If you want to start with Batman, you might want to look at maybe doing a "Dark Knight Returns" force, assuming you like their style at least.
If you go for Dark Knight Returns Batman, you can then get the "Sons of Batman" crew, which will give you a leader (Batman), and a sidekick (Carrie Kelly Robin), plus 3 henchmen. Combine them with your Azrael mini, you're a good chunk of the way there to a full tournament sized gang.
- However, I realise that not everyone loves the style of the Dark Knight Returns figures.
Generally speaking, the Joker gang is a great starting gang. Personally, I'd probably recommend getting the "Arkham City" Joker starter set, rather than the Dark Knight Returns one. - I don't know much about the DKR set, to be honest, but I feel like myself, I'd rather feel like I'm getting my money's worth out of 4 humans, rather than 1 dude and a few dolls. - Though the points totals are pretty similar.
The models are metal, so Superglue is the way to go.
Dicewise, the game uses your bog standard
D6's. Ideally you'd have 2 colours / types of dice.
You'd also need something like a dice bag or a tub that you can't see in to draw counters out of to determine initiative. - two different colours. I use two colours of dice and my Star Wars armada dice bag.
There are a LOT of counters needed for the game, different colours of dice come in handy here, plus scrap paper you can cut out for in-game effects. - EG, tiny bits of paper with with "
KO" (Knocked Out) and "
KD" (Knocked Down) to sit beside your models would go a long way.
Ok, so, the rules. Well, the rulebook is out of your price range, especially if you're wanting to get a couple of starter kits to begin playing.
Fortunately, there is the
Batman Miniatures Game Wiki that, in a pinch, can function as a rulebook.
In fact, when I'm normally playing, I tend to refer to the website on my tablet rather than actually using the rulebook.
So yeah, overall, I'd suggest just going for two starter sets of the teams you like. - Although I wouldn't recommend the "Commissioner Gordon" set when just starting out. - That one has too many guns in it for a fair small scale game.
