Ooooh, this is a good list/set of suggestions. I am just getting into this universe and have been trying to find the best starter set to get me going. Is there an essential set of Birds of Prey books that I need to read to get the post-Batgirl Oracle story, or should I just start working my way through the series?

There's a terrific Oracle (as distinct from Batgirl) origin in Batman Chronicles no. 5. However, as it's one I have in cyber form, I'm not sure how easily available it is on paper.

I personally loved the Miller's interpretation of the Batmobile in Dark Knight Returns. Now that's respectin' authoritay.

I read Nightwing/Huntress in the comic book store today. It seemed like an excuse to get Nightwing and Huntress to hook up. I mean, there was a decent detective story surrounding the sex, but that was pretty much it.

So should I read Cataclysm before No Man's Land? What about Contagion and Legacy? They seem to all follow one another. And is it okay to read the post-NML Nightwing (Darker Shade of Justice) without having read any of those?

Every time I go to the comic book store, they're always there: NML #2 and #5. THAT DOESN'T HELP ME, DAMMIT!

So should I read Cataclysm before No Man's Land? What about Contagion and Legacy? They seem to all follow one another. And is it okay to read the post-NML Nightwing (Darker Shade of Justice) without having read any of those?

Contagion and Legacy are pre-Cataclysm. Read them first, if you need to read 'em. They're useful, but not essential. Nightwing's life in the 'haven starts right after that. Cataclysm and NML are essential, though I think you can kind of get away with reading the novelized version of the latter if you can't find all the trades.

Is there an essential set of Birds of Prey books that I need to read to get the post-Batgirl Oracle story, or should I just start working my way through the series?

She's pretty firmly established as Oracle by the time BoP starts. After a minor Green Arrow binge this weekend, I'm re-thinking my list of pre-BoP must-reads to include Longbow Hunters for some Dinah backstory, but in any case, I think you can start with the first BoP trade and work from there.

In other comics news, venturing out of Gotham can be dangerous. I am cursing Winick. It's his fault. The only reason my Green Arrow binge can be counted as minor is that my GL binge in the last several hours has been three trades and about 7 individual issues.

I mean, there was a decent detective story surrounding the sex

Dammit. I hate when comics outshine my actual life.

I'm re-thinking my list of pre-BoP must-reads to include Longbow Hunters for some Dinah backstory, but in any case, I think you can start with the first BoP trade and work from there.

Polter-Cow - won't your comic shop order NLM 1, 3 & 4 for you?

Dammit. I hate when comics outshine my actual life.

He he he...but then again, don't they usually? When was the last time you saved the world?

Polter-Cow - won't your comic shop order NLM 1, 3 & 4 for you?

Oh, they have all five new. But I only buy 'em used, cause it's far cheaper. I just read stuff in the store.

A friend gave me a copy of this month's Wizard, which has an article about Joss's X-Men & also includes a list of his top 5 X-Men stories.

They are:
Phoenix (that's kinda a big story, there)
the Brood Saga
Rogue & Wolvie in Japan (w/Mohawk!Storm)
the Claremont/Miller Wolvie miniseries (I just bought the TPB yesterday)
And New X-Men: E is for Extinction (planning on reading that in the store tomorrow)

...I'm so fangirl about this. Did you know, CHRIS CLAREMONT wanted Joss for this series? CHRIS F'IN' CLAREMONT!

Ok. Sorry. Calming down now.