Bats

If you're any kind of Batman fan, even casually there are some things you owe it to yourself to read and view. I am going to list them in no particular order. There are so many opinions as to what is the best that I am leaving to you to decide. If you've not read/viewed these....well get moving:

1. Batman: Year One - Really a retelling of sorts of Batman. This was Kane and Fingers original vision of The Batman. Also really brings you who Commissioner Gordon is as well. The premise of Batman Begins.
2. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Yes both of the first two on this list are Frank Miller products. Many people say Miller single-handedly saved the Batman franchise, along with Denny O'Neill. 
3. Batman: A Death in the Family - The first really legitimate loss in Batman lore. DC announces that fan vote will decide whether Robin lives or dies. This is not your father's Robin. Dick Grayson has grown up and moved on to become Nightwing and Batfans had a notable disdain (see outright hatred) of the new Robin, Jason Todd. You do the math. 
4. Batman: The Killing Joke - Another very human look at Batman, but an equally human view of The Joker. In as much as The Joker continues to be a psychotic murderer as he guns down Barbara Gordon (then Batgirl) the story ends on a decidedly realo ( and yes even funny) moment.
5. Batman: Hush - Drawn by one of my all time favorite artists, Jim Lee, this 2002 story is as much Batman being the World's Greatest Detective, as he is The Dark Knight. With a jaw dropping ending it's one the best contemporary Batman stories.

It's difficult to understate the impact of people like Denny O'Neill, Alan Moore, Frank Miller (especially) and a great many others. With DC just having hit the reset button on all 52 titles, I have no idea where the Batfranchise is going now. I can't get a copy of Batman or Detective Comics for less than $10.00 right now so it will have to wait. I'll settle for watching Batman: Year One on DVD and chillin like a villain...so to speak 8-)

The special features on the new DC Universe Blu Ray release of Batman: Year One were worth the entire price of the Blu-Ray if you ask me, which is what prompted this blog.