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This Batman thing is a smash hit. It’s packaged right. With multi-million dollar box office successes, Batman has the kind of exposure and popularity that few other comic characters have ever achieved.
While it is the writers who make the character great, part of their success is that they are stepping into one of the most versatile characters on the market. Everyone has a rough idea of who The Batman is, but what is truly surprising is how many modes, genera, and personas a talented writer can use to portray him: detective story, action story, sci-fi, romance, tortured soul, self-sacrificing guardian, downright mad-man, the possibilities are numerous. No matter what it is you like about fiction, there is a good chance that there is a Batman story for you.
Being one of, if not the prime commodity that DC has in their portfolio, the character has produced a number of truly great books by notable writers like Frank Miller and Alan Moore. This makes it hard for me to pick just five, but I believe the following books make for an ideal introduction to the character.
The list:
The Long Halloween is a classic detective story, and has the added bonus of getting to see Batman early in his career, before many of the hard-to-swallow villains are introduced. While the art may not be as captivating as Hush, it is stylistically fitting and has a punchy noir grittiness. In The Long Halloween, Batman plays the character he was conceived as: a solo crime fighter, cleaning up the dirty streets.
Hush stands out as one of my hands-down favorite comics. It really has it all: the whole rogues’ gallery, an edge-of-your-seat plot, great writing, and art by one of the best in the business: Jim Lee. Even the silliest of villains come off as intimidating or entertaining. Like For Tomorrow in my Superman introduction, a little bit of background into Batman history would be beneficial, but is not strictly necessary. Hush is a detective story through and through.
To switch back to another gritty, less colorful portrayal of Batman, The Killing Joke is one of those classics that are always included on lists like these, but for good reason. Written by Alan Moore who is well known for both his prominence in the comic genera and for his excellent handling of the character, The Killing Joke is the darkest Batman story on this list. It also features his most well know nemesis, The Joker, as the large-scale threat he deserves to be.
All-star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder is a non-canon series that gives Frank Miller the freedom to paint Batman in a different light: as an out and out sociopath. While I normally like to include completed graphic novels, I will make an exception for this, the first volume of a still-ongoing series. Robin is normally dangerous territory for writers simply because it is hard to buy into the idea of the Caped Crusader deciding it would be a good idea to bring a minor out on the town to be shot at, but Frank Miller does a great job of making Batman seem just crazy enough to do so.
Note: Popularized the phrase "I'm the goddamn Batman."
By now you’re probably noticing the Frank Miller prominence on this list. The Dark Knight Returns is an else world’s comic that takes place in the future where Bruce Wayne has retired the cape and cowl. More lighthearted than Kingdom Come, it is still a landmark in illustrated fiction—easily one of my all-time favorites. While the art may be a bit dated by today's standards, I promise you'll forgive by the time you finish the first chapter. Keep in mind that, if you decide to go on and read the sequel The Dark Knight Strikes Again, it would behoove you to be more than a little familiar with the broader DCU.
Note: Another comic where you get to see Batman beat the hell out of Superman. Always a fan favorite.
Intentionally left off the list:
Batman: Year One – While I would like to include an origin story, chances are slim that anyone has escaped watching Batman Begins, which borrows heavily from this comic. Best not to have readers sit through a panel-for-shot duplicate of many scenes.
Batman: Dark Victory – Another great story in the spirit of Long Halloween, it just got edged out by other books. This should be your #6 read.
Batman: Arkham Asylum – While it is good, I honestly think the book is a little overrated. It certainly doesn’t make for a good introduction, anyway.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment!
-Reckless Enthusiasm
Year One should have been #1 on the list. It is the perfect origin story, and I've read it many times even after Batman Begins. The art is incredible, and by far the best Batman story Miller has touched. Dark Victory also should have been on the list, replacing All-Star as the better Robin origin, at the very least. Having All-Star on the list is a waste, and almost takes away any credibility the rest of the books may have by being included. Otherwise I agree with the other choices, and this is only my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with this list! It really seems helpful to those who might not now where to start. This list actually made me go back and re-read Hush. What a classic.
ReplyDeleteYou might find this picture interesting - depicting Batman as the personifications of all NINE principal alignments from Dungeons & Dragons - he is all of them
ReplyDeletehttp://alzrius.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/batman-alignment.jpg