The streets of Gotham City have become safer in recent times. Crime has reduced, with Batman’s extensive roster of villains scattered. It all seems to be due to a new crime boss – Catwoman. This will bring her in direct opposition with Batman, with a war for Gotham brewing between the two camps.
The conflict will transpire in the pages of Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War, a crossover event between the Batman and Catwoman comics. Find out how to read the full story with this handy reading order. It has all the details you need to know, including the recommended order, background reading, release dates, and more.
Happy reading.
How to read Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War is a crossover between the Batman and Catwoman series. While it runs through issues of Batman and Catwoman, other comics are involved too. This includes the two one-shot issues, which booked the comic book event, and a Red Hood two-part miniseries that ties into the main story.
Start by reading Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1. This is the opening chapter of the crossover. From there, the story alternates between Batman and Catwoman and ends with Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1. You’ll need to read all of these issues in the correct order to get the entire story.
Additionally, there’s also Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Red Hood, a two-part tie-in series. It’s up to you if you want to read this. Check it out if you’re a fan of the character or want to extend your reading experience.
You can find out how all the issues fit into Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War with the reading order further down the page.
Background reading
Looking to do some background reading before jumping into Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War? Here are a few comics that I recommend checking out.
Batman (2016 series) #125-136
Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by various.
These issues are Chip Zdarsky’s run on Batman up until The Gotham War. Check out the whole run if you want to get a sense of how Zdarsky writes Batman and the types of stories that are being told so far. The later issues begin to set the stage for The Gotham War and may be lightly mentioned in the crossover.
For those who don’t have time to read everything, Batman (2016 series) #136 should get you up to speed.
These issues have been collected in:
- Batman Volume 1: Failsafe (Collects Batman #125-130)
- Batman Volume 2: The Bat-Man of Gotham (Collects Batman #131-135)
Catwoman (2018 series) #39-56
Written by Tini Howard. Art by various.
Catwoman (2018 series) #39-56 is Tini Howard’s run on Catwoman leading up to The Gotham War. Check out these comics if you want to get a sense of how Howard writes Catwoman and to see what the character has been up to recently.
This run has been collected in:
- Catwoman Volume 1: Dangerous Liaisons (Collects Catwoman (2018 series) #39-44)
- Catwoman Volume 2: Cat International (Collects Catwoman (2018 series) #45-50)
- Catwoman Volume 3: Duchess of Gotham (Collects Catwoman (2018 series) #51-56) [Available 7th November]
Knight Terrors: Batman #1-2
Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Guillem March and David Lafuente.
Knight Terrors is a horror-themed event that DC Comics is publishing in July-August 2023. Beyond the main plot, there are several tie-ins which focus on characters confronting their nightmares. This includes a Batman one, which will help set up The Gotham War.
Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1-2
Written by Tini Howard. Art by Leila Leiz.
Tini Howard has talked about how the Knight Terrors: Catwoman miniseries will help set up elements of The Gotham War.
Both of the Knight Terrors miniseries will be collected in Night Terrors: Dark Knightmares along with other bat-family themed tie-ins. Check out the Knight Terrors reading order to find out more about this event.
The Gotham War reading order
Read on to find out the recommended reading order for Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War.
Batman/Catwoman: Prelude To Gotham War Batman Day Special Edition (Prelude)
Written by Chip Zdarsky and Tini Howard. Art by Mike Hawthorne.
Available September 16th
Note: DC Comics will be giving away a special sneak peak at The Gotham War for free as part of Batman Day. It includes a 10-page prelude story and a preview of Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1. You will be able to find it at participating comic book shops and digitally.
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1 (Part 1)
Written by Chip Zdarsky and Tini Howard. Art by Mike Hawthorne and Adriano Di Benedetto.
On sale 29th August
Batman (2016 series) #137 (Part 2)
Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Jorge Jimenez.
On sale 5th September
Catwoman (2018 series) #57 (Part 3)
Written by Tini Howard. Art by Nico Leon.
On sale 19th September
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Red Hood #1 (of 2) (Tie-in)
Written by Matthew Rosenberg. Art by Nikola Čižmešija.
On sale 26th September
Batman (2016 series) #138 (Part 4)
Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Jorge Jimenez.
On sale 3rd October.
Catwoman (2018 series) #58 (Part 5)
Written by Tini Howard. Art by Nico Leon.
On sale 17th October
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Red Hood #2 (of 2) (Tie-in)
Written by Matthew Rosenberg. Art by Nikola Čižmešija.
On sale 24th October
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1 (Final part)
Written by Chip Zdarsky and Tini Howard. Art by Mike Hawthorne and Adriano Di Benedetto.
On sale 31st October
Buy issues of The Gotham War on…
After Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War
DC Comics is slowly announcing which comics will be set after Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War. At the moment, we know the below will be set after the crossover, but there’s likely more to follow.
Batman (2016 series) #139
Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Jorge Jimenez.
On sale 7th November
This issue kicks off a story called “Mindbomb”, which explores the aftermath of The Gotham War and Batman’s isolation from the rest of the Bat-family. It’s a bad to be estranged from the rest of the Bat-family when The Joker reemerges.
Catwoman (2016 series) #59
Written by Tini Howard. Art Steffano Raffaele.
On sale 21st November.
Find out what’s next for Selina Kyle after The Gotham War with a story called “Nine Lives”. Catwoman has left Gotham City with nine deadly missions she has chosen to embark on.
Outsiders (2023 series) #1
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Art by Robert Carey.
On sale 14th November
Spinning out of The Gotham War, this new incarnation of Outsiders stars Batwoman and Luke Fox. The series will have an archeological theme to it, where the two characters lead a team in tracking down forgotten artefacts throughout the DC Universe. The series will run for 12 issues.
Detective Comics #1076
Written by Ram V. Art by Jason Shawn Alexander.
On sale 31st October
This issue kicks off a five-part story called Batman: Outlaw that’s set after the events of The Gotham War. It plays into the division in the Bat-family while also telling a weird western tale starring Batman. It will be published bi-weekly through October-December 2023 to Detective Comics #1080.
Collected edition
DC Comics has collected all of the relevant The Gotham War material into one handy hardcover collection. See the details below.
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War
Collects: Batman (2016 series) #137-138, Catwoman (2018 series) #57-28, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Battle Lines #1, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Scorched Earth #1, and Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Red Hood #1-2
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Is batman #136 in any collection or is it a one off?