Batman

As the body count rises and the balance of power constantly shifts, events in Gotham City take a decisive turn for Batman and Co. In this third collection, the Dark Knight struggles to restore order, finally recognising the enormity of a task that he cannot possibly accomplish alone. As he battles the likes of Mr Freeze and Clayface, the mystery of Batgirl's identity is solved, and from this, a new alliance is forged. With an event of this magnitude, it was unlikely that it could stay contained from the rest of the DC universe, and, sure enough, Superman turns up to offer aid. The resulting story is enjoyable, with Batman (smugly?) offering harsh proof that not even the Man of Steel can solve such relentless human misery. While the identity of Batgirl may not be a total surprise, Batman's choice of replacement is intriguing and exciting, introducing a strong, unpredictable element. In fact, if there is one downside to No Man's Land, it's that, with Batman's call to his comrades for assistance, a "team atmosphere" now dominates proceedings, which may alienate those who favour the "lone detective" angle of Batman. Despite this, the strong writing has ensured that this Bat adventure is sufficiently edgy. --Danny Graydon

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View books by Greg Rucka, Kelley Puckett, Dan Jurgens, Damon Scott.