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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 2:24:53 GMT -5
Hi all, i just joined this site, stumbled onto it a few days ago and it seems pretty cool. Basically i was wondering if anyone could help me. I been a big fan of batman for years, since i was a kid, but never really got that into the comics as there was nowhere near me to by them. I just recently started reading some of the graphic novels and was hoping somone could give me some recomendations. I know there's a couple of similar threads to this but i was looking for more specific stuff.
I love the really gritty, dark sort of stories, especially the early career stuff. Also i've never been a big fan of Robin, just felt that it took away from what batman was supposed to be. This dark figure, hiding in the shadows, etc.
So if anyone can recommend anything for me i'd be really grateful. I've jus read the Long Halloween (couldnt put it down, absolutely loved it), and i'm currently reading The Dark Knight Returns (its ok, but im not impressed after all the hype it got).
Also i just bought Batman Year One, The Man Who Laughs and Arkham Asylum. And will try andpick up a copy of The Killing Joke soon. Also i hear Dark Victory is supposed to be really good. How does it compare to The Long Halloween (as i know Dark Victory is its follow up).
Hope you guys can help and sorry for the huge post.
Russ
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Post by havedunter74 on Aug 14, 2008 6:08:46 GMT -5
Im sorry mate but The Dark Knight Returns is one of the finest comic books out there.
If you didnt like that then you'll probably say the Killing Joke is crap aswell.
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 7:08:28 GMT -5
I never said The Dark Knight Returns was crap, just that it didnt impress me as much as i'd hoped. So the killing joke is just like The Dark Knigt returns? Thats what you're saying? Hence if i dont like TDKR i wont like killing joke?
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Post by havedunter74 on Aug 14, 2008 7:20:10 GMT -5
i just think your about the only Batfan out there that wasnt impressed with TDKR. Its one of the few books i have that i've read over again.
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 8:08:01 GMT -5
Thats fair enough, i realise that a lot of people regard it as one of the best, which is why i bought it. And maybe as i read more of it i'll get more into it, but so far it just hasnt grabbed me like The Long Halloween did. I couldnt put that down and just thought it was awesome. Whereas TDKR just hasnt had that impact on me yet. But like i said, maybe i'll get more into it as i read more.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Aug 14, 2008 8:33:11 GMT -5
The Dark Knight Returns is one of the most powerful Batman comics out there, along with TKJ.
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 8:42:50 GMT -5
Thats great, but does anyone actually have any suggestions for me rather than just arguing against my opinion? I'm not a massive fan of The Dark Knight Returns, im sure life will go on.
Does anyone have any suggestions for any of the early career Batman stuff?
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 14, 2008 8:52:16 GMT -5
if you liked Long Halloween, you'll like Dark Victory. in my opinion, Dark Victory is better than LH. also if you want a great early career tale, read Venom. it's one of the best Batman stories set early in his career. if you dont like TDKR, then you definitely wont like Year One, as it's the same writer, and the set on the same Earth. those 2 stories feature the Earth-31 Batman, not the regular New Earth Batman.
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 10:37:43 GMT -5
Thats great, thanks. I was a bit unsure whether i'd like Year One as its Frank Miller but i really wanted to read a good origin story so thought i'd give it a go. I'll definitely check out Dark Victory then. Do you know about Haunted Knight? I know thats by the same guys as LH and DV. Do you know if thats any good? I'll look into Venom maybe as well. Thanks.
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 14, 2008 12:39:08 GMT -5
Thats great, thanks. I was a bit unsure whether i'd like Year One as its Frank Miller but i really wanted to read a good origin story so thought i'd give it a go. I'll definitely check out Dark Victory then. Do you know about Haunted Knight? I know thats by the same guys as LH and DV. Do you know if thats any good? I'll look into Venom maybe as well. Thanks. haunted knight isnt bad, it doesnt have anything to do with LH and DV though, and its basically just 3 stand alone stories from Loeb and Sale. |
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 13:41:30 GMT -5
Cool, i just thought about Haunted Knight cos it was the same guy as LH and DV. I might check it out sometime, but i'll look into the others first. Also do you know of any good Riddler stories? Sorry, i know im not very specific but like i said, im kind of new to the comics and stuff, i grew up with the old tv show and the cartoons and the Tim Burton films and have only just started reading some of the graphic novels and whatnot. I was looking at getting scarecrow tales too, just purely cos i like the scarecrow as a character, the same with the riddler.
If you can help at all that'd be great.
Thanks for the help so far. Really appreciated.
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 14, 2008 13:47:06 GMT -5
Cool, i just thought about Haunted Knight cos it was the same guy as LH and DV. I might check it out sometime, but i'll look into the others first. Also do you know of any good Riddler stories? Sorry, i know im not very specific but like i said, im kind of new to the comics and stuff, i grew up with the old tv show and the cartoons and the Tim Burton films and have only just started reading some of the graphic novels and whatnot. I was looking at getting scarecrow tales too, just purely cos i like the scarecrow as a character, the same with the riddler. If you can help at all that'd be great. Thanks for the help so far. Really appreciated. for Riddler, most of his best stuff hasnt been adapted to trades yet. i can tell you some great single issues if you want. just let me know. Hush is great, and it features Riddler, but it's a more recent story and if you're just getting into the comics now, some of the stuff you may be alittle lost on. let me know if you want to know the back issues that are worth checking for Riddler though. |
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 14, 2008 14:00:15 GMT -5
Thats great, thanks. If i do want to check out some old riddler issues i'll pm you if thats ok? And yeah, i thought about Hush but it did seem a bit much to start with, i think i got a few to keep me busy for now anyway, and i might check out Hush and Haunted Knight at a later date. If i decide to hunt down some good riddler issue's i'll let you know. Thanks so much for the info, you been a great help.
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 14, 2008 15:36:31 GMT -5
All i can say is that if The Dark Knight Returns wasn't for you then stay away from All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder like about three miles it'll just lower your perception of Frank Millar.His Earlier work was great though i loved the Dark Knight Returns and year one.
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 15, 2008 4:10:35 GMT -5
Yeah, Dark Knight Returns is growing on me. I was reading it last night and i've almost finished it and i'm liking it more. I just found it quite hard to initially get into. I think i just had high expectations of what Frank Miller's Batman would be like. That said, i'll give Year One a try and see what thats like. But i've not been particularly inspired to look more into Miller's Batman work from what i've heard. Jeph Loeb impressed me more, i'd like to read more of his Batman stories such a s Dark Victory and, later, Haunted Knight.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Aug 15, 2008 9:17:15 GMT -5
If you like Dark Victory and those you might wanna read Hush Returns, it features the Riddler as well, and Joker's background.
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 15, 2008 10:11:58 GMT -5
Which incorporated the Riddler,the real reason to read Hush Returns is for Hush,so get Batman Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee,you'll probably enjoy that story more than the others cause Hush is a Batman villain that is free of continuity issues cause this is his first story,and the art is great as well .Jeph is the best batman writer,him and Denny O Neil.
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 15, 2008 10:21:12 GMT -5
Which incorporated the Riddler,the real reason to read Hush Returns is for Hush,so get Batman Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee,you'll probably enjoy that story more than the others cause Hush is a Batman villain that is free of continuity issues cause this is his first story,and the art is great as well .Jeph is the best batman writer,him and Denny O Neil. i think you misspelled Alan Grant. on topic, he said he just got into Batman comics and alot of stuff came before Hush and there are some things that would confuse him, such as the scene with Clayface and he wouldnt know alot of the supporting characters either. |
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 15, 2008 11:12:47 GMT -5
Its going to be hard for the guy to read any Batman stories without at least a little Continuity coming into them.
Alan Grants a good Batman writer no doubt but O'Neil is an ace Batman writer I'd class both Loeb and O'Neil above Grant.
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 15, 2008 11:57:46 GMT -5
Its going to be hard for the guy to read any Batman stories without at least a little Continuity coming into them. Alan Grants a good Batman writer no doubt but O'Neil is an ace Batman writer I'd class both Loeb and O'Neil above Grant. your opinion of coarse. Loeb though has only written a few Batman stories and the majority of them were from Superman/Batman. O'Neill was a great writer and great editor, but no writer has had the runs that Alan Grant has had. he had that great run on Detective with Norm Breyfogle, and then he was given his own series, Shadow of the Bat, which was amazing. |
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 15, 2008 12:20:00 GMT -5
You ever read any of his novels?  |
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 15, 2008 12:59:05 GMT -5
You ever read any of his novels? who? |
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 15, 2008 15:13:31 GMT -5
Alan Grant???Like Batman the Stone King,along those lines???
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Post by jlavaia on Aug 15, 2008 16:12:23 GMT -5
i read The Stone King a few years back. it wasnt bad. his comic stuff is better. i love his work on Judge Dredd too.
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Post by coliv1977 on Aug 15, 2008 17:20:34 GMT -5
i read The Stone King a few years back. it wasnt bad. his comic stuff is better. i love his work on Judge Dredd too. I thought the Stone King was great! All the books in that series of pocket books are exellent, IMO. My favorite was Exterminators...Awesome! |
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 15, 2008 17:44:41 GMT -5
Yeah Justice League Exterminators was a great read,must read that one again.The best one was Green Lantern Hero's Quest by O'Neil.That book rocked hard.
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Post by russell1982 on Aug 18, 2008 8:17:26 GMT -5
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I might check out Hush at some point, but i got a few to keep me going for now. I just read Frank Millers Year One and loved it. Well pleased after i wasnt overly impressed with the Dark Knight Returns. I then read The Man Who Laughs and i have to say i highly recommend it to anyone who hasnt read it. Though i imagine most of you have. But yeah, i just thought it was absolutely brilliant. The artwork was awesome and the story was really good, great introduction to the Joker.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Aug 18, 2008 8:57:11 GMT -5
Glad you liked them, russel  |
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Post by havedunter74 on Aug 18, 2008 9:10:40 GMT -5
Ive just read Hush and it was excellent but wasnt overly impressed with Hush returns.
Jim Lee is a God
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SuperPa
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Post by SuperPa on Aug 23, 2008 20:45:53 GMT -5
Which seems to be the general thought of Batman fans when they compare the two story arc's.
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