Decades have passed since the debut of Batman and he continues to be a highly popular comic book character. Given his dark and brooding persona, many of his recent comic book storylines cover mature themes around vigilance and crime. The 2010s were a particularly important era for the character as this marked the advent of The New 52 reboot along with major limited series.
Apart from the emergence of several Robins, James Gordon also became Batman for a brief period while evil versions of Batman were also introduced in this period. All in all, it was a major decade to reinvent the ever-growing mythos of the Dark Knight.
Dark Nights: Metal (Complete Series)
The six-issue limited series Dark Nights: Metal revealed the possibilities of a dark multiverse that accommodates evil versions of the caped crusader. As Batman chances upon this multiverse, he must stop seven other evil alternative versions of Batman before the Dark god Barbatos unleashes doom on Earth.
Dark Nights: Metal is perhaps most significant for introducing the menacing Batman villain known as the Batman Who Laughs. Another high point is Greg Capullo's detailed art that brings out the dark and edgy tones of the storyline.
Court Of Owls (Batman Vol 2 #1-7)
Heralding the arrival of The New 52 version of Batman, Court of Owls was the first storyline of the series. It makes for a thrilling ride as Batman uncovers the activities of the titular organization, a collective of wealthy Gothamites who kidnap children and turn them into assassins.
Instead of just engaging in full-fledged action, the comic also plays out as an engaging noir-thriller as the initial issues find Bruce Wayne investigating the underground society. Even when he suits up to fight the assassins known as Talons, they only prove to be worthy opponents. In this sense, the Court of Owls storyline humanizes Batman while also revealing his weaknesses.
Joker War (Batman Vol 3 #95-100)
As the title suggests, this comic is centered upon the Joker as he plans to switch roles with Batman. With Bruce Wayne turning into the Joker, the 'clown prince of crime' would take on the role of Gotham's protector.
Joker War added a new dimension to Batman and the Joker's ever-lasting rivalry. In fact, Batman is forced to even question his morals in this comic as he wonders whether he should finally kill the Joker to prevent further trouble. However, doing so would go against his own 'no-killing' rule. Such moral aspects make the storyline all the more thought-provoking.
Bruce Wayne: The Road Home (Complete Series)
A series of eight one-shots, The Road Home is set in a world where Batman is presumed to be dead. Bruce Wayne however continues living under the new identity of The Insider. Each of the stories plays out as Wayne's memories for the people who made him who he is.
Fans would be more than delighted to go through The Road Home with the spotlight on iconic characters ranging from Catwoman to Robin to even Ra's al Ghul. The concept of an aging Batman musing on his past adds a more heartfelt perspective on these characters instead of serving as a formulaic origin story.
Death Of The Family (Batman Vol 2 #13-17)
As mentioned earlier, Batman's journey is incomplete without the people who support him. In Death of the Family, a particularly ruthless Joker aims to hurt everyone who is close to the vigilante, including Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon. The very fact that the title is an allusion to the heartbreaking death of Jason Todd in the Batman comic A Death in the Family suggests the haunting nature of this storyline.
Death of the Family also drew praise for Scott Snyder's horrifying depiction of Joker. This incarnation takes up some of the classic elements while adding new perspectives to his obsessive mannerisms.
Endgame (Batman Vol 2 #35-40)
Since the events of Death of the Family, Joker disappeared for two years returning only in 2014's Endgame. It's a spectacular comeback for Scott Snyder's acclaimed take on the character as he infects major members of the Justice League with an advanced version of his toxin.
Endgame has a lot of elements that would delight fans. Firstly, it shows how Batman always has a contingency plan ready in case members of the Justice League turns against him. Even in Endgame, he fights off Flash, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman with his robotic armor Fenrir. Then, there are plenty of back-and-forth dialogues between the central arch-rivals as Joker confesses how Batman bores him now and he wishes to end their enmity once and for all.
Batman: Noël (One-Shot)
This 112-page one-shot is an interesting spin on not just the Batman universe but also Charles Dickens' classic novella A Christmas Carol. Batman plays the role of Scrooge as he grows increasingly grumpy in his pursuit of the Joker. Meanwhile, Jason Todd, Superman, and the Joker serve as the Ghosts of Christmas.
The original Charles Dickens story has been adapted multiple times but adding Batman to the mix is a surprisingly wholesome combination. Artist Lee Bermejo (who had earlier worked on the one-shot Joker) returns with his trademark gritty and realistic style providing some aesthetically pleasing visuals.
Zero Year (Batman Vol 2 #21-33)
With the Batman comics juggernaut Scott Snyder returning as writer, Zero Year put a spin on Batman's early years as a vigilante. He's shown to have hardly any interest in Wayne Enterprises and focuses mainly on countering the evil plans of the so-called 'Red Hood' gang and the Riddler as they wreak havoc in Gotham City.
Batman's comic book origin story in Batman: Year One has marked a watershed moment in Batman comics. And yet Zero Year serves as a fresh origin with Bruce Wayne depicted as a more naive and righteous individual. With the upcoming Matt Reeves Batman film reintroducing another origin for the hero, Zero Year makes for a timely read.
Robin War (Crossover)
Robin War was one of the many crossover events that involved comics like Grayson, Teen Titans, We Are Robin, and so on. The plot takes place during James Gordon's tenure as Batman during which the Court of Owls orchestrated attacks on multiple Robins.
It is a major storyline to show how ideologically different each Robin is from the other. Under Bruce Wayne, several crime fighters have taken up the alias but all of them have had different notions of vigilance. Now, with a common threat, the Robins are desperate to devise coordinated counterattacks. This is what makes Robin War a major exercise in teamwork.
Doomsday Clock (Complete Series)
Batman was one of the many characters to make an appearance in the Doomsday Clock. As the caped crusader investigates, Doctor Manhattan intervened in the Flashpoint era leading to a crossover between the New 52 DC Universe and the Watchmen universe.
In this way, Doomsday Clock serves as a conclusion to The New 52 and Rebirth storylines as well as a direct sequel to the original Watchmen. While Doomsday Clock might not be as genre-defying as Frank Miller's predecessor series, it still stands on its own as an ambitious ensemble-driven event. Batman also gets his moments to shine as he allies himself with the new Rorschach to know the truth.