The famous ’90s saga, during the Post-crisis era, the back-breaking introduction of Bane! “Knightfall” is a 1993–1994 story arc. More precisely, it’s a trilogy of storylines: “Knightfall”, “Knightquest”, and “KnightsEnd”. It’s the Batman equivalent of “The Death of Superman” storyline. An event that was destined to change the hero forever (to sell more comics). It’s the fall of Batman, his replacement by Jean-Paul Valley (a.k.a. Azrael) who ended up tarnishing Batman’s reputation, and Bruce Wayne comeback, with some Robin drama in the middle.
This is how the story started: the inmates of Arkham Asylum have broken free and Batman must push himself to the limits to re-apprehend the Joker, Poison Ivy, the Riddler, Killer Croc, and more. Pushed to the limits, he comes face-to-face against the monstrosity known as Bane, who delivers a crippling blow destined to change the Caped Crusader forever!
What to read before Batman Knightfall?
There are two books you can read before Batman Knightfall. The First is Batman: Sword of Azrael, a storyline from Dennis O’Neil, Joe Quesada, and Kevin Nowlan that introduced Azrael, a prominent figure in the crossover. Then, the aptly named Batman: Prelude to Knightfall.
- Batman: Sword of Azrael
Collects Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4. Also collected in Azrael Vol. 1: Fallen Angel. - Batman: Prelude to Knightfall
Collects Batman: Vengeance Of Bane #1, Batman #484-491, Detective Comics #654-658. Also collected in Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 1.
For more information and readings about the two big characters introduced at this time, check out:
Batman Knightfall Reading Order
Batman Knightfall Reading Order: Collected Editions
The TPB Editions
- Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
Collects Batman #492-497 and Detective Comics #659-663 along with supplemental character sketches and more. Also collected in the big 2012 edition. - Batman: Knightfall Vol. 2
Collects Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase ’93 #7-8 and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18, along with additional material from the creators. Also collected in the big 2012 edition. - Batman: Knightquest: The Crusade Vol. 1
Collects Detective Comics #667-670, Robin #1-2, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #19-20, Batman #501-504 and Catwoman #6-7, plus bonus material! Also collected in the big 2012 edition.- Robin: Flying Solo (optional)
Collects Robin #1-6, and segments of Showcase ’94 #5–6.
- Robin: Flying Solo (optional)
- Batman: Knightquest: The Crusade Vol. 2
Collects Detective Comics #671-675, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #24-28, Batman #505-508 and Showcase ’94 #7. Bonus material is also included. Also collected in
the big 2012 edition. - Batman: Knightquest: The Search
Collects Justice League Task Force #5-6, Batman: Shadow of The Bat #21-23, Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight #59-61 and Robin #7. - Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 3: KnightsEnd
Collects Batman #509-510, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30, Detective Comics #676-677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Robin #8-9, Catwoman #12-13 and Showcase ’94 #10 and includes bonus poster artwork. Also collected in the big 2012 edition. - Batman: Prodigal
Collects Batman #512-514, Batman: Shadow of The Bat #32-34, Robin #0, 11-13 and Detective Comics #679-681. Also collected in the big 2012 edition. - Batman: Troika
Collects Batman #515, Batman: Shadow of The Bat #35, Detective Comics #682, Robin #14, Nightwing: Alfred Returns and Batman: Vengeance of The Bat #2.
The 2017-18 Omnibus Editions
This edition includes Batman: Prelude to Knightfall.
- Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects Batman #484-500, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #16-18, Batman: Vengeance Of Bane #1, Detective Comics #654-666 And Showcase ’93 #7-8. - Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2: Knightquest
Collects Batman #501-508, Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #59-61, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #19-27, Catwoman #6-7 Detective Comics #667-675, Justice League Task Force #5-6, Robin #1-2 And 7, And Showcase ’94 #7. - Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 3: KnightsEnd
Collects Batman #509-510 & #512-515, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #29-30 & #32-35, Detective Comics #676-677 & #679-682, Robin #8-9 & #11-14, Catwoman #12-13, Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #62-63, Showcase ’94 #10, Nightwing: Alfred’s Return #1, Batman: Vegeance Of Bane #2.
Batman Knightfall Reading Order: Issue By Issue
Prelude to Knightfall
- Batman #484-487
- Detective Comics #654
- Batman #488
- Detective Comics #655
- Batman #489-490
- Detective Comics #656-658
Batman Knightfall, Part One: Broken Bat
- Batman #491-492
- Detective Comics #659
- Batman #493
- Detective Comics #660
- Batman #494
- Detective Comics #661
- Batman #495
- Detective Comics #662
- Batman #496
- Detective Comics #663
- Batman #497
Batman Knightfall, Part Two: Who Rules The Night
- Detective Comics #664
- Showcase ’93 #7-8
- Batman #498
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
- Detective Comics #665
- Batman #499
- Detective Comics #666
- Batman #500
Batman Knightquest, Part One: The Crusade
- Robin #1-2
- Detective Comics #667-668
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #19-20
- Batman #501-502
- Detective Comics #669-670
- Catwoman #6
- Batman #503-504
- Catwoman #7
- Detective Comics #671-673
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #24
- Batman #505
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #25
- Batman #506-507
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #26-27
- Detective Comics #674
- Batman #508
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #28
- Detective Comics #675
- Showcase ’94 #7
Batman Knightquest, Part Two: The Search
- Justice League Task Force #5-6
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #21-23
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #59-61
- Robin #7
Batman KnightsEnd
- Batman #509
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29
- Detective Comics #676
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62
- Robin #8
- Catwoman #12
- Batman #510
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #30
- Detective Comics #677
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #63
- Robin #9
- Catwoman #13
- Showcase ’94 #10
Batman Prodigal
You’ll notice that some issues are missing, it’s because they are part of the Zero Hour Event (Reading Hour here).
- Robin #0
- Batman #512
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #32
- Detective Comics #679
- Robin #11
- Batman #513
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #33
- Detective Comics #680
- Robin #12
- Batman #514
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #34
- Detective Comics #681
- Robin #13
Batman Troika
- Batman #515
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #35
- Detective Comics #682
- Robin #14
After Batman Knightfall
After that, Bruce Wayne is back under the cowl. New independent storylines started and then came Contagion! This crossover event was about the outbreak of a lethal disease in Gotham City, and Batman’s attempts to combat it. The events of this story led to Batman: Legacy and Batman: Cataclysm, and Batman: No Man’s Land.
After Batman: Knightfall, neither Jean-Paul nor Azrael is seen again for several months until Jean-Paul finally re-appears in his own ongoing series simply titled “Azrael“.
For a more detailed guide to this era, take a look at our Batman: The Modern Age Reading Order which covers all of Batman’s adventures during the Post-Crisis era.