Batman

The World of DC always finds a way to expand and craft new and/or stand-alone stories, mostly outside the current DC Continuity, in the specific case of DC Black Label. Presented at first as an imprint for adults featuring alternate versions of familiar DC Comics characters, DC Black Label was founded in 2018, with Batman: Damned, the first title of the imprint. The limited series made more of a splash for a scene with full frontal nudity than for the story.

Before the official end of Vertigo Comics, DC Black Label had clearly been developed to take the place of the famous imprint under which classic titles like Hellblazer, Fables, Preacher, The Sandman, and more have been published. However, Vertigo declined in the 2010s and was officially discontinued in 2020. New and old titles published under the now-defunct imprint were now published as part of DC Black Label. Things became more confusing recently with the revival Vertigo imprint, with the original Black Label title Nice House By The Sea repositioned as a Vertigo title… but still collected under Black Label (?!).

In all cases, you’ll find under the Black Label imprint many Batman stories, as well as several stories with Harley Quinn and the Joker, but also some new takes on Superman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, and more…

Read More »DC Black Label Comics, The Complete Reading List

In the middle of James Tynion IV’s run on Batman comics, the DC Comics Universe was once more softly relaunched. Following the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, Generations, and Future State, the DC Multiverse has in fact expanded into a larger Omniverse (and everything became canon). This was how the Infinite Frontier era was introduced—and launched in March 2021. It concluded with the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, in December 2022.

It was less than two years, but a lot has happened in Batman’s life with events like Fear State and Shadow War, and a new costume at one point. As usual, the Dark Knight’s adventures were published in Batman and Detective Comics, but also in the comic book anthology Batman: Urban Legends, the team books Batman/Superman and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, and more!

There’s also a new Batman Incorporated comics and a new and different Batman in I Am Batman. Jace Fox is first introduced as the new Batman during Future State but soon gets his own series, written by John Ridley, and a lot of miniseries, most of which are out-of-continuity.

Of course, this is mainly about Batman, but the BatFamily is also featured. Nevertheless, their books are not necessarily included. Though, you can find them on their dedicated pages: Nightwing, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Batwoman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Terry McGinnis (The Batman Beyond).

What to Read Before Batman Infinite Frontier?

As this new era started during James Tynion IV’s Batman comics run, it is recommended to be up-to-date with his work.

• Batman Vol. 1: Their Dark Designs
  Collects stories from Batman (vol. 3) #85-94 and Batman Secret Files #3
• The Joker War Saga
  Collects Batman (vol. 3) #95–100; Batgirl (vol. 5) #47; Detective Comics #1025; Red Hood: Outlaw #48; Nightwing (vol. 4) #74; The Joker War Zone #1; material from Harley Quinn (vol. 3) #75 and Catwoman (vol. 5) #25
• Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories
  Collects Batman (vol. 3) #101–105, Annual (vol. 3) #5; Detective Comics #1027

Following Dark Nights: Death Metal, the DC Comics Universe went to the future with Future State. It may be skipped, but it is better to be familiar with some elements of this story to fully apprehend what is at stake, especially during the Fear State event. You can learn more about Future State in the dedicated reading order.

• Future State: Dark Detective
  Collects Future State: Dark Detective #1-4 (main story), Future State: Catwoman #1-2, Future State: Harley Quinn #1-2, Future State: Robin Eternal #1-2, Future State: Batman/Superman #1-2.
• Future State: The Next Batman
  Collects Future State: The Next Batman #1-4, Future State: Nightwing #1-2, Future State: Dark Detective #1 & 3 (select stories), and backup stories.

Read More »Batman Infinite Frontier Reading Order

Launched in 2017 with the book Batman: White Knight, The Murphyverse is a universe created by Sean Gordon Murphy (Punk Rock Jesus, The Wake) and published under the DC Black Label imprint.

As the imprint suggests, this is not a series set within the DC continuity—it could be considered an Elseworlds series. The first book introduced us to a world where the Joker is cured of his insanity and homicidal tendencies. Now a politician under his real name of Jack Napier, The Joker sets about trying to right his wrongs. First, he plans to reconcile with Harley Quinn, and then he’ll try to save the city from the one person he thinks is truly Gotham City’s greatest villain: Batman!

The success of Batman: White Knight was massive, and the trade paperback quickly became a best-seller (it has since been republished in multiple formats). A sequel was commissioned, Batman: Curse of the White Knight.

This second limited series confirmed the popularity of this alternate version of Batman. This prompted DC Comics to give Sean Murphy his own line of books to be published under its Black Label imprint. The Murphyverse was born.

Read More »Batman White Knight Reading Order, exploring the Murphyverse

Not unlike The Batman Who Laughs, Hush is a DC Comics supervillain, and more precisely, an adversary of Batmanto created during the Modern Age (aka the Post-Crisis era). Recognized for his distinctive visual design and lethality, Hush has become one of the more memorable additions to Batman’s rogues’ gallery in the 21st century.

The character was created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee, making his debut in Batman #609 (2003), the opening chapter of the 12-part story arc Batman: Hush. In this storyline, we learn that Hush is Dr. Thomas “Tommy” Elliot, a brilliant surgeon and childhood friend of Bruce Wayne. Elliot orchestrates an elaborate campaign against Batman, manipulating several of Gotham’s most notorious villains while concealing his own identity beneath his trademark bandaged visage.

Following the conclusion of the Hush storyline, the character reappeared in multiple Batman titles and related media, cementing his status as a recurring foe. However, with the launch of DC Comics’ New 52 initiative in 2011, which rebooted much of the company’s continuity, Hush’s presence temporarily diminished. He was later reintroduced in the weekly series Batman Eternal (2014–2015), where aspects of his backstory and motivations were reinterpreted. During the DC Rebirth (2016), elements of pre-New 52 continuity were reintroduced, and new developments followed. Hush returned once more, clashing not only with Batman but also with members of the extended Bat-Family.

Outside the mainline comics, Hush has appeared in various adaptations, including the animated film Batman: Hush (2019), video games, and merchandise, further solidifying his cultural impact.

Read More »Batman: Hush Reading Order