Review of
Batman No Man’s Land: Volume Two, by
Dennis O’Neill ISBN 9781779517142
Five out of five stars
The psychotic version of Batman in a post-apocalyptic
Gotham City, a great idea
The premise of
this series of graphic comic books is the product of genius. A massive
earthquake struck Gotham City, so completely destroying it that the federal
government declares it a wasteland and orders it evacuated and then sealed off
from the rest of the world. Some people refuse to leave their homes, while
others choose to stay within the consequential chaos.
The destroyed
city has been partitioned into territories held by various groups, some
criminal and others with a more noble intent. Police Commissioner Gordon and
some of his officers hold one territory, Batman adversaries such as the Penguin
and Two-Face hold others and in general other criminal gangs hold the rest.
Most of the efforts of all the groups are spent on trying to hold and expand
their territories, generally these are border skirmishes with little territory
changing hands. Lives are lost on a whim, one of the most common forms of
entertainment is to have one-on-one gladiatorial style contests to the death. Students
of history will recognize the shifting alliances in the battles between princes
that led to Machiavelli writing his classic “The Prince.”
Batman and the
second generation Batgirl have remained in the city and are the ultimate
wildcard in the battles for territory. This is the more psychotic version of
Batman; he is determined to save the city but is overwhelmed with the task.
Commissioner Gordon and Batman are adversaries yet not enemies, although Gordon
will seek his help if pressured hard enough.
Post-apocalyptic tales are a staple of
literature; this one is unique in that superheroes are involved. There was one
mention of Superman flying in supplies, but that is the only time the most
obvious solution is mentioned, having the other superheroes come to the rescue.
Batman in his psychotic form is an excellent character to be involved in a tale
of this type, for his psyche is a constant battle against an internal
apocalypse. This is a great and engaging story, survival in its most brutal form;
once I read it I started a search for volume 1.