Dante Nahai/ Staff Writer
Batman is one of the most interesting and complex superheroes ever created. While he can be boiled down to a rich guy in a suit fighting crime, there is much more depth to the character that the film adaptations never touch base on. These ten comics show Batman in a wide variety of groundbreaking series that cement him as one of the most popular comic book heroes ever.
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“Batman: Hush,” written by Jeph Loeb, illustrated by Jim Lee (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
“Batman: Hush” brings all new elements and threats to the Batman mythos. With Hush, a villain whose first appearance is in this series, he changes everything we thought of as a Batman villain. He’s not an ordinary Batman villain, but someone closer, it’s as if Hush knew who Batman truly is. It’s a gripping read from start to finish, with twists and turns that last through the entire comic.
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“Batman: The Killing Joke,” written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Brian Bolland (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
While it is a Batman comic, the center of this series is his most infamous enemy, the Joker. Joker remains one of the most elusive characters in comic book history, with different takes on the characters. Yet, in this series, we see his origin story which has become the most accepted origin of the Joker. Elements of this origin can be seen in Tim Burton’s “Batman” as well as the animated adaptation of “The Killing Joke”
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“Batman: Dark Victory,” written by Jeph Loeb, illustrated by Tim Sale (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
“Batman: Dark Victory” is the sequel to “Batman: The Long Halloween,” which I have written about in a previous article. This series takes place about four years after Batman began his war against crime. Additionally, this is where he meets his future sidekick, Robin, under the name of Dick Grayson. With the same creative team as “The Long Halloween,” the series is compelling and an essential part of Batman’s legacy.
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“Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles,” written by Tom King, illustrated by Clay Mann, Mikel Janin, and Danny Miki (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
“The War of Jokes and Riddles” is part of the recent Batman series, however, you can pick up this volume without prior knowledge of the series. The reader looks back into the early days of Batman as war wages between two villains, the Riddler and Joker. We see sides of characters we’ve never seen before, and King’s captivating writing blows the reader away panel after panel.
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“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” written and illustrated by Frank Miller (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
“Dark Knight Returns” is one of the most essential Batman comics ever written. It reinvented Batman by making him older than in past comics. In this series, Bruce Wayne is 55, and over time he has become slower with age. The main plot centers around his past mistakes which come to haunt him, and new threats are there for him to face. This comic also started the controversial Batman versus Superman debate.
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“Batman: The Black Mirror,” written by Scott Synder, illustrated by Jock and Francisco Francavilla (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
We all know Batman as Bruce Wayne, but in “The Black Mirror,” former sidekick Robin, Dick Grayson, takes the role of Batman. Which showed readers that Batman isn’t just Bruce Wayne, he is a symbol. It also shows the endless possibilities of what Batman can become if the cowl is drawn by another character.
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“Batman: Year One,” written by Frank Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
As the name suggests, “Year One” explains Batman’s origin story and how he became the Bat we know today. Miller’s writing created the gritty character Batman is now. This series is followed by “The Long Halloween” and “Dark Victory,” and while it isn’t completely confirmed, fans consider it an unofficial trilogy.
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“Gotham by Gaslight,” written by Brain Augustyn, illustrated by Mike Mignola and Eduardo Barreto (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
Imagine Batman but in the Victorian era. Batman faces historical figures like Jack the Ripper in this series, who made his way to Gotham to continue his killing rampage. “Gotham by Gaslight” is a refreshing take on Batman. It’s interesting to see him use less advanced technology yet still be as useful as the modern Batman.
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“Batman: The Court of Owls,” written by Scott Synder, illustrated by Greg Capullo (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
“The Court of Owls” was the start of a new Batman series called the “New 52”. In this arc, Batman faces a threat that was hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right time to strike against the dark knight. Synder creates this deadly court that to this day shakes the foundations of Gotham City.
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“Batman: Earth One,” written by Geoff Johns, illustrated by Garry Frank (DC Comics)
Read here: https://m.comixology.com/
There have been many Batman’s over the years; with the main Batman being on earth, there are also Batman stories on other Earths. This is where “Earth One” comes in. On this earth, Batman is given a more realistic take. He isn’t an unstoppable force like he usually is. Instead, the reader will see him fail and rise to the challenge.
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