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Shotgun Reviews presents:
The Essential Trade
Paperback Collection
Part Three: Batman
Compiled
below is a list of trade paperbacks that collect some of the
finest stories in comics. It does not pretend to be an
exhaustive list, but merely a starting guide to lead you to
some of the best stories in the medium. The majority of
these are available for you to order simply by clicking on the
appropriate links below.
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BATMAN:
THE KILLING JOKE
DC Comics
Writer:
Alan Moore
Artist: Brian Bolland
While
he busy redefining comics in the '80s, Alan Moore paused
to do this all-too-short Batman tale that forever stood
the character on end. Now accepted as part of modern
continuity, this features the Joker's attempt to break
the spirit of Commissioner Gordon, with Batgirl paying
an unspeakable price. Bleak and haunting, this is
one of the finest Batman stories ever told. |
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BATMAN:
THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
DC Comics
Writer:
Frank Miller
Artists: Miller/Klaus Janson
Frank
Miller had already established himself as comics legend
in the 1980s with his brilliant Daredevil run and
his creator-owned Ronin. Rather than rest
on that, he decided to raise the bar for the entire comics
industry, dramatically rebuild an icon, and pave the way
for a veritable explosion in fandom. Anyone who
has seen 1989's Batman has felt the impact of The
Dark Knight Returns. Beginning with a future
Gotham in dystopian upheaval, Miller gives us an older
Bruce Wayne that must take up the mantle of the bat one
more time to save his city. Every single page of
this gem revolutionized comics. By the time that
Batman faces off against Superman in a fight he knows
that neither man will walk away from, you know
that you're holding comic history in your hands. |
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BATMAN:
YEAR ONE
DC Comics
Writer:
Frank Miller
Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Originally
presented as a "mini-series within a series" in the Batman
titles, this story arc firmly established the Post-Crisis
status quo for the Dark Knight. With realistic street-level
violence and a pair of strong narrative voices in both
Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon, we actually gain perspective
on the building of two heroes. Additionally,
Miller weaves in a new origin for Selina Kyle, a.k.a.
Catwoman. This stands out as a strong, quality tale
from start to finish. |
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BATMAN:
THE LONG HALLOWEEN
DC Comics
Writer:
Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale
An honest-to-God noir detective thriller served up in
a whoppingly huge volume, The Long Halloween certainly
deserves a place among the best of Miller. Written
with coiled precision by Jeph Loeb and drawn in sinister
style by Tim Sale, the story unfolds as Batman, Commissioner
Gordon and D.A. Harvey Dent try to track down a serial
killer named Holiday during Batman's second year of crime-fighting.
Incorporating dead-on takes of Batman's rogues gallery
(including The Joker, the Scarecrow and Poison Ivy) as
well as fleshing out Gotham's criminal structure, Long
Halloween is one of those jaw-droppers that can make
non-comics readers into converts. It's that good. |
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