The Wellington Comic Lover’s Guide to... Batman: Part 1

After witnessing the death of his parents at the hands of a petty crook, Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to avenging them. Deciding that Gotham City needs someone who can work outside the law to bring wrongdoers to justice, Bruce trains his mind and body to peak performance and adopts the bat as a symbol to strike fear in the hearts of criminals.

He is vengeance. He is the night. He is Batman!

Given that Batman is one of DC Comic’s most published heroes, this particular guide covers some classic Batman stories, young Batman, the new 52, and DC rebirth. See Part 2 for more Batman series, or read the full guide!

Updated September 24, 2024
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Wellington City LibrariesYouth team at Wellington City Libraries
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Year one
Miller, Frank
Paper Book
In 1986, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli produced this groundbreaking reinterpretation of the origin of Batman-who he is, and how he came to be. Sometimes careless and naive, this Dark Knight is far from the flawless vigilante he is today. In his first year on the job, Batman feels...
Batman. Volume 9, Bloom
Snyder, Scott.
Paper Book
New York Timesbestselling series! Bruce Wayne has a nearly perfect life. He's in love with an amazing woman and works by her side every day at one of Gotham's youth centers, helping the children of the city he loves. His memory has been patchy ever since he nearly died in the...
Batman The imposter
Tomlin, Mattson
Paper Book
A unique new vision of Gotham, built to be the logical next step for fans of the 2022 film THE BATMAN! Bruce Wayne's mission as the Batman has only been underway for a year or so, but he can tell he's making a difference in this city. Unfortunately, he's made some powerful...
Batman. The return of Bruce Wayne
Morrison, Grant.
Paper Book
Written by GRANT MORRISON Art by CHRIS SPROUSE, FRAZER IRVING, RYAN SOOK, YANICK PAQUETTE, LEE GARBETT, GEORGES JEANTY KARL STORY and MICK GRAY Cover by ANDY KUBERT Grant Morrison's best-selling multipart Batman epic continues with this collection of the six-issue miniseries!Witness Bruce Wayne's...
The dark knight returns
Miller, Frank
Paper Book
Written by Frank Miller; Art and Cover by Miller and Klaus Janson It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now as his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female...
Batman. Volume 4, Zero year-secret city
Snyder, Scott
Paper Book
ANew York Timesbestseller! Before the era of superheroes began-before the Batman spread his wings to protect the innocent and punish the evil-Gotham City's prodigal son, Bruce Wayne, had been missing for years. But this was exactly the cover of darkness Bruce needed....
Batman Volume 6, Graveyard shift
Snyder, Scott.
Paper Book
In the wake of the death of his son Damian, Batman is in danger of losing his humanity. However, the foes of this grief-ridden Dark Knight mean to strike him when he's at his weakest. Has Batman's worst foe become... Bruce Wayne? Plus, three pivotal chapters from the epic ZERO YEAR...
Batman. Volume 7, Endgame
Snyder, Scott
Paper Book
HA. HA. HA.    Batman's greatest foe has returned for one last gag. But this time, not even the Joker is laughing. In their last encounter, the Dark Knight failed to live up to Joker's grand plans, so now the Joker is deadly serious. The games are over, and for their final...
Batman. Volume 8, Superheavy
Snyder, Scott.
Paper Book
COMMISSIONER GORDON IS THE NEW BATMAN! Following the disappearance and presumed death of Batman, former police commissioner Jim Gordon has been called to carry on the Dark Knight's legacy and become the Dark Knight's successor. But while the name and what it stands for...
Batman. Volume 9, Bloom
Snyder, Scott.
Paper Book
New York Timesbestselling series! Bruce Wayne has a nearly perfect life. He's in love with an amazing woman and works by her side every day at one of Gotham's youth centers, helping the children of the city he loves. His memory has been patchy ever since he nearly died in the...
Batman. Volume 10, Epilogue
Fawkes, Ray
Paper Book
The conclusion of creative team Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's #1New York Timesbest-selling run! The people of Gotham all know who truly runs their city- GothamisBatman. The fate of their home is time and time again tied to that of the Dark Knight, who would do anything to...
Batman. Vol. 1, I am Gotham
King, Tom
Paper Book
Batman is Gotham City's greatest protector. But now he's not alone. There are two new heroes in town-a pair of masked metahumans with the powers of Superman and a devotion to preserving all that is good about this twisted city. Calling themselves Gotham and Gotham Girl, they've saved Batman's life,...
Batman. Vol. 2, I am suicide
King, Tom
Paper Book
Bestselling writer Tom King continues his epic run on the Dark Knight! Still reeling from a cataclysmic battle, Batman finds himself up against some of the biggest (literally) threats he's ever faced within the city limits of Gotham. To save the city he loves, Batman enlists the help of the toughest...
Batman. Vol. 3, I am Bane
King, Tom
Paper Book
Monster Men. New costumed vigilantes. Mad doctors. Each new threat has brought Batman--and Gotham City--to the brink. But it was all a smokescreen for the real threat in the shadows... Bane. The man who has physically tested the Dark Knight like no man before is back to finally...
Batman. Vol. 4, The war of jokes and riddles
King, Tom
Paper Book
Zero Year. 12 months in which Gotham City was left without power, without laws, without hope. 365 days in which the Riddler ruled the streets. But once again, Batman was victorious. In the aftermath of Zero Year? War. The Joker vs. The Riddler. They called it the War of Jokes and...
Batman. Vol. 5, The rules of engagement
King, Tom
Paper Book
When Catwoman accepted Batman's marriage proposal, she changed more lives than just Bruce Wayne's and Selina Kyle's. A union between the World's Greatest Detective and one of Gotham City's fiercest criminals is a shake-up that will rattle everyone in the Dark Knight's life--from the young...
Batman. Vol. 6, Bride or burglar?
King, Tom
Paper Book
The path to the altar has never been so dangerous! Not long after Batman announces his engagement to Catwoman, he and Wonder Woman are called to honor an old commitment requiring them to fight for Earth in a distant, magical realm. But time flows strangely in this new land, and...
Batman. Vol. 7, The wedding
King, Tom
Paper Book
Batman and Catwoman are about to have the wedding of the century... or are they? For these star-crossed crime-fighters, nothing ever comes easy. As Bruce and Selina prepare to tie the knot, the time-traveling hero called Booster Gold crashes the party with a dangerous and deadly...
Batman. Vol. 8, Cold days
King, Tom
Paper Book
Author Tom King pens the next epic volume of his critically acclaimed, best-selling Batman series in Batman Vol. 8- Cold Days! Bruce Wayne has been selected for jury duty in a chilling court case involving Mr. Freeze! Freeze claims the charges should be dismissed...
Batman. Vol. 9, The tyrant wing
King, Tom
Paper Book
The Penguin claims Bane, the man who broke the Bat, is the one pulling the strings in Batman's life. But how could that be when Bane is safely locked away in Arkham Asylum--and a broken man himself? He's been in a padded room, in a nearly catatonic state, since his last encounter with the Bat.<...
Batman. Vol. 10, Knightmares
King, Tom
Paper Book
Eisner Award winner Tom King's explosive Batman run continues as he plunges the Dark Knight's world further into a spiral of madness from which he may never return. There are strange goings-on in the dark alleys of Gotham City, mysteries that will require a different skill set...
Batman. Vol. 11, The fall and the fallen
King, Tom
Paper Book
Bruce and Thomas Wayne, THE BATMEN OF TWO WORLDS! Batman has uncovered the mastermind behind his recent (and not-so-recent) troubles- Bane. But Batman's closest allies refuse to believe Bane is active again, and even after battling the villain himself, puzzlingly, there's no...
Batman/Catwoman
King, Tom
Paper Book
The Bat and the Cat's past, present, and future collide in a thrilling and romantic epic from the superstar team of writer Tom King and artist Clay Mann! Tom King returns to the rocky, romantic saga of Batman and Catwoman with his frequent collaborator, superstar artist Clay Mann...

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