Batman: No Man's Land: A Novel - Softcover

Rucka, Greg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671774557 ISBN 13: 9780671774554

Publisher: Pocket Star, 2001

Synopsis

GOTHAM CITY: a dark, twisted reection of urban America. Overcrowded, overbuilt, and overshadowed by a continuous air of menace, this gothic nightmare is a breeding ground for the depraved, the indifferent, and the criminally insane. It's also the object of one man's obsession. Witness to the brutal murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne has dedicated his life to protecting this city, taking a form to inspire hope in the innocent...and fear in the guilty. He is the masked vigilante known as the Batman. Now the battlefield has changed. Leveled by a massive earthquake that left thousands dead and millions more wounded, Gotham City has been transformed into a lawless wilderness -- a No Man's Land -- where the survivors are turning against one another, and where the city's protectors are torn by a crisis that may consume them all.

About this title

Review

"I tried pretending that things were the same, that only the terrain had changed. I knew what I was working for-Gotham's redemption--but I didn't know how to get there." The finest Batman tales confront and explore the fundamental aspects of the character's extensive mythos and, in this expertly rendered story, the very fabric of Batman's relentless war on crime is ruthlessly torn away. Based on the comics' mammoth story arc of the same name, No Man's Land takes Batman's extremely measured approach to crime fighting and plunges it into a fearsomely primal arena. When a cataclysmic earthquake decimates Gotham City, what was once a crime-ridden city is reduced to a feral community--an abyss of mass starvation and gang warfare, abandoned by the US Government and sealed off from the outside world. The Batman must radically adapt to this vicious battleground, where even his most sacred vows may be sacrificed. Acclaimed crime novelist and regular Batman writer Greg Rucka must be applauded, having condensed dozens of comic books into a compelling narrative, imbued with depth and realism. Rucka has taken full advantage of the strong premise, striking an equilibrium between the requisite action and the stark desperation of urban disaster--reflected in his sharp portrayal of such established characters. Rather than the indomitable superhero, Rucka's Batman is one who must face the enormity of his situation in order to conquer: "No Man's Land is too big, too dark and too wild to be tamed by any one will". This is an exquisite opportunity to witness the extraordinary world of Batman colliding with vivid human drama, and will certainly draw a wide audience. --Danny Graydon

Review

"Pittsburgh City Paper"Rucka's descriptive descriptive narrative is realistic, compassionate, and at times a little too vivid...Rucka is a man of the '90s, a voice of the '90s. There is hope.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pocket Star
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0671774557
• ISBN 13: 9780671774554
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 463