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DC Finest - Batman #1988-1989
DC Finest: Batman: A Death in the Family
Collects:
Batman #423–429, Annual #12
Batman: The Cult #1–4
Detective Comics #590–595, Annual #1
Batman #423–429, Annual #12
Batman: The Cult #1–4
Detective Comics #590–595, Annual #1
640 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Jim Starlin
1,346 books450 followersJames P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters Thanos and Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Death and suicide are recurring themes in Starlin's work: Personifications of Death appeared in his Captain Marvel series and in a fill-in story for Ghost Rider; Warlock commits suicide by killing his future self; and suicide is a theme in a story he plotted and drew for The Rampaging Hulk magazine.
In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).
When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (
In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.
In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).
When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (
In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 1, 2026
Jim Aparo’s art is great. Breyfogle’s art is awesome. All the comics are gritty and dark. The stories themselves are a consistent 4/5, but the fact that this collects The Cult, Death in the Family, Batman #423 and more makes it a 5/5 worthy purchase. Maybe my favorite DC Finest so far.
The Cult is solid, 4/5. Like the rest of the comics in this, it’s dark but still a good read. Wish they dealt with Batman literally gunning someone down more but other than that the art and the story are surprisingly great.
Death In the Family, also 4/5. Why is Batman romping around the Middle East, idk. Similar critique for this one. Robin dies and then the comic just ends. We never really spend time with Batman dealing with Jason’s death after it happens.
As for the locations, political nods and references included in this, I leave you with this:
“Robin and I are too busy at the moment to appreciate the situations geopolitical significance.”
The Cult is solid, 4/5. Like the rest of the comics in this, it’s dark but still a good read. Wish they dealt with Batman literally gunning someone down more but other than that the art and the story are surprisingly great.
Death In the Family, also 4/5. Why is Batman romping around the Middle East, idk. Similar critique for this one. Robin dies and then the comic just ends. We never really spend time with Batman dealing with Jason’s death after it happens.
As for the locations, political nods and references included in this, I leave you with this:
“Robin and I are too busy at the moment to appreciate the situations geopolitical significance.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this DC Finest volume, featuring one of the most controversial story arcs of Batman’s history: The death of Robin (Jason Todd), where infamously you got to call in to a 900-number and vote for the character’s death or survival (and pay 50 cents per call for that honor). The “kill him” side won by just a few votes and Jason Todd’s days as Robin were over, soon to be replaced by the much nicer and more palatable Tim Drake, because someone, somewhere still—very quaintly—thought Batman needed a tween boy to pal around with and place in life-threatening situations. Jim Starlin is the main writer in this volume, both on the Death in the Family storyline and the four-part prestige mini-series The Cult, with art by Berni (not Bernie) Wrightson and color by Bill Wray. Starlin’s writing is definitely of its time—this volume spans a short period from August through December 1988, when comics had become horribly dark and gritty after things like Watchmen. I believe Starlin left the Batman title shortly after the Death story, but man … some of his writing here—including The Cult—bring new meaning to the term dark and gritty. Some of Aparo’s and (inker Mike DeCarlo’s) best work on the Batman main title appear in the Death storyline. The Detective Comics stories reprinted herein are drawn by Norm Breyfogle, at the top of his Batman game (and written by Alan Grant and John Wagner). This volume includes Batman Annual 12, Batman 423-429, Detective Comics 590-595, and Batman: The Cult 1-4.
July 15, 2026
This is easily the weakest entry so far in DC’s Post-Crisis “Finest” Batman trade paperback series. It opens with a couple of cheap throwaway Annuals and ends with a forced Invasion! tie-in and a short Mr. Freeze story that would have felt more at home as a giveaway in a children’s Batman lunch box.
The lone highlight is Jim Starlin’s “The Cult,” a dark, psychologically intense Batman story with clear inspiration for The Dark Knight Rises. Though a trope now, seeing Batman broken down mentally and physically must have been fresh and powerful at the time, and it still holds up well today.
Unfortunately, the title story is a major disappointment. While A Death in the Family is historically important, it’s not actually good. The plot is driven by one contrived coincidence after another – Robin searching for his mother at the exact moment the Joker is in the same place, etc. – making it feel like it exists solely for its infamous gimmick. Most Batman fans already know the outcome and its long-term impact on the character. You don’t actually need to read this to appreciate the story’s legacy.
For completists only. Read “The Cult” on its own if you can, and skip everything else in this collection.
The lone highlight is Jim Starlin’s “The Cult,” a dark, psychologically intense Batman story with clear inspiration for The Dark Knight Rises. Though a trope now, seeing Batman broken down mentally and physically must have been fresh and powerful at the time, and it still holds up well today.
Unfortunately, the title story is a major disappointment. While A Death in the Family is historically important, it’s not actually good. The plot is driven by one contrived coincidence after another – Robin searching for his mother at the exact moment the Joker is in the same place, etc. – making it feel like it exists solely for its infamous gimmick. Most Batman fans already know the outcome and its long-term impact on the character. You don’t actually need to read this to appreciate the story’s legacy.
For completists only. Read “The Cult” on its own if you can, and skip everything else in this collection.
July 22, 2026
Reading comic books is such a trip. Most of this is so bad, yet still enjoyable. The titular story is truly awful though, just a total mess of nonsense. I suppose the events of it are important to Batman’s whole cannon, but as a story it’s just maudlin, and ridiculous (without being fun ridiculous, like some of the later issues collected). The Joker Iranian diplomat thing is just so goofy and offensive, and a total tonal mismatch with the child murder. The Cult is vastly superior, almost entirely due to the art, because satisfying and well-designed narratives don’t seem to be Starlin’s strong suit. As per usual with these Finest editions, the print quality is awesome and it looks good on the shelf, helping me not regret this purchase! 2.75 stars with a half smile!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2026
An extremely mixed book, some issues are great and well written some are pretty awful. Alan Grant as usual tries to turn Batman into a gothic horror character, not my cup of tea at all. And Batman and the cult is just so horribly written, Batman and Robin take on the homeless with guns… Batman is brainwashed but they don’t bother to take off his mask and realize he’s Bruce Wayne… just dumb dumb dumb.
At least the worst of the Robins ends his run in this book. Jim Aparo’s art is always good .
At least the worst of the Robins ends his run in this book. Jim Aparo’s art is always good .
May 9, 2026
Highlights:
Death in the family - dated story telling and writing but an iconic story
The cult - great story, great art. Differs to the batman issues here
The fear- wagner, grant, breyfolges detective comics outshines the batman run by a large margin
Conclusion:
Must own as good value for money containing 2 iconic stories. Just a solid quarter of it is quite bland
Death in the family - dated story telling and writing but an iconic story
The cult - great story, great art. Differs to the batman issues here
The fear- wagner, grant, breyfolges detective comics outshines the batman run by a large margin
Conclusion:
Must own as good value for money containing 2 iconic stories. Just a solid quarter of it is quite bland
June 10, 2026
One of the most controversial stories in the entirety of Batman’s history. It’s too bad the set up is a little ridiculous. You’re telling me the joker happens to be in the same foreign country as Jason’s mom??? What???
Still a nice collection of comics. Didn’t care much for the cult story.
Still a nice collection of comics. Didn’t care much for the cult story.
June 15, 2026
Death in the family actually enraged me they really just play in Jason’s face all the time and it isn’t right. What do you mean he didn’t make an impact in his short life?????At least some of the other stories were good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
The most controversial time on Batman all collected here including the Cult and a Death in the Family. Jason Todd is killed by the Joker who decides to become the ambassador of Iran. Yikes. 1988. 10/10
April 28, 2026
About as good as it gets folks.
May 11, 2026
Batman's greatest failure... being unable to save Robin...
*Spoiler for an almost 40 yr old comic*
The death of Jason Todd that has haunted Batman for years afterwards was put to a vote where people would call in to decide whether Robin would survive or not. Its a story that really exhibits the toxicity of fandoms. Included in the volume are issues that led up to the A Death in the Family storyline and while Jason's Robin is much more headstrong with a bit of a hothead compared to the almost happy-go-lucky nature of Dick Grayson, he didn't deserve to be murdered by the Joker (fresh off of crippling Batgirl btw).
*Spoiler for an almost 40 yr old comic*
The death of Jason Todd that has haunted Batman for years afterwards was put to a vote where people would call in to decide whether Robin would survive or not. Its a story that really exhibits the toxicity of fandoms. Included in the volume are issues that led up to the A Death in the Family storyline and while Jason's Robin is much more headstrong with a bit of a hothead compared to the almost happy-go-lucky nature of Dick Grayson, he didn't deserve to be murdered by the Joker (fresh off of crippling Batgirl btw).
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews