With the number of Batman comics available easily sitting in the thousands, finding the best comics to read can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Although many comics are worth the read for avid fans, it can be daunting to rake through all the titles to find the best ones – single issues, graphic novels, omnibus, or otherwise. The abundance of different types of comics, let alone storylines, can be challenging to navigate for new readers.
Goodreads contains collaborative lists that allow fans and readers to vote on the ranking of their favorite books and comics. This handy website is a good point of reference for comic book readers to decide where to start or go next. These are the top 10 Batman comics as ranked by Goodreads.
10 The Killing Joke Is An All-Time Classic Villain's Tale
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Written by Alan Moore in 1988, The Killing Joke has received 4.37 stars on Goodreads. This graphic novel centers around The Joker's origin story and is considered one of the best Batman comics of all time.
With illustrations by Brian Bolland, The Killing Joke displays the dark themes regularly showcased in DC Comics. It is a thrilling read that has had a wide influence across DC media, particularly being a named influence for directors Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Todd Phillips in their film adaptions of Batman and The Joker.
9 The Dark Knight Returns Is A Brutal Batman Essential
Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns gained 4.26 stars from Goodreads readers and comic lovers. This graphic novel follows Bruce Wayne at 55-years-old, coming out of retirement and returning to the cowl, with the inclusion of popular Batman foes Two-Face and The Joker.
The Dark Knight Returns is considered one of the most influential Batman stories ever made. This graphic novel has been praised for reintroducing darker, more mature themes, and since being published in 1986, the story has been re-vamped as a two-part film.
8 The Long Halloween Is A Major Mystery Featuring Batman's Rogues' Gallery
Jeph Loeb's The Long Halloween, published in 1996 and 1997, earned 4.32 stars on Goodreads. Following Batman in his early days of crime fighting, this 13-issue comic inspired Matt Reeves' The Batman, which centered around Batman in his second year.
The long Halloween contains an array of readers' favorite or most well-known characters within the comic book world. This comic is filled to the brim with action from Two-Face, Scarecrow, The Joker, and Poison Ivy. Additionally, this comic is a must-read, thanks to Tim Sale's iconic chiaroscuro art style.
7 Year One Looks At Batman's First Year On The Job
A comic written by Frank Miller, Year One sits at a highly commendable 4.23 on Goodreads. Closely following Bruce Wayne in his first year as Batman, this comic significantly influenced Matt Reeves' The Batman. This story arc also follows the life of James Gordon, gradually building towards his first encounter with Batman and their eventual alliance.
Year One has been praised for its gritty, realistic, and mature take on the Batman universe. Illustrations by David Mazzucchelli were also highly acclaimed for the realistic, noir-influenced art, which only adds to the readability of this comic.
6 Hush Is A Complex Mystery Worth Reading
Hush was given a solid 4.28 stars on the Goodreads. A comic written by Jeph Loeb, this arc centers around a mysterious character by the name of Hush. With the addition of other Batman villains and the growing relationship between Batman and Catwoman, there is no wonder why this comic boasts such stellar reviews.
With a mystery villain, this comic allows readers to truly take on the role of Batman as the detective. Trying to problem-solve and figure out who Hush is makes for a delightful read, only made better by Jim Lee's incredible artwork.
5 Arkham Asylum Is A Harrowing Look At An Iconic Batman Location
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth gained 4.10 stars from Goodreads readers. Often shortened to Batman: Arkham Asylum, this story follows Batman in his journey in discovering historical details of Arkham Asylum after attending to a riot within the building.
This story arc is considered one of the best of Grant Morrison's career, bolstered by phenomenal artwork by Dave McKean. With the comic's heavy emphasis on psychology, it is not difficult to see why it's such a standout Batman entry. This graphic novel also partially influenced the video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, which, much like the comic, was also critically acclaimed.
4 The Court of Owls Are An Occultish Oddity In Batman's Case Files
The Court of Owls follows Batman's discovery of the organized crime group within Gotham and the secret society that is the comic's namesake. Gaining 4.33 stars on Goodreads, The Court of Owls was written by Scott Snyder, and the group was Batman's main antagonist at the beginning of DC's The New 52.
With art by Greg Capullo, this story-arc is no doubt worth the read for avid fans of Batman, particularly those wanting to become more involved with the DC reboot that is The New 52. This allows readers to become introduced to new Batman villains with just as many violent and mature themes as before, with the bonus of Capullo's art.
3 Dark Victory Is A Worthy Follow-Up To The Long Halloween
Serving as a sequel to The Long Halloween, this 14-part comic series takes place around three to four years into Batman's vigilante career. Having 4.15 stars on Goodreads, Dark Victory is one of Jeph Loeb's strongest Batman entries, and is drawn by the inimitable Tim Sale (who sadly passed away earlier this year).
This series follows a mysterious villain named the Hangman and re-tells Robin's origins and his adoption by Bruce Wayne. Running from 1999 until 2000, these comics also inspired Christian Bale in his role as Batman in The Dark Knight Trilogy.
2 The Black Mirror Looks At A Wide Array Of Multiversal Batmans
Known for being the final Batman storyline before The New 52 reboot, The Black Mirror currently stands at 4.28 stars out of five on Goodreads. This superbly stylish comic is written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Jock and Francesco Francavilla.
The Black Mirror features the rare fresh take of Dick Grayson donning the Batsuit, while Bruce Wayne toils away on Batman Incorporated. This comic introduces readers to a vast array of Batmans across universes, making for an exciting read.
This story was published in 10 issues and allowed fans to become accustomed to the idea of Dick Grayson as Batman. Written by Scott Snyder, with art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla, this arc also features James and Barbara Gordon with the return of James Gordon Senior.
1 A Death in the Family Is Peak Tragedy In The Batman Universe
This storyline was one of the best-selling comics of 1988, so it is no surprise that it was on this list with 4.08 stars. This controversial story features the impulsive, rebellious Jason Todd as Robin. Also, with a fresh take on reader contribution, this series allowed fans to vote on the outcome, with two numbers being inserted in the comics that allowed readers to decide whether Robin lives or dies.
A groundbreaking comic that revitalized the Batman universe. Written by Jim Starlin, this story has become iconic to readers and is worth reading for avid readers and fans.