Source: babblingaboutdccomics.com

5. The Origin of the Batman

Batman # 47 (1948)

I kid around, but this is a truly excellent Batman story with some powerful moments that still ring true to this day.

In the story, Batman catches on to a new racket in Gotham, run by a gangster named Joe Chill. Upon seeing a picture of Chill, Batman immediately recognizes him as the man who killed his parents and flashes back, showing us that origin again. Batman goes after Chill, eventually cornering him and unmasking, telling Chill that he knew who he was and as Batman, he would make sure Chill never knew peace again. Chill, horrified, runs outside and tells his gang that he knows who Batman is and accidentally created him.

The gangsters focus on the "I created Batman" part and gun Chill down before realizing "oh hey, maybe we should've asked who Batman really was before shooting him, that information could have been useful. Batman beats up the gang and finally closes the case file on his parents' murder. All in all a really powerful story and one that might sound familiar, as it served as the inspiration for the critically acclaimed Batman: Brave and the Bold episode "The Chill of the Night".

One of the Greatest Batman Stories of All Time?: In all seriousness, yes. This is an all-time great and if it was left out, it would be a travesty.