Matt Reeves' superhero movie, The Batman, is one of the highest-anticipated movies in DCEU history. So, now is the perfect opportunity to read the comics that match the script's material, from stories about Batman to those of his iconic villains who will be appearing in the film.
The Batman appears to be telling an original story but fans have noticed that it seems to be influenced by certain comic book storylines. Even Reeves himself has stated some of his inspirations behind his take on the Caped Crusader and his rogue gallery.
Penguin: Pain And Prejudice
Nearly unrecognizable in the role, Colin Farrell is bringing Batman's longtime rival the Penguin to life in The Batman. The Penguin is one of Batman's oldest villains in the comics and he's gone through many reinventions over the years. One of his best reimaginings is with the story Penguin: Pain and Prejudice.
This 2012 story by Gregg Hurwitz is a dark and grim origin story, showing how Oswald went from an emotionally and physically abused child to one of Gotham's most powerful crimelords. There is also a story in the present being told, both stories giving more depth to someone who is often considered a silly villain.
Batman: Earth One
Instead of trying to work with the main canon, Batman: Earth One is a complete reboot of Batman on an alternate Earth. It presents the Dark Knight in a grounded modernized world with new twists and turns, such as a more flawed Batman and a more realistic depiction of the Penguin.
Many fans have noted that Farrell's Penguin looks uncannily similar to the Earth One version of the character. Even the leaner, younger take on Batman can be compared to how Robert Pattinson seems to be portraying him.
Batman: Arkham – The Riddler
Though Penguin looks to be playing an important role, it has been shown in the marketing that the main threat in The Batman is none other than Edward "Nygma" Nashton, aka the Riddler. The Riddler himself has never had events or miniseries to shine but he has a collection of small stories that are enjoyable.
That's where Batman: Arkham – The Riddler comes in, compilating many Riddler comics into one book, from his first appearance in Detective Comics #140 to the modern comics at the time such as when he turned himself in to police custody. This book is perfect for those who want to read the best of the Riddler before seeing Paul Dano's portrayal.
Secret Origins Special Vol. 2 #1
A plethora of villains was rumored to be appearing in The Batman before any confirmation was given. The Penguin, the Riddler, and Catwoman are set to appear, but there were rumors of Two-Face, the Mad Hatter, and even Firefly at one point.
With so many villains, Secret Origins Special Vol. 2 #1 seems to be the perfect choice as it is an anthology of stories focusing on Gotham's most wanted. The Penguin, the Riddler, and Two-Face all get their own stories.
Batman: Ego
From the creator of DC: The New Frontier, Batman: Ego tells a different story. Instead of the regular vigilante story, Batman: Ego puts emphasis on the psychological side of Bruce Wayne as he deals with the trauma of being the Dark Knight. It's less of a superhero story and more of a psychological thriller.
Pattinson has spoken about how The Batman will dive into the dark mind of his portrayal of Batman, showing how damaged he is. According to Gizmodo, even Reeves himself stated that one of his biggest inspirations for his film is Batman: Ego.
Batman: The Long Halloween
It's unknown what her motive is but it's clear that Zoe Kravitz's Catwoman and Batman work together extensively in The Batman to fight both the Penguin and the Riddler. This dynamic is nothing new, as their partnership has been featured in many comics over several decades.
However, from the darker tone to the inclusion of John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, it would seem that Reeves is taking a few notes from the famous detective story, Batman: The Long Halloween. This story is one of the most famous Batman reinventions that focused on the hero trying to stop a serial killer.
Batman: Dark Victory
Jeph Loeb, writer of The Long Halloween, struck gold again with his follow-up Batman: Dark Victory. This is another detective noir story in which Batman is going after a mysterious serial killer but he also meets Dick Grayson, who becomes the first Robin.
It would seem that Loeb is a heavy influence on Reeves because both The Long Halloween and Dark Victory match the tone that Reeves seems to be aiming for. Even the marketing for The Batman has everything in red and black, similar to the key artwork for Batman: Dark Victory.
Batman: Year One
Frank Miller is a controversial but multi-franchise writer with his early works with Batman leaving a huge impact on the character. Batman: Year One helped in revamping Batman, establishing him again as the dark and brutal detective as he was originally intended by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.
Gone were the campy adventures and the over-the-top villains and in their place was a gritty look at the first year Batman operated in Gotham City but from Jim Gordon's perspective. Fans have noticed that bits and pieces of Year One can be seen in footage for The Batman, which makes sense given the younger Bruce Wayne.
Batman: Year Two
Rather than an origin story, The Batman is skipping that and showing Batman in his second year in Gotham. This is similar to the underrated video game Batman: Arkham Origins but also the sequel to Frank Miller's Year One known as Batman: Year Two.
Batman: Year Two shows the still youthful Batman being pushed to his limits by the villain known as the Reaper. This story saw Batman struggling with his non-lethal methods and even swapping to using a gun, leading to major consequences for his actions. With The Batman taking place in the second year, some fans wonder if Pattinson's iteration will struggle with similar conflicts.
Batman: Zero Year
Similar to Year One, Batman: Zero Year took readers back in time to Batman's first year as a vigilante. This incarnation is the New 52 version of Batman as he evolves into the Dark Knight in a more modern take on the mythos, similar to Earth One.
Like The Batman, Zero Year is not an origin story of Batman but rather the origin of Batman's career fighting supervillains. It introduced new versions of villains including Doctor Death and even a darker version of the Riddler. Even the armored suit with military tactical gear is similar to what is featured in The Batman.