The Batman - Part II’s release date feels like it may never come, with Robert Pattinson’s gritty take onBatmanmaking his live-action portrayal one that fans have flocked to as they eagerly await their next chance to see this iteration of the Dark Knight back on the silver screen. In the meantime, the wait forThe Batman’s sequel doesn’t have to be so excruciating, asDC Comics currently has the perfect comic story to tide fans over untilThe Batman - Part II’s much-anticipated premiere.
Hitting theaters in 2022,The Batmantold a darker and more mature Batman story that focused on a very Zodiac-esque Riddler, a new iteration of Catwoman, a mob-tied Penguin, and more, while highlighting the eternal struggles of a vengeful orphan who refuses to let the superstitious and cowardly lot of his city run free.
In 2025,Batman: Dark Patternskicked off a gritty and grounded comic story by putting Batman on the case of a terrifying villain named The Wound Man, with the series incorporating a lot of what madeThe Batmanwork so well as a film while holding fans over by giving them something to look forward to untilThe Batman - Part IIis finally released.
Batman: Dark Patterns Tells a Violent and Gritty Story That Introduces a Sadistic New Foe
Batman: Dark Patterns- 2025 (Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman)
Presenting four self-contained stories set at the beginning of Batman’s career,Dark Patternsjust concluded its first arc titled “We Are Wounded” where Batman dealt withthe gruesome villain named The Wound Man— a sadistic foe who self-injures by shoving nails into his body to feel something. Giving off similar vibes asThe Batman’s more adult-oriented film world,Dark Patternswas released well afterThe Batmanand has been noted by writer Dan Watters as a major inspiration for his book, with the heavy emphasis on Batman’s detective skills lining up with whatThe Batman - Part IIwill assumedly offer.
Batman H2SH: The Long-Awaited Sequel Gets New Trailer From DC Comics
DC Comics just unveiled an epic trailer for its upcoming sequel to Batman: Hush, and Hush 2 is looking to be as thrilling as the original story.
Butwhat makesBatman: Dark Patternsso enthralling to experience, at least thus far in its opening arc, is that it leans heavily into the pulp noir crime/thriller genre, with the book offering grotesque visuals, uncomfortable themes, unexpected twists, and an overall dark narrative full of violence, murder, and mystery — all necessary elements that make forgreat Batman reading. Furthermore, the main villain of this initial three-chapter tale, The Wound Man, is an original Batman rogue, with his penchant for self-inflicted pain via nails and other pointy objects adding an incredibly disturbing layer of R-rated goodness to the proceedings.
Batman: Dark Patterns Is the Perfect Stopgap Until The Batman Part II Arrives in Theaters
The Batman Part II Will Be Released On June 22, 2025
Unfortunately for fans,The Batman - Part IIhas been delayed multiple timessince its 2022 announcement and is now slated for 2027, with director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson promising the film will be well worth the wait, especially considering how the recently announcedClayfacespinoff and potentialThe Penguinseason two will work to expand this live-action universe even further.WithBatman: Dark Patternshaving just begun its run, fans should expect to be dragged even deeper into Gotham’s darkness, with this series being a must-read for anyone looking to bide time untilBatman’s next big screen appearance.
