Batman Who Laughs Reading Order

The Batman Who Laughs exploded on the scene during Scott Snyder’s Dark Nights: Metal gaining somewhat of a cult following. Following on from Metal, the Batman who Laughs has been expanded quite a bit even getting his own mini-series named after him. This reading order includes the main series but also all the lead up and the fallout.

For those who want to read as much about this grim version of Bruce Wayne this reading order should sort you out from start to finish. The Batman Who Laughs is a real blast and flows fairly well if you read them all in order. It’s a fairly simple storyline to follow without too many tie ins but it does make a good effort to stay coherent even when it ends up tying into Flashpoint.

This collection includes 29 issues in total.

Batman Who Laughs Trade Reading Order

Dark Nights Metal: Dark Knights Rising

Start here as this is the first proper introduction of the Batman Who Laughs but this collection also includes the introduction of the others which are relevant the Metal but not so much BWL.

Dark Nights Metal

Although Metal itself has a lot more to it than the main series, for the Batman Who Laughs as a character this is the place to start. Collects Metal #1 to #6. To expand on Metal you can always check out our reading order for that.

Dark Nights Metal: The Resistance

Collects tie ins to the Metal storyline but does deliver some BWL content. Collects The Flash #33, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #32, Justice League #32-#33, Hawkman: Found #1, Teen Titans #12, Nightwing #29, Suicide Squad #26, Green Arrow #32, Batman: Lost #1.

Justice League: Graveyard of Gods

He is on the cover, which is a giveaway. This collection follows Metal immediately and explains what happens to BWL next. Collects Justice League DC Universe #7 to #14.

Batman Who Laughs

This is the main series and all about the Batman Who Laughs quest to conquer all. This is the series where he is fleshed out the most which includes his motives and relationships with the Batmen and the Bruce Waynes of the multiverse. Collects issues #1 to #6.

Batman/Superman Volume 1: Who are the Secret Six

Tie ins which occur at the same time as the main series. Collects issues #1 to #6 of Year of the Villain spin off.

Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen

Another Year of the Villain spinoff title, this one features the Batman Who Laughs. Collects Hell Arisen #1 to #4.

Read the Year of the Villain reading order.

Dark Nights: Death Metal

The conclusion to the Batman Who Laughs arc, Death Metal sees Snyder and Capullo once again delving into the dark multiverse. This series has its own reading order but for those who are just looking for this character’s arc this is more than enough. Collects Death Metal #1 to #7.

Batman Who Laughs Issue by Issue Reading Order

1. Dark Nights: Metal #1
2. Dark Nights: Metal #2
3. Teen Titans #12
4. Green Arrow #32
5. Dark Nights: Metal #3
6. The Batman Who Laughs #1
7. The Flash #33
8. Justice League #32
9. Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #32
10. Justice League #33
11. Dark Nights: Metal #4
12. Dark Nights: Metal #5
13. Dark Nights: Metal #6
14. Justice League #8
15. The Batman Who Laughs #1
16. The Batman Who Laughs #2
17. The Batman Who Laughs #3
18. The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1
19. The Batman Who Laughs #4
20. The Batman Who Laughs #5
21. The Batman Who Laughs #6
22. The Batman Who Laughs #7
23. Batman/Superman #1
24. Batman/Superman #2
25. Batman/Superman #3
26. Batman/Superman #4
27. Batman/Superman #5
28. Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1
29. Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #2
30. Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3
31. Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #4
32. Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #5
33. Dark Nights Death Metal #1
34. Dark Nights Death Metal #2
35. Dark Nights Death Metal #3
36. Dark Nights Death Metal #4
37. Dark Nights Death Metal #5
38. Dark Nights Death Metal #6
39. Dark Nights Death Metal #7

Last update on 2023-09-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API