1988 | The Killing Joke and other stories
Headline
Story
Yata Yata
Context
Aaaaah
-
Cover Date: Jan. 1988
Batman #415 and Detective Comics #582 are both part of the Millennium crossover event. I don't consider the rest of the Millennium event important enough to include here.
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - Year One & Two
2024
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779528353Batman: Second Chances
2015 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401255183
-
Cover Date: Jan. 1988
Batman #415 and Detective Comics #582 are both part of the Millennium crossover event. I don't consider the rest of the Millennium event important enough to include here.
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - Year One & Two
2024
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779528353Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401271084
-
Cover Date: Feb. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - Year One & Two
2024
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779528353Batman: Second Chances
2015 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401255183
-
Cover Date: Apr. 1987
Secret Origins #13 technically came out the year prior, but since in it Nightwing talks about having met Jason, it has to take place after Batman #416, which retells that meeting.
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
-
Cover Date: Feb. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - Year One & Two
2024
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779528353Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Feb. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - Year One & Two
2024
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779528353Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
Ten Nights of the Beast
Story
KGBeast
Context
Takes 10 in-universe nights (duh) and leads well into the themes of the killing joke
-
Cover Date: Mar. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459#Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast
1994 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1563891557
-
Cover Date: Apr. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast
1994 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1563891557
-
Cover Date: May. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast
1994 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1563891557
-
Cover Date: Aug. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast
1994 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1563891557
The Killing Joke
Story
He kills a joke
Context
Takes place over the course of one night around September or October of 1988, which can be inferred through the story "the Fear" from Detective Comics #592-594 and "Faces" from Batman Annual #13.
“The Last Batgirl Story” from Batgirl Special #1 is often mentioned as an immediate prelude to the Killing Joke, but is actually set years prior.
-
Cover Date: Nov. 1986
Collected with original colors in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459
Collected with recoloring in
Batman: The Killing Joke Deluxe
2019
Oversized
Hardcover
978-1401294052
Collected with both colorings (original colors on newsprint paper) in
Absolute Batman: The Killing Joke
2018
Absolute Sized
Hardcover in Slipcover
978-1401284121
Detective Comics Round-Up
Story
These issues include 2 stories. First we get the very first appearances of the Ratcatcher. Followed by a 3 issue story featuring the Corrosive Man.
Context
Catching up on the Detective Comics storylines that started parallel to the Ten Nights of the Beast in the Batman title.
-
Cover Date: Apr. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: May. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Jun. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Jul. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Aug. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Jul. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366
-
Cover Date: Aug. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - The Killing Joke and other stories
2025
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799501459Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Okt. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401284688
-
Cover Date: Nov. 1988
Story “The Fear: Part One”
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 3 - Blind Justice
2020 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779501011
-
Cover Date: Nov. 1988
Story “The Fear Part Two: Diary of a Madman”
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 3 - Blind Justice
2020 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779501011
-
Cover Date: Jun. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366
The Cult
Story
By manipulating the minds of the homeless and downtrodden, Blackfire has amassed an army willing to follow his every command—and Batman may become his latest acolyte! Will Blackfire succeed in breaking the Dark Knight’s spirit?
Context
The Cult takes place over a few months of in-universe time. It’s events also directly deny anything else taking place in Gotham City during that time period.
-
Cover Date: Aug. 1988
At the start of the issue it has been 1 week since Batman’s capture. It’s events take about a month.
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Cult: The Deluxe Edition
2024
Oversized
Hardcover
978-1799504665Batman: The Cult
1991 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-0930289850
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
This issue is set in december and it’s events take a few nights.
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Cult: The Deluxe Edition
2024
Oversized
Hardcover
978-1799504665Batman: The Cult
1991 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-0930289850
-
Cover Date: Oct. 1988
This issue is probably set in january.
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Cult: The Deluxe Edition
2024
Oversized
Hardcover
978-1799504665Batman: The Cult
1991 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-0930289850
-
Cover Date: Nov. 1988
The final issue starts one week after the end of #3. It’s events take weeks, probably in January/February.
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Cult: The Deluxe Edition
2024
Oversized
Hardcover
978-1799504665Batman: The Cult
1991 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-0930289850
The Cheshire Contract
Story
Context
This Nightwing story was published weekly in Action Comics at the same time as the Cult miniseries came out. Since it doesn’t at all cross over with Batman or Gotham, and takes place over the course of multiple weeks, it might very well take place at the same time.
-
Cover Date: Aug. 1988
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
-
Cover Date: Aug. 1988
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
Collected in
Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies
2013 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401240445
Road to a Death in the Family
Story
Context
Detective Comics #595 is explicitly stated to take place in 1989. It’s a tie-in to the Invasion! crossover event.
The two Detective Comics issues came out after the three Batman issues, but I recommend this order, because the character developments in Batman #423-425 serve as a much smoother lead-in to the Death in the Family.
-
Cover Date: Dec. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 3 - Blind Justice
2020 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779501011
-
Cover Date: Dec. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 3 - Blind Justice
2020 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1779501011
-
Cover Date: Sep. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366
-
Cover Date: Oct. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366
-
Cover Date: Nov. 1988
Collected in
DC Finest: Batman - A Death in the Family
2026
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1799508571Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1
2018 [out of print]
Standard Sized
Softcover
978-1401281366
