Batman: Knightfall

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Batman: Knightfall" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

"Knightfall"
Cover to Batman #497: The breaking of the Bat. Art by Kelley Jones.
Publisher	DC Comics
Publication date	April 1993 – August 1994
Genre	Superhero Crossover
Title(s) Batman #492-510; 512-515 Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-30; 32-35 Catwoman #6-7; 12-13 Detective Comics #659-677; 679-682 Justice League Task Force #5-6 Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #59-63 Robin #7-9; 11-14 Showcase '93 #7-8 Showcase '94 #10
Main character(s)	Batman Bane Azrael
Creative team
Writer(s)	Chuck Dixon, Jo Duffy, Alan Grant, Dennis O'Neil, Doug Moench
Penciller(s)	Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, Eduardo Barreto, Bret Blevins, Norm Breyfogle, Vincent Giarrano, Tom Grummett, Klaus Janson, Barry Kitson, Mike Manley, Graham Nolan, Sal Velluto, Mike Vosburg, Ron Wagner
Inker(s)	Jeff Albrecht, Jim Aparo, Terry Austin, Eduardo Barreto, John Beatty, Bret Blevins, Norm Breyfogle, Rick Burchett, Steve George, Vince Giarrano, Dick Giordano, Scott Hanna, Klaus Janson, Ray Kryssing, Tom Mandrake, Mike Manley, Ron McCain, Frank McLaughlin, Josef Rubinstein, Bob Smith, Bob Wiacek
Vol. 1	ISBN 978-1401233792
Vol. 2: Knightquest	ISBN 978-1401235369
Vol. 3: KnightsEnd	ISBN 978-1401237219

"Knightfall" is a 1993–1994 Batman story arc published by DC Comics. It consists of a trilogy of storylines that ran from 1993 to 1994, consisting of "Knightfall", "Knightquest", and "KnightsEnd".^{[note 1]}

The story takes place over approximately six months. Bruce Wayne (Batman) suffers burnout and is systematically assaulted and crippled by a "super steroid"-enhanced genius named Bane. Bruce is replaced as Batman by an apprentice named Jean-Paul Valley (a.k.a. Azrael), who becomes increasingly violent and unstable, tarnishing Batman's reputation. Eventually, Bruce is healed through paranormal means and reclaims his role as Batman.

"Knightfall" resulted in long-term ramifications for the Batman continuity, as Batman's trust from the police, the public, and his fellow superheroes had to be rebuilt due to Azrael's violence.^[1] Additionally, Bruce realizes the peril and burden of attempting to work in solitude, leading to the eventual creation of the modern incarnation of the Batman Family. The events of "Knightfall" also led to the (temporary) resignation of Bruce's loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth.

The entire "Knightfall" storyline took over a year to complete in the comic book serials. In later years, the comics were reprinted several times, though never in full, as the "Knightquest: The Search" story arc had not been collected until the second omnibus edition in 2017.

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).