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Batman: Knightfall

    (DC, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2014, 2016)
™ and © DC Comics, Inc.

Knightfall was an ambitious story arc that ran through all the Batman universe titles in 1993-1994, even Legends of the Dark Knight, which is normally exempt from the ongoing continuity.

The saga began when the villain Bane engineered the mass escape of all the inmates at Arkham Asylum. In capturing and subduing the escapees, Batman became physically and mentally drained. Then Bane struck, defeating Batman and even breaking his back. During his physical rehabilitation, Batman recruited Jean Paul Valley, known as Azrael, to take his place. But Azreal is not the man that Bruce Wayne is. Eventually, Azbat, as he came to be called by fans, became brutal and homicidal in his role, and Batman realized he misjudged Valley. Now he had take back his role and defeat the man who beat Bane.

This long story arc can be read as an entertaining Batman story, but the editors at DC had another message for their readers. During the early nineties, Batman began to be perceived as out of touch with modern comic book trends. The rise in popularity of Image Comics and other companies, with characters who had no compunctions about killing the bad guys seemed to make Batman an anachronism. DC wanted to demonstrate the inherent nobility of Batman by installing a man in the costume who in essence was the kind of “hero” that was popular at other publishers. The contrast between an arrogant, take-no-prisoners hero and a man who puts justice before vengeance was stark. And in case the point was lost on anyone, during his time as a replacement Batman, Azreal changed his costume from Batman’s to a colorful, gaudy blade-wielding monstrosity.

— George Haberberger
Jump to issue:
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Nov 1993
    Cover: $12.95
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent
    288 pages; Collects Batman #491–497; Detective Comics #659–663
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-2
    Book #1 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing
    Cover: $12.95
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent
    Collects Batman #491–497; Detective Comics #659–663
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-3
    Book #1 - 3rd printing
    3rd Printing
    Cover: $12.95
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent
    Collects Batman #491–497; Detective Comics #659–663
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-4
    Book #1 - 4th printing
    Cover: $12.95
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent
    Collects Batman #491–497; Detective Comics #659–663
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-5
    Book #1 - 5th printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent
    Collects Batman #491-497 & Detective Comics #659-663
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-6
    Book #1 - 6th printing
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent
    Collects Batman #491-497 & Detective Comics #659-663
    No copies available
  • Bk 2
    Book #2
    Nov 1993
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase ‘96 #7, & Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
    No copies available
  • Bk 2-2
    Book #2 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase ‘96 #7, & Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
    No copies available
  • Bk 2-3
    Book #2 - 3rd printing
    3rd Printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase ‘96 #7, & Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
    No copies available
  • Bk 2-4
    Book #2 - 4th printing
    4th Printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase ‘96 #7, & Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
    No copies available
  • Bk 2-5
    Book #2 - 5th printing
    New Cover by Mike Deodato Jr
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman #498-500, Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase ‘96 #7, & Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
    No copies available
  • Bk 2-6
    Book #2 - 6th printing
    6th Printing
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Detective Comics #664-666, Showcase’93 #7-8, Batman #498-500
    No copies available
  • Bk 3
    Book #3
    cover by Graham Nolan
    Jun 1995
    Cover: $14.95
    W: Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Mary Jo Duffy, Doug Moench, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mike Manley, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson
    Vol. 3 of Knightfall; Reprints Batman #509-510, Detective Comics #676–677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Catwoman (2nd Series) #12-13, Shadow of the Bat #29–30, Robin #8-9; 307 pages
    No copies available
  • Bk 3-2
    Book #3 - 2nd printing
    New cover by Mike Deodato Jr
    Jan 2000
    Cover: $14.95
    W: Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Mary Jo Duffy, Doug Moench, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mike Manley, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson
    Vol. 3 of Knightfall; Reprints Batman #509-510, Detective Comics #676–677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Catwoman (2nd Series) #12-13, Shadow of the Bat #29–30, Robin #8-9; 307 pages
    No copies available
  • Bk 3-3
    Book #3 - 3rd printing
    3rd Printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Mary Jo Duffy, Doug Moench, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mike Manley, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson
    Vol. 3 of Knightfall; Reprints Batman #509-510, Detective Comics #676–677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Catwoman (2nd Series) #12-13, Shadow of the Bat #29–30, Robin #8-9
    No copies available
  • Bk 3-4
    Book #3 - 4th printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Mary Jo Duffy, Doug Moench, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mike Manley, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson
    Vol. 3 of Knightfall; Reprints Batman #509-510, Detective Comics #676–677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Catwoman (2nd Series) #12-13, Shadow of the Bat #29–30, Robin #8-9
    No copies available
  • Bk 3-5
    Book #3 - 5th printing
    5th Printing
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Mary Jo Duffy, Doug Moench, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mike Manley, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson
    Vol. 3 of Knightfall; Reprints Batman #509-510, Detective Comics #676–677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Catwoman (2nd Series) #12-13, Shadow of the Bat #29–30, Robin #8-9
    No copies available
  • Bk 3-6
    Book #3 - 6th printing
    New cover by Mike Deodato Jr
    Cover: $17.99
    W: Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Mary Jo Duffy, Doug Moench, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mike Manley, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson
    Vol. 3 of Knightfall; Reprints Batman #509-510, Detective Comics #676–677, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Catwoman (2nd Series) #12-13, Shadow of the Bat #29–30, Robin #8-9; Reprints Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62; Reprints Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63; Reprints Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29; Reprints Catwoman (2nd Series) #12; Reprints Detective Comics #576; Reprints Detective Comics #576-577; 307 pages; Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63; Collects Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29–30; Detective Comics #576–577; Mike Deodato Jr. (cover)
    No copies available
  • CS 1
    Collector's Set #1
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Batman: Vengeance of Bane SpecialL #1, Batman #491-500, Detective Comics #659-660, Showcase ’93 #7 and 8 and Collects Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17-18; ca. 2012
    No copies available
  • CS 1-2
    Collector's Set #1 - 2nd printing
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman: Vengeance of Bane SpecialL #1, Batman #491-500, Detective Comics #659-660, Showcase ’93 #7 and 8 and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17-18; ca. 2012
    No copies available
  • CS 1-3
    Collector's Set #1 - 3rd printing
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman: Vengeance of Bane SpecialL #1, Batman #491-500, Detective Comics #659-660, Showcase ’93 #7 and 8 and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17-18; ca. 2012
    No copies available
  • CS 1-4
    Collector's Set #1 - 4th printing
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman: Vengeance of Bane SpecialL #1, Batman #491-500, Detective Comics #659-660, Showcase ’93 #7 and 8 and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17-18; ca. 2012
    1 copy for $19.00
  • CS 1-6
    Collector's Set #1 - 6th printing
    Dec 2014
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    Collects Batman: Vengeance of Bane SpecialL #1, Batman #491-500, Detective Comics #659-660, Showcase ’93 #7 and 8 and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17-18
    No copies available
  • CS 1-7
    Collector's Set #1 - 7th printing
    Mar 2016
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant  ·  A: Jim Aparo, Norm Breyfogle, Graham Nolan, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, Mike Manley
    And Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18.; Batman #491-500; Collects Batman: Vengeance of Bane Special #1; Detective Comics #659-666; Showcase ’93 #7-8
    No copies available
  • CS 2
    Collector's Set #2
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Chuck Dixon
    Collects Detective Comics #667-675, Shadow of the Bat #19-20, 24-28, Batman #501-508, Catwoman #6-7 and Robin #7; ca. 2012
    No copies available
  • CS 2-2
    Collector's Set #2 - 2nd printing
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Chuck Dixon
    Collects Detective Comics #667-675, Shadow of the Bat #19-20, 24-28, Batman #501-508, Catwoman #6-7 and Robin #7
    No copies available
  • CS 2-3
    Collector's Set #2 - 3rd printing
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Chuck Dixon
    Collects Detective Comics #667-675, Shadow of the Bat #19-20, 24-28, Batman #501-508, Catwoman #6-7 and Robin #7
    1 copy for $18.00
  • CS 3
    Collector's Set #3
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Dennis O’Neil
    Collects Batman #509-510 & 512-514, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30 & 32-34, Detective Comics #676-677 & 679-681, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Robin #8-9 & 11-13, and Catwoman #12-13; ca. 2012
    No copies available
  • CS 3-2
    Collector's Set #3 - 2nd printing
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Dennis O’Neil
    Collects Batman #509-510 & 512-514, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30 & 32-34, Detective Comics #676-677 & 679-681, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Robin #8-9 & 11-13, and Catwoman #12-13; ca. 2012
    1 copy for $18.00
  • CS 3-4
    Collector's Set #3 - 4th printing
    Oct 2014
    Cover: $29.99
    W: Dennis O’Neil
    Collects Batman #509-510 & 512-514, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30 & 32-34, Detective Comics #676-677 & 679-681, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Robin #8-9 & 11-13, and Catwoman #12-13
    No copies available
  • Dlx 1/A
    Deluxe Set #1 Variation A
    Cover: $150.00
    Collects:Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 1 includes Batman #484-500, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18, Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1, Detective Comics #654-666, and Showcase ’93 #7-8.
    No copies available
  • Dlx 1/HC
    Deluxe Set #1 Hardcover
    Hardcover Edition with cover by Kelley Jones
    Cover: $99.99
    Batman: Knightfall Omnibus
    No copies available
  • Dlx 2/A
    Deluxe Set #2 Variation A
    Hardcover A by Kelley Jones
    Cover: $125.00
    Collects:Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2 BATMAN #501-508, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #59-61, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #19-28, CATWOMAN #6-7, DETECTIVE COMICS #667-675, JUSTICE LEAGUE TASK FORCE #5-6, ROBIN #1-2, #7, and SHOWCASE ’94 #7
    No copies available
  • Dlx 2/HC
    Deluxe Set #2 Hardcover
    Hardcover Edition with cover by Kelley Jones
    Cover: $99.99
    W: Alan Grant  ·  A: Vince Giarrano
    No copies available
  • Dlx 3/HC
    Deluxe Set #3 Hardcover
    Hardcover Edition with cover by Kelley Jones and Michelle Madsen
    Cover: $100.00
    W: Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon
    Collects Batman #509-510 & #512-515, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30 & #32-35, Detective Comics #676-677 & #679-682, Robin #8-9 & #11-14, Catwoman #12-13, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Showcase ’#94 #10, Nightwing: Alfred’s Return #1, Batman: Vegeance of Bane #2.
    No copies available