Batman

is the title of a 13-issue comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale published by DC Comics in 1996 through 1997, from Halloween to Halloween. It was inspired by the three by the same creative team, and made possible at the instance, and under the guidance of, then series editor Archie Goodwin. The entire series has been collected in trade paperback edition, this one. Taking place during Batman's early days of crime fighting, tells the story of a mysterious killer who murders people on holidays, one each month. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who the killer is before he claims his next victim each month. It also tells the origin of Two-Face, adding along to the story in . In continuity terms, takes place after the events of , showing the transition of Batman's rogues' gallery from simple mob goons to full-fledged supervillains. Several stories definitely take place in between and , including , and , the last of which tells of the first encounter between Batman and the Joker, following up on the events of . It has been accepted into continuity after erased the events of from the canon. This is a prime example of what a Batman story should be and how it should be done. Harry Goldstein of IGN after a positive critical review would rank #5 on a list of the 25 best Batman graphic novels (at the top of which is ) of all time.

is an influential one-shot graphic novel written by Alan Moore (of fame), drawn by Brian Bolland, featuring the superhero and title character Batman and his archenemy the Joker, and published by DC Comics in 1988. The story would affect the mainstream Batman continuity in that it features (spoiler alert!--but of course you know this already) the shooting and crippling of Barbara Gordon by the Joker, an event which would lead her to adopt the role and identity of Oracle, a vital source of information for Batman and other superheroes. The plot revolves around a largely psychological battle between Batman and the Joker, who has escaped from Arkham Asylum. The Joker intends to drive Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon insane to prove that the most upstanding citizen can go mad after having "one bad day". Along the way, the Joker has flashbacks to his early life, gradually explaining his possible origins--possible because he himself is unsure: "If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!" It is a tale of insanity and human perseverance, one of the darkest ever in the entire Batman mythos. This insanity is further explored in the subtext that Batman may be just as insane as the criminals and super-villains he faces, only manifesting it in a different manner. Alan Moore sums it best: "Psychologically Batman and the Joker are mirror images of each other." And such dichotomy between Batman and the Joker is never more creatively explored, either in words or in pictures--or both--than in .

is an influential one-shot graphic novel written by Alan Moore (of fame), drawn by Brian Bolland, featuring the superhero and title character Batman and his archenemy the Joker, and published by DC Comics in 1988. The story would affect the mainstream Batman continuity in that it features (spoiler alert!--but of course you know this already) the shooting and crippling of Barbara Gordon by the Joker, an event which would lead her to adopt the role and identity of Oracle, a vital source of information for Batman and other superheroes. The plot revolves around a largely psychological battle between Batman and the Joker, who has escaped from Arkham Asylum. The Joker intends to drive Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon insane to prove that the most upstanding citizen can go mad after having "one bad day". Along the way, the Joker has flashbacks to his early life, gradually explaining his possible origins--possible because he himself is unsure: "If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!" It is a tale of insanity and human perseverance, one of the darkest ever in the entire Batman mythos. This insanity is further explored in the subtext that Batman may be just as insane as the criminals and super-villains he faces, only manifesting it in a different manner. Alan Moore sums it best: "Psychologically Batman and the Joker are mirror images of each other." And such dichotomy between Batman and the Joker is never more creatively explored, either in words or in pictures--or both--than in .

is a combination of history about the Batman's origins and an in-depth exploration of the lives of the Dark Knight himself. By "lives" I refer to the number of resets the Gotham Crusader has had over the years to satisfy and adjust for the new fans, not to mention sorting out the complexities of an ever complex DC Universe's multiple Earths and that in real time, Batman as a comicbook has been going since 1939. In that respect, authors Robert Greenberger and Matthew K. Manning have done a remarkable job in explaining them all and in context so that anyone or even a novice to all the variants should come away with a deeper understanding of what's been going on and no doubt recognize his or her own Batman. The book also includes an assortment of rare collectibles that can only be found in this collection. A must-have for Batman fans of all ages.