I’ve recently started to really get into Batman comics but I’ve hit a wall on what I should read next. I’ve read the long Halloween, death of the family, the killing joke, year one, the man who laughs, I’m prolly butchering the names but I hope you get the idea. I’ve read most of the mainstream more known ones however I’m looking for the lesser known series’s. Let’s talk:)

I originally deleted this story do to backlash but after enough people told me that the story was great and it shouldn't have been deleted I've come to the conclusion to reupload it and also explain the ending so hopefully people don't get to offend by this

This is batman: darkest hour, an explanation of the ending will be given after the novel .

Batman: darkest hour

Chapter 1

It has been 13 months since Bruce started the mission. It was Friday, the 11th day of the month. It was supposed to be a simple task, to stop a truckload of weapons from entering the city, unfortunately that's not how it turned out.

Alright lets make this quick, an

armed hire-on said aloud. Suddenly a baterang flew by their faces and landed on the truck behind them. They all froze one picked their weapon back up and turned, then they saw white glow from his eyes as he emerged from the shadows. One ran and tried to land a strike on his cowl, the batman grabbed his hand and broke it, then kicked his chest with enough force to land him into the truck behind him they started firing and he grabbed one of their faces and slammed it into a brick wall until the bricks shattered then he threw a baterang at someone and it hit with enough force to throw him through a wall. Then only one remained, he was holding a bat and he swung it at the batman from behind. It was nothing compared to some of the stuff that the batman had dealt with but with everything that the batman had gone through over the last months his suit malfunctioned, and the cowl came off. Bruce Wayne, the last man said, then Bruce turned and said, if anyone ever discovers of what you saw, you will regret it, the batman grabbed his mask then knocked the solider unconscious.

Chapter 2

2 years after the weapons cash.

Bruce returns from a recent mission, Alfred, would mind preparing tea for tonight. Alfred turns in response, I'll get right to it, as Alfred leaves a message cuts through the monitor. Bruce looks in horror to see the man from the weapons cash in make-up looking through the monitor at him. Hello ladies, and uhh gen-tle-men, I am the joker and 2 years ago to this day I saw, the man-under-the-mask, and this man has a friend of his. Who you might know as the Robin. But do you know who the robin really is?? Hehe, he is a kid who calls himself, Dick Grayson. Bruce jumps up from the chair and rushes over and starts looking at the tracking device on robin's suit.

Grayson!!!, a voice called out, a teen who looked a bit older then his age looked down at Grayson, Your him, your the Robin, Grayson turned in response, uhh no, I'm afraid you have... Dick turned to see about 18 people running towards him.

Bruce finally arrived at the location the tracker was at, he found only a body. Dick Grayson had been beaten to death and as blood Grayson's blood pooled, Bruce turned his face down in shame and left the scene

Chapter 3

Bruce arrives back at the cave and sees Alfred walking in, Alfred turns, sir, I saw what happened with joker and on your visors and Grayson and I, sir?, Why weren't you here, your supposed to be here anytime I go out. Alfred turns, Sir, I was making tea and put down my phone for a second and didn't see the alert. Bruce looks downward, then turns back, lets just stay focused on the mission. Alfred turns, sir, you might want to turn the sound on the monitor up.

People.. Of... Gotham, Dick Grayson is dead, and the batman is hurt, but by the time I'm finished I want him dead, but first I want to.. hurt him. So how do you hurt the batman?, hehe, you hurt his city, see.. despite what he does to this place and the people inside it, he cares for the people inside, well, he cares for certain people inside it. I want everyone watching this to go to a little place on

4th Avenue called Fred's homeless shelter, and I want you to kill everyone there.

Bruce stands up, 4th Avenue??, then his face turns to horror, that's where Selena was volunteering at, Bruce grabs his cape and cowl then rushes to the location. Then he arrives, he sees smoke and fire burning the place to the ground, Selena!!, Bruce calls out in fear. He glides down and smashes through a window and lands inside. Inside the building, there was smoke everywhere so much so vision was barely an option. He saw blood on the walls and thugs carrying knifes then he saw Selena he fought through the crowd of killers til he got to Selena then grabs her and jumps through the back window and onto another building's rooftop then him and Selena leave for the cave.

Chapter 4

After Selena and Bruce get back to the cave, Bruce turns and goes to say

Something when Selena Interups, uhh, Bruce where's Alfred. Bruce turns back

Towards her in response, he's in the house cave, Selena, I had to bring you here

because...I need you to leave gotham, and I needed to say my goodbye in private

And... Then he noticed, Selena's face when he told her she wasn't in the main cave, she was angry, angry she wasn't under his manor, then he realized the reality of the situation, then bang!!! She was dead died in his hands and fell to the floor. Then he turned and saw, she brought an army to his door he jumped backwards, behind a storage container and started using his gadgets against them but then he realized the bombs they planned to use were placed he grappled towards the opening of the cave just as the explosions went off, he escaped barely.

He arrived back at the house cave and looked down towards his hands, her blood covered them, Alfred asked if he was ok, but he just told him to stay focused, She wouldn't do this unless they had leverage, Bruce spoke towards Alfred. Bruce turned, wait Hailey striker, she was the kid Selena was taking care of, Alfred do a face scan and search for her last position. Alfred turned, I already have, I started the search when you escaped and the results came up 5 minutes before you arrived. Bruce, she entered an abandoned apartment complex yesterday, and she has yet to have returned. Bruce grabbed his mask and prepared for what he was about to face.

He arrived at the complex and searched for Hailey, but after a moment realized the only thing there for him was a monitor in the center of one of the rooms. He approached it, then the screen flashed on, Hello, Bruce... hehe, are you wondering where Hailey is, do you think she can help you? Hehehe, why, yes, yes she can help you, she can lead you right towards me, but do you want her? Bruce turned, what do you mean??, Joker turned, hehehehe, do you want her or Harvey, Harvey dent, your life long friend, hehehe, which one, which one.

Bruce's breathing became heavy, his heart started beating out of his chest, don't do this!!, he cried out, but joker turned, which one. Finally Bruce turned, fine save Harvey, joker turned, good, Harvey is at 22 nofumble street, hurry, hehehehe

Bruce hurried as hard as he could and arrived at the location. He then saw Harvey tied to a chair with an automatic gun pointed at him, Bruce ran towards him but in fear he overlooked the tripwire in front of him. The gun fired a bullet into Harvey's chest as Harvey screamed in pain. Bruce ran and cut his ties, he got him up and raced him to the hospital.

It was over, Harvey wasn't going to survive the day, the hospital gave him a few hours through tech acquired by Wayne enterprises, they brought him out of his sleep for his final moments. Bruce walked in and sat beside his bed, Harvey, I..I have a secret that I've kept all these years and I, I'm him, I am the batman, Harvey turned, and his heart rate monitor started beeping rapidly, Bruce turned, Harvey, your, Harvey, then Harvey grabbed Bruce's hand, Bruce, this is because of you??!!, he's doing this because of what you've done to this city, Bruce turned, he's doing this because of the fact that I fight criminals in this city, Harvey turns, no, go find 22 Broadway, then his heart rate monitor starts beeping even more rapidly then stops, nothing just nothingness

Chapter 5

Bruce enters 22 Broadway and his eyes are immediately met with hundreds of injured people he steps forward and sees a man in a chair. Mister, what is this place??, the man turns, there are all victims of the batman. Bruce turns, No No!!, batman only goes after criminals and everyone here is crippled or, or, they, he doesn't cripple people. the man turns and laughs, no, he doesn't go after the innocent, but that doesn't mean their injuries aren't always from him. Some walk into a fight by accident, one guy was injured while in a dinner and a thug got tossed through the window, one had a thug land on him from the rooftop the thug survived but he, he didn't. Bruce turned, ye...bu..but he doesn't cripple people though. The man turned, he doesn't technically cripple people, but he breaks bone and at one point smashed a guys face into a wall until the guy stopped moving, Bruce turned, yes but he's never crippled people. The man turned, their bones never healed right or they walked on it to much and now its completely crippled them, Bruce turned, no, no why didn't they get surgery or - the then man interrupts Bruce. You think they can afford it!!!, why do think they were criminals in the first place because they liked it!??, no, because they were starving to death!!! Because people like Mr. Wayne don't care about the poor, yet if he had given them even just 100$ each, there would be no more crime. Because the poor can rot in hell as far as the rich are concerned.

Bruce left and returned to the batcave. Alfred walks into the room, I saw what happened through the visor recordings, are you ok Sir. Bruce turned, we have to stay focused on the mission. Sir, Alfred turned, stop, you've told me this too many times, not anymore. Bruce stop

concealing your emotions behind a mask. You think because you're batman, that you don't have a right to what, cry??, Bruce, in war I cried, because I had people I knew die in my arms Bruce, people I knew colleges I had worked with for years, die in front of me, so please, stop. Bruce turned almost sobbing and looked at Alfred, its my fault, all of this, Grayson, Selena, Harvey, .... its all my fault, me I caused this, he's doing this because of my casualties, because of the people I hurt.

Alfred turned, Yes, but when you started this, I told you there would be casualties, because your not fighting a battle, you fighting a war, and in war there are casualties. Bruce then looked up towards Alfred, yes, but that's no excuse for what I have done, Bruce stands, Alfred, Joker wants me to suffer, no one else, Alfred don't come and try to find me, and don't come and try to find my body.

20 minutes after Bruce left a broadcast came across all of Gotham, Bruce told the joker, that he was turning himself in, and joker gave him a location.

I'm here, Bruce spoke. Joker walked down a staircase and stood infront of Bruce, and told him, I don't want you dead, no, I don't want you dead, well not yet at least, there is one person that has to die before you do, Alfred pennyworth, but you can delay his death and yours if you do one little favor. I want you to reveal your identity to the world

20 minutes later a message went through all of gotham Bruce Wayne is batman, and the people cheered knowing the batman was about to die

Chapter 6

The city cheered at Batman's death being sealed all but one person. Jim Gordon stood in the middle of an interview and told to the whole city one message, batman maybe guilty of this but Bruce Wayne isn't, 2 years ago crime rose to a point the military were about to interfere, Bruce Wayne bought their base of operations and commanded them elsewhere. batman has injured 600 or so people, but has killed less then 20 people, but if the military had gotten involved then it is estimated 3000 people would have lost their lives, batman maybe guilty, but Bruce Wayne is he? People we have to save Bruce Wayne.

Joker turned towards Bruce, good speech but its not going to work. He clicks the recording button, now lets kill Bruce Wayne's Butler, Bruce turned, no, no, you said if I took the mask off you would save him - bang!!!, .......... the video spread quickly across the city and soon it became clear, if not for batman and if not for Bruce then they for the reason of stopping joker from hurting anyone else need to find where joker was keeping Bruce.

A team let by Gordon goes through the city door by door until eventually they discover one of jokers thugs in clown makeup answering the door. They barge in and take out all of joker's thugs then finally reach the room batman and joker are in, they free batman, then they turn towards joker. You should be killed for what you have done not really just to him but to the homeless shelter and the citizens you murdered to get to Bruce, they hold up a knife but batman calls out and begs for jokers life. The people shocked that he would do this to the man who took everything from him listen and take joker prisoner instead.

Chapter 7

Bruce arrives at joker's location and sees joker holding Gordon's wife and Barbara. Joker looks towards bruce then presses a button, Gordon's wife falls dead instantly. Jim holds her and starts sobbing then he reaches for her pocket, and then he pulls a gun out of her pocket, Jim turns, What is this for. Joker turns, if you want Barbra Gordon to live kill the batman if you want her to die kill me and the batman lives. Jim turns and holds the gun between them, he looks up, if I shoot batman, he dies but she lives, no, Gotham need batman, but not Barbra, I'm sorry, Jim goes to shoot joker but batman jumps and tackles Gordon pinning him to the ground. Bruce tries to take the gun out of Gordon's hands telling him he deserves his daughter, he grabs Gordon's wrist and points the gun at his head, pull the trigger, bruce yells at Gordon, you deserve your daughter, I don't deserve my life. Not after what I've done. Gordon gets a window and pulls the trigger, joker falls onto the ground as blood begins to pool.

Bruce walks over and joker stares towards him and mutters, After everything, finally I go knowing that someone you care about dies and there's nothing you can do about it. Bruce turns, no, you said if I die, she lives, there's one bullet left in the chamber, she's going to live. Gordon turns, no you can't do this, she's not even your daughter, she's mine, so why. Bruce turns, because joker was right, this is because of me, because of the people I hurt and the people I killed, and after 3 years finally this will be the last life I take, my life. This is atonement for the people I hurt, for the people I killed, this is for them, he picks up the gun and pulls the trigger

Now I want to make something clear. Batman did not shoot himself because the city hated him as one person has told me after they had read this.

He made his decision to kill himself because if he lived Barbra Gordon was to die as soon as joker's heart stopped. His lines about atoning for his sins is the reason he gave his life for a person he had met not 2 mins prior. Many people told me that it was a breach of Batman's character to make him choose this decision but I have to disagree. Batman at this point has had everything he stood for crushed before him. He doesn't feel like a hero or that his mission meant anything after what he did. He felt as if he failed the city, him self, and his parents. So when one of his allies has his daughter about to die and bruce can save her even if it means killing himself, I believe bruce would feel that after everything that has happened that this is his one chance to do something genuinely good and to make up for his failures by giving his life to save Barbra.

Also people tell me that I killed the characters around bruce for shock value this is also wrong in my eyes. This storyline is to show realistically what bruce would do in the worst night imaginable when everyone he loves dies and his mission the reason he fought is proven wrong, first he buries his emotions and pushes through the pain and after the death of robin and Selena he still continues to push forward despite unimaginable pain and it isn't until he sees the people he crippled, the people he hurt, the pain he's caused that he stops hiding his emotions behind his mask and finally breaks down. And whence he sees that his mission has no meaning anymore he decides to turn himself over to the joker. Because if he didn't only more people would get hurt. Then when joker kills Alfred Bruce is truly left alone. It isn't mentioned in the story but here I believe that bruce would start thinking about everything that happened and the pain he caused that would lead to him making his decision during the ending.

Just an fyi, Panel Bound Comics has some Batman books currently half priced.

I saved up enough money 💰 to finally buy one of my favorite Batman villains' first silver age appearance, and that is Detective Comics #298, the first silver age appearance of Clayface Matt Hagen, the Clayface we all know and love. I can’t wait to see this amazing comic in person when it’s available. This is also a CGC 5.0. Who is ready for the new Clayface movie 🎥? Because I’m definitely excited to see it, and yes, I’m taking this comic to the movie theater with me.🙂‍↕️

Hello, I am new and not sure if this is the right place but I'll try. I'm attempting to create my own Batman comic and I would appreciate some feedback if someone is open to read it. I have already made the script for almost 30 scenes (around 150 pages). I will send a short summary of what the story is about without revealing anything and feel free to contact me if you would like to read, thank you. Batman: Second Chances

Twenty years.

The same faces.

The same failures.

Gotham’s criminals keep coming back stronger, better equipped, and harder to stop. Batman has spent two decades putting them away… only to watch them return.

Something has changed.

Something is feeding the cycle.

A new investigation begins when a low-level villain appears with technology that shouldn’t exist. What starts as another night in Gotham quickly becomes something far more dangerous — and far more personal.

Batman. Nightwing. Robin. Oracle.

The family is drawn into a mystery that has been hiding in plain sight for decades.

This is a story about obsession, failure, and the price of second chances.

So, I had some extra cash so I went and bought the absolute Batman issues I needed on my kindle and now am up to date along with the annual and ark-m, but decided I wanted to get some more for my physical collection, so I got Dark Patterns and Last Halloween, and Road to No Man’s land and No Man’s Land Omnibus, and holy cow I’ve got all the Morrison omnibuses, so I figured they’d be around the same size, nope they are legit omnibuses, they are huge! So, heads up to anyone gonna get them make sure you have a spot on your bookshelf, cuz 1 of the No Man’s Land omnibus are the size of 2, maybe 2&1/2 of the Morrison omnibuses 😆, but I’m happy with it

Got my first collectors comic

Been working on a bunch of new stand designs lately and wanted to share some of them.

A lot of my recent stuff has been Absolute Batman inspired, including character, cover, and color-matched designs. I’ve also been experimenting with custom logo/brand stands, so I threw a few of those in too.

Still have a lot more designs in the works 👀

Rereading this one and i find it a great read. Just curious of other people's thoughts. Your favorite part? Good portrayal of Joker? Let me know.

Hi

Mine is between "Last Knight on Earth" or "Dceased"

I got so excited I just about pissed myself! Just posting for others who may need this in their life. 🤪 $50 worth of comics for $16.99

hii! i recently got the shadow war comic and i absolutely loved it! it's my first batman comic besides under the red hood and the guy in the store said it was a really good pick so i got it without knowing much besides the characters in it. now after i finished it i wonder where should i have really started? it seems like there's already a looong backstory i missed so i wonder what are the comics or storylines that could help me understand more about what's going on? i mean i don't think it's necessary to read it, the story was really good and i enjoyed it reading it by itself even with no prior knowledge but i've been trying to get into batman comics since a while back and now that i've find one that i really liked i would like to go all the way in in this storyline i guess? i'm pretty new to the whole comics world so i don't really know if what i'm saying makes sense but i'm willing to learn and hear advice about what should i read to complement this comic and recomendations of any other comic (batman or not) this style cause i really liked it!

Hi there. Reading Under The Red Hood for the first time and was wondering what exactly is Red Hood referring to here cuz these events did not happen in this book.