Batman: No Man's Land, Sins of Youth, Robin

Batman: No Man’s Land 1

Batman 563

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 83

Detective Comics 730

The start of No Man’s Land.  Apparently past me didn’t want to buy anything between Cataclysm and now.  This is a great start.  Once you get past the unbelievable stretch that the US government’s not only cut off, but completely sealed Gotham away from the rest of the world, Bob Gale’s gripping story of a city’s descent into feudalistic survival feels entirely possible and realistic.  Alex Maleev’s art is perfect for this grim, depressing situation.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 86

Past me only bought sporadic issues of No Man’s Land until the last few arcs.  This one’s basically the ultimate old guy “You kids get off of my lawn!” story.  It’s a little ray of sunshine in the darkness, it’s also hard to believe that anyone could last as long as this guy.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Detective Comics 733

It’s hard to believe that the Bob Gale who wrote the excellent opening arc also wrote this piece of dreck.  Batman literally plays Solomon, and it’s as lame as it sounds.  

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Disliked (Cutting)

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 125

Batman and Jim Gordon reconcile after being at odds for most of the year.  A nice conversation issue, with an amazing gesture by Bruce:

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 93

Batman 573

Detective Comics 740

The end is in sight as Lex Luthor shows up to rebuild Gotham (and fraudulently buy it on the cheap at the same time).  

I'd forgotten Azrael had this ass ugly costume for a while.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 126

Batman 574

Detective Comics 741

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 94

It always comes down to the Joker, doesn’t it?  Greg Rucka writes some amazing stuff here.  Pettit’s fall is as predictable as it is horrifying.  Huntress’s “you shall not pass” moment is thrilling and brutal, the end reminiscent of Murphy’s death in Robocop or Boromir’s demise in Fellowship.  

Great Alex Maleev cover.  Can feel the determination.

A gut wrenching sequence.

So hard to watch.

The Joker stuff is great, but a lot of the impact is ruined by Damion Scott’s cartoony art.  Completely ill suited to the story.  If only Dale Eaglesham could have drawn the whole thing.

This could be so much more effective.

I can't take this scene seriously.

At the end of it all, things return to the status quo except for Sarah Gordon (nee Essen).  It’d be sadder if I’d read more stories with her; outside of NML, I think Year One is the only story I own with her in it.  Still, Jim Gordon’s sadness hits all the right chords, as does Batman’s continued resolve as his city returns to ‘normal.’

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin 1

A random issue where Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne swap bodies.  It’s decently amusing.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Robin 85

No idea why I have this random issue where Joker rants about how he hates Robin.  Easy cut.

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Stupid