The 10 Best Batman Stories Ever, Period.

Notice we included only finished arcs, and stories dealing with Batman as the sole hero, not part of an ensemble. Also, the stories are NOT ranked, but we would love to know which one is your favorite!

Written by Jeph Loeb and Drawn by Tim Sale, this 13-issue series goes back to the early days of the most famous crime fighter in Gotham, to a time when a serial killer known as Calendar Man makes a kill every holiday. Every issue revolves around a different holiday and introduces some of the most notorious Batman villains. The Long Halloween is a great mystery and a good re-introduction of Batman, his foes and his peers.

Alan Moore & Brian Bolland's masterpiece is not only one of the best Batman Vs. Joker stories, it might be one of the best comic books ever. Moore, who's known for for taking apart myths and digging deep into their guts (Just as he did in Watchmen and V For Vendetta), takes the reader for a tour inside the mind of a madman, and asks what's the difference between a villain and a vigilante.

In this brilliant story, Batman is watching his own funeral! Every member of the Batman saga tells his or hers version on the death of the caped crusader. Writer Neil Gaiman and Artist Andy Kubert ask many questions regarding the nature of stories, myths, fantasy and reality, in this very metaphysical book.

A recent arc from one of the most promising (and fulfilling) storytellers in the comic book industry: Tom King. Together with artist Mikel Janin, King tells the story of a war between two of the most famous (and craziest) Batman villains ever - The Joker and The Riddler. The story takes place during Batman's second year and features many of his most famous villains.

Another saga from the team behind The Long Halloween, Hush tells the story a new Gotham villain who's set to destroy the Bat using his most famous antagonists. Hush also features the first direct romantic involvement between Batman and Catwoman.

Considered by many to be the best Batman story ever, The Dark Knight Returns shows Gotham in the distant future. Bruce Wayne has retired but is called to wear the black cape once again to fight a mysterious, yet very familiar villain. Frank Miller's writing and drawing, Klaus Janson's inking and Lynn Varley's colors shows just how creative a comic book can be, even though it might feel overwhelming at times.

An underrated book from writer Grant Morrison and visionary artist Dave McKean. Arkham Asylum is a superb psychological horror story showing just how close to the edge Batman is, and how horrible an asylum for the criminally insane can be.

Another one from Frank Miller (this time with artist David Mazzucchelli), Year Zero focuses on Batman's beginning as a masked vigilante, and on his relationship with Jim Gordon and Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman).

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo invented a new group of villains in their first arc with the Bats. The Court Of Owls are an ancient order of terrorists who show Batman he might not know Gotham as well as he thinks, and drag him to hell on the way to redemption.

Another retelling of the origins of the Bat, this one has a fresh twist to it. As with the rest of the Earth One story-lines, this arc shows a similar, yet different version of Batman's past. Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank bring out the most of Bruce's past, with an Alfred you've never seen before!