Batman 어디서부터 읽어야 할까?

2024.10.04 - [일상사/외면일기] - 조커: 폴리 아 되

 

조커를 보고 나니, 

배트맨과 조커의 세계가 궁금해졌다. 위 블로그 포스트에서 언급한 것처럼, 영화 조커에 나오는 사건과 은유 혹은 Easter Egg가 모두 배트맨과 관련이 있다. 오늘(201006) The Dark Knight Rises 영화를 다시 보다가, 아예 배트맨 책을 보는 게 좋겠다 싶었다. 인터넷에 검색하니 아래와 같이 추천이 뜬다. 

출처는 레딧 

https://www.reddit.com/r/batman/comments/7rwvwy/so_i_want_to_start_reading_batman_comics_where_do/ 

That really depends on what about Batman you want to read. I'm going to follow with long descriptions of many of the great Batman starting points, but if there is a particular story you have heard and are interested in, or a type or genre of story that already interests you, maybe you can comment below, and I can help you find something close to what you may like, otherwise, the list I provide is also full of great reads. You see, with Batman, although it takes the form of a continuum of comics, it doesn't really need to be read in chronological order, despite what others may try to convince you of. As a new reader, it is easy to read Batman in trade paper back format, that is, all chapters of a given story collected in the one book. In this form, any chronology or history needed to be known of Batman is given in that story, and you can read these stories as one off events or standalone stories, so long as you have a general idea of what Batman characters there are and what they represent, though even new characters can make a great surprise. There are multiple jumping on points, so I will describe a few, and if one takes your interest, pick it up and start reading, because that is the best way to get into Batman, to just pick something up and start reading, getting to know what type of stories you like, what writers or artists, etc.

Now, most of the really old stuff no one will really recommend, this makes up what is often known as the gold, silver and bronze ages. In the late 80's, there was an event called Crisis on Infinite Earths, which I'm not recommending, though you may see fans refer to the stretch of comics written between the late 80's and 2011 as the "Post-Crisis Era". This Era has many beloved stories that many fans will recommend, and is easy enough to jump into.

Before that though, a fan favourite comic called The Dark Knight Returns (by Frank Miller) was written that is loved by many fans and even writers themselves, inspiring most of what even the modern Batman represents. It is a standalone story of an old Batman in a dystopic future/80's Gotham, though having a very good understanding of what Batman represents is kind of needed to understand why the comic works so well. I wouldn't necessarily read it first of these suggestions, but it is written before anything else I will recommend, and it is good to keep in mind for later reading as it is such a classic. (It has also heavily inspired many films, such as Nolan's films, BvS and even some of the Arkham games, if this interests you)

Next is the jumping on point for the start of the Post Crisis Era. Frank Miller also got to write the post-crisis origin of Batman in Batman: Year One, which is also a really great Batman story, Gordon story and origin story, of a very early career Batman and Gordon taking on low level crime, though it is written excellently. You don't need to start reading Batman comics from issue one and continue reading chronologically to enjoy Batman, though if this type of story interests you, you may want to pick it up. (This serves as the primary influence for Batman Begins, if this interests you).

My next recommendation is also a great starting point, that of Batman: The Long Halloween (by Jeph Loeb), though also works as a solid continuation of Year One (though don't feel too constrained by chronology, each work as great stand alone stories). TLH is heralded by many Batman fans as one of the great Batman mystery stories, still featuring an early career Batman to start as a good jumping in point, though starting to have Batman approach more super crime in his stories. As great as TLH is on its own though, it also has a sequel that is even better (though depends heavily on having read TLH) called Batman: Dark Victory, for future reference if this story interests you. (These also serve as big influences on The Dark Knight, if this interests you).

Next up, Batman: The Killing Joke (by Alan Moore) is also easy first readings for a new Batman fan, a stand alone story featuring one of Batman's greatest and most influential confrontations with the Joker. This is the comic that lead to Batman comics becoming dark, and has about as much influence as TDKR has had on the comics industry (both came out at roughly the same time), and once again, a broad understanding of what makes Batman Batman, what makes the Joker the Joker, and an understanding of their history of confrontations is suggested before reading, as this story really encapsulates all of that, though also serves as an easy enough stand alone story. (This story is a huge influence on Batman '89, The Dark Knight, the Arkham games, and was adapted in 2016 into an animated movie, that wasn't really as good, so definitely read and don't watch this one.)

After all of this, Batman stories start getting convoluted, continuity heavy, and not all that good, until in the mid 2000's when Batman: Hush came out (also by Jeph Loeb, who wrote TLH), a new starting point for readers with a mid career Batman, once again solving a great Batman mystery and with one of comics greatest artists Jim Lee, featuring many of Batman's most well known allies and villains, this is the comic that got people into reading Batman comics again after the 90's. If you're worried about timelines at all though, don't feel too concerned, as it was the first Batman comic I ever read and I was never confused, and is I feel a great recommendation for new readers, encapsulating many great moments of mystery, action and a wide span of well known characters that it has a lot for every fan. After this though, it becomes a little harder to recommend starting on points for what is a late career, post-crisis Batman.

In 2011, an event called Flashpoint happened (which I'm not necessarily recommending here), that reset the DC comics universe. Many new fans shy away from things like reboots, but it actually makes reading comics easier, by providing easier jumping on points and cutting away a lot of unnecessary history and continuity. The in-universe mechanics of how a reboot happened are not really that important though, but the next "Era" of comics is known as the New 52 universe.

The New 52 Batman series is also a really great set of Batman comics (only 10 volumes in this tun, and all of really great quality) that's great for new readers. Start with Scott Snyder's Batman: Court of Owls (volume 1), one of the great modern detective/mystery Batman stories, which can be followed up with Batman: City of Owls (voluem 2, and needed to finish off that story), which can then be continued in volume order (volume 3 is Batman: Death of the Family, another of the greatest Batman vs Joker encounters (different, and much better than A Death in the Family, because comics can be confusing), but really, all of Snyder's New 52 Batman run is great.)

In 2016, a new event called "Rebirth" rebooted the universe again, and provided a new jumping on point if you wanted to get caught up to the Batman comics that are currently being written. Once again, volume order is simple enough to follow, starting with Tom King's I am Gotham, then I am Suicide, I am Bane, and so on.

This makes up the easiest starting points for new fans to the "canon" Batman stories, though there are also some really great non-canon or "Elseworld" stories that I will recommend, as some fans also really enjoy these, and if you don't start with them, you can always keep them in the back of your mind for later.

Many fans seem to enjoy the Batman: Earth One stories (by Geoff Johns, of which there are 2 volumes) based off a more realistic Gotham, inspired by Nolan's movies. Volume 2 is much better than volume 1, though depends on having read volume 1.

An Original Graphic Novel called "Joker" (by Brian Azzarello) tells a great Joker solo story, serving as a response to Ledger's Joker in TDK, though in comic form.

Also, while toeing the line between canon and non-canon, Batman: A serious House on Serious Earth (by Grant Morrison, whose whole work on Batman is great, but the rest spans a lot of stories in Batman's late post-crisis era) is also an extraordinary Batman story, also heavily featuring the Joker, though is often off putting to new fans due to its extremely different take on visuals and panel layout, though is an excellent story, and I would recommend keeping in the back of your mid for later, as it is so excellent.

So, this became a really long reply, but I hope it is really helpful for you. Tell me if you found something you enjoy! Also, if you have any further questions, feel free to ask, and I will be happy to answer for you! If there is a particular story you feel might interest you, you can ask me more about it. Happy reading, and I hope you have found something you enjoy!

 

그래서 먼저, The Dark Knight Returns 를 아마존에서 킨들용으로 구입했다.