Tales From the Page Lounge, and: The Best Batman Stories Ever

Yo yo yo let me speak on this.

Well today was a much more laid back day than yesterday's ticketbox nightmare, despite my schedule being kind of crazy. But that was okay since I had a great tour in the morning (if I do say so myself) and while doing tape and hold for Leno I got to see a cool rehearsal featuring a bunch of crazy animals like bobcats, a vulture, albino rattlesnakes, and some rare species of lizards. The rattlesnakes in particular were amazing and very creepy. Gotta love the animal editions of the Tonight Show.

The one lowlight was that while seating people for the show, this one family, particularly the wife / mother of the clan, was absolutely furious due to being seated in the upper corner of the studio rather than front and center. I mean, this woman was practically quivering in anger, with tears flowing from her eyes and fists clenched. Absolutely unbelievable. Sure it's disappointing to not get the best seats in the house, but come on, what makes you more deserving than anyone else to sit in the front? Oh, right, you traveled 3000 miles to be here. Guess what? So did almost everyone else. The fact that this woman was so emotional over a FREE event and selfish enough to throw a tantrum about it just boggles the mind. The best thing she said? I told her I was sorry, but "there's nothing else I can do to help." And she just looked at me, eyes burning and lip trembling, and said "Can't? Or WON'T?!?!" The fact that I was so nice to her despite her acting like an idiot is pretty remarkable now that I look back on it.

Tommorow:

Interview for an assignment with Studios Productions. Is third time going to be the charm? Wish me luck, I think.

NBA:

Nice to see De-troit actually making a series of the NBA Finals, which until tonight had been completely boring and utterly dominated by San Antonio. Game 4 just got a lot more interesting ...

And by the way, while I don't like the Pistons, ya gotta love Antonio McDyce, who truly has the heart of a champion and is a class act all the way, coming back from some horrible knee surgery to put on a string of great playoff performances.

Oh, and I really hope that the Lakers get no big free agents in the offseason, so we can finally see if Phil Jackson is the real deal or just an overhyped bandwagoner. Guess what, LA, you won championships because of Shaq, not Jackson. Honestly I wish he would have taken over the Knicks position. Now that would be a new kind of coaching challenge for the Zen Master.

And now ...

TOMORROW IS IT! BATMAN F'N BEGINS.

I don't feel like speculating any more than I have about the movie, other than to say that the 80-something percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes is pretty encouraging. Can't wait to see it for myself, in IMAX no less.

But in any case, Batman Begins week continues here on my site with the biggie ...

The BEST BATMAN STORIES EVER:

While hundreds of great Batman comics have been published, I have limited my selections here to stories or storyarcs that are still available in print as trade paperback collections. In my mind, there are particular self contained issues of Batman, ones that have never been reprinted, which are among my all time favorites, but to list them here would just be too time consuming and complicated. However, a number of the best single issues of Batman from his illustrious history can be found in some great collections that are out there. For example The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told trade paperback collects a number of standout stories from the last six decades by an all star lineup of creators. Another one I highly recommend is Batman: Dark Legends, a collection of some of the best single issues and short story arcs from the critically acclaimed Legends of the Dark Knight anthology series, including works by Mike Mignola and a Denny O'Neal-penned tale of Batman's first encounter with the Joker. I have included a few collections in the list that don't collect just one particular storyarc, but that's because I feel these compilations reflect singular visions of particular creative teams, like Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers, or Denny O'Neal and Neal Adams. There are also a few key miniseries or storyarcs that might have made the list but are excluded since they have never been reprinted, such as the underrated Batman: Family series by John Francis Moore or the excellent Batman: Turning Points by Greg Rucka. Also, while there are some amazing stories featuring Batman's supporting cast, I mostly refrained from including stories featuring Nightwing, Robin, Barbara Gordon, the Justice League, or the Gotham PD, and stuck to stories where, at the least, Batman's name appears in the title. In any case, these are all great stories, and the top five or so entries are definitely amongst the greatest comic stories ever told, period. Sure, some of the entries are not exactly universally regarded as great stories, but they are ones that I really enjoyed, and probably read at a time when I was younger and highly impressionable, and therefore they have a particular sentimental value for me - but still, I think all of these stories hold up to this day and stand the test of time. So here they are, all available at your local Borders books or on amazon.com for your reading pleasure: The Best Batman Stories - Ever.

20.) Batman: Hush - writer: Jeph Loeb / artist: Jim Lee

premise: Batman is perplexed by a new villain, Hush, who shares a personal connection with Bruce Wayne and is determined to manipulate Batman's greatest villains in a calculated attempt to bring down the Batman.
- My first entry here is one I am kind of torn about, because in the final summation this can't be considered a great Batman story, because the ending is simply not satisfactory. And yet, the build up to that ending, the feeling of excitement and anticipation that each chapter in this mystery story generates, is off the charts. Loeb does a cinematic, widescreen version of Batman here, and the art by Lee is absolutely phenomenal - the best work of Lee's brilliant career, easily. In recent years, no other comics story has had me awaiting each new chapter like this one did when it was first released two years ago, and yet that ending - ugh. But the art alone makes this classic - Batman, his allies, and his villains as drawn by Jim Lee is a watershed moment for the character.

19.) Batman: Contagion - writers: Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, etc. / artists: Graham Nolan, etc.

premise: a deadly virus sweeps Gotham City, and Batman is powerless to stop it, even as Robin is numbered among the infected.
- While this story has a few weaker chapters, it has some amazing moments as well. The premise alone is different and interesting, and is really a different kind of threat for Batman to take on. There is lots of human drama here, and the writers and artists really put Batman to the test, both personally and as a crimefighter.

18.) Batman: Prodigal - writers: Chuck Dixon and others / artist: Tom Grummet and others

premise: the first Robin, Dick Grayson, temporarily takes over for his mentor and becomes the new Batman!
-this is a great exploration of what it takes to be Batman, and what makes Bruce Wayne's interpretation of the mantle so unique and potent. It is also an entertaining character study of Dick Grayson, and the similarities and differences between him and Bruce Wayne.

17.) Batman: The Last Arkham - writer: Alan Grant / artist: Norm Breyfogle

premise: Batman is deemed criminally insane, and is locked up in Arkham Asylum alongside his deadliest foes.
- An intense psychological study of what makes Batman tick and what differentiates him from the criminals he hunts. Great action and a dark, foreboding atmosphere make this a classic.

16.) Batman: Venom - writer: Denny O'Neal / artist: Trevor von Eeadon

premise: Unable to save a girl from death, Batman is convinced that his human limitations are hindering him, and thus begins taking a strength-enhancing drug known as Venom.
- Denny O'Neal's intriguing story examines Batman's own self-perceived shortcomings and asks the question - are his lack of extraordinary abilities in fact a liabilty? This is a dark, cold, and brutal story that takes a look at what makes Batman unique in the world of comicbook heroes.

15.) Batman: The Sword of Azrael - writer: Denny O'Neal / artist: Joe Quesada

premise: Batman investigates the origins of the avenging hero Azrael, the product of a secret society that has long manipulated its champions throughout the centuries. This story would introduce Jean Paul Valley - the latest incarnation of Azrael who would later go on to become Bruce Wayne's replacement as Batman.
- This is an intriguing story with amazing art by Quesada, and a classic globe-spanning adventure penned by O'Neal, that introduces a fasicnating world of secret societies, avenging angels, and reincarnated demons long before the Da Vinci code made that stuff vogue. Plus it introduces Azrael, who would go on to become a key figure in Batman lore.

14.) Batman / Huntress : Cry For Blood - writer: Greg Rucka / artist: Rick Burchett

premise: Batman confronts the vigilante Huntress, who plays by her own rules and will do anything to get to the bottom of her mafioso origins and take revenge on those who were responsible for her tragic childhood.
- Rucka crafts a mature, emotional crime drama here that pits the Huntress against the Batman in an amazingly well-crafted tale, whcih stands as, easily, the best ever depiction of Huntress and features great supporting roles by underused characters like The Question and Richard Dragon.

13.) Batman: Mad Love - writer: Paul Dini / artist: Bruce Timm

premise: the twisted origins of Harley Quinn, the one time criminal psychologist who somehow fell madly in love with her deadliest patient - the Joker!
- Adapted from the animated episode of the same name, this one-shot comic may seem simplistic, but is in fact an insanely entertaining and memorable story of love's twisted tragedy through the eyes of the one woman who could actually fall for The Joker, the inimitable Harley Quinn, Dini's psychotic yet lovable villainous creation.

12.) Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying - writer: Marv Wolfman and more, artist: George Perez and more
premise: still reeling from the death of Robin II, Jason Todd, Batman has become darker and more driven. So having figured out the secret identity of Batman and put all the pieces together, a young kid by the name of Tim Drake decides to prove a point - that Batman needs a Robin.
- A story that really examines the duality of Batman and Robin, while succesfully introducing the character of Tim Drake - the best-written and most likable incarnation of Robin to date. Featuring excellent art and some great character moments, this is a great companion piece to A Death in the Family.

11.) Batman: Arkham Asylum - writer: Grant Morrison / artist: Dave McKean
premise: a dark, horror-filled look at Batman's villains and what exactly is going on in their psychologically-disturbed heads
- From the insane mind of Grant Morrison comes probably the weirdest and most offbeat Batman story ever told, a horrific and disturbing look into the minds of Batman's rogues gallery, showing us the readers just how tormented and screwed up villains like Two Face and the Joker really are. Featuring surreal art and poetic prose, this is as unique a Batman read as you'll find.

10.) Batman: Knightfall / Knightquest / Knight's End - writer: Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Alan Grant, Denny O'Neal / artists: Jim Aparo, Mike Manley, Brett Blevins
premise: Batman is pushed to the limit and broken by the new villain Bane, who in a masterstoke of evil genious unleashes all of Batman's villains in an effort to wear doen the Batman until he is rip for th kill. Confined to a wheelchair, Bruce Wayne relinquishes the mantle of the Bat to Jean Paul Valley. aka Azrael, who becomes a grittier, more violent version of Batman. As a crippled Bruce Wayne goes on a quest to fins his kidnapped love, Shondra Kinsolving, Azrael alienates the ploice, Robin, and crosses a line that Wayne never would - he becomes a killer. When Wayne eventually heals from his injuries, he learns of Azrael's extreme actions and confronts his increasingly unstable replacement, in an epic battle to decide who will be Batman!
- Some criticize this story, but clearly, it is probably the most ambitious in-continuity Batman epic ever told, featuring new characters, sweeping changes, and Bruce Wayne's most crushing defeat ever, followed by him giving up the role of Batman to another. This is the story that made me a comics fan forever, and while some of the plot elements seem a little rushed now, this is awesome stuff- the stuff that makes thirteen year olds into fanboys for life.

9.) Batman - Bruce Wayne: Fugitive / Bruce Wayne: Murderer? - writers: Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker and more / artists: Scott McDaniel and more
premise: Bruce Wayne appears to be guilty of murder, and the evidence is so convincing that even Batman's closest allies aren't sure what to believe. But when Wayne is actually found guilty, he decides that his "secret identity" is no longer worth keeping, and becomes Batman full time.
- This is the best Batman story of the last few years, expertly written by Brubaker and Rucka, deftly examining who Batman is and who Bruce Wayne is and why both pieces are needed to form the man. Rucka introduces Batman's most compelling and believable love interest ever, Sasha Bordeux, who plays a key role in the story, and Brubaker pens some incredible standalone chapters as well. The two authors play with the inner struggle between Bruce Wayne and Batman to amazing dramtic effect, and in so doing elevate this to much more than just a murder mystery, but a classic Batman tale with a ton of action, suspense, and conflict to boot.

8.) Batman: Strange Apparitions - writer: Steve Englehart / artist: Marshall Rodgers
premise: Batman must cope with a new wave of crime in Gotham, spearheaded by mob boss Rupert Thorne, even as he falls for the enigmatic Silver St. Cloud.
- in this classic run of stories by Englehart and Rogers from the 70's, Batman is redefined - he is taken out of the campy Adam West years and suddenly, all those old villains - Joker, the Penguin, etc. are fresh again, revitalized, and they are joined by cool new menaces like Deadshot and Clayface. Basically, this is classic, definitive Batman. Sure, slightly melodramtic and over expository by today's standards, but the basics are all here and done right, paving the way for a lot of stuff to come, featuring great art by Rogers and fun, classic writing from Englehart.


7.) Batman: Tales of the Demon - writer: Denny O'Neal / artist: Neal Adams
premise: Batman first encounters Ra's Al Ghul, his intellectual equal, who manipulates and toys with Batman to suit his own ambiguous ends, all the while courting Batman to be the successor to and inheritor of his secret league of shadows.
- These stories brought Batman back to the dark side - tinged with foreboding atmosphere, mystery, and intrigue thanks to the pulpy prose of O'Neal and the incredible, realistic, dynamic art of Adams. They introduce Al Ghul, one of the all time great Bat villains, and his daughter Talia, forever torn between love for her father and adoration for Batman, her "beloved." These stories feature world-spanning adventure, martial arts showdowns, leagues of assasins, hidden mountaintop lairs, and a sophistication that was as of then unseen in Batman comics. In short, these stories of the Batman and The Demon's Head (aka Ra's Al Ghul) kick a lot of ass, even thirty years later.

6.) Batman: The Long Halloween / Batman: Dark Victory - writer: Jeph Loeb / artist: Tim Sale
premise: in this tandem of epic murder mysteries, a killer called Holiday plagues Batman's first year on the job with a series of murders corresponding to the calender dates of holidays. As he tries to solve the mystery of the holiday killings, Batman sees his friendship with James Gordon grow, betrayel by his tormented friend Harvey Dent, the introduction of Robin, and fateful encounters with the likes of the Joker, Catwoman, and the mafia family that runs Gotham, the Falcones.
- these stories take the world of Frank Miller's Year One and expand it enormously, adding new depth to Batman's early years, and providing the definitive takes on Batman's early friendship with Commisioner Gordon, and of the tragic turn of D.A. Harvey Dent into the insane villain Two Face. The murder mysteries themselves are intriguing, but the real star here is the unique vision and atmosphere of these stories, stylistically illustrated by Tim Sale and starkly written by Jeph Loeb, who here is at his absolute best, channeling the classic film noirs and bringing their shadowy sensibilities ot the world of Batman. Along with Year One, these two hefty volumes are the must-read tales of Batman's formative years.

5.) Batman: A Death in the Family - writer: Jim Starlin / artist: Jim Aparo
premise: becoming increasingly uncontrollable, Jason Todd, the second Robin, sets off to find the secrets of his true parentage, even as his quest puts him in the deadly path of The Joker. In his recklessness, Jason seals his tragic fate - one that even Batman is powerless to prevent.
- It's not often in comics that the death of a character has true impact - but this is one notable excpetion, where the effects of Jason Todd's death are still felt today. But apart from the shocking nature of the death itself, this is, in any case, a great story. The intensity and desperateness of Batman to try to save Robin - his determination to exact revenge on the Joker - his single mindedness which puts him in direct conflict with none other than Superman - all are the elements here which solidify this landmark tale as a classic. And you know what? Years after first reading this story, it's not the death of Robin that stays with me, it's the aftermath - the desperate, terrible realization by Batman that the Joker has gotten away with murder - he's killed Batman's partner - and that Batman was powerless to stop it.

4.) No Man's Land - writer: Greg Rucka, Devin Grayson, and more / artist: Dale Eaglesham, Alex Maleev and more
premise: in the wake of a destructive earthquake, Gotham City is declared a no man's land by the government and evacuated - only the vile, the venal, and the insane remain. The city has been divided up into sectors, each controlled by various gangs and criminals. Batman is nowhere to be found. After careful planning, Batman returns, and begins the long, arduous process of taking back his city.
- in theory, this story, with it's far-out premise and overwhelming length (it spanned over a year's worth of comics), should not have turned out anywhere near as good as it did. But somehow, DC Comics assembled an amazing team of writers and artists to tackle this ambitious project, and it all eventually came together, and became one of the greatest Batman sagas of all time. This story was really Greg Rucka's coming out party, and he peppered it with great character moments in the midst of all the action and high drama. Rucka brought the Batman-Jim Gordon relationship to its most complex, dramatic high point. In fact he wrote Jim Gordon better than anyone since Frank Miller. He elevated the Huntress to main-event status, fleshing out her character to unprecedented levels . And he delivered one hell of an ending to this saga. Because of its huge size, there are obviously some chapters in this story that fall flatter than others. But remarkably, the team of artists and writers is consistently great, and they pull it off. No Man's Land went from a bold experiment in storytelling to something a bit easier to appreciate - a great Batman story.

3.) Batman: The Killing Joke - writer: Alan Moore / artist : Brian Bolland
premise: As the murky history of the Joker is revealed, the Clown Prince of Crime goes on a personal crusade against the Batman, crippling Batgirl in the process and setting himself up for a final and climactic showdown with the Dark Knight, with an ending that nobody expected.
- Alan Moore is a frikkin' genious. The man can flat out write, and this short but effective graphic novel is his lasting contribution to Batman - the best ever Batman-Joker story. Similarly, Brian Bolland can flat out draw, and this is his lasting contribution to Batman - a kickass rendering of Batman and the absolute greatest version of the Joker ever drawn. This story is unrelentingly dark, horrifyingly violent, and posseses a grotesquely black sense of humor. It singlehandedly explains why the Joker is the greatest and scariest and most insanely evil of all comic book villains. It is, simply put, a masterpiece.

2.) Batman: Year One - writer: Frank Miller / artist: Dave Mazzuchelli
premise: the origin of Batman, this series chronicles Bruce Wayne's tragic beginnings and his first year as Batman - his early relationships with Jim Gordon, with Catwoman, and with the unrelenting city he calls home.
- with Year One, Frank Miller created the modern day Batman, and changed comics forever. Miller essentially said "this isn't just comic books, this is literature, this is art." He was working on the same premist that Christopher Nolan is going with for Batman Begins - if you take the character seriously, you can tell a seriously effective, relevant, and lasting narrative. Miller reinvented Batman with this story, and ushered in the modern age of comics - stories that resonated, that were tangible, spophisticated, multi-layered, that felt real. This was the new benchmark in comics storytelling, and one of the best Batman stories ever.

1.) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - writer and artist: Frank Miller
premise: In the near future, a middle-aged Bruce Wayne is forced out of retirement to clean up the city he calls home, which is spiralling into darkness and chaos. A cold, calculating, grizzled, battle-hardened, and violent Batman has returned for one final mission, and he is out not just to rid his city of crime, but to take on anyone who would try to stop him, be it the Joker, the government, or even Superman himself.
- When you talk about the best mainstream comics ever written, there are really only two that deserve mention - Alan Moore's Watchmen and Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. Both take place in dystopian near-futures. Both are filled with sex, violence, and depth of story. Both are products of the cynical and politically charged Cold-War era 1980's. But only one has Batman. Miller's magnum opus is a pure adrenaline rush - it is big, epic, but above all it is the tale of one man, Batman, who is mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore, and there's not a damned thing anybody can do about it, even if they happen to be more powerful than a locomotive. This Batman is middle aged and crazy, intense, violent, and maybe even has a deathwish. So while this is a political story, it is also an intensely personal one - one that despite being out of continuity left the character of Batman forever changed. This Batman completley erased whatever remanants were left of the 1960's happy go lucky Batman, it kicked that Batman in the balls and left it crying out for mommy. This Batman was darker, crazier, more driven than ever before, and that has been reflected in the comics, the movies, the popular culture ever since. This is the story that got people into comics, that got comics written about again in the New York Times and Time Magazine, that got them taken seriously. And above all it is an awesome and awe-inspiring story, filled with memorable quotes and images that are forever emblazoned in one's memory after having been immersed in Miller's world. Because Miller does creat a whole world here, with it's own look, feel, dialect, and attitude. This is the story where the Dark Knight Returns, yes. But in a larger sense, this really was the return of the Dark Knight, and above all else, is the greatest Batman story ever told.

Alright, tommorow is the day. Let the countdown begin, to Batman Begins.