So I'm new to batman and I want to add one to my pull-box, which one would you guys recommend?

if its just one Batman its great

@CastleEcho: Of the current Batman's, I'm a fan of New 52 Batman, and Detective Comics.

If you're new to Batman altogether, here's some good "essential" past runs to check out (most are available as paperbacks if you want to keep the cost down)

• Batman: Dark Knight Returns
• Batman: Hush
• Batman: The Cult
• Batman: The Killing Joke
• Batman: Year One
• Knightfall
• Final Crisis
• Battle for the Cowl

@Manbehindthewires said:

@CastleEcho: Of the current Batman's, I'm a fan of New 52 Batman, and Detective Comics.

If you're new to Batman altogether, here's some good "essential" past runs to check out (most are available as paperbacks if you want to keep the cost down)

• Batman: Dark Knight Returns
• Batman: Hush
• Batman: The Cult
• Batman: The Killing Joke
• Batman: Year One
• Knightfall
• Final Crisis
• Battle for the Cowl

I would rather read Jeph Loeb's The Long Halloween, Haunted Knight and Dark Victory in that order than Hush. Hush is IMO a rather weak character that is just plain stupid, hollow and unrealistic. Jeph Loeb does phasing really well and work great with a lot of characters at once. However creating new characters is not his strong suit. . Also Venom is worth a read.

@CastleEcho: I'm new to Batman as well, and I've read all of Batman, Batgirl, Red Hood and the Outlaws, as well as the first story arc of Catwoman and Detective Comics. Without a doubt if I had to pick one I'd say Batman, both because it's consistently great, and because Scott Snyder (its writer) engineered the major events since the relaunch in the Bat-verse, so the best books that are part of the crossovers are the ones in his own series.

My own wishlist of backlogged bat backstories is an amalgam of the suggested ones here, but by all means read The Killing Joke because it's one of the major events that was maintained in New 52 continuity and is, quite frankly, a brilliant story in its own right, Batman or otherwise.

long halloween was a good one, hush is great, I'm not to fond of killing joke, knightfall was also good.

manbehindthewires i don't see how hush is any hallower than the joker lol. hes a good change from the regular villains

Thank you guys very much! But, just wondering, why not The Dark Knight?

@CastleEcho: I'm not sure how it's doing now, but for a long time it was getting abysmal reviews, so I just stopped checking to see if it was getting good yet.

I'm pretty jaded against him just from online fans and he's too powerful and jerky in the toons. But actually I've found the new 52 pretty good.

@torrenter said:

long halloween was a good one, hush is great, I'm not to fond of killing joke, knightfall was also good.

manbehindthewires i don't see how hush is any hallower than the joker lol. hes a good change from the regular villains

PS: Next time you feel like saying anything about what I'm posting please either quote me or reply me. Referring to a post indirectly is not cool. Either address your opinion to those you are arguing against or don't comment on them at all.

Thank you.

Definitely Scott Snyder's Batman. As for trades: The Killing Joke, Year One are great for more modern writing. Knightfall and A Death in the Family are good overall stories.

I would say: Batman: Four of a kind, Year One.

The important bit to remember is that he wins.

@tupiaz: Oh! how could I forget Long Halloween! good shout :)

I think that the Legends of the Dark Knight before new 52 is pretty nice, theres some good stories there also :)

Some of Paul dini's run on detective comics is worth a look.(detective, private case book, city of crime)

@CastleEcho said:

Thank you guys very much! But, just wondering, why not The Dark Knight?

I'm no expert, but someone here did write "The Dark Knight" Sucks! not too long ago which might be illuminating.

Knightfall sagas!