve Englehart and artist
Marshall Rogers didnât have a
very long run on Detective
Comics, but in their short time
together they wound up
producing some of Batmanâs
most memorable Bronze Age
stories. This thrilling run of
stories also features the work of
famed writer Len Wejin and
celebrated artist Walt
Simonson.
FOR FANS OF This is another
run of comics that Batman: The
Animated Series fans will
love. Many elements from this
era, including mob boss Rupert
Thorne, helped build the status
quo for the TV favorite. And
devotees wonât regret checking
out the tales that inspired
their favorite cartoon.
WHATâS NEXT: If youâre curious
Rupert Thorne/Hugo Strange
feud. check out Detective
Comics #513. The saga gets
even more (pardon the pun)
strange!
WHERE TO FIND IT Writer
Steve Englehart comes on board
with Detective Comics #469-
479, but things really get
cooking when artist Marshall
Rogers joins him for issue #471
through the teamâs fınal issue,
#476.
BONUS: Check out the Batman:
The AnimatedSeries episode
The Laughing Fish which
adapts Detective Comics #475
âThe Court of Owlsâ
THE STTORY: Batman knows
Gotham like the back of his
hand, and there arenât many
secrets the city can keep from
him. So how can a secret society
be operating for ages right
under his nose? Who are the
Court of Owls, and can they
have mnore control over Gotham
than Batman does? See the Dark
Knight solve the mystery he
didnâteven know existed in this
blockbuster tale from writer
Scott Snyder and artist Greg
Capullo.
FOR FANS OF: Did you enjoy
the âCourt of Owlsâ saga
in season 3 of Foxâs Gotham?
Were you intrigued by their
cameo in the Young Justice:
Outsiders episode"True
Heroes? Are youa fan of
conspiracy stories and secret
societies? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes, then
this is the story for you!
WHATâS NEXT: To see what
happens next, check out âNight
of The Owlsâ (Batman #8-12),
the next chapter in Scott Snyder
and Greg Capulloâs epic Batman
run
WHERE TO FIND IT: Batman
(2011) #1-7
BONUS: If you enjoyed this
story, be sure to watch the 2015
animated film Batman vs. Robin,
which brought the Court of
Owls into the DC animated
universe.
âTo Kill a Legendâ
THE STORY: The Phantom
Stranger sends Batman and
Robin to a parallel world where
ayoung version of Bruce Wayne
hasnât lost his parents yet. Robin
isnât sure if they should
interfere. After all, doesnât
this world need a Batman? But
Bruce Wayne isnât about to sit
back and let his parents die
againâŠor is he?âTo Kill A
Legendâ celebrated Detective
Comics 500th issue with a story
that questioned what it means
to be a hero. Writer Alan
Brennertâs single-issue story is a
favorite of many Batfans, who
still ponder its implications to
this very day.
FOR FANS OF: If you enjoy tales
of alternate realities and/or
philosophical questions then
this story is for you. If this comic
feels like an episode of The
Twili Zone, donât be too
surprisedâŠAlan Brennert was a
frequent writer for the show in
its 1980s incarnation.
WHATâS NEXT: If you love Alan
Brennertâs take on alternate
realities. check out the
writerâs Brave and the Bold
#197 a Batman tale set on
Earth-Two, where the Dark
Knight marries Catwoman!
WHERE TO FIND IT Detective
Comics #500
BONUS: Did you know that Alan
Brennert also wrote for the
1970âs Wonder Woman TV
series? Check out"Disco
Devil one of his most
memorable episodes.
HONORABLE MENTION
Batman: The Dark Knight
Returns
The defning work of writer-
artist Frank Millerâs career. and
in the eyes of many the fınest
Batman story every crafted, is
the 1986 four-issue linmited
series Batman: The Dark Knight
Returns. Itâs certainly excellent enough to be the fiırst
Batman comic a new fan
reads, but its story- a much older Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement to don the mantle of the Bat one last time probably resonates even more powerfully if one has read a few of the above titles first.
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The best place by far to start is Scott Snyderâs (2011) #1.
Once you get into Batman a little, then go back and read older stuff but start with Snyder.
I hope Community 2.0 has permathreads.
I hear you
Superman Supergirl and Wonder Woman have Start Reading Articles in Browse Get to Know.
If Start Reading for Batman and the other characters were in Get to Know.
I could just say
Go to Browse
Go to Get to Know
Click on Start Reading
Rather than Copy and Paste the article, ruining the flow of the thread.
I would be able to make a better recommendation if I knew what kind of stories you liked, but there are some easy jumping-on points.
-
If you want to read modern comics (1987-2006) that tell the story of Batmanâs early years, read the following:
Batman (1940) #404-407, Batman and the Monster Men #1-6, Batman: The Man Who Laughs, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #1-26, 28-30, 50, 65-68. -
If you want a more recent (and more outlandish) take on Batmanâs first year, read the following:
Batman (2011) #0, 21-33. -
If you want to see what the classic (1939-1966) Batman comics are like, read the following:
Detective Comics (1937) #31-32, 36, 38 and Batman (1940) #1, 7, 156, 171. -
If you want to see Batman stories that move from the classic to the modern era (1967-1980), read the following:
Untold Legend of the Batman (1980) #1-3, Detective Comics (1937) #359, 411, 439, 457, 469-476, 501-502, and Batman (1940) #217, 232, 235, 237, 240, 243-244, 251.
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Now that Iâve made the âcorrectâ recommendations, let me just say that Iâm really fond of the second Robin (Jason Todd) and Batmanâs ragtag superhero squad from the 1980s (the Outsiders). As such, Iâm going to make some recommendations on both of those fronts.
-
The original introduction of Jason Todd from Detective Comics (1937), which Iâll now refer to as Tec, and Batman (1940), which Iâll refer to as Bat.
Tec 523, Bat 357, Tec 524, Bat 358, Tec 525, Bat 359, Tec 526, Bat 365, Tec 532, Bat 366, Tec 533, Bat 367, Tec 534, Bat 368, Tec 535. -
Batman quits the Justice League and forms his own team (and then eventually leaves it).
Batman and the Outsiders (1983) #1-32. -
Here are a few more stories featuring Jason Todd as Robin (right before his origin was changed).
Bat 397, Tec 564, Bat 398, Tec 565, Bat 399, Tec 566, Bat 400, Tec 569-572. -
And then they changed Jason Toddâs backstory:
Bat 408-411, 416 and Tec 573-574, 580-581. -
Here are some other significant stories featuring Jason Todd from the late 1980s.
Batman: The Cult #1-4 and Batman (1940) #417-420, 424-429.
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Year One, New 52 (the whole thing), and definitely NOT Grant Morrison until youâve been reading Batman for a full decade.
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My Where to start reading batman list/batman timeline
.Batman year one(1987) batman(1940-2011)#404-407
.Batman the man who laughs(2005)
.Year One Batman/Scarecrow(2005)
.Batman Legends Of Dark Knight Annual#3
.Batman Legends Of Dark Knight Annual#5
.Batman Detective Comics Annual#8
Catwoman(1989)
Batman the Animated Series S1EP14 heart of ice
.Batman the Legends of the Dark Knight#6-10:Gothic
.Batman and The Monster Men
.Batman the long Halloween(1996-1997)
.Batman Dark victory(1999)
.Robin year one(2000)
.Batgirl year one (2003)
Batman(1940-2011)#232 & 235 and#244
Dick quit being robin and jason become the new robin so three years later
Catwoman in Rome(2004-2005)
Nightwing:Year One:Nightwing (1996-2009)#101-106
Batman (1940-2011)#408-425
Batman the cult(1988)
Batman son of demon (1978)
The killing joke(1998)
The Batman Chronicles#5
Death of the family(1988)Batman(1940-2011)#426-429
Lonely place of dying (1990)Batman(1940-2011)#440-442 and new titans (1984-1996)#60
Batman:EGO
Arkham asylum A serious house on serious earth(1989)
Batman sword of azarel(1992)
Batman knightfall
Batman(1940-2011)#484-510
Batman Shadow of the Bat#16-27 & 29-30
Batman Vengeance of Bane#1
Batman Detective Comics(1939-2011)#654-677 & 679-682
Showcase 93#7-8
Batman Legends of the Dark Knight#59-63
Catwoman#6-7 & 12-13
Justice League Task Force#5-6
Robin (1990-2009)#1-2 & 7-9 and 11-14
Showcase 94#7 & 10
Nightwing Alferd return
Batman Vengeance of Bane#2
Dick became batman for a bit
Batman:Prodigal
Batman(1940-2011)#512-514
Batman Shadows of the Bat#32-34
Batman Detectives Comics(1939-2011)#679-681 Robin#0 & 11-13
Batman Contagion/Leagacy
Azarel#15-16
Batman(1940-2011)#529 & 533-534
The Batman Chronicles#4
Batman Shadows of the Bat#48-49 & 53-54
Catwoman(1994-)#31-36
Batman Detectives Comics(1939-2011)#695-702
Robin(1990-2009)#27-33
Batman:Bane#1
Batman:Bane of The Demon#1-4
Batman Cataclysm/no man land(1999-2000)
Blackgate Isle Of Men#1
Huntress & Spoiler:Blunt Trauma#1
Batman Arkham Asylum Tales Of Madenss#1
Batman Detective Comics(1939-2011)#719-722 & 724-73
Batman:Harley Quinn
Batman No Man Land#0-1
Batman Shadows of the bat#73-88 & 90-92
Batman(1940-2011)#553-571
Robin (1990-2009)#52-54 & 67-72
The Batman Chronicles#12 & 14-17
Azrael#40 & 47-58
Nightwing(1996-2009)# 19-20 & 35-37
Catwoman#56-57 & 72-76
Young Justice No Manâs Land#1
Legends of the Dark Knight#117-124
Batman No Man Land Sercet Files and Origins#1
Batman No Manâs Land Sercet Files
Batman Bruce Wayne murderer/Fugitive(2002)
Batgirl (2000-)#24 & 27 and #29 & 33
Batman (1940-2011)#599-607
Batman Gotham Knights#25-32
Batman the 10 cent adventure
Birds of prey (1998-2010)#39-41 & 43
Batman Detective Comics (1939-2011)#766-775
Nightwing(1996-2009)65-66 & 68-69
Robin (1990-2009)#98-99
Batman Hush (2004) batman (1940-2011)#608-619
Batman War Games
Batgirl(2000-)#53 & 55-57
Batman(1940-2011)#631-634 & 642-644
Batman The 12 Cent Adventure
Batman The Legends of the Dark Knight#182-184
Batman Gotham Knights#56-58
Catwoman#34-36
Batman Detectives Comics(1939-2011)#790-800 & 809-810
Nightwing(1996-2009)#96-98
Robin(1990-2009)#126-131
Solo#10
Batman Sercet Files and Origins Allies 2005
Batman Sercet Files and Origins Villains 2005
Batman:under the red hood(2006)Batman(1940-2011)#635-641 &645-650 and Batman annual#25
Indentiy Crisis(2005)
Countdown to infinite crisis(2005)
Infinite crisis(2005-2006)
52 (2007)
1 year later (2006-2007)
Batman and son (2006)#655-658&663-669 Batman (1940-2011)
Resurrection of ras al gaul(2007)Batman#670-671 robin(tim drake)(1990-2009)#168-169 Batman detective comics(1939-2011)#838-839 nightwing(1996-2009)#138-139 batman annual#26 and robin annual#7
Batman the black glove (2007)
Batman RIP(2007)Batman (1940-2011)#676-681
Batman:reborn/last rites(2009)#684-699
Batman:time and the batmen (2007)#700-702
Countdown to final crisis(2007-2008)
Jl salvation run (2007)
Final crisis(2009)
Final crisis superman beyond (2009)
Final crisis legion of 3 worlds (2009)
Final crisis submit (2009)
Dc universe#0
Final crisis resist (2009)
Final crisis requiem(2009)
Final crisis revelations(2009)
Final crisis sercet files(2009)
Batman(1940-2011)#682-683
Batman battle of the cowl(2009)
Battle of cowl one shots (2009)
Gotham Gazette batman dead?(2009)
Gotham Gazette batman alive?(2009)
Green Lantern Rebirth(2004)
Green lantern(2004-2011)#36-42
Green lantern corps (2005-2010)#27-38
Blackest Night (2009) Full Storyline
Grant morrison run on batman and robin(2009-2011)
Batman streets of gotham(2010-2011)
Bruce wayne road to home(2010)one shots
Batman return of bruce wayne(2010)
Batman incorporated(2010-2011)
Batman the black mirror(2011)
Flash rebirth(2009)
Flash(2010-2011)
Flashpoint (2011)
Whatever happened to the caped crusader (2010) Batman(1940-2011)#686 and Batman Detective comics(1939-2011)#853
This is my list part 1 of 3 so this is the pre new 52 timeline by the way
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Batwing i agree that run was a little werid
Also dont read the final crisis aftermath books by the way
Also read issues of green lantern#36-42(2004-2011)and green lantern Corps#27-38(2005-2010) also donât read booster gold (2007-2011)#44-47 and the main Blackest night storyline is Tales of the corps:Blackest Night(2009) Blackest night director cut#1 Blackest night#2 Blackest night:Batman#1 and Blackest night:Superman#1 Blackest night:Batman#2Blackest Night:Titans#1 Blackest Night #3 Blackest Night:Superman #2 Blackest Night Titans#2 Blackest Night:Batman#3 Blackest Night:Superman#3 Blackest Night:Titans#3 Blackest Night#4 Blackest Night:Flash#1 Blackest Night Jsa#1 Blackest Night:Wonder Woman#1 Blackest Night#5-6 Blackest Night:Wonder Woman#2-3 Blackest Night:Flash#2-3 Blackest Night:Jsa#2-3 Blackest Night#7-8
Also the first part was the Post Crisis/pre-new 52 Batman list and you could read the full Blackest Night Storyline by the way it up top in the comics section with the books that you can explore reading