New to DC -- Explain difference between Batman and Detective Comics
 

I am fairly new to comics. i have only been reading Marvel and some Image comics since I got into them. I thought I might need to start reading some batman. Of course Batman is in the Batman comic, but I see that he is in Detective Comics too. Is this kinda like how Spiderman is with Marvel - different spider-man comics with different storylines(ex. Friendly Neighborhood, Ultimate, Sensational, Spiderman loves Mary Jane). I know I sound like a moron. Explain the difference to me and which is better.


I love the movie Batman Begins which comic is it based on? Batman, Detective Comics, or the Frank Miller Batman stuff?

wlj

If I'm not mistaken, Detective Comics is the longest running, continuously published comic book (and DC even takes it's name from the initials). It started as an anthology crime comic, and Batman made his very first appearance in the 27th issue back in 1939. He was immediately popular and many have appeared in every issue after that (I'm not 100% sure on that), eventually taking over the comic completely. He was soon given his own book, but I guess DC thought he was popular enough to support two regular comics (they were right). Over the years, there would be self contained stories; continuing, separate storylines in each book; or storylines that would span both books (plus the Batman comics that later were added to the lineup), anything was possible. I don't currently read Batman though, so couldn't tell you which one is better right now (or if you need to read both to get the whole current storyline).

As you said, its just multiple titles for 1 character. It does seem like the big main story lines are in Batman, like Hush, Batman & Son, etc.

The way I always look at it, Batman contained the 'super hero' stories, and Detective had the noir 'detective' stories. But thats a broad generalization.

Paul Dini is doing fantastic stand alone right now with 'Tec.

well i read these:

Batman #658, #659
Detective Comics #830

I enjoyed Detective Comics alot more. #658, 659 of Batman were kinda "meh". Detective Comics seems to be a more mature book. Please correct me if i am wrong.

wlj

Generally, <i>Batman</i> and <i>Detective Comics</i> are just two different titles featuring Batman, just as <i>Amazing Spider-Man</i> and <i>Spectacular Spider-Man</i> are two different titles featuring Spider-Man.

Sometimes, they crossover. About a year ago, James Robinson wrote a storyline called "Face the Face" that bounced back and forth between the two books. Right now, Grant Morrison is writing <i>Batman</i> with art by Andy Kubert. He's doing a continuing storyline; <i>Batman</i> #658 was part of that storyline, but due to scheduling problems, <i>Batman</i> #659-662 were a fill-in story by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. The Morrison/Kubert run started up again in <i>Batman</i> #663.

<i>Detective Comics</i>, on the other hand, is mostly written by Paul Dini these days, with art by Don Kramer. Dini is doing single-issue stories. <i>Detective Comics</i> #830 was a fill-in, though -- story by Stuart Moore and art by Andy Clarke. It's part two of a two-part story that began in #829. <i>Detective Comics</i> #832, which just came out this week, was also a fill-in -- story by Royal McGraw, art by Andy Clarke. It was a single-issue story; Dini and Kramer return next month.

Here is the difference to me:

If you want a long-running event, say 6/7 issues, read BATMAN.
If you want short stories, say 1/2 issues, read Detective Comics.
It's pretty much the same deal with SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS.

Overall, both are great.

i might just start out with Detective Comics. With all of the stuff I get from Marvel -- I can't really afford to consistently get both Batman titles. 3.00 an issue is murder -- i wish comic prices would drop some, there is so much stuff i would love to read.

You might want to consider buying some titles in their collected format. In many cases, it's less expensive than purchasing the individual issues, particularly if you're going through someplace that offers discounts. (I buy many colelctions through Amazon, with a fairly decent discount and free shipping.) DC, BTW, has just collected the first batch of Paul Dini "Detective Comics" stories, so you might want to keep an eye out for that.

Apologies for the hijack, but anyone know if there are any good Jim Aparo-centric trades available?

That made me chuckle. Thanks, man. :)

BATMAN: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.

WRATH OF THE SPECTRE.

Edited to add: Did you mean Aparo-centric Batman trades only, since this is a Batman thread? In that case, ignore the Spectre suggestion.

In addition to what DataZak mentioned, there are TPBs of Ten Nights of the Beast and Many Deaths of the Batman, though I'm not sure if they're still in print. Aparo's also got stories in Batman in the 70s and Batman in the 80s, although those obviously aren't Aparo-centric.

Batman Begins was heavily based on Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, available as a TPB. If you like that tone for the character, you might check out Batman: the Long Halloween and Dark Victory by Loeb & Sale and also Batman and the Monster Men and Batman and the Mad Monk by Matt Wagner. All of these are done in the same style and (kind of) continuity as Batman: Year One.

For some other good Batman, I don't think anyone mentioned Batman: Strange Apparitions, a collection of the Englehart & Rogers Batman stories from the 70's. That's good stuff.

Batman was good enough to support not only 2 comics, but to help support 3. He also had a feature story and appeared on the cover of World's Finest Comics (along with Superman) into the 60's, although the format of the strip changed to team-ups with Superman in the mid-50's.

thanks for clearing that up about which comic Batman Begins is based on. i wonder what the next movie will be based on? Isn't it coming out next summer? Isn't it supposed to be call The Dark Knight? i can't wait.

Yo DataZak,

Thank god that I found u here, what happened to the site?

Huh? Oh, hi Honey! I'll be home soon.... :o (just email me, ottimo: my name@gmail)

Erm, okay. Show's over....back to topic.

Mostly interested in the Aparo Batman because that's what I grew up with, but I like the sound of the other tips, so thanks.