This week's On My Shelf post is dedicated to my favourite DC character.
Please be aware of possible spoilers ahead.
1. Year One
Frank Miller takes an origin look at the Dark Knight in this incredibly
well written and illustrated book. The basic plot of this book is the beginning
of a young Bruce Wayne, 12 years after the death of his parents. This is the
rise of Batman and the early years of Gotham City’s corruption.
For me this book was one of my all-time favorite Batman books. It not
only shows us the corruption that exists in Gotham City, but also shows us a glimpse
of a few main characters in the Batman universe (i.e. Det. James Gordon). One
of the main reasons I love this book and highly recommend it is the fact that
you see a young and inexperienced Batman tackle the criminal world and make
mistakes in the process. It’s a fun book and a must have for any die hard
Batman fan.
2. The Dark Knight Returns
Frank Miller hits us again with another one of his masterpieces as we
look into the future of the Dark Knight universe.
This book is near to my heart because I first picked it up as I went to
watch the Batman movie in 1989, therefore it holds a nostalgic aspect for me. This
book was not only written but also drawn by Frank Miller and this book from
start to finish was an incredible ride!!! You see the final dance with The
Clown Prince of crime Joker, and a showdown between Batman and Superman!
3. The Killing Joke
The Clown Prince goes after Commissioner Gordon and the Bat family will
never be the same.
This book is written by one of my favorite writers Alan Moore and it
shows just how insane Moore’s take on the Joker is. Many writers in comics have
tried to do a Joker origin tale but none has woven such an intricate tale where
it leaves you wanting more. Plus the Joker changes Batman’s world forever!!
4. HUSH
Jim Lee joining the
DC Comics universe and first on his plate is this Batman tale!! Nuff said
Batman is pitted against an enemy that not only attacks him
head on but challenges the Dark Knight’s detective skills. The Hush character
introduced in this book is a cool addition to Batman’s rogue gallery. We also
get an intimate look at the relationship between Batman and Catwoman. This book
for me was enjoyable and the Jim Lee illustrations will take your breath away. I
found myself not only wanting more page by page but also having an appreciation
for Jim Lee’s craft.
5. Death In The Family
A tragedy
in the Batman universe that sends ripples throughout Batman books for years to
come
There
are not many books that I have read that impacts a character like this one did.
In fact, this book was so important that DC Comics gave the fans the opportunity
to vote on the outcome of the story. Death is a part of life and congrats to DC
for bringing that aspect to life for one of their top characters. Batman was
born through the death of Bruce’s parents so long ago and now as an adult,
Bruce must deal with the death of someone as important to him. This book is an
excellent read and will tug at the heart strings.
6. Tower of Babel
JLa Tower of Babel is the story of betrayal and trust among friends and
how far Batman will go to keep the world safe.
So take the world’s mightiest superheroes and then mix one paranoid Dark
Knight Detective and what do you get? You get JLA Tower of Babel!! His tale
spun by Mark Waid shows us that Batman trusts nobody not even Superman! If you’re
a fan of how far a hero will go to protect the world then this is the book for
you. My personal feelings towards this book is that it gives you a unique look
at Batman’s relationship with his fellow members and how much trust truly is
between him and the Justice League heroes.
7. Son of Demon
Batman\ Ra’s al Ghul story told in an Elseworlds tale.
Elseworlds books are rarely ever any good but this one is actually worth
reading. We all know that Batman is a detective but this book shows us how
great a detective he really is. When I first picked this book for my top 10, I thought
to myself, why this book over so many other books? The first thing that pops
into my mind is Damian Wayne!! Yes, the son of Bruce Wayne was born in this
book so it’s safe to say he’s an important person in Bruce’s life. The artwork
is incredible for a book done in the 80’s and one of the top Ra’s al Ghul
stories ever written!
A gangster/murder mystery with a noir-ish plot
Often murder mysteries are hit and miss when it comes to the plot
execution. However this unique adaptation of a mob/murder mystery by Jeph Loeb
will capture your imagination and also connect you with the characters. I found that through reading this book, you see the brotherhood development between
Batman, Commissioner Gordon and the pre-Two Face Harvey Dent. Through his artwork,
Tim Sales gives us a unique and dynamic look at Gotham’s criminal underworld.
9. Arkham Asylum
Batman faces all his enemies in Arkham in a twisted tale!
I found this book very interesting for many reasons but the most
important reason is that this book focuses more on Batman’s villains than him.
It has a crazy ending which leaves you appreciating Grant Morrison’s writing skills.
I love the twist of Batman being at the mercy of his rogue villains while
trying to save the staff at Arkham. The artwork is a bit different from what
Batman fans are used to but I love the different approach Dave McKean used for
this tale.
A Batman tale of organized crime set in the 1940’s.
The first thing that grabs you about Batman Nine Lives is not the story
or the art, it is the format in which the book is presented. This book is not
in a conventional comic book layout, it is instead a horizontal display of
artwork. The storyline was well plotted, however the characters could have been
better developed. Overall, it was a good read and worth adding to your collection
for any Batman fan.
Keeping
with the Batman theme, my featured "
On My Shelf" item is Batman Harley Quinn
written by Paul Dini. It marks the first appearance of Harley Quinn in the DC
universe.
Nightwing Key Episodes:
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