Comic CompassEarly access

Early access: things will change and may sometimes break while we build it. What that means

Batman reading order

The modern Batman, from Year One and The Long Halloween as optional background through Morrison, Snyder, Tomasi, King and Zdarsky to the current series. New readers should start with Scott Snyder's 2011 run.

  1. Classic background: Year One and The Long Halloween1987–1997

    17 issues · about 5.5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    The modern origin of Batman's career and his early partnership with Jim Gordon. Both stories are short, self-contained and underpin much of what follows.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition (2021)Covers Batman: The Long Halloween #1–13Find it
    2. DC Finest: Batman: Year One & Two (2025)Covers Batman #404–407Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman (1940)#404–4074 issues, optional
      1. #404February 1987
      2. #405March 1987
      3. #406April 1987
      4. #407May 1987

      Batman: Year One, the modern origin, told in four issues.

    2. Batman: The Long Halloween (1996)#1–1313 issues, optional
      1. #1December 1996
      2. #2January 1997
      3. #3February 1997
      4. #4March 1997
      5. #5April 1997
      6. #6May 1997
      7. #7June 1997
      8. #8July 1997
      9. #9August 1997
      10. #10September 1997
      11. #11October 1997
      12. #12November 1997
      13. #13December 1997

      A year-long murder mystery set early in Batman's career.

  2. Grant Morrison's Batman2006–2010

    28 issues · about 9.5 hours26 essential issues · about 8.5 hours

    Bruce Wayne learns he has a son, Damian, and faces an enemy who has been planning his downfall for years. The run builds slowly towards Batman R.I.P.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 1 (2018)Covers Batman #655–658, 663–683Find it
    2. Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 2 (2019)Covers Batman #700–702Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman (1940)#655–6584 issues
      1. #655September 2006
      2. #656October 2006
      3. #657November 2006
      4. #658December 2006

      Damian Wayne's first appearance.

    2. #663–6697 issues
      1. #663April 2007
      2. #664May 2007
      3. #665June 2007
      4. #666July 2007
      5. #667August 2007
      6. #668September 2007
      7. #669November 2007

      Issues 659 to 662 are a fill-in by another team and can be skipped.

    3. #670–6712 issues, optional
      1. #670December 2007
      2. #671January 2008

      The prelude and part four of the Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul crossover; the rest of it ran in other titles.

    4. #672–68312 issues
      1. #672February 2008
      2. #673March 2008
      3. #674April 2008
      4. #675May 2008
      5. #676June 2008
      6. #677July 2008
      7. #678August 2008
      8. #679September 2008
      9. #680October 2008
      10. #681December 2008
      11. #682January 2009
      12. #683January 2009

      Batman R.I.P. and its Final Crisis follow-up.

    5. #700–7023 issues
      1. #700August 2010
      2. #701September 2010
      3. #702October 2010

      701 and 702 fill the gap between R.I.P. and Final Crisis.

  3. Morrison's Batman and Robin and Batman Incorporated2009–2013

    45 issues · about 15 hours44 essential issues · about 15 hours

    Dick Grayson takes the cowl with Damian as his Robin, while Bruce makes his way back through time. Bruce then turns Batman into a worldwide organisation.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Absolute Batman Incorporated (2015)Covers Batman, Inc. #1–8; Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1; Batman Incorporated #1–13, 0Find it
    2. Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 2 (2019)Covers Batman and Robin #1–12; Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1–6; Batman and Robin #13–16Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman and Robin (2009)#1–1212 issues
      1. #1August 2009
      2. #2September 2009
      3. #3October 2009
      4. #4November 2009
      5. #5December 2009
      6. #6January 2010
      7. #7March 2010
      8. #8April 2010
      9. #9April 2010
      10. #10May 2010
      11. #11June 2010
      12. #12July 2010

      Dick Grayson and Damian as the new Batman and Robin.

    2. Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne (2010)#1–66 issues
      1. #1July 2010
      2. #2July 2010
      3. #3August 2010
      4. #4September 2010
      5. #5November 2010
      6. #6December 2010

      Bruce's journey back through history.

    3. Batman and Robin (2009)#13–164 issues
      1. #13August 2010
      2. #14October 2010
      3. #15December 2010
      4. #16January 2011

      Morrison's final Batman and Robin arc; 17 onwards is by other teams.

    4. Batman, Inc. (2011)#1–88 issues
      1. #1January 2011
      2. #2February 2011
      3. #3March 2011
      4. #4April 2011
      5. #5May 2011
      6. #6June 2011
      7. #7July 2011
      8. #8October 2011

      Bruce launches Batman Incorporated and recruits Batmen around the world.

    5. Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes (2012)#1February 2012

      A one-shot that concludes the first Batman Incorporated series.

    6. Batman Incorporated (2012)#1–1313 issues
      1. #1July 2012
      2. #2August 2012
      3. #3September 2012
      4. #4December 2012
      5. #5January 2013
      6. #6February 2013
      7. #7March 2013
      8. #8April 2013
      9. #9May 2013
      10. #10June 2013
      11. #11July 2013
      12. #12August 2013
      13. #13September 2013

      The conclusion of Morrison's whole run.

    7. #0November 2012, optional

      A flashback issue on how Batman Incorporated was formed.

  4. Start here

    Scott Snyder's Batman2011–2016

    57 issues · about 19 hours52 essential issues · about 17 hours

    A relaunched Batman discovers that a secret society has ruled Gotham for centuries. The best entry point: a fresh start that assumes no prior reading.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. Batman: Zero Year (2021)Covers Batman #21–27, 29–33Find it
    2. Batman: The Court of Owls Saga: DC Compact Comics Edition (2024)Covers Batman #1–11Find it
    3. Batman Vol. 7: Endgame (2016)Covers Batman #35–40Find it
    4. Batman Vol. 6: Graveyard Shift (2015)Covers Batman #0, 18–20, 28, 34Find it
    5. Batman Unwrapped: Death of the Family (2018)Covers Batman #13–17Find it
    6. Batman Vol. 9: Bloom (2017)Covers Batman #46–50Find it

    Not in these books: Batman #12, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 41–45, 51–52. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman (2011)#1–1212 issues
      1. #1November 2011
      2. #2December 2011
      3. #3January 2012
      4. #4February 2012
      5. #5March 2012
      6. #6April 2012
      7. #7May 2012
      8. #8June 2012
      9. #9July 2012
      10. #10August 2012
      11. #11September 2012
      12. #12October 2012

      The Court of Owls and Night of Owls.

    2. #0November 2012, optional

      A short prologue to Zero Year; read it before issue 21 if you like.

    3. #13–2311 issues
      1. #13December 2012
      2. #14January 2013
      3. #15February 2013
      4. #16March 2013
      5. #17April 2013
      6. #18May 2013
      7. #19June 2013
      8. #20July 2013
      9. #21August 2013
      10. #22September 2013
      11. #23October 2013

      Death of the Family, then the start of Zero Year.

    4. #23.1–23.44 issues, optional
      1. #23.1November 2013
      2. #23.2November 2013
      3. #23.3November 2013
      4. #23.4November 2013

      Villains Month one-shots that sit outside the main story.

    5. #24–5229 issues
      1. #24December 2013
      2. #25January 2014
      3. #26February 2014
      4. #27March 2014
      5. #28April 2014
      6. #29May 2014
      7. #30June 2014
      8. #31July 2014
      9. #32August 2014
      10. #33September 2014
      11. #34October 2014
      12. #35December 2014
      13. #36January 2015
      14. #37February 2015
      15. #38March 2015
      16. #39April 2015
      17. #40June 2015
      18. #41August 2015
      19. #42September 2015
      20. #43October 2015
      21. #44November 2015
      22. #45December 2015
      23. #46January 2016
      24. #47February 2016
      25. #48March 2016
      26. #49April 2016
      27. #50May 2016
      28. #51June 2016
      29. #52July 2016

      Zero Year, Endgame and Superheavy.

  5. Peter J. Tomasi's Batman and Robin2011–2015

    45 issues · about 15 hours40 essential issues · about 13 hours

    Bruce and Damian work out how to be father and son as well as partners. Runs alongside Snyder's Batman and is best read in parallel.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Batman and Robin by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus (2018)Covers Batman and Robin #1–23, 0, 23.1–40Find it
    2. DC Comics: The New 52 Villains Omnibus (2014)Covers Batman and Robin #23.2, 23.3, 23.4Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman and Robin (2011)#1–2323 issues
      1. #1November 2011
      2. #2December 2011
      3. #3January 2012
      4. #4February 2012
      5. #5March 2012
      6. #6April 2012
      7. #7May 2012
      8. #8June 2012
      9. #9July 2012
      10. #10August 2012
      11. #11September 2012
      12. #12October 2012
      13. #13December 2012
      14. #14January 2013
      15. #15February 2013
      16. #16March 2013
      17. #17April 2013
      18. #18May 2013
      19. #19June 2013
      20. #20July 2013
      21. #21August 2013
      22. #22September 2013
      23. #23October 2013

      Read alongside Snyder's Batman; read Batman Incorporated (2012) 8 before issue 18.

    2. #0November 2012, optional

      Damian's early life, told in flashback.

    3. #23.1–23.44 issues, optional
      1. #23.1November 2013
      2. #23.2November 2013
      3. #23.3November 2013
      4. #23.4November 2013

      Villains Month one-shots, not needed for the main story.

    4. #24–4017 issues
      1. #24December 2013
      2. #25January 2014
      3. #26February 2014
      4. #27March 2014
      5. #28April 2014
      6. #29May 2014
      7. #30June 2014
      8. #31July 2014
      9. #32August 2014
      10. #33September 2014
      11. #34October 2014
      12. #35December 2014
      13. #36January 2015
      14. #37February 2015
      15. #38March 2015
      16. #39April 2015
      17. #40May 2015

      The rest of Tomasi's run.

  6. Tom King's Batman2016–2020

    86 issues · about 29 hours85 essential issues · about 28 hours

    A long character study of Bruce Wayne built around his relationship with Catwoman. It asks whether Batman can ever be happy.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. Batman by Tom King Vol. 1 (2024)Covers Batman: Rebirth #1; Batman #1–20Find it
    2. Batman by Tom King Vol. 2 (2025)Covers Batman #21–40Find it
    3. Batman: Deluxe Edition Vol. 6 (2022)Covers Batman #70–85Find it
    4. Batman: Deluxe Edition Vol. 4 (2019)Covers Batman #45–57Find it
    5. Batman: Deluxe Edition Vol. 5 (2020)Covers Batman #58–69Find it
    6. Batman: Rebirth Deluxe Edition Vol. 3 (2019)Covers Batman #41–44Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman: Rebirth (2016)#1August 2016, optional

      A short bridge into the relaunch, co-written by Snyder and King.

    2. Batman (2016)#1–8585 issues
      1. #1August 2016
      2. #2September 2016
      3. #3September 2016
      4. #4October 2016
      5. #5October 2016
      6. #6November 2016
      7. #7November 2016
      8. #8December 2016
      9. #9December 2016
      10. #10January 2017
      11. #11January 2017
      12. #12February 2017
      13. #13February 2017
      14. #14March 2017
      15. #15March 2017
      16. #16April 2017
      17. #17April 2017
      18. #18May 2017
      19. #19May 2017
      20. #20June 2017
      21. #21June 2017
      22. #22July 2017
      23. #23July 2017
      24. #24August 2017
      25. #25August 2017
      26. #26September 2017
      27. #27September 2017
      28. #28October 2017
      29. #29October 2017
      30. #30November 2017
      31. #31November 2017
      32. #32December 2017
      33. #33December 2017
      34. #34January 2018
      35. #35January 2018
      36. #36February 2018
      37. #37February 2018
      38. #38March 2018
      39. #39March 2018
      40. #40April 2018
      41. #41April 2018
      42. #42May 2018
      43. #43May 2018
      44. #44June 2018
      45. #45June 2018
      46. #46July 2018
      47. #47July 2018
      48. #48August 2018
      49. #49August 2018
      50. #50September 2018
      51. #51September 2018
      52. #52October 2018
      53. #53October 2018
      54. #54November 2018
      55. #55November 2018
      56. #56December 2018
      57. #57December 2018
      58. #58January 2019
      59. #59January 2019
      60. #60January 2019
      61. #61February 2019
      62. #62March 2019
      63. #63March 2019
      64. #64April 2019
      65. #65April 2019
      66. #66May 2019
      67. #67May 2019
      68. #68June 2019
      69. #69June 2019
      70. #70July 2019
      71. #71July 2019
      72. #72August 2019
      73. #73August 2019
      74. #74September 2019
      75. #75September 2019
      76. #76October 2019
      77. #77October 2019
      78. #78November 2019
      79. #79November 2019
      80. #80December 2019
      81. #81December 2019
      82. #82January 2020
      83. #83January 2020
      84. #84February 2020
      85. #85February 2020

  7. Tynion and Williamson2020–2022

    39 issues · about 13 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    A bridge between the King and Zdarsky runs, introducing new villains and allies. Useful context but not essential.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. Batman Vol. 1: Their Dark Designs (2022)Covers Batman #86–94Find it
    2. Batman Vol. 5: Fear State (2024)Covers Batman #112–117Find it
    3. Batman Vol. 4: The Cowardly Lot (2023)Covers Batman #106–111Find it
    4. Batman Vol. 2: The Joker War (2022)Covers Batman #95–100Find it
    5. Batman Vol. 6: Abyss (2024)Covers Batman #118–121, 124Find it
    6. Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories (2023)Covers Batman #101–105Find it

    Not in these books: Batman #122–123. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman (2016)#86–11732 issues, optional
      1. #86March 2020
      2. #87March 2020
      3. #88April 2020
      4. #89April 2020
      5. #90May 2020
      6. #91May 2020
      7. #92June 2020
      8. #93August 2020
      9. #94September 2020
      10. #95September 2020
      11. #96October 2020
      12. #97October 2020
      13. #98November 2020
      14. #99November 2020
      15. #100December 2020
      16. #101December 2020
      17. #102January 2021
      18. #103January 2021
      19. #104February 2021
      20. #105February 2021
      21. #106May 2021
      22. #107June 2021
      23. #108July 2021
      24. #109August 2021
      25. #110September 2021
      26. #111October 2021
      27. #112November 2021
      28. #113November 2021
      29. #114December 2021
      30. #115December 2021
      31. #116January 2022
      32. #117January 2022

      James Tynion IV's run, including Joker War and Fear State; introduces Ghost-Maker and features Punchline.

    2. #118–1247 issues, optional
      1. #118February 2022
      2. #119March 2022
      3. #120April 2022
      4. #121May 2022
      5. #122June 2022
      6. #123July 2022
      7. #124August 2022

      Joshua Williamson's Abyss arc; issues 122 and 123 are chapters of the Shadow War crossover.

  8. Chip Zdarsky's Batman and Hush 22022–2026

    39 issues · about 13 hours33 essential issues · about 11 hours

    Bruce faces a rogue contingency plan of his own design, and then the question of who Batman really is. Starts cleanly at issue 125.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. Batman Vol. 4: Dark Prisons (2025)Covers Batman #145–152Find it
    2. Batman Vol. 1: Failsafe (2024)Covers Batman #125–130Find it
    3. Batman Vol. 3: The Joker Year One (2024)Covers Batman #139–144Find it
    4. Batman Vol. 2: The Bat-Man of Gotham (2024)Covers Batman #131–136Find it
    5. Batman Vol. 5: The Dying City (2025)Covers Batman #153–157Find it
    6. Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War (2024)Covers Batman #137–138Find it

    Not in these books: Batman #158–163. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman (2016)#125–15733 issues
      1. #125September 2022
      2. #126October 2022
      3. #127November 2022
      4. #128December 2022
      5. #129January 2023
      6. #130February 2023
      7. #131March 2023
      8. #132April 2023
      9. #133May 2023
      10. #134June 2023
      11. #135July 2023
      12. #136August 2023
      13. #137November 2023
      14. #138December 2023
      15. #139January 2024
      16. #140February 2024
      17. #141March 2024
      18. #142April 2024
      19. #143April 2024
      20. #144April 2024
      21. #145May 2024
      22. #146June 2024
      23. #147July 2024
      24. #148August 2024
      25. #149August 2024
      26. #150September 2024
      27. #151October 2024
      28. #152November 2024
      29. #153December 2024
      30. #154January 2025
      31. #155February 2025
      32. #156March 2025
      33. #157April 2025

      Issues 137 and 138 are part of the Gotham War crossover.

    2. #158–1636 issues, optional
      1. #158May 2025
      2. #159June 2025
      3. #160July 2025
      4. #161September 2025
      5. #162January 2026
      6. #163July 2026

      Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's Hush 2, Part One; it follows Hush (Batman 608 to 619), which is not in this order.

  9. Batman2025–present

    14 issues · about 4.5 hours14 essential issues · about 4.5 hours

    The current ongoing series, a fresh relaunch with a new number one. Read it as it comes out.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Batman Vol. 1: Daylight (2026)Covers Batman #1–6Find it

    Not in these books: Batman #7–14. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Batman (2025)#1–1414 issues
      1. #1November 2025
      2. #2December 2025
      3. #3January 2026
      4. #4February 2026
      5. #5March 2026
      6. #6April 2026
      7. #7May 2026
      8. #8June 2026
      9. #9July 2026
      10. #10August 2026
      11. #11September 2026
      12. #12October 2026
      13. #13November 2026
      14. #14December 2026

Links to buy comics are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Comic Compass earns from qualifying purchases. More in our terms.

Spotted a mistake?