Gotham the TV series seems to be picking up steam with audiences around the country. Renewed interest in Batman means renewed interest in the comics for a new generation of readers. “Where do I start?” Here are the top 10 best Batman starter comics.
[tps_title]1. Batman: The Long Halloween[/tps_title]
This modern Batman classic involves a cacophony of who’s who in the Batman universe. It involves everyone from Joker to Catwoman and even the mob bosses like Carmine Falcone (who appears in Gotham the TV show). The plot involves a serial killer who uses the holidays to kill his or her victims and everyone is under suspicion. The comic is great for anyone unfamiliar with Batman’s friends and foes who wants to familiarize themselves with the characters before their inventible appearances on Gotham. Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale give hyperbolic and entertaining characterizations of many of Gotham’s inhabitants.
[tps_title]2. Gotham Central Book One: In the Line of Duty[/tps_title]
The Eisner Award-winning series written by comic book luminaries Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka and drawn by Michael Lark, Gotham Central is one of the main inspirations for Gotham. The series does not follow Batman, but rather the police and detectives on the front line who put their lives in danger when dealing with maniacs like Two-Face and Mr. Freeze. This series is a deep and haunting look at those who only have a gun and their badge when confronting the evil in the underworld of Gotham.
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[tps_title]3. Batman Year One[/tps_title]
To say this particular comic book hasn’t reached legendary status yet would be a lie. Those who don’t even read comic books have most likely read, browsed, or have heard about Frank Miller’s interpretation of the Dark Knight’s origin. The story revolves more around Jim Gordon than it does Batman. It shows how the evolution of two characters, at once opposed to each other, eventually come together for the betterment of Gotham. David Mazzucchelli’s art lends a pulpy art style to the book, and his simple rendering of the characters is perfect for a young caped crusader.
[tps_title]4. Batman: The Man Who Laughs[/tps_title]
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Death has come to Gotham with a smile on its face. Mass murder has taken place where all the victims have a wide smile stretched across their faces. This book is a re-telling of Batman’s first encounter with the Joker. The Joker goes on a rampage across Gotham targeting many of the city’s socialites. Written by Gotham Central’s Ed Brubaker, this updating of a classic Batman story is a disturbing look at the origin of many Batman’s nightmares.
[tps_title]5. Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls [/tps_title]
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The new Fox TV show takes place within the bustling city of Gotham, and like all cities, it has a secret. The beginning of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run on Batman deals with a shadowy organization called the Court of Owls that has its eyes set on the Dark Knight. Snyder and Capullo take the reader back into the troubled history of the Wayne family and its deep connection with the city that they call home. This deeply psychological take on Batman resurrects the backdrop for his adventures and gives Gotham a pulse of its own.
[tps_title]6. Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year-Secret City [/tps_title]
When DC Comics re-launched its entire comic line in 2011, Batman was in need of a new origin story. Writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo gave Batman fans a far-reaching and bombastic foundational story for the 21st century. Young Bruce Wayne must deal with his inner demons as well as an influential criminal organization which goes by the name The Red Hood Gang. Snyder and Capullo give a blockbuster of a story filled with explosions, mayhem, and riddles. This is a not-to-be-missed modernization of Batman’s earlier years.
[tps_title]7. Batman: Earth One[/tps_title]
Set in a parallel world called “Earth One,” Batman’s origin is a little more brutal this time around. Writer Geoff Johns gives a unique take on the Dark Knight’s origin, and boy is it dark! A serial killer is kidnapping and killing young girls and a young Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock must find this madman before he kills again. A viewer of Gotham might find a similarity in the portrayal of Alfred as an ex-military tough but tender guardian. The origin also includes the Penguin, who happens to be the Mayor of Gotham.
[tps_title]8. Batman Ego and Other Tales[/tps_title]
Delve into the mind of the Dark Knight with writer and artist Darwyn Cooke. Follow the Batman into the dark and perilous world of his own psyche. Batman must face off against his greatest enemy: himself. This mind- bending story will give readers a new appreciation for the Dark Knight. The book also includes a fun heist story featuring Selina Kyle (A.K.A. Catwoman).
[tps_title]9. Batman Chronicles Vol. 1[/tps_title]
Go back in time and read the beginning (the actual beginning) of Batman. This book collects the first appearances of Batman in chronological order. Batman was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane with help from Jerry Robinson (Bob Kane later took sole credit as the creator). In these first few issues, Batman faces off against his original enemies (some have been mostly forgotten) like Doctor Strange, the Mad Monk, and the Joker. Some of it might be corny, but it is an interesting look at where it all started.
[tps_title]10. Joker[/tps_title]
This graphic novel, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Lee Beremejo, follows a two-time crook named Jonny Frost as he gets caught up in the madness that is the Joker. Azzarello’s Joker is violent, maddening, and at points sympathetic. It is a roller coaster of an experience from start to end. Joker runs into an obese Penguin, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and Two-Face. It is one of the best stand-alone stories told in the Batman universe.
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