In October 1992, shortly after Batman: The Animated Series hit TV screens, a tie-in comic hit newsstands. The book – The Batman Adventures – offered up four-colour adventures for readers of all ages, with stories told in a similar fashion to how they appeared on television.
The comic proved to be a hit with readers and ran for 36 issues, two annuals and a holiday special. It was also accompanied by Batman: Mask of the Phantasm – The Official Comic Adaptation, which adapted the 1993 animated movie of the same name into comic book form.
As Batman: The Animated Series morphed into follow-up series The Adventures of Batman & Robin, the comic also underwent a makeover to become Batman & Robin Adventures. This comic ran for 25 issues and was accompanied by two annuals.
More comics would follow, including Batman Adventures: The Lost Years, Batman: Mad Love, the 60-issue Batman: Gotham Adventures, and the short-lived Batman Adventures. In 2020, DC began publishing Batman: The Adventures Continue.
But if you want to read the books in order, where do you start?
I will tell you – you start with the list presented below.
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What is the best reading order for the Batman: The Animated Series comics?
Here is a list of the comics based on Batman: The Animated Series. These titles are presented in a reading order which follows the continuity of the television show (Batman: The Animated Series, The Adventures of Batman & Robin and The New Batman Adventures).
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm – The Official Comic Adaptation
- The Batman Adventures issue #1 – #27 + The Batman Adventures Annual #1
- The Batman Adventures issue #28 – #36 + The Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1 + The Batman Adventures Annual #2
- Batman & Robin Adventures: Subzero issue #1
- Batman & Robin Adventures #1 – #18 + Batman & Robin Adventures Annual #1
- Batman & Robin Adventures #19 – #25 + Batman & Robin Adventures Annual #2
- Batman Adventures: The Lost Years issue #1 – #5
- Batman: Mad Love
- Batman Gotham Adventures issue #1 – #60
- Batman & Superman Adventures: World’s Finest issue #1
- Batgirl Adventures issue #1
- Batman Adventures issue #1 – #17
- Batman: The Adventures Continue issue #1 – #8
- Batman: The Adventures Continue Season II issue #1 –
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Do I need to read any of the DCAU books?
In addition to comics based on Batman: The Animated Series, DC Comics have also published comics based on other shows set within the DC Animated Universe (Batman Beyond, Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League/JLU). Some of these books feature Batman as a main character or guest star.
Do you need to read these? Not if you simply wish to read and enjoy stories based on Batman: The Animated Series. The other DCAU books are connected to their respective shows and reading them makes no real difference to your enjoyment of the Batman: TAS books.
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What is the best run of comics based on Batman: The Animated Series?
In my opinion, Batman Gotham Adventures is the best run of comics based on Batman: The Animated Series. The 60-issue series features great artwork and well-plotted stories which are fun for fans of the show and younger readers too.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about the Batman: The Animated Series comics. Should you want to read more Batman-related posts, please take a look around I’ll Get Drive-Thru or check out one of the recommended reads below.
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