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    Batman

    Character » Batman appears in 23537 issues.

    Bruce Wayne, who witnessed the murder of his billionaire parents as a child, swore to avenge their deaths. He trained extensively to achieve mental and physical perfection, mastering martial arts, detective skills, and criminal psychology. Costumed as a bat to prey on the fears of criminals, and utilizing a high-tech arsenal, he became the legendary Batman.

    Am I ready for Batman New 52?

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    Danongorf

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    I've read up on a fair few Batman stories -- my collected trades are:

    Year One

    Monster Men

    Red Monk

    Man Who Laughs

    Venom

    Long Halloween

    Dark Victory

    Robin and Batgirl Year One

    The Gauntlet

    A Serious House On a Serious Earth

    Killing Joke

    A Death In The Family

    Gotham By Gaslight

    The Dark Knight Returns

    I want to read through the New 52 Batman (from Court of Owls through Death of the Family), I hear it's for new readers, but other people have also said otherwise. Is it a good idea to jump in, having only read these trades? I really want to read Death of the Family and other stories in Batman's New 52.. I haven't read Knightfall and No Man's Land, as I've not got the money for such a large series. Would I be alright starting with Court of Owls and reading onwards?

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    road_warrior

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    Yes . Court of owls is mostly for new readers and you don't need knightfall or no mans land to understand it .

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    jb681131

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    @danongorf:Well it is good to know a few things. You are missing a big chunck of Batman's life.

    You've only read comics about his early life.

    You know nothing about

    • Red robin
    • Nightwing
    • Oracle
    • Bane
    • Ra's Al Ghul
    • Talia Al Ghul
    • Hush
    • Red Hood
    • Damian Wayne
    • Black mask
    • ...

    And about Major events (in reading order only about the Bat, you'll figure out with these who's Oracle, Nightwing, and Red Robin)

    • Knightfall:
      • Vengeance of Bane
      • Sword of Azrael
      • Knightfall
      • Knightquest
      • KnightsEnd
      • Prodigual
      • Troika
    • No man's land:
      • Contagion
      • Cataclysm
      • Aftermath (included in some Road to no man's land editions)
      • Road to no man's land
      • No man's land
      • New Gotham vol. 1: Evolution
      • New Gotham vol. 2: Officer down
    • Hush
    • Under the red hood
    • Birth of the Demon:
      • Son of the demon
      • Bride fo the demon
      • Birth fo the demon
    • The resurection of Ra's Al Ghul
    • Grand Morrison's run (A long and awsome run):
      • The Black Casebook
      • Batman and Son
      • The Black glove
      • Batman RIP
      • Batman Reborn
      • Batman: The Return
      • Batman Incorporated vol.1
    • Final Crisis (to read after Batman RIP)
    • Paul Dini's run (One of the best Batman run):
      • Batman: Detective
      • Batman: Death and the City
      • Batman: Private Casebook
      • Batman: Heart of Hush
      • Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 1 – Hush Money
      • Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 2 – Leviathan
      • Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 3 – The House of Hush
    • Scott Snyder's early work (before new 52)
      • Batman: Black mirror
      • Gates of gotham
    • Flashpoint (event that lead to New 52)

    There are many other books I would suggest reading and that are sometimes better, but these are the main events you should know about the Bat.

    And for new 52, only read (because the rest is bad story quality compared to all you've read and what I've suggested):

    • Batman: Court of Owl
    • Batman: Night of the Owls
    • Batman: City of Owls (tie-ins)
    • Batman and Robin: Born to kill
    • Batman and Robin: Pearl
    • Batman and Robin: Death of the family
    • Batman incorporated: Demon star
    • Batman incorporated: Gotham's most wanted
    • Batman and Robin: Requiem for Damian
    • Batman and Robin: The big run
    • Batman and Robin: The hunt for Robin
    • Batman and Robin: Robin rises
    • Batman eternal vol.1+2+3
    • Batman & Robin eternal vol. 1
    • Batman, The dark knight: Knight terrors
    • Batman: The dark knight: cycle of violance (awsome dark story on scarecrow)
    • Batman: The dark knight: Mad
    • Batman: The dark knight: Clay
    • and of course: Li'l Gotham

    Don't bother reading the Batman title past the Owl arc.

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    Danongorf

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    #4  Edited By Danongorf

    @jb681131: Oh god, there's so much to readddd. I'm planning on reading Knightfall once I have money.But do I really have to read all of that?

    I know about Robin's transition to Nightwing, I'm trying to get my hands on Nightwing: Year One.

    Why should I not read past Owls?

    Also, I know who Oracle and Nightwing are, just not Red Robin.. Unless it's Red Hood?

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    jb681131

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    @danongorf: Here are some lists I made for another lost Viner: http://comicvine.gamespot.com/batman/4005-1699/forums/what-are-the-batman-books-needed-to-understand-man-1784267/

    You don't have to read it all, this is more like complete list of all major events. Excluding the very bad ones like War Games. And the minor ones which can be very good reads.

    You shouldn't read pas Owls because the books are bad, that's all. You can look around for reviews and see for yourself all the negative critics. Off course there are always people that like this kind of storytelling but for me it's a waist of time and money knowing all there is to read.

    For Knightfall, be careful because some stories are missing from the US collected editions (a few Batman and Detective comics leading to Knightfall, Knightquest: the search and Troika are sadly not collected).

    If you're into Knightwing, I also recommand Knightwing new52 followed by Grayson New52.

    But if you don't care about knowing all the events, just read summaries and you'll be fin. If you want more suggestion of just good stories to read, do mind asking.

    Have fun

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    Danongorf

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    @jb681131: I do plan on reading Death of the Family.. As well as NML and KF..

    But which tp's do I buy for the Death of the Family story? The Batman New 52 one, or the 400+ page long trade entitled 'The Joker: Death of the Family'?? Or do I buy both versions? As I know Joker's trade is missing Batman New 52 #14-17.

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    Nathaniel_Christopher

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    Yes, you're ready.

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    jb681131

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    @danongorf: Do as you wish, but I dont recommmand it. The Joker book countains only the tie-ins issues from other titles with the needed batman issues.The Batman book is the main story.

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    Anjales_II

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    @jb681131: I do plan on reading Death of the Family.. As well as NML and KF..

    But which tp's do I buy for the Death of the Family story? The Batman New 52 one, or the 400+ page long trade entitled 'The Joker: Death of the Family'?? Or do I buy both versions? As I know Joker's trade is missing Batman New 52 #14-17.

    'The Joker: Death of the Family' is basically all the tie-ins to the main story, but you don't need to read them to understand the main story, which collects 14-17. Basically what it does is show you what's going on with the rest of the Batfamily during the events of the main story and how they end up where they are towards the end of the main story. In terms of quality, the Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin story are strong while the others are forgettable. The problem with these stories is that, none of the batfamily members get a proper payoff and resolution and the story only resolves in the main Batman title.

    So basically what I'm saying is, if you want to read the main story, that takes place in the Batman new 52 Death of the Family volume (you can pick up the one with the transparent joker cover the one that shows the joker "mask"). The other collection doesn't collect the main Batman story, so you either collect the Batman volume or both books.

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    kiba

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    More than ready. Just jump in. You'll be fine.

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    jb681131

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    #11  Edited By jb681131
    @kiba said:

    More than ready. Just jump in. You'll be fine.

    I disagree. As you might know (or not), Batman and Green Lantern, didn't get rebooted for the New52. Why ? Well to keep all the heritage and baggage these 2 family had. In other terms, to be able to build on the many things that exist in there respective past. Meaning, you will have a better enderstanding of some vilains, reactions, conflict, family members and relationships by having read some prior books.

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    Danongorf

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    @anjales_ii: I think I'll buy both to be safe -- looks real interesting. But I'll catch up on what @jb681131 recommended before-hand.

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    LactoseTolerant

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    @jb681131 said:

    @danongorf:Well it is good to know a few things. You are missing a big chunck of Batman's life.

    You've only read comics about his early life.

    You know nothing about

    • Red robin
    • Nightwing
    • Oracle
    • Bane
    • Ra's Al Ghul
    • Talia Al Ghul
    • Hush
    • Red Hood
    • Damian Wayne
    • Black mask
    • ...

    And about Major events (in reading order only about the Bat, you'll figure out with these who's Oracle, Nightwing, and Red Robin)

    • Knightfall:
      • Vengeance of Bane
      • Sword of Azrael
      • Knightfall
      • Knightquest
      • KnightsEnd
      • Prodigual
      • Troika
    • No man's land:
      • Contagion
      • Cataclysm
      • Aftermath (included in some Road to no man's land editions)
      • Road to no man's land
      • No man's land
      • New Gotham vol. 1: Evolution
      • New Gotham vol. 2: Officer down
    • Hush
    • Under the red hood
    • Birth of the Demon:
      • Son of the demon
      • Bride fo the demon
      • Birth fo the demon
    • The resurection of Ra's Al Ghul
    • Grand Morrison's run (A long and awsome run):
      • The Black Casebook
      • Batman and Son
      • The Black glove
      • Batman RIP
      • Batman Reborn
      • Batman: The Return
      • Batman Incorporated vol.1
    • Final Crisis (to read after Batman RIP)
    • Paul Dini's run (One of the best Batman run):
      • Batman: Detective
      • Batman: Death and the City
      • Batman: Private Casebook
      • Batman: Heart of Hush
      • Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 1 – Hush Money
      • Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 2 – Leviathan
      • Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 3 – The House of Hush
    • Scott Snyder's early work (before new 52)
      • Batman: Black mirror
      • Gates of gotham
    • Flashpoint (event that lead to New 52)

    There are many other books I would suggest reading and that are sometimes better, but these are the main events you should know about the Bat.

    And for new 52, only read (because the rest is bad story quality compared to all you've read and what I've suggested):

    • Batman: Court of Owl
    • Batman: Night of the Owls
    • Batman: City of Owls (tie-ins)
    • Batman and Robin: Born to kill
    • Batman and Robin: Pearl
    • Batman and Robin: Death of the family
    • Batman incorporated: Demon star
    • Batman incorporated: Gotham's most wanted
    • Batman and Robin: Requiem for Damian
    • Batman and Robin: The big run
    • Batman and Robin: The hunt for Robin
    • Batman and Robin: Robin rises
    • Batman eternal vol.1+2+3
    • Batman & Robin eternal vol. 1
    • Batman, The dark knight: Knight terrors
    • Batman: The dark knight: cycle of violance (awsome dark story on scarecrow)
    • Batman: The dark knight: Mad
    • Batman: The dark knight: Clay
    • and of course: Li'l Gotham

    Don't bother reading the Batman title past the Owl arc.

    No offense but I feel like this list is way too long. A lot of this stuff is pretty good but it's largely skippable. If you've got the time and money then by all means do so but I'm gonna condense it down to this:

    Recommended readings before jumping in:

    • Birth of the Demon
    • Knightfall Saga
    • Hush
    • Under the Red Hood
    • Grant Morrison's run (or at least The Black Glove and Batman RIP)
    • Final Crisis
    • The Return of Bruce Wayne
    • Batman Inc. Vol 1
    • Black Mirror
    • Flashpoint

    New 52 Reading List:

    • Batman Vol 1-3 (4, 5 and 6 can be skipped, Zero Year is essentially Scott Snyder's version of Year One and 6 is one-off and filler stories)
    • Batman and Robin Vol 1, 2, 4, 5 (3 is just a tie-in to Batman vol 3, also skippable)
    • Batman Inc. Vol 1 and 2 (be sure to read before Batman and Robin
    • Forever Evil (Not Batman but explains certain status quo changes)
    • Batman Eternal (fills in the gap between Batman Vol 3 and 7)
    • Batman and Robin Vol 6-7
    • Batman Vol 7-9
    • Batman and Robin Eternal (Not entirely sure where this fits into the timeline though)
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    jb681131

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    @lactosetolerant: Yes this is maybe a better shorter list. Maybe you are missing Batman and Son. Before new 52 and Batman Inc. vol1.

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    iaconpoint

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    If you haven't read Morrison's run, you aren't ready. And the Stephanie Brown Batgirl, you aren't ready!

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    MsSelene

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    #16  Edited By MsSelene

    New 52 is designed for new readers. Technically you can jump right into while still being ignorant of the charecters.

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    jb681131

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    @msselene said:

    New 52 is designed for new readers. Technically you can jump right into while still being ignorant of the charecters.

    Yes it's true. But what is also true, reading better comics that will help to understand better isn't a bad idea.

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    kcomicfan

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    #18  Edited By kcomicfan

    Yes, and if you don't know something, you can always look it up on the DC Database wiki or the Batman wiki.

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    KrleAvenger

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    Indeed you are.

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    jb681131

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    Yes, and if you don't know something, you can always look it up on the DC Database wiki or the Batman wiki.

    The best place is dc.wikia.com

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    LactoseTolerant

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    @jb681131 said:

    @lactosetolerant: Yes this is maybe a better shorter list. Maybe you are missing Batman and Son. Before new 52 and Batman Inc. vol1.

    Good point. Thanks for filling in the gaps.

    This edit will also create new pages on Comic Vine for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

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