With the end of the New52/DC You era, the DC Universe entered the Rebirth era. A new beginning of sorts, with a new creative team taking charge of the Dark Knight.
Batman was rebooted and began shipping twice monthly. In August 2016, the third volume of Batman written by Tom King, with artwork by David Finch and Mikel Janín, began from #1, but Detective Comics (from Writer James Tynion IV and artists Eddy Barrows and Alvaro Martinez) resumed its original numbering system starting with June 2016’s #934.
If Batman famously centered on Batman, his relationship with Catwoman, and his fight to save Gotham, Detective Comics became for a time a team book with Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, and Clayface, led by Batman and Batwoman.
As always, there were more Batman series. In fact, Scott Snyder came back for more with All-Star Batman. There also were Batman and the Outsiders and some major events like Dark Nights: Metal (and Death Metal), The Joker War, and some less important ones.
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.
Batman Rebirth: The Deluxe and Omnibus Collection
Before taking a more detailed look at Batman’s adventures during the Rebirth era, let’s point out that DC Comics collected some parts of this era in bigger, sometimes more prestigious collections like the deluxe edition and omnibus.
Batman by Tom King
This new collection launched in 2024 is specifically collecting everything Tom King wrote (and co-wrote) during his run on Batman, this includes the main ongoing series, but also other stories in and out of continuity.
- Batman by Tom King Book One
Collects Batman: Rebirth #1; Batman (vol. 3) #1-6, 9-22, The Flash #21-22, and Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1. - more to come…
Batman Rebirth in Omnibus
- 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 Rebirth Deluxe Edition
The Deluxe Edition is a collection of prestige hardcover books.
- Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1
Collects Batman: Rebirth #1; Batman (vol. 3) #1–12 - Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 2
Collects Batman (vol. 3) #16–32, Annual (vol. 2) #1 - Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 3
Collects Batman (vol. 3) #33–43, Annual (vol. 2) #2 - Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4
Collects Batman (vol. 3) #44–57; DC Nation #0 - Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 5
Collects Batman #58-69. - Batman Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 6
Collects Batman #70-85, Batman Annual #4, and Batman Secret Files #2.
James Tynion’s Detective Comics
- Batman: Detective Comics Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1
Collects Detective Comics #934–949 - Batman: Detective Comics Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 2
Collects Detective Comics #950–964 - Batman: Detective Comics Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 3
Collects Detective Comics #965–974, Annual (vol. 2) #1 - Batman: Detective Comics Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4
Collects Detective Comics #974–982
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 Vol. 1: I Am Gotham
Collects Batman: Rebirth #1 and Batman #1-6. - All Star Batman Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy
Collects All Star Batman #1-5. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Rise of The Batmen
Collects Detective Comics #934-940. - Batman: Night of the Monster Men
Collects Batman #7-8, Nightwing #5-6 and Detective Comics #941-942. - Batman Vol. 2: I Am Suicide
Collects Batman #9-15. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: The Victim Syndicate
Collects Detective Comics #943-949. - Batman Vol. 3: I Am Bane
Collects Batman #16-20, #23-24, and stories from Batman Annual #1.
This is when Batman Beyond started. This is the series based on the animated series of the same name about a future Batman.
Batman/The Flash: The Button Deluxe Edition
Collects Batman #21-22 and The Flash #21-22. This is part of the Watchmen Extended Universe.
- All Star Batman Vol. 2: Ends of the Earth
Collects All Star Batman #6-9. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 3: League of Shadows
Collects Detective Comics #950-956. - Batman Vol. 4: The War of Jokes and Riddles
Collects Batman #25-32. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 4: Deus Ex Machina
Collects Detective Comics #957-962.
This is when the new Batwoman solo series started, following the adventures of Kate Kane.
- All-Star Batman Vol. 3: First Ally
Collects All-Star Batman #10-14. - Batman Vol. 5: Rules of Engagement
Collects Batman #33-37 and a tale from Batman Annual #2. - Batman & the Signal
Collects Batman and The Signal #1-3 as well as “The Cursed Wheel” from All-Star Batman #1-4 and #6-9. - Dark Days: The Road to Metal
Collects Final Crisis #6-7, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1, Batman #38-39, Nightwing #17, and more!
This is when the ultra popular Super Sons series. It’s a team-up of Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, the children of the two main DC Comics heroes.
- Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: A Lonely Place of Living
Collects Detective Comics #963-968 and Detective Comics Annual #1.
Dark 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.
- Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar?
Collects Batman #38-44. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 6: Fall of the Batmen
Collects issues #969-974 and Annual #1. - Batman: Preludes to the Wedding
Collects Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Robin vs. Ra’s al Ghul, Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Nightwing vs. Hush, Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Batgirl vs. Riddler, Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Red Hood vs. Anarky, Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Harley Quinn vs. The Joker, DC Nation #0 and #2. - Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding
Collects stories from Batman #45-50 and DC Nation #0. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 7: Batmen Eternal
Collects Detective Comics #975-981. The end of James Tynion’s run.
This is when the Catwoman solo series started. The new solo adventures of DC Comics’ cat burglar.
- Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days
Collects Batman #51-57. - Batman vs. Deathstroke
Collects Deathstroke #30-35. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 8: On the Outside
Collects Detective Comics #982-986. Written by Bryan Hill, this story sets up the new Batman and the Outsiders series. - Batman Vol. 9: The Tyrant Wing
Collects Batman #58-60, Batman Annual #3, and Batman Secret Files #1. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 9: Deface the Face
Collects Detective Comics #988-993. - Batman Vol. 10: Knightmares
Collects Batman #61-63 and 66-69.
Coming from Batman writer Tom King, the storyline of Heroes in Crisis introduced us to a new kind of crisis in the DC Universe. Sanctuary is an ultra-secret hospital for superheroes who’ve been traumatized by crime-fighting and cosmic combat. But something goes inexplicably wrong when many patients wind up dead.
- Heroes in Crisis: The Price and Other Stories
Collects Batman #64-65, The Flash #64-65, The Flash Annual #2, and Green Arrow #45 and 48-50.
Batman: 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!
- Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Mythology
Collects Detective Comics #994-999. Peter J. Tomasi is now the main writer of the series.
The 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.
- Batman Vol. 11: The Fall and the Fallen
Collects Batman #70-74 and Batman Secret Files #2. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: Arkham Knight
Collects Detective Comics #1001-1005 and a story from Detective Comics #1000.
- Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1: Lesser Gods
Collects Batman and the Outsiders #1-7.
Event Leviathan is a crossover event (by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev) that follows a team of the best DC Comics’ detectives who investigate the infiltration and apparent destruction of various intelligence agencies by the group known as Leviathan.
- Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 3: Greetings From Gotham
Collects Detective Comics #1006-1011. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 4: Cold Vengeance
Collects Detective Comics #1012-1019 - Batman Vol. 12: City of Bane Part 1
Collects Batman #75-79. - Batman Vol. 13: City of Bane Part 2
Collects Batman #80-85 and Batman Annual #4.
This storyline is now available in Batman: City of Bane: The Complete Collection (collecting #75-85). This is the END of Tom King’s run on the main Batman series.
- Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2: A League of Their Own
Collects Batman & the Outsiders #8-12. - Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3: The Demon’s Fire
Collects Batman and the Outsiders #13-17. - Justice League Vol. 5: The Doom War
Collects Justice League #26-39. - Batman/Superman Vol. 1: Who are the Secret Six?
Collects Batman/Superman #1-6. - Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen
Collects Year of the Villain Special #1 and Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1-4.
This is the beginning of James Tynion’s run on the main Batman series, picking up after Tom King left prematurely the book. We have a Bat-Guide dedicated to it, if you are searching for more context.
- Batman Vol. 1: Their Dark Designs
Collects Batman #85-94 and Batman Secret Files #3.
Batman: 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: The Joker War Saga
Collects Batman #95-100 (also in Batman Vol. 2: The Joker War), Batgirl #47, Detective Comics #1025, Red Hood: Outlaw #48, Nightwing #74, The Joker War Zone #1, plus stories from Harley Quinn #75 and Catwoman #25. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: The Joker War
Collects Detective Comics #1020-1026, Detective Comics Annual #3, Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P., and a special Joker War tale from Detective Comics #1027.
- Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories
Collects Batman #101-105, a story from Detective Comics #1027, and Batman Annual #5. - Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 6: Road to Ruin
Collects Detective Comics #1028-1033.
Dark 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 limit of the DC regular ongoing series. The following books are stories published during the Rebirth era that are not considered part of the main continuity.
- Batman: White Knight (A Murphyverse story)
Collects Batman: White Knight #1-8 - Batman: Dark Knight III – The Master Race (by Frank Miller)
Collects the full nine-issue miniseries and its mini-comic tie-in issues. - Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (Crossover series with the TMNT)
Collects Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1–6 - Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Collects Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1–6 - Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses
Collects Batman Annual #1 and Batman/The Shadow #1-6. - Batman: Creature of the Night (by Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon)
Collects Batman: Creature of the Night #1-4. - Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams (by Sam Kieth )
Collects Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams #1-5. - Batman: Sins of the Father (based on Batman: The Telltale Series)
Collects Batman: Sins of the Father #1-6. - Batman: Damned (by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo)
Collects Batman: Damned #1-3.
After Batman Rebirth
This is the end of another era. Now, it’s time for Infinite Frontier. But between the two, there is Future State, a short publishing initiative that offers hints about what’s to come in the DC Universe.
If you want to explore a lot more of Batman’s adventures, we got you covered, just follow the guides:
- Batman Reading Order, The Modern Age (Post-Crisis)
- If you only want Grant Morrison’s Batman, it’s here.
- Batman New 52 Reading Order, from The Court of Owls to the end of the DC You
- If you only want Scott Snyder’s Batman, it’s here.
- Batman Rebirth Reading Order, From the Monster Men to Batman’s Wedding, City of Bane, The Joker War, and more.
- Batman Infinite Frontier Reading Order
We also wrote reading orders for Nightwing, Jason Todd/Red Hood, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain/Batgirl, Damian Wayne, Azrael, and Catwoman. More to come.
when i are you going to update
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?
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?