Where To Start Reading: Batman

Our “Where to Start” articles act as a guide, giving you our best suggestions on where to start on a certain character or creators work. Every article lists several books, each in the character’s or creator’s chronological order despite it’s publication date (so the first choice is at the beginning of a characters career, the last is the furthest along). While in order each book was specifically picked as a good individual starting point; so feel free to start at the beginning, in the middle, or towards the end if you want to get caught up quickly. And if you have any more suggestions or questions just leave a comment.

Where To Start Reading: Batman

Year One 1987

Following the 1985 mega event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC rebooted many of its titles, Year One was the Batman reboot. With the success Frank Miller had received from The Dark Knight Returns just the year before he was tasked with retelling Batman’s origin. This is the modern day definite origin and starting point for all things Batman. Even today, stories are built around and pull from Miller’s 4-issue run. Also unique to Year One, it is the only Frank Miller Batman work that lives in both DC continuity and the continuity Frank Miller wrote for his other Bat-works (Dark Knight Returns, Strikes Again, and All Star Batman and Robin)

What to read next | Batman: The Man Who Laughs

The Long Halloween & Dark Victory 1996 & 1999

Written to take place anywhere between six months to a-year-and-a-half after Year One the 13-issue limited series is most notable for showing the transition of Batman’s rogues gallery starting with mobsters (specifically the Falcone family) to the more familiar villains, along with the origin story of Two-Face – who for the majority of the tale is strictly District Attorney Harvey Dent. For all intents and purposes this is Year Two. Dark Victory is it’s direct sequel, with the same creative team and finishing the story from Long Halloween along while introducing Dick Grayson.

What to read next | Batman: The Gauntlet and Robin: Year One

The Killing Joke 1988

The Killing Joke is a 1998 Alan Moore one-shot graphic novel whose story continues to affect Batman’s mythos even today. Although playing a significant role in the mainstream Batman and DC continuity elements of it’s story are debatable, including exactly where in Batman’s career it takes place (it’s placement here is our best guess) along with a possible origin for the Joker (although Alan Moore’s origin is recounted in other stories later on). Regardless of it’s debatable elements though it remains one of the more important events in Batman, Joker, and Barbara Gordon’s careers and is a must read for any Batman fan.

What to read next | Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

Death in the Family 1988

Death in the Family is one of the most significant stories in all of Batman’s many years of publication. Not only would the death of Jason Todd go down as one of mainstream comics biggest and most shocking moments but Jason Todd would go on to be nearly more famous and influential dead than when alive. His death would motivate and haunt Batman for years, playing a large role in the character becoming the darker and more gritty Batman we know today. It’s style is a little dated compared to more modern comics but it’s creative team is legendary within the Batman community and if you read Batman long enough, the death of Jason Todd will eventually come up.

What to read next | Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying & Robin: A Hero Reborn

Knightfall Part 1-3 1993

Knightfall is not only important to Batman’s fictional career but also a milestone in his publication career, it is one of the many (but the first for Batman) large-scale crossover “events” that would spark a trend and begin the Modern Age of comic books. Published shortly after The Death Of Superman, Knightfall volumes 1-3 collect the breaking of Batman’s back, the introduction of Jean-Paul Valley (a.k.a. Azrael) as Batman and Bruce’s return to the mantle. The story elements in the “Knightfall” event are not only substantial themselves but also had short term and long term affects that can still be felt today.

What to read next | Batman: Prodigal

Cataclysm & No Man’s Land Vol. 1-5 1999

A massive earthquake strikes Gotham and most the city is destroyed; Cataclysm catalogs the rescue efforts and chaos immediately after the quake while No Man’s Land is the 2-year saga in which the government declares Gotham a “No Man’s Land,” cutting off any access in and out of the city. Several notable events and character introductions happened during this span including Cassandra Cain (Batgirl), Luthor’s rise to president, Harley Quinn, and much more. As Batman events go this is arguably the longest running and most epic.

What to read next | Batman: Evolution – New Gotham Vol. 1 & 2

Hush 2002

Not only did Hush serve as the return of Long Halloween and Dark Victory author (Jeph Loeb) to Batman and Jim Lee’s first work at DC after leaving Image Comics but it’s also one of the most popular Batman story arcs in the modern era; the collected edition continues to be reprinted in various ways and it’s story is revisited frequently. It introduces the villain Hush along with reemphasizing the romance between Catwoman and Batman, plays a significant role in the return of Jason Todd, and most notably at the time allowed for Jim Lee to explore the Batman universe. Just how much each Bat-fan loves the story is subjective but it’s popularity and effects on the character (both in and out of the fictional stories) can’t be denied.

What to read next | Batman: War Drums & Batman: War Games Vol. 1-3

Identity Crisis 2004

Although not specifically a Batman book Identity Crisis (along with paving the path for Infinite Crisis, 52, and Final Crisis) would shake up the entire DC Universe and play an even more significant role in the life of Batman and the entire Batman family. Arguably, it’s one of the most important non-Batman books that directly affects Batman. And don’t let “Crisis” in the title worry you, it’s a stand alone mystery thriller that only sets the stage for the more convoluted and evolved “Crisis” stories.

What to read next | The OMAC Project

Batman and Son 2006

With Batman #655 Grant Morrison took control of the Batman universe and at the time of this article is still largely in charge. The book quickly introduces Batman to his supposed child with Talia Al Ghul (Damian) along with foreshadowing and introducing many themes and events that will continue to unfold throughout Morrison’s run. Were actually in the works of a “Where to Start: Grant Morrison’s Batman” article, so keep an eye out.

What to read next | Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul

The Dark Knight Returns 1986

Arguably one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, Frank Miller’s 4-issue introduction to Batman shows us what might become of Bruce Wayne, who is 55 years old at the time of the story, comes out of retirement and back into the costume. Not only is the story considered a masterpiece within most of the Batman community but it’s also one of the many works that helped shape the modern “gritty” and “dark” Batman were more familiar with today. And although strictly out of continuity it offers an interesting future for the Batman family, which is hinted at every so often in regular continuity.

What to read next | The Dark Knight Strikes Again

If you have any questions or suggestions leave a comment and we’ll try to help you out. Until then, happy reading!

Tags: Batman and Robin Batman Comics Damian Wayne Dick Grayson Frank Miller Grant Morrison Grant Morrison Batman Jason Todd Joker Nightwing Return of Bruce Wayne Robin Tim Drake Where To Start Reading Comics