recommendation thread

[supermanslayer]

hey guys just had a good idea for a thread,

as previousley noted i think a sort of recommendation thread would be cool, in which we can post what we own and other can suggest what we should get/ pick up from there; it would be for...

those of us who are collecting the batman trades and just dont no were to go next or for those who would like someones oppinion on what to read next.

so, what do you guys think of this idea, is it worth it or not ??? and if it is feal free to begin to post your collections i'll be doing the same.

[Drazar]

I posted these on another thread but i guess i can post them here too, here goes nothing:

Justice League of America: Earth 2

Synopsis: Earth Prime are greeted by a good Lex Luthor from an alternative universe where JLA is parelled by Ultraman's (Superman's evil version) Crime Syndicate!
Review: The art is by Frank Quitely so if you're not a fan of his "wrinly" style you might not enjoy it to the fullest, but it's a great, simple and effective story where Justice League faces off the Evil one. It's highly action packed and the ending is very clever, one of my favorites!
Score: 4.5/5

Kingdom Come

Synopsis: Set on a alternative earth where humans prefferred murdering anti-heroes over goody-pants Superman, Batman and others. In a nearby future where Batman is forced to wear an exe-skeleton and is 50-60 years old, the story focuses mainly on a Priest's perspective who thru a strange visitor gets to see thru the events and see how Justice League's life go as they return as heroes and try to settle things straight.
Review: I pretty much covered what the book is about on the synopsis so theres nothing much to add really. It's a distant future where heroes meet the anti-heroes. Where the older heroes are old and the newer heroes are young punks with attitude problems. Alex Ross' art (if youre a fan, youll love it) is just beatiful and at the very end we get to see Superman vs. Captain Marvel, oh yeah! Not to mention Batman's battle armor is quite kickass. Not to mention his Robot army.
Score: 5/5. Best Justice League Story there is!

Arkham Asylum

Synopsis: Grant Morrison's symbolic and psyhological take on Batman's mission thru survivng Arkham Asylum's crazy April 1st night. A Total masterpiece with Dave Mckean's art!
Review: A story that really needs to be read along with the script that comes with the modern prints of the comic. The story is wonderfully simple as Batman: Arkham Asylum's. Batman needs to survive thru Arkham Asylum thru psychological encounters. See the disgusting incarnations of Mad Hatter, Maxius Zeus, Clayface and the Joker! Not to mention Two-Face who has multiplied his choices to over 40! 0.0; Everyone who buys this needs to read the script along with it. Deeply disturbing Batman story that needs to be read, especially if you loved Batman: Arkham Asylum video game!
Score: 5/5 You *need* to own a copy!

Batman: Private Casebook

Synopsis: Random stories from Paul Dini's run on Detective comics with Dustin Nguyen's art!
Review: This really is a compliment of short stories. So you're in for alot of variety! From Ras' al ghul getting his butt smacked, to a new Ventriloquist (Yes, a new one!) aiding the Scarface, from Church holy armor that makes Batman nearly slay his opponents for their sins to Mad Hatter's return! It's a fun compliment of short stories but nothing really spectacular, but hey nothing wrong with that at all!
Score: 4/5

Batman: Heart of Hush

Synopsis: if you love Hush (the comic and character) this is the must sequal. Written by Paul Dini he adds extra details to Hush and his motivation on revenge, truly making Hush the A-list villain that fans glamour him to be. The art is by Dustin Nguyen, who might be too cartoony for some, but his coloring (both watercolor and normal) is just beatiful!
Review: The story is commercialized as R.I.P tie in but thats just for marketing ploy. This is a great story about Batman, Catwoman & Hush. Hush's has returned once more and now has another great plan with his teacher (Scarecrow) to finally get good revenge on Batman & Catwoman. This story is truly heart taking! The problem with the graphical novel tho is that it misses 2 comics (Faces of Evil: Catwoman & Faces of Evil: Hush) which is really stupid, because both stories serve as a epilogue for Heart of Hush... Either it's a really cool story.
Score: 4/5

Batman & Son

Synopsis: Grant Morrison's start as Batman comics' main writer and his tale! Opening with a bang on Joker! Art by Andy Kubert.
Review: Now Morrison' take on Batman is either a love or hate relationship. You either love the fact he introduces Damian Wayne the son of Bruce & Talia al Ghul or you're gonna hate it. Also the introduction of the mysterious "3 Ghost of Batman" and the beatiful Jezebel Jet! Did i mention Man-Bat Ninjas!? Outrageous!
Score: 3.5 A Good opener for Morrison's trilogy on Bruce Wayne Batman.

Batman: The Black Glove

Synopsis: Sequal to Batman & Son and the 2nd part of Morrison's Bruce Wayne Batman trilogy! Artists range from J.H. Williams III to Tony S. Daniel!
Review: If you liked/loved Batman & Son. This is a mustbuy! Morrison reintroduces the "Batmen of many nations" and introduces the evil crime organization only known as the Black Glove. =O The1st story is about Batman and Club of Heroes (Did i mention the British Batman|Robin are Knight & Square? ) face off againts the 1st attack by the Black Glove! Find out what happens!
The 2nd story continues on the "3 Ghost of Batman" as the Devil-Batman arrives, this storyline is so controversial because it makes a huge question on Batman's past which is: Did Batman kill Joe Chill? Find out in the story and make your own decision on the matter!
Score: 3.5/5

Batman R.I.P

Synopis: The last part of Morrison's trilogy on Bruce Wayne Batman! It's Batman vs. the Black Glove! Fight On! Zur er Arrh!
Review: The deluxe edition is really awesome because it includes 2 issues extra regarded as "Last Rites" which sum up Batman's greatest archievements in his life. The R.I.P story itself is pretty much Black Glove with the help of Joker are now finally ready to kill off Batman, but did they allow Batman to gain enough prep time? Find out yourself!

Score: 5/5 (an excelent trilogy if you ask me! Art and writing is just.. fabulous! But you really need to read the previous stories to enjoy this one to the fullest!


Batman: The Man Who Laughs

Synopsis: Modernized recreation of Joker's first reintroduction!
Review: It's a very very short story for a graphical novel, luckily it includes another story (that won't be included in this review) but it's basicly a sequal to Batman: Year One and shows Joker threatening Gotham citizens thru the television and leaving joker cards to his victims. People who have seen The Dark Knight movie might find alot of similalarity between the Joker in the movie and to this Joker. Now i kinda personally prefer Batman #1 take on Joker's introduction but they modernized this quite fairly and kept the whole "Red Hood" personality as a mystery as it is.
Score: 3.5/5

Batman: The Killing Joke *Deluxe Edition*

[I]Synopsis:[/I] Alan Moore's take on Joker's and Batman's psychology.
Review: Now some Batman fans might find it disheartening i'm only reviewing the Deluxe edition and not the original print. The difference with the Deluxe edition is the coloring. Joker's past is black & white except everything that's red is shown as red. The story is about Joker being all psycho and wanting to turn James Gordon crazy too to prove the world that it only takes 1 bad day to become crazy. He also challanges Batman and asks him "you had a bad day too, once?" thus quesitoning Batman's own insanity, which was a popular theme in the 80s.
Score: 5/5

Batman: Year One

Synopsis: Retelling Bruce's first year as Batman and introducing James Gordon & Catwoman.
Review: Now this is an all-time classic. Sure people critize that it should be called "James Gordon: Year One" but really this comic is awesome. Mazzuchelli's art and Miller's writing make an exceleng story at reintroducing Batman, Gordon and Catwoman to Gotham city and showing Batman fightnjng criminals and escaping Policemen. Truly a must read and a great way to start reading Batman graphical novels.
Score: 4/5

Batman: The Long Halloween

Synopsis: The story continues Batman: Year One thru Tim Sale's art and Jeph Loeb's writing. I believe this is Batman's 2nd year as Batman and its the introduction of Harvey Dent and how he became Two-Face.
Review: One of my problems with Loeb is the forced twists and plot holes, now while The Long Halloween isn't the worst comic or mediocore, it definatly isn't one of the best. Nolan's Batman movie fans definatly should check this out because Nolan draws alot of inspiration from this novel. Loeb also makes it canon how Two-Face was troubled even before he became Two-Face (an idea that originates from Batman: The Animated Serie) and so on. The art is definatly awesome and it's an appealing story where Batman faces off loads of different thugs from Joker to Catwoman and whatnot whatnot.
Score: 3/5

Batman: Dark Victory

Synopsis: Sequal to "The Long Halloween" showing Batman's 3rd year as Batman and the introduction of Richard Grayson as the Boy Wonder!
Review: This is definatly a read if you already read The Long Halloween and it's also Christian Bale's favorite comic if that says anything to someone. I don't really wish to talk much about it but it basicly continues where TLH left regarding Two-Face and the Mobsters of Gotham, and yeah it introduces Robin.
Score: 3/5

Joker

Synopsis: Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo team up to write a story of Joker thru his henchman Jonny Frost. From a man who sees Joker as a brilliant man soon turns into disgust and fear!
Review: I love this story, i really do. I always love a story where Batman is a secondady character on a mythical level. The thugs fear and have huge paranoia (always believing Batman to be near them) and the artist Lee Bermejo really did a great gritty realistic style on the people. THis story shows why people shouldn't be laughing at Joker's actions at all.
Score: 5/5

The Dark Knight Returns

Synopsis: Set into nearby future where Bruce Wayne (age 50) has been retired as Batman for 10 years, but something calls him to make his return as the Batman!
Review: Now Miller is the one who turned Batman into a grim dark man. I'm not exactly a big fan of people following his steps, but this story is brilliant not because its grim and dark, but because it's ane xcelent story of what it means to be Batman and how to solve these issues when the Goverment has turned into a huge Big Brother pretty much. Miller truly understands the characters perfectly and there really isn't much to say besides: Get it!!!!
Score: 5/5

The Dark Knight Strikes Back

Synopsis: Sequal to The Dark Knight Returns!
Review: Now alot of people call this a "pointless sequal" and it kinda is that. It continues Batman's story againts the corrupt goverment (ruled by Lex Luthor and Brainiac) along with Hal Jordan, Superman, Wonder Woman and other heroes returning to aid Batman in his war. It's not as revolutionary or great story as TDKR but its an okay/enjoyable read i'd say. Especially if you like Miller.
Score: 2.5/5

All-Star Batman & Robin (vol. 1)

Synopsis: Frank Miller's sequal to Batman: Year One with Jim Lee!
Important Note: This isn't a canon/mainstream sequal to Batman's life like TLH & Dark Victory are. This is a story of Miller's universe which continues Year One story but prequels The Dark Knight Returns story.
Review: Now alot of critics hate this, but i disagree with them. This is a brilliant story where Miller is taking us back to Golden Age of comics. Superman isn't flying, Batman is fightning againts cops and Robin is quite ruthless himself. Joker also isn't funny at all but just a ruthless crime boss. Now the pacing of the story hasn't been the fastest at all, but as i've read thru few more issues (that vol.1 doesnt show) the story is really building up great and how can anyone say no to Jim Lee's art? Also haters just might wanna purchase this to see how campy and over the top the action and lines can get, it's just Outrageous!
Score: 3.5/5

Batman: Hush

Synopsis: Jeph Loeb returns with Jim Lee as his new artist to tell another Batman story where Batman is put up againts nearly all his major villains and introduction of a new villain to Batman's life... Hush!
Review: It's another Loeb story that suffers from questionable plot holes and forced twists to the whole thing, but really it's just meant to be a action packed story where Batman fights nearly everyone and you also get Robin, Nightwing and Huntress to the story! Not to mention Batman finally reveals his identity to Catwoman! Jim Lee's magnificent art and the action really make this into a great story, not to mention Hush is a pretty intriquing villain.
Score: 3.5/5

Batman: Under the Hood (Vol. 1 & 2
Synopsis: A New Red Hood is in town! And what does the dead Jason Todd have to do with anything of this?!
Review: One of Judd Winnick's Best Batman stories he has written. You got loads of action, the return of a character from the past, a very badass Black mask showing Gotham how to be a ruthless mobstera and yeah! The only part i hate about this story is the "deus ex machina" way of a character's return, besides that it's a great story and both volumes are a must reads when it comes to the modern Batman!
Score: 4/5

[The Hylden]

lol, and SCENE!