Seven Backgrounds - Wishlist Wednesday

Comics are always changing but there are some definite best works for the various Batman heroes and villains. Here's some media if you want to take bite in and get a better understanding of the characters and their motivations. Perhaps it could be something you have on in the background while you assemble your miniatures? As there are so many continuities and different versions, I would ask you to heed the 'double think' that's required in reading comics that I mentioned in my crash course. As usual in my Good Reads breakdown, I list what's appropriate and something that I think that is a good read.

Batman - Honestly, there are so many different versions of Batman it's more of a game of choosing your favourite. You've got the wacky Kane original, Miller's dark grim, Nolan's growling knight, Morrison's insulting swearing, Loeb's masterful detective, Burton's Gothic knight, et cetera. There are tons to pick from. If you want more Batman, I like Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and the 90s Animated Series.

James Gordon - Gordon has always been a Sidekick to Batman. There hasn't been a lot of focus on Gordon, though Year One is very pivotal in the direction the Gordon takes. He has always been a straight cop in the corrupt city of Gotham, he's usually a good detective, a good shot and a loyal friend who gives up it all in the defence of his city. Year One is available as a comic and DC Animated movie. Gotham Central is another great comic though Gordon is barely in it, the majority of the series is seeing how Gordon has affected the city.

Green Arrow - There are currently only two Green Arrows in the Batman Miniature Game. There is a distinction between Green Arrow and Arrow. Arrow is from the TV series which I quite liked.  This means it is very easy for you to get caught up if you're just interested in that version, watch a few television seasons of Arrow. Green Arrow has been more of a rapscallion who fights crime with all of those trick arrows you've probably seen from Marvel's Hawkeye (though not the Cinematic Universe, as they just really use hacking or explosive special arrows).

One of These Banes is Not Like the Others

Bane - Now that we got a few good guys out of the way, let's talk about the more interesting batch: Batman's Rogues. Bane was originally a Doc Savage homage, including a handful of sidekicks with esoteric training, who help him escape the prison he was born in. He goes to Gotham because he hears of a fearsome man who stylzies himself as a Bat and decides to wear him down before taking him out. This plays out in Knightfall but what makes Bane interesting is how recently he's been redone, such as in the Dark Knight Rise movie and Arkham Origins video game. Let's all forget the Batman and Robin appearance, though

Two-Face - Two-Face is a criminal who targets other criminals. In fact, if he did away with his method of murder, he would probably be on the same side as Batman. That's where Harvey Dent started out originally, as a prosecutor who was tough on crime. Aaron Eckhart's depiction of Dent in The Dark Knight is superb, but my favourite comic depiction is probably The Long Halloween which is his genesis. Two-Face also makes a quite impressive run late into the Gotham Central series. Two-Face believes the universe is arbitrary which is why he chooses a coin flip to determine all his actions, the Gotham Central run asks how does a run of repeatedly flipping "Good" affect him.

Black Mask - Black Mask is one of the lowest level super villains in Gotham and probably one of the least known villains in Batman's rogue gallery. He easily out-muscles any normal gang because of his brutal methods, expansionist ethos and willing to go farther than anybody else - except the other super villains. Black Mask is arrogant and used to taking territory from chumps, which tends to be his downfall when he punches out of his weight class. A good case study in his brutality is the War Games comic series, while his arrogance shows clearly through Under the Red Hood.

Court of Owls - Court of Owls is the most mysterious of factions to people just getting into Batman, as they're continually asked about. They're a relatively recent villain, as their first appearance was in 2011 and that's partly why I have trouble stomaching them as a huge threat - they're the new kids on the block that have supposedly been running the show for centuries.  The Court of Owls is Gotham elite using cryogenically frozen Assassin Zombies to do their bidding. My problem is that they break my suspension of disbelief because they're such a huge organization that Batman hasn't noticed despite being a crime fighter for over ten years. I'd rather see them as the next obstacle after a "Year One." As for what to read, there is the Court-centric series Talon as well as Scott Synder's run on New 52 Batman. If you're looking for a particular movie, Batman vs. Robin, hits the proper notes.

Is there anybody else you think deserves a crash course for those who are just getting started with the Batman Miniature Game? While it's unnecessary to know the lore to play, it's nice to understand who all these masked maniacs are.