You may be a seasoned Detective Comics and Batman reader, but have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight and read from the vast collection of Batman anthology stories? Forgive my opening, but the point still stands. Batman, in true DC tradition, has a stellar library of anthology stories by some of the greatest creators in the American comic book industry. Just about everyone wants to write a Batman story at some point, and anthology stories are the perfect way for talent to spin their own tale for the Dark Knight without having to commit to a limited or ongoing series.

To be completely honest, it was tough narrowing down the many excellent Batman anthology stories to just five. The stories I chose are from three different Batman anthology titles, are of varying lengths and will hopefully pique your interest in exploring these series further. That’s the beauty of anthology comics—you can hop in and out of different series without having to worry about continuity and canon. So, in celebration of Batman Month on DC.com, here are my personal choices for the five best Batman anthology stories from across the years.
 

“Gothic”

Found In: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #6-10

Creative Team: Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson

The original Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight anthology series, which began all the way back in 1989, is hallowed ground. It marks the first time that all-star writer Grant Morrison wrote a serialized Batman story for DC, following their arresting and instantly iconic graphic novel with Dave McKean, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. “Gothic” continues Morrison’s deconstruction of the gothic within Batman’s story.

Its premise isn’t dissimilar to other Batman stories—criminals in Gotham City are getting killed off by a mysterious figure—but the story sends the Dark Knight to Europe where he must unpack an incident that happened to him at boarding school years earlier. It’s an illuminating look at Bruce Wayne’s life in the aftermath of his parents’ deaths. Janson’s artwork gives an operatic feel to the story, and cements this as a gem.
 

“Venom”

Found In: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #16-20

Creative Team: Dennis O’Neil, Russell Braun, Trevor Von Eeden and José Luis García-López

As the juice that powers Bane’s enhanced strength, Venom is now a commonplace element in Batman lore, but it was originally introduced in this shocking story written by the extraordinary Denny O’Neil. Along with artist Neal Adams, O’Neil is credited with bringing Batman back to his gothic roots in the 1970s. By the time “Venom” was released in 1991, O’Neil had spent years writing the character, and arguably no one knew Batman better at the time than him.

“Venom” deals with addiction, persistence and Batman’s personal sense of failure. After the Dark Knight fails to free a young girl trapped by a boulder underwater, he decides to try a supplement made by a scientist that enhances his physical strength. The results are too good to pass up initially, but the effect of the pills turns Batman into something meaner and less compassionate. Russell Braun, Trevor Von Eeden and José Luis García-López all capture this dramatic transformation for Batman with an animalistic sense that’s disturbing to look at. O’Neil’s script puts Batman through the wringer, but it ultimately makes him stronger emotionally at the end. If you want a cathartic Batman story, “Venom” is your pick.
 

“A Great Day for Everyone”

Found In: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #100

Creative Team: James Robinson and Lee Weeks

Batman: A Death in the Family was a devastating moment for Robin fans everywhere. Jason Todd’s murder at the hands of the Joker is still one of the most shocking events in Batman’s history, despite Jason’s eventually resurrection years later. “A Great Day for Everyone” by James Robinson and the legendary Lee Weeks is the story of both Jason’s first day as Robin and Batman’s inner monologue as he races to rescue Jason in A Death in the Family.

“A Great Day for Everyone” is absolutely heartbreaking because we see Batman begin to psychologically compartmentalize Jason’s death, so he doesn’t lose himself in parental grief. Under Robinson’s pen, Batman’s thoughts reveal a vulnerable side to the character we don’t see very often. It hurts to read because of how happy Jason was as Robin and how Batman prevents himself from feeling his own emotions. Weeks’ artwork is absolutely stunning, with gorgeous colors that contrast the dangerous world that Batman inhabits with the safely pedestrian world that Jason previously lived in. Regardless of whether or not you consider yourself a Jason Todd fan, “A Great Day for Everyone” is a must-read.
 

“Hounded”

Found In: Batman: Urban Legends #11-16

Creative Team: Mark Russell, Karl Mostert, Trish Mulvihill and Steve Wands

If you’ve ever read We3 and cried, “Hounded” is here to devastate you all over again. It stars Ace the Bat-Hound and tells the story of how Batman first took him in as a traumatized dog rescued from the Joker’s lair, alongside a look at a rescue mission that Ace must mount with the help of other animals. Ace doesn’t exactly have an inner monologue that Mark Russell can put into words, but Russell and artist Karl Mostert don’t need words to get you invested in the journey that these animals take.

“Hounded” spotlights how much care Batman has for Ace, while giving us a sense of the Bathound’s personality. If you’re at all sensitive like me, there’s a fair amount of violence to both humans and animals in this story. But like some of the other stories here, “Hounded” is ultimately a healing story, highlighting how central compassion is to the Batman mythos. Just remember to give your pets a good hug afterwards.
 

“A Kingdom of Thorns”

Found In: Batman: Black and White #3

Creative Team: Bilquis Evely

Part of the fun of Batman anthology stories is that creators are free to explore new elaborate settings for the Dark Knight. I also think I could stare at Bilquis Evely’s artwork for the rest of my life and die pretty happy. The artist behind Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow writes and draws her own Batman story in Batman: Black and White #3, from the latest edition of the iconic Batman anthology series. However, unlike the other stories on this list, Evely’s is set in a medieval fantasy world, offering an alternate look at Bruce Wayne and Poison Ivy. I’m a huge fan of Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri’s Dark Knights of Steel because I can’t resist a good combination of Batman and medieval fantasy. If you’re also of this mindset, then you’ll get a kick out of Evely’s story.

Poison Ivy’s central fight is against humanity’s greed and Evely illustrates how this problem translates easily to a historical setting. While the narrative here is contained only to this story, Evely has returned to this Elseworlds-like setting and its themes of vengeance in other anthologies. Frankly, I could read an entire series set within it, as long as she provided the art. Evely’s lush illustrations make the angles of medieval garb and armor pop on the page, and I can’t get enough.
 

Join Batman fans the world over on September 21st for Batman Day—a yearly celebration of the Dark Knight. Need some help getting into the spirit? Visit our official hub page for the latest Batman news, features, comics and more!

Jules Chin Greene writes about comics, TV, games and film for DC.com, and his work can also be found at Nerdist, Popverse and Multiverse of Color. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @JulesChinGreene.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Jules Chin Greene and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.