Who depicts Batman best?

I grew up with Adam West and the campy, hilarious, omg Batman, so I like that version, and I like the original (link though this actually a bit later as it has the dubious Wonder Twins) Justice League of America cartoons, and have a bit of a hard time taking the more modern (even 20-year-old) Batmans very seriously, though of those that I have seen (which isn’t all of them), I prefer the most recent version.

Tarantino should direct a Batman movie.Badass mother fucker would probably have the boy blunder (Robin) decapitated in the opening titles.Fine by me, never liked the ponce anyway.

Read “The Killing Joke” if you can get your hands on it. He’s fucking ruthless in that one.

@Seek_Kolinahr: Yeah, chose between Arkham Asylum and Killing Joke today, got the first one.. :P

I do.When I’m hammered ;)

I thought Michael Keaton did a great job. Christian Bale isn’t bad, it’s his “bat-voice” that gets a little ridiculous. You can’t really compare them to Adam West’s batman since they’re set in completely different styles.

I liked Long Halloween. Loeb and Sale should always work together.

I think Neal Adams changed the way everyone looked at Batman. That’s something I’d ask Frank Miller, if Adams was influential in his desire to write the character.

I agree with @Zaku. Adam West – acting serious, with shots of him looking away in silence – is GREAT. I can’t think of a better example of “camp”.

I agree with @erichw1504 on Michael Keaton. Although I think Keaton is a chump in real life, I marveled at that casting decision. It was an edgy and genius choice (and controversial). It turned some heads in the industry on counter-intuitive casting lead roles [for an o’-too-short while].

I agree with Year One, Killing Joke and Arkham Asylum.

Also, check out the Elseworlds story Gotham by Gaslight (Batman set in the 1800s) and the cop thriller series Gotham Central (more about crime in Gotham than Batman himself).

The Dark Knight Returns is probably the best Batman story (there is a sequel, you know). Agree with @Seek_Kolinahr The Killing Joke is terrific.

My favorite artist is Jim Lee. He did two Batmans, one was called Hush, and the other was The All Star Batman and Robin.

Adam West and his gut cannot be beat. KabawhaZAAAAAM!!

This Guy

Michael Keaton was the very best Batman, ever.

Keaton is Best. Here is a good combination.

How is Keaton the best? He’s so lame, and not brute at all! In my opinion, Wyane should be a sophisticated but raw man. Keaton is just so.. He looks like a guppy sometimes in Batman Returns.. When I come to think about it, none of those who have played the Batman has ever really made it that good!

Well the original question was asking about graphic novels anyway, not movies.

@Rarebear Yet, the title says ”Who depicts Batman best?”

@erichw1504 See I read it as “Which graphic novellist and write depicts Batman the best”. I opine that Frank Miller wrote the best Batman story, and Jim Lee drew the best Batman, although Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum was stunning.

If we’re talking art, I’m a big fan of Neal Adams (classic) and Frank Quitely (modern).

I like Jim Lee a lot, but his figures come across as stiff sometimes.

@cprevite What have Adams and Quitely drawn? What are your favorites?

In the All Star Batman and Robin, there’s a Jim Lee drawn picture of Robin’s first look at the Bat Cave. It’s a four page fold out sensational drawing.

Since I misunderstood the question, I will cast my vote to Frank Miller. He understood the complexity and conflict of the Man. The Dark Knight Returns is the best comic book of all time.

@filmfann I couldn’t agree more, although Watchmen I think gives it a run for its money.

@Rarebear: Neal Adams did a great run on Batman in the late 70s where they introduced Ras al Ghul and his daughter Talia. I think it was with writer Dennis O’Neil.

Frank Quitely, very recently, did a short-lived (6 issues?) run on the new Batman and Robin series where Dick Grayson (the original Robin) is now Batman. Beautiful stuff.

And yes, I have that Jim Lee spread – he is an excellent draftsman.

@cprevite Who was the writer on the Quitely run and do you know if it came out in graphic novel format? I really like his artwork—I recognize the Superman, I just didn’t know he was the artist.

@Rarebear: Here you go.

@cprevite Perfect, thanks. I like Grant Morrison a lot as well.