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I’m trying to read the Grant Morrison Batman run but I didn’t know where to start. What is the best point to start all that “Batman R.I.P.”, Battle for the Cowl, and The Return of Bruce Wayne stuff? Are there trades which collect the whole story best? What should I read? Please help me!
Anton
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Huge Batman fan here, and I’m currently reading Detective Comics (beginning with Scott Snyder’s just-started run), Batman, Incorporated and Batman and Robin. I’d like to read some of the material from Grant Morrison’s run and any definitive story lines from the last few years of Batman books. What do you recommend that’s been collected in trade — what would you consider quasi-essential?
Bryan S.
Ah ha! I love when two similar e-mails come in because that means I can kill two birds with one Batarang but I would never do that because killing is WRONG.
Okay, so both Anton and Bryan want to get into Grant Morrison’s run on Batman and I can certainly help. DC’s trade program kind of totally blows but they’ve been really good about collecting the Morrison stuff because they are a business and they like to make money, and for all the controversy Morrison can sometimes generate, that Scottish dude moves units. Especially when he’s working with the other Scottish dude.
First, for Anton, here are all the collections that are available from Morrison’s run:
Batman and Son (Collects Batman #655-658, 663-666) – This is the story that kicked off Morrison’s run on Batman and re-introduced Damian Wayne, a character most people had forgotten, or didn’t even know, existed. It also features a glimpse into the future when Damian Wayne is Batman. Art is by Andy Kubert.
Batman: The Black Glove (Collects Batman #667-669, 672-675) – This collection is titled “The Black Glove” because that’s where we really start to see their plans put in motion that would culminate in the story in the next collection, but really it is just as much about the International Club of Heroes, featuring characters like Knight & Squire and Gaucho. Art is by J.H. Williams III.
Batman R.I.P. (Collects Batman #676-683 & DC Universe #0) – Everything that Morrison had been writing lead to this story where the evil Dr. Hurt and his Black Glove organization attempted to break Batman, psychologically. Art is by Tony Daniel.
Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn (Collects Batman and Robin #1-6) – Dick Grayson is now Batman and Damian Wayne is now Robin and nothing is ever the same in Gotham. (For now.) The first three issues are the best three issues of a super hero book that I’ve read in years. Art is by Frank Quitely and Philip Tan.
Batman and Robin: Batman vs. Robin (Collects Batman and Robin #7-12) – Batman travels to England and teams up with Knight & Squire and Batwoman and finds out that maybe Bruce Wayne didn’t die in Final Crisis after all. Art is by Frazier Irving and Andy Clarke.
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (Collects Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-6) – After Darkseid blasted Bruce Wayne back into the Stone Age at the end of Final Crisis, this story chronicled Bruce’s return trip home through time. Art is by Chris Sprouse, Frazier Irving, Yanick Paquette, Georges Jeanty, Ryan Sook, and Lee Garbett.
If you want to read Morrison’s Batman run, Anton, those collections will do you just fine. That’s assuming you want to start from the beginning. Or maybe you’re like Bryan and you only want the essential stories. And look, all of those collections contain good-to-great Morrison penned Batman stories. But if you don’t want to get six collections (plus another two collections worth of issues of Batman and Robin that haven’t been collected yet — the third hardcover is set for the summer — plus Batman, Incorportated #1-3) then the ones that I think are absolutely essential are Batman and Son and Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn and Batman and Robin: Batman vs. Robin. The first one introduces you to Damian Wayne, perhaps the most important new DC Comics character in the last ten years, and the two Batman and Robin collections feature some of the best super hero stories from the past few years. No matter which collections you choose, however, you’re in for some great stories.
Conor Kilpatrick
I’m a big DC fan but I’ve been dying to get into Marvel too. Marvel.1 seems like the time is right to jump on. Do you think the Marvel.1 comics will do what they aim to set out, helping new readers to catch up with the current story lines and set them on the right path to enjoy and explore these characters?
Danny from Liverpool, England, UK
When Marvel first announced the Point One (or .1) comics, I thought that the concept was perfect. These would be issues that would serve as the perfect jumping on point for their most popular titles and this would make our job easier in telling people what to check out if they wanted to try a new title. But now that the Point One books have actually started shipped, I realize that either that wasn’t Marvel’s intention or they didn’t quite hit the mark.
I think that there are two things at play with the Point One books that caused this. The first is scheduling. Maintaining a monthly schedule with an ongoing, multi-issue story is hard enough as it is. But then add another book to the creator’s schedules and then scheduling that book to ship on a certain date is a dangerous game. What can happen is the scheduling conflict that we’ve already seen with Wolverine #5.1 and The Amazing Spider-Man #654.1. In both cases the comics were in the middle of stories or events (Wolverine in Hell and Spider-Man dealing with the death of J. Jonah Jameson’s wife). So a light-hearted romp aimed at getting new readers on board really wasn’t going to be easy. So with Wolverine #5.1 we got an admittedly fantastic one and done story about Wolverine. But if you tried Wolverine #5.1 and then picked up issue #6, there is no way you could have any clue as to what was happening. Over in Spider-Man, we essentially got an issue that could have served as Venom #0. Not that it was bad, in fact it was great, but there was very little Spider-Man, thus making it a bit tricky as a jumping on point.
The second issue I could see with the Point One issues is that I don’t think they were approached to grab in new readers, like yourself. Rather they were aimed at lapsed/former readers of particular books. With prominent ads and extra sections promoting the Point One issues from within the Marvel Comics, and little to no promotion outside of the comics, I think they were approaching these with the idea of, “How can we get people who used to read these comics to come back?” Which from a business sense I totally understand, but I can see the argument of that being a bit short sighted.
Whenever people ask me about jumping on to an going title at Marvel or DC or any other publisher for that matter, I always say the same thing. Just do it. If there’s a title you’re interested in, give it a shot. You won’t have any idea of what’s going on, but you’ll figure it out. That’s part of the fun that I think we forget and then we’re overwhelmed by the word of mouth about the book or the number of issues, etc. But who cares? It’s just comics. You want to know what happened previously? Ask your comic shop owner, or your friend or check the internet. The information is out there, you just have to find it. When I started on Uncanny X-Men, I had no idea who anyone was or what was going on and I loved it. I went back issue diving and asked question after question of my friends until I had a handle on things, and to be honest, I miss that level of engagement with a comic. The last time I had that was when I jumped onto The Flash in the late 1990s. I had no idea what was going on and had SO much fun figuring it all out.
So that said, could the Point One issues be a good jumping on point? As much as any first issue of a comic you may try, sure. Pick ’em up, if you like what you see, then buy the next issue. Or just buy the latest issue on the racks and see how it goes. The number is really arbitrary when you think about it.
Ron Richards
So with news of the a pilot in the work for Powers, I’ve been rereading the series. The first time I read it I was fairly new to comics, but going through it again I noticed that all of the street and building names are writer’s and artist’s last names (like the law firm of Johns, Winick, Brubaker, and Meltzer). So what are some of your guys’ favorite comic book easter eggs (and no fair counting any of the times you’ve been drawn into an issue)?
Phil from Chicago, Illinois
I’m going to subvert your question a little bit because I know exactly what you’re talking about, and I guess I kind of hate it. I’ve been re-reading Powers lately too, and I noticed the same thing. There are a ton of thing named after Bendis’ friends in there, much the same way that you’re talking about. I mean, I don’t begrudge them doing it and having a little fun, and 90% of the readers won’t even notice it, and I’m pretty sure this is just me. I know it’s not how Ron and Conor feel, who love stuff like this. But if I’m reading a story about a fantastical, fictional world, I don’t really want to be sucked back to the real world. It just jars me sideways, and it always bugs me. That is, until it doesn’t.
Sometimes, it doesn’t bother me. I like how in Gotham City, there’s stuff like the Infantino Parkway, which are named after the guys who created that world. That doesn’t bother me. Yet, there was, in an issue of Criminal I think, a shot of a guy who was clearly Joe Quesada, and after I found it, it just threw me. Then again, I have been featured in a comic book page before a couple times, and that was fantastic. For me at least.
I think it comes from the whole post-modern reference-laden, “bit-too-clever” period from the late ’90s up to now, where the quality of some creative content was judged purely on how many pop culture references they could cram into a movie or TV show. When Kevin Smith did it in Clerks, it was new and clever. The same with the Spaced TV show. But these days, I’ve seen that, and it takes a lot more to impress me. Cranky, right? I guess subtle is always better, but it’s this fine line between me noticing and appreciating it, and me noticing it and rolling my eyes a little. You want to know the truth? I think I might be completely wrong about this. But you feel what you feel!
Josh Flanagan
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Great advice for the Batman reading. That should get him up to date.
I actually like the inside stuff unless it pulls me out of a good story. I generally don’t notice it unless is extremely overt or if someone points it out to me.
@ccarney Seconded.
@stuclach I like it too.
Brubaker did that in the most recent Criminal arc too, with the character “Scotty Adsit” who also looked exactly like Scott Adsit from 30 Rock. The first time I tried reading it, it took me right out of the story too.
I loved the morrison run on batman. ill admit is not the easiest of stories to follow specially when throwing in final crisis and all, but for anyone willing to read all his writtings the story payoff is fantastic.I highly recomend the morrison run.
I have to say, Batman The Black Glove and R.I.P. are kinda essential reading. Otherwise seeing Dr. Hurt show up anywhere else falls flat. That buildup is fantastic and necessary for the end of B&R
@West I agree that they’ve become must reads for anyone interested in Batman.
@jerome I wouldn’t say I missed that one, exactly…
lol, i see.
I guess call me Mr Cranky Pants. Cuz I’m with Josh. I’m not usually a fan of that kind of stuff. It does take me out of the story and fantastical world just a tad. Not a deal breaker by any means. But I could do without it.
I totally agree with Josh. For the most part, that stuff annoys me. I don’t mind it in occassion, like the various locations on Gotham City named after the most important Batman creators. It almost never come sup and when it does i’s a nice little touch.
My main issue with the constant pop culture reference thing is that is so often done so horribly.
If you watch Spaced, it is a perfect example of a reference done right. They never draw attention to the fact they are making a pop culture reference. Somebody who doesn’t get the reference won’t even realize one is being made. Like in the episode where the bike messenger has to distract the security guard at the front desk of the comic company: they have the exact same conversation as Robert Deniro and the Secret Service guy in Taxi driver. if you get the reference, it is funny. if you DON’T get the reference, it is STILL advancing the story and is mildly funny on its own.
Too often people make a pop culture reference, but there is no joke behind it. it is just a reference for the sake of a reference. 99% of the references in Family Guy are like this. If you took them all out, it would have no bearing on the plot. If you took the references out in Spaced, the story would grind to a halt.
In today’s entertainment, the reference itself has become the “joke” even though it really isn’t a joke. I guess people just like the fact that they have seen the same movies/tv show and heard the same music as the people making the entertainment they are watching.
What about The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul? It’s the only trade from Morrison’s run I haven’t read yet. Any good? Essential? Where does it fit?
no, no, in between Batman and Son and Black Glove.
I will cover Josh’s question for him. Best easter eggs: Top Ten. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
@zombox That is really good.
I absolutely despise the easter eggs in Marvels. They’re just done horribly.
If anyone wants to read some of the best superhero comics ever written, they need look no further than Grant Morrison’s first three issues on JLA, New X-Men, and Batman & Robin. The next time Morrison starts a run on a title, I might just read the first three issues and stop there.
I second the notion that Top Ten has the best easter eggs of all time. If there’s such a thing as an underrated Alan Moore book, this is it.
Oh Conor your silly for not listing Batman RIP as essential reading. I know you cant name them all in the second part of your list but that one of the best things Morrison has ever written. Definitely superior to Batman and Son
@mikegraham6 “Essential” and “good” aren’t the same in this case. They’re all great stories, but if you wanted to read the Batman books now I think it’s more important to know who Damian is and where he came from than the psychological attack on Bruce Wayne, no matter how good it is.
@RapidEyeMovement It’s pretty bad and the only thiing from Morrison’s Batman that you can easily do without.
@conor Not to be that guys but: you put Frazier Irving in the 2nd collection of Batman and Robin when it should be Cameron Stewart.
Do you think DC will collect Morrison’s run in an omnibus? They’re going to do Johns’ Flash run in omnibus form as well as having Green Lantern & Teen Titans. It’s one I would buy.
Re: Phil’s email
I always found the referencing of comic greats in Astro City to be highly evocative and effective. Its an all encompassing world, built on the foundations left by the comic greats. The naming conventions tell me as much about the world as the character archetypes..
I would like to re-iterate what was already said about Top 10. Some great, great easter eggs in that one. You can pour over the backgrounds for hours. Plus, that book proves that Alan Moore is actually funny as Hell! That book cracks me up. It’s probably my favorite Alan Moore comic ever.
I think Watchmen is obviously amazing and groundbreaking, but it kind of goes off the rails at the end. For 10 issues, we get this fantastic murder mystery then BAM! Giant dead Squid dropped on the city! Kind of silly.
I love the Killing Joke, but I hate Batman and the Joker laughing together at the end at Joker’s joke. Joker just shot, crippled and raped Barbara Gordon, then beat Jim Gordon, strapped him to a roller coaster naked, and forced him to look at pictures of his violated daughter. No way does Batman share a chuckle with this dude after shattering the lives of people so important to him. Yes, I know it’s supposed to illustrate that they are actually very similar, but that point was made before the joke. It’s a fantastic book that gets dropped a grade because of the last few pages.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Is great and I don’t have any complaints about that one at all. But I think Tp 10 is just as great, but it’s also funny as Hell. LoEG has some black humor at times (Invisible Man getting raped to death by Hyde is hysterical) but Top 10 is like a fun roller coaster I never wanted to end.