What to read for

DUKE THOMAS

This page is my best attempt at a Duke Thomas reading list. Perpetual WIP. Essential stories have a next to them.

Pre-Robin/Origin

Batman: Zero Year

Duke first appears during the Batman: Zero Year event as a small child. You really get an idea of who he is and what his life is like here. A Batman: Zero Year reading list is available here. Batman: Zero Year has been collected as a trade paperback.

-Batman (2011) #21 [First appearance!]

-Batman (2011) #30

Batman: Endgame

While Duke still isn't a major player in Batman: Endgame it is a vital part of his story that will carry weight for his character for years to come. A reading list for Batman: Endgame can be found here. Batman: Endgame has been collected as a trade paperback.

-Batman (2011) #37

-Batman (2011) #38

Robin

We Are Robin / Robin War

We Are Robin is Duke's first big story! This comic follows Duke as he tries to find his parents after the events of Batman: Endgame and joins the "Robin" movement. Robin War ties in very closely with We Are Robin and focuses on a police crackdown on teenage vigilantism. A Robin War reading list is available here. We Are Robin has been collected in two trade paperbacks. Robin War has been collected in a trade paperback.

-We Are Robin #1

-We Are Robin #2

-We Are Robin #3

-We Are Robin #5

-We Are Robin #6

-Robin War #1

-Grayson #15

-Detective Comics (2011) #47

-We Are Robin #7

-Robin: Son of Batman #7

-Teen Titans (2014) #15

-Robin War #2

-We Are Robin #8

-We Are Robin #9

-We Are Robin #10

-We Are Robin #11

-We Are Robin #12

☀︎ Superheavy

Batman: Superheavy is occuring parallel to Robin War and focused on Jim Gordon as Batman, while the comic does not heavily feature Duke Thomas, he is relevant and we get an insight into what his life is like after Batman: Endgame. Batman: Superheavy also directly leads into Duke joining Batman's mission. Superheavy has been collected in two trade paperbacks.

-Batman (2011) #42

-Batman (2011) #43

-Batman (2011) #45

-Batman (2011) #46

-Batman (2011) #47

-Batman (2011) #48

-Batman (2011) #50

Pre-Signal

☀︎ Working With Batman

After the events of Batman: Superheavy, Duke acts as Bruce's main partner for a period of time. Most of this is not necessary reading, but is still good to check out. Because of this I will not be listing every individual issue. During this time period Duke could be found in:

-Batman: Rebirth #1

-Batman (2016) #1-7 "I Am Gotham"

-Night of the Monster Men

-New Talent Showcase 2017 #1

The Cursed Wheel

My Own Worst Enemy and The Cursed Wheel were printed in All-Star Batman. My Own Worst Enemy is mainly focused on Bruce, with Duke taking on a heavy supporting role. The Cursed Wheel is the backup story in All-Star Batman and follows Duke as he is trained to be a vigilante by Bruce, in a program called "The Cursed Wheel", and confronts his complicated feelings regarding what happened to his parents and his place in the vigilante world. The Cursed Wheel has been collected in a trade paperback.

-All-Star Batman #1

-All-Star Batman #2

-All-Star Batman #3

-All-Star Batman #4

-All-Star Batman #5

-All-Star Batman #6

-All-Star Batman #7

-All-Star Batman #8

-All-Star Batman #9

☀︎ Dark Nights: Metal

Dark Nights: Metal is a DC crossover storyline that follows the story of various heroes fighting back against the evil Batmen from the dark multiverse. Duke is revealed to have been the last hero protecting the multiverse. A reading list for Dark Nights: Metal can be found here. Dark Nights: Metal has been collected into a trade paperback.

-Dark Days: The Forge #1

-Dark Days: The Casting #1

The Signal

Batman and The Signal

A Duke Thomas mini with a focus on him becoming The Signal, his family history, and his developing powers. Batman and The Signal has been collected into a trade paperback.

-Batman and The Signal #1

-Batman and The Signal #2

-Batman and The Signal #3

☀︎ Detective Comics: On The Outside

Detective Comics: On The Outside follows Jefferson Pierce as he is recruited by Bruce Wayne to lead a new team of Outsiders, consisting of Duke Thomas, Cassandra Cain, and Tatsu Toro. This storyline leads into Batman and The Outsiders (2019). Detective Comics: On The Outside has been collected into a trade paperback.

-Detective Comics (2016) #983

-Detective Comics (2016) #984

-Detective Comics (2016) #985

-Detective Comics (2016) #986

-Detective Comics (2016) #987

Batman and The Outsiders: Lesser Gods

Batman and The Outsiders: Lesser Gods is the first storyline from Batman and The Outsiders (2019). Batman and The Outsiders: Lesser Gods has been collected in a trade paperback.

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #1

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #2

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #3

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #4

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #5

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #6

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #7

Batman and The Outsiders: A League of Their Own

Batman and The Outsiders: A League of Their Own is the second storyline from Batman and The Outsiders (2019). Batman and The Outsiders: A League of Their Own has been collected in a trade paperback.

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #8

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #9

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #10

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #11

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #12

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) Annual #1

Batman and The Outsiders: The Demon's Fire

Batman and The Outsiders: The Demon's Fire is the third storyline from Batman and The Outsiders (2019). Batman and The Outsiders: The Demon's Fire has been collected in a trade paperback.

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #13

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #14

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #15

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #16

-Batman and The Outsiders (2019) #17

☀︎ Dark Nights: Death Metal

Dark Nights: Death Metal is the sequel to Dark Nights: Metal and once again features the dark multiverse and Duke Thomas as the Final Knight. A reading list for Dark Knights: Death Metal is available here.

-Dark Nights: Death Metal - Robin King #1

-Dark Nights: Death Metal #5

-Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights - Metal #1

-Dark Nights: Death Metal #6

☀︎ Future State

Future State presents a possible future for the DC universe. Duke and the Outsider's Future State storyline continues on in multiple stories in Batman: Urban Legends. A reading list for Future State is available here.

-Future State: The Next Batman #1 "Outsiders"

-Future State: The Next Batman #3

-Future State: Gotham #2

-Future State: Gotham #5

-Future State: Gotham #6

-Batman: Urban Legends #1 "The Caretaker, Part One"

-Batman: Urban Legends #2 "The Caretaker, Part Two"

-Batman: Urban Legends #3 "The Caretaker, The Final"

-Batman: Urban Legends #8 "The Fearful, Part One"

-Batman: Urban Legends #9 "The Fearful, The Final"

-Batman: Urban Legends #18 "The Signal and The Outsiders, Part One"

-Batman: Urban Legends #19 "The Signal and The Outsiders, The Final"

Batman Secret Files: The Signal

A one-shot following Duke's returns to Gotham after his time working with The Outsiders as he attempts to get reaccustomed to Gotham.

-Batman Secret Files: The Signal #1

☀︎ The Signal in Gotham

Duke appeared infrequently from 2021-2025 and could be found in these issues and storylines.

-Batman: Failsafe

-Batman: The Gotham War

-DC Power 2024 #1 "The Light That Shines"

-Batman The Brave and The Bold #10 "Nameless"

-Outsiders (2024) #3, #7, #11

The Power Company

The Rise of The Power Company

The formation of The Power Company. This is where Duke is currently at and is still developing, this section will be updated as new issues come out.