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The Best Batman Comics to Read

The Batman stories most often recommended, from Year One to The Long Halloween, with issue numbers and creators, plus the Batman comics in stock.

Updated

The best Batman comics to read include Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, The Killing Joke and The Long Halloween. These are the stories readers and critics recommend most, listed in the order they came out, with the issues they’re in, so you can read them or collect the originals. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

The essential Batman stories

The Dark Knight Returns (1986)

Frank Miller’s four-issue story of an older Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement. Along with Watchmen, it changed what readers expected from superhero comics.

Batman: Year One (Batman #404–407, 1987)

Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli tell Bruce Wayne’s first year as Batman and Jim Gordon’s first year in Gotham. It’s the most common starting point for new readers.

The Killing Joke (1988)

Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s one-shot gives the Joker a possible origin and has lasting consequences for Barbara Gordon.

A Death in the Family (Batman #426–429, 1988–89)

Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo’s story in which the Joker kills Jason Todd, the second Robin, after readers voted on his fate by phone.

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989)

Grant Morrison and Dave McKean’s painted graphic novel, set over one night inside Arkham.

Knightfall (1993)

The long crossover in which Bane breaks Batman’s back in Batman #497, and Jean-Paul Valley takes the cowl.

The Long Halloween (1996–1997)

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s thirteen-issue mystery set in Batman’s early years, following a killer who strikes on holidays and the fall of Harvey Dent.

Hush (Batman #608–619, 2002–2003)

Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s tour through Batman’s allies and enemies, built around a new villain.

The Court of Owls (Batman #1–7, 2011)

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s opening arc of the New 52 Batman, introducing a secret society that has run Gotham for centuries.

Absolute Batman (2024–)

Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s reinvention of Batman without the Wayne fortune, one of the most talked-about series of recent years.

Batman key issues in stock

These are the Batman comics in stock that collectors look for as key issues: first appearances and major events. Every copy is photographed as it is, and its grade is on its listing.

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Where to start collecting

Many collectors follow one title, Batman or Detective Comics, or one creative team. The Batman comics page lists everything we have, including the new Absolute Batman line, and each series page shows its issues in number order. Not sure what a grade means? See the grading guide.

Batman comics just listed

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