DC Is Sleeping On 7 of Batman’s Best Storylines

adminMarch 24, 2025

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As one of the most popular characters in comics, Batman has enjoyed many of the most well-acclaimed comics in the history of the medium. As a result, there’s no shortage of fantastic Batman comics to pick and choose from, and many of these stories enjoy no shortage of adoration from fans, as well as the publisher. However, some of the character’s finest stories may be slipping under the radar of even the most dedicated fans.

Though DC Comics may be sleeping on these Batman stories, they’re no less deserving of a read than the character’s more iconic ventures. Many of these comics, though not as widely known as the character’s classic stories, have remained fan favorites in the eyes of readers who have found them, and they offer some of the most exciting takes on the Caped Crusader and his world. These are some of the best Batman comics that DC Comics is sleeping on.

7

Batman: Gothic (1990)

Created by Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson

Published in the pages of Legends Of The Dark Knight #6-10, Batman: Gothic is a tale set early on in Batman’s career. This story sees Batman being dragged into a case involving Gotham’s early mobsters, a murderer without a shadow, a deal with the devil, and a lost chapter of Bruce Wayne’s childhood. It’s a story of horrors, challenging Batman in a way which the Caped Crusader has rarely been challenged.

Gothic is, rather fittingly, a dark tale in Batman’s history, but finds success in darkness. The combination of Grant Morrison’s writing and Klaus Janson’s artwork makes for a story filled to the brim with a haunting atmosphere and literary allusions. Mister Whisper, the main antagonist of this story, remains one of the darkest villains Batman has ever faced, striking a chord that few members of Batman’s rogues gallery have ever hit.

6

Batman: The Last Arkham (1996)

Created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle

Told in the first four issues of Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Batman: The Last Arkham tells the story of the newly rebuilt Arkham Asylum, all while a string of murders is taking place in Gotham City. As these murders mirror the work of Victor Zsasz, Batman fakes his insanity and goes into Arkham to prove that the killings are the work of Zsasz. Jeremiah Arkham, the uncle of the Asylum’s late founder, Amadeus Arkham, works to break Batman, seeing him as merely another of his patients.

The Last Arkham is some of Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle’s finest work with the character. In his debut appearance, Victor Zsasz makes his mark among Batman’s already notable rogues gallery, cementing himself as a fan favorite. As Arkham Asylum plays such a notable role in Batman lore, The Last Arkham provides a haunting look at one of Gotham’s most infamous institutions.

5

Batman: Black & White – Perpetual Mourning (2010)

Created by Ted McKeever

Originally published in Batman: Black and White #1, Perpetual Mourning is the opening story of this anthology series. In it, Batman conducts an autopsy on a woman who has been murdered in hopes of finding her killer and discovering her name. While Batman is conducting the autopsy, he muses to himself about the nature of the world he lives in and his role within it, set against the visual motif of a dance.

Ted McKeever’s work on this short story is moody and introspective, filled with a sense of loneliness that deeply resonates within Batman’s world. In just eight pages, McKeever captures Batman’s character brilliantly, portraying him as a vessel for all those he couldn’t save. Few stories have understood Batman so acutely, and the lack of color in the artwork only amplifies the haunting atmosphere.

Batman Hush 2 Jim Lee main cover with Batman gliding out

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4

Batman: Ego (2000)

Created by Darwyn Cooke

Originally published as a one-shot, Batman: Ego takes readers on a journey through the dark psychology of the character. Consumed by guilt, Bruce Wayne questions his role as Batman and contemplates whether he should retire. However, he soon finds himself in the midst of a battle within his own mind, as his identity and superego clash over both his choice and the way he’s lived his life.

Director Matt Reeves cited this story as an inspiration for his 2022 film The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson.

Ego is one of the finest explorations of the Dark Knight’s psyche. Darwyn Cooke’s writing and artwork bring this haunting conflict to life, interrogating whether Batman or Bruce Wayne is the true identity of the character. While other authors may have their own answers to this question, Cooke’s take on it remains one of the greatest examinations of Batman’s mind ever published.

3

Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth (2003)

Created by Warren Ellis and John Cassidy

Published as a one-shot, Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth sees the Planetary team crossing over with the Caped Crusader. When the Planetary team chases an unstable reality warper in their version of Gotham City, the world shifts around them, bringing the team face to face with multiple different versions of the Dark Knight. Notably, these versions run through the history of the character, from the modern take on Batman up to the original take on the hero from his 1939 debut.

Comic book art: close up of Batman in silhouette as he perches on a wire.

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Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth is a wonderful summation of the character’s history while cutting to the very heart of who Batman is and why he has remained such an enduring icon. Warren Ellis keeps the different versions of Batman feeling distinct, while John Cassidy’s artwork perfectly homages the era of each Batman while still keeping his unique touch. Ultimately, Planetary/Batman is a comic about the many different versions of Batman and the heart of the character, which keeps them all true.

2

Batman: Heart of Hush (2009)

Created by Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen

Published in Detective Comics #846 through Detective Comics #850, Batman: Heart of Hush sees Hush wreaking havoc on Batman’s life once again. Here, he also sets his sights on Catwoman while reconstructing his own face to be a facsimile of Bruce Wayne’s, with plans to kill them both and steal Bruce’s fortune. The story is also interspersed with flashbacks to Thomas Elliot’s life, telling the story of how he became Hush.

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Heart of Hush brings the villain back into the spotlight, fleshing him out and letting him grow beyond his original story. Paul Dini perfectly characterizes Hush as cruel and vindictive, believing that he deserves to live Bruce Wayne’s life as he sees fit. Additionally, much of the book focuses on Batman’s romance with Catwoman, showing just how far Bruce will go for Selina. While Hush may have introduced the villain, Heart of Hush is what made him a worthy foe for Batman.

1

Batman: The Black Mirror (2011)

Created by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla

Published in Detective Comics #871 and ending in Detective Comics #881, Batman: The Black Mirror is set during Dick Grayson’s time under the cape and cowl. As Batman, Dick faces off against newer and darker criminals emerging in Gotham City. Meanwhile, Jim Gordon is forced to confront his son, James Gordon Jr, who has returned to Gotham as a serial killer with plans to continue his crimes in his father’s city.

DC Is Sleeping on Its Best Batman Story and It Doesn’t Even Know It

It’s been years since DC Comics introduced one of the coolest things to Batman’s lore, but it hasn’t done anything with it and that needs to change.

The Black Mirror stands as one of Dick Grayson’s best stories as Batman, with Scott Snyder infusing tones of noir and horror into the narrative. Jock and Francesco Francavilla do wonders as the artists for the story, rendering a Gotham which feels just as dangerous as the new villains Dick sees himself facing off against. Though far from Dick Grayson’s only story casting him in the role of Batman, The Black Mirror is one of his best under the cape and cowl.