if you wanted to know who helena was and her role in the batfam in only 50 ISSUES, I would recommend:

• The Huntress Vol 1 #1, #17-19 (4 issues) :: BRILLIANT introduction to her as a character. I only put the MOST important issues, but I do actually recommend reading all of this if you really want to enjoy her as a character.
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #652-653 (2 issues) :: tracks her move from NYC to gotham and what she's doing now
• Robin III: Cry of the Huntress (6 issues) :: introduces her connection with tim, which is ESSENTIAL
• EVENT: CONTAGION (4 issues) :: she becomes increasingly important on the road to NML for reasons that will become obvious upon reading NML
• Batman Vol 1 #529
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat #49
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #696
• Batman Chronicles V.1 #4 (2)
• EVENT: LEGACY (4 issues) :: the first time she takes over batman's role as protector of the city; continues to work with her relationship to tim
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 #53
• Batman Vol 1 #533
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #701
• Robin Vol 2 #33
• Huntress & Spoiler: Blunt Trauma (1 issue) :: part of the cataclysm event, further road to NML
• EVENT: NO MAN'S LAND (21 issues) :: I have narrowed this down as much as I can, given that NML is 100 issues long. helena is both huntress & the bat/batman
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 #83
• Batman Vol 1 #563
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 #84
• Batman Vol 1 #564
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #731
• Batman Vol 1 #565
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #732
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 #86
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #733
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #119
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 #87
• Batman Vol 1 #567
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120
• Batman Vol 1 #568
• Nightwing Vol 2 #38-39
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #126
• Batman Vol 1 #574
• Detective Comics Vol 1 #741
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 #94
• Batman/Huntress: Cry For Blood (6 issues)
• Birds of Prey #57-59 (3 issues) :: she is in this comic in every single issue from here on out, BUT here is her introduction arc so you can decide whether to keep reading or not

FULL PERSONALIZED READING ORDER

this is "personalized" because I have rearranged some of the comics from the date they were published into something that I found more realistic, as well as cutting out any cameos and appearances that messed up helena's continuity, such her appearing in JLE when at that point in time she was retired and also had never been in the JLE before. every comic listed here is one I have read, which means this is a WIP; I have NOT completed a full readthrough of every comic, I have only read MOST of them up to the year 2000 or so. these are listed IN THE ORDER in which I think you should read them and the order of which makes sense to me. hope you enjoy!

PHASE 1: ORIGINS (1989-1991)
The Huntress V1 #1-16
Justice League America V1 #26, #30-31, #35
Justice League International V1 Special #1
Justice League America V1 #42
The Huntress V1 #17-19
Justice League International V1 Special #2

PHASE 2: BACK IN BUSINESS (1992-1994)
Detective Comics V1 #652-653
Robin III: Cry of the Huntress #1-6
EVENT :: KNIGHTFALL
Detective Comics V1 #662
Showcase '93 #9 (1), #10 (1)
Showcase '94 #5 (1)
Robin V2 #6
Showcase '94 #6 (1)
Green Arrow V2 #83
Black Canary V2 #9-12

INTERLUDE: REVENGE CYCLE (1994)
The Huntress V2 #1-4

PHASE 3: PLAGUED (1995-1996)
Robin V2 #17
Detective Comics V1 #686
EVENT :: CONTAGION
Batman V1 #529
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #49
Detective Comics V1 #696
Batman Chronicles V1 #4 (2)
EVENT :: LEGACY
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #53
Batman V1 #533