But longevity alone isn’t the only measure of greatness. Over the past six years, Batman has been reimagined and revitalized in ways that have produced some of his most compelling stories yet. Here are 10 of the best Batman stories since 2020.
10
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo (2022–2023)
Creator(s): Marc Silvestri
It would be remiss not to include Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo on this list, given that the series completely upends DC’s typical status quo between the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime. Instead of fighting each other, the two team up.
This unlikely alliance begins when Harley Quinn and Commissioner Jim Gordon go missing, prompting Joker to approach Batman and propose an uneasy partnership. The resulting team-up shakes Gotham City and the Bat-Family like never before. Batman has had dozens of team-ups in the past, but this may be the most iconic.
9
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham (2023–2026)
Creator(s): Rafael Grampá
Despite facing numerous unprecedented delays, Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham has so far been one of the best additions to the Dark Knight’s legacy, thanks to the legendary Rafael Grampá. One of the standout elements of the series is its introduction of an all-new rogues’ gallery of utterly depraved villains. With the conclusion of this Black Label series set for May 20, 2026, we’re predicting it will become one of Batman’s most legendary stories.
“When you chase your own shadow…it leads you into the abyss.” In a Gotham City where every day feels darker and more irredeemable than the last, Batman makes a definitive choice—to kill off the Bruce Wayne identity for good and embrace the cowl full-time. But though he knows the streets of Gotham, Batman will soon come to find that he hardly knows himself.
8
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age (2024)
Creator(s): Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernández
If you’re a die-hard Batman fan, then you’ve probably read Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola’s Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (1989), the Elseworlds tale that reimagines the Dark Knight in the 19th century. As one of Batman’s most critically acclaimed stories, it finally returned with Andy Diggle’s Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age (2024).
This serves as the official sequel to Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, despite arriving 35 years later. Just like the original, this new entry lives up to its legacy, expanding the universe beyond the confines of Gotham City and introducing 19th-century takes on other iconic DC characters.
7
Batman: Dark Patterns (2024–2025)
Creator(s): Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman
Dan Watters (Nightwing) and Hayden Sherman (Absolute Wonder Woman) take readers back to the early years of the Dark Knight’s career, with the series focusing on Batman’s defining trait: his unparalleled detective skills. If you want a Batman story that takes the Dark Knight back to his roots with phenomenal execution, you need look no further.
Batman: Dark Patterns delves into four mysterious cases as he attempts to cement his place as Gotham City’s protector while the city itself fights back against him. This is the Dark Knight Detective at his most stripped-down core, a man relying on his wits, his skills, and little else as he tackles some of the most twisted mysteries Gotham City and its protector have ever encountered.
Batman: Dark Patterns #1 Is Exactly What the Franchise Needs (Review)
Batman: Dark Patterns, a new miniseries by Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman, perfectly embraces the true horror of both Batman and Gotham City.
6
Bat-Man: The First Knight (2024–2025)
Creator(s): Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins
Bat-Man: The First Knight takes readers back to 1939, delivering a classic Batman story that pays tribute to the hero’s origins while meeting modern-day standards of comic storytelling and art. It’s perfect for those who want to experience the Dark Knight in his purest form, focusing on the very core of the character.
In this series, Gotham is rocked by a string of brutal murders. At the same time, the mysterious vigilante known as the Bat-Man becomes entangled in the case when the killers are revealed to be men already executed in the electric chair, forcing him to confront a terrifying mystery that nearly costs him his life.
5
Batman / Dylan Dog (2024)
Creator(s): Roberto Recchioni, Gigi Cavenago, Werther Dell’Edera
Batman / Dylan Dog is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. While those unfamiliar with Dylan Dog may hesitate to read this series, we urge you to get past this minor hang-up, as the story quickly catches you up on everything you need to know and will likely become one of your favorite Dark Knight stories of all time.
Roberto Recchioni’s writing is some of the best the Dark Knight has had in decades, with art by Gigi Cavenago and Werther Dell’Edera that goes beyond comic book standards to create something nothing short of masterful and darkly beautiful. The series sees Batman and Dylan Dog join forces as they face off against their most iconic villains, the Joker and the Mephistophelian Xabaras, making for an unforgettable chapter in Batman’s legacy.
4
Batman: The Imposter (2021)
Creator(s): Mattson Tomlin, Andrea Sorrentino
If you’re a fan of Judd Winick’s Batman: Under the Red Hood, then you’re guaranteed to love Mattson Tomlin and Andrea Sorrentino’s Batman: The Imposter. Below, you can find the official synopsis for the series, which in many ways gives heavy Red Hood vibes, but trust us, this story is unlike any Batman story you’ve ever read.
Bruce Wayne’s mission as the Batman has only been underway for a year or so, but he can tell he’s making a difference. Unfortunately, he’s made some powerful enemies. All the traditional power brokers of Gotham resent the disruption the Batman has brought to town… and it seems one of them has a plan to neutralize him.
There’s a second Batman haunting Gotham’s rooftops and alleys — and this one has no qualms about murdering criminals, live and on tape. With the entire might of the Gotham City Police Department and Gotham’s rich and powerful coming down on his head, Batman must find this imposter and somehow clear his name… but how can you prove your innocence from behind a mask?
3
Batman (2025–Present)
Creator(s): Matt Fraction, Jorge Jiménez
Together, writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez are spearheading DC’s modern-day take on the Dark Knight, bringing him into the present and making him more relatable than ever. This is perhaps the best main Batman title in years, offering fans a fresh jumping-on point that doesn’t require any prior reading to enjoy the series.
With only seven issues released so far, it’s a true testament to Fraction and Jiménez’s skill. The series pays respect to everything fans love about Batman while also ushering in the new, completely revitalizing the character with a new Batmobile, love interest, gadgets, villains, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this chapter in the Dark Knight’s legacy.
2
DC K.O. Knightfight (2025–2026)
Creator(s): Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora
DC K.O. Knightfight is one of the most fun and epic Batman stories of the last six years. Serving as a tie-in to DC’s latest crisis event, DC K.O., Knightfight sees Bruce forced down a different path in the tournament for the Heart of Apokolips, one that transforms Gotham into a deadly arena where Batman must battle the Batmen of the future.
And who are these future Batmen, you may ask? None other than Batman’s former Robins. Across four different alternate universes, Bruce faces off against Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne, each of whom has become the Batman of their respective world. Warning: this series will give you a major reading hangover when you finish it (it’s that good).
1
Absolute Batman (2024–Present)
Creator(s): Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta
Absolute Batman takes the top spot on this list for revitalizing the Dark Knight in an unprecedented way. Dominating the best-selling comic charts and claiming the title of 2024’s best-selling comic with Absolute Batman #1, the series is leading DC’s new golden era, reimagining its most iconic characters within the Darkseid-forged Absolute Universe.
This version of Batman is completely unique, stripped of every advantage his main universe counterpart has, most notably his vast wealth. The series also reinvents the Dark Knight’s most iconic villains, pushing the theme of body horror to extreme, yet epic new heights. The best part? You don’t need any prior knowledge of Batman to jump right into this series.