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Batman Rebirth Reading Order (From the Monster Men to Batman’s Wedding, City of Bane, The Joker War and more)

Following the conclusion of the New 52/DC You publishing initiatives, DC Comics launched the Rebirth era, marking a soft relaunch of its continuity. As part of this initiative, Batman received a new creative team, signaling a fresh direction for the character and his ongoing series.

As part of the Rebirth initiative, the Batman series was relaunched and began publishing on a twice-monthly schedule. In August 2016, the third volume of Batman debuted with issue #1, written by Tom King with art by David Finch and Mikel Janín. Meanwhile, Detective Comics returned to its original numbering, resuming with issue #934 in June 2016 under writer James Tynion IV and artists Eddy Barrows and Álvaro Martínez.

While Batman continued to focus on the Dark Knight’s solo exploits, his relationship with Catwoman, and his ongoing struggle to protect Gotham City, Detective Comics was restructured as a team-based series. Under Batman and Batwoman’s leadership, the title featured a roster including Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, and Clayface.

In addition to the main titles, several other Batman-related series were published during the Rebirth era. Scott Snyder returned to the character with All-Star Batman, while additional titles such as Batman and the Outsiders further expanded the line. The period also featured major crossover events, including Dark Nights: Metal and its sequel Dark Nights: Death Metal, as well as storylines such as The Joker War, alongside a number of less notable events.

What to read before Batman Rebirth?

First, you can explore the Batman New 52 era or even follow The Batman Modern Age Reading Guide. However, as it is a new beginning, you’ll need an introduction to the famous DC Universe: Rebirth #1 that explains why it’s a reboot. It’s about how the world of the Watchmen collided with the DC Universe and the return of Wally West.

As Rebirth marked a fresh starting point, the most essential entry is DC Universe: Rebirth #1 (2016). This one-shot reintroduced elements of continuity, explained the circumstances of the relaunch, and revealed how the world of the Watchmen intersected with the DC Universe, culminating in the return of Wally West.

However, before going into the Rebirth era, if you want to explore older Batman stories, you can start with Scott Snyder’s run that was launched at the beginning of the preceding New 52 era of Batman, or explore our Modern Age reading guide to find some classic tales.

Batman Rebirth: The Deluxe and Omnibus Collection

Before going through Batman’s storylines in the Rebirth era in greater detail, it is worth noting that DC Comics has collected portions of this period in larger, prestige-format editions, including deluxe hardcovers and omnibus volumes.

The Batman by Tom King Collection

This new collection, launched in 2024, is specifically collecting everything Tom King wrote (and co-wrote) during his run on Batman, which includes the main ongoing series, but also other stories in and out of continuity.

Batman Rebirth in Omnibus

The DC Comics Omnibus collection (the massive hardcover books) is now almost complete when it comes to the Batman series and Detective Comics. 

  • Batman by Tom King Omnibus Vol. 1 new
    Collects Batman: Rebirth #1; Batman #1-32; Nightwing #5-6; Detective Comics #941-942; The Flash #21-22; Batman Annual #1; Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1.
  • Batman: The Rise and Fall of the Batmen Omnibus
    Collects Detective Comics #934-981 and pages from issue #1000, Detective Comics Annual #1, Batman #7-8, and Nightwing #5-6.
  • Batman: Detective Comics by Peter J. Tomasi Omnibus
    Collects Detective Comics #994-999, #1001-1016, #1018-1033, Detective Comics Annual #2-3, Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P. #1, And Material From Detective Comics #1000 And Detective Comics (2011) #27.
  • Batman by James Tynion IV Omnibus
    Collects Batman (2016) #86-100; Red Hood: Outlaw (2016) #48; Nightwing (2016) #70-74; Batgirl (2016) #47-49; Harley Quinn (2016) #75; Detective Comics #1020-1026; Catwoman (2018) #25; Batman Secret Files #3; The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1; And Stories From Batman Vol. 1: Their Dark Designs; Batman: The Joker War Zone #1.

Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition is a line of prestige-format hardcover books that collects key storylines and runs in a larger, high-quality format, offering an alternative to standard or omnibus editions.

James Tynion’s Detective Comics

The Batman Rebirth Reading Order

And now, let’s begin. We are looking at a reading order for Batman’s series during the Rebirth era, meaning the regular ongoing Batman series, Detective Comics, and Snyder’s All Star Batman for the most part, but also Batman & the Outsiders, Batman/Superman, and other books.

Batman Beyond - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingThis is when Batman Beyond started. This is a series inspired by the animated television show of the same name, which follows a new, futuristic incarnation of the Dark Knight.

Watchmen - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingA 2017 crossover co-written by Tom King and Joshua Williamson, The Button was initially introduced as the start of a larger narrative, one that saw the Watchmen universe being integrated into the overall continuity of the DC Universe during the DC Rebirth era. When Batman and the Flash investigate the mysterious Comedian’s button, they are momentarily pulled back into the Flashpoint timeline. Bruce confronts his father, Thomas Wayne, who implores him to abandon the cape and live a life of peace.

Batwoman - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingThis is when the new Batwoman solo series started, following the adventures of Kate Kane, the cousin of Bruce Wayne.

Super Sons - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingThis is when the ultra-popular Super Sons series was launched, which follows the adventures of Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, the sons of Batman and Superman, as a youthful superhero team.

Batman who laughs - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingDark Nights: Metal – Big Event Alert. Beyond our universe, there is the Multiverse … and beneath the Multiverse is a nightmare realm where every fear that has ever been felt on our Earth becomes reality. Now an evil force as old as time wants to drag us down into the shadows, into the realm of never-ending terror. You can find here the reading order for this massive DC Comics event.

Catwoman This is when the Catwoman solo series started. The new solo adventures of DC Comics’ cat burglar.

Heroes in Crisis - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingWritten by Tom King, the Heroes in Crisis storyline introduced a new type of crisis within the DC Universe. The story centers on Sanctuary, an ultra-secret facility designed to treat superheroes suffering from trauma caused by crime-fighting and cosmic battles. This takes a dark turn when numerous patients are found dead under mysterious circumstances, setting off a major investigation with far-reaching consequences.

Batman - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingBatman: Universe (Optional)
Collects Batman: Universe #1-6. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Batman is pushed to his limit as he sets off in search of an item with the potential to destroy the universe as we know it! This was initially released as part of the Walmart-exclusive Batman 100-Page Giant comics before being collected into a standard six-issue format. Soon to be available in a Deluxe edition.

Batman who laughs - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingThe Batman Who Laughs
Collects The Batman Who Laughs #1-7 and the one-shot special issue The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight. More of the Dark Universe by Scott Snyder.

There was to be a DC Year of the Villain Omnibus at this point, but it has been canceled. Instead, you can check out the reading order for this year-long event to know more about it.

Event Leviathan - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingEvent Leviathan is a crossover storyline written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Alex Maleev. The story follows a team of DC Comics’ top detectives as they investigate the infiltration and apparent dismantling of multiple intelligence agencies by the mysterious organization known as Leviathan. The event spans several Batman-related titles and highlights the investigative skills of the best detectives across the DC Universe.

These last two volumes formed a storyline that has also been collected in Batman: City of Bane: The Complete Collection (collecting issues #75 to #85).


This is the END of Tom King’s run. After he departed from the main Batman series, King returned to the Batman mythos with Batman/Catwoman, a 12-issue limited series with art by Clay Mann published by DC Black Label that was initially presented as an in-continuity prologation of his story (it was not, but it’s better to read it with this previous run in mind).

Batman - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingFollowing King’s premature departure, writer James Tynion IV took over the series starting with issue #86 in January 2020. Tynion, who had previously written Detective Comics, introduced new characters and explored deeper psychological themes. We have a Bat-Guide dedicated to it, if you are searching for more context.

Joker Batman - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingBatman: The Joker War is taking us to issue #100 of the series with a story in which The Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight Detective go head-to-head for the last time in this DC Comics Saga.

Batman who laughs - Batman Rebirth Reading Order Tom KingDark Nights: Death Metal is the follow-up to Dark Nights: Metal that put an end to this era. The story starts when the DC Universe is enveloped by the Dark Multiverse. The Justice League is at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs. Humanity struggles to survive in a hellish landscape twisted beyond recognition, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman have all been separated and must fight to survive.

  • Dark Nights: Death Metal Omnibus
    Collects Dark Nights: Death Metal #1-7, Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Infinite Hour Exxxtreme! #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Legends of the Dark Knights #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Multiverse’s End #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Rise of the New God #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Robin King #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Last 52: War of the Multiverses #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Multiverse Who Laughs #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Trinity Crisis #1, and Justice League #53-57.

Batman Rebirth: The Out of Continuity Stories

As always, Batman’s universe expands beyond the limits of the DC Comics regular ongoing series. The following books are stories published during the Rebirth era that are not considered part of the main continuity.

What’s Coming After Batman Rebirth?

This marks the end of another era. The Rebirth initiative concluded as DC prepared to launch Infinite Frontier. This era aimed to unify the multiverse following the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, offering a starting point while maintaining continuity for key characters. Batman continued to appear in ongoing series, miniseries, and crossover events, with creative teams exploring new stories, character dynamics, and Gotham-centric narratives in this expanded framework.

Between these two phases, however, the publisher released Future State, a brief, two-month storytelling event that offered glimpses into possible futures for the DC Universe and set the stage for upcoming developments across its titles.

If you want to explore a lot more of Batman’s adventures, we’ve got you covered. Just follow the guides or visit our page dedicated to all of our Batman coverage:

We also wrote reading orders for Nightwing, Jason Todd/Red Hood, Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain/Batgirl, Damian Wayne, Azrael, Stephanie Brown, Batwoman, Alfred Pennyworth, The Signal (Duke Thomas), Catwoman, Batwing, and Huntress (Helena Bertinelli). More to come.

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2 thoughts on “Batman Rebirth Reading Order (From the Monster Men to Batman’s Wedding, City of Bane, The Joker War and more)”

  1. Enrique Israel Gonzalez Chavez
    Reply

    Hello, where would you put Three Jokers? I know it is not really in main continuity but if you were to put in reading order, where would you put it?

    1. Carole
      Reply

      That’s a complicated question! I would put it at the beginning of this period. While not everything fits, I think it would fit better not long after Darkseid War but before Tom King’s run is in full swing. So after Batman: Rebirth #1, maybe?

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