After remotely finishing my university degree this summer in the midst of a full UK lockdown, I, like many others, suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands. After spending a few weeks tackling my never-ending backlog of video games and binging a lot of TV, I came to the conclusion that I desperately needed something new to fill up all the copious amounts of time, and that’s exactly when I decided to jump headfirst into the wonderful world of comic books.
Now there are obviously a lot of comics in the world, more than enough to be overwhelming. Speaking from experience, the main thing that put me off picking up this hobby a lot was the sheer amount of content and having no idea where to start.
So, that’s exactly why I’m writing these articles! I want to highlight some of my favourite writers and artists as I discover them and create a guide for specific staple characters using my (admittedly still limited) knowledge as a new reader for perspective comic book fans. And what better way to kick things off then with the dark knight himself, Batman.
It’s fairly likely that, even if you’ve never picked up a comic in your life, you’ve likely consumed some kind of Batman content. Whether it’s Nolan’s film trilogy, the Arkham video games, or the television series Gotham, The Dark Knight has been adapted into every form of media but really there’s nowhere better to find your Batman fix than where it all started: between the pages of a comic. So, without further ado, here’s my quintessential beginner’s guide to the caped crusader!
Batman: Year One
Over the years the beginning of Bruce Wayne’s story has been told numerous times, but when it comes to the comic book universe, this is the definitive Batman origin.
With a story crafted by the legendary Frank Miller and accompanying artwork from David Mazzucchelli, Batman: Year One recounts Bruce Wayne’s earliest days as Gotham’s protector. Although there’s a noticeable absence of any franchise staple supervillains, the corruption of the crime-ridden city is still on full display here as Bats fights his way through thugs, thieves, and drug-dealers, slowly garnering the acknowledgement and respect of, not only the citizens of Gotham, but the newest member of the GCPD, James Gordon. This story is as much Gordon’s as it is Batman’s and it eventually builds into setting up their first encounter, and subsequently, their united resistance against Gotham’s seedy criminal underworld.
Basically, if you’re diving into Batman for the first time with minimal knowledge, this is the perfect place to start.
Batman Hush
If you’ve played any of the Arkham video games then this comic might just be the perfect jumping in point for you, as much like the games, it brings together an abundance of Batman’s enemies and allies alike to tell one epic tale.
Originally published between October 2002 and September 2003, Batman Hush is written by Jeph Loeb and features the art talents of Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair. The arc introduces a new villain, Hush, who appears to be set on sabotaging the vigilante.
A crime epidemic is sweeping the city and a handful of Batman’s deadliest foes have emerged, pushing Bruce Wayne to the limit. As this gritty tale twists, turns, and unravels, it soon becomes clear that whether friend or foe, everybody is just a pawn is an elaborate revenge game and Hush is pulling all the strings.
Due to the sheer amount of characters featured, Batman Hush works as a great crash course for the various heroes and villains of the franchise. It’s also absolutely filled to the brim with action, so what’s not to like?
Scott Snyder’s The Court of Owls
One of the first things I learnt when I started exploring comics was about timelines resetting (honestly though this isn’t quite as daunting as it sounds). Essentially every few years publishers will reboot their universe (something that’s usually caused by a canon story event such as DC Flashpoint’s or Marvel’s Secret Wars) and this results in a new series of ‘Number 1’ issues.
In 2011, directly following the events of the Flashpoint crossover event, a reboot of the DC universe entitled ‘The New 52’ was launched. As the name suggests, this comprised of the debut of 52 new, revamped titles, including (you guessed it) Batman. Dark Knight duties for the New 52 were handed over to writer Scott Synder and artist Greg Capullo, and the team delivered from day one with their compelling Court of Owls storyline.
The Court of Owls is an urban legend inspired by an old nursery rhyme that has been passed down for generations within Gotham. The court are an organised crime ring who control the city from the shadows, utilising money, power, and an elite group of highly trained assassins to carry out their wishes. After a series of elaborate murders take place, Batman soon discovers that they’re much more than just a myth and Bruce Wayne has a big target on his back.
In my opinion, this run includes some of the best Batman writing of the past two decades and is an absolute must-read for any fan. Snyder leans heavily into the detective aspects of the character making for some incredible twists and reveals. Once you pick this up, you won’t be able to put it down.
The Long Halloween
A classic noir tale, The Long Halloween follows in continuity to Batman: Year One and is written by Jeph Loeb with art from Tim Sale. Originally published between 1996 and 1997, this is another chronicle of Batman’s early crime-fighting days. It follows the story of a killer named Holiday who commits a murder every month, coinciding with a holiday. Working together with James Gordon, as well as district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman finds himself in a frantic race against time as he attempts to discover Holiday’s identity every month before another victim is claimed.
Unlike Year One, The Long Halloween does introduce and feature several supervillains, including Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler. The story also sets up the events that cause Harvey Dent’s transformation into one of Batman’s biggest enemies, Two-Face. It’s one of the caped crusader’s most compelling cases and is widely considered a classic. If you couldn’t get enough of Year One, this is a great way to follow it up. And, if both still weren’t enough to get your fix, be sure to check out the direct sequel Batman: Dark Victory as well!
The Killing Joke
If Year One is the definitive Batman story then The Killing Joke is the Joker’s equivalent. Written by Watchman’s Alan Moore and illustrated by Judge Dredd legend, Brian Bolland, this masterpiece paints a deep picture of the twisted and tragic origins of the man who laughs.
The 48 page tale is centred around the concept of how just ‘one bad day’ can drastically change everything, and also delivers a striking take on the similarities and differences between Batman and Joker.
To go into too much detail on this one would simply be taking away the full experience of immersion. Believe me, this story is best experienced when going in blind because nothing is quite as chilling as seeing The Killing Joke slowly unfold one page at a time.
