Carmine "The Roman" Falcone: What's Useful to Re-Read These Days?

Okay, we have Carmine Falcone "returning" to Gotham City again in [B][I]Batman Eternal[/I][/B] (and also appearing in Detective Comics?) . . . but for those of us not really familiar with his past [I]pre-[B][FONT=Comic Sans MS]New 52[/FONT][/B][/I] history, what might be good to read for his story?

There's definitely [I]The Long Halloween[/I]
[img]http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080617231118/marvel_dc/images/9/93/Batman_The_Long_Halloween_TP.jpg[/img]

and he also had appeared in [I]Year One[/I]
[img]http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060915175815/marvel_dc/images/d/d1/Batman_404.jpg[/img]

but what else would people recommend?
[SIZE=1]
(And has he had any mention in [I]Zero Year[/I] for the [I]New 52[/I]?)[/SIZE]

Maybe Catwoman When in Rome (though it doesn't feature him), but I think it's pretty clear that their relationship from that story is basically also in Eternal.

From what little we've seen Year One and the Long Halloween, or atleast elements from them seem to be in continuity when it comes to the Roman.

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;37326]Okay, we have Carmine Falcone "returning" to Gotham City again in [B][I]Batman Eternal[/I][/B] (and also appearing in Detective Comics?) . . . but for those of us not really familiar with his past [I]pre-[B][FONT=Comic Sans MS]New 52[/FONT][/B][/I] history, what might be good to read for his story?

There's definitely [I]The Long Halloween[/I]

and he also had appeared in [I]Year One[/I]

[SIZE=1]
(And has he had any mention in [I]Zero Year[/I] for the [I]New 52[/I]?)[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

Carmine Falcone hasn't really had many appearances other than the ones you listed.

I would add [I]Batman: Dark Victory[/I], just because it is a continuation to The Long Halloween.

[IMG]http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/batman-dark-victory/1-3.jpg[/IMG]

And, as Bruce Wayne (love your SN btw) said, [I]Catwoman: When in Rome[/I] would also be a good read to see more of his relationship with Selina.

[IMG]http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_large/0/574/197214-19181-114800-1-catwoman-when-in-ro.jpg[/IMG]

And, I don't think he has been mentioned in Zero Year?

I believe he only ever appeared in Year One, Long Halloween, Dark Victory and Catwoman: When in Rome. Two of those four are excellent, and the other two are okay so may as well re-read the lot. :)

He may have been mentioned elsewhere, but I don't think it was more than a passing reference.

The stories listed are the only ones with "The Roman" in them. So, that's all you can read. But, It's the old continuity, so, you really don't have to read any of it (even though they're great stories) to understand the new "Roman". Two totally different characters.

I think this is Carmine "The Roman" Falcone's chronological reading order. I read that "... Catwoman: When in Rome ... takes place during the events of Dark Victory, between Valentine's Day (when Catwoman leaves Gotham) and Thanksgiving."

The rest is based on [URL="http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=21232"]http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=21232[/URL] and [URL="http://www.comicvine.com/carmine-falcone/4005-42288/issues-cover/"]http://www.comicvine.com/carmine-falcone/4005-42288/issues-cover/[/URL]

Batman Year One 1987: Roman #405, #407

Batman The Long Halloween 1996: Roman #1-#7, #9-#13

Batman Dark Victory #1-#5 1999: Roman #1

Catwoman When in Rome 2004: Roman #1, #4-#6

Batman Dark Victory #6-#13 1999: Roman #13

[QUOTE=Maxpower00044;46727]The stories listed are the only ones with "The Roman" in them. So, that's all you can read. But, It's the old continuity, so, you really don't have to read any of it (even though they're great stories) to understand the new "Roman". Two totally different characters.[/QUOTE]

There's also Matt Wagner's two excellent early-days minis.

[QUOTE=t hedge coke;47226]There's also Matt Wagner's two excellent early-days minis.[/QUOTE]

I'll have to check this out. Are the collected? I really enjoy Wagner's Bats.

[QUOTE=Maxpower00044;46727]The stories listed are the only ones with "The Roman" in them. So, that's all you can read. [B]But, It's the old continuity, so, you really don't have to read any of it[/B] (even though they're great stories) [B]to understand the new "Roman". Two totally different characters[/B].[/QUOTE]Oh, I would normally agree, but since we're dealing with the "soft reboot", it may be interesting to see if any aspects of the old stories are carried over for the [I]New 52[/I] version.

On the Zero Year comment, he should have played some role. The Roman is too crucial to Batman's early days that it's disappointing to see him without him. I really hope Snyder does a Year Two story to do something with The Roman and set up a prequel to Batman Eternal.

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;47673]Oh, I would normally agree, but since we're dealing with the "soft reboot", it may be interesting to see if any aspects of the old stories are carried over for the [I]New 52[/I] version.[/QUOTE]

I'm sure that some of the same themes will be played with. Who knows how much like the old characterization that they will be. I know of at least one thing they've changed.... [spoil]he's not dead[/spoil].

[QUOTE=Maxpower00044;47393]I'll have to check this out. Are the collected? I really enjoy Wagner's Bats.[/QUOTE]

Batman and the Monster Men & Batman and the Mad Monk. They expand/retell two very early Bat adventures. There are trades for both. Wagner really brings it, merging a Y1 tonality with the Silver Age bigness and some Mark Badger/Kyle Baker reminiscent art

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;47673]Oh, I would normally agree, but since we're dealing with the "soft reboot", it may be interesting to see if any aspects of the old stories are carried over for the [I]New 52[/I] version.[/QUOTE]

I am almost certain that Catwoman being his daughter will be part of Batman Eternal.

As many has told earlier there haven't been many stories with Roman Falcone since they where first touched upon with Jeph Loeb who was asked by DC since it was unlikely that Frank Miller would ever touch upon it again. At this point he had made his Halloween stories who had sold very well.

[QUOTE=t hedge coke;50252]Batman and the Monster Men & Batman and the Mad Monk. They expand/retell two very early Bat adventures. There are trades for both. Wagner really brings it, merging a Y1 tonality with the Silver Age bigness and some Mark Badger/Kyle Baker reminiscent art[/QUOTE]

It features Roman Falcone's gangster enemy Sal Maroni not Roman Falcone himself nor his family at least not in any meaningful way I can remember?

[QUOTE=heyevaxx;47196]I think this is Carmine "The Roman" Falcone's chronological reading order. I read that "... Catwoman: When in Rome ... takes place during the events of Dark Victory, between Valentine's Day (when Catwoman leaves Gotham) and Thanksgiving."

The rest is based on [URL="http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=21232"]http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=21232[/URL] and [URL="http://www.comicvine.com/carmine-falcone/4005-42288/issues-cover/"]http://www.comicvine.com/carmine-falcone/4005-42288/issues-cover/[/URL]

Batman Year One 1987: Roman #405, #407

Batman The Long Halloween 1996: Roman #1-#7, #9-#13

Batman Dark Victory #1-#5 1999: Roman #1

Catwoman When in Rome 2004: Roman #1, #4-#6

Batman Dark Victory #6-#13 1999: Roman #13[/QUOTE]

When in Rome takes place between the last bit of The Long Halloween and the first 1/2-2/3 of Dark Victory.

Tupiaz: When in Rome takes place between the last bit of The Long Halloween and the first 1/2-2/3 of Dark Victory.

What is the optimal first time reading order for Long Halloween 1-13, When in Rome 1-6 and Dark Victory 1-13?

[QUOTE=Tupiaz;51102]It features Roman Falcone's gangster enemy Sal Maroni not Roman Falcone himself nor his family at least not in any meaningful way I can remember?[/QUOTE]

They both appear, but the Roman has signifcant role in Mad Monk related to Catwoman & Julie Madison's dad, with him closing out Moroni in the end and a ton of heroin missing. (That series ends with a advertisement for the Graysons' show.)

[QUOTE=heyevaxx;51367]Tupiaz: When in Rome takes place between the last bit of The Long Halloween and the first 1/2-2/3 of Dark Victory.

What is the optimal first time reading order for Long Halloween 1-13, When in Rome 1-6 and Dark Victory 1-13?[/QUOTE]

My mistake she leaves in the first issue of Dark Victory and reappears in the end of issue 12. The beginning of TLH and the end of DV tend to overlap. I would read one of the stories first and then go to the other without reading between issues. To avoid any possible spoilers I would read Dark Victory first. My memory is fussy here but Catwoman's motives for her travel and her connection to the Falcone family isn't revealed before the end of DV. Her motives are clear in the beginning of When in Rome. When in Rome was also released after DV.

[QUOTE=t hedge coke;51626]They both appear, but the Roman has signifcant role in Mad Monk related to Catwoman & Julie Madison's dad, with him closing out Moroni in the end and a ton of heroin missing. (That series ends with a advertisement for the Graysons' show.)[/QUOTE]

hmm...seems like I should reread the stories.

@Tupiaz
So trying to be strictly chronological, would this be the an acceptable order?

Batman Year One 1987 (complete TBP)
Batman The Long Halloween 1996 (complete TBP)
Batman Dark Victory 1999 issues #1 to #11
Catwoman When in Rome 2004 (complete TBP)
Batman Dark Victory 1999 issues #12 to #13

I guess you could sandwich When in Rome between any two Dark Victory issues from #2 to #12, e.g. 11/12 or 1/2 or 6/7 etc.

Thanks for the help - reading Batman comics in a sensible order is very challenging.

[QUOTE=heyevaxx;51755]@Tupiaz
So trying to be strictly chronological, would this be the an acceptable order?

Batman Year One 1987 (complete TBP)
Batman The Long Halloween 1996 (complete TBP)
Batman Dark Victory 1999 issues #1 to #11
Catwoman When in Rome 2004 (complete TBP)
Batman Dark Victory 1999 issues #12 to #13

I guess you could sandwich When in Rome between any two Dark Victory issues from #2 to #12, e.g. 11/12 or 1/2 or 6/7 etc.

Thanks for the help - reading Batman comics in a sensible order is very challenging.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but I wouldn't recommend you read it in that order. It would destroy the flow of DV and DV can easily stand on it's own. When in Rome is just to show the story but it isn't essential (nor that good).