Although I had just started reading batman graphic novels I have been trying to get his story fully and collect them all. So I made a list of what other people have said is the order of his novel and here is the list
P.S. I know I have made mistakes plz tell me where I missed them ok.
Batman Year One
Batman Shaman
Batman & the Monster Men
Batman& the Mad Monk
Batman Prey
Batman the Man Who Laughs
Batman Gothic
Batman Venom
Batman Four of a Kind
Collected Legends of the Dark Knight
Batman Other Realms
Batman Snow
Batman and The Long Halloween
Batman Dark Victory
Batman The Gauntlet and Robin Year One (not fully sure though)
Batman Haunted knight
Batman Faces
Batman Terror
Batman Monsters
Batman Rules of Engagement
Batman Night Crisis
Batman The Cat and the Bat
Batman King Tuts Tomb
Batman Tales of the Demon
Batman The nights of the Beast
Batman The Killing Joke
Arkham Asylum A Serious House on Serious Earth
Batman Death in the Family
Batman A Lonely Place of Mine
Batman Blind Justice
The Sword of Azreal
Batman Knight fall vol 1 - 3
Batman Prodical
Batman Anarky
Batman Contagion
Batman Legacy
Batman Cataclysm
Batman No Mans Land Vol 1 - 5
Batman Evolustion
Batman Officer Down
Bruce Wayne Murderer?
Bruce Wayne Fugitive Vol 1 - 3
Hush Vol 1 - 2
Batman Death in the Maidens
Batman Broken City
Batman As the crow Flies
Batman War Drums
Batman War Games vol 1 - 3
Batman Hush Returns
Batman City of Crime
Batman Under the Hood Vol 1 - 2
Batman War Crimes
Batman Face the Face
Batman Detective
Batman and Son
Batman Death in the City
Batman The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul
Batman and the Black Glove
Batman Private Casebook
Batman Heart of Hush
Batman R.I.P.
Batman What Ever Happened To The Caped Crusader
Batman Battle of the Cowl
Batman Battle of the Cowl Companion
Batman Reborn
Batman Vs Robin
Batman Long Shadows
Batman Hush Money
Batman Life After Death
Batman Arkham Reborn
Time and the Batman
Batman Must Die
Batman The Road Home
Batman The Return of Bruce Wayne
Batman Eye of the Beholder
That should be all of them up to the new 52 Batman issue 1.
I'm happy to say the Bat-books I own are pretty much in that order on my shelf.
I've never read Snow or Prey (which I heard is actually out of print now) and I never got around to putting No Mans Land together (gonna wait for the new editions now tho').
On a side note, Arkham Asylum: a Serious House on Serious Earth... I tend to believe that the events in that book were actually a dream (or nightmare as the case may be).
There are clues scattered throughout the book which lead me to believe this is the case... or could be the case if the reader is so inclined.
I seem to recall Morrison himself alluding to this when describing the purposeful malformation of Batman's character (and the villains) as neurotic, sexually repressed and ultimately quite weak... a typical scenario in the nightmare of a strong willed person no?
As such it could really come anywhere in the list for me.
@bob agent of agency x: no I don't have any of these except for batman year one. I just researched it. But I must say if this is what you need to read before reading issue 1 of the new 52. it would be near impossible.
I own everything personally and will upload some timeline videos soon! Check out the website and visit the YouTube channel (link on homepage).
UBC: A complete Batman related comics timeline (including downloadable files containing checklists with information about the reading order of separate issues) from Batman: Year One to The New 52 plus loads of information about canon and continuity regarding the origins of Batman, all five Robins, Nightwing and Batgirl!
--> Issue #1 overlaps with Batman: Year One, Batman #404-405. It begins with Bruce's last training stop in Alaska before returning to Gotham City.
Batman And The Monster Men
Batman And The Mad Monk
Batman: Prey
Batman: Dark Legends
Batman: The Man Who Laughs
Batman: Dead To Rights
Batman: Gothic
Batman: Venom
Batman: Going Sane
Batman: Four Of A Kind
Batman: Collected Legends
Batman: Other Realms
Batman: Snow
Batman: Year Two
Batman: Long Halloween
Catwoman: When In Rome (takes place during Batman: Dark Victory)
Batman: Dark Victory
Robin: Year One
Robin: The Gauntlet
Batgirl: Year One
Batman: Faces
Batman: Terror
Batman: Monsters
Batman: Rules Of Engagement
Batman: Full Circle
Batman: Fortunate Son
Batman: Night Cries
Batman: Cat & The Bat
Batman: King Tut’s Tomb
Batman: Tales Of The Demon
Batman: Strange Apparitions
Nightwing: Year One (see note)
--> Post-Crisis (?) version of how and why Dick stopped being Robin - conflicts with Batman #408-409...Help needed!
Batman: Dark Detective
Batman: The Wrath
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman #408-409: Did Robin Die Tonight/Just Another Kid On Crime Alley
Batman: Ten Nights o/t Beast
Batman: The Cult
Batman: A Death In The Family
Batman: Blind Justice
Batman: The Many Deaths…
Batman: Year Three
Batman: Lonely Place Of Dying
Batman: Bride Of The Demon
Robin: Tragedy & Triumph
Robin: A Hero Reborn
Batman: The Last Arkham
Batman: Birth Of The Demon
Batman: Sword Of Azrael
Robin: Cry Of The Huntress
Batman: Vengeance Of Bane
Batman: Knightfall
Batman: Prodigal
Batman: Troika
Nightwing: Ties That Bind
Robin: Flying Solo
Nightwing: A Knight In Blüdhaven
ZERO HOUR/ZERO MONTH: The Beginning Of Tomorrow
Batman: Anarky
Batman: The Chalice
Batman: Contagion
Nightwing: Rough Justice
Batman: Legacy (Incl. Batman: Bane Of The Demon & Batman: Bane)
Batman: Cataclysm
Nightwing: Love & Bullets
Batman: Aftershock
Batman: Road To No Man's Land
Batman: No Man's Land
Nightwing: A Darker Shade Of Justice (see note)
Batman: Harley Quinn (see note)
--> Between Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 3 and 4 - OLD EDITIONS or between Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 2 and 3 - NEW EDITIONS.
Nightwing: The Hunt For Oracle
Batman: Evolution
Nightwing: Big Guns
Nightwing: On The Razor’s Edge
Batman: Officer Down
Batman: False Faces
Batman: Bruce Wayne: Murderer?
Batman: Bruce Wayne: Fugitive?
Batman: Hush
Batman: Death And The Maidens
Batman: Broken City
Batman: As The Crow Flies
Robin: Unmasked
Batman: War Drums
Batman: War Games
Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood
IDENTITY CRISIS
Batman: Hush Returns
Batman: City Of Crime
Nightwing: Mobbed Up
Robin: To Kill A Bird
Batman: Under The Hood
Red Hood: The Lost Days
Batman: War Crimes
Robin: Days Of Fire & Madness
Nightwing: Renegade
INFINITE CRISIS (see note)
--> Runs concurrently with the concluding chapters of Batman: Under The Hood.
52
Batman: Face The Face
Nightwing: Brothers In Blood
Robin: Wanted
Batman: Detective
Nightwing: Love & War
Robin: Teenage Wasteland
Batman: Death And The City
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS
Robin: The Big Leagues
Batman: Cacophony
Batman: Gotham Underground
Batman: Batman & Son (see note)
--> Batman: Son Of The Demon was never intended to be in continuity at the time of publication. When Grant Morrison wrote Batman & Son there was much talk that he was bringing it into continuity, but he made several changes to the conception of the baby that made it impossible. Morrison stated numerous times that he wasn't bringing it into continuity, but rather using the concept for his own means. He has clarified this in a way that will take a little explaining because it crosses three totally seperate continuities.
1986-2011: Damian is introduced and his origin is referenced numerous times but never explicitly shown.
2011-Present: Batman Incorporated Vol 2 #2 clearly shows Damian to have been conceived at the very end of...
Check out my blog! It contains every appearance of Batman (so I have managed to find at least) there are still some books that are missing that I still can't place. But I am working on it! (and I have incorporated some else-world tales that if they were in the timeline this is most likely where they would be)
With the exception of titles like Batwoman and Batman Inc., New 52 Batman has rewritten pretty much everything that came before. But, as a time-line of the pre-52 Batman universe, this is a pretty complete list.
@masahikotahara: You seem to be going insane over this and have missed my reply...
Jason wore a different costume during his last few appearances in pre-flashpoint DCU. It was white and black, the helmet was more of a dome than a helm, and he wore a high collar black cape. It appeared along with his side-kick in Batman & Robin vol1 3-6. There is a later appearance in the series that may have better pics but i don't feel like looking for them.
Also you could say that Tim wore a different variation of the Red Robin costume or Robin costume which was he Robin Costume plus the the Red Robin cowl/cape that he wore in the last few issues of the Robin series 181+ because he needed head protection and the red robin cowl just happened to be around at the time.
I don't understand why Dark Knight Returns is not on this list. What am I missing?
The fact that it's an Elseworlds tale and therefore hasn't ever been canon. It's a possible future/alternate history. Prior to Flashpoint in fact it took place on Earth-31.
Very nice list though. I appreciate it, as I plan to start updating my Batman collection soon, and it'll be nice to go in some type of order. List also seems to include Morrisin's run, so that's two birds with one stone.
The key for me is that it isn't crucial to read any of these in any order. Different earths, alternate realities, etc. He is still an iconic character that we call can look up to.
Here is a question. How in the world is the order even decided? I am enjoying looking at all of these in this order but how in the world is it decided to put BATMAN & THE MONSTER MEN between CATWOMAN: HER SISTER'S KEEPER and BATMAN & THE MAD MONK?
I'm not an expert on timeline/continuity but didn't new 52 change the timeline? Think Scott Synder mentioned something about Zero Year is pretty much a modernized and new 52 version of Year One.
I'm not an expert on timeline/continuity but didn't new 52 change the timeline? Think Scott Synder mentioned something about Zero Year is pretty much a modernized and new 52 version of Year One.
Here is a question. How in the world is the order even decided? I am enjoying looking at all of these in this order but how in the world is it decided to put BATMAN & THE MONSTER MEN between CATWOMAN: HER SISTER'S KEEPER and BATMAN & THE MAD MONK?
The people who wrote it, etc. Sometimes writers decide to set a story earlier in Batman's career, and many times will go as far as to say when the story's taking place.
No one said it was crucial to read them in order. It's simply them put in Order for people's enjoyment.
@masterofnone169: hi, I don't know if some else has spotted this or if it just the writing order, but Prey should go after Monster Men and before Mad Monk. The only reason I spotted this is because in Mad Monk he has his Bat Mobile and in Prey he is still constructing it. Enjoying the list lots :)
Excuse me if this has already been said, but is there really any reason to read the pre-52 graphic novels? (besides for the fun of it) Almost any history marked in these pre-New 52 comics are retconned. Take a look at the new-52 Batman timeline, many trademark events have been retconned or revamped to death, like Knightfall, Zero Month, Infinite Crisis, Batman R.I.P./Bruce Wayne: Road Home. If you take a quick look, any history between Dick Grayson and Bruce is condensed into just two years, instead of 20-ish. Jason dies the same year he becomes robin. Barbara was paralyzed for only 2 years, while being Batgirl for about 1 year. Sure, go read these classic novels for the thrill of reliving the real Batman's world, not this new-52 crap. I personally only read the Killing Joke and the jack the ripper one. I liked the Spider-Man and Batman crossover as well. And I'm in the process of reading Generations, which is an elseworlds title, which shows the complete lives of Batman and Superman through generations of their family tree, starting with them and going to the future.
@genesisx: Of course their is man especially if you're a big fan of the character,and most of these stories are classics.I've been going back and reading all things pre-new 52 because the stories are great! Sucks all of it was removed from being canon
I am currently reading "Batman: Hush Returns" after having read "Batman: War Games" and I can tell that the former must be placed before the later.
"Batman: Hush Returns" consists of 6 consecutive Books ("Pushback" 1 to 6) that happen before "Batman: War Games", plus one called "Job Termination" -which has an introduction mentioning that this particular book actions ocurred after "Batman: War Games".
0- The Man who falls (tell the tale of Batman's training, takes place before Year One)
I think 29 is called A Lonely Place of Dying. Also you can add Batman Year Three between 28-29. Though the story tells tales in the past and in the present. The present time takes place in between Death in the Family and A Lonely Place of Dying, but the story in the past could be placed after Dark Victory even though DV is a soft retcon of Dick Grayson's origin which is told in Y3 in a flashback. This story also features the first official appearance of Tim Drake before he becomes Robin in A Lonely Place of Dying.
In between Cataclysm (37) and No Man's Land (38), there's Aftershock and Road to No Man's Land
War Crimes takes place directly after War Games since the last issue of War Games is also a prequel to War Crimes
Long Shadows takes place before Batman vs Robin. It can also be considered part of the story called Batman Reborn
And to see if you're not missing any story or have the right order, I would recommande looking at the list that wikipedia has : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Batman_comics
To fans of Batman, i would also recommand reading : BATMAN THE DAILIES 1943-1946. Some of the best stories I've read are in there. Because each strip has suspense making the reading very intense. It's also the first time you can see the batcave, and see alfred slim.
Batman 408-409 is placed around the the Time as Nightwing Year One (both are story about Dick quitting Robin and Jason becoming Robin).
The Killing Joke should take place directly before Death in the Family, because Barbara was still Batgirl in "the Diplomats Son" (according to Gotham Knigths 44-45).
And i'm not shure if the Cult is canon or an elseworld story.
@masterofnone169 this is a really great list. Is there somewhere I can find any updates you've made from suggestions or added in new trades in the last 10 months? This is very useful. Thanks!
The above list is outdated and very misleading. There's no reason to read *every* story in this fashion and the idea of sticking to a chronological reading order is deluded. It also ignores Batman Family , OGN's and non-canon which is where you'll actually find the bulk of great Batman stories. See Intro to Batman comics; Top 75 collected editions; modern era Release Order
I believe @batshrine has a better list, even though it's not fully up to date : http://www.comicvine.com/profile/batshrine/blog/batman-tpb-complete-chronology/79247/
@danongorf : No, the new 52 is suppose to be a reboot, so technically you don't need to ready anything. And this is not a complete list at all, someone made a real complete one with over 600+ titles to read :
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