It's no secret: I'm a sucker for Batman. The Dark Knight is my absolute favorite comic book hero and one of my favorite fictional characters in general. There are countless Batman stories and they are consistently some of the greatest comics/graphic novels I've ever read. Here are my five favorite stories that made me fall in love with the Caped Crusader. (Keep in mind, I have not read every single Batman story, so some of your favorites may not be on here.)
BATMAN: HUSH by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams
Oddly enough, I actually had quite a difficult time getting into comics. Many were quite inaccessible due to requiring prior knowledge of multiple characters and I simply had no idea where to start. Then, I picked up Batman: Hush. This is not only a perfect introduction to Batman comics, it's a great introduction to comics in general! The story follows Batman as he must uncover the mystery behind a new criminal in Gotham that goes by the name of Hush. An intriguing mystery is presented here while some good knowledge on numerous characters in Batman lore provided as well (without prior knowledge being entirely necessary). While much focus is given to Batman, Catwoman, and a few others, there are some great cameo appearances from The Joker, The Riddler, Ra's al Ghul, a plethora of other infamous Batman villains, and even the Man of Steel himself, Superman. A fun comic with an interesting mystery and great characters. A perfect introduction to Batman and a recommendation to anyone looking to get into comics.
BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
This is definitely one of the best Joker stories ever told and not many would argue. The Joker is one of the greatest villains of all time and this graphic novel will definitely show you why. His actions in this story are downright evil. On top of this, Moore really analyzed the relationship between Batman and The Joker, providing the reader with the realization that the two may not be that different. If you would like to know some more detailed thoughts on Batman: The Killing Joke, feel free to check out my article entitled 'Batman: The Killing Joke is no Laughing Matter' that is also on Odyssey.
THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson
Yes, I know what you may be thinking: The Dark Knight Returns is on every list of the best Batman stories. But here's the thing, it definitely is one of the best if not the best period. This is the story that established Batman as the dark, brooding vigilante he is still to this very day. If someone did not take Batman seriously, they certainly did after reading The Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller's tale follows an old and retired Bruce Wayne as he once more takes up the mantle of The Dark Knight in order to save Gotham once more from roaming street gangs and some old foes. The action is great and contains arguably the greatest comic book fight scene of all time and the story itself is exceptional, providing some interesting social commentary as well. Definitely read The Dark Knight Returns!
BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
The Long Halloween is a really unique story with unique art to top it all off. Here, Batman follows the trail of Holiday, a killer that is killing people on holidays, obviously, starting on Halloween one night. The story actually takes place over the span of a year, each chapter focusing on a specific holiday. On top of this new killer, Batman faces off against a number of his most famous rogues, including The Joker, The Riddler, and Catwoman. This story is really quite an engaging read and similar to Batman: Hush in many regards (although this came out before Hush), including the compelling mystery and a fair amount of famous Batman characters. The span of the story really makes Gotham feel alive as we follow it throughout an entire year and not simply a single event. Furthermore, the story has a fantastic noir feel to it, something that makes Batman stories even better.
BATMAN: THE DEATH OF THE FAMILY and BATMAN: ENDGAME by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
I paired these two stories together because I love them for the same reasons: The Joker. These two graphic novels encapsulate The Joker's appearances in DC's run of the New 52 and they are easily two of the best things to arise from DC's reboot of their comic universe. If anyone ever tells you The Joker isn't that scary or intimidating or even that great of a villain, provide them with even one of these stories, allow them a month or so to recover from the trauma and nightmares, and then have them share their opinion once more. I swear, I have never been as terrified of The Joker as I have in these two stories (well, and The Killing Joke) and there was a period of time when they actually kept me up at night for awhile. I won't be giving too much away but I will leave it at this: in Death of the Family, The Joker spends the entire story with his cut off face strapped to his head...Yeah, it's really messed up. But the grittiness and horror of these stories made them unforgettable, which is why they are included on my list.
So, there you have it. If you are looking for some Batman stories to read, I cannot recommend these ones enough. Even if you are looking to enter the world of comics in general, take a stab at one of these, though be forewarned they can be quite intense. Feel free to share your own favorite Batman stories as well. The Dark Knight will live on forever and his legacy is unforgettable.
