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Batman: No Man's Land (1999-2001) #1
Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1
Fans of Batman are lucky to get Greg Rucka--the talented, gritty young author of Keeper and Finder, among others--sharing time with their favorite licensed character in this novelization of DC's complete No Man's Land comic series. (And fans of Rucka--assuming they get around to reading this at all--will still likely hold the opinion that Atticus Kodiak could take Batman in a standup fight any day.)
DC shook up Gotham--literally--in its 1999 Batman plot arc: a 7.6 earthquake rocked Gotham City, wreaking enough destruction to bring the broken, crime-ridden, runt kid-brother of Metropolis and New York to its knees. In the story line's most indulgent liberty, those fat cats in Washington decide to write off Gotham, à la Escape from New York, blowing up the connecting bridges, mining the surrounding waterways, and signing into law the Federal Declaration of No Man's Land, which makes it a crime to even set foot in the city. The usual suspects from Arkham Asylum, Two-Face and the Penguin, the Riddler and Dr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Mr. Zsasz, file out to begin running the show, strong-arming and manipulating the block-by-block turf battles that envelop the now-ultraviolent city. A conflicted Batman shows up fashionably late, only to find that these lunatics are the least of his worries: Lex Luthor, Superman's archfoe, has nefarious designs on Gotham too. Could this possibly get any better? Sure, No Man's Land is derivative fiction, but the appeal of Rucka--and, of course, Batman--can make this one worth the read. --Paul Hughes
Collecting BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1, BATMAN #563-564, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #83-84, DETECTIVE COMICS #730-731 and BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #116.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
July 15, 2016
No Man’s Land? More like No BATMAN’S Land, given that the dude is absent for much of the story (hey-oh!). Still, the first half of this volume—penned by Back to the Future scribe Bob Gale—is pretty engrossing, even if the premise is absurd.
(That premise? Gotham City, after a series of disasters ranging from contagion to earthquakes, has been sealed off by the United States government and is no longer considered part of the country; in other words, everyone who remains within its borders are trapped without access to the outside world and are on their own. Seriously? We haven’t even done that with Detroit, and downtown Detroit denizens would sh@t Batman pellets for breakfast. Come on now.)
Watching the various factions—including one led by Commissioner Gordon—fight for control of the city is entertaining in a Lord of the Flies kind of way. The second half of the book, written by Devin Grayson, is less beguiling, but has its moments (particularly watching Batman trying to figure out how to reclaim his reputation in this brutal new world; who knew dude could spray paint such a nice tag?).
Not the world’s greatest Batman tale, but sufficiently interesting to spur interest in the next volume.
(That premise? Gotham City, after a series of disasters ranging from contagion to earthquakes, has been sealed off by the United States government and is no longer considered part of the country; in other words, everyone who remains within its borders are trapped without access to the outside world and are on their own. Seriously? We haven’t even done that with Detroit, and downtown Detroit denizens would sh@t Batman pellets for breakfast. Come on now.)
Watching the various factions—including one led by Commissioner Gordon—fight for control of the city is entertaining in a Lord of the Flies kind of way. The second half of the book, written by Devin Grayson, is less beguiling, but has its moments (particularly watching Batman trying to figure out how to reclaim his reputation in this brutal new world; who knew dude could spray paint such a nice tag?).
Not the world’s greatest Batman tale, but sufficiently interesting to spur interest in the next volume.
February 9, 2012
When Hell goes to war with itself, only the devil is declared the winner
DC comics has brought together two of my favorite things; Batman and post-apocalyptic fiction. I almost feel as if this series has been made for me.
So, here’s the deal. A massive earthquake has rocked Gotham City to its core – combine that with an outbreak of a deadly disease not unlike the Ebola virus and you have a recipe for disaster. Rather than send aid or attempt to rebuild Gotham, the government has sealed it off from the rest of the civilized world, proclaiming it no longer part of the United States.
Those that wanted to leave were initially given the choice; however, the gangs, the sick and the released criminals from Arkham Asylum decided to hang around. Also staying put are several dedicated members of the GCPD; an effort to bring order to the once powerful city.
Watching Gordon struggle over how to enforce the law really grabbed me. Not only is he dealing with anarchy on a massive scale, he’s realizing that he has no one to tell him the “right” and the “wrong” way of doing things. Suddenly, he’s in the shoes of the Batman. Gordon knows that he needs to implore drastic measures to restore order to Gotham; he just has to realize his own limits.
I’ve always liked Scarecrow, I just didn’t realize how much until 2005’s Batman Begins. In No Man’s Land, 6 years before the release of Begins, Scarecrow is given a pretty prominent role. Rarely using his fear induced chemicals; Scarecrow attempts to seize control of a sector of Gotham through the manipulation of already frightened people. Gale gives us Scarecrow in his most clever state; making the reader realize that he truly is a pretty strong villain in his own right.
The end of the first volume finishes strong with a pretty cool reveal. I’m glad I have the 2nd volume already on deck!
DC comics has brought together two of my favorite things; Batman and post-apocalyptic fiction. I almost feel as if this series has been made for me.
So, here’s the deal. A massive earthquake has rocked Gotham City to its core – combine that with an outbreak of a deadly disease not unlike the Ebola virus and you have a recipe for disaster. Rather than send aid or attempt to rebuild Gotham, the government has sealed it off from the rest of the civilized world, proclaiming it no longer part of the United States.
Those that wanted to leave were initially given the choice; however, the gangs, the sick and the released criminals from Arkham Asylum decided to hang around. Also staying put are several dedicated members of the GCPD; an effort to bring order to the once powerful city.
Watching Gordon struggle over how to enforce the law really grabbed me. Not only is he dealing with anarchy on a massive scale, he’s realizing that he has no one to tell him the “right” and the “wrong” way of doing things. Suddenly, he’s in the shoes of the Batman. Gordon knows that he needs to implore drastic measures to restore order to Gotham; he just has to realize his own limits.
I’ve always liked Scarecrow, I just didn’t realize how much until 2005’s Batman Begins. In No Man’s Land, 6 years before the release of Begins, Scarecrow is given a pretty prominent role. Rarely using his fear induced chemicals; Scarecrow attempts to seize control of a sector of Gotham through the manipulation of already frightened people. Gale gives us Scarecrow in his most clever state; making the reader realize that he truly is a pretty strong villain in his own right.
The end of the first volume finishes strong with a pretty cool reveal. I’m glad I have the 2nd volume already on deck!
September 1, 2022
The FINAL #ThrowbackThursday
After two years and a half years of fairly regular weekly posting I have now added nearly all of my old comic book reviews from the 1990s (with the exception of a handful of titles that were too obscure for Goodreads and not worth the hassle of adding). Thanks to everyone who has followed along!
#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)
From the May 1999 edition with a theme of "DC Rules!":
INTRODUCTION
DC rules! DC rocks!
Marvel fans can chew my socks!
FROM THE BACKLIST
BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1 (DC Comics)
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #83-86 (DC Comics)
BATMAN #563-565 (DC Comics)
DETECTIVE COMICS #730-732 (DC Comics)
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #116-118 (DC Comics)
THE BATMAN CHRONICLES #16 (DC Comics)
Batman's home town, Gotham City, has always been the darkest corner of the DC Universe. In the past few years, it has become a hell on Earth. First, there was a plague. Then an earthquake. Now, Gotham City has been cut free of the United States and turned into an every-man-for-himself wasteland, much like the movie "Escape From New York," but with innocent civilians mixed in with the criminals and madmen.
To retake his city from the escapees of Arkham Asylum and the street thugs who are now footsoldiers under territorial warlords, Batman must change his tactics of the past few years. Instead of alienating allies and keeping to the shadows, Batman must build alliances and wage the war for Gotham in the daylight. Among his comrades-in-arms are a mysterious new incarnation of Batgirl and the rogue cops of Gotham's former police department under the command of James Gordon.
To tell this story, DC has changed tactics by dropping its long-time cadre of BATMAN creators for a group of fresh faces. Writers Bob Gale (the "Back to the Future" movies), Devin Grayson (CATWOMAN, THE TITANS), Ian Edginton, Greg Rucka (WHITEOUT), and Lisa Klink have been invited into the Batcave to play, and the bat guano is hitting the fan. With Gotham City cut off from the real world, the writers get to craft tales that would seem more in place in one of DC's Elseworlds imaginary settings. There are no rules in Gotham, and the writers don't seem to be constrained by much either.
The regular Bat-artists have also been laid off in favor of some hot new talent who have not had much work published in the mainstream superhero genre. Alex Maleev (THE CROW), Dale Eaglesham (CAPTAIN AMERICA), D'Israeli (Paradox Press' BIG BOOKS), Frank Teran (DARK HORSE PRESENTS), Jason Pearson (DARK HORSE PRESENTS ANNUAL, HERO ALLIANCE QUARTERLY), and Guy Davis (SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE) bring very dark interpretations to the Caped Crusader and his broken city. The moody art is dead on for the downbeat stories being woven in the "No Man's Land" epic.
So everything's definitely different. But is it good?
Actually, I'm enjoying the new version of Gotham City more than I would have expected. Sure, the premise is ludicrous. I mean, DC has to be aware of FEMA and the term "disaster area." Outside of toxic or radioactive ground, the U.S. does not simply give up on an area. Heck, our government consistently kicks in to rebuild homes over and over again in the Mississippi flood plain and all along the San Andreas fault. And no matter what explanation DC offers for the JLA not getting involved it's going to seem pretty hollow seeing as how Superman's pals rebuilt Metropolis in 24 hours after it was totally levelled by Lex Luthor just a few years back.
But if I ignore all the above, I really relish seeing Batman operate at his grim-and-gritty best in a land of no rules. "No Man's Land" evokes the atmosphere of Frank Miller's classic dystopian vision of Batman and Gotham City -- BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Gotham is beyond ordinary crime control techniques. If it is to be redeemed, it must be taken back from the outlaws who dominate it one street at a time. Also, it's great to finally see the fringes of the Bat-cast getting plenty of screen time. Barbara Gordon, a/k/a Oracle, has had several great scenes including the two-part "Mosaic" story wherein she must come to terms with a new person wearing the Batgirl mantle she created. As one of the most prominent handicapped heroes in comics, Barbara Gordon is a rich source of drama even if she spends much of her time sitting in front of her beloved computers. The new Batgirl who threw Barbara for a loop has some very interesting possibilities but remains too enigmatic to care about at the moment. The Huntress and Alfred Pennyworth have some of their best moments in recent memory.
The members of the Gotham City Police Department have formed their own street gang and are trying to restore order independent of Batman and the other superheroes. James Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Renee Montoya, and the rest are trying to prove it doesn't take a fancy costume to be a hero. However, some of the scariest aspects of "No Man's Land" have come out of the debates between the former cops about how to handle the situation. Fascism rears its ugly head again and again in their speech and their actions. Will their cure be worse than the disease?
The villains, of course, thrive in the new environment of "No Man's Land." Each has his own little fiefdom with dreams of city-wide domination. Indeed, the villains are the driving force of the series, providing the gauntlet which Batman will have to survive in order to resurrect Gotham. But the new Gotham has made the villains even stronger and more wicked. The Scarecrow without his fear-inducing gases dabbles in tragic manipulations in the "Fear of Faith" story arc. The Penguin controls Gotham's black market and abuses his power to start his own arena of death in "Bread and Circuses." The Black Mask has disfigured his face and started a suicide cult in "Mosaic." And the rest of the villains have formed armies and wage open war in the streets in "Balance" and "Home Sweet Home."
Plot-wise "No Man's Land" is entirely over the top. But in telling captivating character-driven stories, "No Man's Land" captures the heart of the BATMAN mythos. Hey, the whole concept of a man dressing up like a bat to fight crime is pretty darn silly! Having long ago been spellbound by the charismatic and obsessive Bruce Wayne and his gloomy world, why would I start looking for reality now. I like my Batman dark and in continuity. If I have to take a sledgehammer to my common sense to enjoy "No Man's Land," DC is making it worth my while.
BATMAN "No Man's Land" - Grade: B+
After two years and a half years of fairly regular weekly posting I have now added nearly all of my old comic book reviews from the 1990s (with the exception of a handful of titles that were too obscure for Goodreads and not worth the hassle of adding). Thanks to everyone who has followed along!
#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)
From the May 1999 edition with a theme of "DC Rules!":
INTRODUCTION
DC rules! DC rocks!
Marvel fans can chew my socks!
FROM THE BACKLIST
BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1 (DC Comics)
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #83-86 (DC Comics)
BATMAN #563-565 (DC Comics)
DETECTIVE COMICS #730-732 (DC Comics)
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #116-118 (DC Comics)
THE BATMAN CHRONICLES #16 (DC Comics)
Batman's home town, Gotham City, has always been the darkest corner of the DC Universe. In the past few years, it has become a hell on Earth. First, there was a plague. Then an earthquake. Now, Gotham City has been cut free of the United States and turned into an every-man-for-himself wasteland, much like the movie "Escape From New York," but with innocent civilians mixed in with the criminals and madmen.
To retake his city from the escapees of Arkham Asylum and the street thugs who are now footsoldiers under territorial warlords, Batman must change his tactics of the past few years. Instead of alienating allies and keeping to the shadows, Batman must build alliances and wage the war for Gotham in the daylight. Among his comrades-in-arms are a mysterious new incarnation of Batgirl and the rogue cops of Gotham's former police department under the command of James Gordon.
To tell this story, DC has changed tactics by dropping its long-time cadre of BATMAN creators for a group of fresh faces. Writers Bob Gale (the "Back to the Future" movies), Devin Grayson (CATWOMAN, THE TITANS), Ian Edginton, Greg Rucka (WHITEOUT), and Lisa Klink have been invited into the Batcave to play, and the bat guano is hitting the fan. With Gotham City cut off from the real world, the writers get to craft tales that would seem more in place in one of DC's Elseworlds imaginary settings. There are no rules in Gotham, and the writers don't seem to be constrained by much either.
The regular Bat-artists have also been laid off in favor of some hot new talent who have not had much work published in the mainstream superhero genre. Alex Maleev (THE CROW), Dale Eaglesham (CAPTAIN AMERICA), D'Israeli (Paradox Press' BIG BOOKS), Frank Teran (DARK HORSE PRESENTS), Jason Pearson (DARK HORSE PRESENTS ANNUAL, HERO ALLIANCE QUARTERLY), and Guy Davis (SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE) bring very dark interpretations to the Caped Crusader and his broken city. The moody art is dead on for the downbeat stories being woven in the "No Man's Land" epic.
So everything's definitely different. But is it good?
Actually, I'm enjoying the new version of Gotham City more than I would have expected. Sure, the premise is ludicrous. I mean, DC has to be aware of FEMA and the term "disaster area." Outside of toxic or radioactive ground, the U.S. does not simply give up on an area. Heck, our government consistently kicks in to rebuild homes over and over again in the Mississippi flood plain and all along the San Andreas fault. And no matter what explanation DC offers for the JLA not getting involved it's going to seem pretty hollow seeing as how Superman's pals rebuilt Metropolis in 24 hours after it was totally levelled by Lex Luthor just a few years back.
But if I ignore all the above, I really relish seeing Batman operate at his grim-and-gritty best in a land of no rules. "No Man's Land" evokes the atmosphere of Frank Miller's classic dystopian vision of Batman and Gotham City -- BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Gotham is beyond ordinary crime control techniques. If it is to be redeemed, it must be taken back from the outlaws who dominate it one street at a time. Also, it's great to finally see the fringes of the Bat-cast getting plenty of screen time. Barbara Gordon, a/k/a Oracle, has had several great scenes including the two-part "Mosaic" story wherein she must come to terms with a new person wearing the Batgirl mantle she created. As one of the most prominent handicapped heroes in comics, Barbara Gordon is a rich source of drama even if she spends much of her time sitting in front of her beloved computers. The new Batgirl who threw Barbara for a loop has some very interesting possibilities but remains too enigmatic to care about at the moment. The Huntress and Alfred Pennyworth have some of their best moments in recent memory.
The members of the Gotham City Police Department have formed their own street gang and are trying to restore order independent of Batman and the other superheroes. James Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Renee Montoya, and the rest are trying to prove it doesn't take a fancy costume to be a hero. However, some of the scariest aspects of "No Man's Land" have come out of the debates between the former cops about how to handle the situation. Fascism rears its ugly head again and again in their speech and their actions. Will their cure be worse than the disease?
The villains, of course, thrive in the new environment of "No Man's Land." Each has his own little fiefdom with dreams of city-wide domination. Indeed, the villains are the driving force of the series, providing the gauntlet which Batman will have to survive in order to resurrect Gotham. But the new Gotham has made the villains even stronger and more wicked. The Scarecrow without his fear-inducing gases dabbles in tragic manipulations in the "Fear of Faith" story arc. The Penguin controls Gotham's black market and abuses his power to start his own arena of death in "Bread and Circuses." The Black Mask has disfigured his face and started a suicide cult in "Mosaic." And the rest of the villains have formed armies and wage open war in the streets in "Balance" and "Home Sweet Home."
Plot-wise "No Man's Land" is entirely over the top. But in telling captivating character-driven stories, "No Man's Land" captures the heart of the BATMAN mythos. Hey, the whole concept of a man dressing up like a bat to fight crime is pretty darn silly! Having long ago been spellbound by the charismatic and obsessive Bruce Wayne and his gloomy world, why would I start looking for reality now. I like my Batman dark and in continuity. If I have to take a sledgehammer to my common sense to enjoy "No Man's Land," DC is making it worth my while.
BATMAN "No Man's Land" - Grade: B+
February 16, 2012
A major earthquake hits Gotham (chronicled in "Cataclysm") and the US Government takes the unprecedented (not to mention highly unlikely) approach to the disaster by quarantining the city and annexing it from the USA - the result? No Man's Land.
The plot is familiar to those who've played the recent "Arkham City" game which takes a similar approach though it only segregates part of Gotham rather than the entirety of it. But the supervillains of Arkham roam Gotham freely now and recruit gangs which fight for territories of Gotham like in "Arkham City".
If you can get past the improbability of the scenario - I mean it would be like the US abandoning New Orleans after Katrina - then you're in store for a helluva first book. Bob "Back to the Future" Gale does a fine job of writing the first story arc in this massive series, setting the stage for what is to come. He establishes the wasteland Gotham becomes and the lawless, terrifying place it descends to without regular food or supplies coming through. He introduces the mysterious figure of Batgirl and doesn't introduce the Batman until the very end, focusing instead on the rival gangs run by Penguin and the other rogues, Barbara Gordon, who creates a new network of information without the aid of computers, and the fight back to restore the city led by Commissioner Gordon.
The second story arc is less impressive as the Batman plays a big part in it and he always overcomes any obstacles, but it's interesting to see Scarecrow appear and try to create chaos out of a fragile peace created by a couple of Christian priests. Huntress also shows that she's going to play a large role in this series.
The series puts a confident first step forward in this book and breathes new life into the Batman series by turning Gotham into an even more scary and desperate place than it was prior to the earthquake, and putting these familiar characters into new situations, giving them more facets to their characters.
I loved reading it and can't wait to read the others in the series. If you're a Batfan you'll find plenty here to appreciate in this well written, well told tale of when the world turned its back on Gotham and a handful of heroes stood up to raise her back onto her feet.
The plot is familiar to those who've played the recent "Arkham City" game which takes a similar approach though it only segregates part of Gotham rather than the entirety of it. But the supervillains of Arkham roam Gotham freely now and recruit gangs which fight for territories of Gotham like in "Arkham City".
If you can get past the improbability of the scenario - I mean it would be like the US abandoning New Orleans after Katrina - then you're in store for a helluva first book. Bob "Back to the Future" Gale does a fine job of writing the first story arc in this massive series, setting the stage for what is to come. He establishes the wasteland Gotham becomes and the lawless, terrifying place it descends to without regular food or supplies coming through. He introduces the mysterious figure of Batgirl and doesn't introduce the Batman until the very end, focusing instead on the rival gangs run by Penguin and the other rogues, Barbara Gordon, who creates a new network of information without the aid of computers, and the fight back to restore the city led by Commissioner Gordon.
The second story arc is less impressive as the Batman plays a big part in it and he always overcomes any obstacles, but it's interesting to see Scarecrow appear and try to create chaos out of a fragile peace created by a couple of Christian priests. Huntress also shows that she's going to play a large role in this series.
The series puts a confident first step forward in this book and breathes new life into the Batman series by turning Gotham into an even more scary and desperate place than it was prior to the earthquake, and putting these familiar characters into new situations, giving them more facets to their characters.
I loved reading it and can't wait to read the others in the series. If you're a Batfan you'll find plenty here to appreciate in this well written, well told tale of when the world turned its back on Gotham and a handful of heroes stood up to raise her back onto her feet.
February 29, 2012
No Man's Land was utterly massive. This trade "only" collects eight issues (two full storylines). I've heard that DC will be releasing a new series of No Man's Land trades, that will collect every issue that tied into the overall storyline. A collection of doorstoppers, to be sure. If you've never read the No Man's Land storyline before, I'd suggest getting your hands on the new editions instead.
The first storyline in the book concentrates on setting the scene, and it does a great job of it. Gotham has been leveled by an earthquake, and the government has decided that it's better to just leave the city to self-destruct than to do anything to help. (Yes, this does read a bit differently post-Katrina than it had in 1999...) The city has been divided into factions controlled by rival gangs, some of them headed by Arkham inmates that were set free after the earthquake. The GCPD is little more than another gang here, and Batman is nowhere to be found. It is bleak, and done well.
The second storyline is a Scarecrow story, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. If Scarecrow is without his fear toxins, what harm can he do? Plenty, once he gets welcomed into a church safe house. Watching him cheerfully manipulate people and events into the complete meltdown he hopes for made my skin crawl.
I try not to expect too much from these big event books, but this was really a solid offering. It helps that the event itself was such promising ground for telling stories like this.
The first storyline in the book concentrates on setting the scene, and it does a great job of it. Gotham has been leveled by an earthquake, and the government has decided that it's better to just leave the city to self-destruct than to do anything to help. (Yes, this does read a bit differently post-Katrina than it had in 1999...) The city has been divided into factions controlled by rival gangs, some of them headed by Arkham inmates that were set free after the earthquake. The GCPD is little more than another gang here, and Batman is nowhere to be found. It is bleak, and done well.
The second storyline is a Scarecrow story, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. If Scarecrow is without his fear toxins, what harm can he do? Plenty, once he gets welcomed into a church safe house. Watching him cheerfully manipulate people and events into the complete meltdown he hopes for made my skin crawl.
I try not to expect too much from these big event books, but this was really a solid offering. It helps that the event itself was such promising ground for telling stories like this.
December 3, 2011
It definitely took Batman in an entirely new direction, and not necessarily a positive one. Still an interesting read.
February 19, 2019
Finally I'm reading Batman: No Man's Land, the Batman's story that The Dark Knight Rises is partly based on, and it doesn't disappointed!
After a huge earthquake, Gotham is abandoned by the USA government, most civilians had escaped from the disaster zone, those who are left behind have to fend for themselves and the city is divided into different zones by the powerful criminals, yada, yada,
The human dramas are nice, the artwork is super cool in a dark, gloomy and befitting way! I'm jumping to read vol. 2 now!
After a huge earthquake, Gotham is abandoned by the USA government, most civilians had escaped from the disaster zone, those who are left behind have to fend for themselves and the city is divided into different zones by the powerful criminals, yada, yada,
The human dramas are nice, the artwork is super cool in a dark, gloomy and befitting way! I'm jumping to read vol. 2 now!
November 23, 2018
Batman: No Man's Land is a massive story arc that ran through the various Batman family comic book series that was published by DC Comics. The storyline centers on Gotham City after a massive earthquake which resulted in the United States government officially evacuating Gotham and then abandoning and isolating those who chose to remain in the city – A No Man's Land.
Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1 collects: No Man's Land #1, Batman #563–564, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83–84, Detective Comics #730–731, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116.
Gotham City suffers the results of a magnitude 7.6 earthquake (Batman: Cataclysm) and before that an infestation not once, but twice (Batman: Contagion and Batman: Legacy). In response, the United States government declares Gotham a "no man's land," destroys all bridges leading to the island and sets up a military blockade to prevent people from entering or exiting.
Within the city, gangs and various super villains Batman had battled over the years swiftly carve up the city. Commissioner James Gordon, and several members of his department, who dub their gang the Blue Boys stay behind to protect civilians. Oracle and Huntress also end up on the inside, while Bruce Wayne leaves the city to lobby the government to continue aid to Gotham, but fails.
Meanwhile James Gordon and his men wait for Batman's return, but he disappears for months, leading the police to believe that he has abandoned Gotham City. A bitterly disappointed Gordon denounces Batman and refuses even to speak his name.
Bob Gale and Devin Grayson wrote the majority of the trade paperback and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. It is an interesting premise, if not a tad convoluted, but interesting nevertheless. There were also two main pencilers throughout the series Alex Maleev and Dale Eaglesham and for the most part, they mesh rather well with each other and flowed rather well.
All in all, Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1 is a rather strong beginning to what I hope would be an equally wonderful story arc.
Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1 collects: No Man's Land #1, Batman #563–564, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83–84, Detective Comics #730–731, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116.
Gotham City suffers the results of a magnitude 7.6 earthquake (Batman: Cataclysm) and before that an infestation not once, but twice (Batman: Contagion and Batman: Legacy). In response, the United States government declares Gotham a "no man's land," destroys all bridges leading to the island and sets up a military blockade to prevent people from entering or exiting.
Within the city, gangs and various super villains Batman had battled over the years swiftly carve up the city. Commissioner James Gordon, and several members of his department, who dub their gang the Blue Boys stay behind to protect civilians. Oracle and Huntress also end up on the inside, while Bruce Wayne leaves the city to lobby the government to continue aid to Gotham, but fails.
Meanwhile James Gordon and his men wait for Batman's return, but he disappears for months, leading the police to believe that he has abandoned Gotham City. A bitterly disappointed Gordon denounces Batman and refuses even to speak his name.
Bob Gale and Devin Grayson wrote the majority of the trade paperback and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. It is an interesting premise, if not a tad convoluted, but interesting nevertheless. There were also two main pencilers throughout the series Alex Maleev and Dale Eaglesham and for the most part, they mesh rather well with each other and flowed rather well.
All in all, Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1 is a rather strong beginning to what I hope would be an equally wonderful story arc.
May 8, 2022
No Man's Land kind of fell flat for me after 100 pages. The introduction story-line, with Scarecrow and Huntress was absolutely amazing. Scarecrow is the scariest Batman villain in my humble opinion, and this story showcases just that. The setting of the church, the way he is protected even when he's a known mass murderer, the way he manipulates the entire situation for his own entertainment. He is fascinating and compelling and I will never get tired of reading about him. Even without all of his weapons and without his fear gas, he manages to be terrifying and he manages to destroy people's mental in a way no other super-villain can. I also just loved reading about Huntress. She really tried her best and was desperate to help people in any way they can.
In itself, the rest of this volume isn't bad but it's drowned out by so many filler stories to the point where you forget what storyline we're even following. While I understand that No-Man's land is more of a setting than a story, there are no smaller stories to fit within the setting, just one-off issues to show us how miserable everyone is. Some of them are great. The Montoya/Harvey Dent one for instance is an amazing read, great narrative tension going on. It's abandoned. There's a Joker issue that is also there, and it's also a great read. There's a moment where Bruce goes to see Dr. Thompkins and we have this amazing vulnerable moment. However all of these moments are evened out by stories that are just there for the hell of it. Three memorable issues out of 500 pages is not a lot. Even the Gordon story-line with the Blue Boys starts off as strong then dwindles and gets lost in the rubble, going from an interesting look at Gordon's moral compass and the police force pushing through and reclaiming Gotham to Gordon and Sarah fighting every once in a while when the writers remember they exist. It's just a bit disappointing.
The only saving grace is (and again, burrowed in so much useless content) Barbara and Batgirl. Wanting to figure out Batgirl's identity is what keeps me alive. Barbara trying to remain connected throughout the story is such a great story-line, the small subplot of her seeing batgirl in action and feeling betrayed is great, just all of Barbara in this entire volume keeps the story afloat. She even made me like Jean-Paul. Girlqueen.
In itself, the rest of this volume isn't bad but it's drowned out by so many filler stories to the point where you forget what storyline we're even following. While I understand that No-Man's land is more of a setting than a story, there are no smaller stories to fit within the setting, just one-off issues to show us how miserable everyone is. Some of them are great. The Montoya/Harvey Dent one for instance is an amazing read, great narrative tension going on. It's abandoned. There's a Joker issue that is also there, and it's also a great read. There's a moment where Bruce goes to see Dr. Thompkins and we have this amazing vulnerable moment. However all of these moments are evened out by stories that are just there for the hell of it. Three memorable issues out of 500 pages is not a lot. Even the Gordon story-line with the Blue Boys starts off as strong then dwindles and gets lost in the rubble, going from an interesting look at Gordon's moral compass and the police force pushing through and reclaiming Gotham to Gordon and Sarah fighting every once in a while when the writers remember they exist. It's just a bit disappointing.
The only saving grace is (and again, burrowed in so much useless content) Barbara and Batgirl. Wanting to figure out Batgirl's identity is what keeps me alive. Barbara trying to remain connected throughout the story is such a great story-line, the small subplot of her seeing batgirl in action and feeling betrayed is great, just all of Barbara in this entire volume keeps the story afloat. She even made me like Jean-Paul. Girlqueen.
October 21, 2020
After a series of man-made and natural disasters, Gotham is declared off-limits by the US government. The most dangerous patients from Arkham Asylum, whobare also Batman's enemies, have taken control of various sectors of the city which they rule with an iron fist and a complete disregard for laws. The remaining residents try to eke out a living by bartering common items that have become more valuable than a human life.
January 21, 2019
There's very less of Batman in this. 3.5ish. The story is good, but Batman being absent in a Batman comic? Nah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2019
The no man's land saga has finally begun , as people leave Gotham there are still many who opt to stay at the city , now named No Man Land . However having lost faith in the Justice system and having his face smeared with defeat Bruce Wayne or Batman is away from Gotham . Batman's absense spreads chaos around the City . Until Batman returns to find the way of living in Gotham has changed
The book isn't entertaining , if you are looking for that , this book isn't for you . But it gives a new outlook on how the world can work when savages rule it . How sometimes a fruit matters more than a costly digital device
The whole system of villains and cops taking over lands and fighting over there sector is fascinating . There is a lot of action but for most part Batman isn't present in them .
Over all it's a dark story that displays primitive nature of Gotham's occupants . I liked it
The book isn't entertaining , if you are looking for that , this book isn't for you . But it gives a new outlook on how the world can work when savages rule it . How sometimes a fruit matters more than a costly digital device
The whole system of villains and cops taking over lands and fighting over there sector is fascinating . There is a lot of action but for most part Batman isn't present in them .
Over all it's a dark story that displays primitive nature of Gotham's occupants . I liked it
March 26, 2024
An interesting look at the ugliness and beauty of humanity in a time of crisis. I am excited to see what the rest of the story has in store!
I have only 2 complaints about this installment of the No Man's Land run:
First, this probably should have been the second installment in the series. The reader is just dropped into what seems to be the middle of the story with Gotham being cut off from the rest of the US. The cursory explanation was unsatisfying. Another publication should have been included prior to this in order to provide more background to the No Man's Land series.
Second, it also seemed like some of the vignettes within the story should have been longer and more detailed. It was almost like the individual stories were rushed through unnecessarily.
I have only 2 complaints about this installment of the No Man's Land run:
First, this probably should have been the second installment in the series. The reader is just dropped into what seems to be the middle of the story with Gotham being cut off from the rest of the US. The cursory explanation was unsatisfying. Another publication should have been included prior to this in order to provide more background to the No Man's Land series.
Second, it also seemed like some of the vignettes within the story should have been longer and more detailed. It was almost like the individual stories were rushed through unnecessarily.
July 16, 2025
Saw Batman’s mind go places he normally would never stoop to, desperation brings out the worst and sometimes the best in us. The artwork, even though controversial in certain chapters, worked perfectly for me. The desolate state of Gotham and everyone trying to help the city was brilliantly portrayed; even some of the rogues had shifted, everything was different and yet Gotham felt the same.
July 31, 2017
I thought the latter section - "Fear of Faith," which occasionally had a quasi-horror/suspense movie aura (no surprise as Scarecrow was involved) - was a little more interesting than the introductory and sort of dry "No Law and a New Order."
June 25, 2017
Great story but some very average art.
Read
May 28, 2020I really liked this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2017
Holy crap, I loved this! the concept, the grim colors, the new roles of familiar characters. I didn't think Gotham could get any worse, but here we are.
June 15, 2015
I really enjoy this series, both for the story and the art. The story is interesting for the way it resets the status quo for the different characters in Gotham City. I actually find the stories that don't involve Batman directly to be the most interesting. We get a really good look at Jim Gordon as he tries to find a place for the police in a city with no laws and it's really great whenever an old villain crops up and we see what they have made of the situation. As for the art, it's great to see so many different styles collected into one storyline and in the collected trades, the shifts in style serve as effective chapter marks. This series would be a good place to start for comics newcomers looking to learn about different ways of portraying movement and imagery in comic book art.
January 31, 2015
The set up for this batman "event" is so comic booky. There is a massive earthquake that has totally devastated Gotham City, so much so that the United States removes Gotham from the republic making the city a "No Man's Land". What? Ok, so because of that you get a destroyed Gotham that is now only populated by criminals that want to take advantage of the city with no rules, the sad citizens that were too poor/sick/confused to get out of the city before it was sealed off, and the heroes that want to protect them all.
And it's really good stuff. I've read the novelization of this story before, but it's really fun to see this story from another angle.
And it's really good stuff. I've read the novelization of this story before, but it's really fun to see this story from another angle.
May 7, 2010
Interesting concept, the previous Batman I read (Cataclysm) was the intro to this series. Gotham, previously destroyed by an earthquake, becomes a demilitarized zone and the remaining citizens have to fend for themselves and it becomes a sort-of Gotham Lord of the Flies. (Complete side note: Brian Wood's DMZ doesn't seem so original anymore).
Great Scarecrow story. How does he create fear without access to chemicals? Good old fashioned mind manipulation aided by religious superstitions.
Let's see if the next four volumes can measure up.
Great Scarecrow story. How does he create fear without access to chemicals? Good old fashioned mind manipulation aided by religious superstitions.
Let's see if the next four volumes can measure up.
June 10, 2024
Batman No Man’s Land: Vol 1
Rating the arcs/stories within
“No Law and a New Order” 4.5 out of 5
Solid and entertaining arc that artfully sets up the new status quo in “No Man’s Land”, Gale’s screenwriting chops flawlessly translates to comic book storytelling.
“Miracle Run” 2.5 out of 5
As someone mostly unfamiliar Azrael, I found this story pretty blah but functional filler, it did not interest me in reading more Azrael. About Azrael pursuing his nemesis (?) Nicholas Scratch, and fighting his cronies.
“Fear of Faith” 2 out of 5
I hated this arc, it’s got ambition, notably in trying to depict illegal immigrants and refugees in “No Man’s Land” Gotham. That said I can’t get over Scarecrow’s presence and function in this story. I don’t care how compassionate this priest is, I can’t imagine him or any other priest taking in a known supervillain to take refuge amongst his very vulnerable flock.
“Devil Down Below” 2.5 out of 5
Slightly better than the previous Azrael story, an interesting enough premise, Azrael helping a mom find her missing daughter in Gotham, providing sufficient drama and stakes
“Bread and Circuses” 2 out of 5
A bland story about Bats taking down Penguin’s underground fight club. A pretty straight forward and uninteresting exploration of the premise. Did you know Batman is the greatest fighter of all time ? And yada yada.
“Mosaic” 3 out of 5
A solid look into how incarceration, the escalating tactics of the GCPD, and Barbara’s discovery of a new Batgirl effecting No Man’s Land. Black Mask is here too.
“Two Down” 5 out of 5
A really well written story about the unlikely partnership of Renee Montoya and Two Face. Really nuanced and great character development.
“Comforts of Home” 4 out of 5
A neat little “Tales from the Crypt” style tense horror story about two thieves who unwittingly break into Joker’s pad.
“Harold” 2.5 out of 5
It’s about Harold.
“Jellybean Deathtrap” 3 out of 5
Finally a decent Azrael story, he’s in Gotham proper and has been dispatched by Bats himself to go get the Joker. Interesting Joker & Azrael character moments. What an average Azrael comic should be like quality wise.
“Balance” 2 out 5
Look I love Alfred Pennyworth, but this story which involves Alfred entertaining some Gotham dwellers with a story about a “Knight & His Squire” aka Batman & Alfred, was “homework is due tomorrow” levels of quality.
“Home Sweet Home” 4 out of 5
A surprisingly effective story about an old widower veteran dealing with how Gotham has changed over the years throughout his life.
“The Visitor” 3 out of 5
A flawed Superman in Gotham story where he tries to lend a hand to the city and its people, but he ultimately finds out his help is ineffectual due how “different” it’s denizens are. Did you know Gothamites have been made cynical and jaded by crime and etc ? You get the gist
“Shades of Grey” 4 out of 5
Another Gale penned gem, about Bruce trying to figure out what is “just” in the new Gotham of “No Man’s Land”, and is helped by a story from Alfred about Thomas Wayne getting into a pickle.
“Step Into the Light” 2 out of 5
Azrael is back with another not good issue. We see Azrael help some Gothamites with some moral dilemmas, while the issue foreshadows one of the worst villains in all of comics. Nice scene with Barb & Jean Paul finally meeting IRL though.
“Misery Dance” 2 out of 5
We finally get to see Azrael confront one of the worst villains of all time, a former dancer/med school dropout who kills people who look “sad”. Thrilling stuff. Sad this villain got past editorial somehow.
Overall trade rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good was very good but scarce in comparison to the majority of meh to outright bad.
Rating the arcs/stories within
“No Law and a New Order” 4.5 out of 5
Solid and entertaining arc that artfully sets up the new status quo in “No Man’s Land”, Gale’s screenwriting chops flawlessly translates to comic book storytelling.
“Miracle Run” 2.5 out of 5
As someone mostly unfamiliar Azrael, I found this story pretty blah but functional filler, it did not interest me in reading more Azrael. About Azrael pursuing his nemesis (?) Nicholas Scratch, and fighting his cronies.
“Fear of Faith” 2 out of 5
I hated this arc, it’s got ambition, notably in trying to depict illegal immigrants and refugees in “No Man’s Land” Gotham. That said I can’t get over Scarecrow’s presence and function in this story. I don’t care how compassionate this priest is, I can’t imagine him or any other priest taking in a known supervillain to take refuge amongst his very vulnerable flock.
“Devil Down Below” 2.5 out of 5
Slightly better than the previous Azrael story, an interesting enough premise, Azrael helping a mom find her missing daughter in Gotham, providing sufficient drama and stakes
“Bread and Circuses” 2 out of 5
A bland story about Bats taking down Penguin’s underground fight club. A pretty straight forward and uninteresting exploration of the premise. Did you know Batman is the greatest fighter of all time ? And yada yada.
“Mosaic” 3 out of 5
A solid look into how incarceration, the escalating tactics of the GCPD, and Barbara’s discovery of a new Batgirl effecting No Man’s Land. Black Mask is here too.
“Two Down” 5 out of 5
A really well written story about the unlikely partnership of Renee Montoya and Two Face. Really nuanced and great character development.
“Comforts of Home” 4 out of 5
A neat little “Tales from the Crypt” style tense horror story about two thieves who unwittingly break into Joker’s pad.
“Harold” 2.5 out of 5
It’s about Harold.
“Jellybean Deathtrap” 3 out of 5
Finally a decent Azrael story, he’s in Gotham proper and has been dispatched by Bats himself to go get the Joker. Interesting Joker & Azrael character moments. What an average Azrael comic should be like quality wise.
“Balance” 2 out 5
Look I love Alfred Pennyworth, but this story which involves Alfred entertaining some Gotham dwellers with a story about a “Knight & His Squire” aka Batman & Alfred, was “homework is due tomorrow” levels of quality.
“Home Sweet Home” 4 out of 5
A surprisingly effective story about an old widower veteran dealing with how Gotham has changed over the years throughout his life.
“The Visitor” 3 out of 5
A flawed Superman in Gotham story where he tries to lend a hand to the city and its people, but he ultimately finds out his help is ineffectual due how “different” it’s denizens are. Did you know Gothamites have been made cynical and jaded by crime and etc ? You get the gist
“Shades of Grey” 4 out of 5
Another Gale penned gem, about Bruce trying to figure out what is “just” in the new Gotham of “No Man’s Land”, and is helped by a story from Alfred about Thomas Wayne getting into a pickle.
“Step Into the Light” 2 out of 5
Azrael is back with another not good issue. We see Azrael help some Gothamites with some moral dilemmas, while the issue foreshadows one of the worst villains in all of comics. Nice scene with Barb & Jean Paul finally meeting IRL though.
“Misery Dance” 2 out of 5
We finally get to see Azrael confront one of the worst villains of all time, a former dancer/med school dropout who kills people who look “sad”. Thrilling stuff. Sad this villain got past editorial somehow.
Overall trade rating: 3.5 out of 5
The good was very good but scarce in comparison to the majority of meh to outright bad.
December 3, 2022
(Zero spoiler review for the omnibus, with the score for this volume) 3.75/5
When a Batman event... scratch that. When what is possibly the greatest Batman/Gotham event on paper manages to fumble the ball over and over, taking what was an absolute sure fire hit into a middling, rollercoaster of quality, then you know that the comics event rulebook needs to be torn up, burnt and scattered to the wind.
As I said, this was a great idea. An outstanding one in fact. But because 'comics have to comic' with pointless, pathetic tie ins, and a seemingly in-exhaustive laundry list of writers and artists all get a turn writing or drawing this event, as if Batman (who should be the pinnacle of DC quality) is now the town bike and anyone can have a ride, regardless of quality or merit. They took an easy slam dunk, tripped over their own ineffectiveness and avarice, and stumbled awkwardly into an increasingly apathetic crowd. How could you screw this up? Oh yeah... comics event. My bad.
Now in fairness, there is some good stuff here, and because its Batman, the average is always made a little bit better, and at the same time, the disappointment hurts a little bit more at the same time. The few decent writers turn in some decent writing. The few decent artists turn in some decent art, apart from Jim Balent on the Catwoman tie in, who singlehandedly is bringing sexy back to comics. Or at least he was two decades ago. God help us all now.
I will never understand who was calling the shots here, who kept putting overly stylised, cartoonish artists on a Batman book, about the dystopian destruction of Gotham. Cause nothing says the darkest days of Gotham like kiddy-ish cartoons and bright colours. Fuck off with that garbage! The revolving door of writers didn't help matters either, with the lacking a consistent narrative feel and direction. Instead, you feel like you're being pulled in a dozen directions at once, and most of them are inane and unnecessary, and not executed very well. What we got, was pretty average, and what we didn't get, could have been awesome. This should have been the story of one or two very talented, very committed writers. Instead, it was the equivalent of letting a five year old bake a cake when given the ingredients but allowed to determine their own quantities. This should have been brilliant, and if you skip about half of it, it's pretty good. But pretty good isn't good enough, and again, that's if you know which half of it to avoid. Though it is usually pretty obvious a few pages in. I gave up halfway through and began skipping the issues that made my brain hurt and my eyes sad.
So is it still worth reading? I mean, yeah... kind of, I guess? It's not offensively bad for the most part, and the opening third is pretty damn good. Just bring a big pair of gum boots, cause you'll definitely be wading through some shit to get to solid ground. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
When a Batman event... scratch that. When what is possibly the greatest Batman/Gotham event on paper manages to fumble the ball over and over, taking what was an absolute sure fire hit into a middling, rollercoaster of quality, then you know that the comics event rulebook needs to be torn up, burnt and scattered to the wind.
As I said, this was a great idea. An outstanding one in fact. But because 'comics have to comic' with pointless, pathetic tie ins, and a seemingly in-exhaustive laundry list of writers and artists all get a turn writing or drawing this event, as if Batman (who should be the pinnacle of DC quality) is now the town bike and anyone can have a ride, regardless of quality or merit. They took an easy slam dunk, tripped over their own ineffectiveness and avarice, and stumbled awkwardly into an increasingly apathetic crowd. How could you screw this up? Oh yeah... comics event. My bad.
Now in fairness, there is some good stuff here, and because its Batman, the average is always made a little bit better, and at the same time, the disappointment hurts a little bit more at the same time. The few decent writers turn in some decent writing. The few decent artists turn in some decent art, apart from Jim Balent on the Catwoman tie in, who singlehandedly is bringing sexy back to comics. Or at least he was two decades ago. God help us all now.
I will never understand who was calling the shots here, who kept putting overly stylised, cartoonish artists on a Batman book, about the dystopian destruction of Gotham. Cause nothing says the darkest days of Gotham like kiddy-ish cartoons and bright colours. Fuck off with that garbage! The revolving door of writers didn't help matters either, with the lacking a consistent narrative feel and direction. Instead, you feel like you're being pulled in a dozen directions at once, and most of them are inane and unnecessary, and not executed very well. What we got, was pretty average, and what we didn't get, could have been awesome. This should have been the story of one or two very talented, very committed writers. Instead, it was the equivalent of letting a five year old bake a cake when given the ingredients but allowed to determine their own quantities. This should have been brilliant, and if you skip about half of it, it's pretty good. But pretty good isn't good enough, and again, that's if you know which half of it to avoid. Though it is usually pretty obvious a few pages in. I gave up halfway through and began skipping the issues that made my brain hurt and my eyes sad.
So is it still worth reading? I mean, yeah... kind of, I guess? It's not offensively bad for the most part, and the opening third is pretty damn good. Just bring a big pair of gum boots, cause you'll definitely be wading through some shit to get to solid ground. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
May 12, 2025
Using this to review the whole No Man’s Land storyline.
This storyline follows the events of Batman: Cataclysm and Aftershock. Following Gotham City being ravaged by two epidemics and a massive earthquake, the US government declares it a “no man’s land” and cuts off all government support and services. People are given an inadequate amount of time to evacuate before they are trapped in the city.
Gotham is overtaken by villains and gangs who quickly establish their own territories and scramble to consolidate power, while Batman tries to establish some order and rule of law back into the city.
While this was a killer concept with some really good ideas, ultimately I find mobster stories really boring. I didn’t care about any of the gang warfare that was happening, and this storyline dragged on for more than 100 issues and really overstayed its welcome. A lot of these issues do nothing to move the story along. This whole storyline was way too long.
There’s also a bit of writing inconsistency, with Batman incidentally becoming a gang boss in one issue and calling the welfare recipients he’s looking out for intellectually challenged, unmotivated and lacking in common sense. This is not the compassionate Batman I know.
I really enjoyed the fun little b-plot where Scarecrow tries to manipulate a church group into killing each other out of terror and in the end is driven into hysterics by their compassion and forgiveness of him. This run also featured the comic introductions of Harley Quinn and Cassandra Cain. I thought they were great and provided a fun break from the rest of the story whenever they showed up.
The Nightwing interlude where he breaks into Blackgate prison to take control back for Batman was really fun and a nice chance in tone.
I also really liked the last couple of issues with the Joker, but it was kind of too little too late to salvage this given how drawn out everything was up until this point.
I was pretty baffled at the issue where Superman shows up to help and immediately gives up the second he hits his first snag. This felt incredibly out of character and was obviously just a way to excuse his lack of help to the reader. There are thousands of people who are starving, trapped in collapsed buildings, or who didn’t manage to evacuate on time and are trapped in the city. It felt like a huge betrayal of his character to not help out a single one of these people and instead running off with his tail between his legs when confronted with scared, desperate people.
Also a dishonourable mention for Jim Balent’s Catwoman art here, Jesus Christ. This is maybe the most sexualised I have ever seen a character being drawn, and that’s saying something for a comic book.
3.25 stars.
This storyline follows the events of Batman: Cataclysm and Aftershock. Following Gotham City being ravaged by two epidemics and a massive earthquake, the US government declares it a “no man’s land” and cuts off all government support and services. People are given an inadequate amount of time to evacuate before they are trapped in the city.
Gotham is overtaken by villains and gangs who quickly establish their own territories and scramble to consolidate power, while Batman tries to establish some order and rule of law back into the city.
While this was a killer concept with some really good ideas, ultimately I find mobster stories really boring. I didn’t care about any of the gang warfare that was happening, and this storyline dragged on for more than 100 issues and really overstayed its welcome. A lot of these issues do nothing to move the story along. This whole storyline was way too long.
There’s also a bit of writing inconsistency, with Batman incidentally becoming a gang boss in one issue and calling the welfare recipients he’s looking out for intellectually challenged, unmotivated and lacking in common sense. This is not the compassionate Batman I know.
I really enjoyed the fun little b-plot where Scarecrow tries to manipulate a church group into killing each other out of terror and in the end is driven into hysterics by their compassion and forgiveness of him. This run also featured the comic introductions of Harley Quinn and Cassandra Cain. I thought they were great and provided a fun break from the rest of the story whenever they showed up.
The Nightwing interlude where he breaks into Blackgate prison to take control back for Batman was really fun and a nice chance in tone.
I also really liked the last couple of issues with the Joker, but it was kind of too little too late to salvage this given how drawn out everything was up until this point.
I was pretty baffled at the issue where Superman shows up to help and immediately gives up the second he hits his first snag. This felt incredibly out of character and was obviously just a way to excuse his lack of help to the reader. There are thousands of people who are starving, trapped in collapsed buildings, or who didn’t manage to evacuate on time and are trapped in the city. It felt like a huge betrayal of his character to not help out a single one of these people and instead running off with his tail between his legs when confronted with scared, desperate people.
Also a dishonourable mention for Jim Balent’s Catwoman art here, Jesus Christ. This is maybe the most sexualised I have ever seen a character being drawn, and that’s saying something for a comic book.
3.25 stars.
December 3, 2025
There are some pretty good stories here. Fear of Faith, Home Sweet Home, Shades of Grey, and Balance were all enjoyable. I found the rest middling to bad.
The Visitor really irritated me. With an event like this, I like you should probably either include superman from the beginning or not include him at all. The point about Superman wanting to respect Batman’s jurisdiction over Gotham is taken, but I feel that this becomes moot when you consider that Batman was missing for a large chunk of the volume. Seems to me like Superman would’ve shown up in Batman’s stead. At least to provide some relief. And while I do think that the struggle to gain control over electricity as a resource asks some interesting questions, I ultimately don’t think that Superman would ever come to the conclusion that Gotham isn’t ready to have power back. That seems overly cynical for his character. Granted, I’m not super familiar with how Supes was characterized in this era.
I found Jim Gordon to be petty. I understand that he feels betrayed, and I do think there would be an interesting way to explore that, but I don’t think Gordon would ever consciously let a personal feud get in the way of Gothams well-being. It lacks nobility. And for a character who seems to want to bring Law and Order back to Gotham, that seems a little inconsistent. I do still need to read 3 more volumes of this, so there is definitely room to expound on this juxtaposition in his character and make it interesting. But, as far as what this volume contains, I find him annoying.
Love Cassandra Cain. Barbara’s feeling of being replaced was really interesting! I wanna see more of that and how it resolves.
The Visitor really irritated me. With an event like this, I like you should probably either include superman from the beginning or not include him at all. The point about Superman wanting to respect Batman’s jurisdiction over Gotham is taken, but I feel that this becomes moot when you consider that Batman was missing for a large chunk of the volume. Seems to me like Superman would’ve shown up in Batman’s stead. At least to provide some relief. And while I do think that the struggle to gain control over electricity as a resource asks some interesting questions, I ultimately don’t think that Superman would ever come to the conclusion that Gotham isn’t ready to have power back. That seems overly cynical for his character. Granted, I’m not super familiar with how Supes was characterized in this era.
I found Jim Gordon to be petty. I understand that he feels betrayed, and I do think there would be an interesting way to explore that, but I don’t think Gordon would ever consciously let a personal feud get in the way of Gothams well-being. It lacks nobility. And for a character who seems to want to bring Law and Order back to Gotham, that seems a little inconsistent. I do still need to read 3 more volumes of this, so there is definitely room to expound on this juxtaposition in his character and make it interesting. But, as far as what this volume contains, I find him annoying.
Love Cassandra Cain. Barbara’s feeling of being replaced was really interesting! I wanna see more of that and how it resolves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
“Batman: No Man’s Land” offers an engaging premise to shake things up. Gotham is in ruins after a massive earthquake, and the government has washed its hands of Batman’s backyard, condemning the city, telling everyone to clear out and then walling off the city to declare “no one in, no one out.”
It doesn’t take much time for Gotham to devolve into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Roving gangs (typically led by a member of the Bat’s rogue gallery) battle over territory and canned goods, demanding tribute from the poor suckers under them. Batman apparently vanished after the quake, allowing this new status quo to develop, but he soon shows up to start over from square one, terrorizing baddies, tagging his turf, and engagingly in some decidedly paternalistic monologues.
It’s not a framework that makes sense if you think about it too long, but if you just roll with “Mad Max Gotham,” it can be fun. This volume collects a range of source material, so the quality varies pretty widely (I could skip all the Azrael stuff). But there are some good stories from the likes of Greg Rucka and Bob Gale, and the art is generally engaging too.
It doesn’t take much time for Gotham to devolve into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Roving gangs (typically led by a member of the Bat’s rogue gallery) battle over territory and canned goods, demanding tribute from the poor suckers under them. Batman apparently vanished after the quake, allowing this new status quo to develop, but he soon shows up to start over from square one, terrorizing baddies, tagging his turf, and engagingly in some decidedly paternalistic monologues.
It’s not a framework that makes sense if you think about it too long, but if you just roll with “Mad Max Gotham,” it can be fun. This volume collects a range of source material, so the quality varies pretty widely (I could skip all the Azrael stuff). But there are some good stories from the likes of Greg Rucka and Bob Gale, and the art is generally engaging too.
September 4, 2025
I can't believe I enjoyed reading a collection that included large segments of Azrael!
What an incredible collection of stories. The No Man's Land event (or at least volume 1 of it) is unbelievable tight. Editorial at that time did a wonderful job at setting the stage and letting each author (and there are many authors in this volume across many titles) interpret how the characters should interact in it. In my opinion, there are no bad story arcs in this volume. I've never read a cross-over event that I actually enjoyed each piece of. Each story works separately and also adds to the greater meta-narrative of Gotham city.
Here are some stand outs:
1-Gordon's strained relationship with his crew and family.
2-Barbara having to cope with the existence of the new Batgirl.
3-The effective use of "tagging" and human nature.
4-An issue takes time to show why Superman can't help the people of Gotham.
The only aspects that I don't understand are (1) where is the Flash at this time and (2) why does the pastor allow Scarecrow to be in his church with that creepy costume?
For me, this is peak Batman. I don't understand why this isn't pushed at people just as much as The Long Halloween or the New 52 run. It's just as enjoyable in my opinion.
Although most of the covers are cringy, I am jealous of month to month readers who were around to read this week after week.
What an incredible collection of stories. The No Man's Land event (or at least volume 1 of it) is unbelievable tight. Editorial at that time did a wonderful job at setting the stage and letting each author (and there are many authors in this volume across many titles) interpret how the characters should interact in it. In my opinion, there are no bad story arcs in this volume. I've never read a cross-over event that I actually enjoyed each piece of. Each story works separately and also adds to the greater meta-narrative of Gotham city.
Here are some stand outs:
1-Gordon's strained relationship with his crew and family.
2-Barbara having to cope with the existence of the new Batgirl.
3-The effective use of "tagging" and human nature.
4-An issue takes time to show why Superman can't help the people of Gotham.
The only aspects that I don't understand are (1) where is the Flash at this time and (2) why does the pastor allow Scarecrow to be in his church with that creepy costume?
For me, this is peak Batman. I don't understand why this isn't pushed at people just as much as The Long Halloween or the New 52 run. It's just as enjoyable in my opinion.
Although most of the covers are cringy, I am jealous of month to month readers who were around to read this week after week.
May 21, 2019
In the wake of a massive earthquake that leaves Gotham City isolated and abandoned by the government, residents who haven't left must find a way to survive. Trades and shady dealings are around every corner as desperate people cling to anything they can find of use. Gone are the days of electricity and phone lines, and anything that can't be eaten or burned for warmth are almost without value. For anyone remaining in this new world, finding refuge is tough; best to have a skill to back you up (ie: mechanics to fix bicycles, etc). Everyone else either finds protection from another or is left dodging the numerous gangs occupying the city blocks.
Jim Gordon and what remains of the Gotham City Police Department work diligently to secure as many blocks as they can just to maintain a foothold to the south of the city, in Tricorner. Meanwhile, Batman has been nowhere to be seen, and Oracle keeps a low profile gathering intel within Old Gotham. With crime at an all time high, how can Gotham overcome these lawless times? Hard to tell as the story unfolds in No Man's Land.
Jim Gordon and what remains of the Gotham City Police Department work diligently to secure as many blocks as they can just to maintain a foothold to the south of the city, in Tricorner. Meanwhile, Batman has been nowhere to be seen, and Oracle keeps a low profile gathering intel within Old Gotham. With crime at an all time high, how can Gotham overcome these lawless times? Hard to tell as the story unfolds in No Man's Land.
May 17, 2020
Because of the earthquake that devastated Gotham, the US government deemed that Gotham City was beyond help so it was sealed off and abandoned. The book shows what happened to the people who remained in Gotham. Basically, Gotham City was split into several territories and each group fought for control over the city. It's so good.
The book started off really well with Bob Gale's four-part "No Law and Order" arc. The really strong story is supplemented by Alex Maleev's gorgeous art. I like the fact that they kept the same team even though the four issues were published in different titles. Another story that I liked is Devin Grayson's three-part Scarecrow story. Grayson really had a good take on the character and what kind of mayhem he can cause if he can get into people's minds.
Also, Batman has been missing in action for several months so most of the story focused on Gordon and the GCPD, which I really enjoyed. There's also a new Batgirl who took Batman's place in his absence. I also enjoyed following Azrael's adventures.
The book started off really well with Bob Gale's four-part "No Law and Order" arc. The really strong story is supplemented by Alex Maleev's gorgeous art. I like the fact that they kept the same team even though the four issues were published in different titles. Another story that I liked is Devin Grayson's three-part Scarecrow story. Grayson really had a good take on the character and what kind of mayhem he can cause if he can get into people's minds.
Also, Batman has been missing in action for several months so most of the story focused on Gordon and the GCPD, which I really enjoyed. There's also a new Batgirl who took Batman's place in his absence. I also enjoyed following Azrael's adventures.
September 16, 2024
I must confess temptation to give this a fourth star, but I knew it wasn't quite that level.
The setting is Escape from New York if New York really was Gotham.
This volume is two stories within the fallen Gotham.
The first is Batman's return and the beginning of his retaking of the city.
The second is a great take on the Scarecrow as he infiltrates a camp of refugees and sows fear despite his lack of chemicals. The idea is superb and the execution is ... 3 stars.
It is weird to experience the non-digital Maleev art in the first story. Eaglesham in the second is ... still not great.
The foundation of No Man's Land is ripe for fun twists on the Bat Mythos, but the concept feels like a plane that's impossible to land. Still, I am intrigued to see where the plane soars even if a crash is imminent. And Cassandra Cain is coming.
The setting is Escape from New York if New York really was Gotham.
This volume is two stories within the fallen Gotham.
The first is Batman's return and the beginning of his retaking of the city.
The second is a great take on the Scarecrow as he infiltrates a camp of refugees and sows fear despite his lack of chemicals. The idea is superb and the execution is ... 3 stars.
It is weird to experience the non-digital Maleev art in the first story. Eaglesham in the second is ... still not great.
The foundation of No Man's Land is ripe for fun twists on the Bat Mythos, but the concept feels like a plane that's impossible to land. Still, I am intrigued to see where the plane soars even if a crash is imminent. And Cassandra Cain is coming.
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