Batman - Top 10 Artists

Continuing on from my round up of the Top 10 Best BatmanWriters, I pulled together my personal favorite Bat artists and did my best to rank them based on skill, influence, with my own personal taste mixed in. Some of them had long extended stays in Gotham while others dropped by a handful of times but managed to leave a lasting impression. Having very limited drawing skills myself, I am in awe of these masters at their craft and would gladly pick up any book with their credit attached, no matter how poor the writing. Anyway, enough with this intro, on to the list:

10) Marshall Rogers

Together with frequent collaborator Steve Englehart, Rogers contributed to one of the best Joker stories of all time, The Laughing Fish. Under his pencil, the Joker never seemed more menacing. Rogers hits the perfect balance of scary and humorous. This story has stood the test of time and it’s in part due to the captivating imagery. One thing that sticks out to me is when Rogers drew Batman, his cape seemingly had a life of its own, very much emphasizing his bigger-than-life persona and adding a sense of movement that you rarely see in comics. In addition, Rogers teamed with comics legend Len Wein to reinterpret Batman’s foe Clayface. Rogers’ run on Detective Comics is still looked back on as one of the all time best and it’s easy to see why.

Notable Works: Strange Apparitions, Dark Detective

9) Dustin Nguyen

I initially discovered Dustin Nguyen (like I discovered most artists on this list) through his Batman work when he first collaborated with Paul Dini on their acclaimed Detective run. Nguyen's take on the character was unlike any art I've ever seen in connection with Batman. The closest comparison I could make is that of Mike Magnolia, but Dustin has a style all his own. I especially loved Nguyen’s version of Hush, even better than his character designer, Jim Lee’s take which is saying something. Nguyen currently still resides in Gotham working on the Li’l Gotham series, and while those are fun, I like to think of chibi versions of superheroes as being Scottie Young's area and I'd love to see Dustin back on a regular Batman book soon. Bonus points for his awesome Batman Beyond covers.

Notable works: Heart of Hush, Hush Money, Lil’ Gotham

8) Tim Sale

Sale’s Batman truly embodies ‘creature of the night’ in every way, as his version thrives on shadows and mood. You know how with iconic movie characters it’s hard to imagine any other actor filling that role? Similarly, it’s impossible to imagine any other artist working on such masterpieces as The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Certainly, Sale’s partner in crime, Jeph Loeb, deserves some of the credit, but it’s Sale’s contributions that elevate these essential Bat stories to the top of the pack. Not only do they showcase many of Batman’s colorful rogues gallery in unforgettable renderings, but they also add great depth and humanity to the characters of Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, Harvey Dent and Dick Grayson. By illustrating their pain and suffering with subtlety and grace, oftentimes in just a single image, Sale proves to be a master at his craft. He is the artist Batman deserves. Let’s hope they reunite soon.

Notable Works: The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Haunted Knight

7) Norm Breyfogle

Breyfogle’s take on Batman manages to stradle the line of being both classic yet also his own style all at once. His run with Alan Grant is a classic one that holds a special place for me since it introduced us to the underrated Scarface and the Ventriloquist (I know I’m in the minority here). Breyfogle also got in on the Knightfall saga, ensuring that the quality would be up to snuff for such an earthshattering event. More recently, Breyfogle has returned to Batman’s world in the Batman Beyond series, bringing his unique talents to the Gotham of the future.

Notable Works: Detective Comics #583-594 , Knightfall, Batman Beyond Unlimited

6) Jim Aparo

Following the lead of Neal Adams, Aparo’s style strived for realistic interpretations of the Dark

Knight with a great attention to detail. Although drawing inspiration from Adams, Aparo’s Batman was not a carbon copy and soon branched out with a style all his own, often inking and even lettering his own work. Aparo got his start on Batman with the classic Brave and the Bold series which he worked on for over a decade. Once that series ended, it was replaced with another landmark series in Batman’s history, Batman and the Outsiders which he co-created. Aparo’s most notable contributions to Batman would come later though as he contributed to some of the most impactful stories in Batman’s history including Death in the Family as well as Knightfall creating such iconic imagery as Batman cradling Jason Todd’s limp body and Bane breaking Batman’s back, respectively. Aparo certainly made his mark in Gotham and Batman rarely looked better under anyone else’s pencil.

Notable Works: The Brave and the Bold, Death in the Family, Knightfall

5) David Mazzuchelli

Mazzuchelli doesn’t have a ton of Bat credits to his name, but the one he does is enough to rank him on this list. His clean, crisp style was a perfect fit for the retelling of Batman’s origin, spotlighting the Caped Crusader’s shadowy persona while balancing emotional beats with cinematic flair. Mazzuchelli reteams with his Daredevil collaborator, Frank Miller, who sticks to writing duties on this one, giving his collaborator a chance to shine. I can’t imagine if Miller had taken this one on as an artist. I think it would have been good, but the art here is what elevates it to the status it has attained in the years since. This story is worth picking up for the art alone and there’s not much more praise you can lavish on an artist than that.

Notable Works: Year One

4) Greg Capullo

Prior to Capullo’s pairing with Snyder, I had yet to read a comic featuring his art so my only

awareness of his style was his album cover art. As good as that was, I could never have anticipated that he would rise so quickly in the ranks to become one of my all time favorite Batman artists. Under his skilled pencil, Batman looks as badass as, well, Capullo! Seriously, the guy is a beast. What these guys have created together is an all-star run that makes up some of the best comics on the shelves today and will no doubt be pointed to for years to come as essential reading for any Bat fan. Snyder loves to beat up Batman throughout and Capullo makes us feel his pain, reminding us again and again there’s a human being under the cape and cowl. Batman is a stand out series since the dawn of the New 52 and it’s in part thanks to the stellar artwork from this guy. I’m now a fan for life and will happily seek out his next project after Batman but hopefully that won’t be for a good, long while.

Notable Works: Court of Owls, Death in the Family, Zero Year

 3) Jim Lee

If this were a list of the top 10 X-Men artists, Lee would probably be number one. He redefined the X-Men in the ’90s and then when he got his shot to interpret Batman and his foes, it was like he'd been waiting to draw them his whole life with so many iconic images coming out of his yearlong stint on the Hush arc. Writer Jeph Loeb, known for writing epic ensemble pieces, managed to work numerous villains into the plot, unleashing Lee's pencils on all the major villains. Lee would later team with Frank Miller on All-Star Batman and Robin. Miller at his most unfiltered combined with Lee’s mainstream style makes for such a bizzare dichotomy that I’m still kind of amazed that this even happened. This one has to be read to be believed is all I can say.

Notable Works: Hush, All-Star Batman and Robin

2) Frank Miller

Didn't we just cover this guy in the writer's section? Well, in addition to altering Batman’s

personality, Miller also slapped a new coat of paint on the look of DC's most popular superhero. Miller's take on the suit has been so popular it's appeared in animation, video games and even serves as the inspiration for Ben Affleck's version of that character in the latest cinematic iteration. I mean this iteration has even been spoofed on Tiny Toons, which obviously is the measure for when you know you’ve made it. I’d go as far as to say that Miller’s Batman is just as widely recognized today as the Adam West version. Various panels and splash pages from his Dark Knight series have become so iconic and widely circulated that they are now seared into my brain. I’ve lost count of how many times Miller’s covers for the series have been paid homage to year after year. Not only is Miller now a filmmaker and practically a household name in his own right (thanks to his Sin City fame) he’s also got the ear and respect of one of the most influential directors working today in Zach Snyder, who has ripped several pages right out of Miller’s book for Batman’s upcoming trip to the big screen. How much more influential can you get than that?

Notable Works: The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again

1) Neal Adams

Often times when I picture Batman in my head, it’s the Neal Adams version that comes to mind. It is so classic and timeless that another 75 years from now, I still think it will feel fresh and exciting. Adams’ contributions to the look of Batman are an important landmark in that his unique take ushered in a new house style for Batman at that time, not only revitalizing the character but also creating a new blueprint for the uniform look of an iconic superhero. His Batman leapt from the page, crackling with life and creating a new, dynamic energy rarely seen in comics at that time. In addition, Adams was responsible for giving readers their first look at Ra’s Al Ghul and Man-Bat, two very distinct and innovative character designs which were conceived during the artist’s prime. Between his pencils and O’Neil’s writing, they formed a dream team rarely seen in comics and set a high standard for those following in their footsteps. His most recent stint on the character, Odyssey, proves that Adams has not lost his touch and is still one of the best living artists today.

Notable Works: Daughter of the Demon, The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge, Odyssey

Honorable mentions - Bruce Timm and Alex Ross. While Timm defined the look of Batman for my generation, simplifying his look for animation while still remaining iconic and recognizable. Countless fans were introduced to the Dark Knight with this iteration and the design has aged well over two decades later (has it been that long?) Whereas Timm simplified Batman’s look, Ross took it in the complete opposite direction, depicting Batman and his world as being photo-realistic on countless covers and most notably in War on Crime, his oversized comic one-shot with Paul Dini. His depiction of Bruce Wayne in Kingdom Come undoubtedly had an impact on both Batman Beyond and The Dark Knight Rises.

Special shout out to cartoonists Matt Wagner and Darwyn Cooke who prove that Frank Miller isn’t the only one capable of writing and drawing captivating Batman stories. Wagner helped redefine Batman’s early days of crime fighting with the one two punch of Monster Men and Mad Monk plus his Two-Face story, Faces, shows early signs of brilliance. Cooke not only captured the spirit of Batman in Ego, he left his mark on Catwoman as well, flashing out one of Bats’ most notorious supporting characters. Your Batman collection will not be complete without their contributions lining your shelf.

That wraps it up. Did I miss your favorite Batman artist? Are my rankings way off? Leave a comment and let me know!

Batman - Top 10 Writers

Yeah I know, you've probably read 75 other lists by now of the best Batman writers, artists, stories, heroes, villains, gadgets (Bat Shark Repellant Spray better be #1), etc. by now. Well then here's list number 76. In recognition of Batman's 75th, I got inspired to rank my own personal favorite Bat writers. I've read a lot of Batman over the years so I like to think of myself as qualified to compile such a list. Need credentials? 

Behold my Bat-Shelf:

Now that we've got that out of the way, on to the list!

10) Marv Wolfman

Wolfman's greatest contributions to the Batman mythos revolve around the most famous sidekick in comic book history; Robin. After the shocking death of Jason Todd, it was decided that Batman needed a Robin to bring out his lighter side. Enter Tim Drake, the third Robin, who was introduced in A Lonely Place of Dying. Dick Grayson had long since graduated to the roll of Nightwing and in welcoming Tim to the family, DC comics had its most popular Robin in decades. As impactful as this storyline was, I think Wolfman's greatest achievement in the world of Batman is Year 3. The story splits time between the present day, featuring a grown Nightwing, and flashbacks which fill in some gaps concerning Sal Maroni, the murderer of Dick’s parents. These stories pack an emotional punch and prove why Wolfman was the man for the job when it came to creating a new super team around Dick in the Teen Titans. Not to mention, he’s a real nice guy!

 Notable Works: Year 3, A Lonely Place of Dying

9) Doug Moench

Moench's Terror and Prey may be one of the best one two punches in Batman's 75 years, zeroing in on one of his earliest villains, Professor Hugo Strange. In addition, Moench successfully took Batman to a place he'd never been before in Red Rain, turning the Dark Knight into a creature of the night in this vampire saga, one of the more memorable Elseworlds tales. Moench is beginning to receive his due with the recent collection of his, and frequent collaborator, Kelly Jones' classic run. Like fellow lister, Alan Grant, Moench also lent his talents to the Knightfall saga, which, let’s face it, is a classic Batman series.

Notable Works: Red Rain, Terror, Prey

8) Jeph Loeb

The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Two of the greatest Batman stories ever told. These alone would earn any writer a place on this list. Just when you thought that Loeb was finished making his mark on Gotham, he delivers an all-star collaboration with Jim Lee on Hush, the icing on the cake. He even collaborated with Darwyn Cooke on a delightful Batman/The Spirit crossover, which, as with the previously mentioned story arcs, made great use of Loeb’s penchant for working in so many Bat villains for his artist to draw. Of everything Loeb has ever written, he has yet to top his work on Batman, so it’s a shame that as an exec at Marvel we won’t be seeing any more Bat stories from him anytime soon. Even if he never drops by Gotham again, his contributions will continue to pave the way for future generations of Bat writers to come.

Notable Works: The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Hush

7) Alan Grant

Batman’s stories in the ‘90s would not be the same if it weren’t for Alan Grant. Along with artist Norm Breyfogle, Grant delivered a solid run during this decade and contributed to many essential crossovers as well as co-creating a handful of standout characters along the way including Anarky, Jeremiah Arkham, Mr. Zsasz, and most notably Scarface and the Ventriloquist, one of the most undervalued villains in Batman’s rogues gallery. Under Dennis O’Neil’s guiding hand, Grant helped make the Knightfall saga one of the most memorable events in Batman’s history. Chuck Dixon was also part of that writing team, and while his contributions are worth noting, I have to give Grant the edge for the criminal mastermind dummy wielding a tommy gun.

Notable Works: Detective Comics #583-594 , Knightfall, No Man’s Land

6) Grant Morrison

Morrison’s epic run on Batman was highly anticipated and threw readers many curveballs from the very start with the introduction of Damian, Bruce Wayne’s lovechild with Talia Al Ghul. Things only got weirder from here. Batman died (sorta), traveled through time, and formed the international Batman Inc. upon his return. The story that Morrison was weaving was grandiose in scope and had a mission statement to make every Batman story that ever was be officially apart of his continuity. The Crisis on Infinite Earths that had previously wiped decades of Batman’s history from existence was now reverse retconed. That is, until the New 52 wiped it from existence again. But many of Morrison’s ingredients made the cut and have crossed over into this all new DC universe. In effect, Morrison redefined Batman for the 21^st century and his contributions will no doubt be felt another 75 years from now.

Notable Works: Batman and Son, The Black Glove, Batman Inc.

5) Paul Dini

Even if Dini had just stuck to animation he would still be worthy of consideration for his contribution of Harley Quinn to Batman's world. But that's not all folks, as his run on Detective Comics was one of the best in recent years. Not only did he offer us fresh takes on such characters as The Riddler and Scarface and the Ventriloquist, he also put a new face on Hush (literally) and made him infinitely more interesting and dangerous than he had been previously. Unfortunately Dini worked in Morrison's shadow for his entire run but while Morrison’s take was grander in scope, Dini delivered solid Bat stories nonetheless. What’s so great about his run is there is a through line to it where seeds are planted and then pay off later and in doing so he’s crafted a tightly knit serialized superhero drama complete with his signature sense of humor. No writer balances light and dark moments quite as fluidly as Dini, which makes his Joker both a force to be reckoned with yet somehow still lovable (see Mad Love). Between Harley currently starring in her own series and Batman Beyond being integrated into current continuity, Dini’s influence is alive and well.

Notable Works: Mad Love, Detective, Heart of Hush

4) Scott Snyder

The current heir to the Batman throne, Snyder has been helping shape the direction of the Bat family titles since pre-New 52 and managed to rise to the top of the class even while Grant Morrison was dragging Batman through time and back. Between The Black Mirror, Court of Owls and Death in the Family, it seems everything this guy touches turns into an instant classic. Few writers get the Joker the way he does and we’re reminded again why he’s the best (and scariest) villain in comic book history under Snyder’s sick mind (in the best way!). He is currently spearheading the weekly Batman: Eternal series which sees a team of writers utilizing as many extended supporting characters that they can throw in there. It’s safe to say that Snyder’s run will stand the test of time as one of the all-time greatest and it’ll be a sad day when it inevitably comes to a close but for now, we can enjoy it while it lasts.

Notable Works: The Black Mirror, Court of Owls, Death in the Family

3) Frank Miller

Miller left an undeniable stamp on Batman that, to this day, provides inspiration and continues to endure. During the comic book renaissance of the ‘80s, for which his work is partly responsible, his Batman stories bookended the beginning and near end of Batman's career in just two years. Just how influential is Miller’s Batman? Well, if you consider that the Batman v Superman movie was announced with a line reading from The Dark Knight Returns, that should give you a pretty good idea. The minute long preview clip from the movie has Miller’s fingerprints all over it. Not to mention the fact that he penned Batman: Year One, the primary inspiration behind Batman Begins and what was, pre-New 52, considered the starting point for Batman’s canonical tales post-Crisis (yes I realize how esoteric that last sentence was). Batman has never been the same after Miller got his hands on him and I think for that we can all be grateful.

Notable Works: The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, The Dark Knight Strikes Again

2) Dennis O'Neil

Not only was O’Neil a powerhouse writer in the ‘70s, changing the landscape of Batman as we know it, he continued to be a guiding force throughout the ‘90s with his editorial supervision. His partnership with Neal Adams redefined Batman for a new generation and despite all the credit that Frank Miller gets, they single-handedly brought Batman back to his darker roots. The Venom story line is one of the best Batman stories of all time depicting Batman at his most desperate hour with his extended family powerless to help him. O'Neil also oversaw the Knightfall trilogy which, despite the flack that ‘90s comics often receive, remains an essential storyline in the Bat mythos. A living legend amongst Batman scribes, he may not have created the character, but without him I shudder to think how Batman would have turned out. Bonus points for co-creating Ra’s and Talia Al Ghul who have opened up Batman’s world to endless story possibilities as recently as The Dark Knight Rises and Baman’s son Damian.

Notable Works: Venom, Birth of the Demon, Knightfall

1) Bill Finger

“Bill who?” you might be asking yourself. Without the contributions of Bill Finger, Batman would be unrecognizable today, or worse, have faded away long ago. In addition to the co-creation of Robin, The Joker, Catwoman, the Batmobile, the name of the city Gotham, plus countless other contributions, (not to mention Batman’s origin story), Finger remains the unsung hero of Batman to this day with Bob Kane being credited as Batman’s sole creator. They even named an award after him to help recognize writers whose contributions to the medium should not go unnoticed. Simply put, Finger may not have written the greatest Batman story ever written, but without his creations, the greatest Batman stories written wouldn’t be possible. Bill has been #2 for so long, I thought I’d give him the #1 slot. He’s earned it.

Notable Works: The Joker, Catwoman, Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon, Robin… BATMAN

Honorable Mentions: Steve Englehart and Alan Moore – If I were making a list of the best Joker writers of all time, Englehart and Moore would be at the top of that list. The Laughing Fish and The Killing Joke are two of the greatest Joker stories ever told and deserve every shred of praise they’ve ever received. Everyone who writes Batman wants a crack at the clown prince of crime, and these two did not disappoint.

So that's my Top 10 Batman Writers as of this posting. Who knows what it will look like in another 75 years from now (yeah, I plan to live that long). Did I miss your favorite writer? Let me know in the comments.

Stay tuned for my Top 10 Batman Artists!