Batman: The Wedding Reading Order

Overview

Batman: The Wedding (Review) is a storyline from the Rebirth Batman series. This arc centers around the wedding of Batman and Catwoman and the events directly leading up to it. It features the culmination of plotlines that were in motion since this series began and heavily builds upon the themes this series established.

The actual wedding itself takes place in a single issue, Batman #50. However, the issues directly preceding the wedding help give it additional context. These issues all relate to the wedding plans and preparation, as indicated by the "Prelude to the Wedding" moniker in most of the titles.

Before Reading

Though The Wedding (Review) can be read on its own, it is really the culmination of storylines stretching through the entire Batman Vol. 3 series. The first few arcs, collected across I am Gotham (Review), I am Bane (Review), Batman/The Flash: The Button (Review) (Reading Order), and I am Bane (Review), establish the theme of the series, address changes in Batman's life, and conclude with a more direct focus on the Batman/Catwoman relationship. The following arcs, collected across The War of Jokes and Riddles (Review), Rules of Engagement (Review), and Bride or Burglar (Review), detail Batman and Catwoman's combined exploits and have them work through potential problems with their relationship. In this way, the entire Batman series helps set up The Wedding.

For the sake of simplicity though, we suggest the following highlights from the series. Batman #14-15, collected in I am Suicide (Review), shows a rekindling of Batman and Catwoman's relationship; Batman #24, collected in I am Bane (Review), shows the proposal; Batman #32, collected in The War of Jokes and Riddles (Review), shows the answer to the proposal; and Batman #44, collected in Bride or Burglar (Review), shows Catwoman picking out her dress.

In addition, Batman #1, featuring the first ever meeting of Batman and Catwoman, and Batman #404, featuring their first "modern" meeting, are heavily referenced throughout this event and the series preceding it. Reading these two issues will help readers understand a number of callbacks.

After Reading

Batman: The Wedding (Review) works as the prelude to two separate comics. Batman #51 onwards, which starts with the Batman: Cold Days collection, shows Batman's reaction to the event and Catwoman #1 onwards, which starts with the Catwoman: Copycats collection, shows Catwoman's reaction to the event. The general storyline from this arc is also set to be further addressed in an upcoming Batman/Catwoman miniseries.

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