10 Scariest Ever Batman Comics That Gave You Nightmares

[@pauljoyner4338]

Batman: The Cult. Everybody forgets that Deacon Blackfire broke Batman's psychologically long before Bane broke his back. Glad it was included on this list.

[@joshuahecht6866]

Watchmojo mentioned it in top 10 Batman comics

[@Peepholecircus]

Yup, Batman was totally wrecked. Amazing book. I got a pencil page from it by Wrightson too!

[@creed8712]

Paul Joyner don’t forget he also took over the city blowing the bridges and having the national guard show up long before Bane as well

[@chelseaheineman4620]

The Cult was really disturbing to me, I loved that comic

[@zacharycollins9485]

How could you forget about Deacon Blackfire thrashing Batman's mind? The Cult is my favorite Batman comic. He gets mind-controlled by Blackfire, straight-up murders a bunch of gangsters, quits being Batman (for 2 minutes) and then rides back in to Gotham with Robin in a Bat-Monster Truck to save the day. The story, the characters, the colors, the madness - it's so good! 🤘😜

[@mrananksharma462]

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. The artwork is pure nightmare fuel.

[@purnenduray1130]

That joker can give anyone nightmares.

[@Child_Dog]

I really like the other Arkham Asylum one about the shark dude too. Serious House is unrivaled though.

[@psyifinotic]

Olivia White there was another???

[@Child_Dog]

@@psyifinotic There's a couple - Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, and Arkham Asylum: Madness. I think there's at least one other miniseries about Arkham too iirc.

[@scaressell6880]

Hell yea

[@crisisamonginfinitedarthsa4220]

The Long Halloween was more of a mystery novel rather than spooky or scary.

[@Thespeedrap]

I agree but it is a good story.Can't for the next Batman it will take from this novel hopefully puts Nolan' to shame.

[@justin42520]

That's what we said though xD

[@kingpeso4240]

Still creepy

[@Frredster]

It's a crime Scarecrow isn't in more scary Batman comics as a main player. He could literally be the embodiment of nightmare fuel and psychological horror if the writers wrote him right, especially if he was allowed to play with Batman's trauma and inner demons.

[@SuperYouFox]

I know a lot of people didn't like the New 52, but I think its got an honourable mention for scary Batman comics in there: Death of the Family Where Joker kidnaps each member of the Bat Family and seemingly serves them their own faces on silver platters.

[@arkinyte13]

SuperYouFox The Swamp thing and Animal Man comics of the new 52 were great.

[@andrewt329]

I always thought the Batman New 52 Run was generally well-received? Much better than King's run at the very least.

[@chelseaheineman4620]

I'm very late on this, but the Death of the family comic was really good that and the court of owls was the only good new 52 comics and they didn't destroy anything and they're both very popular and a lot of fans love them.

[@youngmetro864]

Yea really only Batman flash and green lantern had good new 52 books

[@plasticweapon]

that is so fucking stupid.

[@tylerhughes9090]

totally agree that Batman has the best rogue gallery out of all comic book ever !

[@williamgroves3134]

The Legends of the Dark Night series seems to be a good creepy series.

[@karenstarr]

How about Batman: hell on earth? Same artist as Batman vs Dracula. But it takes place in a hellish Gotham where demons rule.

[@michaelobrien1106]

No Court of Owls? Obviously Serious House on Serious Earth was going to be #1, but Batman lost in the labyrinth, spinning the book around to keep reading, and ultimately defeated psychologically until the 11th hour turn around was enough to get under your skin (especially after that David Fincher Seven style crime thriller to kick it off).

[@Rain0327]

Court of Owls was fucking wild. Talon beating Batman to a bloody pulp while the court breaks him mentally is one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read in a comic. The most badass part was when Batman breaks their hold on him and goes ham on Talon telling him how he’s nothing but a hired thug and that he knows Gotham better than anyone, so no matter where the court hides, Batman will find them. It’s stuff like this that makes Batman the badass character he is.

[@putrangos]

The scariest thing about Batman who Laughs is how he thinks: "I know you know i know he know you and i knows" but that only what he wants you to think he thinks. In truth you don't even know anything about yourself as much as the Batman who Laughs does. And that my friend, is Scary

[@rjrowley3887]

Wut?

[@BioGamer12]

The scariest thing about The Batman who Laughs is it’s staying power and design. Absolutely horrible

[@xerothedarkstar]

He's the comic equivalent of never betting against a Sicilian when death is on the line, but robbed of all humor, subtlety and depth. Lowest common denominator, edge lord version of a villain.

[@emilymcplugger]

True Story - MASKS: I actually interviewed Bryan Talbot at his home while he was doing some of that awesome Mask artwork (The Nurse flash-back). The fact that he was very gracious and gave his time to some dweeby student (namely me) always blew me away. Legend.

[@plasticweapon]

masks was one of my favorites when i was growing up, that's great that you got to interview talbot!

[@TrueRomancer04]

Spent the whole video waiting for Serious House on Serious Earth, and its position on the list did not disappoint.

[@Currypotnoodle_]

I just bought it and just started reading it, and the art alone is enough to make you uncomfortable, but then the story is absolutely amazing too.

[@4991ukasoy]

Seriously. Serious house is my all time favorite comic. Its use of the art its tone.. just god I would remove it from my memory just to read it for the 1st time again.

[@meowplaylist]

Batman: day of judgement, Batman: bloodstorm, Batman: castle of the bat, Batman: Nosferatu. Just to name a few you missed

[@adam1984pl]

Mask of Phantasm.

[@jaywills5898]

Pretty much most of the elseworlds stories go good here

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Castle of the Bat was too campy to be scary for me. I mean it was written and drawn to be a tribute to the James Whale Frankenstein movies.

[@meowplaylist]

Exactly because back when Frankenstein was first coming out, it was scary then. I'm sure some kids these days would still get scared of old school Frankenstein. So for them to pay tribute and make the style similar to how it was then, good work, scary stuff

[@Popcultureguy3000]

@@meowplaylist Maybe it would be scary for some, but their our parts of it that I just giggle at when I read it, specifically the part where Bruce finds his father’s preserved brain and the comic has a dramatic large panel dedicated to him theatrically holding up the jar on his knees and shouting *WAAAYNE* when he realized it’s his murdered father.

[@chinedumjosiah4398]

I read "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth" many years ago. I only opened this list to ensure that it was number 1 on the list.

[@deshawnedwards6412]

Happy Halloween WhatCulture Comics! 🎃👻🎃👻🎃

[@seanboudreaux7126]

The origin great white shark, I forget the title, but that was really one messed up book.

[@dylanholding98]

I think that was in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

[@chikish]

I think its "Arkham Asylum: Living Hell" yeah.

[@mav1884]

You should’ve said, The Best Dc Comics That Give You Knightmares

[@georgejferrio492]

Great list! As an honorable mention: The Court of Owls. Scott Snyder and Greg Capulo's opening arc in their New 52 Batman run

[@meganhash7840]

THAT SHIRT IS AMAZING

[@themondoshow]

Her it

[@MartinDiazMeave]

Good job there. I’ll suggest “Night Cries” as well, one of the scariest stories and more adult-related I’ve read.

[@thepoormanspoet3312]

I love how big a nerd Ewan is. One of my favorite narrators

[@spencerwelchii573]

Batman: The Cult is a very underrated Batclassic. Faces is awesome and it's 'Wag-ner' not 'Vahg-ner.' Also Batman:Seduction of the Gun is pretty chilling as well.

[@crisisamonginfinitedarthsa4220]

Does Deceased count? It's not strictly a Batman comic but he is in it.

[@dzangam1879]

Every DC Comic is a Batman Comic

[@parkb5320]

I love how Batman is killed off in like issue 2 lol. Batman can beat Superman, but can’t handle a few zombies? “Carl! Stay back!”

[@gechoman44iwantahippo]

@parKb5 I hated that they did that. Such a missed opportunity for showing how Batman would deal with zombies despite his no killing rule.

[@jaketheberge1970]

@@gechoman44iwantahippo There is going to be a sequel starting in June with a Superman, Winder Woman, and Batman from Earth 2 with the dceased heroes still alive returning to Earth. So you may get your wish. How Earth is still habitable after the sun was sucked up by zombie Superman idk.

[@jeffschrock4073]

Batman Night Cries should be on this list. That one really disturbed me.

[@plasticweapon]

night cries is more depressing than scary.

[@anthonycapati455]

Some more special mentions to this list of scary Batman stories, IMHO: 1. Batman: Gothic (Legends of the Dark Knight # 6 - 10) 2. Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City (Batman (1940) # 452 - 454) 3. Batman: Blades (Legends of the Dark Knight #32 - 34) 4. Batman: The Killing Joke

[@themillardsamuelsshow2842]

The Batman is a scary man-curtle Me-he’s 10 times more scary

[@angeldelgadillo7904]

Brih when mad hatter made Bruce commit suicide was sumthin else. He never killed anyone.. but himself.. fcked me uppp

[@chillemdafoe5938]

is everyone else at whatculture sick or something

[@BushManu]

No just this guy

[@shiffpup2529]

WhatCulture: WatchMojo, but actually good.

[@vanbrandon]

Sam Shiffer just as bad.

[@seancollins147]

Glad to see Mask is finally getting attention. Such an underrated comic.

[@PhilipAMoore]

What about Grant Morrison' batman Gothic or the scarecrow storyline from Batman the Dark knight 10 through 16 be Gregg Hurwitz

[@MasamuneShinto]

Loeb and Sale's "Haunted Night" is a very underrated graphic novel and is every bit as iconic as the far more lauded "The Long Halloween".

[@GGMCUKAGAIN]

Weirdly the first batman book i read was red rain, in Newcastle city library many, many moons ago....

[@nolastname]

From Matt Wagner there is also "Batman: the monster men" with Hugo Strange making genetical abominations below Gotham. It's effective and set in the early days of Batman as a vigilante. Therefore, Batman makes mistakes and he's pushed to his limits because he can be really overpowered by his adversaries.

[@thenerdscholar3932]

The Matt Warner hardcover with faces, the monster men, and the mad monk. I bought it and after reading it, they really need to be talked about more. Those are perfect Batman stories. 10/10 for the monster men and 9.8/10 for the mad monk because I just liked monster men more lol.

[@sharan9993]

u must read batman prey, it is more of a psychological thriller making than a scary story. But a great one.

[@thenerdscholar3932]

@@sharan9993 it's on my list of need to get soon! Thanks for the reminder

[@maznmalazada6365]

I’d put Batman: DAMNED in the 3rd or 2nd both art and story are Amazing.

[@biggeek2256]

Definitely Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is one of the most creepiest Batman books I’ve read

[@comedyincarnate2209]

Hey, Batman:Mask, one of my all time favourites

[@ijd64]

There is another dark batman story that hardly anyone mentions. It's called night cries written by archie Goodwin. I won't reveal anything but it was definitely the most upsetting story for me personally. I actually made me cry and uncomfortable

[@King4sshole89]

Hard to argue with this list, this is pretty accurate. Batman and horror go together like peanut butter and jelly, and I'm surprised they don't intermingle more often. The only stories I would think to add are, Blind, Gothic and Contagion.

[@ryanspengler4877]

Legends of the Dark Knight 168, a one-shot by Bill Willingham of Vertigo's Fables, is an absolute must-read. Batman falls off a building and hits his head, waking up in the bat suit with no knowledge of who he is and why he's dressed that way. He has a totally insane night trying to fight crime and restore his memory. It's a crazy, twisty adventure that I re-read quite often. Check it out!

[@MardukeTheRaven]

Batman: *exists* WhatCulture: Ah shit, here we go again.

[@jaywills5898]

Batman who laughs definitely looks just like judge death

[@themondoshow]

Silly characters

[@adrianpetyt9167]

The version of Masks that I read ended with wino bum Bruce Wayne sinking into a coma and only being a hero in his poor, damaged brain!

[@idiotwhoedits3522]

What version was that?

[@newyorkssafestllc844]

Death of the family, 10 Nights of the Beast the KGBeast, and yea the 52 run should be here too. But I like number one here. Great art work.

[@brianlogan6521]

Bro, what about the one with the doctor was kidnapped and all of the patients had a version of who the joker was. That comic was creepy

[@creed8712]

Brian Logan that might not count as it’s own comic given it was within Batman: Endgame though maybe it was collected in something in its own

[@salawinborn7246]

Comparing Mask to BTVS Normal Again is perfection. Well done What Culture.

[@ryanshockling8586]

I know it’s not a comic so it doesn’t belong on this list, BUT an honorable mention should go to “On Leather Wings.” That gave seven year old me a few nights worth of nightmares

[@King-Bubel]

Missing death of the family. I’d take out the long Halloween.

[@grsy_lp]

Even on double speed this guy is talking slowly

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I beg to disagree with The Long Halloween, just because it has "Halloween" in the title doesn't always mean it is spooky or scary. It is a procedural, mystery solving series.

[@wokenlunatic2849]

Vampires + Batman = Vampire Batman

[@LeecarioAW]

I really like the bi-flag color pallet Wonder Woman Shirt you got

[@peachypauper]

What was that villian again? Like the one that kidnapped kids, brainwashed them, and permanently attached animal masks to their faces? That really creeped me out when i first read it and I forget the villian lmao Edit: THATS IT PROFESSOR PYG. God I hate that dude

[@cerebralassassin2185]

Batman Hush was pretty thrilling and creepy.

[@seanedie1497]

Jekyll and Hyde is a good one. It's actually two stories centering on Twoface getting hold of a compound that brings out the dark side of anyone

[@ramoncitomercader4223]

I really hope that dcau would base their animated comic story films in their respective art style. Imagine arkham asylum: a serious house in a serious earth animated movie with the same kind of treatment with the comics. I think it would be a breakthrough. Please DC, hire some real artists. I mean insanely pure artists.

[@juliooquendo220]

Happy Halloween everybody 🎃

[@thebigwagyu]

Batman Gothic is a really spooky one.

[@briantolentino2240]

Cuz he is Batman

[@Xehanort10]

James Gordon Jr is one of the better new villains they've introduced in the last few years. He's as creepy as Zsasz.

[@TharaAkVar]

I enjoyed A Serious House on a Serious Earth but reading it was cancer honestly

[@8888BALL]

You liked it but reading it was cancer? Wdym?

[@TharaAkVar]

​@@8888BALL The art just made it hard to read. It was good for the atmosphere, but the text is barely visible.

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

"Batman: the doom that came to Gotham" is also a creepy Batman story

[@RansomeStoddard]

The Long Halloween: Not only does this story put Calendar Man back on the map, it once again raises the question as to why so many great Batman stories have such horrible eye-gouging art.

[@xoxo1274]

HORRIBLE?!! Why the arywork of long halloween is beautiful

[@jwallE93]

Scariest Batman story is anything by a bad writer

[@keng1518]

The intro scared me the most.

[@johnvasquez7770]

What about Batman: Damned

[@alexbarr386]

Aye first comment, also love the videos guys keep it up 🤘🤘

[@andyq524]

Can't believe Batman: Gotham County Line isn't on here.

[@90s.hercules]

The fact that Batman Night Cries didn’t make the list :(

[@TheVetoSkreeemer]

Arkham Asylum is great Gothic also by Grant Morrison is frightening at times, and Dark Knight Dark City is a great horror story.

[@caileanireland1877]

If I don’t get a Ooooowan every Halloween imma riot.

[@smpsgamer2752]

I love batman things (movie,game,comic) have scary theme

[@saritagupta3015]

The batman new movie is inspired by the long Halloween

[@chelseaheineman4620]

The 2021 one is based off it ?

[@MrRonald327]

A lot of comics can give people nightmares.

[@calebroberson1331]

Is there more to the Batman Mask comic title? I've searched batman Mask graphic novel and can't find it

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Batman Mask: Batman really is Crazy Steve

[@chrispeacock6093]

When this guy shows up on screen I can’t help but to look at his huge ears

[@psyifinotic]

bruh

[@TheVentriloquistandtherouges]

In haunted Knight it was Hatter scarecrow and JOKER not penguin.This again demonstrates how you don’t read the comics

[@carlos-andrespazmino8157]

Batman Gothic (Grant Morrison) is deeply underrated and fucking terrifying. Huge omision

[@thehumancrayon3264]

Dude, no mention of Morrison's Gothic? That's a cardinal sin right there.

[@rayth26]

Conicsorian made this list a lot better

[@diegoherrera3046]

Big Facts

[@dmurphy1578]

Legends of the dark knight was soooooooooo good. I had them all.

[@Uncmongus]

I miss not seeing them

[@jonathanlindstedt4578]

spiderman has the best rouge Gallery

[@gnarlux]

Batman County Line

[@Nerdznewznow]

By the way American Vampire is the best ongoing non superhero comic I’ve ever read

[@Shadomancer]

Gods and Monsters is a masterpiece.

[@calintarasascu17]

Batman is batman

[@reddays8448]

We all knew Arkham Asylum was number 1

[@diegoherrera3046]

Comicstorian did the same list

[@leathlix9487]

This is like watch mojo but interesting

[@zacharycollins9485]

My favorite Batman comic is either The Dark Knight Returns or Batman: The Cult. What's your favorite Batman comic? 🤔

[@ALJorgeHenrique]

Batman court of owls! Absolutely excepcional.

[@zacharycollins9485]

@@ALJorgeHenrique Awesome choice, dude! I love the part where Batman goes down into the court of owls' labyrinth and gets all drugged up and disoriented and the pages of the comic book go sideways and upside down! The art, the dialouge and the twist at the end are all top-notch! 🤘

[@ALJorgeHenrique]

@@zacharycollins9485 That is my favorite part too!

[@pp4272]

Best halloween evar

[@jackofalltrades6210]

Who knew a guy dressing up as a bat could ever be so intimidating?

[@plasticweapon]

i don't know. bats aren't intimidating at all.

[@Chinokid100]

Where did you get this amazing wonder woman shirt?

[@adrianvelante8014]

Kinda dissapointed that Gothic isn't here.

[@curse9673]

Earth 43 batman becomes a vampire Scary by it self

[@MrJacinto0512]

City of Crime where? David Lapham writing Batman, come on!

[@dezx3531]

Maybe Arkham Manor.