Summary
Batman is an internationally recognized character with the duality of billionaire Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, Batman, first appearing inDetective Comics #27in 1939. Seven decades later, and Batman is still one of the most popular superheroes of all-time, with a vast number of adaptations in TV, movies, and gaming. The character has become one of the most iconic to come from DC Comics, and hisrogues' gallery has gone on to match with legendary villainslike the Joker, Two Face, and Ra’s Al-Ghul. Throughout this time, fans of Batman comics have been graced with some amazing storytelling and different art styles from comics involving the world’s greatest detective.
In 2025, there aremultiple variations of the legendary hero within the comicswith different comic runs to explore, from Batman and Robin to Batman/Superman: World’s Finest. With the abundance of different comics over the years, there are undoubtedly many different jumping-on points for new readers looking to get started on reading Batman comics. But what are the best Batman comics for beginners in 2025?
7Batman And Robin
The First Issue Of The Currently Ongoing Batman And Robin Run
For beginners looking to get involved in an ongoing Batman comic,Batman and Robinis an ongoing seriesfeaturing the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonderwritten by Josh Williamson. The run comes as part of the Dawn of DC event, following the events ofKnight Terrors, with Batman and Robin back together, ready to protect Gotham.
This is a strong place for beginners as the dynamic duoare back together and are set to tackle new adventures and existing villains that are ready to tear apart Gotham City. With the series still ongoing, this is one of the best places for beginners to start their journey in Batman Comics, as it will keep them up to date on the current adventures of the Caped Crusader.
6Batman: Year One
The Story That Chronicles Batman’s Beginning Under The Cowl
For beginners looking to explore Bruce Wayne’s origins,Batman: Year Oneis a superb place to start. The series, written by Frank Miller,chronicles Batman’s first year as Gotham’s protector, leading up to his first meeting and team-up with Jim Gordon.
Batman: Year Onedoes an excellent job of introducing readersto not only Batman and his backstory, but also different villains, such as Carmine Falcone, while the climax teases the appearance of the Joker. If beginners are looking to get into Batman comics,Batman: Year Oneis one of the absolute best starts.
5Batman And Robin: Year One
Telling The Story Of The Early Adventures Of Batman And Robin
For beginners looking to dive into another storythat is still ongoing in 2025, look no further thanBatman and Robin: Year One. Detailing the early adventures of the Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder, beginning shortly after the death of Dick Grayson’s parents,Batman and Robin: Year Onegives a perfect introduction to the crime fighting duo.
Introducing the General as a new villainto enter Gotham and providing a great introduction to Two Face for beginners, this comic blends incredible visuals and excellent writing. For new readers looking for a place to start,Batman and Robin: Year Oneis an excellent run to start with and catch up on before its final release.
4Batman: The Knight
Detailing The Origin Of The Dark Knight
Batman’s origins have been told multiple times, but the weight and magnitude ofBatman: The Knightmake this modern retelling an absolutely incredible ten issue run. The story begins with Bruce Wayne undergoing therapy with Dr. Hugo Strange, and it details hisfirst meetings with the Al-Ghul family in a brutal story.
For beginners looking to explore the originsof how Bruce Wayne became Batman,Batman: The Knighthits all the major story beats of his origins in just ten issues. This makesBatman: The Knightone of the best stories for beginners.
3Detective Comics #1062
The Ongoing Series Begins With Batman Starting To Show His Age
Another ongoing series for beginners to dive into,Detective Comicsstarted an incredible run in 2016 with writer Ram V. showing off an older, more grizzled Batman who is beginning to slow down. The early stories show Batman grappling with hisown mortality and the existence of Gotham without him.
The art style is exceptional, and the internal monologue of Batman provides excellent character moments throughout the run. As a starting point for beginners, being introduced to a Batman that is slowing down and still trying to stop the criminals of Gotham shows new readers the key qualities of both Bruce Wayne and Batman — making Ram V.’s run a great starting point for the wider Detective Comics series.
2Batman: The Killing Joke
The Origin Story Of The Joker
The Joker is one of the most iconic villains in comic book history, andBatman: The Killing Jokedives into the backstory of The Joker. Over the course of Alan Moore’s story, readers see howthe Joker came to be following a failed robberythat was thwarted by Batman, and they witness his vicious attack on Barbara Gordon that led her to becoming Oracle.
This one-shot graphic novel does a superb jobof adding extra depth to The Joker and Batman, showing them as parallels to each other: Batman developing a sense of justice after his parents' death, and The Joker embracing chaos and crime after the chemical accident that bleached his skin. For beginners looking to dive into a character study of both Batman and the Clown Prince of Crime,Batman: The Killing Jokeis an excellent comic to start with.
1Batman/Superman: World’s Finest
Exploring How Batman Fits Into The Wider DC Universe
Batman/Superman: World’s Finestbrings togethertwo of DC’s most iconic heroes in Batman and Superman, as they work together to defeat threats that will destroy the world. Beginning with Superman being poisoned by Metallo, the story takes many twists and turns across its 35 issue run — with more still to come.
The reason for beginners to get involved in this story is that it shows how well respected Batman is within the DC Universe, and it shows how he interacts with other heroes and villains that are more powerful than him. With the story still ongoing,this is a perfect series for beginners looking to start readingBatman Comics.
