Throughout 2024, there have been multiple releases into theBatmanuniverse, with some faring better than others. As one of the most iconic superheroes ever created, Batman’s omnipresence in pop culture is second to none. Manyactors have played Batmanover the character’s history, with yet new names added to that list over the course of 2024. The year has seen entries into the Batman universe in various mediums, with books, podcasts, movies, and TV shows all released in a 12-month span.
Thetimeline of Batman storiesdates back decades, with countless iterations of the Caped Crusader adapted to page, screen, and just about every other narrative medium imaginable. Not all Batman stories are of equal quality, however, with some entries into the universe valued far more than others. This is even the case just with the releases of 2024, too, as the year held both critical failures and overwhelming successes. With that in mind, here is every Batman universe release in 2024, ranked from worst to best.
5Joker: Folie A Deux
Release Date: July 20, 2025
Manycharacters from 2019’sJokerreturned for its sequel,Joker: Folie à Deux, with the film continuing the story of Arthur Fleck as he explores his new identity as the iconic Batman villain. Todd Phillips’ first movie won numerous awards, and anticipation for the sequel was high leading up to its release. Unfortunately,Folie à Deuxturned out to be the worst Batman universe release of 2024, disappointing audiences and critics alike and turning in underwhelming box office figures.
The story and theending ofJoker: Folie à Deuxleft much to be desired, with numerous issues highlighted in unexpectedly scathing reviews.The sequel lacked much of the depth and charm of its predecessor, and proved a far less thought-provoking movie than many expected it to be. In what was almost certainly the most surprising Batman universe development of 2024,Folie à Deuxwas by far the year’s worst release set in the character’s world.
4Batman: Resurrection
Release Date: June 07, 2025
2024 also saw the release ofBatman: Resurrectionby John Jackson Miller, a novel set in the world ofTim Burton’s Batman movies. The novel directly follows the events of 1989’sBatman, bridging the gap between Burton’s two movies. In doing so,Batman: Resurrectionoffers additional context to both stories, fleshing out the world of the still-popular movie franchise and capitalizing on nostalgia for the hero’s earlier days in modern cinema.
Batman: Resurrectionis an original story, and a great read for fans of Burton’s movies. Exploring the fallout from the Joker’s death both in terms of Gotham City and Batman’s own psyche, the novel also establishes other figures within the universe, building upon the foundations of Burton’s movie world.Perhaps the only reasonBatman: Resurrectiondoesn’t rank higher among 2024’s releases is that it wasn’t as well-marketed as other Batman stories, though it’s a brilliant addition to the Batman universe.
3Batman Unburied: Fallen City
Release Date: July 12, 2025
The release of the second season of audio drama podcast seriesBatman Unburied, subtitledFallen City, also came during 2024. After the first season and its Riddler-focused spin-off series earned generally positive reactions, anticipation forBatman Unburied: Fallen Citywas high. It turned out not to disappoint, continuing the series’ exciting and somewhat unorthodox approach to the Dark Knight’s story, making perfect use of its unique format.
Batman Unburied: Fallen Cityfollows Batman as he works alongside Harvey Dent on a project named “The Brave and the Bold”. It features the Court of Owls and Dent’s transformation into the villain Two-Face, all while employing a more atmospheric and less action-centric approach to the Caped Crusader’s world.The audio format certainly stands out as a novel approach, and its singular place within the wider Batman universe helps to setFallen Cityaparteven from the other exceptional releases of 2024.
2Batman: Caped Crusader
Release Date: July 01, 2025
Ahead of its release,Batman: Caped Crusaderseemed to be one of the riskiest 2024 entries into the Batman universe. An animated series taking a mature approach to the character’s mythos, it may have seemed possible thatCaped Crusaderwould fail to find wider appreciation. Critics heaped praise on the show, however, noting its deep psychological examination of its characters and serialized storytelling as particularly impressive.
Combining a period setting with a morally complex look at the titular hero,Batman: Caped Crusaderis deceptively deep. Featuring Hamish Linklater as the eponymous vigilante, the show also boasted an array of voice talent, complementing its clean visual style to cement it as a polished and well-realized entry into the Batman universe. Though the scale of its overwhelmingly positive reviews were somewhat unexpected,Batman: Caped Crusaderis undeniably one of 2024’s best Batman releases.
1The Penguin
Release Date: July 11, 2025
Bringing back some of the best unexplored characters from 2022’sThe Batman, thecast ofThe Penguin, led by Colin Farrell, instantly lent it an air of quality. The series, following Oz Cobb’s rise to the pinnacle of Gotham’s criminal underworld, follows on from the events ofThe Batman, and puts the spotlight on its titular villain. The HBO series put an emphasis on the crime drama elements of its story rather than the superhero stories of the comics, marking it as a perfect complement to Matt Reeves’ 2022 movie.
Critical appraisals of the show were outstandingly positive, withThe Penguinsitting at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Practically every element of the show was praised, including the performances of its cast, its storytelling, and the depth of its characters. As such,The Penguinstands out as the bestBatmanrelease of 2024 by a considerable margin.
