There is no superhero I can think of that better fits spooky season than Batman. I mean, if the bat motif wasn’t enough, the dark, often horror-based aspects of many of Batman’s stories make his comics the perfect ones to read to get into the right mood leading up to Halloween. While I could reasonably recommend any Batman comic for spooky season reading, these five have, in some ways, either a tie to Halloween specifically or stories that are outright scary.
From the very obvious comic choices to the more niche ones, consider grabbing these five Batman comics from a local shop or public library to read during spooky season.
Batman: The Long Halloween
Well duh. Arguably one of the best-known Batman storylines, The Long Halloween follows a series of killings surrounding the two main crime families of Gotham: The Falcones and the Maronis. Carmine Falcone serves as a significant antagonist, and over the course of the plot we see all of the most popular Batman villains, from the Joker and Scarecrow to various members of the prominent mob families. We even get to watch Two-Face’s origin story play out.
The comic gets its name from the fact that the story (and the killings) start and end on Halloween, one year apart. In between, they occur only on holidays, leading the central, unknown antagonist to be called “Holiday.”
This one comes in a DC Compact version, which is life-saving for the wallet. At only $10, you get the entire storyline of the run in one paperback, not to mention it is the “standard” size and easy to carry around. I can tell you for a fact: the hype around this arc is not undeserved — it has a plot that just sucks you in, the storylines are interwoven very well, and the art style is detailed and beautiful.
Gotham by Gaslight
Autumn is the perfect time for a little bit of steampunk. Gotham by Gaslight is a reimagining of Gotham as a Victorian-era city, reminiscent of London. History buffs and true crime junkies will get a kick out of the first storyline, centering around Batman investigating Jack the Ripper, who has been murdering women in the city. His investigation is interrupted by the sudden arrest of Bruce Wayne, who is suspected to be the killer.
Released in 1989, the comic begins with a flashback to an old-timey version of Bruce’s parents’ murder. Then—get this—it was a story Bruce was telling to Sigmund Freud himself, who is a friend of his. We get introduced very slowly to Jack the Ripper, whose thoughts appear alongside the Batman’s throughout the story. As the story continues, we get to read journal entries from Bruce’s time in prison.
Batman’s costume is especially exciting in this comic, with a high collar, a cloak with a capelet, and heavy gauntlets. His mask is not sleek and machine-made, that much is obvious, and it fits the period well.
With the gruesome subject matter, and the steampunk details in the art, the scene is set for a great Halloween horror story. After you finish the comic, you can read the sequel, Master of the Future, and watch the animated movie based on the story. In addition, a new comic line called League for Justice began in 2025, set in the same universe Wonder Woman, Superman, and Green Lantern are introduced, among other Victorian-era versions of heroes and villains. So there’s plenty of this Elseworlds universe to go around.
The Doom that Came to Gotham
Calling all Lovecraft fans! This one is for you. Co-written by Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy, this comic’s art style definitely draws some parallels between the two. With pronounced shadows and a distinct, dark art style, The Doom that Came to Gotham definitely leans into cosmic Lovecraftian horror, which the eerie setting of Gotham makes easy.
Although Gotham by Gaslight is certainly more steampunk-inspired, Batman’s costume in this one also draws inspiration from those elements. It takes place slightly later, in the 1920s. We follow a Bruce Wayne who has been sailing around the world, exploring, and doing odd investigation jobs for 20 years. We also get pretty unsettling and very unique introductions to Mr. Freeze and the Penguin, both of which intertwine with the horror elements seamlessly. Plenty more iconic DC characters make appearances, from Talia al Ghul to the Robins.
Batman and Dracula
Is it as goofy as it sounds? Honestly, no. This vampire drama takes itself seriously and implements genuine horror elements. That said, the crossover certainly proves that anything really is possible in the DC universe.
In this crossover, Dracula has come to Gotham, and he immediately starts making trouble. He and his horde of vampires specifically target the underprivileged of the city: from prostitutes to the homeless. Three murders go by without making major news, but Batman is watching. As his investigation continues, I won’t spoil it but I will say he encounters the supernatural up-close and personally.
He begins to grapple with his two identities, only finding purpose in being the Batman, and calling Bruce Wayne “dead.” He begins abandoning his people-facing duties. We get an intimate, telling portrait of Bruce Wayne and Gotham alike. The battle between Batman and Dracula spans three volumes, starting with Red Rain from 1992.
Batman: Haunted Knight
Definitely a shorter read, Haunted Knight centers around Halloween. It is a three-story compilation of spooky, themed stories. The first story, “Fear,” follows Bruce juggling his two identities on Halloween night, in spite of his exhaustion after his search for the Scarecrow. Bruce’s love interest in the short is quick and witty… and probably was only inserted to make niche references to classic films and songs.
The second short story is called “Madness,” and, predictably, the Mad Hatter is the primary villain. Early in the story, we learn why Batman is bothered by the Mad Hatter more than the other crazed antagonists he goes after: Alice in Wonderland reminds him of his mother. This lets us in on a very intimate part of Bruce Wayne, and from the get-go. A second storyline runs through this short as well, following Barbara Gordon as a young teen, who is adopted in this version. She and her father have a turbulent relationship, as most parents do with their children at that age. It is interesting to see Barbara’s (late) childhood and Jim’s parenting style in a way not many comics explore.
“Ghosts” finishes the triad with a spin on the classic Christmas Carol specter trio. The story starts with a fight against the Penguin, after which Batman is visited by three spirits who take the forms of his villains. It follows the same structure as A Christmas Carol, with Bruce seeing past versions of himself on Halloween, with his parents, et cetera. It’s an interesting take on the story, to be sure.
Again, while any Batman comic would probably be adequate autumnal reading, these five are particularly seasonal in theme and content. Plus, The Long Halloween, Gotham by Gaslight, The Doom that Came to Gotham, and Batman Vs. Dracula has had movies made based on their plotlines, so watching those afterwards makes for double the fun spooky activities.
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The post 5 Batman Comics You Need to Read This Spooky Season appeared first on Nerdist.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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