I've just got into reading graphic novels, I have read the following two titles above.

Anyway I when reading year one at the end it mentions the joker, and in dark knight returns it seems batman has already sent joker to the asylum.

So what i was wondering was is there a novel that has batman first battling the joker to send him to the asylum.

Year one is obviously the start but i don't think dark night returns is a middle story it feels more like an ending.
So I'm looking for the "middle story".

So can someone tell me if there is a "middle story".
I hope that made sence

There is no "middle story", both year one and Dark Knight Returns are stand alone stories and were published outside of the series continuity.

Batman has been battling the Joker almost from the beginning (70+ years). Whenever the Joker is defeated and captured he almost always ends up back in Arkham Asylum. But because of either a revolving door policy or a lapse in care-in-the-community attitude he seems to manage to find himself outside it's walls again on a regular basis.

Ah thank you. I didn't know that there were stand alone stories. Silly me. Thanks for taking time out to answer

Batman Year One continues with... wait for it: Batman Year Two!!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Batman-Year-.../dp/1852862610

"Year One" is part of the mainstream DCU continuity, although DKR is not.



I didn't like "Year Two". AFAIK, it was retconned out of existence some time ago anyway (by "Zero Hour" or a "Crisis" I think).

"Batman: The Man Who Laughs" follows "Year One", & tells of the first meeting with the Joker.

And set soon after, is the excellent "The Long Halloween" by Loeb/Sale (itself then followed by "Dark Victory").

When I said that Year One was published outside of the continuity, it was originally printed in one of the original comics (Batman or 'Tec I forget which) but it did not follow the previous or following issues, in a way it was sort of a flashback story and not a reboot of the timeline (as in Superman a few years previously).

Dark Knight Returns features a older Bruce Wayne than that of the regular comics and as most American comics (or pretty much every comic except 2000AD) do not have characters ageing in real time (or indeed in one direction), we may never get to the point where Bruce is actually at that age. So DKR is outside from continuity but not a contradiction of it.

Oh yes, while DKR is great it's sequel DK Strikes Again is much less so.

Thank you for all the replies, just one more question can someone kindly recommend another batman graphic novel please?

I already have year one and dark knight returns.

My top 5 Batman stories:

1, The Long Halloween
2, Year One
3, The Man Who Laughs
4, The Killing Joke
5, Knightfall (both parts)

Really really hated Arkham Asylum, great plot but awful awful art in my opinion (controversial that I know).

Long Halloween is now on the order list

Very good list

I'd also add Dark Victory.

It was beautiful in its own way but it was hard to even make anything out in some pictures.

The is still one of the most horrific images Ive seen in comic books. It sent a shiver down my spine when I first saw it