If you’re just getting started reading Batman comics, either for enjoyment or in eager anticipation of the release of The Batman Part II (with Robert Pattinson reprising his titular role), knowing where to start can be difficult. Fortunately, we’ve narrowed down a list of the best Batman comics to help you get started.
Since the character’s inception in 1939, thousands of Batman comics have been published, along with numerous appearances as a guest character in other titles. There are some other great reads not included in this list, including Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: The Black Mirror. Still, our picks are great standalone reads that anyone can start with.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, Batman: Year One was published in 1987. The four-issue monthly series is considered one the best Batman comics ever made. As you might expect from the title, the story begins during Bruce Wayne’s first year in Gotham. At the same time, Jim Gordon transfers to the Gotham City Police Department, where he quickly discovers just how rotten the city really is. Eventually, we witness the rise of Batman as a vigilante hero and Gordon’s reluctant transition to becoming his ally.
Some fans are somewhat mixed on just how good Year One is, as it spends more time with Gordon than with Batman himself (though Batman is still prominently featured on panels), including his personal life, struggles, and relationships. What also sets this comic apart is the artwork by Mazzucchelli. His gritty, crime-noir style gives a totally different tone than what had been seen in earlier Batman stories, helping reshape Batman’s aesthetic. If you’re not familiar with older Batman comics, it was pretty campy in comparison.
Although the story isn’t packed with Batman’s most famous villains, we do get some very realistic organized criminals. We also get to meet Selina Kyle, and we begin to hear rumblings about a clown-faced criminal, though the Joker doesn’t make a whole appearance just yet. Perhaps what’s most notable about this comic is that it has aged remarkably well, introducing one of the modern versions of Batman’s origin that continues to influence comics, films, and TV adaptations today. And if you were suspecting it, yes, this comic did set the stage for Christopher Nolan‘s Batman Begins.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Widely considered one of the best Batman comics ever made, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a 1986 four-issue series written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Miller and Klaus Janson, with colors by Lynn Varley. The story is set in a dystopian Gotham, where 55-year-old Bruce Wayne is in retirement after the traumatic death of Jason Todd ten years before. Gotham tends to run amok with criminals, and of course, without Batman, things have gotten pretty bad. A group of juvenile delinquents called the Mutants (who are as bad as they sound) have been causing serious problems in the city.
Forced to act, Batman has to come out of retirement to deal with these Mutants, but fortunately has some help from a new girl, Robin, Carrie Kelley. We get quite a lot of action in The Dark Knight Returns, including some skirmishes with Harvey Dent as Two-Face. Things only get worse when Batman’s reemergence awakens a catatonic Joker in Arkham Asylum.
Aside from the fast pacing, the sometimes overcrowded panels (there is really a lot going on), and the fantastic artwork that introduces us to a grittier, darker Batman world, the series’ highlight is the epic showdown between Superman and Batman.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Perhaps one of the greatest works in Grant Morrison’s writing career, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, is frequently listed among the best Batman comics. We include it here because of the sheer entertainment value of the story, which is quite simple: Batman is called to Arkham Asylum to quell a riot and is drawn into a devilish game of hide-and-seek, surrounded by some of his most ferocious opponents, including Killer Croc, Scarecrow, Two-Face, and the Joker. The deeper Batman goes into Arkham (and into his psyche), the more we learn about the origin of this infamous place, especially its founder, Amadeus Arkham.
However, beyond the story itself is the way it’s told. This one strays from the typical BAM! KA-POW, instead taking on a more mature, surrealist tone, influenced by avant-garde literary figures such as Antonin Artaud and Jean Cocteau. The painted artwork is stunning but can be intense, sometimes to the point of overstimulation. While this can be disorienting for some readers, what better way to enter the madness of Arkham Asylum than by making the reader feel just as discombobulated as if they were walking through a mental institution filled with the kookiest criminals and villains around?
This one is polarizing, with fans either loving it or absolutely hating it. Give it a go and decide for yourself.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Because A Death in the Family is also part of our list of the best Joker comics, you know it must be important. Published in 1988, this four-issue series was written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Jim Aparo. Rash and emotionally volatile, Jason Todd is a Robin who does a lot of good but also causes problems for Batman. While Batman is no perfect arbiter of lawful goodness, Robin has some questionable qualities for a hero sidekick. When Batman relieves him of his duties, Jason takes off in search of his birth mother. Things get complicated when the Joker comes out of hiding, running amok with a nuclear weapon.
Sadly, A Death in the Family marks the end of Jason Todd’s story. Ignoring Batman’s warnings, Jason tries to take on the Joker alone and ultimately dies in an explosive showdown at the hands of his greatest enemy. But if anyone’s to blame, it’s the fans who literally voted to end Jason Todd’s run.
While the story hasn’t aged exceptionally well, with raised eyebrows at the portrayal of the Middle East and seriously questionable plot points (who would ever allow the Joker to be a U.N. ambassador?), it remains a significant comic in the Batman universe. You really can’t be reading the best Batman comics and skip over this one.
Image Credit: DC Comics
Written in one-shot prestige format, The Man Who Laughs tells the story of Joker and Batman’s first meeting, essentially giving us a retelling of the Joker’s introduction in Batman #1 (1940). Released in 2005, The Man Who Laughs is considered a successor to Batman: Year One. The story begins with Captain Jim Gordon investigating a building filled with disfigured corpses. The bodies are eerie, with pale faces, green hair, and bright red grins. Batman promises he’ll find the killer responsible for such a heinous act. Meanwhile, the elites of Gotham City are being targeted by an unknown madman, and up next on the list is millionaire Bruce Wayne. And voilà, we get the perfect setup for a not-so-polite meet and greet.
From legendary crime comic writer Ed Brubaker, The Man Who Laughs lands on our best Batman comics list thanks to its top-tier writing, solid pacing, and some genuinely terrifying character development with the Joker, who, as it turns out, had to take the time to practice his crafty chaos.
The reception on this one can be mixed, so if this comic doesn’t serve up enough satisfaction as a sequel to Year One, you can also check out Dark Victory or The Long Halloween; both pick up where it left off. Alternatively, you can check out the original by Bill Finger, which provided a lot of inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s approach to the Joker.
Choosing the best Batman comics ultimately came down to a few key factors: compelling narrative, striking artwork, meaningful character development, and the comic’s impact on Batman’s legacy. Because there are so many options to choose from that also fit this bill, we also considered how memorable or influential each comic was within the larger Batman canon.
If you’re looking for the Batman comics, knowing which to read can be difficult since thousands have been made. Here’s where to begin. Read More