#1 - Frank Miller's superb origin story for both Batman and Lt. Gordon - No comic book shelf should be without this! Written by: Frank Miller Art by: Dave Mazzucchelli Originally published: 1987

#3 - Alan Moore's origin story for the Joker and his attempts to drive Gordon insane. NOTE: This trade is also included in DC Universe: Stories of Alan Moore. Written by: Alan Moore Art by: Brian Bolland Originally published: 1988

#5 - Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale bring you Batman early in his career as more of a detective trying to solve the mystery of the Holiday murders. Written by: Jeph Loeb Art by: Tim Sale Originally published: 1996

#7 - Batman joins forces with his enemy Ra's Al Ghul and carries out a romance with Ra's daughter. Written by: Mike W. Barr Art by: Jerry Bingham Originally published: 1987

#9 - An Elseworlds tale that pits Batman against Dracula himself. Batman sacrifices himself in order to save Gotham and defeat the renowned vampire. Written by: Doug Moench Art by: Kelley Jones Originally published: 1991

#11 - Bruce Wayne finds himself being indicted for treason! He struggles to clear his name without jeopardizing his biggest secret. Written by: Sam Hamm Art by: Denys Cowan Originally published: 1989

#13 - An Elseworlds tale set in Victorian times sees Bruce Wayne returning from his studies abroad. Grisly murders find Bruce a suspect for his nightly absences. Written by: Brian Augustyn Art by: Mike Mignola Originally published: 1989

#15 - The pivotal story of Jason Todd, the 2nd Robin, and his final days as Batman's sidekick. Written by: Jim Starlin Art by: Jim Aparo Originally published: 1988

#17 - Batman is at odds with the new mayor who is intent on bringing him down while another villain has the opportunity to compromise Batman's identity. Written by: Steve Englehart and Len Wein Art by: Walt Simonson and Marshall Rogers Originally published: 1978

#19 - A collection containing the introduction of Ra's Al Ghul, and Batman's many encounters with him and his daughter. Written by: Dennis O'Neil Art by: Bob Brown, Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Michael Golden and Don Newton. Originally published: 1971

#21 - Another Elseworlds tale, this one takes place in the 60s. Batgirl and Robin are a crimefighting couple, while Bruce Wayne is a penniless cop. Written by: Howard Chaykin Art by: Dan Brereton Originally published: 1997

#23 - An Elseworlds tale set in the late 40s. Batman and his contemporaries done with a Noir setting. Written by: Dean Motter Art by: Michael Lark Originally published: 1992

#25 - After failing to save a little girl's life, the Batman struggles to fight an addiction to a strength-enhancing drug. Written by: Dennis O'Neil Art by: Trevor Von Eeden & Russel Braun Originally published: 1991

Honorable Mention - Batman is determined to destroy every Lazarus Pit in the world. Before he can, he must face his former love, Talia, and learn the true origin of Ra's al Ghul. Written by: Dennis O'Neil Art by: Norm Breyfogle Originally published: 1992

Honorable Mention - An Elseworlds tale loosely based on the Frankenstein mythos where Bruce Wayne reanimates his father's brain into the monster Bat-Man. Written by: Jack C. Harris Art by: Bo Hampton Originally published: 1994

Honorable Mention - A Manga Batman tale has our hero trying to discover the source of a deadly new drug that has some interesting effects while confronting his fandom overseas. Written by: Kia Asamiya Art by: Kia Asamiya Originally published: 1999

Honorable Mention - Before making The Long Halloween, Loeb and Sale created 3 Halloween specials. A story each for Scarecrow and Mad Hatter, while the last one is loosely based on A Chirstmas Carol. Written by: Jeph Loeb Art by: Tim Sale Originally published: 1993

Honorable Mention - In the aftermath of the earthquake that took place in Batman: Cataclysm, the US government ordered the evacuation and subsequent abandonment of Gotham City. Batman and his allies must deal with the criminals that remain in an attempt to restore order to Gotham in this 5 volume series. Written by: Various Art by: Various Originally published: 1999

Honorable Mention - When a series of bloody, brutal murders suddenly strike an abnormally hot and humid Gotham City, the Dark Knight himself begins an investigation that leads to a near-fatal confrontation with the deadliest hunter in the universe, the Predator, in this 3 volume series. Written by: Dave Gibbons, Various Art by: Andy Kubert Originally published: 1991