Written by Sam Hamm, illustrated by Denys Cowan. Aside from having a name thats fun to repeat over and over, Sam Hamm also knows how to write a memorable Batman tale. He had a major hand in writing Tim Burtons first Batman movie, and around the same time he came to Detective Comics to celebrate Batmans 50th Anniversary. The result is Blind Justice, an absurd and childishly gratifying Batman story concerning a device that can be used to control another human body by remote willpower. Notable for a distinct lack of any famous Batman rogues, Blind Justice allows the uncowled Bruce Wayne the stage almost as much as the costumed avenger, and by doing so allows a rare look into elements of Bruces haunting past.
39. Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader? (2009)
Written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Andy Kubert. Neil Gaiman provided this eulogy to the Batman when the original run of Detective Comics came to an end in 2009. Inspired in part by Alan Moore's Superman story "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" (1986), Gaiman employs classic characters as they gather for a funeral for the Dark Knight, each retelling their version of how the hero met his demise. This is another atypical Batman tale, featuring little mystery, detective work, action or suspense. Rather, Gaiman provides a thoughtful tribute to the many decades of publication that Batman has enjoyed in Detective Comics, touching on classic tropes by classic writers and artists.
38. Blades (1992)
Written by James Robinson, illustrated by Tim Sale. A great but not-as-famous arc from the original Legends of the Dark Knight series, Blades features a revamped version of the Batman villain Cavalier. Because the story takes place early in Batmans career, continuity junkies posit that this version (an ex-Hollywood stuntman named Hudson Pyle) actually influenced the original villain (Mortimer Drake). In any case, Pyles motives are much more interesting than those of Drake, and hes not the only villain around either: Mr. Lime, a serial killer of the elderly of Gotham City, is eluding capture as well. Batman, Lime and the Cavalier spiral ever closer to each other over the course of three short issues, touching, moving along inversions of each others journeys, approaching repercussions and redemption and, yes, engaging in epic sword fights.
37. War On Crime (1999)
Written by Paul Dini, illustrated by Alex Ross. This is not your typical Batman comic. The premier Alex Ross is one of the most talented painters out there, and he uses his gift mainly for incredible illustrations of superhero comics. His most popular book is probably the JLA Elseworlds tale Kingdom Come (1996), but War on Crime, a simple day and night in the life of Bruce Wayne, features equally stunning art. Superstar writer Paul Dini does his part here, too, providing a mystery with parallels to Bruces own life. Despite being a very unorthodox comic book (if you can even call it that), the story and the visuals work in tandem to merit inclusion of War on Crime among the greatest Batman stories ever told.
36. The Diplomat's Son (1988)
Written by Jim Starlin, illustrated by Mark Bright. There are precious few stories featuring the second Robin, Jason Todd, and even at that one might label these stories with an adjective far off from precious - he was hardly likeable, as many have said before. But there are certain qualities to his character that Dick Grayson lacked for a long time, namely his being more than a simple extension or appendage of boss Batman. In The Diplomats Son (technically just Batman #424, but the follow-up in #425 deals with the same storyline) Jason is the only one present when a young criminal falls to his death from a penthouse balcony. Batman presses Jason for an explanation and the unbridled neophyte Robin shrugs and coolly replies, He slipped. I must have spooked him. Like him or not, Jasons icy words are as cold to readers as they are to Batman. The Diplomats Son acts as grim augury of things to come for Robin II
