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Like with the Batman Returns thread, I'll split this up between the comic book influences I know were cited and the ones that could just be coincidental, yet are nevertheless similar.
http://dccomments.proboards62.com/?board=dbst&action=display&thread=928&page=1

Definite Influences
Chris Nolan and company have cited Year One, The Man Who Falls, The Dark Knight Returns, Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale's Batman stories (Haunted Knight, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory), and the 1970s Dennis O'Neil comics that introduced Ra's Al Ghul.

So here we go:
The Man Who Falls?:
Bruce encountered the homeless
Bruce hikes up a mountain to reach a monastery, where he?ll be trained how to fight.
Bruce ends up growing a beard out of this!:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbruce2yr.jpg&hash=77ebccbf4cc037f883e78443bd15d08e141abbc9)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbb006.jpg&hash=7a835d47e3a92d346b74fb4c6acc0b3ffb631b29)

Henri Ducard was introduced and created by Sam Hamm (yes, the screenwriter of Batman 1989) in Hamm?s comic book story ?Blind Justice.?  Unlike the film, he is not associated in any way with Ra's Al Ghul or The League of Assassins.

The events of Ducard training Bruce are essentially summarized in ?The Man Who Falls.? 
While Ducard in the film is Ra?s, I personally find him closer to the actual Henri Ducard.  Being larger in size than Bruce Wayne (Ra?s, to me, looks like Batman?s equal in stature) and having a moustache.
His zero tolerance of criminals (evident in his willingness to kill, without mercy) sets him at odds with Bruce and ends the latter?s training under Ducard. 
In ?Blind Justice,? Ducard also mentions that he was impressed by Bruce?s fighting skills, which happens in the film as well (?Tiger!  Ju-Jitsu!?). 
In the present day part of the story, Ducard first makes his appearance in Gotham known to Bruce by going to Wayne Manor.

The Dark Knight Returns:
While it?s in ?The Man Who Falls? and mentioned in Year One, I believe it was The Dark Knight Returns that introduced the idea that young Bruce Wayne fell into the cave as a child and was haunted by the bats that swarmed at him.
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FTickleMeEmo.jpg&hash=5c665efd0ea62d66b4f501085d9282ba1f750875)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Ffnew-3.jpg&hash=f511e1abf6c2ea4c43ac99cd0e5523205386c0fc)
The Man Who Falls, though, had him fall through wooden planks like the movie.

And just like in B89, the pearl necklace plays a role in the Wayne murders.

The riots in the Narrows are possibly inspired by The Dark Knight Returns, particularly when the black man criticizes Flass with assault and Flass points a gun at him.

Wayne Manor burns to the ground (though in the comic, it burns down for good).

Lastly, there's the fact that Batman has a tank as a Batmobile is probably taken from The Dark Knight Returns, although the designs are obviously different.
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fmiller-batmobile.gif&hash=4dbb37ae38be9767d988dd351e12471835555bf6)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbb731.jpg&hash=399dcdc639f12f2829aa10e6a12d31f3730a7096)

Year One:
The first shot of the comic is actually of the monorail.
Then, there's, to some extent, the media covering Bruce Wayne's return (in the film, it is mentioned.  We don't really see it).

The level of the corrupt in the city that is controlled by Carmine Falcone (and enforced by the characters of Flass and Loeb).  Even if none of these characters really resembled much of their counterparts.

The closest is Flass, who, like his movie counterpart, tells Gordon in the police car that other cops get nervous at how clean Gordon is.  He also winds up at a drug deal that gets busted by Batman, gets traumatized by Batman, and ends up getting knocked out and handcuffed by Gordon, though in a different context.

Batman does tie up Falcone, but in the comic, it is as a warning rather than actually apprehending the criminal.

Batman using a sonic emitter from the heel of his boot to summon bats to attack the SWAT team and distract them as he makes his escape (which then leads to a chase between police cars and Batman himself).  Let?s also note that Gordon has to get a wounded person to safety:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FBatman406-15YearOne-3BlackDawn.jpg&hash=d0f245ce47e5bda9c347736df99f3c5cd56b0411)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbb683.jpg&hash=a744e9590cad447c88764dcbb2e8c5270d548c5b)
The swarm of bats against the sky in that scene could?ve inspired the opening:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FBatman406-14YearOne-3BlackDawn.jpg&hash=3ae5bba639b57961608cef2b3c466d3a348bb58c)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2F48382390.jpg&hash=a5a83f37befeb3c602f16576dede38fb075c5fe2)

The use of the Bat-Glider had to have influenced Batman Returns in having Batman?s cape become the glider.  Batman Begins is probably influenced by both in explaining the background behind it (even if Returns isn?t in the same continuity) and having Batman use it more.

Bale's animalistic portrayal of Batman had to have been somewhat inspired by Year One's reference to Batman giving a "growl" that he brought from Africa.

The mention of the Joker ?alluding to a sequel- on the rooftop with Gordon.

Oh yeah, and Alfred looks on as Bruce does pushups in the morning.

The Long Halloween:
This is actually where Falcone's first name was given as Carmine.  I don't believe his first name was ever given in Year One.
Besides Falcone's presence and having him briefly work with Scarecrow-

Scarecrow on a horse upon escaping Arkham:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2F8p8.jpg&hash=4f484a73c67d77a63c569c550c976536f125f658)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2F62.jpg&hash=62b14d82d8f8af000fbf7e7c2ded792bcdb14857)

Dark Victory:
Batman hanging Riddler upside down to interrogate him.
Scarecrow putting fear toxin in kids' toys
Somethine to note here is that in the original draft, Falcone confronted Batman with the shotgun in the dock area and popped the question.  Batman would turn around, revealing shotgun rounds from Falcone's gun in his hands before saying "I'm Batman."  In Dark Victory, something similar happens with Tony Zucco and the gun he hides in his office

Haunted Knight- "Fears":  I find it interesting that on the DVD, The Long Halloween is solely credited when the most influential had to be the story ?Fears? from a Legends of the Dark Knight issue.  The DVD featurette even uses part of ?Fears? in talking about ?The Long Halloween.?

Scarecrow on a horse (again)
Batman hanging a man upside down to interrogate him regarding Scarecrow
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbatmanupsidedown6br_1.jpg&hash=bd7aee023e4f6ae3211c6c9041bb30845cae12cb)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FUpsideDownjpg.jpg&hash=fb7a2b19fdc8a0ea05a7652760fd6737e73930d5)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbb610.jpg&hash=524debf58aeace693377f06e8a7284383ade9f7d)
Fire coming out of Scarecrow's eyes as a result of a hallucination (unfortunately I can?t find the panel online)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg154.imageshack.us%2Fimg154%2F4959%2Fbatmani4mu.jpg&hash=ae15db30f5049585a5b417ce7eeeef64ee65fd35)
The line "Dr. Crane isn't here right now.  But if you'd like to make an appointment..."
The general story:  So basically, we start out in a room with a bunch of criminals. The lights go out. A crook says "It's--The B-Batman!" (okay, not exactly what happens in the movie). Batman beats the crap out of people...and then later on, he does the same to Scarecrow. Gordon comes to arrest Scarecrow. Batman returns home and gets dressed in a tux to attend a party that's at Wayne Manor. Two guards watch Scarecrow and he later escapes while Bruce is at the party. Hmm.

Heck, even Loeb?s Hush could have influenced the film, I think: Thomas Wayne was mentioned as an opera lover in the Hush arc.

As for the Ra's Al Ghul comics:
- In his first appearance, he had a base in the Himalayas, tricked (or attempted to trick) Bruce/Batman into helping him while hiding his own intentions, and used a decoy Demon's Head.
- Another comic had him gassing the city.  He wore a small gas mask that fit right over his mouth, looking similar to the one in Begins. 
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2F005BMB_Liam_Neeson_006.jpg&hash=b59328142f4e630e52c8fa4cb1dc90d2cbb2c7c2)
You?ll have to take my word on this one since I can?t find the panel online.
- The first time the League of Assassins (league of Shadows in the movie) appeared, it had the Sensei in charge, even though it was Ra?s?s gang.  The Sensei looks kinda familiar doesn?t he?
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FLeagueofAssassins-StrangeAdv215.jpg&hash=50a75fbac3b38aec7cb4b529f918a1f6572551fb)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FThesensei.jpg&hash=ccccd4ab9dc4f79b2b90c74e96977c634726632e)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2F14_273x400.jpg&hash=0fa531dc33be9ea4acd01fa2c28feec2862c6ef5)

Lastly, the Batman Begins documentary on the DVD also has this comparison:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbatmangk297vi8po.jpg&hash=903ee5b42253b3d9cd3d81c59b47f7d07a700260)
To compare with:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbb20wp.jpg&hash=a11df5f651a12c6488270d03e8f16efe4701b96a)

Even posters were influenced.  Check out these covers:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbatman600_mcdaniel.jpg&hash=5e41b6e1c4bbfba52dba4535a5226f4d5f2df055)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2FBatmanBegins_poster.jpg&hash=f3c350b1caea561909717815b23fc9057f15b87b)

Possible Influences: These are the ones that were never cited, but were probably influential...

Dr. Jonathan Crane looks pretty darn close to how he looked in his first appearance:
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fwf3p2.gif&hash=c21403d6596679d0398cffe19708bd41997ddcbd)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj29%2FBatmAngelus%2Fbatman_photos_murphy.jpg&hash=3242d2d6b7ab6510fddc482c4504e3563547f276)

As for Joe Chill: Joe Chill has been the killer of Bruce Wayne?s parents since Batman #47 in 1948. Bruce Wayne wanting to shoot him down with a gun is from Batman: Year Two. Joe Chill being killed by the mob before Bruce can even act is from Detective Comics #235 (although done in a much different way).  In all versions, Batman is never the one to kill Joe Chill- someone always beats him to the punch.

The Joker card in the film is also in the comics. It's in Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum in a flashback scene in which Amadeus Arkham finds a Joker card on the ground and thinks that one of the workmen left it. While you can't see all of it, it's a similar design with a jester holding a sceptor.

Then there's the comic, Shaman, the first arc from Legends of the Dark Knight, by Dennis O'Neil that has many similarities.
A few visual similarities - the snowy mountain cliffs with the mentor, the threat of death from the cliffs, the old man who provides medical attention in his shack.
Also, some story similarities with the character of Tom Woodley, who encountered Bruce in the mountains earlier and was believed to have fallen to his death from the cliffs, but actually survived and received medical attention from the same old man who treated Bruce Wayne. Woodley then returns to Gotham under a "new identity" and eventually attacks Bruce Wayne- whom he knows is Batman- in his home.

There's also a cool part in the scene where Batman first appears. A thug fires wildly until he's out of bullets and then looks around and asks, "Where'd he go?" before Batman- from behind him- attacks him. Very similar to the "Where are you?!" scene at the docks in Batman Begins.

Another part I found intriguing was this scene that takes place when Bruce returns to Wayne Manor:
ALFRED: How long will we be staying this time? Long enough to get our bags unpacked?
BRUCE: I'm back for good. Travels are done. At least for the foreseeable future. I'm ready to begin.

Now, here's something interesting- "The Batmobile of 1950!"- Detective Comics #156 may have influenced the design of Anton Furst's Batmobile, but how did it influence the Begins Batmobile's capabilities?
The story features a Batmobile that has the rocket tubes in the fenders- much like what the live action Batmobiles have from the 1960s til today's. It provides "bursts of tremendous speed for short distances." During a chase scene in the comic, the villains blow out a bridge, hoping it'll force the Batmobile to fall off into the cliff. Batman, however, turns on the rocket tubes to cross without needing to use the bridge.
"Twin jets of flame flash out with thunderclap force-- and the miracle car of the Dynamic Duo literally flies through the air!"

Then, there's Detective Comics #0.  I haven't read it myself, but I've heard that that's where it was explained that Batman's gear comes from Wayne Enterprises.

Bruce disguising himself in tattered clothes to spy on the Gotham streets is a reference to War On Crime.  That's the only time, really, that I've seen him dress up as a transient, rather than a hired hood (i.e. Matches Malone)

Finally, there are some possible references to Ra's Al Ghul comics that were written after Denny O'Neil's era.

The story that Ducard/Ra?s tells about his wife could be a reference to Birth of the Demon in which Ra?s?s wife was killed before he became Ra?s Al Ghul.

As for the plot, the story The Messiah of the Crimson Sun also features Ra's Al Ghul threatening the water supply with poison and Batman #400, Resurrection Night, has Ra's breaking out all the inmates in Arkham Asylum (a similar plot happened in Knightfall).

That's all I've got as of now.

Please sticky ;D

Not bad as a first post.  Good job.

What?  First post?

Thanks for the compliments, guys.  :)

Yes.  First post in this thread.

Oh, okay, haha.

Dark Knight Comic Influences coming up...

What about Batman Forever's Comic Influences?

http://www.batmanmovieonline.com/forum/index.php?topic=269.0
;)

Very Interesting, I really like the picture choices too...nice job!

Quote from: Darrell Kaiser on Wed, 23 Jul  2008, 04:29
What about Batman Forever's Comic Influences?

go look at the 70's comics and you'll see all of that there.

I always enjoy these comic influence insights.

I watched Begins today, the first time in quite a while actually, and while I prefer TDK of course, I was reminded how much I like Begins. It's a great film, and BB and TDK really feel together as one large film. The ending with Gordon handing over the Joker card is just a perfect lead in to the next film. Can't wait for Nolan's third.

Quote from: The Dark Knight on Tue, 16 Dec  2008, 12:12
I always enjoy these comic influence insights.

I watched Begins today, the first time in quite a while actually, and while I prefer TDK of course, I was reminded how much I like Begins. It's a great film, and BB and TDK really feel together as one large film. The ending with Gordon handing over the Joker card is just a perfect lead in to the next film. Can't wait for Nolan's third.

you are 100% right there my friend!

Any chance for TDK comic influences? And  B&R?

TDK: http://www.batman-online.com/forum/index.php?topic=281.0

B&R: http://www.batman-online.com/forum/index.php?topic=270.0

Excellent, excellent. I was making a list and looking up all the references in all the movies, and then I came here and noticed that not only you guys found all the stuff I did, but you found at least 3 times more. Awesome stuff

Michael Uslan stated in his memoir that this old tank-like Batmobile could have been an inspiration for the Tumbler as well:
http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/21/old-comic-possibly-reveals-nolans-inspiration-for-batmobile.html

Also, I think there's a certain similarity of Batman and Ra's fight on the train with a train scene in Knightfall (the issue when AzBats finally defeats Bane)

I just posted in the TDK influences about this issue

QuoteI was flicking through some Batman Adventures comics today and saw the first issue had something that was striking...

It came out in 2003, based on the New Batman Adventures cartoon

The Society of Shadows break into Arkham...though not to free the inmates

I've just realised I haven't added anything to this thread. It's high time I made a contribution. First of all, here's the scene BatmAngelus mentioned from Batman: Shaman (1989-90) where Bruce returns to Wayne Manor and tells Alfred he's back for good.



The movie adapts a few elements from Batman: Prey (1990-91). One example would be the scene of Batman talking to Gordon on the fire escape outside his apartment. Note Batman telling Gordon he doesn't have to thank him.


Gordon looks away for a second, then turns back and sees Batman has vanished.


This comic also shows Batman wielding shuriken-style batarangs rather than the traditional boomerang version.


Bruce's arrival at the League of Shadows' headquarters is visually similar to his arrival at Kirigi's house in 'The Wall' (Batman #431, March 1989). In both stories these scenes are flashbacks showing Bruce arriving at the home of a master he hopes will train him. Kirigi, the ninja who trains Bruce in the comic, had also taught members of the League of Assassins.




Bruce's training with the League of Shadows is somewhat similar to the retraining he undergoes during KnightsEnd (1994). In both stories he is tutored by a criminal (Ra's/Lady Shiva) in the ways of the ninja. One scene in particular is more or less identical to a scene from the comic, where Ra's instructs Bruce to execute a captive criminal.


But of course Bruce refuses.


That's all I can think of for now.

Fine contributions, as always, Silver Nemesis.

We should probably put the Batman Begins and Dark Knight comic book influences articles as features now, as well as update The Dark Knight Rises one with screencaps, now that the whole trilogy is available on DVD/Blu-ray.  I imagine these are all going to be huge, but we're bound to get even more readers if we release a major "Comic Influences on The Dark Knight Trilogy" series.

Quote from: BatmAngelus on Sat, 16 Mar  2013, 20:15Fine contributions, as always, Silver Nemesis.

We should probably put the Batman Begins and Dark Knight comic book influences articles as features now, as well as update The Dark Knight Rises one with screencaps, now that the whole trilogy is available on DVD/Blu-ray.  I imagine these are all going to be huge, but we're bound to get even more readers if we release a major "Comic Influences on The Dark Knight Trilogy" series.

Not sure if this has been done yet but there is some interest in this.

Quote from: thecolorsblend on Wed, 10 Jul  2013, 19:40

Quote from: BatmAngelus on Sat, 16 Mar  2013, 20:15Fine contributions, as always, Silver Nemesis.

We should probably put the Batman Begins and Dark Knight comic book influences articles as features now, as well as update The Dark Knight Rises one with screencaps, now that the whole trilogy is available on DVD/Blu-ray.  I imagine these are all going to be huge, but we're bound to get even more readers if we release a major "Comic Influences on The Dark Knight Trilogy" series.

Not sure if this has been done yet but there is some interest in this.

Not done yet - I also need to get the features section improved to make them all a lot more accessible.

Where is the interest?

Quote from: Paul (ral) on Wed, 10 Jul  2013, 22:57Not done yet

I wasn't trying to put pressure.

Quote from: Paul (ral) on Wed, 10 Jul  2013, 22:57I also need to get the features section improved to make them all a lot more accessible.

Fair enough.

Quote from: Paul (ral) on Wed, 10 Jul  2013, 22:57Where is the interest?

Been trading messages with some dude on Facebook. He wanted a link to whichever blog/site ripped off all BatmAngelus and Silver's stuff, re: Chris Nolan's Batman films. I wanted him to see the oh-riginal stuff and pointed him to these forums but he's apparently too good to be bothered cruising forums to find this stuff. Lazy prick. Lucky I didn't leave him to his own devices after that little remark. In any case, I linked him to the TDKRises feature (which is awesome, btw; great job, guys!) and that seemed to mollify the jerk for at least a while.

This is now a feature, thanks to Silver Nemesis for editing everything together:
http://www.batman-online.com/features/2016/3/6/comic-influences-on-batman-begins-2005

Brilliant article. You guys did another amazing job!

Credit has to go to Ral and Nycteris too, both of whom contributed references to this feature.

One thing I'd like to point out about this analysis that's different from the others is the fact that most of these comics were specifically cited by either Nolan, Goyer or Uslan back when the film was in production. With the other features, we usually had one or two confirmed influences while the rest were merely conjectural. But here, I'd say over half of the references we documented were openly acknowledged by the filmmakers back in 2004 and 2005. I thought that was an impressive detail worth noting.

Batman #500 is cover dated October 1993. I know it well. I bought both editions of it when they came out. Batman Begins came out (in the US) on June 15, 2005. I know that well too because I saw it the day it came out.

But somehow, I never noticed this connection before.

(https://i.imgur.com/Q6a1xFF.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LwUYRVG.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9nI3ngS.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xW87yCX.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/oucXbFj.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rSD3pxa.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TjZ6Yui.jpeg)

Don't have a very good explanation for that either. And yet, the sequence of events is so similar to what happened near the end of Batman Begins that you're hard-pressed to claim that it's a coincidence.

You've got Batman duking it out with The Big Bad aboard a runaway/out of control elevated train, the lead car gets detached from the other cars by an explosive, the lead car flies off the tracks to crash into a building and The Big Bad lays defeated.

I have to admit that's a pretty specific series of events.

Apologies for only posting pages from Batman #500 but I don't have any relevant screenshots from Batman Begins. Maybe someone else can fill those in? If nothing else, hopefully I've provided a starting point.

We posted the following visual comparisons in the site feature in 2016.

Batman swinging onto the train through the window.


One of the combatants smashing his opponent's head through another window.


A hero uncoupling the carriages using an explosive projectile.


And finally the derailment.


Nolan obviously read Knightfall, as evidenced by its influence on TDKR, so I'm confident these similarities are deliberate.