Detective Comics Reading Order

This reading order is designed to give an outline of the Detective Comics series from DC Comics. It attempts to find the best way to showcase the narrative that stretches through this series.

The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.

Jump to: New 52 – Rebirth

New 52

The New 52 Detective Comics series takes place in the rebooted New 52 DC Universe. Despite this reboot having a massive impact on most characters, the main character of the Detective Comics series, Batman, appears to have had most of his history preserved, albeit in a more condensed form. However, this entire Detective Comics series primarily focuses on the present and only makes occasional references to the past, so knowledge of Batman’s history isn’t necessary in order to understand this comic.

The Detective Comics series is mostly independent and simply details one Batman adventure after another, occasionally building on relationships or newly introduced villains as it progresses. The exceptions to this rule are when it intersects with crossover events from the main Batman series (Reading Order). For the Night of the Owls (Reading Order) or Death of the Family (Reading Order) events, this just involves a crossover issue but, for the Batman: Endgame (Reading Order) event, a major change to the statues quo is introduced.

Notes

1. Detective Comics #8 is a tie-in to the Batman: Night of the Owls (Reading Order) event. Readers can understand the issue on its own, as narration summarizes the important pieces of the event. However, reading the entire event provides additional context. If readers choose to read the whole event, they should check ComicBookWire's "Batman: Night of the Owls Reading Order" to see where Detective Comics #8 fits within the event.
2. Detective Comics #15-16 is a tie-in to the Batman: Death of the Family (Reading Order) event. Readers can understand these issues on their own, as narration summarizes the important pieces of the event. However, reading the entire event provides additional context. If readers choose to read the whole event, they should check ComicBookWire's "Batman: Death of the Family Reading Order" to see where Detective Comics #15-16 fits within the event.
3. The Detective Comics series contains the main storyline from the Batman: Gothtopia (Reading Order) event. Tie-ins to this event expand on the unique world featured in the event but only issues from Detective Comics are necessary to understand the main storyline.
4. The Detective Comics series has a direct tie-in to the Batman: Endgame (Reading Order) event through the Detective Comics: Endgame #1 special. While this makes it important on its own, the event is even more important considering it has massive implications on the status quo featured in the rest of the series.

Rebirth

Though there are little to no continuity changes between the New 52 and Rebirth Detective Comics series, the narratives in these comics have almost nothing to do with one another. Instead, the Rebirth Detective Comics series starts an entirely new storyline that picks up elements from the Batman Eternal and Batman & Robin Eternal comics.

This new storyline develops from Detective Comics #934 to Detective Comics #981 in a relatively uninterrupted fashion, with the Night of the Monster Men (Reading Order) crossover event being the only real distraction. Across these issues, a single narrative unfolds, one where each story arc builds on the story arc that came before it. This narrative follows the creation of the Gotham Knights team-up, consisting of Batman, Azrael, Batwing, Batwoman (Reading Order), Clayface, Orphan, Spoiler (Reading Order), and Red Robin (Reading Order), though this lineup shifts throughout the comic's run.

Notes

1. This crossover is mostly focused on Batman as an individual rather than the narrative surrounding the Gotham Knights team-up. It is referenced later in this series but does not have as much of an impact as other story arcs.
2. This issue is essentially a flashback that explains aspects of Clayface's history. It helps inform what is taking place in the rest of the issues but is not completely essential to understanding the overall narrative.

All DC Comics Reading Orders