Ok, so I've been out of comics for years due to purchasing a home, getting married, kids, etc... I'm a huge Batman fan. But I went to my local comic shop and saw a s#!+ton of Batman related comics and had no clue where to even begin. I need some
help.

Are there any TPB that can get me caught up quickly? What are must reads and in what order? I've been out of the loop for the past 8-10 yrs(I know, its an eternity in comics), what have I missed?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Without spoiling anything;
All you really need to read atm is R.I.P. & Final Crisis. In that order.

Then read Battle For the Cowl.

Then, if you want, pick up the most recent trades of Batman and Batman & Robin.

You can completely skip "The Return of Bruce Wayne" - good art, dumb story, foregone conclusion....


And come Sept? You'll get a chance to buy into Batman all over again as DC reboots their entire line (including Batman, Detective, Action, etc) back to issue #1.

I highly recommend watching "Under the Red Hood", the latest Batman animated movie. It's based on "Under the Hood", which is consider canon (at the moment.) Other than that, you should also pick up the "Batman and Robin" trade paperbacks. Pretty cool stories, there. If you should keep up with Batman, Detective, and Batman & Robin, you should be good to go. (Just stay the heck away from Frank Miller's "All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder." Waste of time. Seriously.)

It's been pretty much one big story the past few years. I'd recommend something like this:

1. Batman: Batman and Son (not a necessity though)
2. Batman: The Black Glove
3. Batman: Batman R.I.P.
4. Final Crisis
5. Battle for the Cowl
6. Batman and Robin: Batman vs. Robin
7. The Return of Bruce Wayne (not a necessity though)
8. Batman and Robin: Batman Must Die!

Other current stuff I recommend (bold is what I would highly recommend, it's just not absolutely essential to the story):

Batman: Heart of Hush
Batman: Long Shadows
Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn
Batman: Time and the Batman
Batman Incorporated, Vol. 1

Paul Dini's run on Detective Comics was fantastic, and even better, they are mostly stand alone issues, or two parters. So you don't need to read anything else to enjoy them. That is where I would start if I wanted some plain old Batman goodness. Pick up the trades.

Thanks guys. I have seen the animated movie, " Under the Red Hood". I thought that was great. I also read Hush and Heart of Hush, but that's been it. I'm going to try and pick up a couple of the TPB by this weekend.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Rep passed along to everyone. Thanks guys

Yes, a complete waste of time.
But great art.

And a damned funny take on Batman (if you can get past the initial WT* reaction you'll have).
This odd amusement value sets it one notch above "Return of Bruce wayne" IMO.

Don't buy this one at any where near MSRP $. But read it if you can get it through your library or maybe dirt cheap....

Cool thanks for the advice lol.

Quick question - Where in the timeline does Blackest Night fall into? I presume it's after Battle for the Cowl?

Thanks!

Off the top of my head I don't think there is a specific spot for it. After Battle for the Cowl and before Return of Bruce Wayne (possibly even before Batman vs. Robin).

EDIT: Actually it takes place before Batman #701 and Batman and Robin #7, so it takes place before the Batman and Robin: Batman vs. Robin trade (issues #7-12) and the Batman: Time and the Batman trade (issues #700-#703).

Ah cool thanks... so right after 'Cowl' but before the Batman and Robin..

Thanks!