Best Batman Comics Last 5 Years

[Vakanai]

Trying to find some really good recent standalone storylines - doesn't matter to me if it's in or out of continuity, just so long as I can just jump in and go. I've already read most of the classics like Year One, The Man Who Laughs, Dark Moon Rising duology, to more recents like Zero Year and The White Knight. But I've read nothing from the past few years, nothing pre-covid. I have preordered the first volume of Absolute Batman off Amazon, I don't know if it's any good or not, but I read the synopsis and checked out some of the art as well as a couple articles about it, seems like something I'd be interested in. So yeah, what recent comic books would you suggest?

Edit: Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask for recommendations, but I didn't see anywhere else to ask.

Double Edit: I'm also doing my own research, and a few titles are jumping out at me. Let me know if they're worth getting or not please.
Robin & Batman
Batman and Robin: Year One
Batman the Brave and the Bold: The Winning Card
Batman: Dark Age
The Bat-Man: First Knight
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham

 

[CrimsonMist]

The Winning Card was absolutely fantastic.

I'd also recommend the Batman/Elmer Fudd one-shot by Tom King and Lee Weeks.

Dark Age was also a lot of fun, though not as good as that creative team's Superman: Space Age.

Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman has also been great. It's a 12 issue maxi series but is currently on issue 5.

I also really loved the Batman/Dylan Dog crossover from last year, I believe. Very pulpy and slightly euro-trash horror. It was very fun.

 

[Babillygunn]

I loved the Failsafe arc by Chip Zdarsky

Robin & Batman is also a real treat. It’s a fun read and it has the 1-2 punch of Jeff Lemire writing and Dustin Nguyen’s watercolors, which is just magical.

I would also recommend Batman/Superman: World’s Finest by Mark Waid.

I’m also a fan of Peter Tomasi’s short run with Detective. It gave us the Arkham Knight storyline, which I found underrated, as well as the great Deadshot storyline, The Brave and the Old.

 

[Babillygunn]

Also, you mention the great standalones. Have you read Night of the Stalker? Strange Apparitions? Birth, Bride, and Son of the Demon?

 

[Vakanai]

The Winning Card was absolutely fantastic.

I'd also recommend the Batman/Elmer Fudd one-shot by Tom King and Lee Weeks.

Dark Age was also a lot of fun, though not as good as that creative team's Superman: Space Age.

Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman has also been great. It's a 12 issue maxi series but is currently on issue 5.

I also really loved the Batman/Dylan Dog crossover from last year, I believe. Very pulpy and slightly euro-trash horror. It was very fun.

Hm, won't lie, saw the previews and reviews for the Superman/Porky Pig one were they drew Porky super realistic into strange uncanny territory and that put me off. The art for Elmer isn't weird like that is it?

I actually go back and forth between buying Batman stories and Superman stories, so was planning to ask for Superman recommendations a few months or so from now anyway - but think I'll put Space Age on my list now, thanks!

Dark Patterns looks really good! Well the design of the villain doesn't look like my thing, but everything else seems perfect, and reviews gives me a Legends of the Dark Knight feeling, and I've loved the stories from that I've read (Gothic and Prey so far - need to check if they've rereleased Shaman again yet - wanted to read it, but last time I checked some years back people wanted way too much for used copies).

Oh, I think I saw that Dylan Dog movie way back in the 00s? Tbh that film is all I know about that character.

I loved the Failsafe arc by Chip Zdarsky

Robin & Batman is also a real treat. It’s a fun read and it has the 1-2 punch of Jeff Lemire writing and Dustin Nguyen’s watercolors, which is just magical.

I would also recommend Batman/Superman: World’s Finest by Mark Waid.

I’m also a fan of Peter Tomasi’s short run with Detective. It gave us the Arkham Knight storyline, which I found underrated, as well as the great Deadshot storyline, The Brave and the Old.

Do I need to know anything going into Failsafe? A quick review says it kind of picks up on some threads of Tower of Babel answering what plan Batman has to take himself out? And brings back the personality of Zurr-En-Arrh from the Morrison run? Haven't read either of those (just never followed JL books, and I know it's an unpopular opinion but the few times I've read Morrison I found his writing/plotting confusing and thus offputting...).

The art is what really's drawn me to considering Robin & Batman, and the reviews seem really good.

I'll have to look his run up, thank you.

Also, you mention the great standalones. Have you read Night of the Stalker? Strange Apparitions? Birth, Bride, and Son of the Demon?

I've never even heard of Night of the Stalker, google says it's an issue from the 70s? The others I have heard of though. To be honest, except for one book collecting some of the 50s-ish campy stories, I haven't read anything Pre-Crisis. I did try to read The Untold Legend of the Batman, felt like it would be a good start for that version of Batman, but couldn't find a collection for cheap at the time.

 

[Babillygunn]

I've never even heard of Night of the Stalker, google says it's an issue from the 70s? The others I have heard of though.

You are in for a treat. I don’t want to talk it up too much, but Night of the Stalker is my absolute favorite Batman story and I think that it is one of, if not the best single issue stories ever written.
It’s very simple. Batman has no dialogue in the whole story. But he is presented almost like a slasher movie villain relentlessly coming for a gang of criminals who have committed a heinous crime that very much riles up Batman’s wrath. It’s largely shown from the criminals’ perspectives and it’s fun to see Batman as a horror figure pursuing, terrorizing, and at times toying with his targets.
It is written by Steve Englehart, who didn’t write a ton of Batman, but what he did write is considered classics, including Strange Apparitions, which is another favorite of mine.

Do I need to know anything going into Failsafe? A quick review says it kind of picks up on some threads of Tower of Babel answering what plan Batman has to take himself out? And brings back the personality of Zurr-En-Arrh from the Morrison run?

No, I don’t think that you do. Its relationship with Tower of Babel is mostly just that you have to know that Batman is paranoid, including of his friends. As far as Zurr-En-Arrh, you just need to know that Zurr is a separate personality that Batman developed for himself as a defense so that he can retreat into his own subconscious when necessary. All you have to know is to have an understanding of what he is and not necessarily have to have read any of Batman RIP

While I’m at it though, I agree that I’m also not a huge JL guy, as I tend to think that it brings out the worst in the individual characters. But I love Mark Waid’s JL run and I absolutely love Tower of Babel. It is a great Batman story. I’d recommend it.

Morrison run? Haven't read either of those (just never followed JL books, and I know it's an unpopular opinion but the few times I've read Morrison I found his writing/plotting confusing and thus offputting...).

I’m 100% with you and we can hold this unpopular opinion together. Outside of All-Star Superman, I’m not a Morrison fan and I hate their Batman. I too find Morrison’s writing confusing and off putting. There are times where it feels like you must’ve missed 3-4 tie in comics because they will make a narrative jump without informing the reader. Morrison has a style that most people love, but I’m with you in that I’m not a fan, even though I recognize its brilliance.

I actually go back and forth between buying Batman stories and Superman stories, so was planning to ask for Superman recommendations a few months or so from now anyway

Now you’re talking! Superman has had some AMAZING writing in the past decade. Much better than Batman. I can recommend a lot there when you’re ready. Because the past decade has been an absolute treat for Superman fans.

 

[Vakanai]

You are in for a treat. I don’t want to talk it up too much, but Night of the Stalker is my absolute favorite Batman story and I think that it is one of, if not the best single issue stories ever written.
It’s very simple. Batman has no dialogue in the whole story. But he is presented almost like a slasher movie villain relentlessly coming for a gang of criminals who have committed a heinous crime that very much riles up Batman’s wrath. It’s largely shown from the criminals’ perspectives and it’s fun to see Batman as a horror figure pursuing, terrorizing, and at times toying with his targets.
It is written by Steve Englehart, who didn’t write a ton of Batman, but what he did write is considered classics, including Strange Apparitions, which is another favorite of mine.

Sounds good - is it collected in any trades or similar?

No, I don’t think that you do. Its relationship with Tower of Babel is mostly just that you have to know that Batman is paranoid, including of his friends. As far as Zurr-En-Arrh, you just need to know that Zurr is a separate personality that Batman developed for himself as a defense so that he can retreat into his own subconscious when necessary. All you have to know is to have an understanding of what he is and not necessarily have to have read any of Batman RIP

Sounds easy enough to get into then. I don't have the time, money, or inclination for ongoings and keeping up with the endless runs, so I need to be picky to stories that don't require having read this or that first (also makes me concerned about getting certain recent runs or whatever where a story might've been forced to participate in some Event encompassing different titles). Thanks.

While I’m at it though, I agree that I’m also not a huge JL guy, as I tend to think that it brings out the worst in the individual characters. But I love Mark Waid’s JL run and I absolutely love Tower of Babel. It is a great Batman story. I’d recommend it.

I'll add it to the wishlist then, but might be low priority (I saw the JL: Doom film which adapted the idea if not the story).

I’m 100% with you and we can hold this unpopular opinion together. Outside of All-Star Superman, I’m not a Morrison fan and I hate their Batman. I too find Morrison’s writing confusing and off putting. There are times where it feels like you must’ve missed 3-4 tie in comics because they will make a narrative jump without informing the reader. Morrison has a style that most people love, but I’m with you in that I’m not a fan, even though I recognize its brilliance.

I never read All Star specifically because I didn't want to risk his writing again. I watched the animated version however and felt that was good. I read Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth, and Superman and the Men of Steel where early 52 Superman fought Brainiac, and then noped out of anything else by him. Brilliant ideas like you said, but the bizarre way of presenting them just ruined it for me. I definitely noticed weird jumps like I was missing something or things felt maybe out of order or I don't know what. If those are representative of his writing then it's clearly not for me.

Now you’re talking! Superman has had some AMAZING writing in the past decade. Much better than Batman. I can recommend a lot there when you’re ready. Because the past decade has been an absolute treat for Superman fans.

So far my favorite Superman stories are Superman Smashes the Klan (this might actually be my favorite comic book of all time - ugh, I hate my copy got ruined when my roof sprung a leak during a storm, need to replace it), Man and Superman, and Birthright. Also read Earth One (volumes...1-2 at least, maybe 3?), Secret Origin (tbh I can't remember a thing about it other than felt like the least interesting origin story), Superman for All Seasons, and American Alien. I...was going through an origin kick at the time.

(Not comic books, but my other favorite Superman stories so far is easily My Adventures with Superman cartoon easily, followed by the Superman: Man of Tomorrow animated movie.)

 

[Babillygunn]

So far my favorite Superman stories are Superman Smashes the Klan (this might actually be my favorite comic book of all time -

You have got great taste! I love that book.

I’d also highly recommend Up in the Sky by Tom King and the Warworld Saga by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. I also love Peter Tomasi’s run on Superman.

As to time and expense, I am a strong apologist for DC Universe Infinite. It is definitely the streaming service that I use the most. For the amount of comics that I read on that service, it is an incredible value.

 

[CrimsonMist]

Hm, won't lie, saw the previews and reviews for the Superman/Porky Pig one were they drew Porky super realistic into strange uncanny territory and that put me off. The art for Elmer isn't weird like that is it?

The artwork in the Elmer Fudd book portray all the Looney Tunes as real people. For example, Bugs Bunny is a buck-toothed hitman. Porky Pig is a stuttering bartender. It's really a send-up of hardboiled noir. DC gave it a second printing almost immediately, and then published a black & white version along with a 3rd printing in color for Batman Day last year. It's getting a deluxe hardcover later this year, and DC collected it in a specific Tom King/Lee Weeks hardcover collection a few years back. Needless to say, it's an absurdly great book. Probably one of the single greatest Batman comics in a long time and perhaps due to the gimmick, has no right to be as great as it is.

Dark Patterns looks really good! Well the design of the villain doesn't look like my thing, but everything else seems perfect, and reviews gives me a Legends of the Dark Knight feeling, and I've loved the stories from that I've read (Gothic and Prey so far - need to check if they've rereleased Shaman again yet - wanted to read it, but last time I checked some years back people wanted way too much for used copies).

Oh, I think I saw that Dylan Dog movie way back in the 00s? Tbh that film is all I know about that character.

Dark Patterns is a 12 issue series divide into 4 smaller story arcs. The first arc about The Wounded Man was recently concluded. The new arc is about Batman trapped in an apartment building quite literally taken over by Scarface. It's pretty great.

I did try to read The Untold Legend of the Batman, felt like it would be a good start for that version of Batman, but couldn't find a collection for cheap at the time.

DC just released a Treasury sized reprint for 15 bucks. You can likely still find it in comics shop. Len Wein at some of his best writing.

As for Superman stories, I second Up In The Sky by Tom King and The War World Saga by Philip Kenny Johnson. But I can't recommend Superman: American Alien enough. Each issue is a chapter in the life before Clark becomes Superman from boyhood to adulthood. While another origin story of sorts, it has more emotional resonance and power than most Superman stories have. There was also a Dark Crisis one shot about Superman also by Tom King showing an alternate timeline where Jon Kent never gets aged up that's a really touching look at Superman as a father.

Then of course, there's the Alan Moore stories: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, For the Man Who Has Everything, and The Jungle Line.

Incidentally, Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber's Jimmy Olsen book from a few years back was hysterical and well worth the read.

 

[Vakanai]

The artwork in the Elmer Fudd book portray all the Looney Tunes as real people. For example, Bugs Bunny is a buck-toothed hitman. Porky Pig is a stuttering bartender. It's really a send-up of hardboiled noir. DC gave it a second printing almost immediately, and then published a black & white version along with a 3rd printing in color for Batman Day last year. It's getting a deluxe hardcover later this year, and DC collected it in a specific Tom King/Lee Weeks hardcover collection a few years back. Needless to say, it's an absurdly great book. Probably one of the single greatest Batman comics in a long time and perhaps due to the gimmick, has no right to be as great as it is.

That sounds good then - still a bit weird, but good and no weird character designs.

Dark Patterns is a 12 issue series divide into 4 smaller story arcs. The first arc about The Wounded Man was recently concluded. The new arc is about Batman trapped in an apartment building quite literally taken over by Scarface. It's pretty great.

Definitely going to grab it once the first trade becomes available (as I explain down below [answering this bottom up] I don't have a local comic book shop, so I have to factor in shipping and handling since everything has to be ordered online - so more financial sense to buy full trades than single issues).

DC just released a Treasury sized reprint for 15 bucks. You can likely still find it in comics shop. Len Wein at some of his best writing.

I'm afraid there's no such thing here - closest thing I've ever had to a local "comics book shop" was Barnes & Noble or Books A Million, and that was back when I still lived in Pensacola. I have to get all my books online, and even though this apparently isn't even half a year old yet I'm having a hard time finding it available anywhere - it's not on Amazon, a quick search looks like it's all sold out on Ebay, and the other first page results using duckduckgo and then google isn't any better. Sucks, really would like to get this finally.

 

[Mani-Man]

Im always super bad with telling time so i never remember how long ago stories were.
When it comes to Batman, there arent that many memorable Standalones,most stuff is inside of Detective Comics and Batman.

But i remember the Detective being great, The Knight, One Bad day had a few good ones, The World was a neat concept.

For the most part however, its Ongoings that really hit high especially in terms of Batman for years now.

 

[Babillygunn]

Then of course, there's the Alan Moore stories: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, For the Man Who Has Everything, and The Jungle Line.

I LOVE For the Man Who has Everything. Such a great story. I can’t recommend it enough.

 

[Vakanai]

Im always super bad with telling time so i never remember how long ago stories were.
When it comes to Batman, there arent that many memorable Standalones,most stuff is inside of Detective Comics and Batman.

But i remember the Detective being great, The Knight, One Bad day had a few good ones, The World was a neat concept.

For the most part however, its Ongoings that really hit high especially in terms of Batman for years now.

Again, due to money and access and such, I can't really just follow ongoings - I can get a few trades every now and then, but nothing that requires me to have read the last however many stories to get everything in this story etc. Like I have parts of runs, such as Zero Year, Court of Owls, The War of Jokes and Riddles, etc. But I don't have full runs.

 

[Mani-Man]

Again, due to money and access and such, I can't really just follow ongoings - I can get a few trades every now and then, but nothing that requires me to have read the last however many stories to get everything in this story etc. Like I have parts of runs, such as Zero Year, Court of Owls, The War of Jokes and Riddles, etc. But I don't have full runs.

It comes down to it.
I think in recent time the only Ongoings that you need to have the full run, are Tom Kings Batman, Ram Vs Detective Comics and Chip Zdarskys Batman.

Normally you dont need to read a Full run, more the case with Detective Comics than Batman.
Like, you can read Scott Synders DOTF and Court of Owls, without needing to have read his other arcs.

When you asked for Standalones, i consider standalones really Solo books and not Stories that are featured in Detective Comics or so...even though 90% of the time you could see them as standalone.

By that standard, i got a lot i like.

Arkham Rising, Cold Vengeance, Faces of Death, The Wrath, Arkham Knight,The Neighborhood, Fear State.