What are your quintessential Batman stories?

[madmarva]

We've all got a basic idea of who or what Batman is and isn't to each of us. In light of all the conversation about Affleck, I think it would be fun and informative to read what that is and what influenced that perception.

We all have some common experiences with the character, but may have some differences in what we most like or even accept as the character. This is all opinion in my mind; no right or wrong.

I was born in 1967 and have been a Batman fan since the early to mid 70s. My first experiences with Batman to my recollection were a World's Finest comic, seeing the Adam West Batman movie on TV, getting Batman and Robin mego dolls and the super Friends.

I've been an avid reader and one-time collector of comics since 1975 and have read many issues and stories printed before that dating back to the golden-age. I've seen all the movies and cartoons to my knowledge.

My concept of Batman is influenced mostly by Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams/Jim Aparo/Irv Novick/Dick Goirdano/Ernie Chau/ Don Newton stories as well as the Englehart/Rogers/Simonson issues of Detective. So 70s comics Batman or Bronze-age Batman. Detective 457 "There is No Hope in Crime Alley" along with the first Ras Al Ghul and Joker stories by O'Neil and Adams as well as the Englehart/Rogers Joker story.

I appreciate Dark Knight Returns, but don't really like it. I do like Batman Year One.

To me Batman is as close to human mental and physical perfection as can be achieved. While he may not be the absolute best in each individual discipline or physical category, but he has the heaviest human tool chest and is lacking in no discipline.

Likewise his wealth allows him to be on the cutting edge of technology and gear.

Emotionally, he is stunted because of the tragedy he experienced and his almost single-minded pursuit of justice, but he is absolutely not Crazy. He is the most determined and disciplined man on Earth.

If you asked him what his occupation is, he would identify himself as a detective first and foremost, who is seeking justice.

That's my personal view of Batman. I think the Batman Animated Series did an excellent job of portraying Batman but I do enjoy the other versions of the character, particularly the Brave and Bold cartoon.

I do like the 1989 Batman movie, but the fuzzy, confused portrayal of the character by Keaton is about as far away from my conception of the character's mental state as I can imagine. To me BAtman is anything but confused. He's the most clear, focused and certain man on Earth.

His one weakness is his personal relationships, but they are the only things that keep him from delving into insanity.

[PNGwynne]

Well said--my preferences jibe with yours closely.

I have yet to see a Bat-film which fully engages me or matches my personal, admittedly gestalt, version of the character.

[WannabeMego]

I'm not the biggest Batman fan, but whenever I find myself re-reading back issues, I always default to the 10-issue Detective run by Steve Englehart/Len Wein and Marshall Rogers/Walt Simonson from Batman 469-479.

...at a comic (technical) level, I always thought that Marshall Rogers knew exactly how much zipper-tone to use in order to elicit the best and cleanest effect in scenes/panels...just like Bob Layton in his Iron Man run.

That is THE image of Batman that sticks in my head more so then any other version.

[PNGwynne]

^Agreed, I of course love "The Malay Penguin."

[BlackKnight]

The Aparo Batman .
Brave and the Bold

Is really how I see Batman ...
Which Makes Stuff like Birth of Demon, and Bride of Demon a Plus.

Norm BreyFogle's Detective Run... then Later Batman, introducing Tim Drakes New Robin Costume was Big for me , as Dick was almost always a Titan when I actually was reading, and only was Robin for a Short time in the Comics, but more so still Robin with Everything outside of comics. Like with 66 and Super Friend re-runs ..., and my Super Powers figure .

I do Enjoy Stories such as Yr 1 ..., I also really liked Year 2 with the Reaper, and Year 3 ... with pretty Much the Tale re-told of Dick Grayson, and his relationship to Batman ...

I still like Barbara in Her Grey and Blue suit ...
Catwoman with Big Boobs , Green Cape and Purple Dress
Penguin in his Super Powers Suit
Mad Hatter ... short , Fat and with a Red Mustash ...
Riddler in his Jump Suit
and Joker Pre-Leather Face .

I enjoy the Classic What If Elseworlds Tales....
and Loved Batman vs Predator.

[LadyZod]

I loved The Killing Joke.

It shows Batman's investigative skills, as well as his never wavering morality when put in direct contrast to the insanity the Joker brings.

Batman relives his personal tragedy vicariously through Gordon, and his urge for revenge, but doesn't succumb to it.

I'm also a super sucker for Speeding Bullets.

[MIB41]

Madmava, your background really sums me up perfectly. You stated it very well. The only place where I see Batman differently is in his identity. In my mind, it's an obsession, driven by that scar. The outfit is a reflection of that. So while as Batman he is laser focus, he overcompensates in that life, which leaves little to define for his civilian alter ego. That's why I loved the Nolan/Bale interpretation so much. Bale really captured that ambivalence perfectly. As Bruce Wayne he's already defined as a victim, so he can't find meaning. Batman is that counterbalance. His pain drives him. So, for me, "Batman" is more about what we see when the cowl isn't on. I want to see that troubled psyche that finds purpose in Batman's eyes when the cowl is put on. That stare should show you his conviction that he can't find as Bruce Wayne. That's why I roll my eyes at Ben Affleck. Batman can't be a personality, because his existence is not there for charm. He exists to eradicate that which he can't defeat as Bruce Wayne the victim. So what Affleck looks like in a cowl is pointless. Batman is not a costume. It's Bruce Wayne's state of mind when he stands up for the victim inside himself.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think the Animated Series is the perfect synthesis of all the things I love about Batman. Bruce Wayne's tortured past shines through, but not at the expense of making him unlikable and inhuman. He is portrayed as a great detective, a peerless warrior, a father figure, an almost supernatural figure, a concerned humanitarian, and a relentless crusader all at once. Never does Bruce Wayne come across as so damaged that you wonder why those closest to him just don't write him off or have him committed.

I've never bought into "Batman's as crazy as the villains he fights" crap. And I've never felt Batman's mission was one of pure revenge. He was out to prevent anyone from suffering what he suffered. That is a far more noble agenda, and one I subscribe to.

I think the Batman of the 70s and early 80s is the most perfectly realized version of the character in the comics. Before Miller made it in vogue to over analyze the obsessive nature of the character. The Bronze Age Batman was a complex man who hated crime, but loved his family and appreciated his allies, even when they didn't always agree with one another. In addition to the always mentioned O'Neil and Englehart, I feel Mike W. Barr always handled Batman very well, portraying him as a tireless crimefighter who wasn't above showing his temper, but still considered Robin his "old chum." You CAN have it both ways.

For the better part of 20 years, DC kept teasing us that we were going to get a healthier, more balanced Batman again, with nearly every crossover that had Batman at odds with both himself and his allies. Each time the promise was unfulfilled, with the aftermath of Knightfall/Quest coming closest. Chuck Dixon sometimes went against the grain, portraying a Batman that was much closer in personality to the Bronze Age than a Miller-riff. And since he wrote Detective, Robin, Nightwing and Birds of Prey at one point, I consider that a personal highlight among the Batman line.

Chris

[madmarva]

^^ See, to me the act of becoming and then being Batman heals Wayne. He has his purpose. He's not confused or even haunted by his parents' deaths even though their deaths do define him and pointed him in the selfless direction he chose. But he is giving his life to help make sure others can avoid the heartbreak that stole both his and his parents happiness and their lives. His purpose as Batman doesn't make him happy but it satisfies his needs and frees him to do whatever he must. He may seem crazy to those who observe him, but because he has essentially already sacrificed his life to this purpose, it frees him to go to extremes few if any others can. He knows he will die in his pursuit so he approaches his missions without fear, which gives him an advantage over most adversaries.

Now, this isn't normal, but for Bruce/Batman, it's not crazy.

Only the people who know Batman really know the true Bruce Wayne. The Bruce Wayne the public sees is totally an act. He uses the act and alters it at times to meet the need of his mission as Batman. The Bruce Wayne persona is just another gadget in his utility belt.

But, I see your view, too, and it's probably more logical than mine because most of the better Batman writers - Rucka, Brubaker among others and even O'neil - over the last 20 years essentially prescribe to a similar view.

My issue is that I can't see a crazy person as a hero, or at least a super hero. That's why I like the way Geoff Johns is writing Batman in Justice League, right now. He's every bit as component but more social. Driven but not obsessed. He can smile, even joke, but still be every bit of the Batman that strikes fear in the superstitious cowardly lot that criminals are.

[madmarva]

Chris, I like your take, maybe even better than mine.

[thunderbolt]

Grew up on the 100 page Detectives and Brave and Bolds along with a few dog eared 80 page World's Finest reprint collections that featured the space cop era Batman and Supes. Later out of high school I latched on to Dark Knight and Year one. Nowadays I still like Gotham By Gaslight, Year 100, the Long Halloween stuff and Morrison's full epic. I tend to still really enjoy the crazy *** stuff of the late 50's. Batman is one of those characters that can function in any type of situation

[MIB41]

Only the people who know Batman really know the true Bruce Wayne. The Bruce Wayne the public sees is totally an act. He uses the act and alters it at times to meet the need of his mission as Batman. The Bruce Wayne persona is just another gadget in his utility belt.

My issue is that I can't see a crazy person as a hero, or at least a super hero. That's why I like the way Geoff Johns is writing Batman in Justice League, right now. He's every bit as component but more social. Driven but not obsessed. He can smile, even joke, but still be every bit of the Batman that strikes fear in the superstitious cowardly lot that criminals are.

I definitely understand your point. However I don't view Bruce Wayne as 'crazy'. His Batman persona is just representative of the depths to his scar. He lives to be Batman, not Bruce Wayne. Hence the reason why Bruce Wayne is more a tool, as you suggested, than a person that takes risks. Batman embodies that. Another reason why I just loved the ending to DKR, because Nolan gave Bruce a happy ending. He allowed Bruce to reconcile his demons and make amends with his past. He was able to let go of Batman so he could live for himself. But he also made sure the cause of Batman would continue against crime, as well as the good name of Bruce Wayne for the orphans of the city. It could not have been more poetically written. And something I never would have dared to hope for. The role of Batman is quite often depicted as a terminal life sentence. It was great to see an optimistic conclusion.

[jds1911a1]

Like Chris I think that the BAS creative team seemed to have the pulse of the best of Batman. They wisely picked many of the best indiviudal stories (especially in season 1) and found ways to merge the concepts of the other eras together. Excluding the "then" accepted vision for the Penguin (but you have to love the vocalizaiton of Paul Williams) I think the show still holds up.
One of my favorite stories is beware the Grey Ghost for it's re-envisioned inspirtion from Zorro to a Crimson Avenger like character (plus the voice of Adam West and Bruce Timm using himself as the Mad Bobmer voice and character reference - inspired)
As a kid who started reading batman in the Onial/Aparo era with back issue stories aquired in flea markets and via reprints I think the 70-77 batman is the best "era" for print. I think that the Ra's Al Ghul Story line is one of the best ever,
I have to admt I like the Death in the Family Story line but that's becasue I really disliked Jason Todd, I actually called in a vote to have him killed
I also happen to really enjoy batman of the Finger era for the giant props and death traps (the 50's-early 60's Batman is the blueprint for much of the tv shows vibe)

[BlackKnight]

Only the people who know Batman really know the true Bruce Wayne. The Bruce Wayne the public sees is totally an act. He uses the act and alters it at times to meet the need of his mission as Batman. The Bruce Wayne persona is just another gadget in his utility belt.

And that's 1 of the Shining Reasons Why Nolan's DKR's Sucks.
Batman Would Never Quit being Batman ..., He would Quit Being Bruce Wayne if Anything ..., and That's really the Idea of Most Secret Identities ... Something Nolan seemed to grasp with his 1st 2 Films ...., But lost Everything in the 3rd.