5 Most Overrated Batman Stories, Ranked

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Batman is DC Comics’ most beloved character, and the company demonstrates this by publishing a huge variety of Batman stories – essentially, any story a writer or artist proposes. It’s natural that many creators have ideas involving popular heroes or villains, but with Batman, those ideas often get a chance to see the light of day. Over the years, DC has released Batman stories of all kinds, created by a wide range of talent. They publish so many Batman titles annually that it’s become something of a running joke, and fans have occasionally expressed frustration with the sheer volume of Batman-related content.

Many fantastic Batman stories exist, and fans frequently debate which ones are truly the best. However, some popular stories don’t quite live up to the hype. Here are five Batman stories that are often praised more than they deserve.

5) “Knightfall”

Bane is now considered one of Batman’s most formidable foes, and the storyline “Knightfall” is where his rise to prominence began. Published across Batman and Detective Comics in 1993, “Knightfall” details Bane’s arrival in Gotham City with the goal of breaking the Dark Knight. He starts by freeing the inmates of Arkham Asylum, pushing Batman to his physical and mental limits as he tries to contain the chaos. While “Knightfall” is historically significant for Batman fans, many find the actual story itself to be just decent. It’s an important part of Batman’s history, but it doesn’t quite live up to its legendary reputation. It’s a fine read, but don’t expect it to be among the greatest Batman stories ever told.

4) “Death in the Family”

“Death in the Family” is a significant story in Batman’s history, but it doesn’t quite live up to expectations. Written by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo, it details the death of Jason Todd and Batman’s subsequent search for the killer. Similar to “Knightfall,” the story is generally well-executed until it takes a bizarre turn with the Joker becoming an Iranian ambassador, which undermines the serious tone. The comic aimed for a mature ’80s feel, but ultimately feels geared towards a younger audience, making the darker elements seem superficial. It’s not a bad story, but it’s also not particularly memorable – it’s fairly straightforward.

3) Batman: The Killing Joke

Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s Batman: The Killing Joke is a famous and well-regarded story, known for giving the Joker a potential backstory and for the severe injury inflicted on Barbara Gordon. While it’s a comic nearly every Batman fan has experienced, it hasn’t held up particularly well over time. Giving the Joker an origin feels unnecessary, and the way Barbara Gordon’s injury was handled feels exploitative, even if it did lead to her becoming Oracle. Though once considered mature and dark, the story now often comes across as simply cruel. Many consider it a masterpiece, but I believe its place in comic book history is overstated. It’s a decent comic, but arguably, it might have been better left unmade.

2) “Court of Owls”

As a huge Batman fan, I really enjoyed Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s New 52 run when it first came out. Stories like “Zero Year,” “Endgame,” and “Superheavy” are genuinely fantastic. But revisiting “Court of Owls” recently, it just didn’t hit the same way. It was a big deal at the time – introducing this secret society running Gotham and their deadly Talons really blew everyone away. Now, though, it just feels…good. Not bad at all, but not the masterpiece everyone remembers. I think some of Snyder’s quirks as a writer are more noticeable on a second read, and honestly, the Owls themselves, while cool, never quite became the major villains they seemed poised to be. Knowing where the story goes now probably takes some of the impact away. It’s still an enjoyable read, but I don’t think it deserves a place among the all-time greatest Batman stories.

1) “Hush”

When “Hush” first came out, it was a huge success. Jeph Loeb was doing fantastic work at DC Comics since the late 90s, and having Jim Lee illustrate Batman was a long-held wish for many fans. But on repeated readings, it becomes clear that “Hush” mostly retreads familiar Batman storylines rather than offering something truly new. Loeb relies heavily on established tropes, and while the artwork is stunning, it doesn’t make this one of the best Batman stories ever. The exceptional art often overshadows the book’s flaws. The ending isn’t particularly well-regarded, and it’s time to stop considering this story among the greatest Batman tales—unless we’re only talking about the visuals.

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2025-12-27 16:11