Top 5 Best Batman Stories

[Harding Prime]

I've seen a lot more "worst Batman stories" than "best Batman stories" conversations myself... something about fans I guess.

So why not start up a new one for all the cats that haven't been able to actually say they like something! I'll start...(Mine will probably be a little different then most)

1) Hush - Sorry haters, but this was the most entertaining Batman has been in a long time, and Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee nailed it for me.

2) Long Halloween - Very entertaining Mystery, makes you keep guessing and when you think you have it, you wrong, till you find out you might have been right all along. Not even Batman or the Riddler could truly figure it out.

3) Face the Face - A great re-creation of a great Batman Villian, Two-Face, for a new breed of readers.

4) Knightfall/KnightsEnd - It took about two years to finish, but it was a good story with Batman actually losing and having to start over with the man that he is and is suppose to be and re-claim the mantle.

5) "Batman" by Tim Burton - This is the movie that got me into reading comics in the first place.

[shaxper]

I could have sworn we did a thread like this a long while back, but I'm having trouble locating it with the search engine.

Anyway, here are a few of my favorites:

1. The Many Deaths of Batman p.1 (Batman #433, May 1989)
A very moving story about the death of Batman (even though it wasn't real). John Byrne expresses all of Gotham's grief by portraying everyone in the issue as overcome by silence. Two words are spoken in the entire issue. The rest of the story arc (in Batman #434 and #435) are decent, but they don't begin to match the power of this one. It reads better as a stand-alone.

2. A Death in the Family (Batman #426-429, December 1988 thru Janyary 1989)
In addition to being a groundbreaking moment in comic book history and a major turning point for the Dark Knight, this storyline, in which the second Robin is eventually killed, presents a fantastic relationship of power struggles between Batman and Robin. Robin is presented as good-natured, but ultimately stubborn and arrogant. While the first and third Robin usually performed as perfect little lapdogs to their master, Jason truly pushed Bruce to the limit, forcing him to question his motives in choosing a young partner, as well as his ideals and limitations in donning the cowl each night. This storyline packed into two issues (Batman #426 and 427) a turbulant and revealing relationship that I would have loved to have seen occur between Bruce and Jason over the course of many years. Of course, the last two issues (Batman #428 and #429) stand out on their own, packed with tragic emotion, Batman pushed to the brink of insanity, and unforgettable appearances by both Superman and the Joker.

3. The Paul Dini run (Detective Comics #821-?, September 2006 to current)
I know it seems easy to choose a current writer for a list like this one, but I truly believe that Dini will always be one of my absolute favorite Batman authors. He has a way of humanizing tired old Batman villains and making them new again (particularly Ivy and the Riddler). He's also brought the Detective back to Detective Comics, giving Batman FUN mysteries to solve in the span of a single satisfying issue. While Dini's ability to compact entire storylines into a single issue often feels a little rushed, the stories are still very exciting. He's brought the fun of classic stand-alone storytelling into a modern age with modern art and exciting modern characterization and writing. I know this list isn't about selecting runs, but I can't choose a specific Dini story. It's more his method of storytelling that I want to recognize on this list.


4. The Dark Knight Returns (1986)
It's always been hard for me to put a finger on what I love about this story. Maybe it's the simple feel-good of watching our favorite hero return from the ashes one final time, or maybe it's the fact that his return is complicated, and brings unexpected change with it. Whatever the reason, this is a powerful portrait of Batman that I enjoy reading over and over again.

5. The Killing Joke (1988)
For what it's worth, I DO feel that this storyline is tremendously overrated. It has it's problems. However, I think Moore captures the co-dependent relationship between Batman and Joker best here. For the first time, it's painfully clear just how much they need each other, as well as how much they need to destroy each other. The begining always strikes me as being the most powerful and, of course, the Joker is in rare form in this issue, finally pushing the limits of his insantiy here; showing us just how evil he can truly choose to be. It's a pretty convincing origin for the J-man as well.

There's so much more that needs to be on this list, of course. Most obvious to me are the Neal Adams issues and the early 1980s issues of Batman when the teenage Robin turned up from time to time. Those stories had the ability to be so dark and suspenseful in the best noire traditions, but other than the Vampire storyline from Batman #349-350 (an arbitrary memory, really), no specific stories come to mind. Of course, there was also "To Kill a Legend" in Detective Comics #500, where Batman has the ability to go back and prevent Thomas and Martha Wayne from being murdered, and who could forget Miller's Batman: Year One?

As for other media (you mentioned the 1989 Batman film), how about Batman: Mask of the Phantasm? It's a fantastic embodiment of Bruce Wayne's struggle to honor his parents' memory and avenge their deaths while trying to move on with his life at the same time. This Bruce Wayne is the most human, convincing, and understandable of all the depictions seen in film and TV to date, as far as I'm concerned. He wears his cowl as a pennance for surviving when his parents didn't. I'd also mention an episode from Batman: The Animated Series season 3 (can't remember the episode title), where Batman slowly discovers he's actually a robotic duplicate of the real Batman and must be destroyed for the good of Gotham. Incredibly powerful episode.

So many great Batman stories to choose from...

[Kara Zor El]

The Dark Knight Returns. It's dated now but at the time it was blow you away material. Jam packed with Bat mythos and originality. Was very deep and also very funny.

The Killing Joke. Amazing little story with beautiful art and film story telling. I can still vividly remember looking at the panel, where Bruce looks at the Bat Family picture on, with Bat-Mite and Bat Woman on etc and getting a little tear in my eye.

The Cult. First time I saw Batman with such long ears. Great gory art, Hallucinating Batman who is mentally broken by his new foe. Gotham is taken over and Bruce has to load up with tranque firing machine guns and a giant armored Batmobile.

Mask. Legends of the Dark knight story. I just love this one. Mad doctor abducts Bruce and convinces him that he is a drunken homeless guy who thinks he's Batman. The bit where Bruce gets into his costume and jumps out of the window, and then we see that the costume is made out of bin bags and he's just falling was genius.

Year One. Just perfect telling of Batman's first year. It can never be bettered. The bit where he is trapped in the building and the SCU come in is just priceless. Come on Frank, pour some of that genius into ASB will ya?

[brundlefly]

Tough call. I might come back and edit this if I think on it longer and change my mind...

Batman: Year One
The Dark Knight Returns
The Killing Joke
The Long Halloween/Dark Victory
Son/Bride/Birth/Tales of the Demon

Knightfall/Knightsend *

Heh, I know I'm cheating with some of these, lumping TLH and DV into one entity as well as the Ra's stories. So I'll go with Long Halloween and Birth of the Demon if I have to 'drop some weight' from those entries.

* Knightfall/Knightsend, as a fall from grace & rebirth arc, is a great story. But it comes in as a close runner-up to the others since I thought the middle part, 'Knightquest,' I think, was pretty weak and erratic.

[Harding Prime]

* Knightfall/Knightsend, as a fall from grace & rebirth arc, is a great story. But it comes in as a close runner-up to the others since I thought the middle part, 'Knightquest,' I think, was pretty weak and erratic.

Totally agree on KnightQuest blowing balls. I totally am talking about the Bruce Wayne aspect of Knightfall/Knights End, it showed a man torn apart, beating himself down ever since the death of Jason Todd, and paying the physical repercutions of mental problems, then having his entire rogue gallery let loose on him all at once by a mysterious new competitor. Becoming broken physically to finally match his mental state, taking months of physical and mental recuperation and becoming the man he needed to be (like after IC) and showing that he has made mistakes, like Azreal and dealing with death, and showing that Gotham is his, not Azreal's nor Bane's, and becoming once again the true Batman.

Then turning it around and giving it to Dick was a nice touch. I liked Prodigal to go along with Knightsaga as part of my favorites. Showing how it has become Robin whom has been the biggest thorn in his side over the years, actually being Dick that made him worse, and having him take on two Robin's under the masks, and having Tim become his new reason for suffering, well played.

[carabas]

In no particular order...

-The Dark night Returns
-Blades (LotDK #32-35, James Robinson/Tim Sale)
-Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive (actualy, the entire rucka/Brubaker run, since it all builds up to it, and the pay-off isn't actually part of M/F, and IIRC not in the TPB) Actually, no wonder a lot of people hate this one if they've only read the trades.
-Year One
-The Long Halloween.

[Keehar]

1. The Long Halloween
2. The Killing joke
3. A Death in the family
4. Year One
5. Hush

[TheTen-EyedMan]

5. Batman 300
4. Batman #600
3. The Long Halloween
2. Batman 372/Detective 539 - What Price The Prize/Boxing
1. Batman 400 - Resurrection Night

[powerforward]

one more story i would add is "the player on the other side" great art- great story- just a one shot but featured in the batman in the 80's colection.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

one more story i would add is "the player on the other side" great art- great story- just a one shot but featured in the batman in the 80's colection.

Good story...sort of the forerunner to the aborted mess that is Prometheus.

[jaguarshark]

There's no way I'm going to include everything that I mean to on this list, but the first five that spring to mind are:

1. Batman: Year One
2. The Dark Knight Returns
3. The Killing Joke
4. Dark Knight, Dark City
5. The Joker's Favor (Batman: TAS)

[Kristofer]

I'd also mention an episode from Batman: The Animated Series season 3 (can't remember the episode title), where Batman slowly discovers he's actually a robotic duplicate of the real Batman and must be destroyed for the good of Gotham. Incredibly powerful episode.



The episode was entitled "His Silicon Soul"
The Robot destroys itself because, due to being made EXACTLY like Batman, it was not able to kill Batman.

[Predator117]

1. The Long Halloween
2. Dark Victory
3. Year One
4. No Mans Land
5. Dark Knight Returns

[shaxper]

The episode was entitled "His Silicon Soul"
The Robot destroys itself because, due to being made EXACTLY like Batman, it was not able to kill Batman.

Thanks!

If I remember correctly, wasn't he carrying the remains of HARDAC within him?

[TheLazy]

1) Batman: Year One.
It's not even a contest to me. This is the best batman has ever been, stripped down to the basics, a man, a mask, and a city full of evil. Frank Miller could write a story where Robin and Bats get it on, and I'd still think of him as a od for crafting this. The only shame is that he didnt stay on the title longer and right a richer history for the character (in cannon), al la Daredevil.
2) DKR
Not really a one two punch, as much as a kick in the ribs after he's already KO'd you. Miller at his prime.
3) Batman: The Long Halloween
Whilst Hush went south during the second half, this story soars. The beauty of this story is that the answer is almost obvious, but never considered. To be honest I'd taken the liberty of forgetting this was set in Batman's first years and was genuinly shocked by the ending. Dark Victory was good, but it didnt touch this masterpeice in terms of pacing and suspense. The detective element was made more prominet with dark, noirish art by Sale, who I admit, I had a resistance to at first, but that quickly diminished
4) Anything by Matt Wagner
Really, I just cant choose. DC need to give this guy the main monthly
5) Hush...
...The first half. It was perfect for people getting into batman or rediscovering him (like me). It was suspenseful, even if it did bend the character a bit. But then Loeb had to undo it all with the second half, and the terrible terrible last two issues. Even I could of thought of 4-5 better minor characters to turn into a villian, and the way which it climaxed was straight out of a bad bond film. I was enjoying the prospect of it al be Ras Al Ghul for like 6 pages, shame it wasnt.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

4) Anything by Matt Wagner
Really, I just cant choose. DC need to give this guy the main monthly



From your keyboard to the D.C. editors. I'm going to safely guess that Matt Wagner would read a story he's going to reference and redo. And I'll also believe that he wouldn't retcon the coupling of two perfect people into a drug rape.

Maybe someone else doing the artwork would be the only coda I have.

What's Greg LaRocque doing these days?

[Kristofer]

Thanks!

If I remember correctly, wasn't he carrying the remains of HARDAC within him?

Yes, the Robot Batman locates the remains of the HARDAC mainframe and inserts a, OMFG, 3.5" floppy diskette into his forehead which contains all of HARDAC's knowledge....kinda odd that an entire mainframe was backed up onto a 3.5" floppy.....

[fishsticks]

ooooh! for what it's worth, here are my favourites! :p

My favourite storyline: Hush

My favorite short run: Fruit of the Earth (No Man's Land)

My favourite single issue: Batman #578

[Harding Prime]

I'm not much for one shots, but the last Dini Detective with the Joker and Robin was awesome!

[TheLazy]

From your keyboard to the D.C. editors. I'm going to safely guess that Matt Wagner would read a story he's going to reference and redo. And I'll also believe that he wouldn't retcon the coupling of two perfect people into a drug rape.

Maybe someone else doing the artwork would be the only coda I have.

What's Greg LaRocque doing these days?

I was actually interested in superman after I read his Trinity books! It didnt last though, but the important thing is that he got me to start reading the material.

:)

[Gary Joyce]

1) YEAR ONE
2) THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

Not only my favourite batman stories of all time but my favourite comic stories of all.Miller was on top form here.

3) THE KILLING JOKE

A great story and the Joker has never been done better.

4) The whole Doug Monech/Gene Colan Run in the 80's

A great run and great memories of childhood reading here.

5) STRANGE APPARITIONS

Another great run it helps that i really like the characters of Hugo Strange and Rupert Thorne and this is probably the reason why.

[DubipR]

These are stories that I like. Some might be sleepers, but these are the kind of Batman stories I enjoy reading.

1. The Cult: Fantastic Wrightson artwork with Starlin doing some brilliant writing. Batman was broken and broken good. I still remember buying those issues at the comic shop, waiting in anticipation.

2. Batman/Grendel: Devil's Riddle: This great 2 part prestige story by Matt Wagner was some of the best Batman I've read in ages. His take on Batman is one of the refreshing takes on old action serials and good old fashion mysteries. Highly recommended.

3. Gotham By Gaslight and Master of Future: Brian Augustyn did some brilliant work with a Victorian age Batman. Mike Mignola's artwork for GBG made the Batman vs. Jack the Ripper that much more eerie. The sequel, Edward Barreto's take on Gotham entering the 20th Century was fantastic.

4. Batman/Houdini: The Devil's Workshop: Howard Chaykin and John Francis Moore do a tale between the Bruce Wayne and the great Houdini in which children are being abducted and killed. Moore's artwork makes this 1907 tale of Batman creepy, especially his take on a "Joker". Solid artwork, solid storytelling.

5. Batman/Tarzan:Claws of the Cat-Woman: 4 issue mini by DC and Dark Horse. This was a great idea; 2 jungles/2 heroes. 1930s Gotham and the mysterious cities of Burrough's famous adventerer. Ron Marz wrote a great mini and Igor Kordey (I know he's not everyone's favorite, but it fits well here) does some bang up artwork.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for team up and Elseworlds.

[Apathy Boy]

1. YEAR ONE - The perfect Batman story. Sets up Bruce and Jim as real, likeable characters. Beautifully paced plot and some great lines of dialogue. Also contains the best art job in the history of superhero comics.

2. BROKEN CITY - The definitive Bruce Wayne story. Amidst all the depressing Batdick stuff that was coming out at the time, Azzarello and Risso remind us that, deep down, Batman is still human. That final monologue gets me every time.

3. TO KILL A LEGEND (DETECTIVE COMICS #500) - Best single-issue story ever. Great plot twists all around. What Batman should be all about.

4. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BRUCE WAYNE (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #197) - Another Alan Brennert book, because I am a sucker for seeing Batman get the happy ending he deserves. Also brought a lot of insight to the character that I had never thought of before.

5. THE TURNING POINT (BATMAN #603) - For the same reason I liked BROKEN CITY. Plus, you can't go wrong with Brubaker and Phillips as a creative team.

[SensorBoy]

No Man's Land.

Definitive Batman deconstruction. Shows just how dysfunctional and neurotic Batman and his allies (Dick, Tim, Alfred, Barbara, Jim and Helena) are.

The GCPD civil war (between Gordon and the psycho cop) and Batman turning into just another Somalian Warlord were icing on the cake.

[TROUBLEZ]

1. Dark Genesis Ran in Detective Comics 622-624
Copying or taking elements from Faust and Ghost Rider and applying them to a "Batman" character. Batman is on the trail of a killer who calls himself "Batman" who is inspired by a new underground comic about The Batman, a man who sold his soul to fight evil. Both the mystery and the comic-within-a-comic story are presented. Great covers by Dick Sprang.

2. HUSHRan in Batman 608-619
Just like it was said, Batman hadn't been this fun in years.

3. That one Batman: Black & White issueThe one about Two-Face written by Paul Dini (sorry, I was too lazy to look for the issue # and title)
Anyway, one of my favorite Two-Face stories.

4. The other Batman: Black & White issue In volume II
Another Joker origin, written by Dini and painted by Alex Ross.

5. Detective Comics "The Mud Pack" Brings together all the Clayfaces minus Matt Hagen for an interesting story.

The others I would have put up there but they are too obvious like DKR, and The Killing Joke.

[Chad]

1. Detective 500 "To Kill a Legend"

"I can't explain it all, but I'm trying to stop a murderer from killing two innocent people!

Lieutentant...in another world, another time...we're friends. If you can feel even a hint of that...trust me! Let me go. Please!"


"Maybe this'll shut you up!"

"No! Not this time - you hear me? This time you're not going to win!

This time..I didn't fail them"


2. Brave and the Bold 182 "Interlude on Earth Two"

"Blast it man give it a rest! I can't help being who or what I am! I'm sorry of that upsets you but I didn't ask to come here! You think it's fun being in a world where an older version of yourself has died?

Try facing your own mortality like that sometime, Robin! It's not very pleasant! And speaking of mortality...Professor Strange is waiting! Shall we?"


3. Detective 633 "Identity Crisis"

A criminal is convinced that he knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne. What's worse is that he has the ability to read minds and has entered Bruce Wayne's head to confirm this suspicion. Knowing what's happening but only on a subconscious level, Batman removes all knowledge of his existence from Bruce Wayne's mind. For his part, Bruce Wayne has to convince those closest to him that instead of the wine cellar currently in his basement, there should be a giant cave. Later adapted for the Animated Series as the still excellent but nonetheless inferior 'Perchance to Dream'.


4. Batman 47 "The Origin of Batman"

"Chill, I want to tell you a story without an ending. Maybe you can supply it..."


5. The Untold Legend of the Batman 1-3

The story of how Bruce Wayne tried to kill Batman.

[elias_A]

1. Ty Templeton's issues of Batman and Robin Adventures/ Gotham Adventures/ Batman Adventures

2. Knighfall: Broken Bat (The first paperback, the rest is not so good)

3. Batman: Family (the mini-series written by John Francis Moore)

4. Andersen Gabrych's run on Detective (expect War crimes...)

5. Batman: Terror, by Moench and Gulacy: To me the most archetypical thing for Batman is chasing Catwoman over the rooftops, and that has never worked better in a story than here


And close to top 5:
No man's Land (but only until Gordon and Batman make peace, the rest with Luthor and Joker I don't like very much),
and most of Rucka's and Brubaker's (other) stuff,
especially The Man who laughs

[Mister Mets]

1. The Dark Knight Returns
2. Year One
3. The Killing Joke
4. Arkham Asylum
5. The Long Halloween

Here's a link to one "best of" list.
http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

I think they under-rate Strange Apparations (#17), and over-rate Blind Justice (#11), Hush (#10), Dark Victory (#8) but they get the top 5 right, and include the Batman Stories that would be in my Top Ten: Son of the Demon, and the Cult.

[carabas]

3. That one Batman: Black & White issueThe one about Two-Face written by Paul Dini (sorry, I was too lazy to look for the issue # and title)
Anyway, one of my favorite Two-Face stories.

In the first issue, and it's not by Paul Dini, but by Bruce timm.

[RaggtyMan]

Does anyone remember the batman crossover with grendal.

that was pretty sweet but i cant remeber the name of it.

[Apathy Boy]

3. Detective 633 "Identity Crisis"

A criminal is convinced that he knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne. What's worse is that he has the ability to read minds and has entered Bruce Wayne's head to confirm this suspicion. Knowing what's happening but only on a subconscious level, Batman removes all knowledge of his existence from Bruce Wayne's mind. For his part, Bruce Wayne has to convince those closest to him that instead of the wine cellar currently in his basement, there should be a giant cave. Later adapted for the Animated Series as the still excellent but nonetheless inferior 'Perchance to Dream'.Oh, man. I can't believe I forgot about the Milligan/Mandrake "Identity Crisis." That's my #5 favourite story, easily. Hadn't realized "Perchance to Dream" was an adaptation of that story.

Come to think of it, James Robinson and Tim Sale's "Blades" arc from LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT is my #4 favourite.

[dancj]

In no particular order:
Year One
The Dark Knight Returns
Blades
The Joker's Five Way Revenge
Something from Pete Milligan's fantastic run.

[Lord Paradise]

1. The Dark Knight Returns
2. Year One
3. The Killing Joke
4. Arkham Asylum
5. The Long Halloween

Here's a link to one "best of" list.
http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html

I think they under-rate Strange Apparations (#17), and over-rate Blind Justice (#11), Hush (#10), Dark Victory (#8) but they get the top 5 right, and include the Batman Stories that would be in my Top Ten: Son of the Demon, and the Cult.I've read all of those save the Killing Joke. They're all good. Still, I would have put Dark Knight over Year One.

[tomstoyz]

1. The Dark Knight Returns
2. The Killing Joke
3. A Death in the Family
4. Batman: Year One
5. Hush

I have not read "The Long Halloween" yet but hear it's great!!

[The_green_listener]

1. The Long Halloween- Awesome crime noir whodunnit style which will keep you glued to the story until the end

2. Killing Joke- Fantastic dark wee story showcasing beautiful art and illustrating Batman and the jokers need for each other

3. Arkham- Just the most messed up, dark and brutal Batman story ever. Crazy art which will make you want to look back over and over

4. A Death in the Family- This story saddens me as I am one of the few Jason Todd fans but hey his death made for a great story

5. The Dark Knight Returns- It's become cliche but this is just awesome, better than year one in my opinion. It took me a while to get into it but after a while I was hooked and loved it

[Carter Hall]

Awesome column! While something like this cannot be done without snubbing something, I'm going to go ahead anyway:

1. Batman: Year One- easily one of my favorite COMIC BOOKS of all time, and my favorite Batman story. Perfection.
2. Knightfall/Knightsend
3. Prey (LDK #11-15)
4. Venom (LDK 16-20)
5. The Killing Joke

I wasn't counting Elseworlds stories, but if I did then Gotham by Gaslight would be on this list.

Honorable mention- Hush, Blades, Son of the Demon, and the current Morrison/Kubert stuff!

While I thought it was alright, I never got into Long Halloween or Dark Victory. I thought those would have been a lot better as early Batman stories if his Rogues Gallery didn't exist yet. Then I would've been much more interested in Two-Face's and Robin's origins.

Oh, and keep in mind these were my FAVORITE Batman stories, not what I considered to be the BEST Batman stories.

[Aaron Kashtan]

Single-issue stories;
1. To Kill a Legend ('Tec #500)
2. Night of the Stalker ('Tec #439)
3. Robin Dies at Dawn (Batman #156)
4. The Joker's Five-Way Revenge (Batman #251)
5. Interlude on Earth-Two (B&B #182)

I would have included "Time, See What's Become of Me" (B&B #181), but that's really a Hawk and Dove story.

Extended stories:
1. Year One (Batman #404-407)
2. Strange Apparitions ('Tec #471-476)
3. The Demon Lives Again (Batman #240-242)
4. Dark Knight Returns
5. The second Ra's Al Ghul story ('Tec #486-490)

[psmoore]

1. The Long Halloween
2. The Killing joke
3. A Death in the family
4. DKR
5. Murderer/Fugitive

[aukevin]

Only one person has mentioned Batman: Turning Points, is it just an average story? I saw it came out in trade and was thinking of picking it up. Or is it better just to read it sometime at a bookstore?

[Captain Jim]

It's a collection of stories rather than a single multi-part storyline. I wouldn't rate it in the top five, but it is a very good collection of stories, IMO. I would certainly recommend it for purchase.

[The Shadow]

1. The Many Deaths of Batman p.1 (Batman #433, May 1989)
A very moving story about the death of Batman (even though it wasn't real). John Byrne expresses all of Gotham's grief by portraying everyone in the issue as overcome by silence.

Wasn't that Jim Aparo on art with Byrne doing covers?

Awesome story regardless!

[Mister Mets]

My list would probably include only stories you've heard of, but it's because those stories are so damn good.

1. The Dark Knight Returns/ 2. Batman: Year One-
I wrote about these for a Great Comics section in my college newspaper.

3. Batman Begins: Probably the finest superhero movie I've ever seen.

4. The Killing Joke: Amongst Moore's best, which puts it on the list.

5. Arkham Asylum Deserves it's fame.

* Edit- Didn't realize I already posted here.

The list differs from my first one a bit, because I'm counting movies.

[brunofrankelli]

As James Robinson once wrote: Nothing is sweeter than a good Batman story. Here are my top five:

1) Dark Knight Returns - C'mon... Does this even need explaining?
2) Year One - Again, Miller may be addicted to his movies now but to say he done good with this one is an understatement.
3) Dark Knight Dark City - Peter Milligan's Riddler tale. The ONLY Riddler tale I liked! Which is weird because I really think Riddler as a character has such potential. Yet no one has ever done him justice, except Milligan. Wonder why DC never collected these issues.
4) JLA 1-4 New World Order - Okay. I'll be the first to admit that this isn't a Batman story per se. But Morrison's depiction of Batman here was pitch-perfect. I also loved the JLA's inherent awe of Batman, exemplified by Green Lantern's "Only 5? You're slowing down" comment or something to that effect (pertaining to Batman bagging half of the white Martians while the rest of the JLA took care of the other half).
5) Arkham Asylum. Great art. And a joker worth fearing. What more can I say?

There's also the Killing Joke which should technically be no. 4 since as I said, New World Order isn't technically a Batman story per se.

[Chad]

Best Stories of the past five years:

1. Batman: LOTDK 168 'Urban Legend'. A great story in which an amnesiac Batman has to patrol the streets of Gotham on the night he's vowed to bring down the city's toughest gang. His utility belt is empty and he's in bad shape having fallen from a building. His reputation is the only knowledge about himself that he has to go on, and it's the idea of what Batman represents that motivates his every action in this story. He doesn't know why he turned down the opportunity to arm himself with a gun, he only knows that Batman doesn't use firearms. He also has no idea how Batman gets in touch with the police, where the Batmobile is, or even the martial arts he's supposed to be skilled in. But he's still going to clean up Gotham this night.

2. Batman: Gotham Knights 59. NOT by AJ Leibermann. Probably the best Mr Freeze story there is. Having foiled Freeze's latest plan at the cost of his own freedom, Batman is trapped by his enemy who is holding him at gun point ready to end his life. It's a great story in which the only thing that's keeping Freeze from pulling the trigger is the optimistic smirk Batman is wearing on his face.

3. Batman: Gotham Knights 9-12. Having deduced Batman's identity, Hugo Strange is ready to make his move. So is Batman who, to to throw Strange off his trail, has hypnotized himself to forget that he's Bruce Wayne. Unfortunately, Strange kidnaps Wayne and demands the truth or he'll kill Robin.

[Bat_Fan2232]

someone was telling me about a story where batman was able to travel back and stop his parents muder wondering what its called and if i can pick it up... and is it worth it ?

[jesse_custer]

1. Dark Knight Returns - It transcends just being a great Batman story. It redefined comics as we know them. Plus, the symbolism is quite good (with Batman representing Justice and Superman representing the Law). I also really liked the part where Batman found Selina Kyle tied up, dressed up as Wonder Woman, and beaten by the Joker.

2. Batman: Year One - Miller shows us that Batman wasn't always as perfect as he is. Very gritty, almost seems like a Martin Scorsese movie.

3. The Long Halloween - Notwithstanding an ending that doesn't make the most sense, this tale packs in so many great villains and weaves a classic detective story.

4. Mask of the Phantasm - This has many classic moments. The movie humanizes Bruce Wayne to a great extent, gives Batman a fantastic new enemy, and showcases a funny-as-all-hell Joker scene, in which he slaps the Phantasm with bologna.

5. God of Fear - This is an Alan Grant story. The art is really strong, and I think it does a good job of characterizing the Scarecrow.

The Killing Joke gets an honorable mention, but it's ultimately overrated. And that's OK. Moore has plenty of essential reading and underrated material.

Edit: I really want to read Son of the Demon.

[Corrina]

My problem with Long Halloween is that no one is really doing any detective work.

The reader sees the crimes but basically, each issue has a murder, Gordon and Bats and Harvey, to varying degrees, are affected, and it's time for the next issue and the next murder. There are basically the same number of clues to the killer at the beginning of the book as there are at the end.

It's nicely atmospheric but...as a story, it left me empty.

As for Batman M/F, I hated it just fine in single issues, thanks. :) (Though that one story by Brubaker about the cop assigned to Thomas & Martha Wayne's murders was terrific.)

I'm going to cover some not already mentioned:

1. Batman: Year One, for all the reasons stated.

2. There's a terrific one-shot that's at the end of Batman in the 70s trade, with art by Marshall Rogers. Basically, Batman has to solve a murder before a train arrives at his destination to prove that there is justice in the world. Just a perfect one-shot Batman story. Another great one-shot, the original Crime Alley story that was made into an episode of Batman: The Animated Series.

3. I'm giving some love to the original Ra's Al Ghul story, Son of the Demon, with story by Denny O'Neil and art by Neal Adams. I had it once in one of those monster size trade paperbacks. (They also published the Legion's Lightning Lad/Saturn Girl wedding and Superman vs. Muhammed Ali in that size.)

4. Dark Knight Returns. It's very good, but Year One is my favorite. It's hard to believe the same person wrote both Year One and All-Star Batman & Robin.

5. Len Wein's Clayface III story, again with art by Marshall Rogers, a version of the Phantom of the Opera, which plays very much like the Dr. Freeze storyline in Batman: The Animated Series, which came much later.

[Captain Jim]

Len Wein's Clayface III story, again with art by Marshall Rogers

Dang that was a good story! And this will always be my favorite version of Clayface!

[TitoJones]

someone was telling me about a story where batman was able to travel back and stop his parents muder wondering what its called and if i can pick it up... and is it worth it ?

That's "To Kill a Legend" which was in Tec #500. You can find the story in almost any, if not every, "Greatest Batman Tales" TPB out there. And in my opinion it's worth it. I haven't done a top five list, but if I did it would definitity be on it, just for the last page alone.

[Corrina]

Also jumping in to recommend "To Kill A Legend."

When Batman Begins came out, Chuck Dixon said on his message board that this version of Batman was Denny O'Neil's Batman--not a person driven by anger and the deserve for vengeance, but a person who did what he did because he was Gotham's protector. And you can see that in the movie, as Bruce moves from wanting revenge (trying to shoot Chill) and then into under Ra's influence, and then the final scene on the rooftop, where it's clear he and Gordon are in this together, they'll both protect Gotham, in their way.

Since I grew up on Denny's Batman, it explained how much I loved that movie because while it jumbled around the timeline of the comics of Denny's era, it kept the essential themes. The B:TAS characterization is pretty close to this as well.

Captain Jim, I thought I was the only one who remembered Clayface III. <g> While the Englehart/Rogers run is well-remembered, it was fairly short, and Len Wein and Rogers also did an arc together. I think the Clayface story is also in the Batman of the 70s trade, or at least the final chapter.

While I loved DKR, I think many writers took the Batman he'd imagined in the future, after a lifetime of fighting, and put that characterization in the present and it didn't fit that well. Batman of DKR had pretty good reasons to be an asshole, especially given he was seeing that his quest might have been for nothing. But the Batman of the current time, who can still do much to affect events, wouldn't necessarily be that guy.

[Captain Jim]

Captain Jim, I thought I was the only one who remembered Clayface III. <g> While the Englehart/Rogers run is well-remembered, it was fairly short, and Len Wein and Rogers also did an arc together.

Indeed, that Wein/Rogers arc immediately followed the Englehart/Rogers stories. And IMO, the quality is equally as high.

[Harding Prime]

But who is lovin the Dini run right now??? huh!

[JerryvonKramer]

someone was telling me about a story where batman was able to travel back and stop his parents muder wondering what its called and if i can pick it up... and is it worth it ?

"To Kill a Legend", 'Tec #500

It's in the Greatest Stories Ever Told TPB (1989)

[Immortal]

1. Under the Hood
2. Murderer/Fugitive
3. Hush
4. The Man Who Laughs
5. Knightfall

[rZi]

1) The Killing Joke
2) Hush
3) The Long Halloween
4) Morrisons current Batman work
5) Paul Dini's detective comics run

[thor25]

No particular order.

Prey
brave and the bold 197
interlude in earth two
goin sane
the dark night movie.

[PLEDGE]

year one
long halloween
dark victory
man who laughs
hush

[Tanjint]

1.Miller's entire Bat-saga. accept no substitutes
2.Killing Joke and once I read the only other two Moore Batman stories, I'm sure I'll have them tie with this one
3.Justice League Unlimited Season 1. One huge Watchmen-like movie starring the Justice League.
4.Morrison's whole bat-saga including JLA
5.All of Dini's Bat-work

now if I actually have to narrow it down to 5 stories

1.The Dark Knight Returns
2.The Killing Joke
3.Year One
4.JLA: Earth II
5.Mad Love

I've only seen the episode Mad Love but I would LOVE to get my hands on the issue to see if it's even better but it's a great way of using Harley to give us another defining tale of Batman/Joker.

I almost put-all-star batman as 5 because I love it so much but it's not even half-done so I won't say yet...and as much as I love Dini and Loeb's bat-comic work and think it's very solid stuff....it hasn't blown me away.

Hush could have blown me away but the ending was really 'eh'.

Also, as you can tell I've yet to read any O'Neil/Adams Bats so this list may change.


-T

[Harding Prime]

1. Under the Hood
2. Murderer/Fugitive
3. Hush
4. The Man Who Laughs
5. Knightfall

Since people have become more okay with the retcon punch, looking back at this story it is a very dramatic story and does a good job of portraying batmana a the time right before the IC.

[JC25]

Hush gets my vote.

[Mister Mets]

My list would probably include only stories you've heard of, but it's because those stories are so damn good.

1. The Dark Knight Returns/ 2. Batman: Year One-
I wrote about these for a Great Comics section in my college newspaper.

3. Batman Begins: Probably the finest superhero movie I've ever seen.

4. The Killing Joke: Amongst Moore's best, which puts it on the list.

5. Arkham Asylum Deserves it's fame.

* Edit- Didn't realize I already posted here.

The list differs from my first one a bit, because I'm counting movies.

Time to update.

Arkham Asylum would get knocked off the list, due to Dark Knight, making the new list.

1. The Dark Knight Returns

2. The Dark Knight

3. Batman Year One

4. Batman Begins

5. The Killing Joke

[Harding Prime]

We will have to wait and see where people may rank RIP and/or Morrisons entire "epic novel" as he calls it. But in the mean time, would anyone add Batman & Son or the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul to there list? Or even the club of heroes or Grotesk?

[drinkblatzbeer]

funny you mention it...i don't know if it's top 5, but the club of heroes arc in batman was one of my recent favs...

[Harding Prime]

Hell, or the short story that was Morrison's "The Clown at Midnight"?

[Herr Mike]

Killing Joke has to be the most overrated comic of all time.

[Tanjint]

Greatest comics writer, a contender for the greatest penciller ever, two of the greatest characters ever(if not THE greatest hero and villain) in a defining, clear, yet subtle and nuanced story that is longer than the average single issue but smaller than the average tpb that can be read over and over and over again with very little decrease in the repeat value?

I think it deserves every bit of praise it gets. Have you read the recolor yet? It made me fall in love with it all over again.

-T

[jesse_custer]

I don't think the story defines Batman at all, and I don't see how it is subtle, either. Joker shoots Barbara and then Moore forgets about her. He even admitted he just used her character as an excuse to showcase brutality.

[Leocomix]

Anybody loves "Prey" here?

[thor25]

Anybody loves "Prey" here?

Me, I loved it

[Herr Mike]

Greatest comics writer, a contender for the greatest penciller ever, two of the greatest characters ever(if not THE greatest hero and villain) in a defining, clear, yet subtle and nuanced story that is longer than the average single issue but smaller than the average tpb that can be read over and over and over again with very little decrease in the repeat value?

I think it deserves every bit of praise it gets. Have you read the recolor yet? It made me fall in love with it all over again.

-T

If you say so. Sam Keith did it better in Secrets.

[Uatu]

suprised there isn't more Dark City love,

Dark Night Dark City
No Man's Land
Year One
Death in the Family
Dark Victory

[Harding Prime]

suprised there isn't more Dark City love,

Dark Night Dark City
No Man's Land
Year One
Death in the Family
Dark Victory

You choose Dark Victory over Long Halloween. Interesting? Not the norm around here it would seem.

[Tony Bang]

Batman A Go-Go. From Mike Allerd's issue of Solo
Year One
Dark Knight Returns
Broken City
The Joker stories from Batman #1

[Harding Prime]

So how many people would add "The Dark Knight" (like Mister Mets) if they added movies to the list? (Which you can do, and I did originally).

[Tanjint]

You choose Dark Victory over Long Halloween. Interesting? Not the norm around here it would seem.

in the same way that batman begins was necessary to get to the greater awesomeness that is the dark knight i see long Halloween as good and necessary to get to the greater awesomeness that is dark victory.

Long Halloween, like begins, feels like a lot of set up and dark victory is cool cause the set up is already in place and the story can just GO. it feels more action packed without feeling less intelligent/less story.

it's also awesome to see how the Falcone's BECOME freak-villains themselves whereas we saw inkling beginnings of this in TLH.


as far as the killing joke being overrated/sam keith doing it better in secrets.

I have yet to come across a collected edition of that story but would happily read it given the chance.

and yeah as far as disagreeing about Killing Joke I guess all I can say, similarly, is 'if you say so'. I mean you can talk about nitpicks like the Barbara stuff doesn't get resolved (can you possibly resolve the tragedy that her life will now be engulfed in in a 48 page story?) or it's not subtle (so subjective, i don't even know how we'd have such a debate...it just feels low-key to me, I don't know....) but I guess what I'd like to ask those who are saying these things about TKJ....did you not enjoy it? was it very unenjoyable? are you just enjoying it less than you think you should given how much praise its gotten? is its hallowed nature that makes you not like it?


as far as it not defining Batman, yeah you're right, that was poor wording on my part. To me, it's an effective definition of the contrast between Batman and Joker.


-T

[Tanjint]

also, I like a lot of things about Broken City but I feel like it falls short of one of the greatest...but I have to admit I don't think I fully understood it.


anyone care to explain to me exactly what Joker did/revealed at the end that upset Batman so much? and what i had to do with the little kid? I didn't fully get all that. I think if I did, I'd like the story way more.

-T

[Tony Bang]

So how many people would add "The Dark Knight" (like Mister Mets) if they added movies to the list? (Which you can do, and I did originally).

I would put the 66' Batman movie in there, and maybe the Dark Knight.

[Wolvieman]

Batman Hush but I don't like how Superman gets "beaten" so easily :D

[dancj]

Anybody loves "Prey" here?
I do. It's about the only Doug Moench story I've ever liked. Actually thinking about it it's about the only time I haven't hated Paul Gulacy's art as well. They were both on top form there.

Does anyone know how Terror holds up compared with Prey?

[dancj]

If you say so. Sam Keith did it better in Secrets.
Damn straight!

[PLEDGE]

Killing Joke has to be the most overrated comic of all time.

dark knight returns, but a close second.

i also prefer dark victory over long halloween. just read when in rome and its pretty good also.

[jesse_custer]

I mean you can talk about nitpicks like the Barbara stuff doesn't get resolved (can you possibly resolve the tragedy that her life will now be engulfed in in a 48 page story?) or it's not subtle (so subjective, i don't even know how we'd have such a debate...it just feels low-key to me, I don't know....) but I guess what I'd like to ask those who are saying these things about TKJ....did you not enjoy it? was it very unenjoyable? are you just enjoying it less than you think you should given how much praise its gotten? is its hallowed nature that makes you not like it?

I didn't want the tragedy to be resolved. I just wanted her to be an actual character. She wasn't. It was like shooting someone in the Contra NES game, where the guy flies into the air and disappears. You forget him as quickly as you noticed him.

I think you can debate subtle by making comparisons. For example, Seven is very subtle when you compare it to other serial killer movies because you don't see the murders take place, just the bodies. The Killing Joke is very obvious. There's not a lot left to the imagination. I guess you could argue "Well, we really don't know if the flashbacks are his true origin." But why not? It's not like it's Joker himself talking to us. It's Moore. The only explanation for that argument is that Moore lied to us.

I enjoyed certain parts of The Killing Joke. It's decent work. But it pales in comparison to the truly great stories I've read. Moore, Batman, or otherwise.

[Uatu]

You choose Dark Victory over Long Halloween. Interesting? Not the norm around here it would seem.

I like TLH a lot too, but like another poster said, in DV the story and characters are already established, so there's less origin so to speak, in DV.

It probably doesn't make sense to a lot of people, but I tend to do the same thing with movies, often times liking the sequels better than the first installments.

[Yoto]

1. Blades.
2. Year One.
3. Mad Love.
4. Venom.
5. DKR.

You've got to include DKR and I've never rated the Loeb/Sale stuff purely because the writing is so poor. The art really saved them. Just my opinion.

[revolver86]

There is NO way I could only give a top 5 list, so I had to make it 10. Tim Burton's first Batman film is what got me into the character when I saw it at the theater at the tender age of 2, but it's a movie I feel is too clouded by my nostalgia to actually end up on the list. So here goes...

10.The Last Arkham
One of my favorites as a young child. I couldn't actually read at the time, but I've read many times since and it is just an AMAZING story! Mr. Zsaz is one of my favorite Bat-villains.

9.Mask of the Phantasm
Until the Nolan films, this was THE Batman movie, period! Paul Dini's interpretation of my favorite character takes all the best bits of Batman's different incarnations and presents one of the truest takes on a true icon.

8.Batman Begins
This film was the first depiction of the Batman I grew up with in the comics, on film. It hit every note perfectly and left me craving so much more (which we eventually got :biggrin: )

7.The Killing Joke
My all time favorite writer and one of my top 20 favorite artists creating one the greatest Joker stories ever. What's not to love? This story defined the Batman/Joker dynamic for me and actually convinced me Batman could never kill the Joker and vice-versa.

6.Knightfall
Another favorite from my youth. I remember reading about the story in the local newspaper and had to immediately get it. I read a bit of sporatic Knightquest and never got around to reading Knightsend until years later. But, the buildup to issue 500 was one of the most exciting times of my childhood.

5.The Man Who Laughs
I love the Killing Joke as much as anyone. But even Alan Moore admits it wasn't his best work by a longshot. When this prestige-format book came out, it immediatley trumped TKJ for me. Finally getting the Joker's first classic story retold with modern writing along with one of the single best artists of ths decade in Doug Mahnke.One of the creepiest takes on the Joker ever seen along with some excellent Batman detective-work.

4.The Long Haloween
Almost for Tim Sale's artwork alone. I love the story, but the art was soooo perfect for Batman and his universe, it was almost criminal. This was the TRUE sequel to Year One and almost just as good.

3.Year One
Even if this didn't have Batman in it, it is one of the best crime/noir stories ever told in the format and is just pure brilliance. I also love it because it created the best reasoning why Batman is Batman, the complete and utter corruption of the power stucture of Gothahm City (with the exception of Jim Gordon).

2.The Dark Knight Returns
Not the Batman I know and love, but one of the best comics written, period. Do I really even need to explain why this is on this list?

1.The Dark Knight
I know...I know, this movie just came out. But, if you've seen the movie, you'll notice half my list inspired this movie. I got into Batman through the movies, so his theatrical interpretations are the ones I'm always most excited about. And to see the character I've obsessed about since my first memories as a child, treated with the same care and integrity as a Martin Scorsese film is almost too perfect for words. Bale IS Batman, Eckhart IS Two-Face, Ledger IS (or was:frown: ) the Joker. It is Batman on film at it's absolute finest. It is my favorite move of all time, and I've seen it about five times already. My friends say their's something wrong with me, well screw them. This movie is PERFECTION!

That's my list, now I'll go post on the worst thread.

[camiwaits]

1. Strange Apparitions: Trademarking laughing fish, Deadshoot and Batman brawling on top of a modern art piece, Silver St. Cloud, a VERY defined look of Gotham city, Hugo Strange. This story has it all.

2. The Killing Joke
3. Grant Morrison's current run on Batman
4. The Dark Knight Returns
5. The Demon lives again

[austinwells]

I have encountered following my personal best Batman Stories.
1) Knightfall Part One - Broken Bat
2) Batman: Nine Lives
3) Batman: The Man Who Laughs
4) Batman: Thrillkiller
5) Batman: Venom

Hope you enjoy and be thrill. :)

[Harding Prime]

I like TLH a lot too, but like another poster said, in DV the story and characters are already established, so there's less origin so to speak, in DV.

It probably doesn't make sense to a lot of people, but I tend to do the same thing with movies, often times liking the sequels better than the first installments.

That is a good point, that is why The Dark Knight and Spider-Man II are so highly regarded, they started well, but you don't have to go through the origin anymore, just get to the meat and both did a phenominal job, IMO.

[Harding Prime]

1. Strange Apparitions: Trademarking laughing fish, Deadshoot and Batman brawling on top of a modern art piece, Silver St. Cloud, a VERY defined look of Gotham city, Hugo Strange. This story has it all.


Where did this arc come out of?

[Captain Jim]

Where did this arc come out of?

Detective Comics #469-#476 and #478-479

[Harding Prime]

Thanks Jim. So would you change your top five after seeing The Dark Knight?

[carabas]

I don't get the inclusion of the newest film in the lists of best Batman stories ever. Sure, it's easily one of the five best superhero movies, but it is nowhere near a list of 20 best Batman stories ever.

[Trey]

5) Long Halloween
4) Hush
3) Batman RIP
2) DKR and DKSA
1) Allstar Batman and Robin

Of course i've never read anything from Batman from the 1941- 2000. Other than those above and the Killing Joke.

[jgiannantoni05]

In no order:

1. DKR
2. Year One
3. Killing Joke
4. Strange Apparitions (or Mask of the Phantasm)
5. Long Halloween

Very very close runner-ups (so close that I may later substitute them in): Mad Love, The Cult, Blind Justice, Arkham Asylum, Knightfall saga, The Last Arkham


So how many people would add "The Dark Knight" (like Mister Mets) if they added movies to the list? (Which you can do, and I did originally).
I definitely would not. In no way do I find the film comparable to a Scorcese film in any area of quality. Not even remotely one of my favorite movies of all time. Some say Killing Joke is overrated, no, The Dark Knight is much more overrated. I enjoyed Dark Knight, but I can't call it perfection or near perfection or my favorite anything like some can. It's my favorite Nolan film, that's all I can say.


But in the mean time, would anyone add Batman & Son or the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul to there list? Or even the club of heroes or Grotesk?
Batman & Son and Ra's Resurrection were poor IMHO. Club of Heroes is the best thing Morrison has done on his run. But I wouldn't add it.
________
Washington Medical Marijuana (http://washington.dispensaries.org/)

[Harding Prime]

I don't get the inclusion of the newest film in the lists of best Batman stories ever. Sure, it's easily one of the five best superhero movies, but it is nowhere near a list of 20 best Batman stories ever.

IMO is always a good addition when speaking so generally...IMO.


In no order:

1. DKR
2. Year One
3. Killing Joke
4. Strange Apparitions (or Mask of the Phantasm)
5. Long Halloween

Very very close runner-ups (so close that I may later substitute them in): Mad Love, The Cult, Blind Justice, Arkham Asylum, Knightfall saga, The Last Arkham


I definitely would not. In no way do I find the film comparable to a Scorcese film in any area of quality. Not even remotely one of my favorite movies of all time. Some say Killing Joke is overrated, no, The Dark Knight is much more overrated.


Batman & Son and Ra's Resurrection were poor IMHO. Club of Heroes is the best thing Morrison has done on his run. But I wouldn't add it.

I can't agree about the Movie, but I would agree that Batman & Son and Ra's Res were not great by any means, but different strokes...you know. Club Of Heroes was fun, but I know a lot of people loved the Joker short story issue. My favorite issue of Morrison's run was 674. Where everything of the past 10 issues came together. I love that about Morrison, but he always makes you wait for it, and that is what I hate about Morrison.