Director Matt Reeves reveals the truth about The Batman to reveal the inspirations behind the new film, including DC comics featuring rogues Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman. A reboot – but not an origin story – The Batman is set in the second year of Bruce Wayne’s (Robert Pattinson) crusade as a vengeful vigilante stalking the streets of Gotham City. When a trail of cryptic clues sends Detective Dark Knight on an investigation into the underworld, Batman encounters a gallery of rogue villains: serial killer Edward Nashton (Paul Dano), fatal feline cat burglar Selina Kyle ( Zoe Kravitz), mid-level mobster Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (Colin Farrell), and crime lord Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).

Reeves credits three classic stories as his biggest influences for The Batman: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale murder mystery Batman: The Long HalloweenDarwyn Cooke’s study of Batman psyche and Catwoman’s neo-noir criminal hug Batman: Ego and other tails, and the influential origin story of Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli Batman: Year One. Before donning the Batman cape and cowl, Pattinson also consulted the first era of Batman: Shaman bring some of that “mysticism” from the comic Dennis O’Neil, John Beatty and Edward Hannigan at The Batman.

As The Long Halloweenwhich puts the caped crusader on the trail of a serial killer in his early days of crimefighting, The Batman tests Batman’s detective skills as he works to unmask the culprit of a series of murders. The film is not an adaptation of First year or any comic, but a “definitive noir-focused Batman story,” Reeves revealed on the 2018 Television Critics Association tour.”First year is one of the many comics that I love. We certainly don’t First year. [The Batman tells] a story that is moving but really speaks to him as the greatest detective in the world and all the things that for me, since I was a kid, made me love Batman.”

Keep reading to learn more about the comics behind The Batmanand share your thoughts with us in the comments below!