I'm completely new to reading comics and such but ever since I was a little girl I have loved batman, mainly the villians. I want to start reading the comics but I have no idea where to begin. I have read volume 1 of the suicide squad as it was only 49p on amazon. I also have harley quinn volume 1 waiting for me to read.

I've come to the end of suicide squad vol 1 and would really like to know why the joke has had his face sliced off? Where do I start reading to find out how and why this happens?

You should start reading Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo from #1. The series has had some great villains both new and old.

The Joker lost his face in Detective Comics #1 and it is the only issue that deals with that.

Detective Comics vol 1 and Batman vol 1

@xxpixi: Miller books,then Loeb books,then Morisson books,then now.

@xxpixi: Here is a clearer answer :

DC had 2 major reboots :

• in 1986 after Crisis on infinit earth
• in 2011 after Flashpoint

Thus making 3 main Batman timelins

1. 1939-1986 : Gold, Silver and Bronze ages
2. 1986-2011: Post-Crisis or Modern age
3. 2011-now: Post-Flashpoint or New52

If you want to be up to date you have to read the New52 stories. The main Batman Title is not very good in my opinion (exept maybe for the Owls arc). The Detective Comics Title is bad up to issue 17 I think and way better from issue 30. Batman & Robin is awsome. The Dark Knight is very dark and fun. Nightwing then Grayson are also good to read. As for the other title, I don't think they are must reads.

In parallel to the New52 you should get to know the modern age Batman with very iconic stories. Here is a good Timeline with all stories and main ones in bold :http://www.comicvine.com/profile/batshrine/blog/batman-tpb-complete-chronology/79247/