10 Old Batman Comics Actually Worth Reading

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Comic fans are spoiled with choice when it comes to modern Batman books. Some of the best Batman comics in the last few decades, from “Court of Owls” to “Joker War” and miniseries like White Knight. However, present-day comic fans should visit the past to revisit some essential and high-quality Batman comics from his earliest decades.

The origin of the Silver Age Scarecrow, the death of a Batman from another world, and the first appearances of iconic characters like Joker and Catwoman exist in older Batman comics that are definitely worth reading, whether for nostalgic value or for their foundational importance in the years of Batman stories that would follow.

10

Birth Of The Dark Knight

No old Batman comic is more important than the first, naturally. Without Bob Kane and Bill Finger’s creation, which debuted in Detective Comics #27, there would be no Batman in the world today. Yes, Detective Comics #27 may not hold up to the quality and craftsmanship of modern comics, but its foundation is what really matters.

The cape, the cowl, the gadgets, and the fear in criminals’ eyes were all there from the very beginning. These traits would serve as the framework that would inspire future writers to make significant changes to Batman and his world.

9

Batman Vs. Joker & Catwoman

Just one year after he debuted in Detective Comics #27, Batman had his own comic title alongside Robin. Kane and Finger wasted no time introducing villains who would quickly grow into two of the most iconic fictional characters of all time: Joker and Catwoman.

Though Joker and Catwoman looked a little different from what modern fans may be used to, Batman #1 is an important old Batman comic to revisit as it shows the roots of these foes. “The Cat” was a cat burglar who wore a literal cat mask, while the Joker was calmer but still maniacal, each showing hints of the infamous foes they’d soon become.

8

Scarecrow In The Silver Age

Scarecrow is one of Batman’s greatest foes, and Gardner Fox crafted him into a new villain in the Silver Age that more accurately reflects the modern-day version. Thanks to movies like Batman Begins, games like Arkham Knight, and comic events like “Fear State,” Scarecrow is a household name. Batman #189 is a great Silver Age story that solidifies Jonathan Crane’s fearful origins.

Many Golden Age Batman comics were stories intended for younger readers, but the Silver Age started to mature comics, especially leading into the 1970s. Scarecrow’s first Silver Age appearance really started to make Batman’s villains more menacing and terrifying––none exemplify that better than Scarecrow.

7

Batman & Ra’s Al Ghul Team Up

Fans reading this comic for the first time may think they’ve read it before. Batman meets Ra’s al Ghul and teams up with the soon-to-be-villain to save both Talia and Robin. Ultimately, the journey was a ruse, as Ra’s al Ghul tested Batman’s fighting skills and detective work.

Batman: The Animated Series adapted Batman #232 nearly perfectly in a two-part episode that viewers consider one of the best. Ra’s al Ghul is such an imposing nemesis, qualified to physically and intellectually battle the Dark Knight. Their first meeting here is legendary and deserves a revisit.

6

Ra’s Al Ghul Returns

Only a dozen issues later and Ra’s al Ghul returned. Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams made one of the best creative duos in the Silver Age, and they crafted some of the best Batman comics of all time during their run.

Batman #244 features a legendary sword duel between Batman and Ra’s al Ghul. Modern readers have likely seen this battle depicted and homaged on Batman comic covers ever since. At a time when DC transitioned from the Silver Age into the Bronze Age, O’Neil and Adams continued to produce hit after hit, month after month, usually starring Ra’s and Talia.

5

“Where Were You On The Night Batman Was Killed?”

Remember that episode of Batman: The Animated Series titled “Almost Got’Em,” where Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, Poison Ivy and Killer Croc sit around discussing how close each of them were to killing Batman? Batman #291 follows a similar structure and is easily one of the best Batman comics from the Bronze Age.

Who supposedly killed Batman? Gotham’s underworld intends to find out. Ra’s al Ghul and Catwoman also appear in this issue as each villain gives their testimony, with conflicting stories of Batman’s demise. It’s an amazing mystery that features nearly all of the Dark Knight’s most popular villains of the era.

4

The Death Of Earth-Two Batman

For many years, DC published comics set on both Earth-One and Earth-Two. Before the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, when all worlds in the multiverse merged, DC had confidently produced stories about alternate Earths simultaneously. On Earth-Two, Bruce Wayne retired from Batman, married Catwoman, and had a daughter named Helena Wayne.

Adventure Comics #462 was a huge issue for the Bronze Age and the history of Earth-Two. Bruce came out of retirement and died, saving the Justice Society. Helena would later take up Bruce’s heroic mantle and Dick Grayson’s Robin became a prominent member of the Justice Society. Many fans still miss this era of the Justice Society.

3

Batman & Catwoman: The Autobiography Of Bruce Wayne

“The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne” is easily one of the most emotionally gripping comics of Batman’s Bronze Age, published shortly before the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. So close to the end of the multiverse, Brave and the Bold #187 is less about the fate of Gotham City and more of an examination of Batman and Catwoman’s relationship on Earth-Two.

There are certainly more exciting old Batman comics, but fans looking for a romantic journey of discovery will love Batman and Catwoman’s interactions in this issue. “Autobiography of Bruce Wayne” laid some groundwork for the romance between Bruce and Selina in modern DC comics.

2

A New Kind Of Batman For The Future

It’s wild to think that 1986 was nearly 40 years ago. Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns was such a breath of fresh air for the comic industry, yet it may seem more commonplace to modern readers who have grown used to the world of comics that Dark Knight Returns helped create and inspire.

To this day, Dark Knight Returns remains one of the best Batman comics ever. Comic fans should revisit this monumental story as often as possible to remind themselves that the modern comic world would look very different without integral works like this, Watchmen or The Killing Joke.

1

Batman’s New Origins By Frank Miller

Every comic reader in the 1980s knew Batman’s origin: young Bruce Wayne vowing vengeance for the death of his parents, but no one had seen the origin quite like the way Frank Miller crafted it in “Year One.” After Crisis on Infinite Earths, “Year One” served as the new status quo for Batman’s beginnings.

Readers saw the earliest incarnations of Batman’s gadgets, how he partnered with Jim Gordon, and how he discovered that Bruce Wayne cannot save Gotham––a symbol like Batman can. 1987 wasn’t that long ago for some, but this “old” Batman comic laid the foundation for every Batman comic that’s followed since.

“}]] From the Dark Knight’s epic beginnings to some of his most iconic titles, these Batman comics may be old, but they are still incredibly important.  Read More