10 Vertigo Graphic Novels You Must Read Before You Die

10. Dark Night: A True Batman Story

Dark Night: A True Batman Story is one of the realest, most poignant superhero comics you will ever read, as well as easily one of the best Batman stories in recent memory.

An autobiographical piece from iconic Batman scribe Paul Dini, Dark Night takes inspiration from the trials and tribulations faced by the author in his life, such as being a bullied child who took refuge in the world of pop culture and, most notably, an incident in which Dini was mugged and nearly killed while working on Batman: The Animated Series.

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that this is an incredibly personal project for Dini. That said, he is not the only one who contributed to making Dark Night such a memorable experience, as Eduardo Risso's highly-versatile art style also plays a major part in making the book the vivid masterwork that it is.

It's one thing to read stories starring superheroes. It's something entirely different and in some ways more compelling to hear how these stories have affected those who truly needed them. Dark Night offers just that.