Where Do I Start With... Batman

Who?

Debuting in Detective Comics #27 in May of 1939, Batman/Bruce Wayne/The Dark Knight/The Caped Crusader/Matches Malone/The World's Greatest Detective was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, and remains one of DC's (and the planet's) most recognisable superheroes.

Orphaned when his parents were killed by a mugger in front of him, Bruce Wayne dedicated his life to fighting crime. Travelling the world, he acquired the skills and knowledge necessary for this cause, and now he tirelessly wages a one-man war on crime in Gotham City. But you probably knew all this already. I mean, it's Batman!

Okay, so where do I start?

If you're a purist then you're in luck. DC has a plethora of different sources for people who want to start at the original beginning.

There is Showcase Presents: Batman which is a large softcover and reprints several Silver Age (1950s/60s) stories in black and white. If you are looking to go right back to Detective Comics #27 however, then there's either the Batman Chronicles (softcover, colour) or the Batman Archives (hardcover, colour). It should be noted that these are very much of the time, and should not be read with a modern mindset. As I said, purely for the purists.

If modern is what you're looking for, then I'd personally recommend Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One. As the title suggests, this is where it all began and there is no finer origin story in my opinion. Miller's characterisation of Batman is one of my favourite takes on an often misunderstood icon, and Mazzucchelli's gritty-yet-beautiful artwork superbly compliments the tone. I can think of no better starting point for those looking to get into Batman.

If you don't want to go back too far, and want something in more recent continuity, then there's Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn by the amazing team of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. This colourfully kinetic tale begins a new era in Batman lore, with Dick Grayson (the first Robin) taking on the mantle of the Bat and Damien Wayne (Bruce's son) as his Robin, during the time that Bruce was presumed dead.

If you're intrigued by the older stuff, but don't want to commit yourself to the Showcases/Chronicles/Archives, then there's always Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told, which features material old and new, and would complete any Batfan's collection whether casual or die-hard.

What's next?

If you liked Year One then you should check out The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. It's a thematic sequel and details the downfall of ordinary crime in Gotham City and the rise of the supervillains. It's also one of my favourite Bat-stories.

Although it only features Batman occasionally, I have to mention the now-finished Gotham Central spin-off. It highlights the long-suffering cops of Gotham City as they struggle with criminals, supervillains and everyday life. Written by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker with art by Michael Lark, and collected as both soft- and hardcovers (the hardcovers have more material), it would be a crime not to read them. Heh.

Hope this helped. Let me know if you have any questions and/or suggestions. This article is the night.