The 25 Best Batman Comics Of All Time

Since his creation in 1939, Batman has been one of the most iconic fictional characters in all of pop culture. The story of how an orphaned Bruce Wayne trained his body to perfection and honed the vast skills of his mind in order to avenge the murder of his parents has transcended comic books and is now a classic example of American folklore.

Superman may be DC Comics’ corporate mascot, but Batman is the company’s true money-maker. But while most people will recognize the character from various TV shows, movies, and video games, it's in his comic book roots where Batman is at his best. Whether he’s part of a small-scale crime drama or a sophisticated superhero epic that changes the way we look at comics themselves, Batman always seems to be at the forefront of the evolution of the industry.

Throughout this entire year, DC is celebrating Batman's 75th anniversary by bringing fans new comics, animated movies, and video games based on the world of the Caped Crusader. While there is a lot to look forward to in the character's future, we're going to take a step back into the past by counting down the 25 Best Batman Comics of All Time. If you're trying to become the ultimate Dark Knight fan, these are required reading.

Written by Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1)

Follow @ComplexPopCult

RELATED: The 25 Comic Books You Need To Read Before You Die

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Jim Lee

One of the best-selling Batman stories of all time, Jeph Loeb’s “Hush” is a globetrotting mystery that packs in sprawling fight scenes and some of the best work of Jim Lee’s career. This book is more about the blockbuster creative team than it is the actual story content, but “Hush” still manages to be a solid read despite that.

After a mysterious new villain named Hush shows up in Gotham claiming to know Batman's secret identity, the Caped Crusader must use all of the tools in his arsenal to take him down. As he does this, a childhood friend of Wayne’s reemerges and reveals more about his past than he ever knew. Touting cameo appearances from nearly every ally and villain from Batman’s supporting cast, “Hush” is the perfect story for the casual fan to begin their comic book reading habit.

The mystery that Loeb tries to weave is never really gripping—especially with an ending that is pretty obvious from the start—but the way he gets into Batman’s head is perfect. And where Loeb’s plots begin to wear a little thin, the flashy art by Jim Lee should be enough to keep you flipping the pages. Never known for his intricate storytelling abilities, Lee manages to succeed with splash pages and pin-up pieces that should appeal to most Bat fans.

Writer: Matt Wagner
Artist: Matt Wagner

In yet another flashback to Batman’s early days, Matt Wagner’s Batman and the Monster Men gives us a look at the Caped Crusader’s battle against Dr. Hugo Strange, his first supervillain. Wagner’s version of Bruce Wayne is much more idealistic in this book as he believes his work as Batman can live in perfect harmony with his new girlfriend, Julie Madison.

But his world is about to be shattered as he stumbles upon Hugo Strange’s bizarre experiments on the inmates at Arkham Asylum. Thanks to funding by Boss Maroni, Strange is able to create a small army of hulking “Monster Men” to terrorize Gotham and build a criminal empire. Batman got into the crime-fighting game to put an end to the mob, but now he is forced to face off against something else entirely.

Wagner’s story depicts a man who is just now discovering the evils lurking in Gotham City, and he puts doubt in our mind about whether or not Batman is even equipped to handle these freaks. It’s refreshing to see a version of Batman that might not be completely prepared for what’s ahead of him at all times.

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artists: Jock, Francesco Francavilla

This entry might seem like a cheat because it’s technically more than one story, but it's simply too good to leave out. The Black Mirror encompasses Scott Snyder’s short run on Detective Comics, and it takes place during the brief time when Bruce Wayne is running Batman Incorporated, but Dick Grayson is still the Dark Knight of Gotham City. In these issues, Dick has to fight off villains such as Tiger Shark, the Dealer, the Joker, and the Roadrunner, but it’s the introduction of Commissioner Gordon’s son, James Jr., that is the most disturbing part of this story.

In these issues, Snyder turns James Jr. into an unfeeling, apathetic sociopath with a closet full of skeletons and a heart full of hatred for his family. The story deals with how Gotham seems to adapt to whatever a hero’s personality is in order to break them physically and spiritually. Dick begins his career as Batman as the eternal optimist, but as he begins to succeed, the corruption of Gotham tries to pull both him and Gordon to the depths of hell.

Snyder’s scripts are also accompanied by terrific art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla. Both men bring noir-style grittiness to the stories, while also experimenting with panel layouts and basic storytelling techniques. The Black Mirror isn’t the type of superhero epic that Snyder has since become famous for; instead, it’s a psychological thriller that never lets you feel like you’re ahead of the unpredictable plot twists.

Writer: Denny O’Neil
Artist: Norm Breyfogle

The Joker might be Batman’s most famous villain, but Ra’s al Ghul is easily his most dangerous. Just as smart as Bruce Wayne, and maybe even more physically imposing, what separates Ra’s from the rest of Batman’s foes is that he truly believes he’s on a quest to cure the ills of the world. And in Denny O’Neil’s Birth of the Demon we’re given a look at the character’s origins and just where this immortal eco-terrorist came from.

Interweaving flashbacks with a story set in the present, Birth of the Demon fills in some mysterious blanks that we have been wondering about for years, but it also gives us the type of action we crave from these Ra’s vs. Batman tales. Here we see Ra’s nearly 500 years in the past as a man that is as driven and idealistic as Batman, but without the moral compass of Thomas and Martha Wayne watching over him at all times. Being that O'Neil created the character in the '70s, he's perfectly suited to chronicle Ra's' epic journey into the modern age.

However, it’s not in the plot where this story shines, but in the beautifully painted art by Batman legend Norm Breyfogle. With splashes of gorgeous color and an expert eye for storytelling, Breyfogle flawlessly captures the cinematic feel of the story, and elevates this whole book to classic status.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Klaus Janson

As an underrated gem from the early days of the Legends of the Dark Knight series, Grant Morrison’s “Gothic” is a scintillating blend of horror and mystery that sheds light on the childhood of Bruce Wayne and the malignant forces that have embedded themselves into the foundation of Gotham City itself.

When a seemingly immortal killer named Mr. Whisper begins knocking off mobsters, the criminals of the city try to recruit Batman to help get to the bottom of it. Despite refusing at first, he soon realizes that this mysterious killer has some disturbing ties to his past that can’t go unpunished.

By combining elements from the Faust legend, Don Giovanni, and Fritz Lang’s M, “Gothic” is a unique story that transcends the comic book medium. There are so many rich literary elements present here that anyone who takes their reading habits seriously should find something to enjoy.

Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Norm Breyfogle

In order to find out whether a currently-incarcerated Mister Zsasz is actually behind a string of gruesome murders in Gotham, Batman voluntarily has himself declared insane and locked up inside the newly-renovated Arkham Asylum so he can investigate Zsasz further.

This story is perhaps most famous because it serves as the debut of the psychotic Mister Zsasz, who has since become one of Batman’s most dangerous villains. But the most unnerving character in the whole story isn't actually Zsasz, but rather it's Jeremiah Arkham, the current administrator at the asylum. Along with Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, this is one of the first stories to explore the pure madness of the asylum, which has since become one of the most frightening places in the DC Universe.

Even though this story doesn’t focus on action scenes and fist fights, “The Last Arkham” doesn’t get too wrapped up in psycho babble either. This makes it a great jumping on point for new readers looking to slowly dip their toes in the waters of deeper Batman stories.

Writer: Darwyn Cooke
Artist: Darwyn Cooke

No other story has completely stripped Bruce Wayne down to his most basic psychological essence as Batman: Ego. After a wounded Batman sees a small-time crook kill himself rather than deal with the Joker or the police, he returns to the Batcave a shaken man. Losing pints of blood and dealing with a severely separated shoulder, Bruce Wayne is suddenly confronted by…Batman?

But this vision of Batman that Bruce confronts isn’t the heroic Caped Crusader we have come to know; instead, it’s Wayne’s unfiltered id attempting to gain control of his body and fight crime through the use of lethal justice. Many writers have touched on the basics of Batman’s personality throughout the years, but Cooke is the only one to break the man down in such a concise, intellectual manner.

Cooke’s use of Wayne’s id, ego, and super-ego never feels heavy-handed or forced, and it serves to make us look at the character in a way we haven't before. This is a battle of the mind, so if you want to really know what makes Batman tick, look no further than Ego.

Writer: Andrew Helfer
Artist: Chris Spouse

We’ve seen the origin of Two-Face told and retold numerous times in TV, movies, and comics, but Batman Annual #14 is unique because it focuses solely on the character of Harvey Dent without the inclusion of other villains vying for the spotlight. The story begins with how Batman, Gordon, and Dent all came together and agreed to take down crime in Gotham once and for all.

At first, this process works beautifully, but eventually the pressure and long-buried mental traumas begin to creep up on Dent—leaving him completely unstable. This all comes to a boil when Dent famously gets scarred by acid and transforms into Two-Face.

But writer Andrew Helfer digs deeper than that as he explores how Harvey’s psyche was scarred well before his physical scarring. It’s a character piece that reveals that these villains aren’t just born evil; they are slowly turned that way thanks to the unforgiving world around them.

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo

As the most recent addition to our list, Scott Snyder’s expansive “Court of the Owls” storyline is among the best superhero comics to come out in the last decade. In the newly-relaunched Batman #1, Snyder introduces readers to the Court of the Owls—a secret cult that has been pulling the strings of power in Gotham for decades.

Bruce Wayne has heard rumors of its existence since he was a child, but because he could never find any evidence of the cult on his own, he dismissed it as nothing but an urban legend. He soon learns that the cult is all too real and that they have initiated their plan to take over Gotham.

Snyder’s storytelling has a visceral quality about it that doesn’t allow readers time to catch their breath or feel any sort of comfort. There is always something lurking around every corner as some of the most frightening and shocking moments in the character’s history happen here. By the end, Snyder has firmly established The Court as one of the most dangerous additions to the Batman rogues gallery in decades.

It’s not just the scripts that land this story on the list, but also the art by Greg Capullo. By meshing the twisted style he used on Spawn with the clean lines and square jaws of Batman: The Animated Series, Capullo brings a style all his own to this storyline.

Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Paul Gulacy, Terry Austin

Taking place during the infancy of Batman’s career, “Prey” is yet another take on his first battle against Dr. Hugo Strange, but this one is completely different in both plot and tone than the aforementioned Batman and the Monster Men. In this story, Strange is a world famous psychologist who goes on a televised crusade in an attempt to analyze Batman’s psyche for the public. This seemingly accurate diagnosis impresses the Mayor of Gotham City so much that he appoints Strange as a consultant on Jim Gordon’s task force to bring down the Batman.

This story is notable because it explores the early days of Batman’s relationship with the Gotham City Police Department and the mysterious Catwoman. But it’s in the writing of Strange himself where writer Dough Moench really elevates “Prey” to classic status. By focusing on Strange’s off-the-charts intelligence and vicious demeanor, Moench transforms this often underrated foe into one of the Dark Knight’s most dangerous threats.

”Prey” is a very slow-paced, meditative read, but it succeeds in breaking down these classic characters and relating them to our own understanding of the human mind.

Writer: Paul Pope
Artist: Paul Pope

It was a match made in comic junkie heaven when DC announced that Paul Pope would be working on a Batman title for the company. Set in a dystopian future version of Gotham, Batman 100 focuses on a city in disarray as a tyrannical government creates panic and terror in the citizens of this decaying metropolis.

This story completely removes everything we know about Batman and replaces it with whatever crazed idea was rattling around Pope’s mind at the time. We have no Bruce Wayne or Alfred present in this story, but the spirit of the character is alive and well as this version of the Dark Knight is still the lone symbol of hope in a city desperate for a savior.

Pope doesn’t dilute his indie vision for this story either, and he is mindful of bringing his seedy story threads and violence from his work on 100% to his take on Batman. This is an uncompromising view of the Batman mythos that doesn’t attempt to appeal to the mainstream.

Writer: Brian Augustyn
Artist: Mike Mignola

When it was first launched, DC’s Elseworlds line was one of the best things going in the comic book biz. It took established characters from the company’s history and placed them into entirely different time periods for brand-new takes on some old favorites. The first such story was titled Gotham by Gaslight—a tale that placed Batman on the case of Jack the Ripper.

This Victorian era detective tale isn’t only a gimmick, it’s actually a well-crafted mystery that blends historical fact and elements of comic book fantasy into one inspired piece of work. Following the exploits of Batman and Lieutenant Gordon, this story is familiar enough for longtime Batman fans to latch onto, but it’s also suited for fans of the dreary mystery genre of the 19th century.

This series is notable because it features some very early art by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. His penchant for heavy inks and shading make his work fit perfectly in the soggy streets and gloomy nights of Gotham City in the late 1800s.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely, Philip Tan

Taking place after the events of “Batman R.I.P,” the opening story arc on this new Batman & Robin title starred Dick Grayson, the former Robin, as the new Batman and Damien Wayne, the lovechild of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, as the new Robin. With a much more concise narrative than Morrison’s previous work on the character, “Batman Reborn” put an emphasis on sharp dialogue and surprising humor rather than the gritty mysteries and violence of most Batman stories.

Morrison has gone on record as stating that he views this title as a cross between the '60s Batman television show and the films of surrealist David Lynch, and he couldn’t be more on-point. This book is a complete tonal shift from what we’re used to from his Batman work, but it’s also a refreshing break from some of Morrison's lofty ideas.

With new villain additions like Mr. Toad and Professor Pyg, Morrison proves that he isn’t satisfied with retreading the same characters from years past; he wants to build up a mythology all his own. If you’re up to it, we suggest you go all the way back and read Morrison’s run from the beginning, but if you just want the best of the best, Batman & Robin is it.

Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Andy Kubert

It’s not often that Neil Gaiman returns to comic book writing, so whenever he does it must mean that he’s got something big planned. And in 2009’s “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” the author turned in some of the best work of his non-Sandman comic book career. The story begins at the wake for a recently-deceased Batman, but in typical Gaiman style, the Dark Knight himself narrates the whole story—unsure of how he even died.

This story is both a celebration of the many interpretations of Batman over the years, as well as a testament to the character’s perseverance. Filled with poetic prose and fairytale imagery, this isn’t a story about Batman fighting off crooks or tangling with the Joker; it’s a look at the Batman writers and artists from the past, and how they molded him into a legend.

All of the major characters from Batman’s history make appearances here, with some of them even giving various accounts of how he died. But in the end, we’re still left to wonder how, and if, he ever died in the first place. The art by Andy Kubert evokes this timeless theme by changing from page to page—with each one evoking a different look of Batman and his supporting cast from throughout the years.

”Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” is not a typical Batman story, but it celebrates the essence of the character in a way that no other book has even attempted.

Writer: Various
Artist: Various

Perhaps the most unique book on this list, Batman: Black and White is a miniseries anthology told by a collection of legendary artists and writers from the comic book industry. Set up in the form of unconnected vignettes, each story is completely free from the shackles of continuity, which allowed each writer and artist the freedom to craft a Batman story in whatever style they wanted.

With talent like Neil Gaiman, Brian Bolland, Matt Wagner, Denny O’Neil, Joe Kubert, Howard Chaykin, Bruce Timm, and numerous other fan-favorites, these short stories are more poignant than most mainstream Batman tales. And in an attempt to differentiate themselves from each other vignette, these writers and artists all mashed-up different genres and tones to create separate unique universes.

With so many different takes on the same character by some great creators, Batman: Black and White further proves that the Caped Crusader is the most versatile superhero in the industry today.

Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Doug Mahnke

Recounting Batman’s first battle with the Joker, The Man Who Laughs is a brilliantly perverse read that punches you the gut in the opening pages and doesn’t let up until the finale. Packed with violence, action, and plenty of narrative twists, this is the ultimate modern Joker epic. Writer Ed Brubaker worked wonders on Batman in the past, but his script here is on a completely different level. It’s sick and disturbing, with a surprising amount of brutality for a mainstream title.

But make no mistake about it: Even though the Joker is as violent as ever in this story, that doesn’t mean he’s lost his prankster ways. For our money, The Man Who Laughs strikes the perfect balance between the psychotic side of the character and the more playful side from the classic Silver Age stories.

Along with Brubaker’s chilling script is the art by Doug Mahnke, who brings a vile, gritty look to the book that has come to define these characters in recent decades. The illustrations are more overtly violent than most Bat stories, but Mahnke manages to bring a true artist's eye to the brutal imagery.

Writer: Steve Englehart, Len Wein
Artist: Marshall Rogers, Walt Simonson

Not a cohesive story arc in the traditional sense, “Strange Apparitions” is more or less a series of stories and plot points that all converge together in one run that is still considered one of the best from its era. Featuring villains like Hugo Strange, the Joker, Deadshot, and others, these stories are all filled with plenty of action, but they also explore the man behind the mask as well.

Throughout these issues, we’re introduced to both Bruce Wayne’s new girlfriend, Silver St. Cloud, and the villainous mobster Rupert Thorne. As Silver throws Bruce Wayne’s life into turmoil by introducing romantic drama into it, Thorne is busy making the Batman’s life a living hell by persuading Gotham’s politicians to outlaw the vigilante’s activities.

All of these threads create a backdrop for stories that capture the swashbuckling aspects of the Silver Age, with the first steps towards the sophistication of the Modern Age. These issues later went on to inspire many of the episodes from the classic Batman: The Animated Series, so if you liked that show, you’ll love this.

Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Jim Aparo

Throughout the illustrious career of the Caped Crusader, one failure has continued to haunt him: the death of Jason Todd, a.k.a. the second Robin. And that’s exactly the story that Jim Starlin’s “A Death in the Family” set out to tell. And the background of this story is perhaps just as interesting as the book itself.

After fans had grown weary of the Jason Todd version of Robin, DC decided to leave his fate up to comic book readers everywhere. By setting up two hotlines, fans could vote whether or not they wanted Todd to be killed off by dialing the appropriate number. After the votes were tallied, it was quickly revealed that the country wanted Todd dead. (Ouch.)

So, in “A Death in the Family,” he was captured by the Joker, beaten to a pulp with a crowbar, and blown up inside of a shack. Despite brief moments of brightly-colored action and camp, this story is firmly entrenched in tragedy as Batman experiences one of his first true losses during his war on crime.

It’s a story that had a long-lasting effect on the character, who was always haunted by his inability to keep Todd safe. As most of you may know, DC eventually brought Todd back from the dead—leaving this story somewhat obsolete at this point. But there is no denying its original place in the history of Batman lore.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale

It’s never easy for any creative duo to follow up on a masterpiece, but somehow Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale managed to do so with Dark Victory. As a direct sequel to Loeb and Sale’s The Long Halloween, this story continues to explore the ramifications of the new supervillains on the city, the fallout from Harvey Dent’s transformation into Two-Face, a new serial killer on the loose, and the origins of Robin.

That might seem like a lot to cram into one story, but Loeb juggles these multiple plots brilliantly and manages to seamlessly weave them into each other without feeling forced. Unlike Loeb's later work on “Hush,” this story never seems like a pointless cameo-fest, despite appearances by every major player in Gotham City. All of the characters are well-balanced and essential to the themes of escalation and loneliness that permeate this work.

Dark Victory might be more enjoyable for fans of the superhero aspects of Batman than what Loeb did in The Long Halloween, but we don’t suggest trying to read this without knowing what came before it.

Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Bernie Wrightson

It’s not often that we see Batman at the mercy of a villain, but in The Cult, not only do we see Batman beaten and bloodied, we also see him get straight-up defeated. After the psychotic Deacon Blackfire forms a dangerous cult comprised of transients and drifters, he captures and brainwashes Batman in order to add him to his army.

This is an incredibly dark and unforgiving story that completely strips away any of the romanticism from Batman. The violence is pervasive and sick as Blackfire’s cult stakes its claim as one of the most twisted band of foes the Dark Knight has ever faced off against. This is a story that breaks Batman down both physically and mentally, and honestly, it’s jarring to see him so crazed and beaten throughout. There are some genuinely shocking moments during this story, but writer Jim Starlin refuses to sink to comic book clichés to achieve them.

This is an absolutely chaotic read, but it’s also one of the most entertaining Batman books to ever be released. It also begs the question of why artist Bernie Wrightson hasn’t been involved in more Batman books throughout the years. His work here is dingy, filthy, and brilliant.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale

Taking place in the early days of Batman’s career, The Long Halloween is a murder mystery detailing the case of “The Holiday Killer,” a serial killer who vows to strike on every major holiday. At the same time, this book explores the relationship between Batman and Lieutenant James Gordon, and the tragic tale of how an honorable man like Harvey Dent eventually transformed into Two-Face.

With an incredibly intricate plot in place, and a never-ending supporting cast of classic characters, Jeph Loeb’s timeless superhero odyssey pays homage to the look and flavor of classic Hollywood noir films and Batman stories from the Golden Age. Loeb deftly balances the fall of Harvey Dent, the triumphant rise of Batman, and the overarching mystery that brings all of these unlikely bedfellows together without a hitch. And like any good mystery story, even when the case is closed, questions still remain.

This book might be most memorable for the art style of Tim Sale, who brings a look to this story that is hard to define and impossible to duplicate. This is the comic that Christopher Nolan often cites as his biggest influence on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, and it’s easy to see why.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Dave McKean

Perhaps the most divisive book on this list, Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum is one of the few mainstream comics to incorporate the pacing and prose of 19th century gothic literature into it. After the Joker leads a revolt at Gotham’s infamous nuthouse, Batman is forced into the heart of the asylum to quell the riot. Along the way he travels through a sickening gauntlet of villains that sheds light on his own psychosis.

Deeply disturbing and psychological, Arkham Asylum characterizes Batman’s rouges gallery not as pure villains, but as maladjusted members of society suffering from real psychological afflictions. But none of them can compete with the story of Amadeus Arkham—the founder of the asylum—that is told throughout. The deeper you get into this book, the deeper into madness you travel. And we promise that you’ll never look at Batman or his world in the same way after you’re done.

The book’s selling point is really the fully-painted art by Dave McKean. Most famous for his Sandman covers, McKean brings elements of expressionism and photography to his work here to create a look that no other comic at DC has ever replicated. Part Heart of Darkness and part Jungian lecture, Arkham Asylum is a distinctly unique read that doesn’t have the immediate satisfaction of most superhero books, but is impossible to forget once you put it down.

Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Brian Bolland

By putting the spotlight squarely on the Joker in this psychologically intense one-shot, Alan Moore forever changed the relationship between the Caped Crusader and his fiercest villain. By peeling back the deranged layers of the Joker’s twisted psyche, Moore succeeded in rationalizing how the senseless nature of the world could turn a seemingly normal man into a homicidal supervillain.

This is the first story to really take a look at the events in the Joker’s life before he became a psychotic menace, and there is a sense of compassion we feel for him throughout the narrative. This isn't a man born evil; instead, he simply became a victim of the random and tragic nature of the world forever twisting his mind.

In between the flashbacks to his origins, Moore also tells one of the most violent Batman stories of all time. The main plot deals with the Joker breaking out of Arkham Asylum. Afterwards, he commits one of the grisliest acts in DC's history by shooting Barbara Gordon through the stomach, paralyzing her forever. This is all in an attempt to drive her father, Commissioner Gordon, insane and prove to the world that even the most upstanding citizen can be driven mad after a bad day.

If you want to see where Heath Ledger’s inspiration came from for his performance as the Joker, then look no further than The Killing Joke.

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Dave Mazzucchelli

When DC relaunched its entire comic book line in 1986 after Crisis on Infinite Earths, the company hired writer Frank Miller—fresh off his famous run on Daredevil—to reimagine the Caped Crusader’s early days. “Year One” focuses on Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham after training abroad for his war on crime. But once he lands on US soil, he realizes that he has the skills and means to fight crime, but not the method.

As Bruce undergoes some failed attempts at being a vigilante, a young cop named James Gordon is transferred to Gotham City from Chicago to begin work in the most dangerous city in the country. Unbeknownst to them, they’re on a collision course as their ideals soon make them unlikely allies in their mutual struggle to clean up the city.

At the time this story was published, fans weren’t used to such a stripped down, minimalist take on the Dark Knight. There is no Robin, no array of high-tech tools, and certainly no Batmobile in sight; instead, Batman is just a man in a Halloween costume who intimidates the criminal underworld through the use of theatrics and deception. Miller’s script is more hard-boiled crime drama than superhero adventure, and that’s a tone that the character still latches onto today.

Without a doubt, the most inspired choice by the company for this book was hiring artist Dave Mazzucchelli. His work on this story is crisp and clean, with the minimal amount of superfluous pencil lines. But it is also incredibly grim and gritty, as he brings a certain believability to the city of Gotham. Twenty-five years later, this is still one of the most iconic makeovers the character has ever undergone.

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Frank Miller

Either one of the top three on this list could have landed the No. 1 spot, but we’re going with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Not just because it’s the best Batman story on here, but because it’s all-around one of the best comics ever published. Setting its sights on a futuristic Gotham City and an aging Bruce Wayne, Miller’s magnum opus is a neo-noir tragedy with hints of social commentary and a metric ton of action on every page.

The story begins with the elder Wayne being pulled back into his crime-fighting ways as he watches his city get overrun by a vicious gang calling itself The Mutants. Backed up by a new female Robin named Carrie Kelly, this geriatric version of the Dark Knight has a salty attitude that makes Dirty Harry look like Richard Simmons.

During this epic, Batman runs across familiar allies and villains alike as DC legends such as the Joker, Two-Face, Catwoman, and the Green Arrow all make their presences felt in this dystopian society. But no character is more of a threat to the world than Batman’s onetime ally, Superman. Now a tool of an oppressive government, the Man of Steel is eventually tasked with taking down the Caped Crusader in a climactic battle that brings the pain in terms of both physicality and emotional resonance.

Everything clicked here for Miller. The script is dense and thought-provoking, the art is seedy and iconic, and there are plenty of moments that will stick with you well after you're finished reading. This title came at a time when DC was ripe with ideas that would change the industry, and decades later writers are still trying to top this masterpiece.