Batman Graphic Novels

After meeting with the production team for Dark Knight Rises I suddenly had a good urge to read the Batman graphic novels. First one I got pushed on to was Dark Knight Returns, which was awesome.
My question is; which one is worth reading next, Batman: Year One, or The Killing Joke?

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

Killing Joke.

Soon oh soon the light, Pass within and soothe this endless night, And wait here for you, Our reason to be here...

It's weird how in a way, both of them are kind of origin stories. Killing Joke is pretty much the origin of Joker, right? Can never have too much Joker...

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

killing joke is absolutely awful!

Relayer1

Killing Joke.

the man speaks the truth

 

Wow, literally two polar opinions. The sensible solution, read both books =P
I'm sure I can borrow one or both off someone if I don't want to splash out on getting them on Amazon or something.

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

Killing Joke is very good. Quite a short story but still good. While it does claim to be the orgin of the joker, it could be argued that the flash backs are made up by the jokers dellusions mind as he is constantly making up his past.
 
Bit of a batman fan myself so i recommend Jim Starlin's The Cult.
And 'Hush' as well is very good

I'M STEALING YOUR SIG, STEALING YOUR SIG!!
 

SquirrelsOfWar

After meeting with the production team for Dark Knight Rises I suddenly had a good urge to read the Batman graphic novels. First one I got pushed on to was Dark Knight Returns, which was awesome.
My question is; which one is worth reading next, Batman: Year One, or The Killing Joke?

I've been tempted to start reading some too.
 
Any recommendations which to start with, from anyone?

Aye, Killing Joke is wonderful.
I enjoy most things by Jeff Loeb. Hush is indeed stunning
I find that Arkham: A Living Hell is a bit of an overlooked gem.
 
The Long Halloween is one of the better ones and a great place to start.

Yeah there's some really good stuff out there, I'll have some free time after Download so I'll pick up one. I'll most likely start with Year One.

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

Year one is fantastic, there's a really good article on IGN about the best ones, although I don't agree with all of them, most of them are right.

Batman: Arkham city has not long started (it's on it's second issue) and DC's Flashpoint series also has a great Batman mini-series. You've already read my favorite though! (The Dark Knight Returns).

I've just finished reading Murder at Wayne Manor, it's such a childish book and I loved every minute of it.
 
Bruce Wayne finds a body buried in his garden and so Batman sets off to unravel the mystery of how it got there. All the clues Batman finds along the way are interactive, removable facesimiles. So whilst you're reading it, it's like race to who will solve the mystery first, you the reader, or the dark knight.
 
Childish, fun and cleverly done.

Brainwrongs

Batman: Arkham city has not long started (it's on it's second issue) and DC's Flashpoint series also has a great Batman mini-series. You've already read my favorite though! (The Dark Knight Returns).

Sig... Little Otik... ****ing genius.

RIP Joe                                    "You say the hill's too steep to climb.

Pidge
 
Sig... Little Otik... ****ing genius.

I cannot recommend this film enough!

DC have confirmed a comic reboot of all their comics. No longer shall we have to trall through the old wiki's anymore huzzah!  
 
EDIT: Just my opinion anyways as explained, under the post underneath this. 

I have Justice League, Green Lantern (+corps), Batman, Swamp Thing, Action Comics (Superman), The Flash and Aquaman already pre-ordered. :) Have you seen any of the previews yet? They look fantastic. I'll see how good the relaunch stories are before committing to any more.

Raufera7

Nerds rejoice! DC have confirmed a comic reboot of all their comics. No longer shall we have to trall through the old wiki's anymore huzzah!  

Heard about this but from what i gather more people are annoyed than people who are happy about it. It seems a lot of character development and story evolution will be lost. Seems quite a drastic thing. Hope DC know what they're doing.

I'M STEALING YOUR SIG, STEALING YOUR SIG!!
 

For a young fan like myself, I'm really pleased as it saves me going through boring wiki pages for backstories etc, I can understand where your coming from though, but I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the first edition of Batman when it comes out 

Raufera7

Nerds rejoice! DC have confirmed a comic reboot of all their comics. No longer shall we have to trall through the old wiki's anymore huzzah!  

Why? That seems dumb. There's so much history and backstory that's gonna be just wiped? Is it gonna be like Marvel's Ultimate Universe? That would make sense, having an alternate universe, whilst leaving the original one alone.

Cheecharone

Raufera7

Nerds rejoice! DC have confirmed a comic reboot of all their comics. No longer shall we have to trall through the old wiki's anymore huzzah!  

Why? That seems dumb. There's so much history and backstory that's gonna be just wiped? Is it gonna be like Marvel's Ultimate Universe? That would make sense, having an alternate universe, whilst leaving the original one alone.

 
I think it's cause they wanna like open up to the new audience coming through, Marvel are also doing the same thing, but are calling it "re-numbering" instead of re-booting. I can see your point however, but for a young fan I'm quite pleased, but I can see your point as well 

The way I understood it DC were being going about the whole thing in a way that was more of a ballache than the existing convoluted continuity. They were being really vage about exactly what would stay intact and what would be forgotten, this was about a month or two ago though.
Anyway on topic seconding The Long Halloween, also may want to check out Knightfall, it's not perfect by any means but they're bound to borrow some elements from it for the new film.

  

The DC re-boot is fantastic. I started collecting the individual issues of "Brightest Day" and then "Flashpoint" which has lead me into buying the comics every Wednesday or so, it really keeps you up to date with what is happening in the comic book world. Which was one of my big annoyances having to wait for the Trade collections, I was always months behind and had to wait months more to get the next part of the story.

Batman Novels, Batman Year One is essential for any fan. Killing Joke is only essential for one part...it involves the Joker aiming a gun at a certain person and pulling the trigger. Trying not to spoil anything here so hope I left the surprise still intact. 

Hush is a really good "mystery" and some of the Arkham books are great, some don't even involve Batman as a main character.

Just finished Knightfall: Broken Bat. Seriously need to get part 2!!