Whether you hate Batman or love Batman, you cannot deny the fact that Batman is easily one of the top 3 coolest superheroes ever. Before 2008 Robert Downey Jr.'s Ironman, Batman's car was more popular than the entire MCU Avengers.
You can call him overrated, but nobody stays overrated for more than 81 years! It's his universe that makes everything about Batman cool - his city, his villains, his allies, his gadgets, and the list goes on.
One of the main contributors to the legacy and popularity of the caped crusader is his story arcs, which established Batman as not just a superhero but a detective and strategist.
We handpicked 7 of Batman's all-time best story arcs that you must try if you haven't!
Let's begin.
Tower Of Babel (2000)
Remember how everyone trolls and makes memes about Batman and his infamous "prep time"? Tower Of Babel arguably started all these. This story has a heavy focus on Batman and his tendency to plan ahead.
Batman's arch-nemesis Ras's al Ghul starts taking down all the Justice League members one by one and creating global-scale chaos. It's later revealed that all the tactics and techniques to take down Justice League members are actually Batman's plans. Batman plans ahead and prepares to stop the Justice League should they ever go rogue.
In a way, it establishes the Dark Knight as one of the most dangerous characters in the entire DC universe. But how does Batman defeat Ra's al Ghul? Will the Justice League ever trust Batman after all? Read Tower Of Babel and find out!
Tower Of Babel was written by Mark Waid.
Three Jokers (2020)
Three Jokers is a limited series that was released under the DC Black Label, which was meant for mature audiences. The Three Jokers was a huge event for DC fans. The existence of multiple Jokers was first hinted at in Justice League #50, where Batman asks the Mobius Chair about Joker's real identity, and the Mobius chair reveals that there are three Jokers!
The story was then picked by the mini-series and explained why and how Joker changed over the years. The three Jokers were the comedian from Alan Moore's Killing Joke, the clown that killed the first Robin, Jason Todd, and the original criminal version.
Read the mini-series and find out what happens when these three Jokers meet and what plans they hatched.
Three Jokers was written by Geoff Johns.
Under The Hood (2004)
Under The Hood re-introduces Jason Todd, the first Robin murdered by the clown prince of crime, Joker. Jason Todd is no longer the beloved sidekick. He is now a violent anti-hero who calls himself Red Hood.
Batman's most unfortunate regrets bring back Jason Todd as an unstoppable rival called Red Hood. Jason Todd as Red Hood is brought back from death and hates Batman intensely, and holds him responsible for his death.
Is Red Hood the same Jason who Batman once mentored? Can Batman face his failure and win? Read Under The Hood and find out.
Judd Winick is the writer of the Under The Hood storyline.
The Court Of Owls (2011)
Dick Grayson (Nightwing) tells Batman that Gotham is a four hundred years old city, and maybe before them, the city belonged to something dark and big. The storyline further reveals that Gotham was under the control of the Court Of Owls since colonial times. The court of owls is a group of wealthy and powerful men who found a way to use their knowledge and wealth to control almost everything, including death!
The Court Of The Owls is one of the major storylines in the New 52 series. In this storyline, Batman investigates and finds out about them and realizes that the court of owls are more powerful and dangerous than anyone he has faced so far.
Can the owls beat the bat? Read The Court Of Owls by Scott Snyder.
Hush (2002)
Hush is a mystery storyline that convinces the readers that Batman is a detective first before a superhero. Batman finds out that someone is trying to ruin his life from the dark. Batman goes from one end to another, deals with many of his villains, and even fights Superman. In the end, it's revealed that it was a person who was close to Bruce Wayne!
Who was this friend of Bruce Wayne? What makes this mysterious friend go against Bruce? You'll find all the answers in the pages of Hush, written by Jeph Loeb.
The Killing Joke (1988)
Many believe that The Killing Joke is the most popular Batman story ever. One can say that the 2019 Joker movie was inspired by it. The Killing Joke shows how a failed comedian becomes Batman's most dreaded villain. Many fans consider The Killing Joke as the greatest Joker origin story. The Killing Joke won the Eisner award for "Best Writing."
The Killing Joke is written by Alan Moore.
Batman: Knightfall (1993)
Knightfall is a massive and important Batman comic book that introduced us to Bane! Bane, an orphan born in Santa Prisca prison, develops extraordinary and dangerous skills within the walls of the prison. Although he was stronger than everyone in Santa Prisca prison, he was tortured by a terrifying huge bat, which always appears in his dreams. When he learns about Batman, he decides to destroy him as his way of defeating the giant bat from his dreams.
Bane arrives in Gotham and systematically reduces Batman to his weakest psychological and physical state. Bane confronts Batman in his own house, which proves that he knew that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Bane fights Batman and becomes the only man to ever "break the bat"!
Batman: Knightfall is written by Chuck Dixon.
Dark Nights: Metal (2017)
Dark Nights: Metal is a massive event that shakes the DC universe to its core. The events in Dark Nights: Metal lead to an unstoppable invasion by monstrous and twisted versions of Batman! These evil Batmans are from a dark and twisted universe known as the Dark Multiverse! Among all these evil Batmans, there's a version of Batman that is the scariest Batman ever - The Batman Who Laughs! Imagine a Batman who is also the Joker!
Dark Nights: Metal is a must-read Batman story. Dark Nights: Metal is written by Scott Snyder.
There's more!
There are many more iconic Batman comic books and storylines that you should try. Story arcs like The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb, The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, or Year One by Frank Miller deserve special mentions.
We promise to bring you more comic-related stories and posts. So, stay tuned!
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