Batman Knightfall Complete Saga Reading Order (Page with Bullets)

This is the complete Reading Order of Prelude to Knightfall, Knightfall – The Broken Bat, Knightfall – Who Rules the Night, Knightquest – The Crusade, Knightquest – The Search, Knightquest – The Conclusion, KnightsEnd, KnightsEnd – Aftermath, Batman – Prodigal & Batman – Troika from 1991 & 1995 for a total of 122 issues.

Prelude to Knightfall

First appearance of the “Venom” drug-steroid, later used by Bane. First Legends of the Dark Knight story to be referenced in-canon in the main Batman titles, during Knightfall. The prelude introduces Azrael and Bane, who becomes a prominent figure in the Knightfall crossover.

  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #16 (Mar, 1991) – Venom: Part 1
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #17 (Apr, 1991) – Venom: Part 2
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #18 (May, 1991) – Venom: Part 3
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #19 (Jun, 1991) – Venom: Part 4
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #20 (Jul, 1991) – Venom: Part 5
  • Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (Oct, 1992) – 1st Appearance of Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley)
  • Batman: Sword of Azrael #2 (Nov, 1992)
  • Batman: Sword of Azrael #3 (Dec, 1992)
  • Batman: Sword of Azrael #4 (Jan, 1993)
  • Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 (Jan, 1993) – 1st Appearance and Origin of Bane
  • Detective Comics #655 (Jan, 1993)
  • Batman #488 (Jan, 1993) – Azrael begins training with Robin
  • Detective Comics #656 (Feb, 1993) – Bane and his men continue to observe Batman
  • Batman #489 (Feb, 1993) – 1st Appearance of Jean-Paul Valley as the Batman
  • Detective Comics #657 (Mar, 1993)
  • Batman #490 (Mar, 1993) – This issue is a lead-in to the upcoming “Knightfall” storyline.
  • Detective Comics #658 (Apr, 1993)
  • Batman #491 (Apr, 1993) – Prelude to “Knightfall” storyline.

Knightfall – The Broken Bat

  • Batman #492 (May, 1993) – Part 1: Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas – Death of Film Freak
  • Detective Comics #659 (May, 1993) – Part 2: Puppets –
  • Batman #493 (May, 1993) – Part 3: Redslash
  • Detective Comics #660 (May, 1993) – Part 4: Crocodile Tears
  • [Extras] Showcase ’93 #6 (Jun, 1993) – Robin – This is an unofficial Knightfall tie-in.
  • Batman #494 (Jun, 1993) – Part 5: Night Terrors
  • Detective Comics #661 (Jun, 1993) – Part 6: City on Fire
  • Batman #495 (Jun, 1993) – Part 7: Strange Deadfellows
  • Detective Comics #662(Jun, 1993) – Part 8: Burning Questions
  • Batman #496 (Jul, 1993) – Part 9: Die Laughing
  • Detective Comics #663 (Jul, 1993) – Part 10: No Rest for the Wicked
  • Batman #497 (Jul, 1993) – Part 11: The Broken Bat

Knightfall – Who Rules the Night

  • Detective Comics #664 (Jul, 1993) – Part 12: Who Rules the Night
  • Showcase ’93 #7 (Jul, 1993) – Part 13: Two-Face Part 1: Double Cross
  • Showcase ’93 #8 (Aug, 1993) – Part 14: Two-Face Part 1: Bad Judgement
  • Batman #498 (Aug, 1993) – Part 15: Knights in Darkness
  • Detective Comics #665 (Aug, 1993) – Part 16: Lightning Changes
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16 (Sep, 1993) – The God of Fear: Part 1
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17 (Sep, 1993) – The God of Fear: Part 2
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #18 (Oct, 1993) – The God of Fear: Part 3
  • Batman #499 (Sep, 1993) – Part 17: The Venom Connection
  • Detective Comics #666 (Sep, 1993) – Part 18: The Devil You Know
  • Batman #500 (Oct, 1993) – Part 19: Dark Angel; I: The Fall, II: The Descent
  • [Extras] Catwoman (Vol 2) #1 (Aug, 1993) Lifelines, Chapter One: Rough Diamonds – This is an unofficial Knightfall tie-in.
  • [Extras] Catwoman (Vol 2) #2 (Sep, 1993) Lifelines, Chapter Two: Blast from the Past! – This is an unofficial Knightfall tie-in. Catwoman’s interaction with Bruce Wayne is seen in Batman #499.
  • [Extras] Catwoman (Vol 2) #3 (Oct, 1993) Lifelines, Chapter Three: Shadow of the Cat! – This is an unofficial Knightfall tie-in.
  • [Extras] Catwoman (Vol 2) #4 (Nov, 1993) Lifelines, Chapter Four: Full Circle – This is an unofficial Knightfall tie-in.

Knightquest – The Crusade

  • [Extras] Showcase ’93 #10 (Oct, 1993) – This is an unofficial Knightfall – The Crusade tie-in.
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #19 (Oct, 1993) – The Tally Man
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #20 (Nov, 1993) – Everybody Pays the Tally Man
  • Detective Comics #667 (Oct, 1993) – Wild, Wild East
  • Detective Comics #668 (Nov, 1993) – Runaway – The ending of this story leads into Robin #1
  • Robin (Vol 4) #1 (Nov, 1993) – Outcast
  • Detective Comics #669 (Dec, 1993) – Town Tamer
  • Batman #501 (Nov, 1993) – Code Name: Mekros
  • Batman #502 (Dec, 1993) – Phoenix in Chaos – It leads into Catwoman (Vol 2) #6,
  • Catwoman (Vol 2) #6 (Jan, 1994) – Animal Rites – the first issue of “Knightquest: The Search.”
  • Batman #503 (Jan, 1994) – Night Becomes Woman
  • Batman #504 (Feb, 1994) – Night Dance
  • Catwoman (Vol 2) #7 (Feb, 1994) – Body Chemistry
  • Detective Comics #670 (Jan, 1994) – Cold Cases
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #24 (Feb, 1994) – The Immigrant: Rosemary’s Baby
  • Detective Comics #671 (Feb, 1994) – The Cutting Room Floor
  • Detective Comics #672 (Mar, 1994) – Smash Cut
  • Detective Comics #673 (Apr, 1994) – Losing the Light
  • Batman #505 (Apr, 1994) – Blood Kin
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #25 (Mar, 1994) – Joe Public: The Birth of a Hero
  • Batman #506 (Apr, 1994) – Malevolent Maniaxe
  • Batman #507 (May, 1994) – Ballistic
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #26 (Apr, 1994) – Creatures of Clay: Diary of a Lover
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #27 (May, 1994) – Creatures of Clay: Child’s
  • [Extras] Showcase ’94 #7 (Jun, 1994) – Cracks – This is an unofficial Knightfall – The Crusade tie-in.
  • [Extras] Batman and Punisher #1 (Jun, 1994) – Lake of Fire – This is an unofficial Knightfall – The Crusade tie-in.
  • Detective Comics #674 (May, 1994) – Outgunned
  • Batman #508 (Jun, 1994) – Mortal Remains – Death of Abattoir
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #28 (Jun, 1994) – Commissioner Gordon: The Long Dark Knight
  • Detective Comics #675 (Jun, 1994) – Midnight Duel
  • [Extras] Robin (Vol 4) #2 (Dec, 1993)
  • [Extras] Robin (Vol 4) #3 (Feb, 1994)
  • [Extras] Robin (Vol 4) #4 (Mar, 1994)
  • [Extras] Robin (Vol 4) #5 (Apr, 1994)
  • [Extras] Showcase ’94 #5 (May, 1994) – Benedictions, Part 1: My Midnight Confession
  • [Extras] Robin (Vol 4) #6 (May, 1994) – Benedictions, Part 2: Deathangel
  • [Extras] Showcase ’94 #6 (Jun, 1994) – Benedictions, Part 3: Forgiveness

 

Knightquest – The Search

  • Justice League Task Force #5 (Oct, 1993) – Knightquest: The Search
  • Justice League Task Force #6 (Nov, 1993) – Knightquest: The Search (Part II)
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #21 (Nov, 1993) – Bruce Wayne – Part One: The Hood
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #22 (Dec, 1993) – Bruce Wayne – Part Two: A Day in the Death of an English Village
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #23 (Jan, 1994) – Bruce Wayne – Part Three: Curse of the Bat
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #59 (Apr, 1994) – Quarry Part One – Origin of Benedict Asp
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #60 (May, 1994) – Quarry Part Two – Alfred quits working as Bruce Wayne’s butler with this issue. He moves to Europe and doesn’t return until the Nightwing: Alfred’s Return special.
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #61 (Jun, 1994) – Quarry Part Three

Knightquest – The Conclusion

  • Robin (Vol 4) #7 (Jun, 1994) – Turning Point

KnightsEnd

  • Batman #509 (Jul, 1994) – Part 1: Spirit of the Bat
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29 (Jul, 1994) – Part 2: Manimal: Proving Ground
  • Detective Comics #676 – (Jul, 1994) Part 3: Too Many Ninjas
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62 (Jul, 1994) – Part 4: Devils
  • Robin (Vol 4) #8 (Jul, 1994) – Part 5: Death’s Door – This issue marks the return of Bruce Wayne as Batman
  • Catwoman (Vol 2) #12 (Jul, 1994) – Part 6: Fire in the Sky
  • Batman #510 (Aug, 1994) – Part 7: Return of the Bat
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #30 (Aug, 1994) – Part 8: Wild Knights, Wild City
  • Detective Comics #677 (Aug, 1994) – Part 9: Flesh and Steel
  • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #63 (Aug, 1994) – Part Ten: Climax

KnightsEnd – Aftermath

  • Robin (Vol 4) #9 (Aug, 1994) – This issue features the las appearance of the batcave in the classic orange/brownish color.
  • Catwoman (Vol 2) #13 (Aug, 1994) – Catfish
  • Showcase ’94 #10 (Sep, 1994) – The ending of this story leads into Azrael #1

Batman – Prodigal

  • Batman #512 (Nov, 1994) – Part One – Robin and Batman – This issue marks the first appearance of the batcave in the modern darker color replacing the classic orange-brown color. This color would be used on every batcave appearance from this point on.
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #32 (Nov, 1994) – Prodigal Two
  • Detective Comics #679 (Nov, 1994) – Prodigal Three – The Vermin Factor
  • Robin (Vol 4) #11 (Nov, 1994) – Prodigal Four – Two in Every Crowd
  • Batman #513 (Dec, 1994) – Prodigal Five – Double Deuce
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #33 (Dec, 1994) – Prodigal Six
  • Detective Comics #680 (Dec, 1994) – Prodigal Seven – A Twice Told Tale
  • Robin (Vol 4) #12 (Dec, 1994) – Prodigal Eight – Bullies
  • Batman #514 (Jan, 1995) – Prodigal Nine – One Night in the War Zone
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #34 (Jan, 1995) – Prodigal Ten
  • Detective Comics #681 (Jan, 1995) – Prodigal Eleven – Knight Without Armor (Jean-Paul Valley appeared last in Showcase ’94 #10. He appears next in Azrael #1) (Bruce Wayne appeared last in Batman #512)
  • Robin (Vol 4) #13 (Jan, 1995) – Prodigal Conclusion – Wings Over Gotham – This issue marks the last appearance of the classic blue/gray batsuit as it is replaced, from this point on, with the black batsuit.
  • [Extra] Nightwing: Alfred’s Return #1 (Jul, 1995) – This one-shot issue is an epilogue to “Knightquest: The Search” and Batman: Prodigal

Batman – Troika

  • Batman #515 (Feb, 1995) – Troika Part I of IV: Dark Rider, Cold Warrior – This issue features the first appearance of the Black Batsuit replacing the classic Blue/Gray Batsuit.
  • Batman: Shadow of the Bat #35 (Feb, 1995) – Troika Part II of IV
  • Detective Comics #682 (Feb, 1995) – Troika Part III of IV: The Doomsday Clock
  • Robin (Vol 4) #14 (Feb, 1995) – Troika Part IV of IV: Big City Bomber