To conclude his run on Batman (see reading order), James Tynion IV planned an event named Fear State that will get us through the end of 2021. All of the Bat-Series are involved, so here is the guide.
Gotham City is on the brink of martial law as Batman fights a two-front battle! The Scarecrow is unleashing a devasting attack on the city while the Magistrate has made their move to invade! Gotham City is on the brink of a violent evolutionary path and the danger level to Batman and his allies reaching a fever pitch!
The Magistrate now has full support from the mayor to handle high-level law enforcement in Gotham and has branded the Dark Knight as Public Enemy #1. Batman must also contend with the return of the Scarecrow who pursues his own terrifying agenda as he takes this chaotic moment to launch his Fear State.
What to read before Batman Fear State?
- Future State Batman: Dark Detective
Collects Future State: Dark Detective #1-4; Future State: Catwoman #1-2; Future State: Harley Quinn #1-2; Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2; Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2 - Batman Vol. 4: The Cowardly Lot
Collects Batman (vol. 3) #106–111; Infinite Frontier #1
Batman Fear State Reading Order
Batman Fear State Reading Order: Collected Editions
- Batman: Fear State Saga
Collects Batman #112-117; Batman Secret Files: The Gardener #1; Batman Secret Files: Peacekeeper #1; Batman Secret Files: Miracle Molly #1; Batman: Fear State: Alpha #1; Batman: Fear State: Omega #1.- Also in Batman Vol. 5: Fear State (Collects Batman #112-117).
- The Secret Files issues are also available in the Batman: Secret Files TPB.
- Catwoman Vol. 6: Fear State
Collects Catwoman #34-38 - Nightwing: Fear State
Collects Nightwing #84-88 and Nightwing 2021 Annual. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: Fear State
Collects Detective Comics #1040-1046 and Batman Secret Files: Huntress #1.
Batman Fear State Reading Order: Issue by Issue
DC announced “I Am Batman,” “Task Force Z” and “Arkham City” as part of the event, but they are not connected to the series.
- Detective Comics #1043-1045 – This story is not coherent with the rest of the event. At one point, it is said that it takes place during Batman #113, but it makes more sense to read it before because it’s not really Fear State-related. You can skip it entirely.
- Catwoman #34
- Harley Quinn #6
- Harley Quinn 2021 Annual
- Harley Quinn #7
- Batman Secret Files: The Gardener #1
- Batman Secret Files: Miracle Molly #1 (origin story of Miracle Molly)
- Batman Fear State – Alpha #1
- Batman #112
- Batman: Urban Legends #8 – Batwoman’s story
- Batman Secret Files: Peacekeeper #1
- Batman #113
- Catwoman #35
- Nightwing #84
- Batman #114
- Batman #115
- Catwoman #36
- Nightwing #85
- Harley Quinn #8
- Batman #116
- Batman: Urban Legends #9 – Batwoman’s story
- Nightwing #86
- Catwoman #37
- Harley Quinn #9
- Batman #117
- Batman: Fear State: Omega #1
After Batman Fear State
As Batman: Fear State marked the end of writer James Tynion IV on the main Batman series, a new (short) era begins with Joshua Williamson writing, and art by Jorge Molina—starting with Batman #118.
Now, Batman is in the world, fighting new villains, which led to the Shadow War event–as The Batfamily stays behind to defend Gotham City in the Shadows of the Bat storyline.
