The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul Reading Guide

Overview:

The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul is a DC Comics crossover event from 2007, written by Grant Morrison, Paul Dini, and Peter Milligan, with notable artwork by Tony Daniel and David Lopez, among others. The storyline spans multiple Batman-related titles, including Batman, Detective Comics, Robin, and Nightwing, which sees several of the Bat-family characters at the forefront.

The main conflict centers around the resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul, one of Batman’s most dangerous adversaries. Ra’s is known for his immortality granted by the Lazarus Pits, but his ability to sustain his life is at a critical juncture, prompting desperate measures. Batman, along with allies like Tim Drake (Robin) and Dick Grayson (Nightwing), must contend with Ra’s al Ghul’s forces and the moral dilemmas tied to the concept of immortality.

The storyline received mixed to positive reviews. Fans have generally enjoyed the action and character dynamics, while critics had a more reserved reaction, citing inconsistencies in pacing and tone due to the multiple writers involved. However, the event holds significance for Ra’s al Ghul’s mythos and explores deep family ties within Batman’s world.

Best Way To Read:

• Batman: The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul
  • Collects: Batman #670 to #671, Robin #168 to #169, Detective Comics #838 to #839, Nightwing #138 to #139, Batman Annual #26, Robin Annual #7
    

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 Detective Comics #838 cover art by Andy Kubert and Simone Bianchi