Batman

Rucka was one of the authors who contributed to the late 90s "Batman No Man's Land" event over the course of 83 separate comics. He writes the novelization in a way that gets the story across while still wanting to go out and buy 83 twenty-five-year-old comic books.

The story goes that an Earthquake destroyed much of Gotham City, and then a hurricane and because it would cost so much to repair, and Gotham was already notorious for being a government sink hole due to all the crime the feds declared it a No Man's Land and was cut off from the rest of the country, blew up the bridges, put mines in the seas and told Gotham good luck and good riddance.

The normal baddies stayed behind: Joker, Two-Face, Penguin, Poison Ivy & Black Mask. Plus the to be expected regular dudes just trying to make it in gangs. Most of the government leaves, only a dozen or so of the GCPD are left, including Gordon, because no other police force he applied to wanted someone who needed a myth to do his policing for him.

It's certainly a look at how anarchy could occur in our modern age. I read most of this over 3 days. Even at >400 pages the end felt like it came too soon with a particular billionaire, no not that one, saving the day.

A few interesting notes, we see three different Batgirls here, including Oracle. A Batman who disappears, who practically forgets who Bruce Wayne is. A police force that has to become a gang themselves in order to have any chance of policing. And a particular clown who shows up just when he's wanted least.

I was somewhat disappointed in Poison Ivy. She shows at the very beginning of the story, and throughout the book she is hinted at to be laying low in the Park, but is never seen from again, even when the park is destroyed.

Bruce Wayne may be a free man, but the story is not over. Cain, an assassin, and the new Batgirl's father, confesses to the crime. His motivation is a combination of personal reasons and orders from high up in the federal government. The government part wanted to frame Bruce Wayne. Going after Batman was the personal part. Cain is in prison, but there are some who would prefer him dead, so Batman now has to keep him alive as another assassin targets Cain. Also, Sasha, Wayne's former bodyguard, apparently dies in prison, only her body goes missing. Is she really dead? All these plots are finally resolved in the last volume of the series. While not as good as the previous two, mostly because it is wrapping loose ends, it is still a good story, and it is well worth reading. Overall, this was one of the best Batman series I have read in a while. Good overall characterization along with plenty of action.

The plot continues to grow in complexity. Batman tries to find out the source of poisoned heroin in the city, and it seems connected to the Bruce Wayne case. Meanwhile, Sasha, his bodyguard is still in prison. It seems now the plot goes deep into the federal government, all the way to the president. As the murderer is finally found, the challenge is not over yet. For one, Sasha is still in prison. And finally, Batman is making amends, as best he can given he is so difficult, with the family he alienated and that has been helping him all this time. I thought for a moment the story would end here, but there is more to it, and I will be reading on. Pacing and artwork continue to be excellent in this volume. So far, it has been a series I have not been able to put down. Very engaging.