Caped Crusader. World’s Greatest Detective. Whatever you know him as, wherever you know him from—the blockbuster movies, TV shows, video games, cartoons, or millions of comics—Batman is proof you don’t need superpowers to be a superhero and the poster boy for what a bad childhood can do to you. Millionaire Bruce Wayne was just a kid when he watched his parents get gunned down during a mugging in Gotham City. The crime would define his life, as he dedicated himself to becoming the world’s greatest weapon against crime—the Batman. Forget his Batarangs, Batmobile, or Utility Belt filled with high-tech weapons.
Batman is the most feared superhero of all, because he’s pushed himself to the absolute pinnacle of human achievement. He’s a brilliant detective who’s mastered fighting techniques the world’s barely heard of. An Olympic-caliber athlete with a plan for every occasion, Batman’s seemingly always five steps ahead of his foes. But in his crusade against injustice, two questions always loom: How far will he go to protect the innocent, and will he sacrifice his humanity along the way?
Book Preface Following his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed run on Detective Comics, writer Scott Snyder (American Vampire) alongside artist Greg Capullo (Spawn) begins a new era of The Dark Knight as with the relaunch of Batman with this critically acclaimed, New York Times #1 best-selling graphic novel! After a series of brutal murders rocks Gotham City, Batman begins to realize that perhaps these crimes go far deeper than appearances suggest. As the Caped Crusader begins to unravel this deadly mystery, he discovers a conspiracy going back to his youth and beyond to the origins of the city he’s sworn to protect. Could the Court of Owls, once thought to be nothing more than an urban legend, be behind the crime and corruption? Or is Bruce Wayne losing his grip on sanity and falling prey to the pressures of his war on crime? Now, this seminal Batman graphic novel is paired with a replica mask worn by the villainous Court of Owls, a must-have for any true fan of Scott Snyder’s groundbreaking work.
It's Batman's 75th anniversary! To celebrate, we are updating our list of the 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels. Batman has more graphic novels than any other hero, so there were many, many stories read in order to compile this list. It's worth noting that this is an update of former IGN Comics Editor Hilary Goldstein's list from 2011. Choice additions and subtractions were made to the list, as well as a change-up in the order - including a brand new #1.
With Grant Morrison finishing his epic run on Batman, we entered his most lasting addition to the Batman mythos - Batman and Son - to the list. Also added were Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla and by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, but you'll have to check out the list to see where they landed. Sorry, still no Batman: Mad Love by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm; it’s a great story but more notable for its Harley Quinn material than Batman. Snyder and Greg Capullo are currently doing a fantastic job with their Batman run, but we are waiting until they are completely done before considering any of their work for this list. There were dozens of other noteworthy Batman graphic novels that were considered, but in the end, this is our list of the 25 Batman stories every comics fan should read. Our Criteria When making our selections, it became necessary to set up some ground rules.
After all, Batman's adventures go beyond his own books. Do we count the JLA? What about something like Robin: Year One? Books were weighed against four criteria. Format - Though we call this list 'The 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels,' it's in a loose sense.
Prestige format books (such as The Killing Joke), graphic novels (Son of the Demon) and trade paperbacks (Tales of the Demon) are all eligible. A Batman Story - Batman needs to be involved in the story as a vital character. We love books such as Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood and Batman: Birth of the Demon, but these great tales are origins of other characters that scarcely utilize the Dark Knight. A JLA or any other story is eligible, provided Batman is in the lead role. A Good Read - Sometimes too much importance is placed on the significance of a story rather than the quality of the storytelling. A story needs to be compelling beyond just the plot twists.
Indelible Mark - Great stories are unforgettable. It's not enough just to be a good read, each of these books must linger in our memories.
Every book on this list has stayed with us even after the last page was read. These are books you tell people, 'You just have to read this, if not your life will have less meaning.' If Batman: Year One were written today, it would be Batman: Earth One. It’s a modern retelling of Batman’s early years where he’s not an infallible master detective who moves like a shadow - a point driven home when, while chasing a crook over the city rooftops, his grappling gun malfunctions and he lands in a pile of trash below. Also, instead of being best buds with Jim Gordon, he winds up socking him in the face.
Rita effendi selamat jalan kekasih. The crucial element that makes this story work is the overhaul of Alfred Pennyworth’s character. No longer a kindly butler, Alfred is an ex-MI-6 agent who, instead of serving him tea and tending to his wounds, beats the crap out of Bruce to teach him a lesson. It’s a refreshing spin on the classic dynamic that lets us appreciate how Batman would adapt to a world with more realistic limitations. Who killed Selina Kyle?
That's what private detective Dick Grayson and the mysterious Batman hope to discover. These two might be partners in another universe, but in Nine Lives, Grayson doesn't care much for the Batman and the Batman, well, he doesn't care much for anyone. Noir is a natural fit for Batman villains. Joker becomes a two-bit card shark, Harvey Dent a two-faced lawyer, the Penguin a mob boss, and Mr.
Freeze a stone cold hitman. The fun noir twists on Batman's Rogues Gallery is great, but Grayson's the one who shines here. He has never been as visceral, fun, and interesting as he is here. A mad man is targeting Gotham's elite and next on his hit list is millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne. This is Batman's introduction to his most nefarious villain, the Joker.
Where Alan Moore's The Killing Joke tells the origin of the Clown Prince of Crime, The Man Who Laughs details the first tussle between Joker and Batman. Brubaker is one of the best crime writers in comics.
Batman Begins Graphic Novel
He manages to bring some of that noir flair to The Man Who Laughs while maintaining the proper tone and pace for a good Batman yarn. To my knowledge this is the only story to ever suggest that, like Bruce Wayne, the Joker had to practice to perfect his art. And that's ultimately what makes the Joker so frightening. His psychosis is not chaotic, not as random as you might think. There's a methodology and a purposefulness to many of his actions. Venom opens with one of the biggest failures in Batman's career. A little girl is trapped.
Batman Graphic Novels Chronological
And Batman isn't strong enough to save her. Distraught, the Dark Knight finds a new alternative to strength training - a little pill that triples his strength. Of course, it's highly addictive and the always-in-control hero loses his grip, nearly assassinating Jim Gordon just to get his fix. It's a look at a side of Batman we rarely see.
Venom is one of those stories that is a struggle to rank. The premise is stronger than the actual writing. Batman fights a shark. So, there's that. But there are moments, strong moments, where O'Neil tests the limits of Batman's commitment to his crusade. And it's enough to make Venom one of the more memorable Batman stories ever told. During a time of political and social turmoil, the citizens of Gotham put their hopes on the city's Dynamic Duo to maintain order.
Only this time it’s Batgirl and Robin. Set in the early '60s, this Elseworlds story imagines the Joker as a hot babe, Bruce Wayne as a reluctant hero, and Barbara Gordon as a tormented crusader of vengeance. As if that weren't enough, there's a really awkward sex scene between Bruce Wayne and Black Canary.
Thrillkiller takes familiar characters and nudges them slightly to the left, creating surprises at nearly every turn of the page. No Gotham City denizen is quite their true selves here, but none are so far removed as to be unbelievable. What that really means is that you have a story that offers a fresh take on the Batman mythos. It still feels new even after nearly 15 years.
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