Over 80 years since his debut in ‘Detective Comics #27’, the Caped Crusader is one of the most popular superheroes. In spite of his outlandish exploits, it’s his humane vulnerability that has made Batman a fan favourite. 

Since 2014, the world’s greatest detective has had his own holiday every year. This year Batman Day falls on September 17. 

Hence, we picked out five Batman comics to cherish this weekend celebrating the Dark Knight

1. Batman: Hush

Scripted by Jeph Loeb and artwork by Jim Lee, ‘Hush’ is a whirlwind of events. With a mysterious stalker, an array of Batman villains, Superman and delving deep into the relationship of Batman and Catwoman.

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The individual events are what make ‘Hush’ memorable and add to that the impeccable artwork of Lee, the comic celebrates the journey of Batman. 

2. Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

What would happen in a Batman-less Gotham? 

Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader is a hypothetical “what if?” story, where his closest allies and most bitter enemies come together to pay tribute at his wake.

Through the writing of Neil Gaiman and artwork of Andy Kubert, DC knitted a befitting tribute to the evergreen pop icon.

3. The Dark Knight Returns

This is a story of hope, a story that reinstates the idea of Batman. 

By Frank Miller, the comics first came out in 1986. We are thrown into a distant future, where batman has aged past his prime and retired. 

Introducing Carrie Kelley as the new Robin, with ace villains Two-face and Joker back and finally the greatest face-off with Superman, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is on a pedestal of its own for Batman faithfuls. 

4. The Killing Joke

You can’t value light without darkness, good without evil and Batman without Joker. 

The Caped Crusader and clown prince of crime are two sides of the same coin. And in this comic, Alan Moore & Brian Bolland retraces Joker’s origin story and discovers the magical chaotic land that he was born into. 

The Killing Joke is madness, mayhem and underlines what demarcates sanity and insanity. 

5. Batman: Year One

The death of Thomas and Martha Wayne has been ingrained in every single brain cell of ours after the innumerable times we have seen the sequence being reenacted. 

However, nothing quite impactful as the artwork of David Mazzucchelli and the script of Frank Miller. 

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Personally an all-time favourite, Batman: Year One is not just another origin story. The comics, first issued in 1987, tells the story of Bruce Wayne and James Gordon — two pillars of Gotham — and their rise. 

There is no over-the-top action sequence or a Hollywood villain, yet, Batman: Year One is a magnum opus. 

It is a journey down the slim line of morality. Creator Frank Miller looks into your eyes and tells you, with corruption ingrained in our very system, in spite of all the struggles there is a bigger fight the Caped Crusader and Detective Gordon can never win.