Batman Dayis back by popular demand coming this September 26. This Saturday local comic book shops, bookstores, schools, and libraries are celebrating this event. In honor of the event we will be reviewing some of our favorite Batman comics of all time.
Warning Spoilers Ahead!
The Batman comic series that had the biggest influence on me as a young comic reader was Knightfall. One of the biggest influences to the blockbuster movie “The Dark Knight Rises”, This storyline has had an impact on Batman stories since it inception. One of the great villains “Bane” is introduced in this series and has become a mainstay in every major storyline.
Knightfall was a story that was broken into three parts Knightfall Knightquest KnightsEnds that ran under two titles Batman and Detective Comics under a single narrative. Something at the time that was rarely done. Now today’s comics have multiple tie-ins that its so common. A story like Knightfall changed the dynamic of Bruce Wayne as Batman to what we know today.
Knightfall takes place over approximately six months. Bruce is put through a gruesome gauntlent after Bane has broken all the inmates of Arkham Asylum. After successfully returning the inmates to Arkham Bruce is systematically assaulted and crippled by the “super steroid”-enhanced genius named Bane. With his back broken Bruce is replaced as Batman by his apprentice named Jean-Paul Valley aka Azrael. As the new Batman Azrael starts to use unorthodox means to keep peace in Gotham which ends up tarnishing Batman’s reputation. By the end of Knightfall, Wayne is healed through paranormal means, and reclaims his role as Batman.
The impact of the Knightfall has had a longer impact on the Batman continuity than any other story line I can think of. The end result reset the relationship with Batman and the public of Gotham, due to Azrael’s violence. The biggest impact from this storyline was the idea that Bruce realizes he cannot do this crusade alone anymore. The events will lead to the modern incarnation of the Batman family we know today.
Published in 1993 the events of Knightfall has had an impact in all Batman mediums for over twenty years. This is why I consider Knightfall one of the most important Batman storylines in history.
Source: DC Comics
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