Despite the anticipation of Batman’s return to the big screen, these stories remain the top comics for both new and longtime fans to experience the greatness of the character.
Despite the abundance of iconic Batman comic books spanning 80 years, there are still many that remain unknown to fans as they gradually fade into obscurity over time. However, thanks to services like DC Universe Infinite, these comics are becoming more accessible than ever before and continue to inspire beloved movies.
Despite there being numerous Batman stories, only a few are deemed iconic and have served as inspiration for several movies about The Dark Knight. Whether you’re a newcomer or a former fan wanting to rekindle your interest in the character, these books are great choices to begin with.
Table of Contents:
- The Killing Joke
- Batman: Year One
- Batman: Rebirth
- No Man’s Land
- Knightfall
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Winning Card
- The Dark Knight Returns
- Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on Serious Earth
- Hush
- The Long Halloween
Regardless of whether you began reading during the Silver Age or have never picked up a comic before, these are the top Batman comics to begin with.
Batman: The Killing Joke
As controversial as it is beloved, The Killing Joke is an incredible exploration of Batman and Joker’s relationship.
While it may be difficult to recommend The Killing Joke in 2024, it is equally difficult to ignore its significant legacy.
Despite being a beloved classic, The Killing Joke’s portrayal of Barbara Gordon has not stood the test of time. In fact, even the author, Alan Moore, has publicly criticized the decision to paralyze her in the story, stating that the treatment of Barbara was overly cruel and excessively violent.
Despite any initial reservations, readers will be treated to an unforgettable showdown between Batman and Joker in The Killing Joke. This graphic novel is brimming with nuance and detail, and Moore’s portrayal of the meeting between these two iconic characters is truly remarkable.
Batman: Year One
The theatricality of Batman is on full display in the moody and haunting Batman: Year One.
In a similar fashion to how Frank Miller revolutionized Daredevil with Born Again, he also presented readers with the ultimate contemporary version of Batman in 1987’s Year One.
If you are familiar with Batman, chances are you learned about it from Year One. Although it did have an impact on Batman ‘89 and Batman: The Animated Series, its biggest influence was on Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins.
Despite being almost 40 years old, Batman: Year One remains timeless due to the noir elements and straightforward storytelling by Miller and Mazzucchelli. It presents a unique portrayal of a relatable and vulnerable Batman, making it an ideal introduction for new readers.
Batman: Rebirth
Much of King’s acclaimed Batman run focuses on the duality of Batman’s mission and Bruce Wayne’s hope.
To experience a contemporary version of Batman, the ideal starting point is the Batman: Rebirth era. For those wanting to read all of the stories in this era, look for the one-shot issue Batman: Rebirth #1 and issues 1-85 of the 2016 Batman ongoing series.
At first glance, this may seem like a hefty amount, but it is actually one continuous story. Add in a prolonged and grand battle with Bane and Bruce’s struggles against his father from the Flashpoint timeline, and you’ll find yourself with some truly unforgettable moments.
Despite being praised by many fans, the Rebirth era of Batman and the accompanying Detective Comics run have faced some criticism. The long-awaited and highly anticipated Batman and Catwoman romance was ultimately disappointing, and some readers have raised concerns about the pacing and certain aspects of the story. However, for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in modern Batman, the Rebirth era (including the Detective Comics run) is still highly recommended.
No Man’s Land
Batman faces a destroyed Gotham City and impossible odds in No Man’s Land
The emergence of No Man’s Land was sudden and unexpected. Following a devastating earthquake that hit Gotham, the majority of the city was destroyed, causing the already struggling residents to struggle even more in order to survive.
Despite the criminal element becoming more daring and the government giving up on saving Gotham City, Batman and his allies must come up with a plan to bring back stability as the city works towards rebuilding. Meanwhile, Batman faces the challenge of coping with the destruction of much of the technology he relies on.
Despite being a modern classic and providing inspiration for Matt Reeves’ The Batman, No Man’s Land remains a unique and unforgettable experience. Enduring this intense month-to-month struggle for survival, even with the Justice League’s assistance, is a truly unparalleled event.
Knightfall
Knightfall saw Bane break Batman’s back, leading to a new, more violent Batman stepping up.
The malevolent Bane’s ultimate goal is to seize control of Gotham, but he must first confront Batman. In order to achieve this, he orchestrates the mass escape of all inmates from Arkham Asylum and proceeds to exhaust Batman both physically and mentally. Finally, when Batman is at his most vulnerable state, Bane inflicts a devastating blow by breaking his back.
Despite Bruce accepting that his time as Batman may be over, he decides to pass on the legacy to a new successor: Jean-Paul Valley, also known as Azrael, the Avenging Angel, and a troubled member of the Order of St. Dumas.
Despite the negative effects of The System, Jean-Paul’s traumas are intensified and he transforms into a more aggressive and unstable version of himself, known as the Dark Knight. He adopts a new suit of armor and vicious metal claws, making him a frightening vision as Batman. Despite this, fans were enamored with his portrayal and Knightfall, along with its sequels Knightsquest and Knightsend, remain some of the most beloved Batman stories to date.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Winning Card
Tom King once again appears on this list, this time joined by his frequent collaborator Mitch Gerads. While King is known for his defining work on the modern Batman in Rebirth, the dynamic duo of King and Gerads have also made a significant impact on one of the most iconic and enduring Batman stories.
The serialized tale takes inspiration from the early days of Batman and his first encounter with The Joker, retelling and elaborating on the iconic story from Batman #1.
The undeniable mood and tone present here is a testament to the successful partnership between King and Gerard. Their collaborations on The Vision, Strange Adventures, and Human Target have already solidified them as creators of modern classics. The Winning Card serves as a natural progression of these stories, yet it may unfortunately go unnoticed by some readers due to its serialized format. While Brave and The Bold is a fantastic anthology series on its own, The Winning Card alone is reason enough to pick up and read this series.
The Dark Knight Returns
It can be uncomfortable to recommend The Dark Knight Returns to new readers due to its impact on the wider Batman fandom and the mixed reception of its spin-offs and sequels.
It is undeniable that The Dark Knight Returns holds great significance, not only for Batman, but also for the world of comics. This iconic story single-handedly revived Batman’s reputation, which had been diminished for years following the campy portrayal of the 1960s. While Batman has always been portrayed as a brooding and ominous character, The Dark Knight Returns fully restored his gothic persona as a nocturnal creature.
Whether you’re a fan of the darker Batman portrayed in Burton’s films or curious about the inspiration behind the epic brawl between Batman and Superman in Snyder’s work, this is the perfect read for you.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum showed first hand the horrors the inmates faced.
On April Fool’s Day, the residents of Arkham Asylum summoned Batman to the facility. While it initially seemed like there were hostages, he instead discovered something startling.
The dilapidated Asylum is the focus of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, a groundbreaking tale that delves into its horrors. Grant Morrison and Dave McKean intricately weave together a disturbing world that will leave a lasting impact through its words and visuals.
The tones and concepts of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth were eventually incorporated into other media, notably in Rocksteady’s highly praised Batman: Arkham series, showcasing the influence of the original work.
Hush
Hush is an all-star line-up of Batman creatives and characters.
In the year 2002, you are experiencing a successful year of Batman comics. The highly praised writer Jeph Loeb is prepared to take on the main Batman series. Additionally, the talented artist Jim Lee, known for his influential work on ’90s X-Men comics, is taking on the art duties for Batman for the first time. What would be your next step?
The response was Batman: Hush, a 12-part event that allowed Jim Lee to illustrate all of the major Batman characters and villains simultaneously. This gripping story features superb artwork and pacing, making it one of the most thrilling reads in the Batman series (and it also features an impressive portrayal of Superman).
Hush effectively introduces many storylines that would be further explored in future Batman titles, such as the resurrection of Jason Todd and the evolving dynamic between Batman and Catwoman. Despite this, Hush remains a standout and influential Batman narrative due to its roster of notable characters and constant action.
The Long Halloween
The early relationship between Batman, Gordon and Dent forms a lot of Long Halloween’s tension.
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s portrayal of Batman in The Long Halloween is widely regarded as one of the greatest comics of all time, solidifying the character in a definitive and comprehensive manner. Spanning an entire year, the series delves into Batman’s early days as a vigilante and his dynamic with Harvey Dent and the Gotham Police Department as they chase after the notorious Holiday Killer.
The Long Halloween delves deeply into Batman’s infamous villains, providing a terrifying glimpse into some of his initial confrontations with them. Additionally, it delves into the more vulnerable aspects of Bruce Wayne’s character, revealing uncharted complexities in his connections with figures such as Harvey Dent and Dick Grayson.
Above all, the story prioritizes Batman’s role as a detective. It does not involve any world-ending aliens or major superhero team-ups. For those who appreciate seeing Batman use his skills to solve a case and hunt down a murderer, The Long Halloween is the perfect contemporary portrayal of the character.
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