Geekscape Comics: The Stories That Inspired Christopher Nolan’s Batman Films
So, you just saw The Dark Knight Rises and want to read some of the stories that influenced Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy? Well, we are here to help you out with that!
Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
A young Bruce Wayne has spent his adolescence and early adulthood, traveling the world so he could hone his body and mind into the perfect fighting and investigative machine. But now as he returns to Gotham City, he must find a way to focus his passion and bring justice to his city. Retracing Batman’s first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante, we watch as he chooses a guise of a giant bat, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon, inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a corrupt political system that infests Gotham.
The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
Taking place during Batman’s early days of crime fighting, The Long Halloween tells the story of a mysterious killer named Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month, while attempting to stop the crime war between two of Gotham’s most powerful families, Maroni and Falcone. This novel also acted as a main introduction for one of Batman’s most eluding foes, The Calendar Man, who knows the true identity of the Holiday killer but refuses to share this with Batman. He instead works in riddles and leaves Batman hints from his Arkham Asylum cell. The story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman’s enemy, Two-Face.
Knightfall by various writers/artists
The story takes place over approximately six months. In it we see Bruce Wayne suffer from burnout and systematically assaulted and crippled by Bane. This is the story where we see Bane “break the bat” which is what he has become most known for doing. Wayne is replaced as Batman by an apprentice named Jean-Paul Valley, who becomes increasingly violent and unstable, tarnishing Batman’s reputation. Eventually, Wayne is healed through paranormal means, and reclaims his role as Batman. Knightfall resulted in long-term ramifications for the Batman mythos, as Batman’s trust from the police, the public, and fellow superheroes had to be rebuilt. Additionally, Wayne realizes the peril and burden of attempting to work in solitude, leading to the eventual creation of the modern incarnation of the Batman family. The events of Knightfall also led to the resignation of Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. We also see one element of this story in Batman Begins when they release the inmates from Arkham Asylum.
No Man’s Land by various writers/artists
The story began with a major earthquake hitting Gotham City. This was followed by the storylines “Aftershock” and then “Road to No Man’s Land” which resulted in the U.S. government officially evacuating Gotham and then abandoning and isolating those who chose to remain in the city. “No Man’s Land” covered, in detail, a period in the lives of the residents of the city, explaining all events from the time of isolation, until its time of re-opening and the beginning of rebuilding. This story influenced quite a bit of the second half of The Dark Knight Rises.
The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
The plot revolves around a largely psychological battle between Batman and his longtime foe the Joker, who has escaped fromArkham Asylum. The Joker intends to drive James Gordon, the Police Commissioner of Gotham City, insane, in order to prove that the most upstanding citizen is capable of going mad after having “one bad day.” Along the way, the Joker has flashbacks to his early life, gradually explaining his origin. Heath Ledger studied this story heavily while preparing for The Dark Knight.
The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson
The Dark Knight Returns is set ten years in an alternate future, with a worn and weary, aged Bruce Wayne. He numbs his conscience with alcohol to soothe the guilt he feels for his responsibility for the death of Jason Todd. Gotham City is under siege by a vicious criminal gang who call themselves the Mutants. Wayne unleashes his demons to confront the new threats to Gotham, and Batman is born again. Wayne finds himself struggling with the decline of his physique as he patrols and defends Gotham City. An inexperienced but courageous young girl named Carrie Kelly saves Batman’s life, and Wayne takes her in as a new Robin. Batman is seen now as a menace to Gotham’s society and an anti-vigilantism wave is carried on from the government.
I hope you guys enjoy reading these and finding what bits and pieces Nolan and the cast took inspiration from and even maybe just enjoying some stories you may have not read before.
