Like Harley Quinn, Terry McGinnis was created for television, more specifically in his case for the Batman Beyond animated television series (1999–2001), as a continuation of The New Batman Adventures, originally meant as a character for the DCAU. And it would take 10 years for Terry to make his first appearance in the main DC Universe, in Batman #700.
Created by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett, Batman Beyond takes place in a futuristic Gotham City where Terry McGinnis has taken over the mantle of Batman, under the tutelage of an elderly Bruce Wayne. He is a high school student and a former delinquent. Under the pretense of doing errands for Bruce, Terry fights crime as the new Batman.
Where to start with Batman Beyond/Terry McGinnis?
This is where we naturally recommend watching Batman Beyond, the animated TV Series, comprised of three seasons, 52 episodes, and one direct-to-video feature film.
Batman Beyond Comics Order:
Related! Consult our Guide to the Batfamily for an introduction to the many members of the Gotham Knights.
Batman Beyond and DCAU tie-ins
The year is 2039 and it’s been decades since anyone last spotted the Batman. Gotham has prospered into a megalopolis of neon and steel. But for all its glitz and advanced tech, it is still one of the most dangerous cities on the planet. When fate brings teenager Terry McGinnis into the life of reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, the time will come for a new Dark Knight to rise.
Finding the first adventures of Batman Beyond in comics was quite complicated as the first volume was out of print and the second one had never been collected in its entirety. It all changes now with the recent release of a Batman Beyond Compendium collecting the two first volumes set during the events of the animated show (2039-2042). Some issues were retconned by later episodes.
- Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Classics Compendium – 25th Anniversary Edition [New]
Collects Batman Beyond (Vol. 1) #1-6, Batman Beyond (Vol. 2) #1-24 and a guest appearance in Superman Adventures #64.
After Batman #700, Batman Beyond (vol. 3) is an attempt to mesh the DC animated universe television series Batman Beyond with the mainstream DC continuity.
- Batman #700 (optional)
Collected in Batman: Time and the Batman - Batman Beyond: Hush Beyond
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 3) #1-6
Unlike the previous volume, Batman Beyond: Hush Beyond, Volume 4 serves as a continuation of the DC Animated Universe.
- Batman Beyond: Industrial Revolution
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 4) #1-8
The Batman Beyond universe continues with Batman Beyond Unlimited, comprised of Batman Beyond, Justice League Beyond and Superman Beyond digital-first series.
- Batman Beyond: 10,000 Clowns
Collects Batman Beyond Unlimited #1-13. - Justice League Beyond: Konstriction (optional)
Collects Justice League Beyond stories from Batman Beyond Unlimited #1-15. - Superman Beyond: Man of Tomorrow (optional)
Collects Superman Beyond #0, Superman/Batman Annual #4 and Superman Beyond stories from Batman Beyond Unlimited #1-10 - Justice League Beyond: In Gods We Trust (optional)
Collects Justice League Beyond digital Chapters #17-25, Superman Beyond Digital Chapters 11-20 - Batman Beyond: Batgirl Beyond
Collects Batman Beyond Unlimited #19-28 and Batman Beyond (1999) #1-2.
Also a digital-first title, Batman Beyond 2.0 is set a year after the events of the previous Batman Beyond digital series.
- Justice League Beyond 2.0: Power Struggle (optional)
Collects Justice League Beyond stories from Batman Beyond Universe #1-8 - Batman Beyond 2.0 Vol. 1: Rewired
Collects Batman Beyond stories from Batman Beyond Universe #1-8 - Batman Beyond 2.0 Vol. 2: Justice Lords Beyond
CollCollects Batman Beyond stories from Batman Beyond Universe #9-12 - Batman Beyond 2.0 Vol. 3: Mark of the Phantasm
Collects Batman Beyond stories from Batman Beyond Universe #13-16
Futures End and the Prime Earth Continuity
Batman Beyond becomes part of the mainstream DC Universe, with Futures End, an event taking place in an alternate future for the DC Universe with Terry McGinnis who travels back in time to save the world. To know more about it, we invite you to consult our full-reading order of Futures End. The story continues after that in Batman Beyond vol.5.
- The New 52: Futures End Vol. 1
Collects New 52 Future’s End issues #0-17 - The New 52: Futures End Vol. 2
Collects New 52 Future’s End issues #18-30 - The New 52: Futures End Vol. 3
Collects New 52 Future’s End issues #31-48 - Batman Beyond Vol. 1: Brave New Worlds
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 5) #1-6 - Batman Beyond Vol. 2: City of Yesterday
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 5) #7-11 - Batman Beyond Vol. 3: Wired for Death
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 5) #12-16; Batman Beyond: Rebirth #1
Batman Beyond Rebirth Comics
When you’re part of the official continuity, you are also affected by relaunch, and Batman Beyond offers here a new entry point with its Vol. 6, taking place after the previous series.
- Batman Beyond Vol. 1: Escaping the Grave
Collects Batman Beyond: Rebirth #1; Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #1-5 - Batman Beyond Vol. 2: Rise of the Demon
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #6-12 - Batman Beyond Vol. 3: The Long Payback
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #13-19 - Batman Beyond Vol. 4: Target: Batman
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #20-24 - Batman Beyond Vol. 5: The Final Joke
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #25-30 - Batman Beyond Vol. 6: Divide, Conquer, and Kill
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #31-36 - Batman Beyond Vol. 7: First Flight
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #37-42 - Batman Beyond Vol. 8: The Eradication Agenda
Collects Batman Beyond (vol. 6) #43-50
Batman Beyond, Neo Comics in Order
This is a new beginning and a new timeline for Terry McGinnis, under the creative team made of Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Max Dunbar. Bruce Wayne has died, and it’s left Terry McGuiness on his own taking on the mantle of Batman. It starts with a battle against an evil A.I. and continues with the exploration of the remains of Old Gotham…
- Urban Legends #7
- Batman Beyond: Neo-Year
Collects Batman Beyond: Neo-Year #1-6. - Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic [New]
Collects Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #1-6.