Some volumes contain links to other maps that might provide more detail and explanation.

Year One (Deluxe HC)
Batman #404-407

Dark Moon Rising
Batman and the Monster Men #1-6
Batman and the Mad Monk #1-6
The Man Who Laughs #1

Legends of the Dark Knight
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #1-10 (“Shaman” and “Gothic”)

Batman/Catwoman (DCP 100-Page Spectacular)
Batman/Catwoman: Trail of the Gun #1-2

Venom (TPB)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #16-20

Urban Legends
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #58 (“Storm”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #105-106 (“Duty”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #41 (“Sunset”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #46-49 (“Heat”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #107-108 (“Stalking”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #172-176 (“Testament”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #24-26 (“Flyer”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #114 (“Playground”)

Year Two
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #0
Batman:  Gotham Knights #10 (black and white backup)
Batman Annual #14
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #21-23 (“Faith”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #32-34 (“Blades”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #42-43 (“Hot Hands”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #7 (Pulp Heroes)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #80-82 (“Idols”)
Batman Annual #19 (Scarecrow: Year One)
Detective Annual #8 (Riddler: Year One)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #159-161 (“Loyalties”)
Batman:  The Long Halloween #4 (Joker pages only)

There are some minor potential continuity issues with Batman Annual #19 and Detective Annual #8, but I have chalked those up to unreliable narrators. It wasn’t worth throwing out entire issues for one panel. Regarding The Long Halloween #4, I had a copy of the Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told that had the Joker scenes excerpted from that issue. Since I was cutting up the trade for other projects, I opted to include the story at the end of this book. Any scenes not involving the Joker are not included in this reprint.

Perceptions
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #102-104 (“Spook”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #98-99 (“Steps”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #65-68 (“Going Sane”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #146-148 (“Bad”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #39-40 (“Mask”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #74-75 (“Engines)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #31 (“Family”)

Monsters (HC)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #71-73 (“Werewolf”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #83-84 (“Infected”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #89-90 (“Clay”)

This book was released by Eaglemoss as volume 103 of “The Legend of Batman” – a partwork series of hardcovers released in the UK.  While “Clay” is said to occur during the third week of Batman’s mission (placing it during “Year One”), I don’t see any reason why the other two stories can’t go around here.  If I didn’t get this particular book, I would put the first two arcs in one of the surrounding volumes.

Gotham Freaks
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #156-158 (“Blink”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #169-171 (“Irresistible”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #91-93 (“Freakout”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #85 (“Citadel”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #115 (“The Darkness”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #95-97 (“Dirty Tricks”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #69-70 (“Criminals”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #86-88 (“Conspiracy”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #109-111 (“The Primal Riddle”)

There are multiple ways to organize the LOTDK arcs that have appeared in the map thus far, depending on what one counts as canon for this era.

Faces (TPB)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #28-30

The Dynamic Duo
Robin Annual #4
Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet
Turning Points #2
Robin: Year One #1-4
Legends of the DC Universe #6
Superman #700 (second story)

Times Like These
Batman Confidential #49
Gotham Knights #3, 29 (black and white backups)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #38 (“Legend of the Dark Mite”)
Legends of the DC Universe #10-11
Batman: Hidden Treasures #1
Swamp Thing #7 (as reprinted in Hidden Treasures #1)
Gotham Knights #25 (black and white backup)
Detective Comics #411 (as reprinted in The Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #1)
Batman #232 (as reprinted in The Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #1)
Batman #235 (as reprinted in The Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #2)
Batman #240 (as reprinted in The Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #2)
Batman #242-245 (as reprinted in The Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #3-4)
Detective Comics #410 (“A Vow from the Grave” as reprinted in The Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #4)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #1 (“Duel”)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #132-136 (“Siege”)

I only included Detective #410 because it was in the Saga of Ra’s Al Ghul #4 and shared a page with the end of Batman #245.

Changing of the Guard
Nightwing #101-106
Batman #410-411
Girlfrenzy: Batgirl
Batman #416
Batgirl Special #1

The Killing Joke

Death in the Family
Batman #414
Batman #421-430
Turning Points #3

Blind Justice (TPB)
Detective Comics #598-600

A Lonely Place of Dying (TPB)
Batman #440
New Titans #60
Batman #441
New Titans #61
Batman #442

Heroes and Madmen
Batman #448
Detective Comics #615
Batman #449
Detective Comics #617
Batman #450-451
Detective Comics #622-624

Just for fun, as a bonus feature, I included the Joker story from Batman #66, as reprinted in the Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told.

Dark Knight, Dark City (DCP 100-Page Spectacular)
Batman #452-454
Detective Comics Comics #633

Rites of Passage
Detective Comics #618-621
Batman #455-457
Detective Comics #625
Batman #458-459
Detective Comics #626
Batman #460-461
Detective Comics #628
Batman #465-466

Detective Comics #627 was an anniversary celebration featuring four different versions of “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate” (two reprints and two original stories by the then-current creative teams).  It’s possible that one of the new versions could fit in here, but I opted to included it in “Batman Through the Ages”.

Art of Gotham
Batman #474
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #27
Detective Comics #641
Batman #475
Detective Comics #642
Batman #476
Detective Comics #643
Batman #477-478
Batman #480
Detective Comics #651-653
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #2

Shadow of the Bat
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #1-15

Sword of Azrael (TPB)
Sword of Azrael #1-4

Sword of Azrael could be added to the beginning of the Prelude to Knightfall volume if you are so inclined, although I would start the Prelude volume with the Vengeance of Bane special to parallel the placement of the sequel at the end of the final volume in the saga.

Prelude to Knightfall
Vengeance of Bane
Sword of Azrael #1-4 (if not separated out)
Batman #484-487
Detective Comics #654-656
Detective Comics #657 (p. 1-2)
Batman #488
Detective Comics #657 (p. 3-22)
Detective Comics #658
Batman #489-490

This book is where the subplot of Batman starting to get run down begins.  LOTDK Annual #2 (marriage of Gordon and Essen) probably should have gone in this volume, because the wedding is mentioned as upcoming in the earlier issues, and in the past in later issues.  However, since that story doesn’t directly tie into Knightfall and slows the pacing of this book down, I fudged it a little and included it in the Art of Gotham book above.

Knightfall
Batman #491
Batman #492
Detective Comics #659
Batman #493
Detective Comics #660
Batman #494
Detective Comics #661
Batman #495
Detective Comics #662
Batman #496
Detective Comics #663
Batman #497
Detective Comics #664
Showcase ’93 #7-8 (lead stories only)
Batman #498
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
Detective Comics #665
Batman #499
Detective Comics #666
Batman #500

Contrary to what DC has said in the past in previous TPB publications, this is the correct placement of SOTB #16-18. They try to place it based on the bat signal on the cover, but if you read the comics, you’ll see why it can’t work between Detective #665 and Batman #499.  Most recent reprints put the arc in the correct place.

KnightQuest 1
Batman:  Turning Points #4 (optional, published in 2000)
Justice League Task Force #5-6 (Search)
Detective Comics #667-668
Robin #1 (pgs 1-5)
Detective Comics #669
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #19-20
Batman #501-502
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #21-23 (Search)
Detective Comics #670
Catwoman #6
Batman #503-504
Catwoman #7
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #24
Detective Comics #671-673

KnightQuest 2
Batman #505
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #25
Batman #506-507
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #59-61 (Search)
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #26-27
Detective Comics #674
Batman #508
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #28
Detective Comics #675
Robin #7

KnightQuest may or may not fit into one book, depending on your binding preferences. It’s 36 issues but with the thicker newsprint of the early 1990s.   The main reason I kept the Search issues integrated with the Crusade is due to appearances by Az-Bats.  He is shown in his first costume (and with Robin) in JLTF #5, but has a later version of the costume in the LOTDK arc.

I chose this uneven breakpoint between volumes because Batman #505 starts the Abbatoir and new costume subplots, which make the stories thereafter much more consistent. Prior to that, the only main theme of KnightQuest was “the adventures of Azrael as Batman”.

Knightsend
Batman #509
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #29
Detective Comics #676
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #62
Robin #8
Catwoman #12
Batman #510
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #30
Detective Comics #677
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #63
Robin #9
Showcase ’94 #10 (first story)

The original printing of the Knightsend TPB works fine.  It does not include the Showcase story and it cuts out a few pages of Robin #9 that are not completely relevant to the Batman plots.  It is not necessary to include any other Catwoman issues (even #13 which was labelled as Aftermath).  Catwoman #12 manages to perfectly balance the plot of the ongoing series with the crossover plot and not short change readers of either one.

Zero Hour
Showcase ’94 #8-9 (lead stories)
Batman #511
Superman: Man of Steel #37
Zero Hour #4
Superboy #8
Superman #93
Zero Hour #3
Zero Hour #2
Adventures of Superman #516
Action Comics #703
Guy Gardner: Warrior #24
Zero Hour #1
Zero Hour #0
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #31
Detective Comics #678
Robin #10
Showcase ’94 #10 (last story)

This DCU crossover volume stays with my Superman collection.  The map linked in the title has a full explanation for why these issues are ordered in this way.  Here I document the mapping specific to the Batman-related tie-ins.  (If focusing solely on Batman, MOS #37 is the only tie-in needed from outside the Batman titles.)

-Batman #511 and Man of Steel #37 share scenes with each other and the early part of Zero Hour #4.

-SOTB #31 chronicles a generic time anomaly, but makes a reference to the Batgirl they met “a few nights ago” in Batman #511, which obviously cannot fit in during the timeline established for the main event (which all happens within a 32 hour period).  I moved this issue to be after the main event, assuming that there are still a few residual aftereffects occurring even after the heroes fix the timeline.

-Detective #678 deals with Batman conducting a calm patrol of Gotham.  I have a hard time assuming that Batman would find the time to break away from the chaos of Zero Hour just to patrol Gotham and then study open cases at the Batcave.  While I have moved this to the end like SOTB #31, it would probably be just as easy to move it to occur before Batman #511.

-Robin #10 has a fade-to-white ending, and I originally placed in between Zero Hour #2 and #1, where there is enough of a narrative gap (roughly six hours based on the captions) for Robin, who appears in both issues alongside Batman, to get back to Gotham to have his  adventure, which includes a young Dick Grayson. Robin going back home for a brief spell can be explained away simply as Batman sending Robin back to keep an eye on Gotham, but then Gotham starts disappearing, thus forcing Robin to return to the main action in New York.  However, I ultimately opted to put Robin #10 at the end with the other Batman tie-ins, because it felt like less mental work to explain the narrative that way.

Prodigal
Batman #0
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #0
Detective Comics #0
Robin #0
Batman #512
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #32
Detective Comics #679
Robin #11
Batman #513
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #33
Detective Comics #680
Robin #12
Batman #514
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #34
Detective Comics #681
Robin #13
Batman #515
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #35
Detective Comics #682
Robin #14
Nightwing:  Alfred’s Return
Vengeance of Bane 2

I put Vengeance of Bane absolute last to mirror it’s placement as the first issue in the Prelude to Knightfall volume.

Shadows Over Gotham
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #36-43
Catwoman #26
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #44-47

As I mentioned in the Shadow of the Bat map, I wanted to include more of the Batman and Detective issues regarding the mayoral election that rounded out this volume.  However, I am not a fan of Kelley Jones’ art, hence not getting any of those issues.  When I got the Detective issues, they didn’t fit in well with the story arc in SOTB.  Both series were running two-parters that should have been taking place on the same night, but the chronology just did not fit.

Contagion
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #48
Detective Comics #695
Robin #27
Catwoman #31
Azrael #15
Batman #529
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #49
Detective Comics #696
Batman Chronicles #4
Catwoman #32
Azrael #16
Robin #28

The original TPB only includes the last two stories from Batman Chronicles #4, skipping the Hitman story.  It also cuts the last page of Robin #28, which has a bit of a cliffhanger that leads into the next two issues of Robin.  The “big cliffhanger” is that Tim’s girlfriend dyed her hair.  Eventually, I bound my own version which included the full Batman Chronicles #4 and also scans of the first two pages of Robin #29 to resolve the “big cliffhanger”.

Legacy
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #50-52
Detective Comics #697-699
Robin #31
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #53
Batman #533
Detective Comics #700
Catwoman #36
Robin #32
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #54
Batman #534
Detective Comics #701
Robin #33
Detective Comics #702

I have Final Night mapped in my Superman collection, but the only Batman issue included is Detective #703.

Knight Out (HC)
Detective Comics #703-718

This hardcover covers all of the Detective issues between Legacy and Cataclysm.  Since the individual series were so self-contained in this period, this book and the three following could probably go in any order.  I have placed it immediately after Legacy since the first issue is the Final Night tie-in.

Pulp Heroes
Nightwing Annual #1
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat Annual #5
Batman Annual #21
Azrael Annual #3
Detective Comics Annual #10
Robin Annual #6

These can go in just about any order. I grouped them by category.

Gordon of Gotham (TPB)
Batman: Gordon’s Law #1-4
Batman: GCPD #1-4
Batman: Gordon of Gotham #1-4

These three minis come from the mostly self contained era of 1996-1998, and I don’t see any reason they can’t fit together here.

Shadow of the Mind
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #55-72

Depending on how you map out Cataclysm and Aftershock, Arkham Asylum:  Tales of Madness #1 could be placed at the end of this volume.

Cataclysm (TPB)
Detective Comics #719 (last 4 pgs)
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #73
Nightwing #19
Batman #553
Detective Comics #720
Catwoman #56
Blackgate: Isle of Men #1
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #74
Batman Chronicles #12
Nightwing #20
Batman #554
Huntress/Spoiler: Blunt Trauma #1
Detective Comics #721
Robin #53
Arkham Asylum:  Tales of Madness #1

This is one case where the TPB — and I’m referring to the original version, not the 2015 expanded edition — offers a better reading experience than the original release of the crossover.  Several of the secondary series and one-shots slowed down the main narrative. The original TPB release omitted the non-quake subplot pages from Nightwing #19, but also put one of the stories from Batman Chronicles #12 in the wrong place.  I came up with this better map.  It also moves the Arkham Asylum chapter (labeled as part 16 of 17) to the end, as keeping it in publication order kills the pacing of the main storyline.  It is a side story, but does get referenced in the Shadow of the Bat chapters of Road to No Man’s Land.

Aftershock
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #75
Batman #555
Detective Comics #722
Robin #54
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #76
Batman #556
Batman Chronicles #16 (first story)
Batman Chronicles #14 (third story)
Green Arrow #134 (Brotherhood of the Fist part 1)
Detective Comics #723 (Brotherhood of the Fist part 2)
Robin #55 (Brotherhood of the Fist part 3)
Nightwing #23 (Brotherhood of the Fist part 4)
Green Arrow #135 (Brotherhood of the Fist part 5)
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #77
Batman #557
Detective Comics #724
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #78-79
Batman Chronicles #14 (first and second stories)
Batman #558
Detective Comics #725
Batman #559
Detective Comics #726

DC One Million
DC One Million #1
Action Comics #1000000
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #1000000
Nightwing #1000000
Green Lantern #1000000
DC One Million #2
Batman #1000000
Superman:  Man of Steel #1000000
Starman #1000000
Superman #1000000
Superboy #1000000
Detective Comics #1000000
JLA #1000000
DC One Million #3
Martian Manhunter #1000000
Adventures of Superman #1000000
Resurrection Man #1000000
Catwoman #1000000
Robin #1000000
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #1000000
DC One Million #4
Chronos #1000000

Again, another DCU crossover that sits with my Superman collection.

Road to No Man’s Land
Azrael #47
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #80
Batman #560
Detective Comics #727
Azrael #48
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #81
Batman #561
Detective Comics #728
Azrael #49
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #82
Batman #562
Detective Comics #729
NML #0
Batman Chronicles #16 (stories 2-3 / first story is included in “Aftershock”)

NML #0 could be a tough one, since it does spoil some of the mysteries of the first half of NML.  But that goes to personal preference.  If you’ve read it all before, there’s no reason not to put it there.

No Man’s Land Volume 1
NML #1
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #83
Batman #563
Detective Comics #730
Azrael #50-51
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #116
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #84
Batman #564
Detective Comics #731
Azrael #52-53
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #117
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #85
Batman #565
Detective Comics #732
Batman Chronicles #17
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #118
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #86
Batman #566
Detective Comics #733
Young Justice in NML
Azrael #54-55
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #119
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #87
Batman #567
Detective Comics #734

No Man’s Land Volume 2
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #120
JLA #32
Azrael #56-57
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #88
Batman #568
Detective Comics #735
Nightwing #35-37
Batman Chronicles #18
Nightwing #38-39
JLA #33
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #121
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #89
Batman #569

No Man’s Land Volume 3
Detective Comics #736
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #122
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #90
Batman:  Harley Quinn
Batman #570
Detective Comics #737
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #123
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #91
Azrael #58
Batman #571
Detective Comics #738
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #124
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #92
Batman #572
Detective Comics #739
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #125

No Man’s Land Volume 4
Catwoman #72-75
Azrael #59
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #93
Azrael #60
Batman #573
Detective Comics #740
Catwoman #76-77
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #126
Batman #574
Detective Comics #741
Azrael #61
Batman:  Shadow of the Bat #94

Additional commentary can be found in the full NML map.

New Gotham 1
Detective Comics #742
Batman:  Gotham Knights #1-2
Detective Comics #743-746
Batman:  Gotham Knights #3-5
Detective Comics #747
Batman:  Gotham Knights #6-7
Detective Comics #748-750

The B&W backups from GK 4-7 can all go in place. #1 could probably go in published order. #2 is a John Byrne Generations story, and #3 takes place earlier in Batman’s career.

New Gotham 2
Batman:  Gotham Knights #8-11
Detective Comics #751-753
Batman #582-586
Batman:  Turning Points #5
Batman:  Gotham Knights #13 (B&W)
Batman:  Gotham Knights #17 (B&W)
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #168

None of the GK B&W backups from the issues in this volume actually go in place. I opted to skip Gotham Knights #12, since it was a fill-in.  The story originally scheduled for GK #12 was finally published in a Zsasz TPB in 2020.  Either one of those stories would go before or after Turning Points #5.  LOTDK #168 is from a few years later, placed here due to costume details and Commissioner Gordon.  I only included it because I obtained it from a TPB for a different issue.

Officer Down
Batman #587
Robin #86
Birds of Prey #27
Catwoman #90
Nightwing #53
Detective Comics #754
Batman:  Gotham Knights #13
Detective Comics #755

Unknowing
Batman:  Gotham Knights #14-15
Superman #168
Detective Comics #756-757
Batman:  Gotham Knights #16-17
Batman #591-592
Detective Comics #758 (backup – Oracle)
Detective Comics #758-760
Batman:  Gotham Knights #18-19
Batman #593-594
Detective Comics #759-762 (backups – Slam Bradley/Catwoman)

The backup in GK #16 can go before the main story. Other than that, none of the other backups fit in this book.

Family Business
Detective Comics #761-762
Batman:  Gotham Knights #20-21
Batman #595
Batman:  Gotham Knights #22
Detective Comics #763
Batman #596
Detective Comics #764
Batman:  Gotham Knights #23
Batman #597
Detective Comics #765
Batman:  Gotham Knights #24
Batman #598

None of the GK B&W backups from the issues in this volume actually go in place. 

Bruce Wayne:  Murderer?
Batman: The Ten Cent Adventure #1
Detective Comics #766
Batgirl #24
Nightwing #65 (pg 1-8, 12-14, 18-21)
Batman:  Gotham Knights #25
Birds of Prey #39 (pg 8-9, 11-16, 18-22)
Batman #599
Detective Comics #767
Nightwing #66 (pg 1-6, 10-18)
Batman:  Gotham Knights #26
Birds of Prey #40 (pg 1-4, 9-10, 19-22)
Batman #600

The cut pages and issues are mostly due to Chuck Dixon continuing his own subplots that did not intersect with the Batman storyline.  Even though they are labelled as official chapters, Robin #98 and #99 barely tie into the storyline and actually contradict some of the internal continuity of the story, which is why I left them out.  I only included the main feature of Batman #600, saving the backups for Batman Through the Ages.

Bruce Wayne:  Fugitive
Batman:  Gotham Knights #27
Birds of Prey #41 (pg 1-3, 6-7, 9-10, 12-17, 21-22)
Batman #601-602
Batgirl #27
Detective Comics #768-771
Nightwing #68 (pg 1-5, 7, 9, 11-12, 14-16, 20-22)
Batman:  Gotham Knights #28-29
Nightwing #69 (pg 1-7, 10-11, 13-14, 16-17, 19, 21-22)
Birds of Prey #43 (pg 1-3, 7, 17)
Batman #603
Batgirl #29
Batman:  Gotham Knights #30
Azrael #91
Azrael #92 (pg 1-9)
Batman #604
Detective Comics #772
Batman:  Gotham Knights #31
Batman #605
Detective Comics #773-774
Batman:  Gotham Knights #32
Batman #606-607
Detective Comics #775

Fugitive was a status quo/subplot that marketing turned into a crossover.  Part numbers should largely be ignored.

Dead Reckoning
Detective Comics #777-782
Detective Comics #782 (backup)
Detective Comics #784-786
Batman:  Gotham Knights #28 (B&W backup)
Batman:  Gotham Knights #32 (B&W backup)
Detective Comics #763-772, 784 (Josie Mac backups)

The Gotham Knights backups were left over from Fugitive, and were some of the few that could fit into regular Batman continuity. As for the Detective backups, #777-780 continued a story started in #776, so I left them out. #782 stayed in because it shared a page with the lead story. #781 also shared a page, but since it was the middle of the arc, I had to scan and print anyway. I used the reprint from “Man Who Laughs” for #784-786, so had to make copies of the Josie Mac story in #784.

Hush (20th Anniversary HC)
Batman #608-619

Also includes the two page origin sequence, a six page interlude from Wizard, and a new epilogue also by Loeb and Lee.

Death and the Maidens (HC)
Detective Comics #783 (backup)
Death and the Maidens #1-9

City of Crime
Detective Comics #800 (backup)
Detective Comics #801-808
Detective Comics #811-814

As the Crow Flies (TPB)
Batman #626-630

War Drums (TPB)
Detective Comics #790-795
Detective Comics #795-796 (back-ups)
Robin #126
Detective Comics #796
Robin #127-128

War Games
Batman:  The 12 Cent Adventure
Detective Comics #797
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #182
Nightwing #96
Batman:  Gotham Knights #56
Robin #129
Batgirl #55
Catwoman #34
Batman #631
Detective Comics #798
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #183
Nightwing #97
Batman:  Gotham Knights #57
Robin #130
Batgirl #56
Catwoman #35
Batman #632
Detective Comics #799
Batman:  Legends of the Dark Knight #184
Nightwing #98
Robin #131
Batman:  Gotham Knights #58
Batgirl #57
Catwoman #36
Batman #633

Identity Crisis occurs between these volumes.

War Crimes
Detective Comics #800
Gotham Central #25
Batman #634
Detective Comics #809
Batman #643
Detective Comics #810
Batman #644

Under the Hood
Batman #635-641
Batman #645-650
Batman Annual #25

Infinite Crisis occurs around this time.

Face the Face (TPB)
Detective Comics #817
Batman #651
Detective Comics #818
Batman #652
Detective Comics #819
Batman #653
Detective Comics #820
Batman #654

Batman: Detective
Detective Comics #821-826
Batman #659-662
Detective Comics #827-837

If I were to redo this book, I would probably just focus on the Dini issues, which would be Detective #821-824, 826-828, 831, 833-834, and 837.

Batman and Son
Batman #655-658
Batman #663-669

Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul
Batman Annual #26
Batman #670
Robin #168
Nightwing #138
Detective Comics #838
Batman #671
Robin #169
Nightwing #139
Detective Comics #839-840
Detective Comics #842

Detective Comics #840 is labeled as the epilogue. #842 was a fill-in by Peter Milligan about the Suit of Sorrows.

Heart of Hush
Detective Comics #841
Detective Comics #843-850

R.I.P.
Batman #672-675
DC Universe #0 (pg 8-10)
Batman #676-681

Final Crisis
DC Universe #0
Justice League of America #21*
Final Crisis #1
Final Crisis: Requiem*
Final Crisis #2-3
Final Crisis:  Superman Beyond #1-2
Final Crisis Secret Files*
Final Crisis: Resist*
Final Crisis: Submit
Final Crisis #4-5
Batman #682-683
Final Crisis #6-7

* denotes issue not written by Grant Morrison, although he did contribute a text piece to Final Crisis Secret Files, and only co-write DC Universe #0.

Last Rites
Detective Comics #851
Batman #684
Nightwing #152
Detective Comics #852
Batman #685
Nightwing #153
Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead?
Battle for the Cowl #1
Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon #1
Battle for the Cowl #2-3
Batman #687
Gotham Gazette: Batman Alive
Batman #686
Detective Comics #853

Batman and Robin: The Hole in Things
Batman and Robin #1-12
Batman #700-702
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-6
Batman and Robin #13-16

The Black Mirror (HC)
Detective Comics #871-881

The Gates of Gotham (TPB)
Gates of Gotham #1-5

Batman, Incorporated
Batman: The Return #1
Batman Inc #1-8
Batman Inc: Leviathan Strikes! #1
Batman Inc (volume 2) #0-10, 12-13

And with that, the post-Crisis Batman saga ends.

I also used this site as a resource:  http://batman-superman.tripod.com/pob/nmlguide1.htm  It summarizes all of NML (with spoilers).  I don’t completely agree with it, but it’s a good starting reference.  It also explains some of my reasoning about putting certain issues in certain places.

We start with the prelude volume.

Road to No Man’s Land
Azrael #47
SOTB #80
Batman #560
Detective #727
Azrael #48
SOTB #81
Batman #561
Detective #728
Azrael #49
SOTB #82
Batman #562
Detective #729
NML #0
Batman Chronicles #16 (stories 2-3 / first story is included in “Aftershock”)

NML #0 could be a tough one, since it does spoil some of the mysteries of the first half of NML.  But that goes to personal preference.  If you’ve read it all before, there’s no reason not to put it there.

And now, the main event…

Volume 1
NML #1
SOTB #83
Batman #563
Detective #730
Azrael #50-51
LOTDK #116
SOTB #84
Batman #564
Detective #731
Azrael #52-53
LOTDK #117
SOTB #85
Batman #565
Detective #732
Batman Chronicles #17
LOTDK #118
SOTB #86
Batman #566
Detective #733
Young Justice in NML
Azrael #54-55
LOTDK #119
SOTB #87
Batman #567
Detective #734

Volume 2
LOTDK #120
JLA #32
Azrael #56-57
SOTB #88
Batman #568
Detective #735
Nightwing #35-37
Batman Chronicles #18
Nightwing #38-39
JLA #33
LOTDK #121
SOTB #89
Batman #569

Volume 3
Detective #736
LOTDK #122
SOTB #90
Batman:  Harley Quinn
Batman #570
Detective #737
LOTDK #123
SOTB #91
Azrael #58
Batman #571
Detective #738
LOTDK #124
SOTB #92
Batman #572
Detective #739
LOTDK #125

Volume 4
Catwoman #72-75
Azrael #59
SOTB #93
Azrael #60
Batman #573
Detective #740
Catwoman #76-77
LOTDK #126
Batman #574
Detective #741
Azrael #61
SOTB #94

Good break points, story wise, are LOTDK #120 and #125.  I also try to group a lot of the “filler” issues that came out in the summer months together in one book.  (I don’t like Larry Hama’s Batman work, and I think his issues in NML are the absolute worst.  Therefore, if I can keep his involvement down to just one volume, I will.  Although I think in my personal breakdown, he creeps into two…but one of those is just for a single issue.  And I can’t just skip Hama’s issues, because at least one of them has a pivotal plot point to the overall NML arc.)

The early Azrael issues were a little difficult to place, because the first four are supposed to take place in a short span of time right after the bridges are blown up.  However, Batman shows up in #53.  Batman does not show up in NML proper until three months into the ordeal, as stated in the opening arc.  So I fudged it a bit.  Also, Azrael #58 is also a Day of Judgement tie-in.

The Catwoman issues are also a bit difficult, because they try to tie the beginning of the arc in with issues that came out in June 1999, and the end of the arc with issues that came out in November, but try to say the story only took three days, or some nonsense like that  (That’s my problem when writers and editors try to give specific timeframes — they want to say a large batch of issues takes place over a large span of time, but most of the stories contained within only cover a few days).  Catwoman #75 shares scenes with Azrael #59 and SOTB #93, so preference goes to those.

War Drums (TPB)
Detective Comics #790-795
Detective Comics #795-796 (back-ups)
Robin #126
Detective Comics #796
Robin #127-128

War Games
Batman:  The 12 Cent Adventure
Detective #797
LOTDK #182
Nightwing #96
GK #56
Robin #129
Batgirl #55
Catwoman #34
Batman #631
Detective #798
LOTDK #183
Nightwing #97
GK #57
Robin #130
Batgirl #56
Catwoman #35
Batman #632
Detective #799
LOTDK #184
Nightwing #98
Robin #131
GK #58
Batgirl #57
Catwoman #36
Batman #633

War Crimes
Detective #800
Gotham Central #25
Batman #634
Detective #809
Batman #643
Detective #810
Batman #644

Normally, I don’t like having a large jump within a volume.  However, there is no reason for the actual “War Crimes” arc to take place so far after “War Games”.  In the meantime, Detective has the “City of Crime” arc, which actually takes place before “War Games”, and Batman is starting the Red Hood arc, which can go afterward.  I would have included the three immediate aftermath issues in “War Games” itself, except that would make “War Crimes” really thin, and “Identity Crisis” has to take place between “War Games” and Batman #634.

On a semi-related note, I bound City of Crime, using the backup from Detective #800, and then Detective #801-808, 811-814.

Prelude to Knightfall
Sword of Azrael #1-4
Vengeance of Bane
Batman #484-487
Detective #654-656
Detective #657 (p. 1-2)
Batman #488
Detective #657 (p. 3-22)
Detective #658
Batman #489-490

This book is where the subplot of Batman starting to get run down begins.  Personally, I didn’t include Sword of Azrael in my book because I had the trade, and did not feel the need to rip it apart for binding. Now, if you’re really anal about your Batman continuity, LOTDK Annual #2 (marriage of Gordon and Essen) probably should go in there somewhere, because the wedding is mentioned as upcoming in the earlier issues, and in the past in later issues.  However, that story itself doesn’t tie into Knightfall, and would slow the pacing of this book down.  So I fudged it, and included in a previous volume.

Knightfall
Batman #491
Batman #492
Detective #659
Batman #493
Detective #660
Batman #494
Detective #661
Batman #495
Detective #662
Batman #496
Detective #663
Batman #497
Detective #664
Showcase ’93 #7-8 (lead stories only)
Batman #498
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-18
Detective #665
Batman #499
Detective #666
Batman #500

Contrary to what DC has tried to say since the original TPB publication, this is the correct placement of SOTB #16-18. They try to place it based on the bat signal on the cover, but if you read the comics, you’ll see why it can’t work between Detective #665 and Batman #499.

KnightQuest 1
Turning Points #4 (optional, published in 2000)
Justice League Task Force #5-6 (Search)
Detective #667-668
Robin #1 (pgs 1-5)
Detective #669
SOTB #19-20
Batman #501-502
SOTB #21-23 (Search)
Detective #670
Catwoman #6
Batman #503-504
Catwoman #7
SOTB #24
Detective #671-673

KnightQuest 2
Batman #505
SOTB #25
Batman #506-507
Legends of the Dark Knight #59-61 (Search)
SOTB #26-27
Detective #674
Batman #508
SOTB #28
Detective #675
Robin #7

KnightQuest may or may not fit into one book, depending on your binding preferences. It’s 36 issues, but with the thicker newsprint of the early 1990s. If it was published twenty years later, then it probably would easily fit into one book (but weigh a ton).

The main reason I kept the Search and Crusade issues integrated is because Az-Bats shows up in his latest costume in the LOTDK arc. DC screwed up on the covers to some issues, mistakenly labeling Crusade issues as Search. Only the 8 issues I’ve listed above are actual Search issues.

I chose this uneven breakpoint, because Batman #505 starts the Abbatoir and new costume subplots, which make the stories thereafter much more consistent. Prior to that, the only main theme of KnightQuest was “the adventures of Azrael as Batman”.

Knightsend
Batman #509
SOTB #29
Detective #676
LOTDK #62
Robin #8
Catwoman #12
Batman #510
SOTB #30
Detective #677
LOTDK #63
Robin #9
Showcase ’94 #10 (first story)

The original printing of the Knightsend TPB works fine.  It does not include the Showcase story, and it cuts out a few pages of Robin #9 that are not completely relevant to the Batman plots.  It is not necessary to include any other Catwoman issues (even #13 which was labelled as Aftermath).  The Catwoman series did a good job of intersecting two stories, so if you are just reading Catwoman straight through, you get a coherent story.  Likewise, if you’re just reading Knightsend, you don’t feel like you’re missing anything from Catwoman.

Following Zero Hour, continued in Batman: Prodigal.