What do you think of when I say “noir superhero stories?” Dark, damp alleyways. Criminals lurking around every corner. Steam billowing out of the sewers. Fedoras. Capes. Villains straight from a horror film. And, of course, superheroes boldly patrolling these frightening streets.
From basically the beginning of comic book history, noir has been part of the tapestry. From the old pulps and strips to modern-day graphic novels, these stories still capture our imaginations and create great characters. Here are eight great noir superhero stories full of crime, revenge, and those awesome superheroes.
Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
Pretty much all of Batman is noir superhero goodness, but I decided to limit myself to just one for this list. In this case, one of the greatest and my favorite Batman story that leans heavily into old-school crime. A serial killer is stalking Gotham, murdering on the holidays as the year crawls by. Classic rogues and old-school gangsters get equal billing in this legendary story.
The Black Ghost by Monica Gallagher, Alex Segura, Marco Finnegan, George Kambadias
There’s a vigilante at work in the city. Known only at The Black Ghost, nobody knows who they are, but Lara Dominguez is obsessed with finding out. But the more Lara digs into the identity of The Black Ghost, the more she uncovers corruption woven throughout the city she loves, and begins to wonder if this vigilante is the solution.
Catwoman: Lonely City by Cliff Chiang
Don’t look at me like that. This isn’t Batman, just Batman-adjacent. Set in a version of Gotham City where all its heroes are dead or gone, Selina Kyle is released from prison to find her Gotham changed. Quiet. Always under surveillance. She has one more score, though, one thing she needs: the Batcave.
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Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics by Diana Schutz, Ed Brubaker, Brian Azzarello, Alex de Campi, Gary Phillips, and more
There have been a lot of great noir comics—superhero and otherwise—throughout the years. Edited by Diana Schutz, this single volume collects a lot of great noir crime comics that have come out of Dark Horse over the years and from some really amazing writers and artists.
Pretty Deadly by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios
Some superheroes wear capes. Some carry gadgets. And some are the daughter of Death, riding a horse made of smoke. What does she seek? Why, one of those classic themes of noir: revenge. This comic blends noir elements, a Wild West-type setting, and surprising magical twists.
The Question by Dennis O’Neil, Denys Cowan
Along with Will Eisner’s The Spirit, The Question was one of the original noir superhero stories in comics. This run from O’Neil and Cowan is seminal. The Question is just one man, but he has a faceless mask and a mastery of unarmed combat on his side. That and an indominable spirit will put him at odd with deadly assassins, twisted politicians, and everyone in between.
Simon Says by Andre R. Frattino, Jesse Lee
Simon is a simple artist. At least, he is until Nazis start rounding up his friends and neighbors. He’s forced to paint swastikas on train cars, but soon, he can take it no longer. Along with his army friend Bruno, he becomes a vigilante hunting down those who murdered his wife, family, and people.
Spider-Man Noir: Twilight in Babylon by Margaret Stohl, Juan Ferreyra
It’s right there in the name, right? Hard to have a list of noir superhero stories without Spider-Man: Noir. Set in 1939, this story sees our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man (in a fedora) going overseas to track down a killer. Now, Peter Parker is fighting Nazis in and out of costume to get down to the bottom of this mystery.
Can’t get enough noir in your reading life? Here are some noir retellings for your TBR and incredible noir books blended with sci-fi.
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