Batman is one of the pillars of DC Comics, and the vigilante cove is well known to have some of the darkest stories in the myth of superheroes. The hero of the vigilante is rooted in black pulp crime and many of the biggest tales of the Dark Knight are epics of crime at the street level.

However, the writers were also able to weave the Dark Batman tales together using a Flair for the Fantastic. DC Universe Infinite is the essential digital application for reading DC Comics, and it has a lot of dark stories about The Dark Knight. These go from the benchmark The joke of killing to tales based on horror as Arkham Asylum: a serious house on serious land.

Updated on February 16, 2025, by Guillermo Kurten: Batman’s library is an embarrassment of wealth with regard to DC comics and superhero comics in general. As a darkest character in the publisher, it is not surprising that many of his best stories are based on the most serious side. This list has been updated to highlight a few more remarkable tales of the mythology of Dark Detective.

54

“Absolute Batman” is currently the most exciting Batman comic strip

Creators: Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles

Given as the DC equivalent to the “Ultimate” universe of Marvel, the launch of the “absolute” canon of DC was the speech of the city. While the books of Superman and Wonder Woman are also acclaimed, it is not a surprise Absolute Batman is also a major highlight of this initiative. Scott Snyder returns for a comic strip from Batman in progress with Nick Dragotta on art, according to a dark knight of obstacle in a universe in Grunde influenced by the presence of Darkseid.

Related

The richest 35 superheroes, classified by wealth

The richest heroes of DC and Marvel have an abundance of resources at their disposal, which they generally use to help them in their heroic tasks.

This element of the grunge can be felt in Gotham and his point of view on Batman The zoo Arc, even if these two creations are famous as they are. With intense action, new taken on bad guys like Black Mask and an outsider in blue collar on the Gotham goalkeeper, The zoo is a convincing introduction to this refreshing comic strip of Batman.

53

“The winning map” is a story of Slasher on the theme of the Joker

Creators: Tom King, Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles

DC Comics brought back its famous Courageous and daring Anthology book under the aegis of Batman, and The winning card The arc of the first volume made a strong first impression. This scenario is another reimagination of the first appearance and encounters with the hero brood of the Joker, with the Caped Crusader and Gordon who has trouble capturing this elusive murderer. The couple seems to be at the end of their minds to try to discover the reasons behind the odious crimes of the villain before they can execute the next.

While joker stories (even the interpretations of his first appearance) are not new concepts, The winning card Perhaps even better than the first story of the villain and the remake of the 2000s The laughing man. The strange writing of Tom King depicts the prince of crime clown in a unique and terrifying way, with the art of Mitch Gerad evoking an atmosphere of horror in its own right in a way similar to the art of Dave McKean for Arkham asylum.

52

“Dark Pattern” highlights luscious detective stories

Creators: Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman, Tríona Farrell and Frank Cvetkovic

A Batman Limited series takes place in the main continuity of DC, Dark patterns Offers fans more fighting crime at the street level. The series is told on 12 numbers, all three numbers covering a new arch of history revolving around the hero resolving a multitude of disturbing mysteries. Dark patterns Focus on the roots of Batman, the dark detective counting on the most key essential elements – his tools, his combat skills and his detective prowess – to go to the bottom of these cases.

This limited series becomes a star of Batman’s comics in the 2020s, easily calling on crime and detective mysteries fans. It is a revitalizing break in longtime scenarios and cross-cutting events in the genre of superheroes, highlighting the inherent inherent atmosphere of the character’s world. The art of Hayden Sherman does a great job to accentuate a tone that recalls the work of Tim Sale Long Halloween.

51

“The Last Halloween” continues the saga of the crime acclaimed

Creators: Jeph Loeb, Eduardo Risso, Dave Stewart, Klaus Janson, et al.

Although this cannot be quite the same without the work of Tim Dirty, The last Halloween is an exciting return to the story that he and the writer Jeph Loeb created in the 90s. Now forming an appropriate trilogy with Long Halloween and its direct suite Dark victoryThis sequel now considers the hero’s sodium gallery as victims of mysterious attacks. The fingers being pointed out on the Batman and James Gordon passing through a family emergency, the issues are even higher.

There are many Batman comics at the start of the year and creating another suite from Loeb and dirty classics run creative risks. However, Loeb’s writing and a series of artists have done an excellent job to create another convincing detective tale that feels justified as a suite. Add the tension of a newly repressed Robin adapting to its role, and The last Halloween Has a lot of drama of character and strong street sensations.

50

“The year a” defined Batman as the fans know him today

Creators: Frank Miller, David Mazzuccherlli

No doubt more important for Batman’s myth and modern characterization than The black knight returns is Frank Miller First year With David Mazzucchelli. Turn the restart caused by Crisis on infinite landIt is a story of masterful origin in the way Bruce Wayne has returned to years abroad to find inspiration to put on the course and the hood.

A superhero thriller in part and part of the criminal drama neo-black close to Martin Scorsese Taxi driver,, First year is a definitive representation of what pushes Batman to his heart and how systemic corruption is the first true antagonist of Gotham. The most influential original tale of Dark Knight, this atmosphere is completed by the distinctly black artistic style of Mazzucchelli.

49

“Detective Comics: Nocturne Gotham” is an arc of atmospheric history

Creators: Ram V, Rafael Albuquerque, Dave Stewart, et al.

While the feeling of fractured continuity between Detective comics And the hero’s flagship comic strip was a criticism, RAM V’s race on the first gave Batman another intriguing Gothic flavor. THE Nocturne Gotham The scenario begins with Bruce Wayne haunted by a feeling of inexplicable dread that he cannot shake – and his source has taken root in the city.

Nocturne Gotham Contains dramatic narration fans with slow combustion of RAM V work will become familiar and impulses with a Gothic-horror atmosphere. The arc plunges on exciting aspects by Batman Lore from Grant Morrison used in their famous series, exploring the concept of the symbology of Dark Knight, transcendent time and occult demonology is looming on the history of Gotham.

48

“The Bat-Man: First Knight” is a backward-in-the-age of the golden age

Creators: Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins, Mike Spicer

DC Black Label continues to be a stronger format in Batman, with Dan Jurgens and Mike Perkins’ The Bat-Man: First Knight Be an exciting modern return. Located in an alternative canon just after the First World War, fascist feelings develop across the country and a series of horrible murders plaque Gotham with a dark detective emerging on the case.

Related

Batman: Who is silent? Thomas Elliot of DC Comics, explained

Batman’s Hush, alias Thomas Elliot, was once a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne.

The Bat-Man: First Knight is a fantastic interpretation of the hero’s first capers when Bill Finger and Bob Kane created it in the late 1930s. Jurgens and Perkins reaffirm fans why they are veterans of the Industry and DC comics, in particular , balancing an attractive neo-black veneer with a nuanced detective narration.

47

“Batman / Dylan Dog” meets with European comics for supernatural horror

Creators: Roberto Recchioni, Gigi Cavenago, Werther Dell’Edera

Although he is not as well known in the United States, Dylan Dog of the creator Tiziano Sclavi is one of the most popular European comic strip characters, and he appears in a co-directed series with Batman. Very well titled Batman / Dylan DogThe series follows the largest detective in the world and the nightmarish investigator leading a case involving the Joker and the professor of manic scientist Xabaras.

Batman / Dylan Dog is an exciting and refreshing crossroads and a story of Crusader Capinée, with the sewing of the latter with the detective supernatural Dylan Dog. What is engaging in this series is its mixture of good wacky horror taste and how it uses its protagonists to celebrate the supernatural corners of DC.

46

“Haunted Knight” is a dark character study

Creators: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Although it is not as dark as Long Halloween And Dark victory that It paved the way for Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Haunted knight is a memorable study. Through three special Halloween offers from Legends of the Dark KnightBatman approaches a handful of his colorful opponents, while the comics immerse themselves in Bruce’s mind.

Haunted knight is a dark character profile of the tragedy that pushes Bruce to soldier as Batman in the first place. De Scarecrow playing in the theme of fear at the heart of the personality of the Dark Knight in the final Christmas song-Sque of the hero visited by heartbreaking figures of his life, this book is psychologically dark.

45

“A Death in the family” forever Batman marked Batman

Creators: Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo

The Joker is responsible for a large part of the misery of the Battes family, and the writer Jim Starlin and the artist Jim Aparo Death in the family illustrates the sorrow that lives in the heart of Batman. It is the arc of infamous history where the joker brutally murders the second Robin, Jason Todd. The community of comics voted on the death of Jason Todd, as quoted by Comic flask.

Death in the family was a dark turning point in the story of Batman. Even by the admission of Dark Knight, the premature death of Jason was one of his greatest failures. Although it feels like making Frank Miller’s narration style a bit at the end, Died in the family is always one of the most influential and tragic tales in Batman’s folk history.

44

“Gotham by Gaslight” stops the hero against Jack Le Ripper

Creators: Brian Augustyn, Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell

Classic alternative Batman comics, the Elseworlds footprint Gotham by Gaslight is one of the most memorable despite its relatively short length. Located in the 19th century, Bruce Wayne notes that Jack The Ripper has made his way to Gotham City. This forces him to hunt his bloody path as Batman.

Gotham by Gaslight is one of the best darkest examples of how writers and creative artists can get when authorized to venture outside the established continuity. With the roots of Batman’s intrinsically luscious crime as a hero, the opponent of historic personalities like Jack The Ripper makes an intelligent premise of alternative stories that always feels adapted to the fiction of Dark Knight.

43

“The war of jokes and puzzles” shows a low secret point in Batman’s career

Creators: Tom King, Mikel Janin, Clay Mann, et al.

During the rebirth of Tom King flows BatmanBefore the potential marriage of Bruce and Selina Kyle, the hero revealed to him a dark point in his justicular career. The war of jokes and puzzles takes place at the start of his mandate as a black knight, he finds himself between two factions of a mass gang war. One side is led by the Riddler, with the other faded by the Joker.

The war of jokes and puzzles shows the shameless manner of some of Batman’s most dangerous bad guys. However, the lowest point that the reached hero comes when the riddler calls into question the rule otherwise dressed in iron preventing Batman from collapsing psychologically.

42

“Shaman” forces the black knight to face horrible killers

Creators: Dennis O’Neil, Ed Hannigan and John Beatty

Although they may not be the greatest stage scenarios in Batman’s myth in relation to Death in the family,, Legends of the Dark Knight has generated exceptional cult classics. Mergé by the late Dennis O’Neil alongside Ed Hannigan and John Beatty, Shaman was the first arc in the series and took place shortly after the events of First year.

Related

Batman’s fear of the fear, said

The state of fear has been one of the best stories of scarecrow in recent years, although it has addressed some of the darkest themes that make Batman the Black Knight.

A captivating and bad humor tale that is tonally and in a transparent manner in the continuity established by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, Shaman Mix the grain at the street level with the informed mysticism. With a dark detective which investigates a case of serial killings and ritual sacrifices, this comic strip sets the tone for Batman postCrisis chronology.

41

“Earth One” is a tone of theatrical Batman in the comics

Creators: Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson, et al.

Dc Terre One The line stories were disjointed in his outing calendar, but the alternative intake of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank on Batman was worth it. The series begins with a much more rough Batman on the edges both in the personality and in practice, desperate to track down a plot surrounding the murders of his parents.

Telling another Batman’s original story is far from new and seems tiring on paper. However, as a trilogy, Terre One was an exciting and cinematic saga. Completed by the founded colors of Brad Anderson, these comics have done an excellent job by adapting the theatrical tone of Christopher Nolan Black knight trilogy In a comic strip format.

40

“Prey” Batman broche in a psychological war

Creators: Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy

Legends of the Dark Knight benefiting from some of the most talented writers and artists contributing to the character’s myth, and Prey was another strong point in the series. Collectively reprinted as Prey By understanding both the “prey” And the arcs of “terror” history, a young crushed crushed must face the psychological war of Hugo Strange and the resurgence of Scarecrow.

Created by Doug Moench and Peter Gulacy, Prey is one of the best examples in Batman’s catalog on the way a story can be exciting with a psychological threat in front of him. Strange smear campaign against the hero highlights his vulnerabilities in intriguing light, and add Scarecrow to the mixture explores the always fascinating theme of fear in Batman’s mythology.

39

“Face The Face” shows another tragic fall for Harvey Dent

Creators: James Robinson, Don Kramer and Leonard Kirk

Long Halloween did an excellent job to show the origins of two facets, but the underestimated Face the face is another interesting look at the tragedy of the villain. After having been in a year, the dynamic duo goes to Gotham City and investigates a mysterious chain of serial murders that hugs a reformed Harvey.

Face the face is a penalty Thriller detective for Batman’s higher business fans, while telling a creatively dark story about the grainy duality of Harvey characters. Given their history as an older and the origins of violent Supervillain who tore them, this arc has a lot of emotional weight behind.

38

“RIP” combines wacky criminal huts with a sinister atmosphere

Creators: Grant Morrison, Tony Daniel

The writer Grant Grant Morrison, Batman’s mandate, alongside artist Tony Daniel, used the RIP History is the first culminating point in the saga. After a series of disturbing teases and for a long time, the dark organization nicknamed The Black Glove has arisen its trap to destroy the cape crusader from the inside – and even bury him alive.

RIP is one of the most memorable Batman comics in the 21st century. The arc is particularly dark, because Morrison balances the age inspiration campine in silver through its wacky antagonists with an atmosphere and dark visuals. As exaggerated as the bad guys are, the horrible lengths to which they go – combined with one of the most disturbing versions inspired by the Joker’s slasher to date – bring out this scenario.

37

“The Long Halloween” explores the infamous Two-Face story

Creators: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Undoubtedly one of the most emblematic Batman comics to date, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale Long Halloween is a captivating criminal drama. Two years to only two years in Bruce’s career as the biggest detective in the world, he and Jim Gordon must apprehend an elusive serial killer called Holiday while a bloody gang war rages in Gotham.

Long Halloween is celebrated one of the darkest comic strip scenarios of the Caped Crusader, supplemented by Loeb’s writing and the neo-black atmosphere created by sales works. Likewise, this story tells the tragic fall of Harvey Dent of grace. The limited trajectory of the Trackshs series of Gotham’s Da to Vindictive Villain Two-Face.

36

“Dark Victory” joins Batman against a vindicative serial killer

Creators: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

A direct sequence of Long HalloweenLoeb and the sale have returned to Dark victory To run another long detective thriller. In the aftermath of the holiday murder, a serial killer of copys appeared on the stage of Gotham’s crime, apparently targeting specific GCPD officers.

Dark victory Double on the narration approach to the crime-or predecessor with great effect, ending a satisfactory saga. The mystery surrounding the attacks of the Hangman Killer is as macabre as the first, and the series also depicts the machinations of Two-Face to their most cunning. In the midst of all this darkness, it also serves as a triumphant example of the reason why a Batman will always need a Robin.

35

“Faillsfe” throws Batman’s contingencies against him

Creators: Zdarsky Jorge, Jiménez, Belén Ortega, et al.

Batman is well known in part for his meticulous contingency planning, even to the point of his own detriment. Chip Zdarsky opens his Batman run with the Default History arc, where the ramifications of the hero backup plans Babel Tour Come back to haunt him.

Default Intelligently combines the elements of traditions of the Batman of Zur-en-Arrh. He withdrew from Grant Morrison’s race and the weaknesses of justice League which he exposed inadvertently during Jla stint. The result is a thriller full of action where an Android built by the design of the Dark Knight goes to the ends of the earth to track down and isolate him from his friends and allies.