The Batman Movie: 10 Comics Matt Reeves NEEDS To Adapt

2. Haunted Knight

Batman: The Long Halloween may stand out as the best collaboration between Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, but it's actually already informed an equally seminal story of Batman's on the big screen in The Dark Knight. Dark Victory, the following tale published by the pair, is also pretty great, although the fact it details Robin's origin probably excludes it from inspiring any significant part of Reeves' upcoming film.

One book that tends to be forgotten by Bat-fans, however, is Haunted Knight. The collection includes several Halloween-based stories centred around Batman taking on key villains from his gallery, and though Loeb's characterisation of Mad Hatter and Scarecrow leaves much to be desired at times (both speak in nursery rhyme, for some reason), the Halloween setting combined with Sale's pencils imbues each tale with a great atmosphere.

It's by no means the greatest story, but in terms of providing a solid roadmap for Reeves' film, it could yet exert a key influence.

We're yet to see a seasonal Batman story on the big screen, and in an effort to capture a unique atmosphere on the big screen, a story taking place around All Hallows' Eve could be brilliant.