Batman New 52 Reading Order

Welcome to our page on the New 52 Batman reading order which includes issue by issue and trade paperbacks to help those who have already started to read New 52 Batman or for those who want to start this fantastic series. The series was written entirely by Scott Snyder – you can read his reading order here.

Scope

The following New 52 Batman reading order is a character specific list and does not crossover into books such as Justice League. This is an ideal reading list to follow for this with a vested interest in our Caped Crusader and no one else following the events of Flashpoint. This list will show you the best way and the chronological orders the issues should be read and some tips of the cheapest and quickest way to gather the list. Collecting all individual issues can be extremely difficult, expensive and possibly even impossible so after the issue reading order we have also added a trade paperback/hardback reading order.

At some point we will create a full New 52 reading order so you can see how Batman fits in the Universe at large.

Overview

The New 52 initiative lasted from 2011 to 2015 and encompasses all of the books which Batman was a part of which is: Batman, All-Star Western, Batman and Robin, Detective Comics, Incorporated, Eternal. Due to the length of time and popularity of the character there are several plot lines, crossovers and events that Batman was a part of which fills the reading order which are: Zero Year, Court of Owls, Night of the Owls, Death of the Family, Requiem, Eternal, Endgame, Superheavy, Robin War and the very beginning of Rebirth.

The full issue by issue reading order has 215 issues in total.

Full Batman New 52 Reading Order

The full, chrononlogical reading order for Batman in the New 52 is as follows:

Zero Year (26 issues)

Naturally, as this is a chronological list the first place to start would be the Zero Year arc which includes a couple of tie in issues featuring Batwing, Green Arrow, Nightwing, Batgirl, the Green Lantern Corps, Red Hood, Batwoman, the Bird of Prey and The Flash. You can find the full Zero Year reading order here.

  1. Batman #0
  2. Batman #21
  3. Batman #22
  4. Batman #23
  5. Batman Annual #2
  6. Batman #24
  7. Detective Comics #25
  8. Batwing #25
  9. Action Comics #25
  10. Green Arrow #25
  11. Batman #25
  12. Nightwing #25
  13. Batgirl #25
  14. Green Lantern Corps #25
  15. Red Hood and the Outlaws #25
  16. Batwoman #25
  17. Birds of Prey #25
  18. Catwoman #25
  19. The Flash #25
  20. Batman #26
  21. Batman #27
  22. Batman #29
  23. Batman #30
  24. Batman #31
  25. Batman #32
  26. Batman #33

Don’t forget to read our review of Zero Year – Secret City and Zero Year – Dark City.

Court of the Owls (12 issues)

Now in the present day begins the first story line which featured in the New 52 – The Court of Owls. This part is the build up before the main event.

  1. Batman #1
  2. Batman #2
  3. Batman #3
  4. Batman #4
  5. Batman #5
  6. Batman #6
  7. Nightwing #1
  8. Nightwing #2
  9. Nightwing #3
  10. Nightwing #4
  11. Nightwing #5
  12. Nightwing #6

Don’t forget to read our review of Court of the Owls!

Night of the Owls (23 issues)

This is the second half of the City of Owls story line which begins to include tie ins to the wider Batman family

  1. Nightwing #7
  2. Batman #7
  3. Batman #8
  4. Red Hood and the Outlaws #8
  5. Batwing #9
  6. Nightwing #8
  7. Batman and Robin #9
  8. Batgirl #9
  9. Batman #9
  10. Red Hood and the Outlaws #9
  11. Nightwing #9
  12. Detective Comics #9
  13. Batman: The Dark Knight #9
  14. Birds of Prey #9
  15. Batman Annual #1
  16. Catwoman #9
  17. Batman #10
  18. Batman #11
  19. All-Star Western #9
  20. All-Star Western #10
  21. All-Star Western #11
  22. All-Star Western #12
  23. Batman #12

You can also check out our Night of the Owls reading order page here for further details and our review of City of the Owls.

Death of the Family (33 issues)

Death of the family explores Joker’s return and is a major Batman-family crossover storyline.

  1. Detective Comics #1
  2. Suicide Squad #6
  3. Suicide Squad #7
  4. Suicide Squad #8
  5. Batgirl #13
  6. Catwoman #13
  7. Catwoman #14
  8. Batman #13
  9. Batman and Robin #13
  10. Batman and Robin #14
  11. Suicide Squad #14
  12. Suicide Squad #15
  13. Batman #14
  14. Detective Comics #15
  15. Batgirl #14
  16. Batgirl #15
  17. Batman #15
  18. Batgirl #16
  19. Batman and Robin #15
  20. Batman and Robin #16
  21. Detective Comics #16
  22. Detective Comics #17
  23. Nightwing #15
  24. Nightwing #16
  25. Red Hood and the Outlaws #15
  26. Teen Titans #15
  27. Red Hood and the Outlaws #16
  28. Teen Titans #16
  29. Batman #16
  30. Batman #17
  31. Batgirl #17
  32. Batman and Robin #17
  33. Red Hood and the Outlaws #17

You can read our review of Batman: Death of the Family and Batgirl: Death of the Family review if you want.

Requiem (26 issues)

SPOILER ALERT!

The Requiem storyline explores the lead up and fallout surrounding Damian’s tragic death.

  1. Batman, Incorporated #0
  2. Batman, Incorporated #1
  3. Batman, Incorporated #2
  4. Batman, Incorporated #3
  5. Batman, Incorporated #4
  6. Batman, Incorporated #5
  7. Batman, Incorporated #6
  8. Batman, Incorporated #7
  9. Batman, Incorporated #8
  10. Detective Comics #18
  11. Batman #18
  12. Batman and Robin #18
  13. Batgirl #18
  14. Red Hood and the Outlaws #18
  15. Nightwing #18
  16. Teen Titans #18
  17. Catwoman #18
  18. Worlds’ Finest #10
  19. Batman, Incorporated #9
  20. Batman and Robin #19
  21. Batman #19
  22. Batman #20
  23. Batman #23.1
  24. Batman #23.2
  25. Batman #23.3
  26. Batman #23.4

Eternal (59 issues)

Batman is a long and bulky storyline which many wondered if it was canon at all due to the change of writer and how it was released over a year. However, Eternal is canon and is right between Death of the Family and Endgame in the Batman specific reading order reading order (and therefore Requiem). It’s also quite easy to follow:

  1. Batman Eternal #1
  2. Batman Eternal #2
  3. Batman Eternal #3
  4. Batman Eternal #4
  5. Batman Eternal #5
  6. Batman Eternal #6
  7. Batman Eternal #7
  8. Batman Eternal #8
  9. Batman Eternal #9
  10. Batman Eternal #10
  11. Batman Eternal #11
  12. Batman Eternal #12
  13. Batman Eternal #13
  14. Batman Eternal #14
  15. Batman Eternal #15
  16. Batman Eternal #16
  17. Batman Eternal #17
  18. Batman Eternal #18
  19. Batman Eternal #19
  20. Batman Eternal #20
  21. Batman Eternal #21
  22. Batman Eternal #22
  23. Batman Eternal #23
  24. Batman Eternal #24
  25. Batman Eternal #25
  26. Batman Eternal #26
  27. Batman Eternal #27
  28. Batman Eternal #28
  29. Batman Eternal #29
  30. Batman Eternal #30
  31. Batman Eternal #31
  32. Batman Eternal #32
  33. Batman Eternal #33
  34. Batman Eternal #34
  35. Arkham Manor #1
  36. Arkham Manor #2
  37. Arkham Manor #3
  38. Arkham Manor #4
  39. Arkham Manor #5
  40. Arkham Manor #6
  41. Batman Eternal #35
  42. Batman Eternal #36
  43. Batman Eternal #37
  44. Batman Eternal #38
  45. Batman Eternal #39
  46. Batman Eternal #40
  47. Batman Eternal #41
  48. Batman Eternal #42
  49. Batman #28
  50. Batman Eternal #43
  51. Batman Eternal #44
  52. Batman Eternal #45
  53. Batman Eternal #46
  54. Batman Eternal #47
  55. Batman Eternal #48
  56. Batman Eternal #49
  57. Batman Eternal #50
  58. Batman Eternal #51
  59. Batman Eternal #52

Endgame (12 issues)

Batman: Endgame is a small six issue event which explores the return (again) of the Joker following the conclusion of Death of the Family.

  1. Batman #34
  2. Batman #35
  3. Batman #36
  4. Batman #37
  5. Batman Annual #3
  6. Detective Comics: Endgame #1
  7. Batgirl: Endgame #1
  8. Arkham Manor: Endgame #1
  9. Gotham Academy: Endgame #1
  10. Batman #38
  11. Batman #39
  12. Batman #40

Superheavy (22 issues)

Following the conclusion of Endgame and the disappearance of Bruce Wayne Batman, James Gordon takes on the role of Batman. This is an easy storyline to collect and read in order as part 1 contains no tie ins or crossovers.

  1. Batman #41
  2. Batman #42
  3. Batman #43
  4. Batman #44
  5. Detective Comics #41
  6. Detective Comics #42
  7. Detective Comics #43
  8. Detective Comics #44
  9. Detective Comics #45
  10. Detective Comics #46
  11. Detective Comics #47
  12. Detective Comics #48
  13. Detective Comics #49
  14. Detective Comics #50
  15. Detective Comics #51
  16. Detective Comics #52
  17. Batman #45
  18. Batman #46
  19. Batman #47
  20. Batman #48
  21. Batman #49
  22. Batman #50

Rebirth (2 issues)

The final two issues are a part of the Rebirth initiative and perhaps not technically a part of the New 52 Reading order

  1. Batman #51
  2. Batman #52

Full Batman New 52 trade reading order

The following is the Batman New 52 trade reading order and probably the easiest and cheapest way to read the whole initiative from start to finish while still enjoying the vast majority of the full reading order above. It’s worth noting that you will miss the odd issue and will probably get some extra issues which are outside of the reading order and you may get some overlapping issues and get them more than once but that’s normal and unavoidable when dealing with such a big series such as Batman New 52. As a whole you will still feel like you’ve experienced the whole thing so there’s no need to worry about missing out on anything that important.

This reading order contains 22 trades with varying prices each however as an average we’d estimate the whole collection to cost in the region of $400-$500 which would be significantly cheaper than purchasing individual issues.

  1. Batman, Volume 4: Zero Year – Secret City

This has 4 issues and collects Batman #21-#24.

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Batman: Zero Year - Secret City
1,515 Reviews
Batman: Zero Year- Secret City
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 10/07/2014 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. DC Comics: Zero Year

This is a omnibus edition which collects a lot of the tie ins surrounding Zero Year and even a few extras so this has a bit more than the issue by issue reading list.

This book has 14 issues and collects Batman #24-25, Detective Comics #25, Batgirl #25, Batwing #25, Batwoman #25, Birds of Prey #25, Catwoman #25, The Flash #25, Green Arrow #25, Green Lantern Corps #25, Nightwing #25, Red Hood and The Outlaws #25 and Action Comics #25.

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DC Comics: Zero Year
203 Reviews
DC Comics: Zero Year
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 448 Pages - 04/07/2015 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year – Dark City

The final chapter of Batman’s Zero Year is an easy one. Dark City has 8 issues trade collects Batman #25-#27 and #29-#33. This completes what I feel to be one of the best parts of Batman New 52.

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Batman: Zero Year - Dark City
1,348 Reviews
Batman: Zero Year - Dark City
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 256 Pages - 05/05/2015 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls

Another simple trade that collects Batman #1-#7.

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Batman: The Court of Owls
3,581 Reviews
Batman: The Court of Owls
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 03/26/2013 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman: Night of the Owls

Night of the Owls trade is a collection of a couple of Batman issues but mostly the tie ins found in the other characters’ series. Collects the following: Batman #8-9, Nightwing #8-9, All-Star Western#9, Catwoman #9, Batgirl #9, Batman: Dark Knight #9, Batman and Robin #9, Birds of Prey#9, and Red Hood and the Outlaws #9.

As may notice there is some overlap with some issues in this and City of Owls as well as some missing issues from All-Star Western. Collecting via trade is easy and cheaper but not a complete reading order.

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Batman:Night of the Owls
433 Reviews
Batman: Night of the Owls
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  1. Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls

City of Owls collects the rest of the Batman specific issues and concludes the owls story line from New 52. And thus concludes one of the best storylines in ALL of the New 52.

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Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls
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Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 208 Pages - 10/15/2013 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 3: Death of the Family

Batman Death of the Family should be read concurrently with Joker: Death of the Family as per the issue by issue reading order to get the ‘true experience’.

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Batman, Volume 3: Death of the Family
2,621 Reviews
Batman, Volume 3: Death of the Family
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 05/13/2014 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Joker: Death of the Family

Joker: Death of the Family collects the tie ins and no Batman issues at all which means this can be skipped and you’ll still have the Batman storyline but it won’t be a full Death of the Family storyline if that makes sense. Joker: Death of the Family contains Catwoman #13-14, Batgirl #13-16, Suicide Squad #14-15, Batman and Robin #15-16, Nightwing #15-16, Detective Comics #15-16, Red Hood and the Outlaws #15-16, and Teen Titans #15-16.

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Joker: Death of the Family
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Joker: Death of the Family
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 456 Pages - 04/22/2014 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman Incorporated, Volume 1: Demon Star

Thus begins the first part of Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated chronologically speaking anyway and the bulk of the ‘Requiem’ storyline. This is a straightforward TP with everything you need, nothing missing and nothing extra. Collects Batman Incorporated #0-6. You can read more about the Grant Morrison Batman reading order here.

Batman Incorporated, Volume 1: Demon Star
175 Reviews
Batman Incorporated, Volume 1: Demon Star
  • Morrison, Grant (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 12/03/2013 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman Incorporated, Volume 2: Gotham’s Most Wanted

Batman, Inc continues with volume 2 and collects #7-12 of Batman Incorporated.

Batman Incorporated, Volume 2: Gotham's Most Wanted
183 Reviews
Batman Incorporated, Volume 2: Gotham's Most Wanted
  • Morrison, Grant (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 240 Pages - 08/26/2014 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 6: The Graveyard Shift

The Graveyard shift is a collection of odd stories and one shots and the annual. Collects Batman #0, #18-20, #28, #34, and Batman Annual #2

Batman, Volume 6: The Graveyard Shift Trade Paperback
991 Reviews
Batman, Volume 6: The Graveyard Shift Trade Paperback
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 224 Pages - 10/06/2015 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman Eternal, Volume 1 and 2

Next up is the first two volumes of Batman Eternal Volume 1 has Batman Eternal #1-#21 and volume 2 has #22-#34. This should take everyone quite some time to read.

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Batman Eternal Volume 1
358 Reviews
Batman Eternal Volume 1
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 480 Pages - 12/02/2014 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
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Batman Eternal Volume 2
247 Reviews
Batman Eternal Volume 2
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 448 Pages - 07/14/2015 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Arkham Manor

Arkham Manor is somewhat of a differen kind of Batman book from the New 52 and seems to be a bit hit and miss with a lot of readers but nevertheless if you want to experience all of Batman new 52 then here it is, alternatively you can always skip to Batman Eternal volume 3. Arkham Manor trade Collects Arkham Manor #1-6.

Arkham Manor
51 Reviews
Arkham Manor
  • Duggan, Gerry (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 144 Pages - 07/28/2015 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman Eternal, Volume 3

Batman Eternal, Volume 3 concludes and collects Batman Eternal #35-52 and Batman #28. You’ll get #28 for the second time here (it’s in Graveyard Shift) but that’s not a big deal.

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Batman Eternal, Volume 3
221 Reviews
Batman Eternal, Volume 3
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 424 Pages - 10/13/2015 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 7: Endgame

The Endgame storyline arc starts here with this trade which collects Batman #35-#40.

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Batman, Volume 7: Endgame
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Batman, Volume 7: Endgame
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 192 Pages - 03/22/2016 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Joker: Endgame

Joker: Endgame collects some of the Batman issues and the tie ins to complete the Endgame arc. Unfortunately there are some overlaps here too as it contains a couple of the Batman issues found in Batman: Endgame. If you’re going to choose this or the Batman book for your New 52 reading collection then choose this one. Collects Batman Annual #3, backups from Batman #35-39, Gotham Academy: Endgame#1, Batgirl Endgame #1, Batman and Robin Endgame #1, Arkham Manor Endgame #31.

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Joker: Endgame
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Joker: Endgame
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 312 Pages - 05/24/2016 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy

Whether or not you feel Superheavy is an actual “Batman” book is up for debate, however for this to be a true Batman New 52 reading order it cant be ignore. Superheavy collects Collects Batman #41-46 and Free Comic Book day 2015: DC Comics Divergence #1.

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Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy
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Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 160 Pages - 09/13/2016 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman Detective Comics, Volume 8: The Blood of Heroes

This is the first out of only two Detective comics trade in this reading order surprisingly. Collects Detective Comics #41-46, & DC Sneak Peek: Detective Comics #1.

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Batman Detective Comics, Volume 8: The Blood of Heroes
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Batman Detective Comics, Volume 8: The Blood of Heroes
  • Tomasi, Peter J. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 192 Pages - 12/06/2016 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Robin War

The Robin War trade collects everything you need in one book to enjoy this short-ish crossover storyline by Tom King, he went on to write Batman Rebirth. This is fairly hefty book and collects Robin War #1-2, Robin: Son of Batman #7, Grayson #15, Detective Comics #47, We Are Robin #7, Gotham Academy #13, Red Hood / Arsenal #7 & Teen Titans #15.

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Robin War Trade
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Robin War Trade
  • King, Tom (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 256 Pages - 02/14/2017 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman Detective Comics, Volume 9: Gordon at War

This is the final trade in the Detective Comics series and the final one in the reading order, too. This trade collects Detective Comics #47-52.

Batman Detective Comics, Volume 9: Gordon at War
66 Reviews
Batman Detective Comics, Volume 9: Gordon at War
  • Tomasi, Peter J. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 06/20/2017 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 9: Bloom

Bloom sees the “return” of Bruce Wayne as the Batman and concludes the main New 52 storyline. This is a short book and collects Batman #47-50.

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Batman, Volume 9: Bloom
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Batman, Volume 9: Bloom
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 200 Pages - 12/20/2016 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)
  1. Batman, Volume 10: Epilogue

The epic Batman new 52 run ends here with a couple of issues to close things off as the title “epilogue” suggests and introduces the future of Batman which will become Rebirth. Epilogue collects collects Batman #51-52, Batman Annual #4, & a story from Detective Comics #27.

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Batman, Volume 10: Epilogue
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Batman, Volume 10: Epilogue
  • Snyder, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 144 Pages - 04/25/2017 (Publication Date) - DC Comics (Publisher)

And that is the end of the Batman new 52 trade reading order! We feel it’s about as accurate as possible without buying single issues, it does have some overlaps and does miss out on some issues but we feel it still gives the reader everything they’d need to enjoy it, it’s also the cheapest way to read Batman new 52.

We welcome your feedback and comments down below!

Last update on 2024-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API