5 Batman comics you need to read after watching The Batman

The latest film featuring the Caped Crusader, The Batman, has now been released around the world, much to the praise of comic fans and general audiences alike.

So after seeing The Batman (which this writer thinks is absolutely phenomenal), you might be wondering where to start out reading Batman comics. Or, you might have read some Batman comics in the past, but are looking for some others to also check out.

So, with that idea in mind, this list will hopefully have some stories that you haven’t checked out before so that everyone reading this can have at least one new story featuring the Dark Knight to check out.

Batman comics to read after The Batman

Batman: The Imposter

Written by Mattson Tomlin, Art by Andrea Sorrentino, Colors by Jordie Bellaire

After coming onto the scene in Gotham, what would happen if Batman inspired a copycat? A deadly copycat. That’s the entire premise of The Imposter and it’s an absolutely fantastic story that is also the most recent entry on this list. Every page of this book is enthralling and will consistently make you want to simply stare at the page in awe rather than turn to the next.

This is a version of Batman that is entirely reminiscent of the one that Robert Pattinson plays in The Batman and it’s all the better for it. It’s not a movie tie-in comic at all (and even if it was, it’d be the best movie tie-in ever), but it evokes the same feeling and tone that is on display during The Batman.

And as interesting as the story and characterizations are, the art is the true star of this story. Andrea Sorrentino is one of the best artists in the comic book industry and his art in this is some of the best Batman art ever. It’s surreal and realistic at the same time which is something that shouldn’t work and yet, there’s no other way that this story could be told.

Batman (New 52)

Written by Scott Snyder, Art by Greg Capullo & Various, Colors by FCO Plascencia & various

Arguably, this is the run that is going to hold the most influence on Matt Reeves’ and Robert Pattinson’s Batman trilogy. It very much had an influence on The Riddler and the third act of The Batman, and Pattinson sounds eager to do Court of Owls in the future. Not only that though, the New 52 series of Batman is great throughout its entire run, which is something to be said for a series that is over 50 issues.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo created something special right from the beginning with the creation of the Court of Owls to back to Batman’s origins with Zero Year and all the way to the end of the series with the monstrous Mr. Bloom. Story and villain-wise, this is pretty obviously the run that influenced The Batman and will more than likely influence its sequels so, if for nothing else, you should check out this great run just for that.

Batman: Ego

Written, Drawn, and Colored by Darwyn Cooke

This is the comic used by Reeves and Pattinson to truly get into the mindset of Batman. If you ever wanted to know and understand as to why the “No Kill” rule that exists in most Batman fiction, including The Batman, is so important, this is absolutely the comic to read. Plus, it’s basically only available in the collection “Batman: Ego & Other Tails” which includes Selina’s Big Score which is a great Catwoman story.

Ego is a story that is focused basically only on Batman’s psyche and what it truly means to be Batman. He’s a Dark Knight. He’s vengeance. But he’s also a hero and this story demonstrates that incredibly well as Batman must grapple with his own desire to be judge, jury, and executioner. It’s a moving story that allows us to venture into the darkest depths of Batman’s mind and understand him on a level that no other comic manages to do. It’s bizarre and surreal at times and that works in the story’s favor, making for an engrossing dive in the mind of a broken man.

Batman (Rebirth)

Written by Tom King, Art by Various

Probably the most unique main canon Batman story in this list, this is not necessarily a superhero story. It’s a Shakespearean romance between Batman and Catwoman, which is something that hasn’t really been done in the medium of comics beforehand. Romance has always been in the DNA of comics, but it has never really been the sole focus for its two main characters like it is in this run.

It has its crazy plot twists, stories, and character moments, but at its core, it’s about the tumultuous romance that Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle have shared since the first issue that they appeared in together.

This is a run truly like no other in the way that it understands the core brokenness of both Batman and Catwoman. They are two humans who shouldn’t belong together, even as friends, let alone be in love with each other. And yet, this run makes you believe that the Bat and the Cat belong together.

Batman: Creature of the Night

Written by Kurt Busiek, Art and Colors by John Paul Leon

The most supernatural entry on this list, Creature of the Night is an incredibly interesting take on the mystique of Batman. This is not the Bruce Wayne that you know, nor is it set in Gotham. No, this story is about Bruce Wainwright, a young Batman fan, who sees his parents murdered in front of him during a home invasion. As he matures, this ghostly figure representing Batman begins to act as a protector over the young man, and yet, he doesn’t understand where this beast came from.

Nothing about this story is anything that you’d expect it to be when you first pick it up and much of that is due to the late, great John Paul Leon. Nothing about this book would come together as well as it does without his exceptional art propelling the story forward. It’s haunting, emotional, and purely Batman in a way that you don’t expect. Everything about this book is phenomenal, but the art is what is truly astounding.

What comic books are you going to read after The Batman? Did you enjoy the movie? Let us know in the comments below!