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Batman Recommended Reading

I am darkness. I am the night. I am batman.

As a child, Bruce Wayne helplessly watched as his parents were brutally murdered in front of him. From that day forth, Bruce vowed to ensure that such a thing could never happen again. Spending years bettering himself, he returned a different man and donned the cape and cowl to become…Batman! The Caped Crusader! The Dark Knight! Created by Bill Finger with Bob Kane in 1939, the World’s Greatest Detective has become a fixture in pop culture the world ever since.

Starting Points:

These are the most highly recommended starting points, great for readers looking to get in at the ground level and be introduced to the Dark Knight’s most essential qualities.

Batman: Year One

Written by: Frank Miller | Art by: David Mazzuchelli | First Published: 1987

“In his first year on the job, Batman feels his way around a Gotham City far darker than the one he left. His solemn vow to extinguish the town’s criminal element is only half the battle; along with Lieutenant James Gordon, the Dark Knight must also fight a police force more corrupt than the scum in the streets.”

Year One is the most widely accepted modern origin story, and has been used as a basis for numerous adaptations. It also provides a look at the state of Gotham before Batman arrived at the scene, and how James Gordon came to ally himself with the masked vigilante.

Batman: The Long Halloween/ Batman: Dark Victory

Written by: Jeph Loeb | Art by: Tim Sale | First Published: 1996

“Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who the Holiday Killer is before he claims his next victim each month. A mystery that has the reader continually guessing the identity of the killer, this story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman’s deadly enemy, Two-Face.

In the sequel, Gotham City suddenly finds itself being run by lawless freaks, such as Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker. It is still early in Batman’s crimefighting career, but the Dark Knight is on the verge of completing his transformation into the city’s greatest defender. However, nothing he has experienced thus far—not even a new sidekick named Robin—will prepare him for the Hangman.”

This pair of detective noir stories pit Batman against not just the Gotham mob families, but also against his extensive rogue gallery. The Long Halloween is particularly notable for telling the iconic story of Harvey Dent, while Dark Victory introduces Dick Grayson.

Batman: Hush

Written by: Jeph Loeb | Art by: Jim Lee | First Published: 2002

“Gotham City’s worst criminals—Joker, Riddler, Ra’s al Ghul, Clayface and others—have emerged to throw Batman’s life into utter chaos. However, these villains are part of a much more elaborate, sinister scheme to destroy the Dark Knight once and for all, one headed by a mastermind much closer to Bruce Wayne than any foe before…

Pushed past his breaking point, Batman will need to use more than the world’s greatest detective skills to unravel the mystery behind this murderous plot before those closest to the Detective suffer the consequences.”

From an all-star creative team, Hush is a detective story that more importantly introduces readers to the modern mythology of Batman, from his allies to his rogues to his romance with Catwoman. For more Hush, follow up with Heart of Hush, as seen below.

Batman, by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo

Written by: Scott Snyder | Art by: Greg Capullo, et al. | First Published: 2011

“After a series of brutal murders rocks Gotham City, Batman begins to realize that perhaps these crimes go far deeper than appearances suggest. As the Caped Crusader begins to unravel this deadly mystery, he discovers a conspiracy going back to his youth and beyond to the origins of the city he’s sworn to protect.”

Beginning with the famous story “The Court of Owls” that introduces a brand new villain, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run sets the stage for Batman’s rebooted continuity in The New 52 era.

Greatest Hits:

These are highly acclaimed stories that dive a bit deeper into the Dark Knight’s mythology, but are still fairly accessible and don’t require much prior knowledge.

Batman: The Man Who Laughs

Written by: Ed Brubaker | Art by: Doug Mahnke, Patrick Zircher | First Published: 2005

“Witness Batman’s first encounter with The Joker in this volume, by Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke! This collection also includes a murder mystery tale guest-starring Green Lantern Alan Scott.”

This is a modern retelling of Batman’s first encounter with the Joker, and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a Batman vs Joker story.

Batman: The Killing Joke

Written by: Alan Moore, Brian Bollard | Art by: Brian Bollard | First Published: 1988

“According to the grinning engine of madness and mayhem known as The Joker, that’s all that separates the sane from the psychotic. Freed once again from the confines of Arkham Asylum, he’s out to prove his deranged point. And he’s going to use Gotham City’s top cop, Commissioner Jim Gordon, and his brilliant and beautiful daughter Barbara to do it.

Now Batman must race to stop his archnemesis before his reign of terror claims two of the Dark Knight’s closest friends. Can he finally put an end to the cycle of bloodlust and lunacy that links these two iconic foes before it leads to its fatal conclusion? And as the horrifying origin of the Clown Prince of Crime is finally revealed, will the thin line that separates Batman’s nobility and The Joker’s insanity snap once and for all?”

The Killing Joke is a very well-known (and controversial) story that attempts to dive into the psychology behind the Joker. This short story is best recommended for readers already familiar with the enmity between Batman and the Joker.

Batman: Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on a Serious Earth

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: Dave McKean | First Published: 1989

“The inmates of Arkham Asylum have taken over Gotham’s detention center for the criminally insane on April Fool’s Day, demanding Batman in exchange for their hostages. Accepting their demented challenge, Batman is forced to endure the personal hells of the Joker, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Two-Face and many other sworn enemies in order to save the innocents and retake the prison. During his run through this absurd gauntlet, the Dark Knight’s must face down both his most dangerous foes and his inner demons.”

Arkham Asylum presents a cerebral psychological take on Batman and his villains.

Batman: No Man’s Land

Written by: Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon, Devin Grayson, Greg Rucka, Dennis O’Neil, John Ostrander, et al. | Art by: various | First Published: 1999

“After suffering a cataclysmic earthquake, the U.S. government deemed Gotham City uninhabitable. Months later, those that refused to vacate “No Man’s Land” live amidst a citywide war. But with the return of the vigilante, Batman, and the appearance of an enigmatic new Batgirl, justice returns to Gotham.”

No Man’s Land was a year-long status quo that changed Gotham radically. These volumes collect a number of connected story arcs that follow the ragtag Gotham policemen and vigilantes as they attempt to maintain order in a city left for dead, as various villains attempt to exploit it. Notable developments include the debut of Cassandra Cain, who would later become Batgirl, and a character arc for Helena Bertinelli, the Huntress.

Gotham Central

Written by: Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker | Art by: Michael Lark, et al. | First Published: 2002

“Not all of Gotham’s heroes wear costumes. Batman may get all the credit for cleaning up the town, but Renee Montoya & Crispus Allen of the Special Crimes Unit are determined to do the job. Witness the gritty side of the GCPD from their perspective, as they solve crimes their own way.”

This is an award-winning run from two of the best urban fiction writers in the business today. Gotham Central focuses on the arduous life and politics of the Gotham City Police Department.

Batman: The Black Mirror

Written by: Scott Snyder | Art by: Jock, Francesco Francavilla | First Published: 2010

“In “The Black Mirror,” a series of brutal murders pushes Batman’s detective skills to the limit and forces him to confront one of Gotham City’s oldest evils. Helpless and trapped in the deadly Mirror House, Batman must fight for his life against one of Gotham City’s oldest and most powerful evils! Then, in a second story called “Hungry City,” the corpse of a killer whale shows up on the floor of one of Gotham City’s foremost banks. The event begins a strange and deadly mystery that will bring Batman face-to-face with the new, terrifying faces of organized crime in Gotham.”

This run, which vaulted Scott Snyder into superstardom, stars Dick Grayson as Batman, as he pits his optimism against a horrifying and seedy Gotham determined to break him down.

Batman, by Tom King

Written by: Tom King | Art by: David Finch, Mikel Janin, Clay Mann, Joëlle Jones, et al. | First Published: 2016

“Superstar artist David Finch returns to Batman alongside writer Tom King! No one has ever stopped the Caped Crusader. Not The Joker. Not Two-Face. Not even the entire Justice League. But how does Batman confront a new hero who wants to save the city from the Dark Knight?”

Tom King’s Rebirth run goes in many new exotic places, as it brings a new hero to Gotham, sparks a fierce rivalry with Bane, and renews his romance with Catwoman, all to ask the question, “Can Batman ever be happy?”

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Written by: Frank Miller | Art by: Frank Miller | First Published: 1986

“It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive.”

The Dark Knight Returns is an iconic Batman story and one of most influential comic books ever written, as it redefines Batman as the tragic hero he is known as today.

Grant Morrison’s Batman Saga:

Grant Morrison had touched on Batman multiple times in his 30+ year career in comics, from Gothic, to Arkham Asylum, to Batman’s appearances in the 1990s JLA. But when he took over the Batman series in 2006, he set out to craft an epic that would build off the entire history of The Caped Crusader, stitching together one cohesive arc for the hero and his franchise from the beginnings of the Golden Age in 1939 to the modern day. Morrison’s Batman was not just a caped crusader protecting Gotham; he was the product of all the the wild, weird and zany life experiences Batman had endured across all the various eras of comics history. Morrison united the disparate history of the character and wrote an epic that pushed the universe and the character forward, whilst strengthening and acknowledging all that come before. This is the tale where Batman meets his son, confronts his darkest failed mirrors, is threatened by the systemic destruction of Batman on a conceptual level, solves his final case, faces the god of depression and all evil and then is reborn for a new generation. This is where Dick Grayson becomes Batman, with Damian Wayne as his Robin. This is the birth of Batman Inc. The saga that would go onto form the spine for the Snyder run to come after and cement Batman as a figure of positive power, it is one that isn’t to be missed. However this is a saga not recommended for brand new readers, as it requires at least a basic knowledge and grasp of Batman’s colorful history.

Batman: Batman and Son

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: Andy Kubert, J.H. Williams III, Tony S. Daniel | First Published: 2006

“Batman receives the shock of his life when he discovers that he has a son, Damian Wayne! Trained by the League of Assassins, this offspring of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul isn’t just the deadliest 10 year-old in the world—he’s also intensely focused on being Batman’s new sidekick… no matter which Robin stands in his way.

Meanwhile, mysterious Batman imposters begin to appear on the streets of Gotham. One of these imposters begins to kill cops, working his way towards Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. But after failing in his pursuit and being captured, Batman falls into a coma and his mind flashes back to a defining adventure in the life of a young Bruce Wayne…the hunt for his parents’ killer!”

Batman R.I.P.

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: Tony S. Daniel | First Published: 2008

“The troubled life of Bruce Wayne seems to spin out of control when his releationship with the mysterious Jezebel Jet deepens. Soon Bruce Wayne drops out completely, having seemingly become the victim of mental illness and abandoning his Batman identity for a life on the streets of Gotham City. Capitalizing on the fall of their greatest foe, the Club of Villains begin a crime spree through the streets of Gotham that threatens to bring the city to its knees.”

Batman: Time and the Batman

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: various | First Published: 2008

“Grant Morrison returns to BATMAN with an all-star roster of artists along with him including Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel and Frank Quitely to celebrate The Dark Knight’s milestone 700th issue featuring stories spotlighting each of the Batmen from different eras – Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne.”

Batman and Robin

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: Frank Quitely, Philip Tan, Cameron Stewart, et al. | First Published: 2009

“In Bruce Wayne’s absence, Gotham City needs a new Batman. Dick Grayson takes up his former mentor’s cape & cowl…and trains Damian Wayne as his own Robin! This is a whole new kind of Dark Knight: but is he what the city needs? Or just what it deserves?”

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: various | First Published: 2010

“Grant Morrison’s bestselling multi-part Batman epic continues with Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham city. A time-spanning graphic novel featuring Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City to take back the mantle of Batman, written by award-winning writer Grant Morrison.”

This story should be read in between the second and third volumes of Batman and Robin.

Batman Incorporated

Written by: Grant Morrison | Art by: Yanick Pacquette, Chris Burnham, et al. | First Published: 2011

“Bruce Wayne publicly announces that he is the financial backer of Batman and establishes a worldwide franchise of Batmen that will protect the entire globe.

This is the beginning of a stunning direction for the world’s greatest detective that will team him with Catwoman, Batwoman and Batman In representatives on international crime fighting missions against Lord Death Man in Japan, South America and Argentina.”

Further Reading:

Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City

“Batman is led through a labyrinthine urban maze by his old nemesis the Riddler, who seems to have changed into an abominable monster with one purpose: to drive Batman insane. In his quest, the Riddler is working with an occultist who has summoned a demon to stop Batman-but in the process, the Riddler himself is slowly changing into a nightmarish beast!”

Batman: Ego and Other Tails

“Eisner-award winning artist and accomplished writer Darwyn Cooke’s iconic imagery culminates in this collection of pulse-pounding stories featuring unique visions of Batman and Catwoman.”

Batman: Knightfall

“The villainous Bane breaks the Bat in one of the most popular and well-known Batman tales! The inmates of Arkham Asylum have broken free and Batman must push himself to the limits to re-apprehend the Joker, Poison Ivy, the Riddler, Killer Croc and more. Pushed to the limits, he comes face-to-face against the monstrosity known as Bane, who delivers a crippling blow destined to change the Caped Crusader forever!”

Batman: Heart of Hush

“The villain named Hush, created by comic superstars Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, makes a dramatic return to the life of Batman. What will this mean for Bruce Wayne? Secrets shared years ago between Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliott begin to have dangerous repercussions in the present. Why is this mystery driving Hush to destroy Batman’s life? What part does Catwoman play in Hush’s plans?”

Batman: Gates of Gotham

“At the turn of the century, three prominent families shaped the construction of modern-day Gotham City. Now, a madman with three-hundred pounds of explosives and a century-old grudge is threatening to bring it all crashing down. Beginning with the simultaneous destruction of some of Gotham’s oldest bridges, the mysterious villain is targeting the holdings and legacies of Gotham’s most notable families–including the Waynes.

To uncover the truth behind the villainous Architect and his link to the city’s violent past, Batman unites with Robin, Red Robin and Batman Inc.’s Hong Kong operative the Black Bat. But can they stop their new foe’s plans before it’s too late? The future of Gotham started with an explosion, and it could end the very same way…”

All-Star Batman

“Superstar writer Scott Snyder explodes into an all-new Batman series alongside legendary artist John Romita Jr., reimagining some of the Dark Knight’s greatest villains. First up: Two-Face! Batman must take Two-Face to a destination out of Gotham City, but the duplicitous villain has a two of spades up his sleeve.”