Batman debuted back in 1939. Over the years, there have been many great Batman stories told. Newer readers may wonder which Batman collections should they start off with. Here’s 10 Batman stories you should read.

Batman Year One

(By Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, and Richmond Lewis)

By now, most people know Batman’s origin. We’ve seen that moment from Bruce Wayne’s youth told over and over in many films and Gotham on TV. Batman: Year One shows us the World’s Greatest Detective before he was the skilled hero we’re familiar with. It’s long been regarded as Batman’s definitive origin. Miller’s setup and Mazzucchelli’s art set the perfect tone for this period in Batman’s career.

The Long Halloween

(By Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale, and Gregory Wright)

Here’s another story from the Dark Knight’s early days. A serial killer known as Holiday is on the loose, and it’s up to Batman to discover his identity in order to stop the killings. There’s plenty of guest appearances from Batman’s rogues gallery, and you’ll see what shaped them into their familiar forms. You’ll be impressed at how cool a villain like Calendar Man can be.

The Dark Knight Returns

(By Frank Miller and Lynn Varley)

This is the story that changed the way readers looked at Batman. This gritty story is set 20 years into the future. Batman has been in retirement since his sidekick was killed. He soon gets pulled back in and becomes a more brutal Batman for this new age. This is also where you get to see the ultimate fight between Batman and Superman.

The Killing Joke

(By Alan Moore and Brian Bolland)

Some might argue this is more of a story focusing on Joker, but it does push Batman to his limits. When Joker attacks Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara, the hunt is on. Gordon falls prey to Joker, and Batman is put to the test. It’s a great look at what makes the Joker tick and draws an interesting comparison between the Clown Prince and Batman.

Black Mirror

(By Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla)

New readers may be surprised to find this story doesn’t feature Bruce Wayne as Batman. When Wayne was believed dead, the original Robin, Dick Grayson, took over the mantle. Current Batman writer, Scott Snyder, made his Gotham City debut with this story. The art by Jock and Francesco Francavilla tells separate stories that intertwine to reveal a new threat to Batman and Jim Gordon’s life.

Arkham Asylum

(By Grant Morrison and Dave McKean)

The inmates at Arkham Asylum have taken over. They demand Batman in exchange for the hostages inside. Batman agrees and his own sanity is put through the test as he attempts to retake the asylum.

Hush

(By Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair)

Batman faces a new foe with a connection to his past. This story features many guest appearances from Batman’s allies and enemies with plenty of twists and turns.

Knightfall

(By Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, and more)

Bane makes his debut and puts Batman to the test by freeing all of Arkham’s inmates. This leads to their inevitable confrontation and the breaking of the Bat.

A Death in the Family

(By Jim Starlin, Jim Aparo, Mike Decarlo, and Adrienne Roy)

Jason Todd, the second Robin, runs off in search of his birth mother. This eventually leads him face to face with Joker. In a shocking moment in comic history, readers were originally given the choice to call in to vote on Robin’s fate. You can imagine, based on the title, how it went. The story explores the events leading up to the confrontation as well as the consequences.

JLA: Tower of Babel

(By Mark Waid, Howard Porter, Drew Geraci, Mark Propst, and John Kalisz)

This may be a Justice League story but it shows readers just how much of a badass Batman can be. Among comic readers, the joke is “Batman always wins.” In this story, we discover Batman has contingency plans to take out each member of the Justice League, should the need arise. When the records are stolen by one of Batman’s villains, things get real ugly.

Of course trying to limit the great Batman stories to just ten was extremely difficult. Here are some honorable mentions or further reading, should you need more than the first ten.

Batman: Black and White, Zero Year, Earth One, A Lonely Place of Dying, Man Who Laughs, Vampire (Red Rain), Under the Hood, and Son of the Demon

There’s just so many excellent stories to choose from.

Court of Owls, Officer Down, Cataclysm, No Man’s Land, Batman and Son, Dark Victory, Endgame, and Year 100.

Let us know what your favorite Batman story is in the comments below.