Tom King Batman Reading Order

Tom King took over the reins of Batman in 2016 after Scott Snyder’s run finished during the New 52. This era was a part of DC Rebirth. Although a different name, the continuity more or less sticks around meaning the things that happened to Batman in 52 happened to Tom King’s Batman.

King started writing for the “Bat family” late into New 52 with Nightwing/Grayson before moving into Batman.

Here in this article we have created a reading order for Tom King’s work on Batman and the wider bat-family for fans of the writer to experience his full works. As usual with our reading orders, there will be a trade reading order as well as an issue by issue reading order.

Batman by Tom King Trade Reading Order

Grayson Omnibus

Before Rebirth you’ve got to start with Grayson. It’s a bit hit and miss with fans but for Tom King purists you’ve got to have it.

Collects Grayson #1-#20, Grayson: Future’s End #1, Secret Origins #8, Grayson Annual #1-#3, Robin War #1-#2 and Nightwing Rebirth #1.

Batman Rebirth Deluxe Book 1

There’s no Tom King Rebirth omnibus (at time of writing) so the deluxe books are the most cost effective. Book 1 collects Batman #1-#15 and Batman: Rebirth #1 which covers I am Gotham and I am Suicide storylines. It also collects the two Night of the Monster Men issues but not its tie ins.

Batman Rebirth Deluxe Book 2

Book 2 collects Batman #16-#32 and Annual #1. This covers the I am Bane, Batman/The Flash: The Button (though not its tie ins), and the entirety of the War of Jokes and Riddles.

Batman Rebirth Deluxe Book 3

Collects Batman #33-44 and Annual #2. This covers the Rules of Engagement and Bride of Burglar which leads to King’s second major arc after Night of the Monster Men – The Wedding.

Batman Rebirth Deluxe Book 4

This book starts with Rebirth and “The Wedding” and then enters into Universe with “Cold Days” – one of my favourite Tom King storylines. You don’t get any tie ins with these Rebirth Deluxe books, it is pure Tom King.

Universe is yet another soft reboot from DC, nothing changed in terms of the continuation but the way the issues and trades were presented did. A bit pointless really.

Collects Batman #45-#57 and a story from DC Nation #0

Heroes in Crisis

Tom King gets to have a go at a DC wide crossover storyline with Heroes in Crisis. Not the best received but not terrible. There are tie ins involved but they are not written by King, we recommend sticking with the core issues for your Tom King reading order checklist.

Collects Heroes in Crisis #1 to #9.

Batman Rebirth Deluxe Book 5

Book 5 collects #58-#63, #66-#69, Batman Annual #3 and Batman Secret Files #1. The missing issues #64 and #65 are a part of “The Price” which were not written by Tom King and a part of Heroes in Crisis. This book’s stories are The Tyrant Wing and Knightmares.

Batman: Deluxe Book 6

No longer the “Rebirth” branding despite being book 6. Collects Batman #70-#71, #73-#85, Batman Annual #4, and Batman Secret Files #2 which covers The Fall and the Fallen and all of City of Bane which is King’s biggest work during his Batman run.

Full Batman City of Bane reading order.

This concludes Tom King’s trade reading order. There is no book 7 and if it did it would collect James Tynion’s run starting with Their Dark Designs.

After the trades are done you’ve got some odd issues to get if you want to be complete – Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1, Swamp Thing: Winter Special #1, Detective Comics #1000,

Tom King’s Batman Issue by Issue Reading Order

If you want to collect Tom King’s Batman through the issues AND read them in chronological order here is the list:

1. Batman: Rebirth #1
2. Batman #1
3. Batman #2
4. Batman #3
5. Batman #4
6. Batman #5
7. Batman #6
8. Batman #7
9. Batman #8
10. Batman Annual #1
11. Batman #9
12. Batman #10
13. Batman #11
14. Batman #12
15. Batman #13
16. Batman #14
17. Batman #15
18. Batman #16
19. Batman #17
20. Batman #18
21. Batman #19
22. Batman #20
23. Batman #21
24. Batman #22
25. Batman #23
26. Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1
27. Batman #23
28. Batman #24
29. Batman #25
30. Batman #26
31. Batman #27
32. Batman #28
33. Batman #29
34. Batman #30
35. Batman #31
36. Batman #32
37. Batman #33
38. Batman #34
39. Batman #35
40. Batman Annual #2
41. Swamp Thing: Winter Special #1
42. Batman #36
43. Batman #37
44. Batman #38
45. Batman #39
46. Batman #40
47. Batman #41
48. Batman #42
49. Batman #43
50. Batman #44
51. Batman #45
52. Batman #46
53. Batman #47
54. DC Nation #0
55. Batman #47
56. Batman #48
57. Batman #49
58. Batman #50
59. Batman #51
60. Batman #52
61. Batman #53
62. Batman #54
63. Batman #55
64. Batman #56
65. Batman #57
66. Batman: Secret Files #1
67. Batman #57
68. Batman #58
69. Batman #59
70. Batman #60
71. Batman Annual #3
72. Heroes in Crisis #1
73. Heroes in Crisis #2
74. Heroes in Crisis #3
75. Heroes in Crisis #4
76. Heroes in Crisis #5
77. Heroes in Crisis #6
78. Heroes in Crisis #7
79. Heroes in Crisis #8
80. Heroes in Crisis #9
81. Batman #61
82. Batman #62
83. Batman #63
84. Detective Comics #1000
85. Batman #66
86. Batman #67
87. Batman #68
88. Batman #69
89. Batman #70
90. Batman #71
91. Batman #72
92. Batman #73
93. Batman #74
94. Batman: Secret Files #2
95. Batman #75
96. Batman #76
97. Batman #77
98. Batman #78
99. Batman #79
100. Batman #80
101. Batman #81
102. Batman #82
103. Batman #83
104. Batman #84
105. Batman #85
106. Batman Annual #4

Last update on 2023-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API