Battle for the Cowl Reading Guide

Overview:

Battle for the Cowl is a 2009 DC Comics storyline, written by Tony S. Daniel, with art also by Daniel and inks by Sandu Florea. It picks up shortly after the events of Final Crisis, where Gotham City finds itself without a Batman following Bruce Wayne’s apparent death. The city is in chaos, and multiple figures vie to take up the mantle, including key members of the Bat-family like Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne. Other characters, such as Jason Todd, also seek to claim the role but with far more aggressive tactics.

The story centers around Gotham’s fight for stability as old enemies return and new ones emerge. Major antagonists include Jason Todd, who adopts a more violent, lethal form of Batman, and Black Mask, who orchestrates much of the city’s growing turmoil. This raises the question of what Batman stands for and who is truly worthy of taking up the cowl.

The series received mixed to positive reviews. While fans enjoyed the action and the high stakes, some criticized the plot for being predictable. Daniel’s artwork was widely praised for its dark and gritty depiction of Gotham, which complemented the story’s tone.

Best Way To Read:

• Battle for the Cowl
  • Collects: Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? #1, Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1-3, and Gotham Gazette: Batman Alive? #1
• Battle for the Cowl Companion
  • Collects: Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon #1, Battle for the Cowl: Man-Bat #1, Battle for the Cowl: Arkham Asylum #1, Battle for the Cowl: The Underground #1, Battle for the Cowl: The Network #1
• Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight
  • Collects: Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight #1-3
• Oracle: The Cure
  • Collects: Oracle: The Cure #1-3, Birds of Prey #126-127

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

References:

• Wikipedia
• Comic Book Herald
• Comic Book Reading Orders

Feature image from Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 cover art by Ian Hannin, Tony Daniel, Tony S. Daniel