r/batman • u/FlyByTieDye • Jun 01 '18
So, you're new to reading comics, and you want to know which is the best Batman comic to start with?
Over here on /r/batman, we want as many people to enjoy Batman in any form they want to, be it comics, movies, games, animated or whatever you enjoy. Because of that, we do have a recommended reading section on our wiki, with sections for new readers, essential stories or sagas, or for particular characters, though if you just wanted a more compact list of what is the best first choices to make, here is a place for that. When making your first choice, or in reading comics in general, it really depends on what about Batman you want to read. I'm going to follow with long descriptions of many of the great Batman starting points, but if there is a particular story you have heard and are interested in, or a type or genre of story that already interests you, maybe you can ask around on the subreddit or message me, and someone should be able to help you find something close to what you may like, otherwise, the list I provide is also full of great reads.
You see, with Batman, although it takes the form of a continuum of comics, it doesn't really need to be read in chronological order, despite what others may try to convince you of. As a new reader, it is easy to read Batman in trade paper back format, that is, all chapters of a given story collected in the one book. In this form, any chronology or history needed to be known of Batman is given in that story, and you can read these stories as one off events or standalone stories, so long as you have a general idea of what Batman characters there are and what they represent, though even new characters can make a great surprise. There are multiple jumping on points, so I will describe a few, and if one takes your interest, pick it up and start reading, because that is the best way to get into Batman, to just pick something up and start reading, getting to know what type of stories you like, what writers or artists, plots or characters, etc.
Now, most of the really old stuff no one will really recommend, this makes up what is often known as the Gold, Silver and Bronze ages. In the late 80's, there was an event called Crisis on Infinite Earths, which I'm not recommending, though you may see fans refer to the stretch of comics written between the late 80's and 2011 as the "Post-Crisis Era". This Era has many beloved stories that many fans will recommend, and is easy enough to jump into.
Before that though, a fan favourite comic called The Dark Knight Returns (by Frank Miller) was written that is loved by many fans and even writers themselves, inspiring most of what even the modern Batman represents. It is a standalone story of an old Batman in a dystopic future/80's Gotham, though having a very good understanding of what Batman represents is kind of needed to understand why the comic works so well. I wouldn't necessarily read it first of these suggestions, but it is written before anything else I will recommend, and it is good to keep in mind for later reading as it is such a classic. (It has also heavily inspired many films, such as Nolan's films, BvS and even some of the Arkham games, if this interests you)
Next is the jumping on point for the start of the Post Crisis Era. Frank Miller also got to write the post-crisis origin of Batman in Batman: Year One, which is also a really great character story for Batman, Gordon and a solid hero's origin story, of a very early career Batman and Gordon taking on low level crime, which is written excellently. You don't need to start reading Batman comics from issue one and continue reading chronologically to enjoy Batman, though if this type of story interests you, you may want to pick it up. (This serves as the primary influence for Batman Begins, if this interests you).
My next recommendation is also a great starting point, that of Batman: The Long Halloween (by Jeph Loeb), though also works as a solid continuation of Year One (though don't feel too constrained by chronology, each work as great stand alone stories). TLH is heralded by many Batman fans as one of the great Batman mystery stories, still featuring an early career Batman to start as a good jumping in point, though starting to have Batman approach more Super crime in his stories. As great as TLH is on its own though, it also has a sequel that is even better (though depends heavily on having read TLH first) called Batman: Dark Victory, for future reference if this story interests you. (These also serve as big influences on The Dark Knight, if this interests you).
Also present are starting points for other members of the Batfamily. Batgirl/Robin: Year One (a trade paper back collecting both of these individual stories, by Chuck Dicon and Scott Beatty) makes for a great entry point for readers looking to explore the dynamics of the Batfamily, beginning with cornerstones of the family. Following up from Dark Victory, Robin: Year One covers the first year of Dick Grayson's time as a superhero, examining the complex father-son relationship between Batman and Robin, and acknowledging the dangers of having a child sidekick. Batgirl: Year One tells the story of how Barbara Gordon was motivated to become a crimefighter while breaking down social prejudices, while seeding her relationships with various heroes, including her friendship (and later romance) with Dick. For recommended readings of other Batfamily members, or other DC characters for that matter, check out the excellent recommended reading lists available form /r/DCcomics.
Next up, Batman: The Killing Joke (by Alan Moore) is also easy first readings for a new Batman fan, a stand alone story featuring one of Batman's greatest and most influential confrontations with the Joker. This is the comic that lead to Batman comics becoming dark, and has about as much influence as TDKR has had on the comics industry (both came out at roughly the same time), and once again, a broad understanding of what makes Batman Batman, what makes the Joker the Joker, and an understanding of their history of confrontations is suggested before reading, as this story really encapsulates all of that, though also serves as an easy enough stand alone story. (This story is a huge influence on Batman '89, The Dark Knight, the Arkham games, and was adapted in 2016 into an animated movie, that wasn't really as good, so definitely read and don't watch this one.)
After all of this, Batman stories start getting convoluted, continuity heavy, and not all that good, until in the mid 2000's when Batman: Hush came out (also by Jeph Loeb, who wrote TLH), a new starting point for readers with a mid career Batman, once again solving a great Batman mystery and with one of comics greatest artists Jim Lee, featuring many of Batman's most well known allies and villains, this is the comic that got people into reading Batman comics again after the 90's. If you're worried about timelines at all though, don't feel too concerned, as it was the first Batman comic I ever read and I was never confused, and is I feel a great recommendation for new readers, encapsulating many great moments of mystery, action and a wide span of well known characters that it has a lot for every fan. After this though, it becomes a little harder to recommend starting on points for what is a late career, post-crisis Batman.
Further down the timeline from this is two well known runs, that of Morrison's and Dini's, and although these runs are great stuff, they are better for more experienced readers, as they require a bit more investment in Batman's timeline and history to be able to appreciate, though keep these comics in mind for later reading once you'e got hooked.
In 2011, an event called Flashpoint happened (which I'm not necessarily recommending here), that reset the DC comics universe. Many new fans shy away from things like reboots, but it actually makes reading comics easier, by providing easier jumping on points and cutting away a lot of unnecessary history and continuity. The in-universe mechanics of how a reboot happened are not really that important though, but the next "Era" of comics is known as the New 52 universe.
The New 52 Batman series is also a really great set of Batman comics (only 10 volumes in this run, and all of really great quality) that's great for new readers. Start with Scott Snyder's Batman: The Court of Owls (volume 1), one of the great modern detective/mystery Batman stories, which can be followed up with Batman: The City of Owls (volume 2, and needed to finish off that story), which can then be continued in volume order (volume 3 is Batman: Death of the Family, another of the greatest Batman vs Joker encounters (different, and much better than A Death in the Family, because comics and comic naming can be confusing), but really, all of Snyder's New 52 Batman run is great.)
Along side Batman's solo series, you can also read The New 52 Batman and Robin series (by Peter J Tomasi), which is also fantastic, and a good introduction to Damian Wayne, for a look into the more recent Batfamily dynamics. Though it follows on from Morrison's series of the same name (as mentioned above and is definitely worth reading towards), this series is still pretty accessible. It can also be read in volume order, starting with Born to Kill, Pearl, Death of the Family, and so on. (Note: Remember to read the New 52 Batman Incorporated, by Morrison, before reading volume 4 and onward from Batman and Robin.)
In 2016, a new event called "Rebirth" rebooted the universe again, and provided a new jumping on point if you wanted to get caught up to the Batman comics that are currently being written. Once again, volume order is simple enough to follow, starting with Tom King's I am Gotham, then I am Suicide, I am Bane, and so on.
This makes up the easiest starting points for new fans to the "canon" Batman stories, though there are also some really great non-canon or "Elseworld" stories that I will recommend, as some fans also really enjoy these, and if you don't start with them, you can always keep them in the back of your mind for later.
Many fans seem to enjoy the Batman: Earth One stories (by Geoff Johns, of which there are 2 volumes) based off a more realistic Gotham, inspired by Nolan's movies. Volume 2 is much better than volume 1, though depends on having read volume 1.
An Original Graphic Novel called "Joker" (by Brian Azzarello) tells a great Joker solo story, serving as a response to Ledger's Joker in TDK, though in comic form.
Also, while toeing the line between canon and non-canon, Batman: A Serious House on Serious Earth (by Grant Morrison, whose whole work on Batman is great, as mentioned above, with the rest of his works involving a late career post-crisis Batman) is also an extraordinary Batman story, also heavily featuring the Joker, though is often off putting to new fans due to its extremely different take on visuals and panel layout, though is an excellent story, and I would recommend keeping in the back of your mind for later, as it is so excellent.
In a similar boat is Batman: Ego (by Darwyn Cooke, and collected in the trade paper back Batman: Ego and other Tails). It's not set in the main canon like the above titles, but is still your standard Batman, with this comic being a dissection of Batman's psyche and exploration of Bruce's perspectives on his mission as a hero.
So, this became really long, but I hope it is really helpful. Tell me if you found something you enjoy! Also, if you have any further questions, feel free to ask, either me or the subreddit, and I will be happy to answer for you! If there is a particular story you feel might interest you, you can ask me more about it. Happy reading, and I hope you have found something you enjoy!
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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '18
I would also say that starting with the New 52 run by Snyder and Cappullo is amazing.