Since the 1960s, Batman has dominated the comic book industry for DC Comics, starring in multiple titles at any given time as readers enjoy his case files and adventures. Since the industry introduced the idea of ​​prestige format graphic novels, the hero has topped those as well, with many of the company’s best-selling comics being Dark Knight-related. Even today, few comics sell as fast as an all-star Batman graphic novel.
Batman has had some of​​​​his best stories told in the graphic novel format, with the comics often appealing to mainstream audiences more than standard ongoing floppies. From gritty detective stories to supernatural horror and everything in between, one of the best ways to reel in new readers is to deliver an accessible solo adventure. Written and illustrated by authentic comic book legends, these graphic novels represent the best of a good Dark Knight story.
10
Batman: Earth One
Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Jonathon Sibal, Brad Anderson and Rob Lei
DC S Earth One Line took the idea behind the New 52 and applied it much further, exploring self-contained, alternate versions of key Justice League heroes. One of the best of them is Batman: Earth OneWhich explores a much more grounded, imperfect Dark Knight than readers are used to. It’s also set to add some depth and more realistic explanations to key Gotham villains, such as Killer Croc.
Borrowing from other stories like “Year One,” Johns’ graphic novel introduces readers to a version of Batman designed to feel more realistic. When the inexperienced Dark Knight takes on corruption in his city, facing off against the likes of Mayor Cobblepot, he begins his partnership with James Gordon, an honest man in a corrupt police department. This story is perfect for people who enjoy stories like Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.
9
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
Brian Augustin, Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russell, David Hornung and John Workman
Arguably the face of Batman’s Elseworlds stories, Gotham by Gaslight Endured as a great combination of character and setting. Set in a Victorian era of Gotham City, the story follows Batman as he solves the gruesome murders committed by Jack the Ripper, who has made his way to the United States. Reimagining the world of DC through a steampunk lens, the story follows the Dark Knight in his investigation of the brutal slaying. The tale takes a turn for the worse when Bruce Wayne is framed.
Related
Gotham by Gaslight Does a brilliant job of taking the core elements of Batman’s mythos and transporting them to turn-of-the-century America. Blending alternate history with new genres and styles – like steampunk and murder mystery – the graphic novel is everything an Elseworlds tale should be, retaining the core elements of the character with a different backdrop.
8
Spin/Batman
Frank Miller, Todd McFarlane, Steve Oliff, Olyoptics, Tom Orzechowski
Soon after Todd McFarlane Chip Soared to success in Image Comics, the creator along with comics legend Frank Miller. Together, they brought readers a story of Spawn meeting Batman in a graphic novel that continued from an arc Miller wrote for Chip involving cyborgs. As a corporation preys on the city’s homeless, turning them into literal killing machines, the antihero protagonists team up—but not before they have a big fight.
Spin/Batman Unites two visionaries, who turn in an action-packed team-up story that follows Al Simmons and Bruce Wayne taking on injustice. With Miller Dark Knight Returns-style script combined with McFarlane’s dynamic art, readers get one of the best crossovers of the ’90s, one that shows what makes a good ’90s superhero.
7
Batman/Demon
Alan Grant, David Roach, James Sinclair and Bill Oakley
Batman/demon Follows the Caped Crusader’s investigation into a series of mysterious killings – whose supernatural themes lead him to occult expert Jason Blood. Realizing that his other half is key to solving the mystery, Blood summons the demon, Etrigan, to aid Batman in his quest to find the killer. Together, they trace the violence back to a demon, Astaroth, who plans to invoke a ritual to open a Hellmouth in Gotham.
Batman/demon Honor the Dark Knight’s roots in gothic horror, and also take him out of his element by pitting him against demons from the underworld. Both as an Etrigan tale and a murder mystery for Bruce Wayne, the story remains one of the more underrated DC graphic novels – and is a brilliant read for fans of Jack Kirby’s hellbound antihero.
6
Batman: The Killing Joke
Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, John Higgins and Richard Starkings
Batman: The Killing Joke marks the climax of the decades-long rivalry between Batman and the Joker. As the story explains the origins of the Clown Prince of Crime, who goes from a failing comedian to a patsy for several gangsters, it shows how the Dark Knight unwittingly created his worst enemy. In the present, the killer clown targets the Gordons to destroy his enemy, famous shooter Barbara and psychologically torturing Jim.
great as it is, The killing joke is also one of the most controversial comics in Batman history, especially for how his brutal violence reshaped the hero’s comics for a generation of readers. That said, it’s hard to deny that this story makes a great read for those who prefer the darker side of the Caped Crusader – although it’s not for the faint of heart.
5
Batman/Dracula: Red Rain
Doug Moench, Kelly Jones, Malcolm Jones III, Les Dorscheid and Todd Klein
in Batman/Dracula: Red Rain, Batman investigates a string of murders in Gotham – the victims of which are all drained of their blood. The story leads him to the Prince of Darkness himself, Dracula. Along the way, he encounters a female vampire aligned with Good, Tanya, who transforms Batman into a fellow creature of the night so he can be A match for the dark lord. However, this also sends the hero spiraling as he gradually edges closer to becoming a true monster.
As the first chapter in Batman’s vampire trilogy, this story delivers a love letter to dark horror, honoring the best of Bram Stoker’s novels, Dracula. The story follows Bruce Wayne as he is forced to fight a growing thirst for blood as he seeks justice, resulting in an epic confrontation with Dracula. Unlike Universal’s villain camp, this take on the dark vampire is sheer terror.
4
Batman: Revenge of the Train
Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan, Eduardo Barreto, Adrienne Roy and Bill Oakley
Batman: Revenge of the train Begins by introducing readers to Bane, a hardened inmate of the Pena Duro prison. The villain was born to a woman imprisoned on political grounds, and the villain was forced to complete his mother’s sentence after she died in childbirth. While incarcerated, he trained his mind and body to be the best around, later volunteering for the prison’s Venom Super Serum experiments. After learning of Batman and his role in Gotham, Bane and his companions take over the prison and make their escape, setting off for Gotham.
While Revenge of the train Is primarily focused on the titular villain, it concludes with a confrontation between him and Batman. Here, the Dark Knight triumphs over the escaped prisoner, but the story also paves the way for one of the most iconic DC events in history: Nightfall.
3
Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham
Alan Grant, John Wagner, Simon Bisley and Todd Klein
As one of the best crossover comics of the ’90s, Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham Follows the Dark Knight’s journey to Mega-City One. The story follows an alliance between the two protagonists as Judge Death threatens life in Gotham, together with the Riddler to spread terror to its residents. After overcoming their differences, Batman and Dredd leave the last dimension for Gotham, where they hunt down the dark judge.
Related
Judgment on Gotham Started an excellent series of crossovers between Batman and Dredd, and made a point of comparing Wayne’s non-lethal mission of justice against Dredd’s ruthless commitment to the law. This graphic novel is everything a comic crossover should be, exploring the similarities and differences between the two worlds and highlighting the compatibility of its heroes.
2
Batman: Ego
Darwin Cook and John Babcock
Darwin Cook Batman Ego Follows the Dark Knight’s in another pursuit of the Joker, which brings him to one of the villain’s first guns, Buster Tibbs. However, when the criminal takes his own life out of fear, revealing that the killer clown killed his family, it leaves Bruce Wayne rattled, forcing him to question the effect he has on the city. With a large part of the story in the hero’s mind, there follows a confrontation between two sides of his personality; The well-meaning Bruce Wayne versus Batman’s ego, the crime-fighting side of him devoted to justice at any cost.
Batman: Ego Delves into the psyche of Bruce Wayne, leading readers on a journey of self-reflection and internal debate for the hero. For a character so often haunted by his past and pushed to inhuman extremes, Cook’s story reminds readers of the character’s humanity and internal struggle.
1
Batman: The Man Who Laughs
Ed Brubaker, Doug Mahnke, David Baron and Rob Leigh
Batman: The Man Who Laughs is a retelling of the detective’s first case involving the Joker. After that of Alan Moore The killing jokeThe story follows Batman solving a lot of murders, which sends him down the rabbit hole of the clown’s origin – and the revelation that he is responsible. As the Joker targets Gotham’s wealthiest citizens, the Caped Crusader is hot on his heels, culminating in a brilliant stand-off.
The man who laughs Introduces the Joker to Batman, adding depth to the story first told in Bill Finger and Bob Kane Batman #1. Blending a murder mystery with classic detective work that highlights Bruce Wayne’s keen investigative mind, the issue remains one of the best entry points to the world of Batman.