With The Batman headed to theaters this weekend, there’s no better time to look back at the Caped Crusader’s long and storied comic book history. And with over 80 years’ worth of comics under his utility belt, there’s no shortage of memorable stories to choose from.
Thankfully, both director Matt Reeves and leading man Robert Pattinson have compiled lists of their favorite Batman comics, which have served as major creative influences for them in the creation of The Batman. The two have cited landmark titles like The Long Halloween and its sequel Dark Victory, as well as lesser-known works like Ego, Shaman, and Birth of the Demon. This article will serve to highlight just a few of the more beginner-friendly comics that are perfect reading material to get ready for the Dark Knight’s latest big-screen adventure.
The Man Who Falls
Starting off the list with a more obscure pull, this 1989 one-shot by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Dick Giordano was originally published in the collected edition of the Secret Origins comic series. The story serves as a brief retelling of Batman’s origin story, from the death of his parents to his training around the world, until he finally takes up the mantle of the Batman. “The Man Who Falls” was previously one of the main influences on the story of Batman Begins, but Pattinson has also cited it as one of his favorite Batman stories. And it’s not hard to see why — despite its short length, it’s a compelling exploration of why Bruce Wayne chose to don his cape and cowl.
Year One
One of the most iconic and beloved Batman stories ever written, Batman: Year One was written by Frank Miller — the scribe behind another famous Batman comic, The Dark Knight Returns — with art by David Mazzucchelli. Originally published in 1987 in Batman #404-407, this storyline was intended to serve as the new canon account of Batman’s earliest days as a hero, following the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot. And considering Christopher Nolan, Zack Snyder, and Matt Reeves have all drawn inspiration from Year One for their own Batman films, the story has certainly left an impact.
As the name implies, Year One follows Bruce Wayne across his first year as Batman. Instead of taking on any supervillains, his main adversaries are Gotham’s corrupt police force and the Falcone mob — though Catwoman does also appear in a supporting role. The arc paints a vivid portrait of a Batman who’s desperate to defeat the injustice that plagues Gotham, but is held back by his own inexperience. Miller’s writing does an excellent job highlighting Bruce’s flaws and imperfections while still characterizing him as a true hero who’s driven to help Gotham’s innocents. Considering The Batman also focuses on a Batman who’s still new to crime-fighting, it’s not hard to see how Matt Reeves has borrowed some of the ideas introduced in Year One.
The Long Halloween
Another fan-favorite storyline, this 1996-1997 miniseries was written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. Picking up soon after Year One, The Long Halloween features Batman teaming up with Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent to tackle the mysterious case of Holiday, a serial killer who strikes only on holidays and targets major figures in the Gotham underworld. True to form for the World’s Greatest Detective, The Long Halloween is a murder mystery first and foremost. But while Year One does its best to ground Gotham City in gritty realism, The Long Halloween depicts a gradual shift from reality to fantasy.
While the main plot centers around the Falcone mob, several members of Batman’s classic rogues’ gallery are introduced over time, crossing paths with the Dark Knight as he struggles to unravel the Holiday mystery. The Joker, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, and even Solomon Grundy appear throughout the story. By the ending, it’s clear Gotham has been changed forever — and not necessarily for the better. Judging by the trailers, The Batman will also focus on Bruce’s detective side while balancing Gotham’s gritty underworld with the rise of costumed villains. As such, it’s no surprise that The Long Halloween was another major influence on Matt Reeves.
Arkham Asylum
While not quite as well-known as Long Halloween, this 1989 graphic novel by writer Grant Morrison and artist Dave McKean has been acclaimed by countless fans, including Robert Pattinson himself. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (or just Batman: Arkham Asylum for short) begins with a simple premise — some of Batman’s deadliest villains, from Joker, Two-Face, and Scarecrow to Killer Croc, Clayface, and Doctor Destiny, have taken over Arkham Asylum, and it’s up to him to stop them and save their hostages. However, the story that unfolds feels anything but simple. Thanks to Morrison’s gripping writing and McKean’s otherworldly artwork, Arkham Asylum is a trippy, often-disturbing psychological horror story that pushes Batman to his physical and mental limit.
Zero Year
While it hasn’t been cited as an influence by Reeves or Pattinson, this 2013-2014 storyline by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo features enough parallels to the premise of The Batman to be worth mentioning regardless. Written following the 2011 “New 52” reboot, Zero Year was meant to be a modern replacement for Year One, exploring Bruce Wayne’s first year as Batman in the new continuity. But while Zero Year is nowhere near as iconic as its predecessor, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a read.
Zero Year is especially notable for its villains — early on, the story features an expanded version of Batman’s encounter with the Red Hood, the criminal who would become the Joker after falling into a vat of chemicals. More importantly, however, the arc’s ultimate antagonist is none other than the Riddler. Like in The Batman, the Riddler is the first of Bruce’s classic rogues to challenge him, with the fate of Gotham City hanging in the balance of their first battle. If you need a primer on Gotham’s cleverest criminal, look no further than Zero Year.