Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight - Story Arcs - 1989-2007 Series

1989-2007 Series

Shaman (1-5)

By Dennis O'Neil, Ed Hannigan, and John Beatty

Bruce Wayne and a bounty hunter climb a mountain in Alaska as they try to capture a murderer named Thomas Woodley. Woodley quickly manages to kill the bounty hunter before falling off the cliff after a small fight with Wayne. Wayne's supplies are lost with Woodley which nearly results in Wayne's death when a Native American with her grandfather discover him. The grandfather is able to save Wayne's life by taking Wayne to his cabin and tells him a story on how The Bat gained its wings, while wearing a mask of a bat. After he recuperates and leaves, Wayne is warned by the granddaughter never to tell anyone the story.

Upon his return to Gotham City shortly after, Wayne attempts to fight crime but fails miserably. That night after he fails a bat flies into the room and reminds Wayne of the Native American's story from years earlier and so he decides to create a costume for himself and become Batman.

Shaman #1, when published in single-issue form, was printed with several different covers as collectors items.

Gothic (6-10)

By Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson

A man known as "Mr. Whisper" is killing off mob bosses one by one. The mobsters explain to Batman that he was a child killer over thirty years ago, and (similar to the film M) the mobsters had found and killed him when there was too much pressure from the cops over them. At the same time, Batman's investigation links Mr. Whisper with a hideous event in Bruce Wayne's school days, a bargain reminiscent of Don Giovanni, and the Gotham City Cathedral.

Prey (11-15)

By Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, and Terry Austin

Batman must contend with the brilliant, but deranged, psychiatrist, Hugo Strange, who foments a massive smear campaign against the Dark Knight and attempts to uncover his secret identity. The story also includes appearances from Catwoman and the one off appearance of police officer Max Cort, who creates a new vigilante, Night Scourge.

Venom (16-20)

By Dennis O'Neil, Russell Braun, Trevor Von Eeden, and José Luis García-López

When Batman fails to save the life of a young girl held for ransom, he decides to try a new experimental drug designed by her father called Venom.

Faith (21-23)

By Mike W. Barr, Bart Sears, and Randy Elliott

A drug addict is rescued from a fatal beating by Batman, which inspires him to organize a group of neighborhood vigilantes to take up Batman's cause. However, his addled dreams convince him that he must supplant Batman. Meanwhile, Dr. Leslie Thompkins discovers Bruce Wayne's secret identity.

Flyer (24-26)

By Howard Chaykin and Gil Kane

One of the officers who was injured during the siege against Batman in Year One resurfaces in a mechanized combat suit, targeting Batman for death.

Destroyer (part 2 of 3) (27)

By Dennis O'Neil, Chris Sprouse, and Bruce Patterson

A miscreant is blowing up Gotham's newer buildings, which according to him, have overshadowed the old Gotham & his destruction leads to Art. The other parts appear in Batman & Detective Comics.

Faces (28-30)

By Matt Wagner

Two-Face takes over a small island with plans to create a society in his own scarred image.

Family (31)

By James D. Hudnall and Brent Anderson

After Bruce forces Alfred to take a vacation to Corto Maltese, he must rescue him from kidnappers.

Blades (32-34)

By James Robinson and Tim Sale

While the Batman is distracted with a serial killer who targets senior citizens, a new vigilante, the swashbuckling Cavalier, begins his own war on crime.

Destiny (35-36)

By Bo Hampton and Mark Kneece

Batman meets another costumed vigilante from Norway who dresses like a Viking, and learns an ancient tale of a Norse hero known as the Bat Man.

Mercy (37)

By Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Colin MacNeil

In his early days, Batman trained a female rookie cop, Mercedes "Mercy" Stone, to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Five years later, he must rescue her from a pit-fighting ring.

Legend of the Dark Mite (38)

By Alan Grant and Kevin O'Neill

An asylum inmate claims to be tormented by an imp who idolizes Batman. The first Post-Crisis appearance of Bat-Mite.

Mask (39-40)

By Bryan Talbot

Batman wakes up in a hospital bed surrounded by Doctors who tell him he is an alcoholic bum who dresses in a batsuit made of garbage. Is it some sort of hallucination or is his life as Batman the real illusion?

Sunset (41)

By Tom Joyner PhD, Keith S. Wilson, and Jim Fern

While fleeing the police, Batman encounters an actress-turned-vampire who was thought to have died 40 years ago, and Batman is hypnotized into doing her will.

Hothouse (42-43)

By John Francis Moore and P. Craig Russell

Pamela Isley is out of the asylum after her first encounter with Batman. But when one of her colleagues dies under mysterious circumstances her rehabilitation is called into question.

Turf (44-45)

By Steven Grant and Shawn McManus

Batman and Captain James Gordon go after racist cops who are brutalizing and murdering blacks.

Heat (46-49)

By Doug Moench and Russ Heath

When a cat-themed killer starts "hunting" young women Batman and Catwoman form an uneasy alliance to stop him. The story features an alternate origin and characterization of Thomas Blake, modern versions of the character tend to ignore the version from this story.

Images (50)

By Dennis O'Neil and Bret Blevins

A retelling of the first encounter between Batman and the Joker, based on the story in Batman #1, with elements from Year One.

Snitch (51)

By Robert Loren Fleming and David G. Klein

A highly-skilled hitman whose rule is to only fire a single shot targets Batman and Gotham's other defender, Ragman.

Tao (52-53)

By Alan Grant and Arthur Ranson

A man from Batman's past comes to Gotham seeking vengeance.

Sanctum (54)

By Dan Raspler and Mike Mignola

While hunting a serial killer, Batman discovers an undead man who attempts to kill him in order to live again.

Watchtower (55-57)

By Chuck Dixon and Mike McMahon

A tale of an alternate future, unusual among the series' typical "early years" format.

Storm (58)

By Andrew Donkin, Graham Brand, and John Higgins

A foreign diplomat whose country is guilty of violating human rights is targeted by a group of terrorists.

Quarry (59-61)

By Dennis O'Neil, Ron Wagner, Eduardo Barreto, and Ron McCain

Part of the second act of the Knightfall trilogy

KnightsEnd (62-63)

By Chuck Dixon, Barry Kitson, Ron Wagner, and Ron McCain

Part of the final act of the Knightfall trilogy

Terminus (64)

By Jamie Delano, Chris Bachalo, and Mark Pennington

Batman tracks a drug addict to a hotel filled with lost souls.

Going Sane (65-68)

By J. M. DeMatteis, Joe Staton, and Steve Mitchell

When the Joker traps Batman in an explosion, he believes that he is finally rid of his arch-foe. As a result, his insane mind returns to sanity, and the Ace of Knaves forgets his bloodstained past, starting a new life as the average citizen "Joseph Kerr". Batman, however, is still alive, and his return to Gotham may mean the end to The Joker's newfound happiness...

Criminals (69-70)

By Steven Grant and Mike Zeck

Batman goes undercover as a prison inmate.

Werewolf (71-73)

By James Robinson and John Watkiss

A series of murders connected to Wayne Enterprises leads Batman to London. While there, he discovers a supernatural mystery.

Engines (74-75)

By Ted McKeever

A story told from the perspective of Gotham's newest serial killer, a slaughterhouse employee who covets the aging and decaying process.

Sleeping (76-78)

By Scott Hampton

When a car accident leaves Bruce Wayne comatose, the Batman must travel through the underworld back to the land of the living. On the way, Batman meets another coma victim in need of assistance. Before returning to the real world, he must unravel the connection between himself and his evil "soul twin," all while being pursued by an underworld demon.

Favorite Things (79)

By Mark Millar, Steve Yeowell, and Dick Giordano

On Christmas Eve, Batman combs the city for a gang known as the "Chessmen", who have been stealing presents from a multitude of wealthy households - including Wayne Manor.

Idols (80-82)

By James Vance, Dougie Braithwaite, and Sean Hardy

A new boutique is cashing in on the Bat-craze sweeping Gotham. Captain Gordon must cooperate with the FBI when a circuit killer strikes in Gotham. Meanwhile, Batman is on the trail of a copycat vigilante in a bat-mask while trying to stop the violence his publicity might cause.

Infected (83-84)

By Warren Ellis and John McCrea

Two escaped super-soldier experiments wreak havoc in Gotham. Batman intervenes as all of Gotham might be the next victim.

Citadel (85)

By James Robinson and Tony Salmons

Batman ascends a heavily guarded tower, laced with death traps, to reach his quarry on the top floor.

Conspiracy (86-88)

By Doug Moench, J.H. Williams III, and Mick Gray

A series of ritual murders in Gotham leads Batman to Los Angeles. As the stakes get higher, Batman and a new ally work together to unravel a conspiracy that reaches from drug-peddling biker gangs to the CIA and a mysterious religious order.

Clay (89-90)

By Alan Grant and Quique Alcatena

A retelling of the first clash between Batman and Clayface (Matt Hagen). Based on the story "The Challenge of Clay-Face" in Detective Comics #298.

Freakout (91-93)

By Garth Ennis and Will Simpson

Stories (94)

By Michael T. Gilbert

A writer by the name of Saul Fisher finds himself the target of an assassination attempt by a group of religious fundamentalists known as "The Enlightened". As a result, Fisher finds himself trapped in a powerless elevator, panicking as the gunmen get closer. To help calm him, the elevator's other passengers, from an aged Julie Madison to a retired policeman and his grandson, share with him tales of their encounters with Batman.

Note: This story features homages to the Batman of the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Dark Age.

Dirty Tricks (95-97)

By Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Anthony Williams

Steps (98-99)

By Paul Jenkins and Sean Phillips

Batman must track down a new serial killer on the street who murders prostitutes with a crossbow, with the only witness to the case an Autistic teenager.

Choices (100)

By Dennis O'Neil and Dave Taylor

A retelling of the origins of the first Robin, Dick Grayson. Based on the story in Detective Comics #38.

The Incredible Adventures of Batman (101)

By John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra

Spook (102-104)

By James Robinson and Paul Johnson

Duty (105-106)

By C.J. Henderson, Trevor Von Eeden, and Josef Rubenstein

When the Joker is broken out of Arkham by a terrorist group while Batman is working on a case in the Middle East, Captain James Gordon and Sergeant Harvey Bullock must find a way to stop the madman without the help of the caped crusader.

Note: This story is set in the days before Gordon achieved the rank of police commissioner, and Bullock the rank of detective. In addition, Batman does not appear in a single panel of the story.

Stalking (107-108)

By Lee Marrs and Eddy Newell

The Primal Riddle (109-111)

By Steve Englehart, Dusty Abell, and Drew Geraci

A battle with the Riddler results in Batman being badly electrocuted, resulting in a near death experience that separates his "spirit" from his body. As the soulless Batman struggles to foil Nigma's latest scheme, his "spirit" wanders around Gotham, possessing a wide variety of "hosts" from a small boy to the Riddler himself.

Shipwreck (112-113)

By Dan Vado, Norman Felche, and Frank Cirocco

After Batman foils a group of mercenaries in their attempt to free an imprisoned national, the group attempts to hold a cruise ship full of wealthy Gothamites hostage. Batman must fight his way through the bowels of the ship to confront the mercenary leader and save the passengers.

Playground (114)

By James Robinson, Dan Brereton, and Tim Bradstreet

Batman makes the foolish mistake of blindly confronting a professional mob assassin from Chicago on the latter's home turf, resulting in him suffering multiple wounds and becoming trapped in the slums of the windy city. A cat-and-mouse game with the assassin ensues, as the dark knight struggles and interacts with the homeless men and women that populate the slums.

The Darkness (115)

By Darren Vincenzo and Luke McDonnell

No Man's Land (116-126)

Part of the "No Man's Land" storyline

The Arrow and the Bat (127-131)

By Dennis O'Neil, Sergio Cariello, and Matt Ryan

Siege (132-136)

By Archie Goodwin, Marshall Rogers, and Bob Wiacek

Set in the timeframe during which Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth lived in a downtown penthouse instead of Wayne Manor (in Batman publications from 1970 to 1982). An aging mercenary (and former protege of Bruce's grandfather Jack Wayne) uses a manufactured gang war and a mercenaries' convention as cover for an attack on Gotham and Wayne Manor. Silver St. Cloud briefly returns to Bruce's life as well.

"Siege" was one of the final stories written by Archie Goodwin before his death.

Terror (137-141)

By Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, and Jimmy Palmiotti

Spiritual sequel to the earlier Legends storyline "Prey". Prof. Hugo Strange resurfaces and breaks Dr. Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow) out of asylum to terrorize Batman and Catwoman. Strange enhances Crane's fear toxin with a hallucinogen and gives him subconscious hatred of Batman, in addition to a "haunted" house as base of operations.

The Demon Laughs (142-145)

By Chuck Dixon, Jim Aparo, and John Cebollero

Ra's al Ghul recruits the Joker in his latest scheme to kill off ninety-five percent of the world's population, and the Ace of Knaves is all too happy to accept. An attempted double-crossing on The Joker's part, however, results in him being gunned down by Ra's' followers, and if Batman is to have a hope of stopping Ra's from spreading The Joker's virus, he must save the life of his greatest foe.

Bad (146-148)

By Doug Moench and Barry Kitson

Grimm (149-153)

By J. M. DeMatteis, Trevor Von Eeden, and José Luis García-López

Colossus (154-155)

By Mike Baron and Bill Reinhold

Blink (156-158)

By Dwayne McDuffie, Val Semeiks, and Dan Green

Batman teams up with a man who can see through the eyes of others in order to track down the leader of an underground snuff film ring.

Loyalties (159-161)

By John Ostrander, David Lopez, and Dan Green

Captain James Gordon has been kidnapped and brought back to his hometown of Chicago to be tortured into revealing the name of the last surviving eyewitness to a grisly murder. That witness was his young niece, Barbara.

Auteurism (162-163)

By John Arcudi and Roger Langridge

The Joker, deeming Gotham's newspapers inadequate to represent his "true self", enlists the help of Buddy Kantor, a highly eccentric comedian/filmmaker, to chronicle his exploits. In the end, however, Buddy's inflated ego and tenuous grasp on reality may prove to be too much even for the Clown Prince of Crime.

Don't Blink (164-167)

By Dwayne McDuffie, Val Semeiks, and Dan Green

Urban Legend (168)

By Bill Willingham and Tom Fowler

Irresistible (169-171)

By Tom Peyer, Tony Harris, and Wade von Grawbadger

Testament (172-176)

By John Wagner and Chris Brunner

Lost Cargo (177-178)

By Devin Grayson, Jean-Jacques Dzialowski, and George Rodriguez

Full Circle (179)

By A.J. Lieberman and Greg Scott

The Secret City (180-181)

By Dylan Horrocks, Ramon Bachs, and Jon Holdredge

War Games (182-184)

Part of the "War Games" storyline

Riddle Me That (185-189)

By Shane McCarthy, Tommy Castillo, and Rodney Ramos

Cold Snap (190-191)

By J. Torres, David Lopez, and Fernando Blanco

Mr. Freeze is acting strangely; Batman fears he may be preparing for suicide.

Snow (192-196)

By J.H. Williams III, Dan Curtis Johnson, and Seth Fisher

When Captain Gordon refuses to give him access to GCPD files on a major criminal, Batman takes things into his own hands and assembles a private team of investigators. At the same time, researcher Victor Fries suffers tragedy and goes on a rampage against his employers.

Blaze of Glory (197-199)

By Will Pfeifer and Chris Weston

Emergency (200)

By Eddie Campbell, Daren White, and Bart Sears

During his latest battle with Batman, the Joker is inadvertently exposed to his own Joker venom.

Cold Case (201-203)

By Christos N. Gage, Ron Wagner, and Bill Reinhold

Madmen of Gotham (204-206)

By Justin Gray and Steven Cummings

Darker than Death (207-211)

By Bruce Jones and Ariel Olivetti

Chicks Dig the Bat (212)

By Adam Beechen, Steve Scott, and Nathan Massengill

Otaku (213)

By Matt Wayne and Steven Cummings

The murder of a black-market dealer who specializes in authentic Batman-related memorabilia (lost Batarangs, cowls, etc.) leads Batman to Akihabara, where he must comb the Electric City's various themed establishments to find a Yakuza leader that has a rather disturbing fetish for costumed heroes.

Superstitious and Cowardly (214)

By Christos N. Gage and Phil Winslade

Batman once again finds himself at odds with Deadshot, as the infamous assassin has been contracted to kill an important witness in an upcoming mob trial.

Viewpoint (0)

Bridging art by Vince Giarrano, plus excerpts from other issues.

Duel (Annual 1)

By Dennis O'Neil, Jim Aparo, Keith Giffen, Malcolm Jones III, Joe Quesada, Josef Rubenstein, Tom Lyle, Ty Templeton Dan Spiegle, James Blackburn, and Michael Golden Mike Mignola (Cover Artist)

Batman has illusions about the metaphorical "burden" he has to carry.

Vows (Annual 2)

By Dennis O'Neil, Michael Netzer, and Luke McDonnell

Transformation (Annual 3)

By Dennis O'Neil, Mike Manley, Luke McDonnell, Gray Morrow, and Ricardo Villagran

Citizen Wayne (Annual 4)

By Brian Augustyn, Mark Waid, Joe Staton, and Horacio Ottolini

Wings (Annual 5)

By Chuck Dixon and Quique Alcatena

Retells the origin story of Man-Bat, originally from Detective Comics #400.

Executioner (Annual 6)

By Alan Grant, Barry Kitson, and Vince Giarrano

I Am A Gun (Annual 7)

By James Robinson, Steve Yeowell, and Russ Heath