Welcome to the CCF's first and oldest review thread. This is an ongoing attempt to review every Batman story published in (or critical to) his core titles since Batman #307 (January 1979).

Batman #307, Len Wein's first issue on the run, marks the beginning of real continuity across issues in the Batman franchise (even though some basic elements of continuity had been in place back with Batman #217). That continuity proceeds seamlessly across three writers and four editors until the Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths reset which, itself, is a fascinating mess that I've had a lot of fun exploring in this thread. Essentially, if you're at all curious about where our modern version of Batman comes from, this is the ongoing history book that you need. Anything prior to Batman #307 is, frankly, less important in my opinion.

We end with 2011 simply because it's a good stopping point as the franchise encounters yet another company-wide reset.


About these reviews:
The earliest reviews were originally just informal posts in the old "What have you read lately?" thread which I later reposted here. As the reviews continue, they become a lot more detailed. I begin branching out to include relevant stories from outside of the "Batman" title starting on page 4.


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Shortcuts to key articles, lists, and arguments contained in this thread:

The Post-Crisis Batman timeline/continuity (as of Batman #472 [1991])
Complete list of Batman's Post-Crisis mentors/trainers (as of Batman #451 [1990])
So Where Does the Post-Crisis Batman Really Begin?
All You Need to Know about Jason Todd (Pre-Death)
Post-Crisis Batman Jumps from Year 10 to Year 14: A Working Theory
The competing Post-Crisis characterizations of Batman prior to Jim Starlin's run and Jason Todd's death.
The major differences between Bronze and Modern age comic storytelling
Does Batman Need a Robin?
The Post-Movie Batman Industry
Why Bruce Wayne Can't Be Socially Conscious (an opinion)
The Batman Awards: My favorite stories and creative teams from all Batman titles between Batman #300 and Batman #450
Tim Drake: The Robin Nobody Wanted?
A Brief History of the Development of Tim Drake
The Batman Rogues Gallery We (Mostly) Don't Know
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Shortcuts to reviews contained in this thread:



Post-DC Implosion, The Len Wein Era
Batman #307
Batman #308
Batman #309
Batman #310
Batman #311
Batman #312
Batman #313
Batman #314
Batman #315
Batman #316
Batman #317
Batman #318
Batman #319
Batman #320
Batman #321
Batman #322
Batman #323-324
Batman #325
Batman #326
Batman #327
Batman #328
Batman #329
Batman #330
Batman #331
Batman #332
Batman #333
Batman #334-335
Batman #336

The Gerry Conway Era
Batman #337
Batman #338
Batman #339
Batman #340
Batman #341
Batman #342
Batman #343
Batman #344
Batman #345
Batman #346
Batman #347
Batman #348
Batman #349
Batman #350
Detective Comics #517
Batman #351
Detective Comics #518
Batman #352
Batman #353
Detective Comics #520
Batman #354
Detective Comics #521
Batman #355
Batman #356
Detective Comics #523
Batman #357
Detective Comics #524
Batman #358
Detective Comics #525
Batman #359
Detective Comics #526

The Doug Moench Era
Batman #360
Detective Comics #527
Batman #361
Detective Comics #528
Batman #362
Detective Comics #529
Batman #363
Detective Comics #530
Batman #364
Detective Comics #531
Batman #365
Detective Comics #532
Batman #366
Detective Comics #533
Batman #367
Batman #368
Detective Comics #535
Batman #369
Detective Comics #536
Batman #370
Detective Comics #537
Batman #371
Detective Comics #538
Batman #372
Detective Comics #539
Batman #373
Detective Comics #540
Batman #374
Detective Comics #541
Batman #375
Detective Comics #542
Batman #376
Detective Comics #543
Batman #377
Detective Comics #544
Batman #378
Detective Comics #545
Batman #379
Detective Comics #546
Batman #380
Detective Comics #547
Batman #381
Detective Comics #548
Batman #382
Detective Comics #549
Batman #383
Detective Comics #550
Batman #384
Detective Comics #551
Batman #385
Detective Comics #552
Batman #386
Detective Comics #553
Batman #387
Detective Comics #554
Batman #388
Detective Comics #555
Batman #389
Detective Comics #556
Batman #390
Detective Comics #557
Batman #391
Detective Comics #558
Batman #392
Detective Comics #559
Batman #393
Detective Comics #560
Batman #394
Detective Comics #561
Batman #395
Detective Comics #562
Batman #396
Detective Comics #563
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1
Batman #397
Detective Comics #564
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2
Batman #398
Detective Comics #565
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 3
Batman #399
Detective Comics #566
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 4
Batman #400
Detective Comics #567

The Early Post-Crisis Issues
Batman #401
Detective Comics #568
Batman #402
Detective Comics #569
Batman #403
Detective Comics #570
Batman Annual #11

The Initial Post-Crisis Reset
Batman #404
Detective Comics #571
Batman #405
Detective Comics #572
Batman #406
Detective Comics #573
Batman #407
Detective Comics #574
Batman #408
Detective Comics #575
Batman #409
Detective Comics #576
Batman #410
Detective Comics #577
Batman #411
Detective Comics #578
Batman #412
Detective Comics #579
Batman #413
Detective Comics #580
Batman: Son of The Demon
Batman #414
Detective Comics #581
Batman #415
Detective Comics #582
Batman #416
Detective Comics #583
Batman #417
Detective Comics #584
Batman #418
Detective Comics #585
Batman #419
Detective Comics #586
Batman #420
Detective Comics #587
Batgirl Special #1
Batman #421
Batman: The Killing Joke
Detective Comics #588
Batman #422
Batman: The Cult, Book 1
Detective Comics #589
Batman #423
Batman: The Cult, Book 2
Detective Comics #590
Batman #424
Batman: The Cult, Book 3
Detective Comics #591
Batman #425
Batman: The Cult, Book 4
Detective Comics #592

Post-Crisis Continuity in Full Swing
Batman #426 Part 1, Part 2
Detective Comics #593
Suicide Squad #23
Batman #427 Part 1, Part 2
Detective Comics #594
Batman #428
Batman #428: Robin Lives! (alternate facsimili release)
Detective Comics #595
Batman #429
Detective Comics #596
Batman #430
Detective Comics #597
Batman #431
Detective Comics #598 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Batman #432
Detective Comics #599
Batman #433
Detective Comics #600 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Batman Annual #13 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Batman #434
Detective Comics #601
Batman #435
Detective Comics #602
Batman #436
Detective Comics #603
Batman #437
Detective Comics #604
Batman #438
Detective Comics #605
Batman #439
Secret Origins Special #1
Detective Comics Annual #2
Detective Comics #606
Batman #440
New Titans #60
Detective Comics #607
Batman #441
New Titans #61
Detective Comics #608
Legends of the Dark Knight #1
Batman #442
Detective Comics #609
Legends of the Dark Knight #2
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
Batman #443
Detective Comics #610
Legends of the Dark Knight #3
Batman #444
Detective Comics #611
Legends of the Dark Knight #4
Suicide Squad #38
Batman #445
Detective Comics #612
Legends of the Dark Knight #5
Secret Origins tpb
Batman: Digital Justice
Batman #446
Detective Comics #613
New Titans #65
Legends of the Dark Knight #6
Batman #447
Detective Comics #614
Legends of the Dark Knight #7
Batman #448
Legends of the Dark Knight #8
Detective Comics #615
Superman (1987) #44, Adventures of Superman #467, and Action Comics #654
Batman #449
Detective Comics #616
Batman #450
Detective Comics #617
Legends of the Dark Knight #9
Batman #451
Detective Comics #618
Legends of the Dark Knight #10
Batman #452
Detective Comics #619
Batman #453
Detective Comics #620
Batman #454
Detective Comics #621
Legends of the Dark Knight #11
Batman #455
Detective Comics #622
Batman #456
Batman Annual #14
Detective Comics #623
Detective Comics Annual #3
Legends of the Dark Knight #12
Batman #457
Detective Comics #624
Legends of the Dark Knight #13
Suicide Squad #48
Batman 3D
Robin (1991) #1
Batman #458
Detective Comics #625
Legends of the Dark Knight #14
Batman: Bride of the Demon
Batman #459
Robin (1991) #2
Batman #460
Detective Comics #626
Legends of the Dark Knight #15
Robin (1991) #3
Batman #461
Detective Comics #627
Legends of the Dark Knight #16
Robin (1991) #4
Batman #462
Detective Comics #628
Legends of the Dark Knight #17
Robin (1991) #5
Detective Comics #629
Legends of the Dark Knight #18
Batman #463
Batman Annual #15
Detective Comics #630
Batman #464
Detective Comics #631
Batman #465
Batman: Full Circle
Detective Comics #632
Batman #466
Detective Comics #633
Batman #467
Detective Comics #634
Batman #468
Detective Comics #635
Detective Comics Annual #4
Batman #469
Detective Comics #636
Batman #470
Detective Comics #637
Batman #471
Detective Comics #638
Batman #472
Robin II #1
Batman: Holy Terror
Batman / Judge Dredd: Judgement on Gotham
Detective Comics #639
Batman #473
Robin II #2
Batman & Dracula: Red Rain
Robin II #3
Detective Comics #640
Robin II #4
Batman versus Predator #1
Batman #474
Batman: Master of The Future
Legends of The Dark Knight #27
Detective Comics #641
Batman: A Word To the Wise
Batman #475
Detective Comics #642
Gotham Nights #1
Batman Versus Predator #2
Batman Versus Predator #3
Batman #476
Gotham Nights #2


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The highlights of the run, thus far:

Batman #307 -- Dark Messenger of Mercy. In many ways, the beginnings of Batman continuity as a lot of key supporting cast members like Lucius Fox, Gregorian Falstaff, and Shamrock and his homeless friends are introduced and major story lines are begun (including Selina Kyle reforming). A great story in its own right, as well.

Batman #309 -- The Blockbuster Christmas story. Very moving.

Batman #316 -- The return of Crazy Quilt. Just a really solid Batman/Robin team-up.

Batman #321 -- The Joker's birthday party. Exceptionally well written, especially in the subtle relationship depicted between Batman and Joker.

Batman #323-324-- Wein's legendary Catwoman/Catman storyline. Absolutely amazing.

Untold Legend of the Batman #1-3 -- Absolutely the best Batman origin story ever told. Synthesizes all the given information about Batman's origin over the previous forty years and incorporates it into a meaningful narrative that is dark, moving, inspiring, and ridiculously informative, all while ending in the creation of a Batman who can be goody-goody and yet be taken seriously at the same time. Parts 2 and 3 provide more useful back story on Batman (again putting together all the pieces from 40 years worth of continuity), but the solution to the mystery of who is messing with Batman is both predictable and a bit ridiculous.

Batman #332-335-- The Lazarus Affair. A beloved classic.

Batman #347-- The Shadow of the Batman. A powerful one-shot story that shows Batman's impact upon two young men considering getting into a life of crime.

Batman #349-350, Detective #517, Batman #351: The Monk/vampires storyline. Awesome Colan art and a decent Conway script providing intense action, tone, and visuals, as Bruce and Dick become vampires. Pretty unforgettable.

Detective #520, Batman #354: The Haunting of Boss Thorne. Powerful, powerful art and writing as Thorne's criminal empire begins to collapse on top of him. One of the best Batman stories I've ever read.

Batman #357-359 and Detective #524-526: Conway's classic Killer Croc storyline which introduces both Croc and Jason Todd. Though the storyline comes and goes, the plotting is strong, and the events are significant.

Detective #532: Great insights into Joker's motivations and his relationship with Batman.

Batman #368: Jason Todd officially becomes Robin, gets savagely beaten by Crazy Quilt. POWERFUL.

Batman #372: An unexpectedly powerful/risky story about racism and boxing. Highly moving.

Detective #542-547 and Batman #376-381: The Jason Todd custody battle/Nocturna's return/the fall of Mayor Hill. Very uneven, and a lot of the secondary characters and plot lines are obnoxious, but there are many truly great moments. Certainly, this was the heart of everything Moench was trying to do in his run.

Batman #383: A surprisingly lighthearted stand-alone story in which Batman fights to take a nap. Some love the comedy, some hate the comedy.

Batman #386-387, and Detective Comics #553: The Black Mask storyline, featuring his first appearance and origin, as well as some grotesque, action-intensive story-telling.

Batman #389-391 and Detective Comics #556-557: The final Nocturna storyline. Powerful art, action, and tone, as the Red Skies from Crisis on Infinite Earths pervade a sense of the world ending in each character's soul, bringing hidden fear and desires to the surface throughout this intense storyline.

The Dark Knight Returns: A non-continuity vision of a rougher, tougher anti-hero Batman in a Reagan-inspired future. This storyline had a lot of influence upon what post-Crisis Batman became and also introduced many Batman fans to Frank Miller for the first time.

Batman #400 -- The final(?) pre-reboot Batman story in which he takes on most of his rogues gallery at one time. Pretty good story, and we get our first glimpses of an angrier, grittier Batman in official continuity. In many ways, I feel this story was the prototype for what Batman became after the reboot.

Detective #569 -- Barr and Davis begin their brief run together on Detective, mixing rich and intelligent humor with great action and just a touch of darkness. Joker's depiction in this issue is arguably his best ever. Catwoman is pretty fun too.

Batman #404-407 -- "Year One," Frank Miller's unique spin on the Batman origin story that aligns with DKR and sets the factual basis (if not necessarily the thematic nor character basis) of the Post-Crisis Batman and his universe.

Detective #574 -- introduction of the post-Crisis Leslie Thompkins. Also a companion to Year One, largely chronicling Bruce's boyhood (post-murder) and college years.

Batman Annual #11 -- "Mortal Clay," by Alan Moore, is absolutely one of the greatest rogues gallery stories ever written, in this case starring Clay Face III.

Batman #408-411 -- The post-Crisis retirement of Dick Grayson as Robin and the introduction of post-Crisis Jason Todd as Robin #2. Though the story is very weak, #410 actually does a really good job of explaining why a street punk (like the post-Crisis Jason) makes a far more logical Robin than an innocent kid (like the pre-Crisis Jason) would. All of the vital information in this storyline is covered again (and arguably better) in Batman #416.

Batman: Son of the Demon -- A non-continuity graphic novel that depicts what is arguably the definitive Ras Al Ghul/ Talia story. Very exciting and emotionally rich, even while a bit illogical and out of character for Batman. Though the events of this issue inspired Grant Morrison to create Damian Wayne, the baby at the end of this story cannot be him.

Batman #415: Our first glimpse of Starlin's "edgy" Jason Todd, though the characterization only continues through the next issue and largely isn't seen again until Batman #424.

Batman #416: Fleshes out much of the post-crisis origin of the Robins (Dick Grayson and Jason Todd). Also the genesis of the infamous post-crisis conflict between Bruce and Dick (told in flashback, but significantly altering the events of Batman #408), and possibly the template for the Dick Grayson/Damian Wayne relationship later depicted by Grant Morrison.

Detective Comics #583-584: First appearance of Scarface and the Ventriloquist, as well as the beginning of the first Grant/Breyfogle run.

Batman #417-420: Ten Nights of the Beast, an intriguing four part story in which Batman and the CIA and FBI must track down and stop The KGBeast, a KGB super assassin. Surprisingly and intelligently immersed in (then) contemporary Cold War politics. First appearance of the KGBeast.

Detective Comics #585-586: First appearance of The Ratcatcher, as well as another all-around exceptional story by Wagner, Grant, and Breyfogle.

Batman: The Killing Joke -- Redefines the post-Crisis Joker as significantly more perverse and sadistic than before, and features the crippling of Barbara Gordon (ending Batgirl's career and paving the way for Oracle). Not my favorite Moore story, but it is important to continuity.

Batman #424 -- The shock ending issue that really establishes what most people consider to be the definitive Post Crisis Jason Todd characterization for the first time.

Detective Comics #592-593 -- The unforgettably disturbing first appearance of Cornelius Stirk.

Batman #426-429 -- "A Death in the Family" featuring the death of Jason Todd and supposed death of the Joker. Once again redefines the post-Crisis back-story and characterization of Jason Todd, albeit in more subtle ways. An uneven story, though it hits some truly high points, especially at the end of #427 and in the epitaph Starlin has Dr. Haywood give Jason in #428.

Batman #431 -- Christopher Priest (then James Owsley)'s fill-in story is the first to establish that the post-crisis Batman traveled across the world to study under many masters before becoming Batman. It is also the inspiration for the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Day of the Samurai" and may have inspired aspects of Batman Begins.

Detective Comics #598-600 -- "Blind Justice," a particularly well written science fiction premise that ends quite surprisingly. Written by Sam Hamm, the writer of the 1989 Batman film, it also sheds some light on Batman's early training.

Batman #433 -- A powerful depiction of the (mistaken) death of Batman, in which only one line of dialogue is spoken across the entire issue. Bold and powerful, even though an unnecessary three part story piggy backs off of it.

Batman #436 -- Though the Year 3 storyline was not a particularly strong one, this first chapter features a solid retelling of Dick Grayson's origin, as well as provides the cameo first appearance of Tim Drake in flashback.

Detective Comics Annual #2 -- A very solid detective story set during the early years of Bruce's training to become a crime fighter.

Batman #440-442, New Titans #60-61 -- "A Lonely Place of Dying." Poor story overall, but it introduces Tim Drake and sets him up to become the third Robin.

Batman #452-454 -- "Dark Knight, Dark City." Peter Miligan and Kieron Dwyer craft a strange, somewhat nonsensical, but beautifully executed story about the Riddler being possessed by a demon to manipulate and sacrifice Batman. Possibly the best usage of Riddler's skills ever.

Detective Comics #618-621 -- "Rites of Passage." An initially plodding, offensively corporate-mandated storyline designed to make Tim Drake yet another orphan, intentionally indistinguishable from the other Robins, becomes vibrant and powerful by the second half, thoroughly smacking the Gary Stu out of the Tim Drake character and giving us someone we can actually care about.

Batman #457 -- A cliche and derivative story in which Tim Drake officially becomes the third Robin.

Batman #459 -- A particularly touching story in which Commissioner Gordon rekindles his romance with Sarah Essen. Ends with an unforgettably powerful twist.

"Prey" (Legends of the Dark Knight #11, 12, 13, 14, 15) -- The perfect sequel to "Year One," which continues to explore the central themes and conflicts of that storyline while expanding Batman's character and creating a bridge between that Batman and a modern day Batman who maintains his darkness but is also more well-adjusted. Also contributes more to the mythos, such as the debut of the Bat Cave, Batmobile, and Bat signal.

Detective Comics #627 -- Three retellings of the first Batman story, as well as a re-tracing of the original. Each are very high quality in their execution, and Breyfogle and Aparo both turn in some top notch work for their stories.

Detective Comics #629 -- A stand-alone story by Peter Milligan that's just exceptionally well written and also features some striking artwork from Jim Aparo.

Detective Comics Annual #4 -- A way better concept for how to move forward after Batman's body has been broken than what was finally tried in Knightfall, but the actual writing and art are nowhere near as good as the ideas.

Batman & Dracula: Red Rain -- Brilliant graphic novel by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones.