I have a Batman #1 by fraction and Jimenez (cover a first print), and while it’s not the most valuable comic and probably won’t get a lot of value in the future, I want to make sure it’s protected forever. It’s the very first issue I ever went out and picked up. Is it worth getting graded and slabbed?
I see a lot of people sharing their top Batman comics, so here’s my top 23
A lot of people will have a problem with this. “It’s just a Lego game”. If someone says that, immediately tune it out. This game transcends any Lego game previously made. It adopts so much of previous Batman media and games and comics. It’s a love letter to all Batman fans.
The biggest thing that stands out to me is that in this game we get to see Batman’s WHOLE CAREER. Like yes, the Arkham games were great. But we only get to play as “one night” in his career. Arkham asylum- stop joker in a night. Arkham city- stop protocol 10 in 10 hours. Arkham knight- stop scarecrow in on Halloween. Arkham origins- stop joker on Christmas Eve. They’re all formulaic and rely on us to love Batman. And we do, but the games don’t add anything of substance without lacking in other areas. Asylum has the best atmosphere, city has the best story, knight has the best gameplay, origins has the best boss battles. But none of the Arkham games have it all.
A Lego game achieved what 4 Arkham games never could. It tied all of Batman history and media together. And it’s beautiful.
I get that Dick Grayson is the gold standard, the original Robin, but I feel like a lot of people overlook or overhate Damian. The problem is that a lot of people read ONE writer’s take on him and based their opinion on that portrayal. Characters grow and evolve. Damian has continued to improve and gain more depth with each story and arc.
Just look at Joshua Williamson’s run and Philip Kennedy Johnson’s run with Batman and Robin. Damian is very well fleshed out and has tremendous growth in that series under both writers.
I think it is cool having Bruce take robins in as his ward or fully adopt them, but having his biological son become Robin after being trained to be a world class killer is incredibly important for Bruce’s story.
I also love how in DC KO Knightfight, we see the different robins and how they would fare when they take the mantle. But the only Robin to truly fix Gotham to the point of not really needing a Batman was Damian. I think that’s something really cool to see and I wish more people stopped basing their opinion of him on one, very old portrayal of that character.
To be clear, this isn’t about who writes the best stories. It’s about “does this sound like something Bruce would say? Would Batman do this?” I’m pulling from the titles Batman, Detective Comics, World’s Finest, Justice league, Batman and Robin, Knightfight, and more.
The writers I’ve read enough of: Scott Snyder, tom king, Jeph Loeb, Alan Moore, Matt fraction, Joshua Williamson, Philip Kennedy Johnson, frank miller, Doug Moench, Ed Brubaker, Dan watters, Jeff Lemire, Chuck Dixon, mark waid, Jim starlin, Tony S Daniel, James Tynion IV, tom Taylor.
Honorable mentions: Grant Morrison, Chip Zdarsky, Denny O’Neil, Paul Dini.
Now here’s the top 10: 10- Ed Brubaker 9- Scott Snyder (first half of new 52, not vol 6-10 or absolute Batman) 8- Frank Miller (Year One only) 7- Tony S Daniel 6- Philip Kennedy Johnson: I absolutely loved his Batman and Robin run 5- Matt Fraction: I know it’s early but his Bruce is back to being very charming, relatable, but still very competent 4- Mark Waid: he totally smashed it out of the park with Batman and Robin year one, and he’s so consistent in worlds finest 3- James Tynion IV: very competent, consistent, human Batman 2- Joshua Williamson: he’s really underrated, would’ve been nice to see a proper run on the main title 1- Jeph Loeb (Haunted Knight/Long Halloween/Dark Victory are definitive early Batman/bruce voice)
Let me know what yall think!
I enjoyed this issue, but HOW does vandal savage know where the BatFam’s bunkers around Gotham city are?? As much as I’ve been enjoying the run, I wish we had more depth or understanding of how Savage finds out exactly where to strike. It would’ve made more sense if Batman and others were out on patrol and run into the TUCOS the whole night