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Batman Infinite Frontier Reading Order


In the middle of James Tynion IV’s run on Batman, the DC Universe was once more softly relaunched. Following the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, Generations, and Future State, the DC Multiverse has in fact expanded into a larger Omniverse (and everything became canon). This was how the Infinite Frontier era was introduced—and launched in March 2021. It concluded with the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event, in December 2022.

It was less than two years, but a lot has happened in Batman’s life with events like Fear State and Shadow War, and a new costume at one point. As usual, the Dark Knight’s adventures were published in Batman and Detective Comics, but also in the anthology Batman: Urban Legends, the team books Batman/Superman and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, and more!

There’s also a new Batman Incorporated series and a new and different Batman in I Am Batman—Jace Fox is first introduced as the new Batman during Future State, but soon got his own series, written by John Ridley—, and a lot of miniseries, most being out-of-continuity.

Of course, this is mostly about Batman, but the BatFamily is also featured. Nevertheless, their books are not necessarily included. Though, you can find them on their dedicated pages: Nightwing, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Batwoman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Terry McGinnis (The Batman Beyond).

What to Read Before Batman Infinite Frontier?

As this new era started during James Tynion IV’s run, it is recommended to be up-to-date with his work.

  • Batman Vol. 1: Their Dark Designs
    Collects stories from Batman (vol. 3) #85-94 and Batman Secret Files #3
  • The Joker War Saga
    Collects Batman (vol. 3) #95–100; Batgirl (vol. 5) #47; Detective Comics #1025; Red Hood: Outlaw #48; Nightwing (vol. 4) #74; The Joker War Zone #1; material from Harley Quinn (vol. 3) #75 and Catwoman (vol. 5) #25
  • Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories
    Collects Batman (vol. 3) #101–105, Annual (vol. 3) #5; Detective Comics #1027

Following Dark Nights: Death Metal, the DC Universe went to the future with Future State. It may be skipped, but it is better to be familiar with some elements of this story to fully apprehend what is at stake, especially during the Fear State event. You can learn more about Future State in the dedicated reading order.

  • Future State: Dark Detective
    Collects Future State: Dark Detective #1-4 (main story), Future State: Catwoman #1-2, Future State: Harley Quinn #1-2, Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2, Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2.
  • Future State: The Next Batman
    Collects Future State: The Next Batman #1-4, Future State: Nightwing #1-2, Future State: Dark Detective #1 & 3 (select stories), and backup stories.

Batman Infinite Frontier Reading Order

Like it is usually done, the Infinite Frontier era started with a one-shot comic that established the key element of the new DCU:

Unlike with the Batman ongoing series, the new creative team started here on Detective Comics.

Batman: Fear State

James Tynion IV concluded his Batman run with a crossover event called Fear State. 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! To know more about it, follow the reading order.

After Fear State, some new developments occurred in the Batverse, like the launch of a new Batgirls series, but mostly Joshua Williamson become, for a short time, the writer of the main Batman title (with art by Jorge Molina), sending the caped crusader in the middle of the Shadow War. Also, Mariko Tomaki started writing in Detective Comics the Shadows of the Bat storyline that included most of the BatFamily.

Batman: Shadow War

The Road to Shadow War

When Deathstroke assassinates Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul demands revenge and sends her League of Shadows to kill Deathstroke and Deathstroke Inc.! Batman and Robin must team up to track down Deathstroke and bring him to justice … but do they? Follow the Shadow War Reading Order.

  • Batman: Shadow War (hardcover edition)
    Collects all the parts of the Shadow War story from Batman #122-123; Robin #13-14; Deathstroke Inc. #8-9; Shadow War: Alpha #1; Shadow War: Omega #1; Shadow War Zone #1. 

As the Infinite Frontier era comes to an end, new creative teams are taking over the main Batman series (Chip Zdarsky & Jorge Jiménez) and Detective Comics (Ram V & Simon Spurrier). The next book will probably get pushed over to the Dawn of the DCU era, the timeline around Dark Crisis is still a bit murky for now.

The new Batman Incorporated series from Ed Brisson and John Timms features Ghost-Maker and his team of Batmen!

Also available in Batman Incorporated: The Complete Series.

Coming from Mark Waid and Dan Mora, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest is set in a not-too-distant past, but the series timeline joined with the present to introduce the Batman Vs Robin miniseries that (apparently) takes place after Dark Crisis. The series was launched after a short introduction at the end of Detective Comics #1050.

In Justice League #75, Batman and the other members of the Justice League are “killed.” It is how the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths began, and how the Infinite Frontier era concluded. See our Dark Crisis Reading Order for more information.

Batman Infinite Frontier: The Out of Continuity Stories

As always, Batman’s universe expands beyond the limit of the DC regular ongoing series. The following books are stories published during the Infinite Frontier era that are not considered part of the main continuity.

After Batman Infinite Frontier

Following the events of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, the DC Universe went in a slightly different direction, but not a lot has changed for Batman. The new creative teams are continuing what they started, and a new event is already in preparation.

Batman is entering the Dawn of DC era.

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