Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Happy 75th Birthday Batman

it’s been long known around here that I am a Batman fan.  He’s been mentioned at least a dozen times on this blog.  And so for his 75th birthday I thought I would just suggest to you that you might want to go check out a few of what I consider to be the best Batman stories that I have.  I know you are busy, I’ll keep the list just to five.

 

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5. The Long Halloween

The Long Halloween is heavily influenced by film noir and films such as The Godfather. The series continues the story of Carmine Falcone introduced in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. Set early in Batman's career a few months after the events of Year One, the story revolves around the gradual transition of Batman's rogues' gallery from simple mob goons to full-fledged supervillains. It is also the origin of Two-Face. As the story unfolds, Carmine Falcone hires "freaks" (Poison Ivy, the Riddler, the Scarecrow, and the Mad Hatter) in an attempt to stop the Batman and restore power back to the family, only to discover that the freaks are more powerful than he expected.

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4. Batman: Year One

Bruce Wayne returns home to Gotham City from training abroad in martial arts, man hunting, and science for the past 12 years, and James Gordon moves to Gotham with his pregnant wife, Barbara, after a transfer from Chicago. Both are swiftly acquainted with the corruption and violence of Gotham City.

The animated adaption of this is one of the few animated Batman movies I have ever gotten Amber to watch! But it’s also kind of slow paced with not gigantic action sequence, more of a character story witch is what she likes.

According to IGN it is one of the most important graphic novels ever written.

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3. Batman: Hush

Hush is a 2002-2003 comic book story arc that ran through the Batman monthly series. It was written by Jeph Loeb, penciled by Jim Lee, inked by Scott Williams and colored by Alex Sinclair. The story depicts a mysterious stalker called Hush, who seems intent on sabotaging Batman from afar, and it includes a large number of guest appearances by Batman villains. It also emphasizes the romantic feelings between Batman and Catwoman.

I finally bought this book mid 2011 I think and reading it was what really got me back in to comics.  It’s a fantastic story with really great Jim Lee art.  After reading this and hearing that DC was doing all new #1 books, I signed up for a subscription! and have been collecting since!

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2. The Dark Knight Returns

The Dark Knight Returns is a 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries starring Batman, written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Miller and Klaus Janson, and published by DC Comics. When the series was collected into a single volume later that year, the story title for the first issue was applied to the entire series. The Dark Knight Returns tells the story of Bruce Wayne, who at 55 years old returns from retirement to fight crime and faces opposition from the Gotham City police force and the United States government.

So many people list this as their favourite Batman book of all time.  I don’t simply because the art is not all that great, the story is however, amazing!  There is an animated adaption of this book as well, also amazingly good.

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1. Death of the Family

"Death of the Family" is a 23-issue comic book story arc first published by DC Comics in 2012 featuring the fictional superhero Batman and his family of supporting characters. The arc spans several titles featuring characters of the Batman family including: Batman, Batgirl, Batman and Robin, Catwoman, Detective Comics, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Suicide Squad, and Teen Titans. The story involves the return of Batman's arch-enemy, the Joker, and his plan to destroy all of the people Batman has come to rely on over the years: the multiple Robins, Batgirl, Catwoman, Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner James Gordon. The title is a reference to the classic Batman story arc "A Death in the Family" (1988), in which the Joker murders Jason Todd.

The most current one on the list and an amazing story as well, if not a little bit twisted.  Snyder writes and Capullo draws a fascinating Joker.  A really great read!

Stay turned later today for a giveaway!!

Also check out The Mighty Chrispy for a Batman comic that I am writing and drawing!

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