" Please help me I want to start to read Batman but I am not sure where to start. will I start when Bruce comes back or some of the old stuff. please help.  "

I read all the Batbooks, but unless you want to do a lot of catch up like N7_Normandy mentioned. I'd wait until Bruce returns for a jumping on point, the comics should be starting new arcs then after this lengthy "death" and resurrection of Bruce.  Grant Morrison is a good writer by omg there is so much woven into what he's been doing, you'd have to go back years to know whats all going on. 

" I read all the Batbooks, but unless you want to do a lot of catch up like N7_Normandy mentioned. I'd wait until Bruce returns for a jumping on point, the comics should be starting new arcs then after this lengthy "death" and resurrection of Bruce.  Grant Morrison is a good writer by omg there is so much woven into what he's been doing, you'd have to go back years to know whats all going on.  "

if you're just beginning I recommend Year 1, the Long Halloween, Killing Joke, Hush (yes it'll be good to know all the characters) and move onto Grant Morrisson's run beginning with Batman and Son

" if you're just beginning I recommend Year 1, the Long Halloween, Killing Joke, Hush (yes it'll be good to know all the characters) and move onto Grant Morrisson's run beginning with Batman and Son "

Batman and Son and Batman Hush are awesome. Look into them.

Do you read all of the Bat-Family books as well, like Birds of Prey, Red Robn, and Batgirl?  Also, what have you thought about the Batman books lately?  Personally, the only stuff I've enjoyed is Morrison's work and the Bat-Family titles.  Everything else has been pretty mediocre in my opinion "

" Please help me I want to start to read Batman but I am not sure where to start. will I start when Bruce comes back or some of the old stuff. please help.  "

@Mainline said:

" @spider-man 2996 said:

" Please help me I want to start to read Batman but I am not sure where to start. will I start when Bruce comes back or some of the old stuff. please help.  "

What are your goals and your budget?  Is your emphasis getting into continuity so you can read an ongoing or is it to know classic Batman stories / history?  Or do you not care about continuity and just want great stories?  How familiar are you with Batman in general?  With respect to budget, if you're after the classics, you ought to find most in either your local library or major bookstore branch (Barnes & Noble / Borders / Walden / etc)... and when you find keepers definitely buy them from your local comic book store (you can almost always haggle down trade prices, especially if buying in bulk) or discount online store.  If you're goal is getting into current continuity that's a more narrow question and depends on how much time and money you're willing to spend.  However many of the recommendations in the thread above are solid in terms of paring down the titles.  If you're totally at a loss, check out the previews on the official DC website, pick an artist / writer / plot / character that you like and try it out.  Currently, I'm not buying any Batman titles (although I'm reading what my girlfriend's purchases) the only one that's sticking with me is Batman and Robin but even that's pretty esoteric (the Road Home books told a complete clear concise story even if mixed execution) relying on a lot of recently created or revived lore.  Like some are saying above, I'd probably wait for Bruce's formal return to start an on-going. "

" @MuadDiab said:

" if you're just beginning I recommend Year 1, the Long Halloween, Killing Joke, Hush (yes it'll be good to know all the characters) and move onto Grant Morrisson's run beginning with Batman and Son "

it's really hard to start that far back; he'll be shelling out a ton of cash.  It's best to just read RIP and then go current.  If he wants, he can pick up some older trades as he goes along, to give him more background. "

" @N7_Normandy said:

" @MuadDiab said:

" if you're just beginning I recommend Year 1, the Long Halloween, Killing Joke, Hush (yes it'll be good to know all the characters) and move onto Grant Morrisson's run beginning with Batman and Son "

it's really hard to start that far back; he'll be shelling out a ton of cash.  It's best to just read RIP and then go current.  If he wants, he can pick up some older trades as he goes along, to give him more background. "

Or he could just barrow them from his public library if they have them. That's what I did. "