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Batman Reading Order, The Modern Age (Post-Crisis)

Batman stands on a rooftop, looking at Gotham City | Comic Book Treasury

Do you really need an introduction? Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger in Detective Comics #27 (1939), Batman is a vigilante who fights crime in the streets of Gotham City. Under the costume of the Bat is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist whose parents, Thomas and Martha, were murdered in front of him when he was a kid. That traumatic existence led him to train himself physically and intellectually to be able to fight for justice.

Introduced as a generic ruthless and murderous vigilante, Batman quickly evolved and acquired a strong moral code (he is against murder!) and a kid sidekick, the famous Robin (Dick Grayson at first in Detective Comics #38). He never got superpowers though. But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the most iconic characters in popular culture.

As years went by, Batman’s comic book stories evolved. After the war, they became bright and colorful. During the 1950s, they became more science fiction-oriented, but they went back to more detective stories in the 1960s (and got redesigned) to avoid cancellation. The campy TV Show also influenced the book for a while, but soon after it ended, it became necessary to return to something grimmer.

The sales dropped anyway through the 1970s and 1980s. Then came the Modern Age. With the post-Crisis in Infinite Earths relaunch of the DC books came new instant-classic comic book stories–also, a popular movie helped.

This article does not cover all of Batman comics’ publication history. We are starting with what is called the Modern Age (aka Post Crisis). The Golden Age Years are collected in Omnibus editions and DC Comics is now doing the same with the Silver Age Years (and also the Batman & Superman: World’s Finest comics), the Batman: The Brave & the Bold comics (Bronze Age) — see our guide for the Batman Comics from the Golden Age through the Bronze Age to explore the Pre-Crisis Batman era.

DC Comics’ Modern Age started after the 12-issue miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths (see reading order). The event was used to retconned the histories of most of the characters. The idea was to clean up the timelines (something DC Comics is still trying to do, in vain) and to update the superheroes to appeal to a contemporary audience. With the help of Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, Batman got a new origin story. The relaunch didn’t erase all of Batman’s past, but some significant alterations became canon (like the fact that Alfred Pennyworth raised Bruce Wayne).

Batman Comics in Order: The Modern Age in Chronological Order

To be clear, this reading order focuses on Batman comics from Batman: Year One (1987) to Flashpoint (2011). There are also a lot of comic books that are not here because they are not in continuity. Here is the list of the Bat-Series published during that era:

  • Batman: The main Bat-series. Not officially rebooted after the “Year One” miniseries.
  • Detective Comics: The second of the main Bat-series. 
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat: Published from 1992 to 2000, this comics offered stories that took place in Batman’s then-current continuity along with Detective Comics and the Batman comics. Canceled after the No Man’s Land events and was replaced by the Batman: Gotham Knights comics.
  • Legends Of The Dark Knight: Original comic book series launched in 1989. Most stories are “Year One” stories, set early in Batman’s career.
  • Batman Confidential: A Batman anthology series launched in 2007 in place of Legends Of The Dark Knight.
  • Batman and the Outsiders: Batman left the Justice League and founded his own team of “Outsiders”.
  • The Batman Chronicles: Published quarterly from 1995 to 2001, most issues contained three separate stories.
  • The Brave and the Bold: A team-up comics revived multiple times, notably in 2007 with a focus on Batman.
  • Superman/Batman: New version of World’s Finest Comics, a monthly series focusing on Batman joining forces with Superman.
  • Trinity: A 2008-09 limited comic series featuring the superheroes Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. 
  • Batman: Streets of Gotham: A comic book series of Batman stories told through the point of view of other characters in Gotham City.
  • And a lot of miniseries, limited series, and one-shots.

Batman Reading Order: The BatMenu

  1. The “Batman: Year One” era
  2. Tim Drake, The New Robin
  3. Batman: Knightfall
  4. Batman: No Man’s Land
  5. Bruce Wayne: Murderer
  6. War Games
  7. Grant Morrison’s Batman
  8. What to read after

Batman: The Modern Age – The Bat-Omnibuses in Order

Before getting to the full Batman comics reading order, if you want to collect the omnibus editions of the Batman Modern Age stories, here is a listing in order:

  • Batman by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale Omnibus
    Collects Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, Batman: Madness–A Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, Batman: Ghosts–A Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, Batman: The Long Halloween #1-13, Batman: Dark Victory #0-13, Catwoman: When in Rome #1-6 and a short story from Superman/Batman Secret Files & Origins 2003.
  • 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: Road to No Man’s Land Omnibus
    Collects Azrael: Agent of the Bat #40, Azrael: Agent of the Bat #47-50, Batman #554-562, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #73-82, Detective Comics #719-722, Detective Comics #724-729, Catwoman #56-57, Robin #52-54, The Batman Chronicles #12, The Batman Chronicles #14-15, Nightwing #19-20, Batman: Arkham Asylum – Tales of Madness #1, Batman: Blackgate – Isle of Men #1, Batman: Huntress/Spoiler – Blunt Trauma #1
  • Batman: No Man’s Land Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116-121, Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51-57, Batman #563-568, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83-88, Detective Comics #730-735, Catwoman #72-74, Robin #67, The Batman Chronicles #16-17, Nightwing #35-37, Batman: No Man’s Land (Collector’s) #1, Batman: No Man’s Land Gallery #1, and Young Justice In No Man’s Land #1.
  • Batman: No Man’s Land Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #122-126; Azrael: Agent of the Bat #58-61; Batman #569-574; Batman: Shadow of the Bat#89-94; Detective Comics #736-741; Catwoman #75-77; Robin #68-73; The Batman Chronicles #18; Nightwing #38-39; Batman No Man’s Land #0; and Batman: No Man’s Land Secret Files #1.
  • Batman: Bruce Wayne – Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus new
    Collects Batgirl #24, 27, 29, And 33, Batman #599-607, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-32, Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1, Birds Of Prey #39, 40-41, 43, Detective Comics #766-775, Nightwing #65-66, 68-69 And Robin #98-99.
  • Gotham Central Omnibus
    Collects Gotham Central #1-40.
  • Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus
    Collects Batman #608-619 and #685; Batman: Gotham Knights #50-55, #60-71, and #73-74; Detective Comics #846-850 and #852; a Hush interlude from Wizard #0; the Hush tales from Batman: Streets of Gotham #1-4, #14, and #16-21; and a brand-new short story from Batman: Hush: 20th Anniversary Edition.
  • 52 Omnibus
    Collects 52 #1-52.
  •  Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Batman #655-658, #663-683 and stories from DC Universe #0 and #30 and #47.
  • Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus new edition
    Collects Batman #685 (1940-), Batman Annual #1 (2016-), Batman Black and White #3 (2013-), Batman: Gotham Knights #14 (2000-), Batman: Streets of Gotham #1-4, #7, #10-14, #16-21, DCU Holiday Special #1, Detective Comics #821-824, #826-828, #831, #833-834, #837-841, #843-850, #852, #1000 
  • Final Crisis Omnibus
    Collects Batman #676-683, #701-702, Birds Of Prey #118, Dc Universe #0, Dc Universe: The Last Will And Testament #1, Final Crisis #1-7, Final Crisis: Legion Of 3 Worlds #1-5, Final Crisis: Requiem #1, Final Crisis: Resist #1, Final Crisis: Revelations #1-5, Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge #1-3, Final Crisis: Secret Files #1, Final Crisis: Submit #1, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1-2, The Flash #240-241, Justice League Of America #21, Superman/Batman #76, Teen Titans #59-60 And Terror Titans #1-6.
  • Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Batman & Robin #1-16, Batman #700-702 and Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-6.
  • Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 3
    Collects Batman Incorporated #1-8, Batman: The Return #1, Batman Incorporated #0-13, Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1, Batman Incorporated Special #1.

Batman Icon Reading Order

The Starting Point: The “Batman: Year One” era

A new beginning. This is a period full of retelling of origin stories. Everything starts with the comics miniseries “Batman: Year One.” After that, the main story takes place ten years later, but within the “Legends of the Dark Knight” series, multiple authors wrote stories taking place in the “Year One” continuity (and keeping the adult tone).

Some are really good, but if you only want the essentials of the Year One era, you can simply read “Batman: The Man Who Laughs,” and Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s work (“The Long Halloween” and “Dark Victory“) and jump to the famous “Killing Joke.”

With DC Comics launching the new collection DC Finest (their version of the Epic Collection), you can now start with Batman: Year One & Two (collects Batman #404-414, Batman Annual #11, and Detective Comics #571-581).

If you want to read all of the Batman Comics in Order, here is the full listing:

As the Crisis on Infinite Earths comic book event is the starting point of the guide, it would be logical to read it at the start. But the exploration of the “new” past introduced by Batman: Year One pushed this story to that point in the guide. Batman is only one of many superheroes fighting to save the world during the crisis, if you want to go through all of it, we have a complete Crisis on Infinite Earths Reading Order.

Justice League International Reading Order Giffen DeMatteisWhen Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis took over the Justice League International comics, Batman was one of the rare big names associated with the book, and just for a little while. To know more about the series, you can explore our JLI reading order.

Millennium DC Comics EventMillennium (Optional Comic Book Event) – After the Guardians and Zamarons exile themselves from this dimension, one of each remains and seeks out 12 Chosen to become the New Guardians. The robotic Manhunters aim to prevent this and several supporting characters are revealed to be Manhunters.

Invasion! (Optional Comic Book Event) – Resilient. Overpowering. Unstoppable. By their very nature, our planet’s superheroes have become a threat to the rest of the universe. Now, an alliance has formed between the fiercest, most calculating alien races to pursue a single goal: the elimination of Earth’s guardians. As war erupts all over the world, Superman leads the charge against these would-be alien conquerors. We go a bit deeper within our full Invasion! reading order.

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

Introducing Tim Drake, The New Robin

As you may know, there is more than one crime-fighter named Robin. At that point in the Batman comics, Jason Todd is in the past, and we are introduced to Tim Drake, the third Robin. If you are specifically interested by him, check out our guide to reading the Tim Drake comics in order. Some of the comic books in the following list have been recently collected in Robin: Tim Drake Compendium Book One, you may want to check it out.

Batman Reading Order - Knightfall Logo

The Infamous Batman: Knightfall

In the ’90s, DC Comics killed Superman and broke Batman’s back! As the Knightfall comics start, 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 with the monstrosity known as Bane, who delivers a crippling blow destined to change the Caped Crusader forever!

This Batman comic book guide is big enough already, so I choose to only put here the Omnibus editions. For a more detailed exploration of that event, follow the guide to reading the Knightfall comics in order.

  • 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 Reading Order - Knightfall Logo

The Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time Event – Set before Batman #512 during Batman: KnightsEnd. All of reality comes under attack when a mysterious force of entropy begins slowly erasing time itself—making its way from both the past and future toward the present! As history itself unravels around them, the heroes of the world—including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, The Justice Society, and the Titans—scramble to fix the broken timestream. But even if they stop the true source of the chaos, the world they save will never be the same!

90s Joker Batman Reading OrderUnderworld Unleashed – When the demon Neron boosts the powers of the DC Comics Universe’s villains, Earth’s heroes struggle to save humanity! Neron makes DC’s villains–and heroes–an offer they can’t refuse, dangling serious power upgrades at the cost of their souls. This comic book collects The Unexpected #1, Underworld Unleashed #1-3, Underworld Unleashed: Abyss–Hell’s Sentinel #1, Underworld Unleashed: Apokolips–Dark Uprising #1, Underworld Unleashed: Batman–Devil’s Asylum #1, and Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear #1. 

Flying superman Reading Order IconThe Final Night (see the reading order) – The Sun-Eater, an interstellar entity that consumes stars and all sentient life within its path, has come to Earth. As the sun goes dark, the Justice League must quell the planetwide rioting and fight to preserve life where they can. Heroes and villains alike must band together to destroy the Sun-Eater, but does one person have the will to reignite the sun?

Batman Reading Order - Logo 1998

Batman: No Man’s Land – Destroying Gotham

Another major Batman Comics Book event and, like with Knightfall, I only put the Omnibus Editions in the following list. For more information about other editions, we have a complete Batman’s No Man’s Land reading order.

After suffering a cataclysmic earthquake, the U.S. government deemed Gotham City uninhabitable and ordered all citizens to leave. It is now months later and those who have refused to vacate “No Man’s Land” live amidst a citywide turf war in which the strongest prey on the weak. Batman and his allies including the enigmatic new Batgirl, Nightwing, Oracle, and Robin must fight to save Gotham during its darkest hour and return Justice to the destroyed city.

Note: Cassandra Cain is introduced during this event. She became the official Batgirl after that. As usual, we have a guide to help you navigate the Cassandra Cain comics in order.

Batman No Man’s Land

  • Batman: Road to No Man’s Land Omnibus
    Collects Azrael: Agent of the Bat #40, Azrael: Agent of the Bat #47-50, Batman #554-562, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #73-82, Detective Comics #719-722, Detective Comics #724-729, Catwoman #56-57, Robin #52-54, The Batman Chronicles #12, The Batman Chronicles #14-15, Nightwing #19-20, Batman: Arkham Asylum – Tales of Madness #1, Batman: Blackgate – Isle of Men #1, Batman: Huntress/Spoiler – Blunt Trauma #1

  • Batman: No Man’s Land Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116-121, Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51-57, Batman #563-568, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83-88, Detective Comics #730-735, Catwoman #72-74, Robin #67, The Batman Chronicles #16-17, Nightwing #35-37, Batman: No Man’s Land (Collector’s) #1, Batman: No Man’s Land Gallery #1, and Young Justice In No Man’s Land #1.
  • Batman: No Man’s Land Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #122-126; Azrael: Agent of the Bat #58-61; Batman #569-574; Batman: Shadow of the Bat#89-94; Detective Comics #736-741; Catwoman #75-77; Robin #68-73; The Batman Chronicles #18; Nightwing #38-39; Batman No Man’s Land #0; and Batman: No Man’s Land Secret Files #1.

Batman Reading Order - Logo 1998

CatwomanCatwoman: Trail of the Catwoman
Collects Catwoman #1-9 and material from Detective Comics #759-762. For more information about the new Catwoman comic book series by Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cook, visit our guide to reading the Catwoman comics in order.

Batman Reading Order - Logo 1998

Bruce Wayne: Murderer and Fugitive

After being found with the dead body of Vesper Fairchild in his arms, Bruce Wayne is arrested for her murder. Looking to prove Bruce’s innocence, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl quickly begin an investigation to discover the true killer.

But as the mystery unfolds, evidence of Bruce’s guilt mounts, and even his closest allies question their mentor’s innocence. Tired of portraying himself as someone he is not and further embracing the freedom of his masked identity, Bruce decides to lay his millionaire playboy alter ego to rest and live life only as Batman.

New This big storyline is know available in one big comic book: Batman: Bruce Wayne – Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus. Until now, this was the comics you needed to read them:

  • Bruce Wayne: Murderer?
    Collects Batgirl #24, #27, Batman #599-602, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-29, Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1, Birds Of Prey #39-41, Detective Comics #766-770, Nightwing #65-66, #68-69, and Robin #98-99.
  • Bruce Wayne: Fugitive
    Collects Batman #603-607, Detective Comics #768-775, Batman: Gotham Knights #29-32 And Batgirl #29, #33.

We explore with more detail this storyline in our guide to reading the Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive comics in order.

Batman Reading Order - Logo 1998

Batman Reading Order: Gotham CentralThe Gotham Central comics starts here. This celebrated comic book series only featured Batman as a background player, but it’s still one of the greatest series in the Batverse. You can find the omnibus edition here.

Batman Reading Order - Logo 1998

The War Games Event

In 2004-05, DC Comics organized a (controversial) crossover between the multiple Batman comic book series. Tensions escalate and war comes to Gotham City when Batman is drawn into a skirmish between rival gangs. As Gotham’s biggest gang battle ignites, Batman must call on all his available allies—Oracle, Batgirl, Nightwing, Orpheus, Onyx, and Tarantula—to preserve life and contain the chaos while trying to determine who started this outbreak of violence. You can check out our article about the Batman: War Games Reading Order to explore that event in more detail.

Batman Reading Order - Logo 1998

Identity Crisis: After the spouse of a member of the Justice League of America is brutally murdered, the entire superhero community searches for the killer, fearing their loved ones may be the next targets. But before the mystery is fully solved, long-buried secrets of the heroes rise to the surface, threatening to tear apart and divide the heroes before they can bring the mysterious killer to justice. This event exposed dark secrets that affect Batman. You can take a look at our Identity Crisis Reading Order to explore fully this story.

Infinite Crisis Logo Reading Order

Infinite Crisis –  OMAC robots are rampaging, magic is dying, villains are uniting, and a war is raging in space. And in the middle of it all, a critical moment has divided Earth’s three greatest heroes: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. It’s the DCU’s darkest day, and long-lost heroes from the past have returned to make things right in the universe… at any cost. Heroes will live, heroes will die, and the DCU will never be the same again!

It’s a big event, but not heavy for Batman. If you are interested in learning more about it, check out our guide to read the Infinite Crisis comics in order. If not, you only have to read the following:

Batman Icon Reading Order

Batman Logo (pré New 52)

The Grant Morrison’s Batman Era

This is where the famous Grant Morrison’s run on the Batman Comics starts. It’s a must-read for Dark Knight fans and we have an entire guide to help you read those Batman comics in order. Nevertheless, here is what you need to know about it!

  • If you want to start reading the Batman comics from here, I recommend reading Batman: The Black Casebook (Collects Batman #65, 86, 112, 113, 134, 156, and 162, Detective Comics #215, 235, 247, 267, And World’s Finest Comics #89).
  • Grant Morrison’s run is now available in three omnibuses (see at the beginning of the article).
  • This is when Damian Wayne is introduced as the new Robin.

If you don’t go with the omnibuses, here is a detailed version of that era, including Morrison’s work but also the other Batman-adjacent comics series of that period.

Final Crisis – An Important event for the Batman Comic Book continuity. Using the soul-destroying Anti-Life Equation, Darkseid is remaking the heroes, villains, and everyday people of Earth in his dark image … and destroying the very fabric of reality itself in the process. Now superheroes from around the world—and across the Multiverse—must make a last, desperate stand against the forces of Anti-Life. Will Earth endure? And when the Crisis reaches its climax, who will make the ultimate sacrifice? We explore that event in our full Final Crisis reading order.

Blackest Night Reading Order

Blackest Night – A Green Lantern event that affected all of the DCU, but it’s not a Batman event. It’s been years since the death of Hal Jordan and the end of the Green Lantern Corps. But as the Torchbearer Kyle Rayner is about to find out, the adventure of epic and mythological proportions is about to begin as the former Lantern returns to the land of the living to atone for his sins. And the cosmos will never be the same as Sinestro wages his war against the Green Lanterns with his newly founded, Sinestro Corps! Follow our guide to reading the Blackest Night comics in order.

Batman Logo (pré New 52)

Flash Barry Allen - Flashpoint Reading Order

Flashpoint – This is the end of the Modern Age/Post-Crisis era. Flashpoint is ending the continuity of New Earth and leading into the New 52 relaunch. It’s a Flash event, but it introduced Thomas Wayne as Batman in an altered DC Universe that will have an impact in the future. More detail in our article about reading the Flashpoint comics in order.

Batman Icon Reading Order

What to read after Batman: The Modern Age?

Since the end of The Modern Age/Post-Crisis era, DC Comics soft rebooted its universe more than once. But nothing can stop The Batman in his fight against Gotham’s criminals. If you want to continue, here are the orders:

  1. Batman New 52 Reading Order, from The Court of Owls to the end of the DC You
  2. Batman Rebirth Reading Order, From the Monster Men to Batman’s Wedding, City of Bane, The Joker War and more.
  3. Batman Infinite Frontier Reading Order
  4. Batman Dawn of DC Reading Order

We also wrote comic book reading orders for Nightwing, Jason Todd/Red Hood, Cassandra Cain/Batgirl, Damian Wayne, Azrael, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon (Batgirl and Oracle),  and Catwoman. More to come.

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