Batman New 52 Timeline Help? Reading Order? Where to Start? Help Please?

[WWEJedi]

So, I want to start reading the new 52. I have been researching where to start and trying to build a timeline for the last two hours. Im so confused its not even funny. I really have no clue where to start or what to start with and the timeline I created seems to be wrong.

So there is Batman Inc, Batman, Detective Comics, The Dark Knight, Batman and Robin, and Batman Eternal all operating under the New 52 banner. Is this right in some sense? When does Eternal takes place? What about Justice League Tie Ins and something called DC Convergence? This is what I could gather for my timeline....

Pre Death of the Family
• Batman Volume 4: Zero Year Secret City
• Batman Volume 5: Zero Year Dark City
• Batman the Dark Knight Volume 1: Knight Terrors
• Batman the Dark Knight Volume 2: Cycle of Violence
• Batman the Dark Knight Volume 3: Mad
• Batman the Dark Knight Volume 4: Clay
• Batman Volume 1: The Court of Owls
• Batman: Night of Owls
• Batman Volume 2: The City of Owls
• Batman Detective Comics Volume 1: The Faces of Death
• Batman Detective Comics Volume 2: Scare Tactics
• Batman and Robin Volume 1: Born to Kill
• Batman and Robin Volume 2: Pearl
• Batman Volume 6: Graveyard Shift (-34)
• Batman Detective Comics Volume 4: The Wrath
• Batman Detective Comics Volume 5: Gothtopia
• Batman Detective Comics Volume 6: Icarus (-34)
• Batman Detective Comics #35-42

Death of the Family Reading Order with Graphic Novels
• 004 Batman #13
• 005 Batman and Robin #13
• 006 Batman and Robin #14
• 007 Suicide Squad #14
• 008 Suicide Squad #15
• 009 Batman #14
• 010 Detective Comics #15
• 011 Batgirl #14
• 012 Batgirl #15
• 013 Batgirl #16
• 014 Batman #15
• 015 Batman and Robin #15
• 016 Batman and Robin #16
• 017 Detective Comics #16
• Detective Comics #17 (Optional, Highly Recommended)
• 018 Nightwing #15
• 019 Nightwing #16
• 020 Red Hood and The Outlaws #15
• 021 Teen Titans #15
• 022 Red Hood and The Outlaws #16
• 023 Teen Titans #16
• 024 Batman #16
• 025 Batman #17

(Batman Volume 3: Death of the Family, Batgirl Volume 3: Death of the Family, Batman: Death of the Family, Batman and Robin Volume 3: Death of the Family, Batman Detective Comics Volume 3: Emperor Penguin)
Between issues 17 and 18 is Damian’s Death.
• Batman Inc Volume 1
• Batman Inc Volume 2
• Batman and Robin Volume 4: Requiem for Damian
• Batman and Robin Volume 5: The Big Burn
• Batman and Robin Volume 6: The Hunt for Robin (-34)
• Batman and Robin 35-40
• Batman Endgame (#35-40)
• Batman Eternal Volume 1
• Batman Eternal Volume 2
• Batman Eternal Volume 3

 

[Serpentor]

The thing is as much as DC tried to say Batman continuity didn't change it did and it changed a fair bit (this is only important for Batman Inc). If your only interested in the New52 which isn't a bad place to start really just start with Batman by Scott Snyder however many volumes there are. The reading order is pretty much just Vol 1- whatever they are at now. Don't worry about a timeline DC certainly doesn't. Convergence has nothing to do with the New52, Batman inc gets confusing because vol 1 starts before the new 52 but doesn't finish until some time into the New52 and Vol 2 is suppose to continue it but it doesn't line up properly with Stephanie Brown being Batgirl there but having not appeared at all in the New52 timeline.

Don't spend time trying to figure out a proper time line, as it is DC's new focus is being less stiff with continuity and just telling good stories honestly that is the best way to enjoy comics. Just read the books you want, with the New 52 it's quite easy to start with Vol 1 and go forward.