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Batman Comics—Reading Orders, Best Stories & Beginner’s Guide

Step into Gotham City—a world of shadows, moral dilemmas, and legendary villains. Whether you’re meeting the Dark Knight for the first time or you’ve been patrolling rooftops with him for years, this hub is your complete guide to Batman comics.

We’ll show you where to start, what to skip, and which Batman comics are essential for both beginners and collectors.

Where to Start with Batman Comics?

Batman’s 80+ years of history can be intimidating. These are the best “jumping-on” points for new readers:

Batman Comic Reading Order

Follow Batman’s story chronologically or by recommended arcs—without drowning in every tie-in.

List:

  1. Batman: Year One
  2. Batman: The Man Who Laughs
  3. Batman: The Long Halloween
  4. Dark Victory
  5. Batman: Hush
  6. Under the Hood
  7. Batman: The Black Mirror
  8. Court of Owls → City of Owls
  9. Death of the Family
  10. Endgame

See Full Batman Comics Reading Order

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Best Batman Comics of All Time

From gritty detective tales to epic city-wide showdowns, these are the must-read stories:

Includes:

  • Batman: The Killing Joke
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum—A Serious House on Serious Earth
  • Batman: Hush
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
  • Batman: Zero Year
  • Batman: Gothic

Check out our curated essentials list:
Must-Read Batman Comics

Batman & the DC Universe Events

Batman often finds himself at the center of DC’s biggest events. If you want to follow him beyond Gotham, check out:

  • Crisis on Infinite Earths
  • Infinite Crisis
  • Final Crisis
  • Dark Nights: Metal
  • Joker War

Rogues Gallery—Batman’s Greatest Enemies

Batman’s villains are as iconic as he is. Here are the essential ones to know:

List:

  • Harley Quinn
  • Joker
  • Catwoman
  • Two-Face
  • Riddler
  • Penguin
  • Scarecrow
  • Bane
  • Ra’s al Ghul

Don’t forget to check his strongest versions too

Go Beyond the Bat

Allies, partners, and successors who fight alongside the Dark Knight:

List:

  • Nightwing (Dick Grayson)
  • Robin (Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, etc.)
  • Batgirl (Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown)
  • Red Hood (Jason Todd)
  • Oracle (Barbara Gordon)
  • Alfred Pennyworth

Batman 101 & Resources

FAQs

What is the best Batman comic to start with?

Start with Batman: Year One or Batman: The Long Halloween. These are essential origin stories that require no prior reading.

What is the correct order to read Batman comics?

We’ve outlined a complete Batman reading order—starting from early origins to modern arcs like Court of Owls and Joker War.

Do I need to read all Batman comics to follow the story?

Not at all. You can enjoy many Batman stories as standalones. Our guide shows which arcs are beginner-friendly and which build on continuity.

What’s the difference between Batman’s main timeline and alternate versions?

Batman appears in many timelines (like Flashpoint or Elseworlds). We separate main continuity from alternate takes in our guides.

Are Batman comics suitable for younger readers?

Some are—like Batman Adventures or Batman ’66. Others are darker and better for teens or adults. We help you pick age-appropriate arcs.