20 Years Ago, the Greatest Batman Run of the 21st Century Started

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As a longtime comics reader, I can confidently say Batman remains the king of the superhero world. What’s truly amazing is how many incredible artists and writers have contributed to making him the icon he is today. And honestly, I think we’re living in a golden age for Batman stories. Over the past 26 years, there have been several runs that rank among the very best ever. You’ve got fans who swear by Scott Snyder’s New 52 run, others who love the work Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason did, and even those who appreciate Tom King’s more recent take. But for a lot of us, the definitive 21st-century Batman story began 20 years ago, when Grant Morrison took the reins of Batman.

Grant Morrison is widely considered one of the best writers to ever tackle Batman. They first gained significant recognition with Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth and the “Gothic” storyline. Their take on Batman in JLA led to the now-famous “Bat-God” interpretation. After years of anticipation, Morrison finally took over the main Batman title, launching a seven-year run that essentially shaped the modern version of the character. This run is crucial to Batman’s ongoing popularity and is often cited as one of the greatest in comic book history. While many writers have left their mark on Batman, Morrison truly elevated the character to new heights.

Morrison Took Batman on a Journey That No Other Writer Could

2006 marked a significant turning point for DC Comics. Following the conclusion of Infinite Crisis, the company began rebuilding its multiverse with the series 52 (co-written by Grant Morrison). DC was reviving classic concepts from before the Crisis event and assembling top creative talent for its flagship heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. Morrison was an ideal writer for Batman, having consistently delivered strong work on the character since joining DC, and was well-equipped to redefine the hero for a new era.

Grant Morrison, a huge fan and historian of DC Comics, had a surprising plan for their Batman run. Noticing DC was revisiting and retconning established storylines, Morrison decided to officially solidify every Batman story as canon. This approach aligned with DC’s broader strategy of revisiting hero origins – like re-establishing Superman’s history as Superboy and Wonder Woman reclaiming her Diana Prince identity – making Bruce Wayne’s past a natural fit for this re-canonization. While this alone would have been a huge task, it was only the beginning of what Morrison accomplished with the character.

Grant Morrison’s run on Batman began with the introduction of Damian Wayne in “Batman and Son,” and simultaneously established Talia as a key villain. They also cleverly revisited the Batman of Zurr-En-Arrh to account for gaps in Bruce Wayne’s memory. A particularly frightening new version of the Joker was introduced, and the story took a dramatic turn when Bruce Wayne was seemingly killed in Final Crisis, leading to Dick Grayson becoming the new Batman. Morrison expanded the Batman mythos with Batman Incorporated, a modern take on the classic “Batmen of Many Nations” concept, which they also reintroduced. Overall, it was a thrilling seven-year period for the character.

Morrison fundamentally reshaped Batman for a modern audience. Their work has clearly influenced every Batman comic since, with subsequent writers building upon the ideas they introduced. They essentially created the Batman we know today, but their impact wasn’t limited to just Bruce Wayne. By making Dick Grayson take on the mantle of Batman, they elevated his status and importance within the superhero world. They also played a key role in the rise of Damian Wayne as a unique and popular Robin, and their creation, Batman of Zurr-En-Arrh, even served as a central antagonist in a recent Batman storyline. In fact, even Scott Snyder’s interpretation of Batman feels like a continuation of Morrison’s vision. Throughout their career, Morrison consistently improved DC Comics, and their work on Batman perfectly showcases their talent.

DC Owes Their Batman Success to the Morrison Run

DC Comics is doing very well in sales, and Batman is a major reason why. When you look at the character today, Grant Morrison’s run on the comic is clearly the most influential of the 21st century. Morrison introduced a new Robin, revamped Batman’s long history, and took the character in bold new directions that DC allowed no other writer to explore. Comparing Batman comics before and after Morrison’s work reveals a significant change.

I’m a huge fan of Morrison’s work, and what consistently impresses me is their ability to revitalize classic concepts. They absolutely nailed this with their run on Batman, Batman and Robin, and the Batman Incorporated volumes. A perfect example of their genius is what they did with the Ten-Fingered Man – honestly, they finally made that character a genuinely compelling villain! Their interpretation of Batman felt incredibly fresh and modern, but it was also deeply respectful of the character’s history. They proved that the older elements of Batman are still totally relevant and exciting, even after all these years.

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2026-04-12 01:12