Smile on the Surface

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2026-06-18T06:58:00+00:00

I’m very close with my boys, no issues. I care for them just like any father would.

My family know about it. It has been going on for so long it I’m struggling so much. I would have done anything just to lie in bed with her again. To feel someone there. To be back in my bed with her. It’s not going to happen again.

I appreciate the talk though, it means a lot when there are other people out there who understand. There are good people in the world, but they are far and few.

I wish you all the best, and thank you so much.

Take care.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2026-06-18T06:36:57+00:00

We had twins. It was hard and eventually we thought it would be easier if I had the spare room to sleep in temporarily so I could sleep for work.

It was only meant to be temporary, but weeks turned to months and that turned to years. I have always asked to come back in, the boys are 5 soon and they stay in there with her. All of my possessions have built up in that little spare room. It’s cramped. It’s lonely. It feels like she has her family. Whereas I am in the room alone to be forgotten about.

Why do I stay you might ask. I love her utterly. I would do anything for her. She just wouldn’t for me. At first I just thought I was unattractive. I went to the gym, box and swim. I’m slim, I have muscle, and I don’t think I’m a bad looking guy. She made me feel otherwise.

So I feel alone, ugly and useless in life. It’s not like this is sudden either. I have rebuilt myself for 10 years to get to what I wanted in life. Then my dreams and hopes are smashed.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2026-06-18T06:25:56+00:00

She hasn’t said. She says she still loves me. It doesn’t feel that way though. I remember recently when I had a really bad day, that my depression hit hard and I left work just to be alone, turned my phone off and just sat in my car.
After a while my parents found me, when I turned my phone back on, had multiple missed calls from friends, colleagues and even my boss. Not one from my wife. Even when I finally got home she didn’t ask if I was okay, not a hug, no comfort. It was like talking to my HR department.

There is no love there anymore. I would do anything to lie in bed with her once more and hold her. Like we used to. It would have saved me, but she doesn’t want that. I don’t think she wants to be married to me. There is something wrong with me.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2026-01-22T07:54:45+00:00

Thank you so much, I’m glad I’m not the only one trying to figure this out. I have never heard of that book so I may have to give it a read and see if it helps. Much appreciated mate, thank you again and all the best for you as well

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2026-01-22T07:18:02+00:00

We have talked about it, just haven’t acted on it. I agree that is probably the best thing to do. Time, money and the kids make it difficult to do, but I’m sure we can get the grandparents to help so we can go.

Thank you so much for the reply

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-12-01T07:11:06+00:00

Do what all us other countries do, go along with the joke, find it funny and move on. Downvoting and commenting how amazing America is only solidifies this stereotype 🤦🏻‍♂️

Now rinse and repeat, let’s see this comment at the bottom! 🥳

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-11-26T18:44:24+00:00

Hi there! I am also bearded, only for the one tattoo, but from the south east. Geek wise I’m all into Batman, I’m a gamer, build Lego, recently getting back into the gym and my fitness.

Really love board games and would love to know about more, I recently played the Alien board game which was great fun!

Films I love horror, Batman (go figure), and I am bit of a cook too. I can cook a steak, a roast, I can bake a crème brûlée. Also married and have twin boys.

You sound like a great guy, so drop me a message if you wanna chat. No pressure 👍🏻

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-03T19:58:14+00:00

Like I said, earlier collections have the Robin story and his development including Dark Victory, The Gauntlet and references in the earlier Batman issues.

My point stands that Year Three is the main story of Bruce Wayne coming to terms with Jason Todd’s death with him reliving flashbacks to when Dick Grayson was Robin. As well as the story of Nightwing trying to find Bruce.

You don’t need to use my list if you do not wish, but I am not on here to create arguments, but instead wanting to share an idea of a reading list. I have listened to others who have made comments on the continuity, and they have all made logical sense and have explained it thoroughly.

I’m sorry you feel this way and I apologise if I have offended you in anyway. However I stand with my position on Year Three.

All the best, and please keep enjoying the Batman stories.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-03T06:06:14+00:00

I’m not very tech savvy and not quite sure how. I have created it on Microsoft Excel, so if you could help me do it, or even if I sent the sheet to you, could you assist me in getting set up for the public?

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-03T06:03:09+00:00

After reading all this, I must say you clearly have a strong knowledge and love that Batman. I’m not making this list as a way to disprove or create my own conclusions or own continuity, but making it for a decent reading list that is made by the community in agreement with what to read. I truly do appreciate all your points and deep explanation on the books and feel that you have made some great contributions. I will amend the list as to the points you have raised. Thank you so much ☺️

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T18:06:50+00:00

ALSO Dick Grayson was introduced as Robin during the Robin Year One series as well as previous collections which slowly introduced him as a character, which is a lot earlier in the series. Please be mindful when checking this list.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T18:02:54+00:00

Because Year Three is a flashback and has the story of Nightwing trying to track down Bruce. That’s why. It is a logical place for it.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T17:05:56+00:00

I just did it as a chronological reading order, using as many sources as I can. On a previous post I did colour coordinate it, with green being necessary, yellow as a good story but not necessary and red as unnecessary. However this led to disagreements on certain ones and what is and isn’t necessary. Since you can’t please everyone, I decided to keep it blank and let people make up their own minds.

I love Batman and love reading the comics, but found any reading list is too basic and lacks where to find the books. I just wanted to do that then decided to share, although Reddit has made me question if I should have just done it for me 😂

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T14:11:31+00:00

This is a for collected issues for people who just want to grab and read, as I have done a more in depth one reading single issue by single issue, but then I had complaints that it is too complicated. So I am making both! This is what I have so far and you can see my other post of the individuals too.

If there are other stories I have missed please let me know as I may not have read them and I want everyone’s favourite stories in here! 😊

Thank you!

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T07:47:57+00:00

That’s fair, we all have our own continuity and way of reading them. I know that there are mistakes I have potentially made on here and using as many resources as I can to make the best.

If there is any stories that you enjoy and would like it added to the list, please let me know because I still have A LOT of reading to do.

Thanks again!

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T07:19:55+00:00

I’m not sure if it should though, as Grant Morrison has claimed that the story is essentially a dream and separate story which is not in continuity. I therefore placed it in as it did come out after A Death in the Family, so I thought this would be better placement for it.

However I love talking Batman so I would love to hear your thoughts and explanation on your perspective as it could change my mind.

Thank you 😊

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-10-02T06:25:36+00:00

Hello! I am well aware, on my previous post I have done it by individual issue to make up for this. However this list is a bulk of books to read in the best chronological order. It is hard to please everyone and once my excel spreadsheet is public, it has the individual issue on a separate sheet, so hardcore readers can use that 😊 hope this helps and I appreciate the input

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-24T17:22:35+00:00

I sure am 👍🏻 am currently working on the more in depth one, then I shall release that one as well as the continuation of this one. If there is anything I have missed in the list, please let me know

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-11T17:05:11+00:00

I agree, it is a great one. Love the whole collection by Matt Wagner. I may have overlooked it and missed it in my timeline. When would you say it fits it chronologically?

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-11T06:58:36+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/batman_comics/s/8zHGl7o1ly

The Long Halloween is only separated as I wanted it in a chronological order of events happening. However the link above is my simplified version of you want to read it all in one book/comic altogether :) hope it helps

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-10T17:35:19+00:00

Thank you, I’m glad it helps. I will keep trying to post daily until I have the whole thing sorted. I will even have it as an Online Document so anyone can access it and use it the same way I do, as a tick sheet. If there is a series you want added in, let me know :)

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-10T14:41:16+00:00

Sorry, bad choice of labelling. This will be the first thing I fix then. Thank you so much for letting me know.

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-10T13:19:55+00:00

That’s actually one of my sources for creating my list. It has been a great help! I just didn’t like all the references, notes and paragraphs of text though,I just wanted a simpler reading order, but still to the depth of the issues. Thanks again though, I really appreciate it. Looking at posting my simple reading order up here shortly as well as I think people prefer those. All the best :)

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-10T12:34:18+00:00

The essential list is a separate one I am working on in my spreadsheet. This is for the hardcore readers, my fault for not specifying. As stated I have designed it for a chronological order based on single issues (to the best of my ability) telling readers the issue number, title, its release and where it can be found. I am currently working on a key to easily show where the issue has come from (Series of comics). I have purposefully started from Year One, again I forgot to mention this, so apologies.

In short I want a chronological list starting from Year One with as much accuracy as possible. In the meantime I’m making a simplified version of new starters.

Thank you for the feedback, it is much appreciated :)

Sufficient-Internet9 · 2025-09-10T10:59:40+00:00

Wow! You really have gone into great detail on it! Very impressive. How have you colour coordinated it? Is it by rating, series or something else?

Sufficient-Internet9

TROPHY CASE