the 25 best batman comics of all time

8/10/2019 The 25 Best Batman Comics of All Time

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The 25 Best Batman Comics Of All Time

Since his creation in 1939, Batman has been one of the most iconic fictional characters in

all of pop culture. The story of how an orphaned Bruce Wayne trained his body to perfection

and honed the vast skills of his mind in order to avenge the murder of his parents has

transcended comic books and is now a classic example of American folklore.

Superman may be DC Comics corporate mascot, but Batman is the companys true

money-maker. But while most people will recognize the character from various TV shows,

movies, and video games, it's in his comic book roots where Batman is at his best. Whether

hes part of a small-scale crime drama or a sophisticated superhero epic that changes the

way we look at comics themselves, Batman always seems to be at the forefront of the

evolution of the industry.

Throughout this entire year, DC is celebrating Batman's 75th anniversary by bringing fans

new comics, animated movies, and video games based on the world of the Caped

Crusader. While there is a lot to look forward to in the character's future, we're going to take

a step back into the past by counting down the 25 Best Batman Comics of All Time. If

you're trying to become the ultimate Dark Knight fan, these are required reading.


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25. Hush (Batman#608-619, 2002-2003)

Writer:Jeph Loeb

Artist:Jim Lee

One of the best-selling Batman stories of all time, Jeph Loebs Hush is a globetrotting mystery

that packs in sprawling fight scenes and some of the best work of Jim Lees career. This book is

more about the blockbuster creative team than it is the actual story content, but Hush still

manages to be a solid read despite that.

After a mysterious new villain named Hush shows up in Gotham claiming to know Batman's

secret identity, the Caped Crusader must use all of the tools in his arsenal to take him down. As

he does this, a childhood friend of Waynes reemerges and reveals more about his past than he

ever knew. Touting cameo appearances from nearly every ally and villain from Batmans

supporting cast, Hush is the perfect story for the casual fan to begin their comic book reading

habit.

The mystery that Loeb tries to weave is never really grippingespecially with an ending that is

pretty obvious from the startbut the way he gets into Batmans head is perfect. And where

Loebs plots begin to wear a little thin, the flashy art by Jim Lee should be enough to keep you

flipping the pages. Never known for his intricate storytelling abilities, Lee manages to succeed

with splash pages and pin-up pieces that should appeal to most Bat fans.


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24.Batman and the Monster Men (2005-2006)

Writer:Matt Wagner

Artist:Matt Wagner

In yet another flashback to Batmans early days, Matt WagnersBatman and the Monster

Mengives us a look at the Caped Crusaders battle against Dr. Hugo Strange, his first

supervillain. Wagners version of Bruce Wayne is much more idealistic in this book as he

believes his work as Batman can live in perfect harmony with his new girlfriend, Julie Madison.

But his world is about to be shattered as he stumbles upon Hugo Stranges bizarre experiments

on the inmates at Arkham Asylum. Thanks to funding by Boss Maroni, Strange is able to create a

small army of hulking Monster Men to terrorize Gotham and build a criminal empire. Batman

got into the crime-fighting game to put an end to the mob, but now he is forced to face off

against something else entirely.

Wagners story depicts a man who is just now discovering the evils lurking in Gotham City, and

he puts doubt in our mind about whether or not Batman is even equipped to handle these

freaks. Its refreshing to see a version of Batman that might not be completely prepared for

whats ahead of him at all times.


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23. The Black Mirror (Detective Comics#871-881, 2011)

Writer:Scott Snyder

Artists:Jock, Francesco Francavilla

This entry might seem like a cheat because its technically more than one story, but it's simply

too good to leave out. The Black Mirrorencompasses Scott Snyders short run onDetective

Comics, and it takes place during the brief time when Bruce Wayne is running Batman

Incorporated, but Dick Grayson is still the Dark Knight of Gotham City. In these issues, Dick has

to fight off villains such as Tiger Shark, the Dealer, the Joker, and the Roadrunner, but its the

introduction of Commissioner Gordons son, James Jr., that is the most disturbing part of this

story.

In these issues, Snyder turns James Jr. into an unfeeling, apathetic sociopath with a closet full of

skeletons and a heart full of hatred for his family. The story deals with how Gotham seems to

adapt to whatever a heros personality is in order to break them physically and spiritually. Dick

begins his career as Batman as the eternal optimist, but as he begins to succeed, the corruption

of Gotham tries to pull both him and Gordon to the depths of hell.

Snyders scripts are also accompanied by terrific art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla. Both

men bring noir-style grittiness to the stories, while also experimenting with panel layouts and

basic storytelling techniques. The Black Mirrorisnt the type of superhero epic that Snyder has


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since become famous for; instead, its a psychological thriller that never lets you feel like youre

ahead of the unpredictable plot twists.

22.Batman: Birth of the Demon(1992)

Writer:Denny ONeil

Artist:Norm Breyfogle

The Joker might be Batmans most famous villain, but Ras al Ghulis easily his most dangerous.

Just as smart as Bruce Wayne, and maybe even more physically imposing, what separates Ras

from the rest of Batmans foes is that he truly believes hes on a quest to cure the ills of the

world. And in Denny ONeilsBirth of the Demonwere given a look at the characters origins and

just where this immortal eco-terrorist came from.

Interweaving flashbacks with a story set in the present,Birth of the Demonfills in some

mysterious blanks that we have been wondering about for years, but it also gives us the type of

action we crave from these Ras vs. Batman tales. Here we see Ras nearly 500 years in the past

as a man that is as driven and idealistic as Batman, but without the moral compass of Thomas

and Martha Wayne watching over him at all times. Being that O'Neil created the character in the

'70s, he's perfectly suited to chronicle Ra's' epic journey into the modern age.

However, its not in the plot where this story shines, but in the beautifully painted art by Batman

legend Norm Breyfogle. With splashes of gorgeous color and an expert eye for storytelling,


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Breyfogle flawlessly captures the cinematic feel of the story, and elevates this whole book to

classic status.

21. Gothic (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight#6-10, 1990)

Writer:Grant Morrison

Artist:Klaus Janson

As an underrated gem from the early days of theLegends of the Dark Knightseries, Grant

Morrisons Gothic is a scintillating blend of horror and mystery that sheds light on the

childhood of Bruce Wayne and the malignant forces that have embedded themselves into the

foundation of Gotham City itself.

When a seemingly immortal killer named Mr. Whisper begins knocking off mobsters, the

criminals of the city try to recruit Batman to help get to the bottom of it. Despite refusing at first,

he soon realizes that this mysterious killer has some disturbing ties to his past that cant go

unpunished.

By combining elements from the Faust legend,Don Giovanni, and Fritz LangsM, Gothic is a

unique story that transcends the comic book medium. There are so many rich literary elements

present here that anyone who takes their reading habits seriously should find something to

enjoy.


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20. The Last Arkham (Batman: Shadow of the Bat#1-4, 1992)

Writer:Alan Grant

Artist:Norm Breyfogle

In order to find out whether a currently-incarcerated Mister Zsasz is actually behind a string of

gruesome murders in Gotham, Batman voluntarily has himself declared insane and locked up

inside the newly-renovated Arkham Asylum so he can investigate Zsasz further.

This story is perhaps most famous because it serves as the debut of the psychotic Mister Zsasz,

who has since become one of Batmans most dangerous villains. But the most unnerving

character in the whole story isn't actually Zsasz, but rather it's Jeremiah Arkham, the current

administrator at the asylum. Along withArkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth,

this is one of the first stories to explore the pure madness of the asylum, which has since become

one of the most frightening places in the DC Universe.

Even though this story doesnt focus on action scenes and fist fights, The Last Arkham doesnt

get too wrapped up in psycho babble either. This makes it a great jumping on point for new

readers looking to slowly dip their toes in the waters of deeper Batman stories.


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19.Batman: Ego(2000)

Writer:Darwyn Cooke

Artist:Darwyn Cooke

No other story has completely stripped Bruce Wayne down to his most basic psychological

essence asBatman: Ego. After a wounded Batman sees a small-time crook kill himself rather

than deal with the Joker or the police, he returns to the Batcave a shaken man. Losing pints of

blood and dealing with a severely separated shoulder, Bruce Wayne is suddenly confronted

byBatman?

But this vision of Batman that Bruce confronts isnt the heroic Caped Crusader we have come to

know; instead, its Waynes unfiltered id attempting to gain control of his body and fight crime

through the use of lethal justice. Many writers have touched on the basics of Batmans

personality throughout the years, but Cooke is the only one to break the man down in such a

concise, intellectual manner.

Cookes use of Waynes id, ego, and super-ego never feels heavy-handed or forced, and it serves

to make us look at the character in a way we haven't before. This is a battle of the mind, so if you

want to really know what makes Batman tick, look no further thanEgo.


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18. The Eye of the Beholder (Batman Annual#14, 1990)

Writer:Andrew Helfer

Artist:Chris Spouse

Weve seen the origin of Two-Face told and retold numerous times in TV, movies, and comics,

butBatman Annual#14 is unique because it focuses solely on the character of Harvey Dent

without the inclusion of other villains vying for the spotlight. The story begins with how Batman,

Gordon, and Dent all came together and agreed to take down crime in Gotham once and for all.

At first, this process works beautifully, but eventually the pressure and long-buried mental

traumas begin to creep up on Dentleaving him completely unstable. This all comes to a boil

when Dent famously gets scarred by acid and transforms into Two-Face.

But writer Andrew Helfer digs deeper than that as he explores how Harveys psyche was scarred

well before his physical scarring. Its a character piece that reveals that these villains arent just

born evil; they are slowly turned that way thanks to the unforgiving world around them.


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17. The Court of the Owls/Night of the Owls (Batman#1-11, 2011-2012)

Writer:Scott Snyder

Artist:Greg Capullo

As the most recent addition to our list, Scott Snyders expansive Court of the Owls storyline is

among the best superhero comics to come out in the last decade. In the newly-

relaunchedBatman#1, Snyder introduces readers to the Court of the Owlsa secret cult that

has been pulling the strings of power in Gotham for decades.

Bruce Wayne has heard rumors of its existence since he was a child, but because he could never

find any evidence of the cult on his own, he dismissed it as nothing but an urban legend. He

soon learns that the cult is all too real and that they have initiated their plan to take over

Gotham.

Snyders storytelling has a visceral quality about it that doesnt allow readers time to catch their

breath or feel any sort of comfort. There is always something lurking around every corner as

some of the most frightening and shocking moments in the characters history happen here. By

the end, Snyder has firmly established The Court as one of the most dangerous additions to the

Batman rogues gallery in decades.


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Prey is a very slow-paced, meditative read, but it succeeds in breaking down these classic

characters and relating them to our own understanding of the human mind.

15.Batman: Year 100(2006)

Writer:Paul Pope

Artist:Paul Pope

It was a match made in comic junkie heaven when DC announced that Paul Pope would be

working on a Batman title for the company. Set in a dystopian future version of

Gotham,Batman 100focuses on a city in disarray as a tyrannical government creates panic and

terror in the citizens of this decaying metropolis.

This story completely removes everything we know about Batman and replaces it with whatever

crazed idea was rattling around Popes mind at the time. We have no Bruce Wayne or Alfred

present in this story, but the spirit of the character is alive and well as this version of the Dark

Knight is still the lone symbol of hope in a city desperate for a savior.

Pope doesnt dilute his indie vision for this story either, and he is mindful of bringing his seedy

story threads and violence from his work on 100%to his take on Batman. This is an

uncompromising view of the Batman mythos that doesnt attempt toappeal to the mainstream.


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14. Gotham by Gaslight(1989)

Writer:Brian Augustyn

Artist:Mike Mignola

When it was first launched, DCs Elseworlds line was one of the best things going in the comic

book biz. It took established characters from the companys history and placed them into

entirely different time periods for brand-new takes on some old favorites. The first such story

was titled Gotham by Gaslighta tale that placed Batman on the case of Jack the Ripper.

This Victorian era detective tale isnt only a gimmick, its actually a well-crafted mystery that

blends historical fact and elements of comic book fantasy into one inspired piece of work.

Following the exploits of Batman and Lieutenant Gordon, this story is familiar enough for

longtime Batman fans to latch onto, but its also suited for fans of the dreary mystery genre of

the 19th century.

This series is notable because it features some very early art by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.

His penchant for heavy inks and shading make his work fit perfectly in the soggy streets and

gloomy nights of Gotham City in the late 1800s.


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13. Batman Reborn (Batman & Robin#1-6, 2009-2010)


Artist:Frank Quitely, Philip Tan

Taking place after the events of Batman R.I.P, the opening storyarc on this newBatman &

Robintitle starred Dick Grayson, the former Robin, as the new Batman and Damien Wayne, the

lovechild of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, as the new Robin. With a much more concise

narrative than Morrisons previous work on the character, Batman Reborn put an emphasis on

sharp dialogue and surprising humor rather than the gritty mysteries and violence of most

Batman stories.

Morrison has gone on record as stating that he views this title as a cross between the

'60sBatmantelevision show and the films of surrealist David Lynch, and he couldnt be more

on-point. This book is a complete tonal shift from what were used to from hisBatmanwork, but

its also a refreshing break from some of Morrison's lofty ideas.

With new villain additions like Mr. Toad and Professor Pyg, Morrison proves that he isnt

satisfied with retreading the same characters from years past; he wants to build up a mythology

all his own. If youre up to it, we suggest you go all the way back and read Morrisons run from

the beginning, but if you just want the best of the best,Batman & Robinis it.


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12. Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (Batman#686,Detective

Comics#853, 2009)

Writer:Neil Gaiman

Artist:Andy Kubert

Its not often that Neil Gaiman returns to comic book writing, so whenever he does it must mean

that hes got something big planned. And in 2009s Whatever Happened to the Caped

Crusader? the author turned in some of the best work of his non-Sandmancomic book career.

The story begins at the wake for a recently-deceased Batman, but in typical Gaiman style, the

Dark Knight himself narrates the whole storyunsure of how he even died.

This story is both a celebration of the many interpretations of Batman over the years, as well as a

testament to the characters perseverance. Filled with poetic prose and fairytale imagery, this

isnt a story about Batman fighting off crooks or tangling with the Joker; its a look at the

Batman writers and artists from the past, and how they molded him into a legend.

All of the major characters from Batmans history make appearances here, with some of them

even giving various accounts of how he died. But in the end, were still left to wonder how, and

if, he ever died in the first place. The art by Andy Kubert evokes this timeless theme by changing

from page to pagewith each one evoking a different look of Batman and his supporting cast

from throughout the years.


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Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is not a typical Batman story, but it celebrates the

essence of the character in a way that no other book has even attempted.

11.Batman: Black And White(1996)

Writer:Various

Artist:Various

Perhaps the most unique book on this list,Batman: Black and Whiteis a miniseries anthology

told by a collection of legendary artists and writers from the comic book industry. Set up in the

form of unconnected vignettes, each story is completely free from the shackles of continuity,

which allowed each writer and artist the freedom to craft a Batman story in whatever style they

wanted.

With talent like Neil Gaiman, Brian Bolland, Matt Wagner, Denny ONeil, Joe Kubert, Howard

Chaykin, Bruce Timm, and numerous other fan-favorites, these short stories are more poignant

than most mainstream Batman tales. And in an attempt to differentiate themselves from each

other vignette, these writers and artists all mashed-up different genres and tones to create

separate unique universes.

With so many different takes on the same character by some great creators,Batman: Black and

Whitefurther proves that the Caped Crusader is the most versatile superhero in the industry

today.


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10.Batman: The Man Who Laughs(2005)

Writer:Ed Brubaker

Artist:Doug Mahnke

Recounting Batmans first battle with the Joker, The Man Who Laughsis a brilliantly perverse

read that punches you the gut in the opening pages and doesnt let up until the finale. Packed

with violence, action, and plenty of narrative twists, this is the ultimate modern Joker epic.

Writer Ed Brubaker worked wonders on Batman in the past, but his script here is on a

completely different level. Its sick and disturbing, with a surprising amount of brutality for a

mainstream title.

But make no mistake about it: Even though the Joker is as violent as ever in this story, that

doesnt mean hes lost his prankster ways. For our money,The Man Who Laughsstrikes the

perfect balance between the psychotic side of the character and the more playful side from the

classic Silver Age stories.

Along with Brubakers chilling script is the art by Doug Mahnke, who brings a vile, gritty look to

the book that has come to define these characters in recent decades. The illustrations are more

overtly violent than most Bat stories, but Mahnke manages to bring a true artist's eye to the

brutal imagery.


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9. Strange Apparitions (Detective Comics#469-476, #478-479, 1977-1978)

Writer:Steve Englehart, Len Wein

Artist:Marshall Rogers, Walt Simonson

Not a cohesive story arc in the traditional sense, Strange Apparitions is more or less a series of

stories and plot points that all converge together in one run that is still considered one of the

best from its era. Featuring villains like Hugo Strange, the Joker, Deadshot, and others, these

stories are all filled with plenty of action, but they also explore the man behind the mask as well.

Throughout these issues, were introduced to both Bruce Waynes new girlfriend, Silver St.

Cloud, and the villainous mobster Rupert Thorne. As Silver throws Bruce Waynes life into

turmoil by introducing romantic drama into it, Thorne is busy making the Batmans life a living

hell by persuading Gothams politicians to outlaw the vigilantes activities.

All of these threads create a backdrop for stories that capture the swashbuckling aspects of the

Silver Age, with the first steps towards the sophistication of the Modern Age. These issues later

went on to inspire many of the episodes from the classicBatman: The Animated Series, so if you

liked that show, youll love this.


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8. A Death in the Family (Batman#426-429, 1988-1989)

Writer:Jim Starlin

Artist:Jim Aparo

Throughout the illustrious career of the Caped Crusader, one failure has continued to haunt

him: the death of Jason Todd, a.k.a. the second Robin. And thats exactly the story that Jim

Starlins A Death in the Family set out to tell. And the background o f this story is perhaps just

as interesting as the book itself.

After fans had grown weary of the Jason Todd version of Robin, DC decided to leave his fate up

to comic book readers everywhere. By setting up two hotlines, fans could vote whether or not

they wanted Todd to be killed off by dialing the appropriate number. After the votes were tallied,

it was quickly revealed that the country wanted Todd dead. (Ouch.)

So, in A Death in the Family, he was captured by the Joker, beaten to a pulp with a crowbar,

and blown up inside of a shack. Despite brief moments of brightly-colored action and camp, this

story is firmly entrenched in tragedy as Batman experiences one of his first true losses during

his war on crime.

Its a story that had a long-lasting effect on the character, who was always haunted by his

inability to keep Todd safe. As most of you may know, DC eventually brought Todd back from


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the deadleaving this story somewhat obsolete at this point. But there is no denying its original

place in the history of Batman lore.

7.Batman: Dark Victory(1999-2000)

Writer:Jeph Loeb

Artist:Tim Sale

Its never easy for any creative duo to follow up on a masterpiece, but somehow Jeph Loeb and

Tim Sale managed to do so withDark Victory. As a direct sequel to Loeb and SalesThe Long

Halloween, this story continues to explore the ramifications of the new supervillains on the city,

the fallout from Harvey Dents transformation into Two-Face, a new serial killer on the loose,

and the origins of Robin.

That might seem like a lot to cram into one story, but Loeb juggles these multiple plots

brilliantly and manages to seamlessly weave them into each other without feeling forced. Unlike

Loeb's later work on Hush, this story never seems like a pointless cameo-fest, despite

appearances by every major player in Gotham City. All of the characters are well-balanced and

essential to the themes of escalation and loneliness that permeate this work.

Dark Victorymight be more enjoyable for fans of the superhero aspects of Batman than what

Loeb did in The Long Halloween, but we dont suggest trying to read this without knowing what

came before it.


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6.Batman: The Cult(1988)

Writer:Jim Starlin

Artist:Bernie Wrightson

Its not often that we see Batman at the mercy of a villain, but inThe Cult, not only do we see

Batman beaten and bloodied, we also see him get straight-up defeated. After the psychotic

Deacon Blackfire forms a dangerous cult comprised of transients and drifters, he captures and

brainwashes Batman in order to add him to his army.

This is an incredibly dark and unforgiving story that completely strips away any of the

romanticism from Batman. The violence is pervasive and sick as Blackfires cult stakes its claim

as one of the most twisted band of foes the Dark Knight has ever faced off against. This is a story

that breaks Batman down both physically and mentally, and honestly, its jarring to see him so

crazed and beaten throughout. There are some genuinely shocking moments during this story,

but writer Jim Starlin refuses to sink to comic book clichs to achieve them.

This is an absolutely chaotic read, but its also one of the most entertaining Batman books to

ever be released. It also begs the question of why artist Bernie Wrightson hasnt been involved in

more Batman books throughout the years. His work here is dingy, filthy, and brilliant.


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5.Batman: The Long Halloween(1996-1997)

Writer:Jeph Loeb

Artist:Tim Sale

Taking place in the early days of Batmans career,The Long Halloweenis a murder mystery

detailing the case of The Holiday Killer, a serial killer who vows to strike on every major

holiday. At the same time, this book explores the relationship between Batman and Lieutenant

James Gordon, and the tragic tale of how an honorable man like Harvey Dent eventually

transformed into Two-Face.

With an incredibly intricate plot in place, and a never-ending supporting cast of classic

characters, Jeph Loebs timeless superhero odyssey pays homage to the look and flavor of classic

Hollywood noir films and Batman stories from the Golden Age. Loeb deftly balances the fall of

Harvey Dent, the triumphant rise of Batman, and the overarching mystery that brings all of

these unlikely bedfellows together without a hitch. And like any good mystery story, even when

the case is closed, questions still remain.

This book might be most memorable for the art style of Tim Sale, who brings a look to this story

that is hard to define and impossible to duplicate. This is the comic that Christopher Nolan often

cites as his biggest influence onBatman Beginsand The Dark Knight, and its easy to see why.


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


Artist:Dave McKean

Perhaps the most divisive book on this list, Grant MorrisonsArkham Asylumis one of the few

mainstream comics to incorporate the pacing and prose of 19th century gothic literature into it.

After the Joker leads a revolt at Gothams infamous nuthouse, Batman is forced into the heart of

the asylum to quell the riot. Along the way he travels through a sickening gauntlet of villains that

sheds light on his own psychosis.

Deeply disturbing and psychological,Arkham Asylumcharacterizes Batmans rouges gallery not

as pure villains, but as maladjusted members of society suffering from real psychological

afflictions. But none of them can compete with the story of Amadeus Arkhamthe founder of

the asylumthat is told throughout. The deeper you get into this book, the deeper into madness

you travel. And we promise that youll never look at Batman or his world in the same way after

youre done.

The books selling point is really the fully-painted art by Dave McKean. Most famous for

hisSandmancovers, McKean brings elements of expressionism and photography to his work

here to create a look that no other comic at DC has ever replicated. PartHeart of Darknessand

part Jungian lecture,Arkham Asylumis a distinctly unique read that doesnt have the


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immediate satisfaction of most superhero books, but is impossible to forget once you put it

down.

3.Batman: The Killing Joke(1988)

Writer:Alan Moore

Artist:Brian Bolland

By putting the spotlight squarely on the Joker in this psychologically intense one-shot, Alan

Moore forever changed the relationship between the Caped Crusader and his fiercest villain. By

peeling back the deranged layers of the Jokers twisted psyche, Moore succeeded in rationalizing

how the senseless nature of the world could turn a seemingly normal man into a homicidal

supervillain.

This is the first story to really take a look at the events in the Jokers life before he became a

psychotic menace, and there is a sense of compassion we feel for him throughout the narrative.

This isn't a man born evil; instead, he simply became a victim of the random and tragic nature of

the world forever twisting his mind.

In between the flashbacks to his origins, Moore also tells one of the most violent Batman stories

of all time. The main plot deals with the Joker breaking out of Arkham Asylum. Afterwards, he

commits one of the grisliest acts in DC's history by shooting Barbara Gordon through the

stomach, paralyzing her forever. This is all in an attempt to drive her father, Commissioner


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Gordon, insane and prove to the world that even the most upstanding citizen can be driven mad

after a bad day.

If you want to see where Heath Ledgers inspiration came from for his perform ance as the Joker,

then look no further than The Killing Joke.

2. Year One (Batman#404-407, 1987)

Writer:Frank Miller

Artist:Dave Mazzucchelli

When DC relaunched its entire comic book line in 1986 after Crisis on Infinite Earths, the

company hired writer Frank Millerfresh off his famous run onDaredevilto reimagine the

Caped Crusaders early days. Year One focuses on Bruce Waynes return to Gotham after

training abroad for his war on crime. But once he lands on US soil, he realizes that he has the

skills and means to fight crime, but not the method.

As Bruce undergoes some failed attempts at being a vigilante, a young cop named James Gordon

is transferred to Gotham City from Chicago to begin work in the most dangerous city in the

country. Unbeknownst to them, theyre on a collision course as their ideals soon make them

unlikely allies in their mutual struggle to clean up the city.


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At the time this story was published, fans werent used to such a stripped down, minimalist take

on the Dark Knight. There is no Robin, no array of high-tech tools, and certainly no Batmobile in

sight; instead, Batman is just a man in a Halloween costume who intimidates the criminal

underworld through the use of theatrics and deception. Millers script is more hard-boiled crime

drama than superhero adventure, and thats a tone that the character still latches onto today.

Without a doubt, the most inspired choice by the company for this book was hiring artist DaveMazzucchelli. His work on this story is crisp and clean, with the minimal amount of superfluous

pencil lines. But it is also incredibly grim and gritty, as he brings a certain believability to the

city of Gotham. Twenty-five years later, this is still one of the most iconic makeovers the

character has ever undergone.

1. The Dark Knight Returns(1986-1987)

Writer:Frank Miller

Artist:Frank Miller

Either one of the top three on this list could have landed the No. 1 spot, but were going with

Frank MillersThe Dark Knight Returns. Not just because its thebest Batman story on here,

but because its all-around one of the best comics ever published. Setting its sights on a futuristic

Gotham City and an aging Bruce Wayne, Millers magnum opus is a neo-noir tragedy with hints

of social commentary and a metric ton of action on every page.


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The story begins with the elder Wayne being pulled back into his crime-fighting ways as he

watches his city get overrun by a vicious gang calling itself The Mutants. Backed up by a new

female Robin named Carrie Kelly, this geriatric version of the Dark Knight has a salty attitude

that makes Dirty Harry look like Richard Simmons.

During this epic, Batman runs across familiar allies and villains alike as DC legends such as the

Joker, Two-Face, Catwoman, and the Green Arrow all make their presences felt in this dystopiansociety. But no character is more of a threat to the world than Batmans onetime ally, Superman.

Now a tool of an oppressive government, the Man of Steel is eventually tasked with taking down

the Caped Crusader in a climactic battle that brings the pain in terms of both physicality and

emotional resonance.

Everything clicked here for Miller. The script is dense and thought-provoking, the art is seedy

and iconic, and there are plenty of moments that will stick with you well after you're finished

reading. This title came at a time when DC was ripe with ideas that would change the industry,

and decades later writers are still trying to top this masterpiece.

the 25 best batman comics of all time

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