The best Batman comics of all time
The top 3 according to 97 votes from people: Batman: The Long Halloween · Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth · The Dark Knight Returns. (Updated Aug 2, 2025.)
The Batman stories that fan votes and comics critics rank highest, from Frank Miller's classics to The Long Halloween.
Top 18
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1
Batman: The Long Halloween
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, 1996-1997. A year-long mystery of holiday killings.
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2
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, 1989. A nightmare inside the asylum.
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3
The Dark Knight Returns
Frank Miller, 1986. An old Batman comes out of retirement.
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4
Batman: Year One
Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, 1987. Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon's first year.
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5
Batman: The Killing Joke
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, 1988. One bad day.
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6
The Court of Owls
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, 2011-2012. A secret society that has ruled Gotham for centuries.
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7
A Death in the Family
Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, 1988. Readers voted on Robin's fate.
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8
Batman: Dark Victory
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, 1999-2000. The sequel to The Long Halloween.
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9
Batman: The Black Mirror
Scott Snyder and Jock, 2011. Dick Grayson under the cowl.
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10
Batman: The Man Who Laughs
Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke, 2005. Batman's first meeting with the Joker.
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11
Batman: Endgame
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, 2014-2015. The Joker's final play.
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12
Zero Year
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, 2013-2014. A modern retelling of the origin.
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13
Batman: Hush
Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, 2002-2003. A mystery featuring nearly every villain.
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14
Knightfall
1993. Bane breaks Batman's back.
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15
Gotham Central
Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, 2003-2006. The police who work in Batman's shadow.
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16
Batman: No Man's Land
1999. Gotham cut off from the world after an earthquake.
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17
Batman and Son
Grant Morrison, 2006. Batman meets his son Damian.
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18
Batman #1 (1940)
The first solo issue, introducing the Joker and Catwoman.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (1)
The Long Halloween at number one is right. Year One close second