#I've joined some and not only do I get a constant stream of nightwing stuff

[bisexual-bookman]

Hello !! So you've been putting batman's...children? (like nightwing and red hood and robins) on my dash for some time and now I'm attached 😅

Unfortunately, my batman / dc knowledge is a bit limited (as in i've seen recent movies and s1 of the 90s batman cartoon so far) and there is a lot of material so do you have any recommendations on where to start reading / watching about them ?

*rubs my little gremlin hands together* hehehe all according to my plan

In actuality though, I am still fairly new to the fandom as well. I've only just started collecting/reading comics; so most of my intake has been through movies or TV shows. I can give you a break down of some of my personal favorites as well as media that can give you some good general information or an overview into certain characters. (My personal faves are Nightwing and Beastboy, so a lot of these are going to lean heavy into them)

*=Personal favorites

^=General info

Media:

*/^ Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS)(1992-99): The ground work for a lot of modern day DC animated shows; it helped move Batman and Co. away from a campy joke into a more dark and serious light. It was done in a dark noir animation which suits Batman the best. The first time in their roles from Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and the Joker respectively. (Was very interesting to see them settling into the roles after coming from media were they had already been doing it for a decade)

*Batman Beyond (1999-2001): This one follows an old Bruce that had to give up the mantle due to age. Enter Terry McGinnis, who's father was murdered who takes over the mantle of Batman. Animation type is the same as BTAS, and follows Terry as he has to learn to become The Batman with the help of Bruce. Interesting to see Gotham City in the future as well as any of Batman's enemy's that remained.

*The Batman(2004): This one is a WB Kids show so it doesn't have heavy topics or the same struggles as the others and tends to follow cartoon logic. However, it follows Bruce in his early years of Batman (~early 20's) as he gets his ass kicked, learns, and adapts. This one also changes the origins of some of Batman's rouges. All in all though it's good, and showcases the struggles that Bruce had to go through in the early years of Batman.

^Batman: Under the Red Hood(2010)/Batman: A Death in the Family(2020): UTRD focuses on Jason Todd, the second person to wear the Robin mantle. It gives a good gist of his story-line; both him before and after Robin, as well as the complicated emotions Bruce has surrounding the situation. DITF is a sequel without being a sequel. It goes through the different endings that could have played out for Jason from the UTRH storyline.

*/^ Son of Batman(2014): This one introduces Damian Wayne (the fifth and current Robin), Bruce's biological son. It goes over Damian's introduction as well as the rocky start that he and Bruce had as well as his eventual acceptance of the Robin mantel. Also features my boy Nightwing who is in full sass mode the entire movie and I love that for him.

*/^ Teen Titans: The Judas Contract(2017): Based off the comic storyline of the same name from the 90's, this follows the Teen Titans as they welcome in a new meta by the name of Terra, who unbeknownst to them is working with one of their greatest enemies. This storyline is an extremely pivotal point in the history of the Teen Titans. It has been included in just about every Teen Titans media and is still referenced in the comics to this day. If you are unable to get access to the OG comic's this is a very good substitute. (It is also key to the history of Nightwing and Beastboy themselves)

Nightwing: The Series (2014): Apparently there is a stand alone Nightwing mini series?????? I had no idea this existed until I had to look up the date of one of the shows. I can give you absolutely nothing about it cause, yeah, I didn't even know it was a thing.

Comics:

A Knight in Bludhaven (1996-2009): This was Nightwing's debut standalone comic. He had originally debuted in the New Teen Titans as Nightwing (or Discowing as he is affectionally know as) however he was still a Titan at that point. This run is by Chuck Dixon and follows Dick as he leaves Gotham and Bruce's ever present shadow for Bludhaven; an equally crime-riddled city. This run see's his suit move into the iconic look he wears now. It also showcases his crumbling relationship with Bruce, him trying desperately to strike out on his own, and a lot of self-loathing internal monologue. (From what I understand, as I haven't read it yet, he spends a good majority of the time being passively suicidal)

(His newest standalone run started in 2017 (I believe) and is still ongoing.)

The Judas Contract (1984): Like stated above this follows the introduction of Terra and her conflict with the Teen Titans. It is only about 6 volumes, starting with her introduction, joining and becoming friends with the team, and the eventual betrayal. Even though it is such a short arc compared to others, it has had a lasting impression on the Teen Titans as a whole as well as Beastboy as a person. This storyline has made it's way into several modern day Titan adaptations (ie the 2003 Teen Titans, The Judas Contract movie stated above). It also has the official debut of Nightwing. Prior to the Judas Contract arc Dick was still using his Robin mantel; however, after a huge fight and subsequent falling out with Bruce he don's his new superhero identity as Nightwing. (everyone's outfits are very of it's time, especially Nightwings)

Robin: Year One (2000): This one I've heard mixed reviews about, but I'm still putting it in. It's a miniseries that tells of the origin of Dick; his parents deaths, becoming Bruce's ward, becoming Robin and the rocky relationship that he and Bruce had at the start. It's a good all-in-one-place telling that goes over a lot of key points of him as Robin and his early days with Bruce as well as the debut of the Dynamic Duo. (This one is also written by Chuck Dixon)

A Death in the Family (1988): This arc follows Jason Todd as Robin. It is a key point not just in the Batman universe, but comics as a whole. (Jason was the first superhero to die. And he stayed dead for like 20yrs) I only know brief info about it, but this particular run follows the events that lead to Jason dying at the hands of the Joker.

Tales of the New Teen Titans (1984): This one is a 4 issue series telling the origin of the 4 newest members of the Teen Titans: Raven, Starfire, Beastboy and Cyborg. I'm putting this one in cause my boy Beastboy is in there, but it's also good insight to have into these characters who are still a part of the Teen Titans in one form or another since their debut. (This is written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by George Perez who can be created with the creation of many superheros that still exist and are popular to this day)

Sorry for the info dump anon; you hit my hyperfixaton with a tuning fork and therefore I must sing. For the media part I only included the ones I've seen that would be beneficial or ones that I know have important information. For comics, there is definitely a lot more that can be included, but unfortunately for us comic runs are incredibly hard to follow (that's why up until recently I haven't really touched them lmao). Comics could be a whole separate post lol I can't really include anything else for the other batkids, but that is only due to me not 100% knowing their comic runs (and them not really appearing in animated media). I know Tim Drake is a key player in the Young Justice 2003(?) run, but other than that I don't have a lot of info. Unfortunately, comics are hard to find their starting point as they often cross over into other active series, or alternatively are older and therefore harder to gain access to. My best advice it to pick a singular series and look into how to get your hands on it. A lot of the time the older comic will be published in complete volumes. A Knight in Bludhaven: Compendium One is exactly that. The collection of the 1996 Nightwing run, as well as any tie in issues that it had. I know that the earlier issues of the 2017 Nightwing run is starting to come out in bound volumes as well. The only ones that would be hard to find are the one's from the 80's. If you have one, check out your local comic book store! That's where I've picked up some of my issues, and they have been extremely helpful in answering my questions and have helped me figure out the starting point for a few different series.

There's also is not a lot of Beastboy standalone stuff (beside I think one or two comics) because he's always with the Titans as their goofy, comic relief >:(