4. Batman: Knightfall
If you're planning on seeing The Dark Knight Rises (and, let's face it, you wouldn't be reading this article if you weren't) this is where the rubber meets the road. This epic story, which spanned all of the Batman books that DC was releasing at the time, as well as it's satellite titles (Robin, Nightwing, etc) had a villain who appeared on his surface to be ridiculous in Bane. It is only when the reader delves into his rich backstory that it becomes clear why he is not only the antithesis of Batman, but possibly the most dangerous opponent that the Dark Knight has ever faced. Aside from his obvious physical attributes (Bane has the look WWE wrestlers can only dream of), he spent his life surviving the school of hard knocks in a South American prison. He is a master of playing opposing forces off of one another and of picking the perfect moment to make his move. In the series, he orchestrates a brilliant plan to wear Batman down, wait until the time is right, and then utterly break him.Bruce Wayne's quest to return from that breaking is epic in and of itself, but Knightfall is one of the best Batman stories of the decade and fully deserving of the big screen treatment that Nolan is affording it.