The Batman comic books definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics and The Definitive Guide to Collecting Batman Comics. Last updated January 2017 with titles scheduled for release through July 2017.
Post-Crisis Batman: Batman (1940) #401 (Nov 1986) – Present
Many of DC’s heroes saw their comics relaunched in the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths to delineate where their new continuity began. That was not the case with Batman, whose Detective Comics and Batman continued their runs uninterrupted.
Batman #401 is the first appearance of Post-Crisis Batman. Yet, the true keystone to Post-Crisis Batman is Year One in #404-407. Frank Miller pens a fresh, definitive take on Batman’s first year in the cowl that becomes the in-continuity bedrock of all further Batman stories.
[Patreon-2017][/Patreon-2017]
- Batman: Year One by Miller and Mazzuchelli
- #401 – 430 & Annual 11-12: by Jim Starlin & Jim Aparo (Nov 1986 – Feb 1989)
- #431 – 447 & Annual 13-14: by Aparo and Owsley, Byrne, Wolfman, & Milligan (Mar 1989 – May 1990)
- #448 – 483 & Annual 15-16: by Grant and Wolfman, Milligan, & Moench (June 1990 – Aug 1992)
- #484 – 514 & Annual 17-18: Knightfall by Moench with Aparo & Manley (Sep 1992 – Feb 1995)
- #515 – 562 & Annual 19-22: by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones (Feb 1995 – Oct 1998)
- #563 – 574 & Annual 23: No Man’s Land (Mar 1999 – Feb 2000)
- #575 – 607 & Annual 24: by McDaniel with Hama, Brubaker, & Vaughan (Mar 2000 – Nov 2002)
- #608 – 625: Hush by Loeb/Lee and Broken City by Azzarello/Risso (Dec 2002 – May 2004)
- #626 – 650 & Annual 25: Judd Winnick’s War Games & Under The Hood (June 2004 – Apr 2006)
- #651 – 713 & Annual 26-28: One Year Later and Grant Morrison’s Batman (May 2006 – Oct 2011)
- DC New 52: Volume 2 #1-52, 0, 23.1-4, & Annual 1-4 by Snyder & Capullo (2011 – 2016)
- DC Rebirth: Batman (2016) by Tom King #1 – present (Jul 2016 – Present)
Post-Crisis Batman
Batman: Year One by Miller and Mazzuchelli
Comprised of issues #404-407, this mega-famous story by Frank Miller with artist David Mazzuchelli reestablished Batman’s origin for the modern age of comics.
Absolute Batman: Year One (2016)
Two volumes; one with original colors, and one with modern recoloring. Most collectors are negative on this set, feeling it is overpriced for the amount of content and too similar to the existing deluxe.
Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition (2005 deluxe hardcover / 2012 deluxe hardcover / 2007-2013 paperback)
Batman: Year One (1988 hardcover / 1988-2002 paperback)
The Complete Frank Miller Batman (1989 – ISBN 0-681-40869-X)
Collects Batman (1940) #404-407 and Batman: The Dark Knight (1986) #1-4, plus material from DC Special Series (1977) #21
Batman #401-430 & Annual 11-12:
by Jim Starlin & Jim Aparo (Nov 1986 – Feb 1989)
After a brief author-go-round at the start of this run (Max Allan Collins writes around Miller’s Year One; Mary Jo Duffy pens a fill-in), Jim Starlin takes over at #414 for just over a year of issues along with artist Jim Aparo, who pencils from #414 to 451 with only a handful of breaks (and from #480-500).
#401: Not collected
#402-403: Batman: Second Chances (2015)
Collects around Year One with Batman (1940) #402-403, 408-416, and Annual 11
#404-407: See Year One, above
Annual 11, 1st story: “Mortal Clay” was written by Alan Moore, and has been widely collected in Across the Universe: DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore (2003), DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (hardcover / paperback), and DC Universe by Alan Moore (hardcover / paperback)
Annual 11, 2nd story: “Love Bird” was created by the title’s regular writer, Max Allan Collins, and regular Detective Comics artist Norm Breyfogle. It is collected in Second Chances, directly below, and in The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told, Vol. 2 (1992) and Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle hardcover (2015).
#408-416 & Annual 11 (2nd story): Batman: Second Chances (again)
Collects Batman (1940) #402-403, 408-416, and Annual 11 (2nd story). Issue #408 is also collected in Robin the Boy Wonder: A Celebration of 75 Years
Batman The Caped Crusader Vol. 1 hardcover (2017)
Collects Detective Comics #575-578 and Batman: Full Circle OGN (though other solicits have it containing #575-584 and Batman #413-420 instead of Full Circle)
#417-420: Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast (1994)
Annual 12, 1st story: Not collected; “Slade’s Demon,” written by Mike Baron.
Annual 12, 2nd story: “The Backup,” pencilled by Norm Breyfogle and collected in Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle hardcover (2015).
#421-423: Not collected; written by Jim Starlin
#424: Robin the Boy Wonder: A Celebration of 75 Years hardcover (2015)
Collects Batman (1940) #20, 107, 156, 408, 424, 428, 442, & 657, Batman and Robin (2011) Annual 1, The Batman Family (1975) #1, Batman: The Dark Knight (1986) #2, DC One Million 80-Page Giant (1999) #1, Detective Comics (1937) #38 & 342, Justice League of America (1960) #55, Nightwing (1996) #25 & 101, Robin (1993) #46 & 126, Star Spangled Comics (1941) #82, 86, & 103, and Superman/Batman (2003) #7 & 77
#425: Not collected; written by Jim Starlin
#426-429: Batman: A Death in the Family (1988-2010 printings)
Issue #428 is also included in Robin: The Teen Wonder (2009)
#426-429: Batman: A Death in the Family (2011)
Collects Batman (1940) #426-429 and Lonely Place of Dying, a crossover between Batman (1940) #440-442 and The New Titans (1988) #60-61. Available in a 2009 hardcover. Issue #428 is also included in Robin: The Teen Wonder (2009)
#430: Not collected; Jim Starlin’s final issue as author
Batman #431-447 & Annual 13-14:
by Aparo and Owsley, Byrne, Wolfman, & Milligan (Mar 1989 – May 1990)
As you can tell from the header of this section, Batman was in a writer-go-round from 1989-1990. This is made more puzzling by the fact that DC launched Legends of the Dark Knight in this period specifically to be a book where creators could drop by for a single arc.
Despite the changing hands on script, this period does have one widely-recognized popular story: Wolfman’s “A Lonely Place of Dying” – the one arc not pencilled by Aparo!
#431-432: Not collected; written by Jim Owsley
#433-435: The Many Deaths of the Batman (1992)
Written by John Byrne
Annual 13: Not collected. Stories by Jim Owsley and Kevin Dooley
#436-439: Not collected; Year Three. (Year Two was in Detective Comics #575-578, almost immediately following the publication of Year One in Batman).
#440-442: Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying (1990)
A crossover between Batman (1940) #440-442 and The New Titans (1988) #60-61. Issue #442 is also collected in Robin the Boy Wonder: A Celebration of 75 Years (2015) HC and Robin: The Teen Wonder (2009) TPB
#440-442: Batman: A Death in the Family (2011)
A crossover between Batman (1940) #440-442 and The New Titans (1988) #60-61. Also collects A Death in the Family from #429-429. Available in a 2009 hardcover.
#443-444: Not collected
#445-447: Not collected, “When the Earth Dies!”
Annual 14: Batman: Featuring Two-Face and The Riddler (1995)
Collects Batman (1940) #179 and Annual 14, Detective Comics (1937) #66, 68, 140, & 377, and Secret Origins (1986) Special 1
Batman #448-483 & Annual 15-16:
by Grant with Wolfman, Milligan, & Moench (June 1990 – Aug 1992)
Alan Grant writes the majority of this run after #450-455 for Wolfman and an arc from Milligan, and later breaks for Chuck Dixon and a return from Milligan.
#448-449: Not collected, “The Penguin Affair” – a crossover with Detective Comics (1937) #615
#450-451: Not collected
#452-454: Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City
Collects Batman (1940) #452-454 and Detective Comics (1937) #629-633. Just the Batman issues and Detective #633 are collected in the prestige one-shot DC Comics Presents: Batman – Dark Knight, Dark City (2011) #1.
#455-457: Robin, Volume 1: Reborn (2015)
Collects Batman (1940) #455-457, Detective Comics (1937) #618-621, and Robin II (1991) #1-4. A 1991 edition titled “Robin: A Hero Reborn (1991)” omitted the Detective issues.
#458-459: Not collected
#460-461: Not collected; “Sisters in Arms”
#462-464: Not collected; “Spirit of the Beast”
Annual 15: Not collected; “The Last Batman Story” written by Alan Grant. See DC Universe Events: Armageddon 2001.
#465 & 467-469: Robin, Volume 2: Triumphant (2015)
Collects Batman (1940) #465-469, Robin II (1991) #1-4, and Robin III: Cry of the Huntress (1992) #1-6
#466: Not collected
#470: Not collected; see DC Universe Events: War of the Gods.
#471: Batman Arkham: Killer Croc (2016)
Batman (1940) #358-359, 471, 489, 512, 521-522, Batman and Robin (2011) #23.4, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #3, Detective Comics (1937) #525, 660, 808-810, Joker’s Asylum II: Killer Croc (2010) #1, and guide pages from Who’s Who in the DC Universe (1990) #7 and Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985) #5
#472-473: Not collected, “The Idiot Root” crossover with Detective Comics (1937) #639-640
#474: Not collected, “The Destroyer” crossover through Batman (1940) #474, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #27, Detective Comics (1937) #641
#475-476: Not collected, “The Return of Scarface” crossover from Batman (1940) #475-476 to Detective Comics (1937) #642
#477-478: Not collected, “A Gotham Tale”
Annual 16: Not collected; “The Darkness Within: By Darkness Possessed” written by Alan Grant and John Wagner. See DC Universe Events: Eclipso: The Darkness Within
#479-480: Not collected. Issue #480 was Alan Grant’s final issue as well as Jim Aparo’s return.
#481-483: Not collected, written by Doug Moench
Batman #484 – 514 & Annual 17-18:
Knightfall by Moench with Aparo & Manley (Sep 1992 – Feb 1995)
Doug Moench writes the entirety of this crossover-fueled run with Jim Aparo penciling through #499 and Mike Manley penciling most of the remainder.
In oversize hardcover:
#484-500: Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 1 Hardcover
These issues begin to show Batman in a weakened state to foreshadow his upcoming defeat. Collects Batman: Vengeance Of Bane #1, Batman #484-500, Batman Shadow Of The Bat #16-18, Detective Comics #654-666, and Showcase’93 #7-8.
#501-508: Batman Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2: Knightquest
Collects “The Crusade” and “The Search” storylines, including 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 & 7, and Showcase ’94 #7.
#509-510 & 512-515:Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 3: Knightsend Hardcover
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, Atman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Showcase ’94 #10, Nightwing: Alfred’s Return #1, and Batman: Vengeance of Bane #2.
#511: Not collected in this format
A 2012 series of “Batman: Knightfall” paperbacks:
#484-490: Not collected in this series of paperbacks
#491-500: Batman: Knightfall, Volume 1 (2012 – 978-1401233792)
Batman (1940) #491-500, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #16-18, Batman: Vengeance of Bane Special (1993) #1, Detective Comics (1937) #659-666, Showcase ’93 (1993) #7-8.
Annual 17: Not collected; “Bloodlines: Outbreak: Ballistic” by Doug Moench. See DC Universe Events: Bloodlines. Fits after Batman #498, Detective Comics #665, and Shadow of the Bat #16-18, and before Batman #499,
#501-508: Batman: Knightfall, Volume 2 – Knightquest (2012 – 978-1401235369)
Batman (1940) #501-508, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #19-20 & 24-28, Catwoman (1993) #6-7, Detective Comics (1937) #667-675, Robin (1993) #7
#509-510: Batman: Knightfall, Volume 3 – Knightsend (2012 – 978-1401237219)
Batman (1940) #509-510 & 512-514, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #62-63, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #29-30 & 32-34, Catwoman (1993) #12-13, Detective Comics (1937) #676-677 & 679-681, Robin (1993) #8-9 & 11-13, Showcase ’94 (1994) #10
#511 & 0: Batman: Zero Hour (2017 – 978-1401272586)
Not really a part of this reprint sequence, but this collects the various Zero Hour issues that interrupted Knightfall – Batman #0 & 511, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #0 & 31, Detective Comics #0 & 678, Catwoman #0 & 74, Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #0 ,and Robin #0 & 10.
#512-514: Batman: Knightfall, Volume 3 – Knightsend (again)
A 1993 series of “Batman: Knightfall” paperbacks began to collect this material; they have been reprinted many times since then (sometimes with alternate trade dress).
Click to expand a list of the 1993 collections.By single issues:
#489 & 512: Batman Arkham: Killer Croc
Collects Batman (1940) #358-359, 471, 489, 512, 521-522, Batman and Robin (2011) #23.4, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #3, Detective Comics (1937) #525, 660, 808-810, Joker’s Asylum II: Killer Croc (2010) #1, and guide pages from Who’s Who in the DC Universe (1990) #7 and Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985) #5
#497: Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years hardcover (2014)
Batman (1940) #1, 49, 181, 497, & Special 1; Batman (2011) #2; DC Special Series (1977) #21; Detective Comics (1937) #27, 83, 211, 216, 327, 359, 385, 442, 474, 574, 633, 711, 757, 821; Detective Comics (2011) #27; and World’s Finest Comics (1941) #94
#511 & 0: Batman: Zero Hour (2017 – 978-1401272586)
Collects the various Zero Hour issues that interrupted Knightfall – Batman #0 & 511, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #0 & 31, Detective Comics #0 & 678, Catwoman #0 & 74, Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #0 ,and Robin #0 & 10.
#512: Batman: Under the Cowl (2010)
Batman (1940) #512 & 666, Batman Beyond [II] (1999) #1, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #168, Detective Comics (1937) #665, Teen Titans (2003) #18
Annual 18: Not collected; “Black Masterpiece” written by Doug Moench. This story was released during the tail end of Knightfall, but it is not in continuity. See DC Universe Events: Elseworlds Annuals
Batman #515-562 & Annual 19-22:
by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones (Feb 1995 – Oct 1998)
Doug Moench writers all but the final three issues of this run, which are taken over by Chuck Dixon as the title heads into the No Man’s Land crossover.
Batman: Kelley Jones Gallery Edition hardcover (2014)
Collects #515-519, 521-525 in oversized reproductions of the original penciled pages.
#515-519: Batman by Doug Moench & Kelley Jones, Vol. 1 hardcover (2014)
Collects Batman (1940) #515-519, 521-525, 527-532, & 535. Issue #515 is part of “Troika” crossover with Batman (1940) #515, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #35, Detective Comics (1937) #682, Robin (1993) #14 – none of which are collected here.
Annual 19: Batman Arkham: Scarecrow (2016)
Written by Doug Moench. Part of DC Universe Events: Year One Annuals. Previously collected in Batman: Four of a Kind (1998) with the full set of Batman Year One Annuals – Batman (1940) Annual 19. Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) Annual 5, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) Annual 3, and Detective Comics (1937) Annual 8
#520: Not collected. Moench writes with guest artist Eduardo Barreto
#521-525: Batman by Doug Moench & Kelley Jones, Vol. 1 hardcover (2014)
Collects Batman (1940) #515-519, 521-525, 527-532, & 535. Issues #521-522 also collected in Batman Arkham: Killer Croc; issues #523-524 also collected in Batman Arkham: Scarecrow. Issue #525 is an Underworld Unleashed tie-in
Underworld Unleashed: See DC Universe Events.
#526: Tales of the Batman: J.H. Williams III hardcover (2014)
Moench pens this issue with guest-artist Williams. Collects Batman (1940) #526, 550, 667-669, & Annual 1, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #86-88, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #192-196, Chase (1998) #7-8, and Detective Comics (1937) #821
#527-532: Batman by Doug Moench & Kelley Jones, Vol. 1 hardcover (2014)
Collects Batman (1940) #515-519, 521-525, 527-532, & 535. Issues #527-528 also collected in Batman Vs. Two-Face (2008).
#529-532: Batman: Contagion (2016)
Collects Azrael (1995) #15-16, Batman (1940) #529-532, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #4, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #48-52, Catwoman (1993) #31-32, Detective Comics (1937) #695-696, Robin (1993) #27-30.
(A 1996 version (ISBN 978-1563892936) collected a smaller range of issues – Azrael (1995) #15-16, Batman (1940) #529, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #4, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #48-49, Catwoman (1993) #31-32, Detective Comics (1937) #695-696, Robin (1993) #27-28)
Annual 20: Not collected; “Fables of the Bat-Man” written by Doug Moench. This story is not in continuity; see DC Universe Events: Legends of the Death Earth
#533-534: Batman: Legacy (1996 – ISBN 978-1563893377)
Collects Batman (1940) #533-534, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #53-54, Catwoman (1993) #35-36, Detective Comics (1937) #699-702, Robin (1993) #31-33
#533: Batman: Legacy (2017 – ISBN 978-1401272029)
This collection information has changed a few times; I wouldn’t call it official until after we’ve all seen the book in April 2017! Currently announced to collect Collects Catwoman #33-35, Shadow of the Bat #53, Batman #533, Detective Comics #697-702, and Robin #32-33. Previously announced to collect Catwoman #33-36, Shadow of the Bat #53-54, Batman #533-534, Detective Comics #700-702, Robin #32-33, and Batman: Bane..
#535: Batman by Doug Moench & Kelley Jones, Vol. 1 hardcover (2014)
Collects Batman (1940) #515-519, 521-525, 527-532, & 535. Issues #527-528 also collected in Batman Vs. Two-Face (2008).
#536-538: Not collected, “Darkest Night of the Man-Bat” – a Final Night tie-in.
#539: Not collected
#540-541: Not collected, “The Spectre of Vengeance”
#542-543: Not collected, “Faceless”
Annual 21: Tales of the Batman: J.H. Williams III hardcover
Written by Doug Moench. Not in continuity; see DC Universe Events: Pulp Heroes Annuals
#544-546: Not collected, “Major Arcana”
#547: Not collected; a Genesis tie-in
#548-549: Not collected, “The Penguin Returns”
#550: Chase
This issue acts as a prologue to the Chase ongoing series. Collects Batgirl Secret Files and Origins (2002) #1, Batman (1940) #550, Chase (1998) #1-9 & 1,000,000, DCU Villains Secret Files (1999) #1, The Flash Secret Files (1997) #3, Hawkman Secret Files and Origins (2002) #1, Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files (2001) #1, JSA Secret Files (1999) #2, Secret Files & Origins Guide to the DC Universe 2000 (2000) #1, Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files (2001) #1. Also collected in Tales of the Batman: J.H. Williams III hardcover.
#551-552: Not collected
#553-554: Batman: Cataclysm (2015 – ISBN 978-1401255152)
In matching trade dress to the following No Man’s Land collections. Collects Azrael (1995) #40, Batman (1940) #553-554, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #12, Batman: Arkham Asylum-Tales of Madness (1998) #1, Batman: Blackgate – Isle of Men (1998) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #73-74, Batman: Spoiler/Huntress: Blunt Trauma (1998) #1, Catwoman (1993) #56-57, Detective Comics (1937) #719-721, Nightwing (1996) #19-20, Robin (1993) #52-53
(A 1999 printing (ISBN 978-1563895272) had the same trade dress as the 1999 No Man’s Land trades and contained Batman (1940) #553-554, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #12, Batman: Blackgate – Isle of Men (1998) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #73-74, Batman: Spoiler/Huntress: Blunt Trauma (1998) #1, Catwoman (1993) #56, Detective Comics (1937) #719-721, Nightwing (1996) #19-20, Robin (1993) #53)
#555-559: Batman: Road to No Man’s Land, Vol. 1
Collects Batman (1940) #555-559, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #14, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #75-79, Detective Comics (1937) #722-726, and Robin (1993) #54. #726 is also collected in The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years
Annual 22: Not collected; “Bough Breaks” written by Devin Kallie Grayson Released in the same month as #558. See DC Universe Events: Ghosts
#1,000,000: DC One Million Omnibus
Released after #559, which made it Moench’s final issue.
#560-562: Batman: Road to No Man’s Land, Vol. 2
Collects Azrael: Agent of the Bat (1998) #47-50, Batman (1940) #560-562, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #15, Batman: No Man’s Land Secret Files (1999) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #80-82, Detective Comics (1937) #727-729
Batman #563-574 & Annual 23: No Man’s Land (Mar 1999 – Feb 2000)
#563-566: Batman: No Man’s Land, Vol. 1 (2011 – ISBN 978-1401232283)
Azrael: Agent of the Bat (1998) #51-55, Batman (1940) #563-566, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #16, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #116-118, Batman: No Man’s Land (1999) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #83-86, Detective Comics (1937) #730-733
#567-568: Batman: No Man’s Land, Vol. 2 (2012 – ISBN 978-1401233808)
Collects Azrael: Agent of the Bat (1998) #56-57, Batman (1940) #567-568, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #17, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #119-121, Batman: No Man’s Land Gallery (1999) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #87-88, Catwoman (1993) #72-74, Detective Comics (1937) #734-735, Nightwing (1996) #35-37, Robin (1993) #67, Young Justice in No Man’s Land (1999) #1
#569-571: Batman: No Man’s Land, Vol. 3 (2012 – ISBN 978-1401234560
Collects Azrael: Agent of the Bat (1998) #58, Batman (1940) #569-571, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #122-124, Batman: No Man’s Land Secret Files (1999) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #89-92, Detective Comics (1937) #736-738, Robin (1993) #68-72
#572-574: Batman: No Man’s Land, Vol. 4 (2012 – ISBN 978-1401235642)
Collects Azrael: Agent of the Bat (1998) #59-61, Batman (1940) #572-574, The Batman Chronicles (1995) #18, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #125-126, Batman: No Man’s Land (1999) #0, Batman: No Man’s Land Gallery (1999) #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #93-94, Catwoman (1993) #75-77, Detective Comics (1937) #739-741, Nightwing (1996) #38-39, Robin (1993) #73. Issue #741 is also collected in The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years
Annual 23: Not collected; “Jungle Rules” by Chuck Dixon. Released in the same month as #569. See DC Universe Events: JLApe
A previous printing was less expansive in its scope.
Click to expand the contents of a 1999 printing
Batman #575-607 & Annual 24:
by McDaniel with Hama, Brubaker, & Vaughan (Mar 2000 – Nov 2002)
Long-running Wolverine and G.I. Joe scribe Larry Hama writes the first seven issues of this run before Ed Brubaker takes over for a two year run broken by Rucka’s “Officer Down” and an arc by Brian K. Vaughan, nearly all of which is pencilled by Scott Alan McDaniel.
#575-578: Not collected
#579-581: Not collected, “Orca”
Annual 24: Not collected; “Lost Boys” written by John Ostrander. Released the same month as #582. See DC Universe Events: Planet DC
#582-586: Batman by Ed Brubaker, Vol. 1 (2016)
Collects. Batman (1940) #582-586, 591-597, Batman: Our Worlds at War (2001) #1. Issues #582-585 were also collected in the prestige format DC Comics Presents: Batman (2010) #1. Issue #586 also collected in
Batman: Arkham Asylum Special (2009) – One Shot.
#587: Batman: Officer Down
During this crossover the authors of the major Bat-books swapped titles – Detective Comics’ Greg Rucka writes this issue, while Brubaker pens Robin’s. Collects Batman (1940) #587, Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #13, Birds of Prey (1999) #27, Catwoman (1993) #90, Detective Comics (1937) #754, Nightwing (1996) #53, Robin (1993) #86 – but, omits a tie-in in Batgirl (2000) #12
#588-590: Batman by Brian K. Vaughan AKA False Faces (hardcover / paperback (alt link) / 2017 paperback)
Collects Batman #588-590, Detective Comics #787, Wonder Woman #160-161, and Batman: Gotham City Secret Files #1
#591-597: Batman by Ed Brubaker, Vol. 1 (2016)
Batman (1940) #582-586, 591-597, Batman: Our Worlds at War (2001) #1. Issues #591-594 were also collected in the prestige format DC Comics Presents: Batman (2010) #2; issues #595-597 (with #598) also collected inDC Comics Presents: Batman (2010) #3.
#598-607: Batman By Ed Brubaker, Vol. 2 (2016)
Issue #598 (with #595-597) also collected in DC Comics Presents: Batman (2010) #3. Issue #604 also collected in Batman Begins: The Movie & Other Tales of the Dark Knight and in DC Comics Presents: Batman – Gotham Noir (2011) #1 (not to be confused with an OGN of the same name). From #599 on also collected as part of Murderer/Fugitive, as detailed below.
#599-602: Batman: Bruce Wayne – Murderer? (2014 – ISBN 978-1401246839)
Collects Batgirl (2000) #24 & 27, Batman (1940) #599-602, Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #25-29, Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure (2002) #1, Birds of Prey (1999) #39-41, Detective Comics (1937) #766-770 (A-stories only), Nightwing (1996) #65-66 & 68-69, Robin (1993) #98-99
#603-607: Batman: Bruce Wayne: Fugitive (2014 – ISBN 978-1401246822)
Azrael: Agent of the Bat (1998) #91-92, Batgirl (2000) #29 & 33, Batman (1940) #603-607, Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #30-32, Birds of Prey (1999) #43, Detective Comics (1937) #771-775
As previously collected in a 2002-2003 reprint line:
Click to expand a list of the 2002 collections
Batman #608-625: Hush by Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee and
Broken City by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso (Dec 2002 – May 2004)
Following Ed Brubaker’s run and the Fugitive storyline, a pair of high profile creator teams took over the title to tell two massively popular stories.
First, comics royalty Jim Lee pencils Hush in Batman #608-619, with writer Jeph Loeb mining Batman’s entire gallery of villains to tell a story about a new mastermind out to ruin Batman. Then, in Batman #620-625, the 100 Bullets team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso narrow Batman’s scope to a single murder, using it to dig deeply into the motivations behind his heroics.
Batman #608-619 is collected in its entirety (plus material from Wizard (1991) #0) in the following editions:
Batman: Hush – Absolute Edition (2011 – ISBN 978-1401204266)
Batman: Hush Unwrapped Deluxe Hardcover
Presents Hush with pencils-only grey artwork
Batman: Hush Noir Deluxe Hardcover
Present Hush in stark black and white with pencils and inks only
Batman Hush (paperback)
Batman #620-625 is collected in its entirety in the following editions:
Batman by Azzarello & Risso Deluxe Hardcover (2017)
Collects Batman #620-625, Flashpoint: Batman – Knight Of Vengeance #1-3 and Stories From Wednesday Comics #1-12 and Batman: Gotham Knights #8.
Batman Noir: Eduardo Risso: The Deluxe Edition (2013)
Collects the same contents, but in stark black and white with pencils and inks only
as originally collected…
#608-612: Batman: Hush, Volume 1 (hardcover / paperback)
Issue #612 is also collected in Batman vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles (2015). #613 is also collected in Harley Quinn’s Greatest Hits (2016) and The Joker: The Greatest Stories Ever Told (2008).
#613-619: Batman: Hush, Volume 2 (hardcover / paperback)
Plus material from Wizard (1991) #0
#620-625: Broken City (hardcover / paperback)
Batman #626-650 & Annual 25:
Judd Winnick’s War Games & Under The Hood (June 2004 – Apr 2006)
#626-630: As the Crow Flies
#631: Batman: War Games Book One (2015 – ISBN 978-1401258139)
Colects Batgirl (2000) #55, Batman (1940) #631, Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #56, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #182, Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure (2004) #1, Catwoman (2002) #34, Detective Comics (1937) #790-797, Nightwing (1996) #96, Robin (1993) #126, Robin (1993) #127, Robin (1993) #128, Robin (1993) #129, and Solo (2004) #10
#632-634: Batman: War Games Book Two (2016 – ISBN 978-1401260705)
Batgirl (2000) #56-57, Batman (1940) #632-634 & 642-644, Batman Allies Secret Files and Origins 2005 (2005) #1, Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins 2005 (2005) #1, Batman: Gotham Knights (2000) #57-58, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #183-184, Catwoman (2002) #35-36, Detective Comics (1937) #798-800 & 809-810, Nightwing (1996) #97-98, Robin (1993) #130-131
#635-641: Under The Red Hood
Collects #617-618, 635-641, 645-650, & Annual 25. Issues #635-641 previously collected as Under The Hood Vol. 1
#642-644: Batman: War Games Book Two (again)
#645-650 & Annual 25: Under The Red Hood (again)
Collects #617-618, 635-641, 645-650, & Annual 25. Issues #645-650 & Annual 25 previously collected as Under The Hood Vol. 2. Annual 25 also collected in DC Comics Classic Library: Batman: A Death in the Family (hardcover / paperback)
As previous collected in a 2004-2006 reprint line:
Click to expand a list of the 2004 collections.
Batman #651-713 & Annual 26-28:
One Year Later and Grant Morrison’s Batman (May 2006 – Oct 2011)
All of the DCU underwent big changes in the one-year jump that followed Infinite Crisis, but no hero headed into more change as much as Bruce Wayne in Batman. That’s because Grant Morrison took the reigns of not only this title, but of Batman’s overall direction – and he made some radical changes. Visit my Guide to the Grant Morrison Batman Epic for the full story.
Collections of this period can get pretty confusing because they’re riddled with special editions. To try to simplify the trade reading sequence, I’ve listed all of the various deluxe and oversized collections first, leaving regular-sized books and original release collections in the full listing below.
special editions…
#651-654: Batman/Two-Face by James Robinson Deluxe Edition Hardcover
Collects Batman #651-654 and Detective Comics #817-820.
#655-658, 663-669, 672-675: The Black Glove Deluxe Edition (2012 – ISBN 978-1401233365)
In a strange turn of events, the paperback version of this run of issues is entitled Batman & Son rather than The Black Glove.
#655-658, 664-666, 686, 700: Batman Unwrapped: Andy Kubert hardcover
Pencils only. Note that this omits #663, a Morrison issue not drawn by Kubert. Also collects 52 (2006) #46, Batman (2011) #18, Detective Comics (1937) #853
#659-662: Not collected in special edition format
#670-671: Not collected in special edition format
#676-683: Batman R.I.P. Deluxe Edition (2009 – ISBN 978-1401220907)
Also collects DC Universe (2008) #0
#676-681: Batman R.I.P. Unwrapped AKA Unwrapped: Tony Daniel
Pencils only. Note this omits #682-683, which are not penciled by Tony Daniel.
Absolute Final Crisis (2012)
This oversize tome includes Final Crisis material without any Batman material integrated, but this story occurs simultaneous to RIP. Collects Final Crisis #1-7, Final Crisis: Submit #1, Final Crisis Superman Beyond #1-2 and material from Final Crisis Sketchbook (2008) #1 and Final Crisis: Secret Files (2009) #1.
At this point, Grant Morrison’s Batman epic jumps to Batman and Robin before returning for #700. To follow the story, head to the Batman by Grant Morrison guide.
Infinite Crisis, Trinity, and 52 occur here.
#651-654: Batman: Face the Face (2006)
Collects Batman #651-654 and Detective Comics #817-820.
Batman & Son (2014 Edition – (ISBN 978-1401244026)
A paperback collection to match The Black Glove Deluxe Edition, above. It effectively marries both the Batman & Son and The Black Glove collections, below, into a single book. That means it collects all of Morrison’s stories through the beginning of Batman R.I.P. Collects #655-658, 663-669, and 672-675.
#655-658: Batman & Son (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #655-658 & 663-666. Also in the 2014 paperback edition, above.
#659-662: Not collected – a break in Morrison’s story for a John Ostrander story titled “Grotesk”
#663-666: Batman & Son (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #655-658 & 663-666. Issue #666 is also recollected (along with material from #700) in Damian: Son of Batman (2013) (deluxe hardcover / paperback). Also in the 2014 paperback edition, above.
#667-669: The Black Glove (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #667-669 & 672-675. Issues #667-669 are also collected in Tales of the Batman: J.H. Williams III hardcover. Also in the 2014 paperback edition of Batman & Son, above.
#670-671 & Annual 26: Batman: The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul (2008) (hardcover / paperback)
Collects a crossover through Batman (1940) #670-671 & Annual 26, Detective Comics (1937) #838-839, Nightwing (1996) #138-139, and Robin (1993) #168-169 & Annual 7. Nominally a part of Grant Morrison’s Batman epic.
#672-675: The Black Glove (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #667-669 & 672-675. Also in the 2014 paperback edition of Batman & Son, above.
#676-683: Batman R.I.P. (deluxe hardcover / paperback)
Also collects DC Universe (2008) #0
Final Crisis #1-7: Final Crisis (2014 paperback / 2010 paperback)
This story runs in parallel to Batman R.I.P. Collects DC Universe (2008) #0, Final Crisis (2008) #1-7, Final Crisis: Submit (2008) #1, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond (2008) #1-2. The 2014 version adds pages from Batman (1940) #682-683.
At this point, Grant Morrison’s Batman Epic jumps to Batman and Robin before returning for #700. To follow the story, head to the Batman by Grant Morrison guide.
#684: Not collected, “The Final Days of Gotham” crossover from Detective Comics (1937) #851 to Batman (1940) #684 written by Denny O’Neil.
#685: Batman: Streets of Gotham – Hush Money (hardcover / paperback)
Stars Dick Grayson as Batman. Written by Paul Dini to tie in with his Streets of Gotham series. Collects Batman (1940) #685, Batman: Streets Of Gotham (2009) #1-4, Detective Comics (1937) #852. This series is is continued in Volume 2 (hardcover / paperback) and Volume 3 (hardcover / paperback), both with A-stories by Dini.
#686: Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (hardcover / paperback)
A rare Neil Gaiman superhero story – illustrated by Adam Kubert! A two-issue story between Batman (1940) #686 and Detective Comics (1937) #853. This also collects material from Batman Black and White (1996) #2, Secret Origins (1986) Special 1, Secret Origins (1986) #36. Also collect, in pencils-only form, in Batman Unwrapped: Andy Kubert.
#686: The DC Universe by Neil Gaiman: The Deluxe Edition (2016)
Collects Gaiman’s non-Vertigo DC writing – Batman (1940) #686, Batman Black and White (1996) #2, Detective Comics (1937) #853, Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame (2000) #1, Secret Origins (1986) Special 1, Secret Origins (1986) #36, Solo (2004) #8, and the Metamorpho story from Wednesday Comics (2009) #1-12
Batman: Battle of the Cowl (hardcover / paperback)
Collects a limited series that is the next sequential Bat-story after Final Crisis in Batman: Battle for the Cowl (2009) #1-3 with Gotham Gazette (2009) #1 and Gotham Gazette: Batman Alive? (2009) #1
#687-691: Long Shadows (hardcover / paperback)
Judd Winnick pens this Battle of the Cowl follow-up
Annual 27: Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight (2009)
Released the same month as #689. Collects Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight (2009) #1-3, Batman (1940) Annual 27, Detective Comics (1937) Annual 11
Artist Tony Daniel writes from here to the end of the series with the exception of #700-703, the crossover in 708-709, and final issue 713.
#692-699: Life After Death (hardcover / paperback)
#700-703: Time and the Batman (hardcover / paperback)
Issue #700 also collected (along with #666) in Damian: Son of Batman (2013) (deluxe hardcover / paperback). and Graphic Ink: The DC Comics Art of Frank Quitely hardcover.
From here, Grant Morrison’s Batman epic jumps to Batman, Inc for the final months before Flashpoint and into New 52. To follow the story, head to the Batman by Grant Morrison guide.
Annual 28: Batman: Gates of Gotham (2011)
Released between #703-704. Collects Batman (1940) Annual 28, Batman: Gates of Gotham (2011) #1-5, and Detective Comics (1937) Annual 12.
#704-707: Eye of the Beholder (hardcover / paperback)
Collects Batman (1940) #704-707 & 710-712
#708-709: Gotham Shall Be Judged (2012 – 978-1401233785)
Collects a crossover largely written by David Hine between Azrael (2009) #14-18, Batman (1940) #708-709, Gotham City Sirens (2009) #22, and Red Robin (2009) #22
#710-712: Eye of the Beholder (hardcover / paperback)
Collects Batman (1940) #704-707 & 710-712
#713: Not collected, a one-off story written by Fabian Nicieza
Post-Flashpoint Batman
New 52: Batman (2011) #1-52, 0, 23.1-4, & Annual 1-4 by Snyder & Capullo (2011 – 2016)
Batman was the flagship bat-book in DC’s New 52, written for its entirety by Scott Snyder with the majority drawn by Greg Capullo
in premium format editions…
#1-11: Absolute Batman: The Court of Owls
#1-11: Batman Unwrapped: The Court of Owls
Unwrapped editions present pencils-only art with no inking or coloring.
#1-17 & Annual 1: Batman by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo Box Set 1
Collects Volumes 1-3 from below.
#18-34, 0, & Annual 2: Batman by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo Box Set 2
Collects Volumes 4-6 from below.
as originally collected…
#1-7: Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls (hardcover / paperback)
Issue #1 is also collected in DC Comics: The New 52 Omnibus; #2 is also collected in Batman: A Celebration of 75 Years and in Batman vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles
#8-12 & Annual 1: Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls (hardcover / paperback)
Issues #8-9 (and #10-11 backups) are also collected in Batman: Night of the Owls (hardcover / paperback); full contents below.
#0: Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #18-20, 28, 34, 0, & Annual 2. Issue #0 is also collected in The New 52 Zero Omnibus
#13-17: Batman, Volume 3: Death of the Family (hardcover / paperback)
Issue #13 is also collected in Harley Quinn’s Greatest Hits. #14 & 17 are also collected inThe Joker: Death of the Family (hardcover / paperback); full contents below. #15 is also collected in The Joker: A Celebration of 75 Years
#18-20: Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #18-20, 28, 34, 0, & Annual 2.
#21-24: Batman, Volume 4: Zero Year – Secret City (hardcover / paperback)
Includes Batman Zero Year Director’s Cut (2013) #1
#23.1-4: DC Comics: The New 52 Villains Omnibus
Additionally: #23.2 (Riddler) in Batman Arkham: The Riddler. #23.4 (Bane) in Forever Evil: Arkham War. #23.1 (Joker) and 23.3 (Penguin) are not collected elsewhere
#25-27: Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year – Dark City (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #25-27 & 29-33
#28: Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #18-20, 28, 34, 0, & Annual 2
#29-33: Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year – Dark City (hardcover / paperback)
#34: Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift (hardcover / paperback)
Collects #18-20, 28, 34, 0, & Annual 2
#35-40: Batman, Volume 7: Endgame (hardcover / paperback)
Does not include backups from #35-39. This full range is also included in The Joker: Endgame (hardcover / paperback); full contents below.
Annual 3: The Joker: Endgame (hardcover / paperback)
Full contents bel0w
#41-45: Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy (hardcover / paperback)
Includes material from DC Sneak Peek: Batman (2015)
#46-50: Batman, Volume 9: Bloom (hardcover / paperback)
Includes Detective Comics (2011) #27
#51-52 & Annual 4: Batman Vol. 10: Epilogue (hardcover / paperback)
This final volume collects Batman #51-52, Batman: Futures End #1, Batman Annual #4, and material from Batman: Rebirth #1.
additional collections…
#8-9, #10-11 (backups), & Annual 1: Batman: Night of the Owls (hardcover / paperback)
Collects All Star Western (2011) #9, Batgirl (2011) #9, Batman (2011) #8-9, backups from 10-11, Annual 1, Batman and Robin (2011) #9, Batman: The Dark Knight [II] (2011) #9, Batwing (2011) #9, Birds Of Prey (2011) #9, Catwoman (2011) #9, Detective Comics (2011) #9 (lead story only), Nightwing (2011) #8-9, Red Hood And The Outlaws (2011) #9
#14 & 17: The Joker: Death of the Family (hardcover / paperback)
Collects Batgirl (2011) #14-16, Batman (2011) #14 & 17, Batman and Robin (2011) #15-17, Catwoman (2011) #13-14, Detective Comics (2011) #15-17, Nightwing (2011) #15-16, Red Hood And The Outlaws (2011) #15-16, Teen Titans (2011) #15 and material from Batman #13, Batgirl #13, Nightwing #14, Red Hood and the Outlaws #13-14, Suicide Squad #14-15 and Teen Titans #14 & 16.
#17: This is a key Death in the Family issue and is collected widely with other tie-ins, including Batgirl, Vol. 3: Death of the Family (hardcover / paperback), Batman and Robin, Vol. 03: Death of the Family (hardcover / paperback), Nightwing, Vol. 03: Death of the Family; Red Hood and The Outlaws, Vol. 3: Death of the Family; and Teen Titans, Vol. 03: Death of the Family
#18: Batman Unwrapped: Andy Kubert
Collects 52 (2006) #46, Batman (1940) #655-658, 664-666, 686, & 700, Batman (2011) #18, Detective Comics (1937) #853
#35-40 & Annual 3: The Joker: Endgame (hardcover / paperback)
Collects Batman (2011) #35-40 & Annual 3, Arkham Manor: Endgame (2015) #1, Batgirl: Endgame (2015) #1, Detective Comics: Endgame (2015) #1, Gotham Academy: Endgame (2015) #1
DC Rebirth: Batman (2016) by Tom King #1 – present (Jul 2016 – Present)
Launched by writer Tom King (Vision, Omega Men) as a twice-monthly title.
#1-12 & Rebirth: Batman Vol. 1 & 2 Deluxe Edition
Batman Director’s Cut #1: A pencils-only version of issue #1.
#1-6: Batman Vol. 1: I Am Gotham
Collects Batman: Rebirth
#7-8: Batman: Night of the Monster Men
Collects Batman #7-8, Nightwing #5-6 and Detective Comics #941-942.
#9-15: Batman Vol. 2: I Am Suicide
#13-18: Batman Vol. 3: I Am Bane
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