It’s a new era for the DC Universe! And while a number of the world’s biggest heroes have had a fresh new start – like Superman and Wonder Woman – the Batman’s continuity largely carries on as it was before the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1985-1986) ended the multiverse. Though this changes over time as parts of his history are slowly rewritten.
But there’s no need to be confused! Just pick it up and read along as many DC fans did back in the day and you’ll be fine! If you want to go back to the characters new beginning in all of its chronological glory, then head back to our BATMAN ORIGINS READING ORDER – Parts 1 & 2
By the time we get to this reading order, Batman has been around for a number of years. He re-establishes his links with the Justice League as well as his outlaw team, the Outsiders. The ‘Bat Family’ is fairly small, at this stage, though Batman his hands full with new Robin, Jason Todd, whose actions will have deadly ramifications. And Barbara Gordon gets her last outing as Batgirl.
A huge thank you to DCU Guide , Comics Back Issues and the mammoth efforts of the Batman Chronology Project for their assistance in assembling this reading order.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔ are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Chronology: Every appearance of Batman from this period is included in chronological order, laying out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released; some stories were later considered to be outside of accepted mainstream continuity, though I have marked them as such and included them for your consideration.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
First Appearances: Many characters’ first appearances will actually be a reference to their debut following the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event; all first appearances refer to the characters’ debut in the New Earth continuity; with the continuity of some characters continuing from before Crisis, it can be hard to pinpoint everyone’s first official New Earth appearances – I’ll do my best to address this as I work through more reading orders!
The Family: For this reading order, the ‘Batman Family’ includes Batman, Robin (Jason Todd) and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon); though Nightwing sporadically returns, he’ll be covered in more detail in the Teen Titans reading order as well as his own until he moves closer to the Bat-Family again.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
See Batman’s formative years in chronological order:
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- ✔ Batman #416
- Batman: Hong Kong
- JLA Incarnations #5 [1/3]
- JLA Incarnations #5 [2/3]
- ✔ Batman: Batgirl (1998) #1
- DC Retroactive: 1980s – Batman #1
- ✔ Swamp Thing (1982) #52-55
- ✔ New Teen Titans (1984) #26-31
- Batman #401
- The Outsiders (1985) #11
- Detective Comics #568
- Detective Comics #569-570
- ✔ Legends #2-6
- The Outsiders Annual (1986) #1
- Batman #402-403
- ✔ Detective Comics #571
- Captain Atom (1987) #2
- ✔ Detective Comics #572-574
- ✔ Justice League (1987) #1-4
- Justice League Annual (1987) #1
- The Outsiders (1985) #17-22
- The Outsiders (1985) #18 [1/2]
- The Outsiders (1985) #19 [1/2]
- The Outsiders (1985) #20 [1/2]
- The Outsiders (1985) #21
- The Outsiders (1985) #22 [1/2]
- The Weird (1988) #1-4
- The Outsiders (1985) #23-24
- The Outsiders Special (1987) #1
- ✔ Batman Annual #11 [1/2]
- Batman Annual #11 [2/2]
- Batman #412
- ✔ Justice League (1987) #5-6
- ✔ Justice League International (1987) #7
- Teen Titans Spotlight #14
- Doctor Fate (1987) #3
- ✔ Action Comics Annual (1987) #1
- Swamp Thing (1984) #66
- Detective Comics #579
- Batman #413
- Booster Gold (1986) #22
- Action Comics #594
- Booster Gold (1986) #23
- Action Comics #595
- Vigilante (1983) #47
- Firestorm (1982) #64
- Firestorm Annual (1983) #5
- ✔ Batman #414
- The Outsiders (1985) #25-26
- ✔ Justice League International (1988) #8 [1/2]
- ✔ Millennium #1
- Firestorm (1982) #67
- ✔ Justice League International (1988) #9 [1/2]
- ✔ Millennium #2
- ✔ Batman #415
- ✔ Millennium #3
- ✔ Green Lantern Corps #220
- ✔ Millennium #4
- ✔ Detective Comics #582
- ✔ Millennium #5-6
- ✔ Blue Beetle (1986) #21
- ✔ Millennium #7-8
- Blue Beetle (1984) #22
- ✔ Suicide Squad (1987) #10
- World’s Finest (1999) #3
- Action Comics #606 [1/6] (1988)
- ✔ Justice League International #11-13
- ✔ Suicide Squad (1987) #13
- Batman Confidential #13-16
- Action Comics #611 [5/6]
- Action Comics #612 [5/6]
- Action Comics #613 [5/6]
- Action Comics #614 [5/6]
- Firestorm (1982) #71
- ✔ Batgirl Special (1986) #1
- ✔ Detective Comics #583-584
- ✔ Batman #417-420
- ✔ Adventures of Superman #440
- ✔ Detective Comics #585-589
- ✔ Batman #421-422
- DC Bonus Book #5
- ✔ Batman #423
- Martian Manhunter (1988) #1-2, 4
- Detective Comics #590-591
- Secret Origins of the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes tpb (1989)
- ✔ Batman: The Cult #1-4
- ✔ Batman #424-425
- Detective Comics #592-594
- DC Bonus Book #11 (1989)
- Batman Annual #12 [1/2]
- Justice League International Annual (1987) #2
- Detective Comics Annual (1988) #1
- DC Bonus Book #7
- ✔ JLA Incarnations #6 [1/2]
- Green Arrow Annual (1988) #1
- The Question Annual (1988) #1
- Justice League International (1988) #15
- ✔ Justice League International (1988) #16
- Batman Annual #12 [2/2]
- ✔ Justice League International (1988) #17
- ✔ Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
- ✔ Batman: The Killing Joke
- Superman (1987) #23
- ✔ Showcase ’94 #8 [1/3]
- ✔ Showcase ’94 #9 [1/3]
- ✔ Batman #426-429
- ✔ Batman Chronicles #5 [1/3] (1996)
- ✔ Justice League International (1987) #19-21
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Batman #416 (1988) Nightwing and the new Robin (Jason Todd) have their very first team up to take down drug dealers in Gotham City. Note: Later continuity changes make some elements of the story problematic in terms of continuity. | |
| Batman: Hong Kong (2003) Batman tracks a murderer from Gotham City to Hong Kong where he teams up with Night-Dragon to oppose Triad leader Tiger One-Eye. | ||
| JLA Incarnations #5 [1/3] (2001) Batman cameo; the half-remembered events of ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ are told form the perspective of New Earth’s Justice League of America. | ||
| JLA Incarnations #5 [2/3] (2001) Batman cameo; Batman attends the funeral to mark the passing of Barry Allen, the Flash. | ||
| ✔ | Batman: Batgirl #1 (1998) Batman calls upon Batgirl to help him with a mission to storm Ra’s al Ghul’s fortress in the Himalayas, following her clash with Mr Zsasz; Batgirl declines. | GIRLFRENZY! |
| DC Retroactive: 1980s – Batman #1 (2011) The Reaper returns and, while trying to learn their identity, Batman discovers there may be more than one! | DC RETROACTIVE | |
| ✔ | Swamp Thing #52-55 (1986) Swamp Thing attacks Gotham City when Abby Cable is arrested over her relationship with him, with Batman trying to contain the situation; Lex Luthor’s machinations threaten the Swamp-Thing’s life. 1st appearance: Lex Luthor | |
| ✔ | New Teen Titans #26-31 (1986-1987) Jason Todd joins the Teen Titans as Robin, just in time for the resurrection of Brother Blood; Batman is among the heroes who respond to the urgent summons to quell the Church of Blood’s potential rise in power. 1st appearance: Twister/Theresa Zimmer | |
| Batman #401 (1986) While G Gordon Godfrey drums up contempt for the super-human community, Batman takes on the thieving Magpie. 1st appearance: Robin/Jason Todd, Commissioner James Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth | LEGENDS | |
| The Outsiders #11 (1986) Batman cameo; news coverage of the Outsiders’ capture in Russia is seen by their former leader, Batman. | ||
| Detective Comics #568 (1986) G Gordon Godfrey‘s contempt for costumed heroes continues, while Batman and Robin foil the Penguin’s ransom plot. 1st appearance: Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot | LEGENDS | |
| Detective Comics #569-570 (1986) Catwoman’s newfound alliance with Batman takes a disastrous turn when the Joker and Doctor Moon use a Catscan machine to turn her back to a life of crime. 1st appearance: Catwoman/Selina Kyle, Joker Note: The events of ‘Batman: Year One’ and later stories make this story impossible to reconcile with New Earth continuity, though some elements clearly ‘happen’ as they’re referenced in ‘Legends’. | ||
| ✔ | Legends #2-6 (1986) G Gordon Godfrey’s machinations lead to the US President calling for the cessation of ‘superhero’ activities; Robin takes a beating from the citizens of Gotham City; with the Justice League of America disbanded, Batman joins forces with other heroes to oppose the true mastermind behind the scheme – Darkseid; Batman joins the new Justice League. 1st appearance: Gwyneth Tate, Suicide Squad/Task Force X | LEGENDS |
| The Outsiders Annual #1 (1986) Batman teams up with his old group, the Outsiders, when SKULL and Lady Eve’s Kobra Cult when the two terrorist organizations go to war. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| Batman #402-403 (1986-1987) The murder of Tommy Carma’s wife and child tip him over the edge and make him believe he’s Batman; the real Batman hunts the fake when he starts killing criminals. | ||
| ✔ | Detective Comics #571 (1987) Detective Comics #573 (pp.1-4) (1987) Robin’s attempt to deal with the Scarecrow by himself takes a horrifying turn; Batman and Robin warn the Mad Hatter not to go back to a life of crime when he’s released from prison. 1st appearance: Mad Hatter II, Scarecrow/Jonathan Crane Note: Some elements of this story don’t reconcile with later continuity; the second Mad Hatter is no longer considered part of the New Earth timeline. | |
| Captain Atom #2 (1987) Batman cameo; Batman reacts o the debut of yet another superhero, Captain Atom. | ||
| ✔ | Detective Comics #572 (1987) Batman and Robin’s Christmas celebrations in London are interrupted when they come to the rescue of Queen Elizabeth II; Batman, Robin team up with Slam Bradley and the Elongated Man and meet Sherlock Holmes. | |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #573 (pp.5-22) (1987) Detective Comics #574 (1987) The Mad Hatter proves to be a bigger threat than Robin was ready for when he gives in to his criminal urges. Note: Some elements of this story don’t reconcile with later continuity; the second Mad Hatter is no longer considered part of the New Earth timeline. | |
| ✔ | Justice League #1-4 (1987) The new Justice League officially form, with Batman as a member; the team take on terrorists, the Champions of Angor, the Gray Man, the Rocket Red Brigade and the Royal Flush Gang; Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi) and Booster Gold join the team. 1st appearance: Gray Man, Colonel Rumaan Harjavti, Justice League, Maxwell Lord, Bialya | |
| Justice League Annual #1 (1987) The Justice League are faced with an apparent zombie outbreak. | ||
| The Outsiders #17-22 (1987) The Outsiders #18 [1/2] (1987) The Outsiders #19 [1/2] (1987) The Outsiders #20 [1/2] (1987) The Outsiders #21 (1987) The Outsiders #22 [1/2] (1987) The People of the Dark kidnap Batman and Dr Bruce Gordon; when the Outsiders come to their rescue, Batman rejoins the team; Bruce Gordon becomes the host for Eclipso once again; Batman and the Outsiders oppose their old foes, the Masters of Disaster, but discover a traitor in their own ranks; the team face the Kobra Cult’s new Strike Force Kobra. 1st appearance: Strike Force Cobra (Lady Clay/Sondra Fuller), Elemental Woman, Spectrumonster/Parker, Zebra-Man). | ||
| The Weird #1-4 (1988) The Justice League, Superman and Captain Atom investigate when an alien presence takes possession of a man in Inglewood. 1st appearance: Walter Langley, the Weird | ||
| The Outsiders #23-24 (1987) The Force of July are captured by the Russians; Batman and the Outsiders come to their aid and battle the Russian superhuman Fusion. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| The Outsiders Special #1 (1987) Batman cameo; Infinity Inc team up with the Outsiders to stop the rise of the Force of July and Baron Bedlam and the Psycho-Pirate; Batman gives the two teams details on their foes; Baron Bedlam isn’t all he seems. Note: This chapter implies that the story takes place after Outsiders #23-24, whereas chapter two of this events implies it takes place afterwards. | FROM HERE TO INFINITY | |
| ✔ | Batman Annual #11 [1/2] (1987) Clayface (Preston Payne) falls in love with a mannequin, but becomes convinced she’s having an affair with Batman. | |
| Batman Annual #11 [2/2] (1987) A new love interest appears to have made the Penguin turn over a new leaf, but Batman thinks otherwise. | ||
| Batman #412 (1987) Batman and Robin pursue a mime called Mime. | ||
| ✔ | Justice League #5-6 (1987) Batman has a face-off with Guy Gardner of the Green Lantern Corps; Doctor Fate is captured by the Gray Man who turns Captain Marvel against the League. | |
| ✔ | Justice League International #7 (1987) The Justice League gain a new status as a globally-sanctioned peace-keeping force thanks to Maxwell Lord; Captain Atom and Rocket Red #7 join the JLI; Batman steps down as team leader, remaining on the team but letting Martian Manhunter take the primary role. 1st appearance: Boris Dmitravich New identity: Justice League as Justice League International (JLI) | |
| Teen Titans Spotlight #14 (1987) Nightwing comes to Batman’s aid when he’s overpowered by drug-dealer Drakkar. | ||
| Doctor Fate #3 (1987) The JLI rush to deal with the Anti-Fate – Dr Benjamin Stoner who has donned the Helmet of Fate and turned t to his own dark ends. | ||
| ✔ | Action Comics Annual #1 (1987) The overworked Batman calls on Superman for help with an investigation into a vampire attack in South Carolina. | |
| Swamp Thing #66 (1987) Batman cameo; Batman battles Killer Croc at Arkham Asylum, allowing John Constantine an opportunity to escape. | ||
| Detective Comics #579 (1979) Batman and Robin stumble across a secret operation being performed by the Crime Doctor. | ||
| Batman #413 (1987) Batman and Robin step up when a feudal Japanese exhibit at the Gotham Metropolitan Museum is targeted | ||
| Booster Gold #22 (1987) The JLI help out Booster Gold when aliens invade from Dimension X. | INVASION FROM DIMENSION X | |
| ✔ | Action Comics #594 (1987) Superman asks Batman to investigate a scrap book with information on his life. | INVASION FROM DIMENSION X |
| Booster Gold #23 (1987) Bruce Wayne cameo; Bruce attends a party on Lex Luthor’s boat. | INVASION FROM DIMENSION X | |
| Action Comics #595 (1987) Batman cameo; Batman is among those attending Superman’s funeral when he dies at the hands of the Silver Banshee. 1st appearance: Silver Banshee/Siobhan McDougal |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| Vigilante #47 (1987) The Vigilante heads to Gotham City to assist Sgt Harvey Bullock on a case; Batman swings in to bring the Vigilante to justice. | ||
| Firestorm #64 (1987) Firestorm Annual #5 (1987) The Suicide Squad are assigned to taking down Firestorm when he starts taking out all the nuclear warheads on Earth; the JLI step in when the clash between Firestorm and the Suicide Squad poses even more of a threat. 1st appearances: Pozhar/Mikhail Arkadin, Derek Tolliver | GROUND ZERO | |
| ✔ | Batman #414 (1987) Batman pursues a serial killer in Gotham City, the Dumpster Slasher, but makes a terrible error in judgement. | |
| The Outsiders #25 (1987) The Outsiders #26 (pp.1-8) (1987) The Outsiders are labelled as illegal vigilantes; Metamorpho’s efforts to cure himself of his powers is sabotaged by SKULL; Atomic Knight joins the Outsiders; Batman is called away by the JLI… | ||
| ✔ | Justice League International #8 [1/2] (1988) Millennium #1 (pp.1-11) (1988) Batman, Rocket Red #7 and Guy Gardner set up the JLI Embassy in Russia; the JLI head to Germany when they receive news of a terrorist threat; Batman is among the heroes who answer Green Lantern’s summons to discuss a new threat. | MILLENNIUM |
| Firestorm #67 (pp.1-8) (1988) Batman cameo; Batman stands the heroes at the Green Lantern Citadel. | MILLENNIUM | |
| ✔ | Millennium #1 (pp.12-20) (1988) Batman stands among the heroes at the Green Lantern Citadel; the gathered heroes listen to the news that some of their closest friends have been replaced with Manhunter robots. | MILLENNIUM |
| Firestorm #67 (p.9) (1988) Batman cameo; Batman informs Black Lightning that Firestorm is no longer a wanted man. | MILLENNIUM | |
| ✔ | Millennium #1 (pp.15-22) (1988) Justice League International #9 [1/2] (1988) Millennium #2 (pp.1-8) (1988) Batman #415 (1988) Millennium #3 (1988) The JLI discover one of their own is a Manhunter; Batman is betrayed by someone close to him in Gotham City; Batman and Robin break into Arkham Asylum. | MILLENNIUM |
| Green Lantern Corps #220 (1988) Batman cameo; Batman joins the heroes back at the Citadel. | MILLENNIUM | |
| ✔ | Millennium #4 (pp.1-4) (1988) Detective Comics #582 (pp.1-9) (1988) Millennium #4 (pp.4-18) (1988) Detective Comics #582 (pp.10-14) (1988) Detective Comics #582 (pp.14-15) / The Spectre #10 (p.15) (1988) Millennium #4 (pp.19-23) (1988) Suicide Squad #9 (pp.6-10) (1988) Detective Comics #582 (pp.16-20) (1988) The Spectre #10 (p.21) (1988) Detective Comics #582 (p.20-22) Secret Origins #23 [2/2] (1988) The JLI discover one of their own is a Manhunter; Batman is betrayed by someone close to him in Gotham City; Batman and Robin break into Arkham Asylum. | MILLENNIUM |
| Secret Origins #23 [2/2] (1988) Killer Croc plots his escape from Arkham Asylum. | MILLENNIUM | |
| Millennium #5-6 (1988) Blue Beetle #21 (1988) Millennium #7-8 (1988) The heroes take the fight to the Manhunters; Batman learns the fate of the Outsiders and damages his relationship with Wonder Woman; a new breed of heroes rises. 1st appearance: The Chosen/New Guardians New identity: Gregorio de la Vega as Extraño, Xiang Po as Gloss, Celia Windward as Jet, Takeo Yakata as RAM | MILLENNIUM |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| Blue Beetle #22 (1988) Batman cameo; the JLI discuss the fallout of the Millennium Project. | ||
| ✔ | Suicide Squad #10 (1988) Batman investigates rumours of the Suicide Squad’s true purpose and confronts Amanda Waller. 1st appearance: Father Richard Craemer, J Daniel Murphy | |
| World’s Finest #3 (1999) A man pretending to be ‘Superman’ seeks to defeat the super-criminal Illuminata; Batman and the real Superman have to round up Arkham Asylum’s escaped prisoners. | ||
| Action Comics #606 [1/6] (1988) Bruce Wayne turns down Hal Jordan’s request for help when fellow Green Lantern John Stewart Is framed for Star Sapphire’s murder. | ||
| ✔ | Justice League International #11-12 (1988) The darker side to Maxwell Lord emerges; the JLI are confronted by Metron and the Construct. 1st appearance: Icemaiden/Tora Olafsdotter New identity: Kilg%re as the Construct | |
| ✔ | Justice League International #13 (1988) Suicide Squad #13 (1988) The President calls in the Justice League to prevent an international incident when the Suicide Squad head to Russia on a mission to rescue Nemesis. | COLLISION COURSE |
| Batman Confidential #13-16 (2008) It appears the almost-unstoppable Wrath has returned from the grave; Batman and Nightwing oppose their vengeance-driven foe. | ||
| Action Comics #611 [5/6] (1988) Action Comics #612 [5/6] (1988) Action Comics #613 [5/6] (1988) Action Comics #614 [5/6] (1988) Selina Kyle now owns the Tin Roof Club and uses it go gain information of items of note that she can procure as Catwoman; Detective George Flannery of the GCPD discerns Catwoman’s true identity. Note: This story is later considered to be part of Earth-85 continuity. 1st appearance: George Flannery | ||
| Firestorm #71 (1988) Batman cameo; Firestorm sees Batman as travels through time. | ||
| ✔ | Batgirl Special #1 (1988) The criminal Slash is murdered and the Cormorant is the number one suspect, attracting the attention of his old nemesis Batgirl. | |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #583-584 (1988) Batman investigates the emergence of a new drug on the streets of Gotham; the ‘man’ behind the Fever ends up being more than Batman bargained for. 1st appearance: Frederick Rhino, Ventriloquist/Arnold Wesker, Scarface (puppet), Fever (drug) | |
| ✔ | Batman #417-420 (1988) The terrorist group Hammer gain a new member in rogue Russian agent KGBeast and they’re intent on utterly destroying the US Government; Batman and CIA agent Ralph Bundy supports Batman in his opposition to this terrifying foe. 1st appearance: Ralph Bundy, the Hammer, KGBeast/Anatoli Knyazev | |
| ✔ | Adventures of Superman #440 (1988) Superman follows up on the scrap book he asked Batman to look into; Batman and Superman learn each other’s secret identities. | DIFFERENT WORLDS |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Detective Comics #585-589 (1988) Batman’s investigation into a series of kidnappings leads him to the Gotham City sewers where he faces the Ratcatcher; hired assassin Derek Mitchell is transformed into the Corrosive Man and uses his new abilities to pursue his treacherous former ally, the murderous Mortimer Kadaver. 1st appearance: Corrosive Man/Deke Mitchell, Mortimer Kadaver; Legs, Ratcatcher/Otis Flannegan | |
| ✔ | Batman #421-422 (1988) Batman resumes his search for the ‘Dumpster Slasher’, pushing both Batman and Robin to the limits of what they’re willing to do to stop a killer; Batman tries to help a suicidal drug addict. | |
| DC Bonus Book #5 (1988) Poison Ivy’s latest scheme begins to threaten her own life, but will she accept Batman’s help? Note: The DC Bonus Books appeared as additional inserts in DC titles; issue 5 was included within Detective Comics #589. | ||
| ✔ | Batman #423 (1988) Batman tries to help a suicidal drug addict. | |
| Martian Manhunter #1-2, 4 (1988) Martian Manhunter asks Batman and the JLI for help when he discovers the trith about the plague that wiped out his fellow Martians. 1st appearance: H’ronmeer | ||
| Detective Comics #590-591 (1988) Batman travels to London to track down escaped terrorists, despite the risk of exposing his own secret identity; the Australian aborigine vigilante Umbaluru comes to Gotham City in search of a stolen relic. | ||
| Secret Origins of the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes tpb (1989) Batman recalls his origins, starting with the loss of his parents to the killer Joe Chill. | ||
| ✔ | Batman: The Cult #1-4 (1988) Cult leader Deacon Blackfire raises an army beneath the Gotham streets; Batman falls prey to Blackfire’s brainwashing techniques. 1st appearance: Deacon Blackfire | |
| ✔ | Batman #424-425 (1988) The darker side of Jason Todd comes to the fore when he’s presented with the chance to deal with Bogatagoan drug-dealer Jose Garzonas his own way. | |
| Detective Comics #592-594 (1988-1989) The telepathic Cornelius Stirk leaves Arkham Asylum to start a new life, but quickly resumes his unquenchable thirst for murder; Batman teams up with notorious private investigator, Joe Potato. 1st appearance: Fear/Cornelius Stirk, Joe Potato | ||
| DC Bonus Book #11 (1989) Mister Freeze escapes Gotham Penitentiary. Note: The DC Bonus Books appeared as additional inserts in DC titles; issue 11 was included within Detective Comics #595. | ||
| Batman Annual #12 [1/2] (1988) Bruce Wayne attends a murder mystery weekend that includes actual murders; Batman delves into the mystery of the demon of Slade Manor. | ||
| Justice League International Annual #2 (pp.1-37) (1988) Batman cameo; the Joker strikes up an alliance with Rumaan Harjavti; Green Flame and Icemaiden of the Global Guardians are unofficially accepted into the JLI at a barbecue at Mister Miracle and Big Barda’s house; Batman is called into to assist when the Joker attacks the party. | ||
| Detective Comics Annual #1 (1988) Batman teams up with Talia al Ghul to retrieve a neuro-chemical stolen by the Penguin; Batman agrees to a deal with the Question and Lady Shiva. | FABLES |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | JLA Incarnations #6 [1/2] (pp.1-4) (2001) Batman shares information with the Justice League regarding Rumaan Harjavti’s plans to turn Bialya into a haven for super-human criminals. | |
| DC Bonus Book #7 (1988) Batman cameo; Oberon accidentally destroys Mister Miracle and Big Bardas’s idyllic home. Note: The DC Bonus Books appeared as additional inserts in DC titles; issue 7 was included within Justice League International #18. | ||
| ✔ | JLA Incarnations #6 [1/2] (pp.5-22) (2001) Batman assists the JLI when they infiltrate Bialya to coerce Rumaan Harjavti into changing his plans. | |
| Green Arrow Annual #1 (1988) The Question Annual #1 (1988) Batman teams up with Green Arrow, the Question and Lady Shiva to help O-Sensei find his wife’s resting place. | FABLES | |
| Justice League International #15 (1998) Batman cameo; Guy Gardner ties to convince Batman to rejoin the JLI. | ||
| Justice League International Annual #2 (p.38) (1988) The Joker heads to Bialya to reacquaint himself with Rumaan Harjavti who’s now desperate for allies. | ||
| ✔ | Justice League International #16 (1998) Remaining loosely affiliated with the Justice League, Batman leads a team back into Bialya to deal with the terrorist nation. | |
| Batman Annual #12 [2/2] (1988) While Batman’s away, Jason Todd exposes exam cheats at Gotham Junior High. | ||
| ✔ | Justice League International #17 (1998) The JLI find the problem is far more complicated than they were prepared for when the new Queen Bee makes her move against the country. 1st appearance: Queen Bee | |
| ✔ | Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989) The Joker is returned to Arkham Asylum and helps the inmates take over; Batman heads into deal with the problem and learns the origins Arkham Asylum. 1st appearance: Amadeus Arkham | |
| ✔ | Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) The Joker escapes Arkham Asylum; the Joker’s revenge plot against Commissioner Gordon and Batman has a massive impact on Barbara Gordon. 1st appearance: Jeannie | |
| Superman #23 (1988) Batman cameo; Batman locates information on the origins of Silver Banshee that could give Superman the means to finally defeat her. | ||
| ✔ | Showcase ’94 #8 [1/3] Showcase ’94 #9 [1/3] The origins of the Ventriloquist and Scarface is revealed. | |
| ✔ | Batman #426-429 (1988-1989) The Joker escapes Arkham Asylum yet again and reveals the fruit of his connections to the Arab territories; things converge when the rebellious Robin learns his mother may still be alive in the Middle East and has a fateful confrontation with the Joker; Batman pursues the Joker when he becomes the new ambassador between Iran and the United Nations. | |
| ✔ | Batman Chronicles #5 [1/3] (pp.1-4) (1996) Batman visits an Barbara Gordon in the hospital. | |
| ✔ | Justice League International #19-21 (1988-1989) Batman rejoins the Justice League International along with other new members ‘Hawkman’ and ‘Hawkwoman’; Black Canary leaves the team; Lobo is hired to kill the JLI: the team pursue Manga Khan to Apokolips. New identity: Green Flame/Beatriz de Costa as Fire; Icemaiden/Tora Olafsdotter as Ice |
The Batman Family’s complete New Earth reading order continues…
Batman Family stories from across the DC Multiverse from this period:
| Title, Synopsis & First Appearances |
| Action Comics #611 [5/6] (1988) Action Comics #612 [5/6] (1988) Action Comics #613 [5/6] (1988) Action Comics #614 [5/6] (1988) Earth-85: Catwoman‘s pursuit of an Egyptian gem puts her best friend’s life in jeopardy. |
| From the DC Vault: Batman #428 – Robin Lives! (2024) In the original ‘A Death in the Family’ story, the fate of Jason Todd was decided by telephone vote, with a landslide victory for readers who voted who Robin’s death; in this story, the original pages that were drawn up in the event that readers voted for his survival are printed in full colour for the first time. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Batman: Second Chances | Batman #402-403, 408-416 Batman Annual #11 |
| Batman: The Caped Crusader vol.1 | Batman #417-425, 430-431 Batman Annual #12 |
| Batman: A Death in the Family | Batman #426-429, 440-442 New Teen Titans #60-61 |
| Batman: A Death in the Family – The Deluxe Edition | Batman #426-429, 440-442 New Teen Titans #60-61 |
| Batman: The Dark Knight Detective vol.1 | Detective Comics #568-574, 579-582 |
| Batman: The Dark Knight Detective vol.2 | Detective Comics #583-591 Detective Comics Annual #1 |
| Batman: The Dark Knight Detective vol.3 | Detective Comics #592-600 |
| DC Finest – Batman: The Killing Joke and Other Stories | Batman #413-422 Batman: Son of the Demon #1 Batman: The Killing Joke #1 Detective Comics #580-589 |
| DC Finest – Batman: A Death in the Family | Batman #423-429 Batman Annual #12 Batman: The Cult #1-4 Detective Comics #590-595 Detective Comics Annual #1 |
| Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle vol.1 | Batman Annual #11-12 Detective Comics #579, 582-594, 601-607 |
| Justice League International vol.1 | Justice League #1-6 Justice League International #7 |
| Justice League International vol.2 | Justice League Annual #1 Justice League International #8-13 Suicide Squad #13 |
| Justice League International vol.3 | Justice League International #14-22 |
| Justice League International: Born Again | Justice League #1-6 Justice League Annual #1 Justice League International #7-17 Suicide Squad #13 |
| Justice League International: Around the World | Justice League America #26-30 Justice League Europe #1-6 Justice League International #18-25 Justice League International Annual #2-3 |
| Justice League International Omnibus vol.1 | Justice League #1-6 Justice League Annual #1 Justice League America #26-30 Justice League Europe #1-6 Justice League International #7-25 Justice League International Annual #2-3 Suicide Squad #13 |
| Absolute Batman: Arkham Asylum Batman: Arkham Asylum Batman: Arkham Asylum – The Deluxe Edition | Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth |
| Batman: The Cult Batman: The Cult – The Deluxe Edition | Batman: The Cult #1-4 |
| Batman: The Wraith | Batman Confidential #13-16 Batman Special #1 |
| Cosmic Odyssey | Cosmic Odyssey #1-4 |
| Millennium | Millennium #1-8 |
| Suicide Squad: The Nightshade Odyssey | Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special #1 Justice League International #13 Suicide Squad #9-16 |
| Superman: Dark Knight Over Metropolis | Action Comics #653-654 Action Comics Annual #1 Adventures of Superman #466-467 Superman #44 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes…. |
| Absolute Batman: The Killing Joke Batman: The Killing Joke – The Deluxe Edition DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (2006 Edition) | Batman: The Killing Joke |
| Batgirl: A Celebration of 50 Years | Batgirl Special #1 Batman Chronicles #5 |
| Batman: Arkham Asylum – Victor Zsasz | Batman: Batgirl #1 |
| The Question Omnibus vol.1 | Detective Comics Annual #1 Green Arrow Annual #1 The Question Annual #1 |
| Absolute Swamp Thing vol.3 Saga of the Swamp Thing vol.5 Swamp Thing: Earth to Earth | Swamp Thing #52-55 |
| Legends: 30th Anniversary Edition | Legends #1-6 |
| New Teen Titans vol.12 | New Teen Titans #26-31 |
| New Teen Titans Omnibus vol.4 | New Teen Titans #26-31 |
| Suicide Squad by John Ostrander Omnibus vol.1 | Justice League International #13 Legends #1-6 Suicide Squad #9, 13 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.3 | Action Comics Annual #1 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.4 | Adventures of Superman #440 |
Reading Order Copyright © 2023 Omniverse Comics Guide
Leave a Reply