Rating: 
Summary: Better Than You Expect
Review: I'm not a fan of the Batman comics, or comics in general. But I have always liked the Batman character, from the campy old TV show to the movies. There's something about a guy who runs around at night beating up bad guys and saving the world, all without farfetched super powers, that is so appealing in a world where justice seems so tainted.Anyway, a few years ago I read the "Knightfall" novelization by Dennis O'Neal and I generally enjoyed it. So I figured I would give "No Man's Land" a try. While not what I would consider to be true "literature" (the concept that the US government would simply write off Gotham as opposed to rebuilding it after the earthquake is hard to believe), it exceeded my expectations. No Man's Land is an exciting read and what Rucka does that the TV show and movies fail in, is to humanize everyone from Batman to Two-Face to Commissioner Gordon (who is an actual cop instead of the oaf he is portrayed as in the movies). So along with a lot of action, we get to see Batman wrestling with his conscience about how to save what's left of Gotham (especially after his first attempt fails miserably), Two-Face is torn between his lust for vengeance and his lust for Detective Renee Montoya, and Commissioner Gordon struggles to maintain order without taking innocent lives. Best of all, if you've never even lifted a Batman comic you can still understand this. Unfamiliar characters from TV or movies like Nightwing, Oracle, and the Huntress are all quickly explained so that the reader gets brought up to speed on the universe of the comics vs. what they've seen in the movies or on TV. So it's easy to sit back and enjoy the ride without a lot of confusion. If there are any knocks on this book, it's A) that it's soooo long and B) it gets very episodic at parts. The story flow gets a little choppy as various little episodes unfold, but this book has enough action that it will keep you turning the pages until the end.
Rating: 
Summary: AWSOME!
Review: Great Plot! Here is Batman looking at the downfall of humanity. A large earthquake has hittin' Gotham city and has left it screaming for help. When Batman is needed the most he is nowhere to be found. Then a mysterious bat character has appered to help this deformed Gotham. Calling herself "Batgirl". When the news comes to the Orcale (the real Batgirl, Barbara, untill Joker shot her in the spin and left her paralized), she is full of hate for this mysterious character. The Gothamites that have been left behind form gangs to survive. Including some of the famous villians; Penguin, Two-Face, Joker, Poisin Ivy and more. Then there are just the gangs like; Street Demonz, LoBoyz and many other low-lifes struggling for life. But with all these scum there has to be a "good" gang, right? Well that's where the reliable Gotham Police force, now Gotham's Blue Boys. All this will add up when you read No Man's Land Volume 1.
Rating:
Summary: Chaos in Gotham
Review: It is a great book, which is written from different points of view. It's short chapters and interesting plots help you stay into the book. I think its great how different stories are developing seperatly and occasionaly meet to create tense and action packed chapters. All the different stories lead up to a great climax towards the end in which all stories come together to create a great finish to the book.
Rating:
Summary: Batman not just for comic book readers anymore
Review: Being a longtime reader of the Batman line of comics, and a fan of the crime books by Greg Rucka, I was very excited to see the two combined in Batman: No Man's Land. Mr. Rucka has taken his straight ahead style of writing and brought us an in depth look at Batman, his friends, associates and enemies during the darkest hour of Gotham City. Having been devastated by an earthquake, the city is in shambles. Instead of rebuilding, the govt. decides to evacuate the citezens and isolate the city by cutting off access and turning it into a "No Man's Land". Those who stay will be forced to fend for themselves. The novel looks at how the different players left in Gotham react to these changes, with some surprising results. With no law and little order, the line seperating good from bad is blurred, and in some cases erased. If you are already a fan of Batman, this book gives you insight into his workings and dealings with others in the cast that you don't normally get from the comics. The various reactions and emotions he provokes are in turns surprising and funny. If you only "know" of Batman and not a fan of the comics, there is enough of a background so you won't feel lost. Indeed, Mr. Rucka's style turns this from a novel based on the comic books, to a genuine action-thriller. Even though I knew the outcome, his writing of the twists at the end made me (and will make you) want to go back and search for the clues that were missed. This book is a great opportunity to get inside the heads of some of the most complex and dangerous characters ever created. Once there though, you may never want to leave.
Rating:
Summary: I love Batman and the book is so much more detailed!
Review: The earthquake devastated Gotham City in a way that villains such as The Joker and Two-Face could never dream of accomplishing. Thousands died and seemingly millions wounded. The city desperately needs federal aid, but instead, the shocking decision is made to simply cut the city off from the rest of the country. All the saddened police commissioner could do is watch the explosives blow away the bridges over the Gotham River that connected the city to other parts of America. The earthquake plunged Gotham into chaos. The national decision to isolate the city sends it into a deadly abyss. The cells of Arkham Asylum have been opened, releasing dangerous and psychotic criminals like Bane, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and the Joker. These criminally insane villains have taken over NO MAN'S LAND. Only a handful of former Gotham City cops, a few superheroes, and Batman remain to protect the survivors, but infighting leaves them divided. No path gives any hope to these brave men and women or for those they vow to protect. This adaptation of one of 1999's best running comic book story lines works as readers feel the devastation, loss, and helplessness confronting the citizens including the superheroes. The tale is filled with non-stop action. Though readers may wonder about a federal decision to cut off Gotham City, politics caused that response. Wizard magazine has Lex Luther as the 2-1 favorite to have forced the government into making that decision. Fans of Batman and anyone who enjoys a post holocaust story line will fully relish this novel and the comic books that Greg Rucka derived the story from. New "Dark Knight" fans should also try 1998's fabulous detective story, THE LONG HALLOWEEN. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Batman - "Survivor" Style!
Review: The premise of this novel and the original comics are really quite simple (albeit quite a stretch, I have to admit). Gotham City is ravaged by an earthquake, the U.S. Government refuse to repair the damage and the citizens are ordered to move out. All bridges and entry-points are detonated - only the insane and hopeless stay back. Batman decides to stay on as the protector of his city - whatever is left of it! Now once you've suspended your disbelief over the unlikely premise, you'll find that this story actually works on many levels. Especially in our times - we are seeing daily how people in Afghanistan and Iraq are working hard to bring order and a semblance of sanity back into their lives. And it works especially well for Batman. Batman, after all, is a Bruce Wayne's method of "forcing" his existence to make sense after witnessing his parents' brutal murder as a kid all those years back. Now, Batman is "forcing" a hopeless city back to order and meaning. The original comics (now collected neatly into five tradepaperback) were great. Greg Rucka's novel is better. Somehow, seeing this story in prose makes it that much more "serious". Rucka, in this novel, decides to write more from the point of view of Gordon, Montoya, Essen and the GCPD rather than emphasizing the role of the costumed-vigilantes the way the comics do. Each section of the novel is prefaced by the journal entries of the crippled Barbara Gordon (the former Batgirl and now Oracle). The 'personal' touch of Barb's diaries makes the story just that much more potent and emotional. Even the exploits of Batman, the new Batgirl, Nightwing, etc. are seen through her eyes - driving home to the readers once more just how closely knitted the Bat-family really is and how much they really care/understand/emphatize with each other. In my opinion, Rucka's comicbook writing is hit-and-miss game. Sometimes, he's great ("Wonder Woman: The Hikketia", "Huntress:Cry For Blood", "Queen & Country") and sometimes he just doesn't do it for me. He is still first and foremost a novelist and this book, "Batman: No Man's Land" is further proof that the man can craft a fine novel.
Rating:
Summary: This book set the chain of dark comic books, i loved it
Review: No Man's Land volume I, II, III and IV was great, how all the major players of gotham came back and started wrecking havoc with Batman coming back in volume II after the earthquake, that left him there for a long time, but he managed to escape and the Bat is back and greater than ever in this book where the return of Bane and Joker is featured and cast including Nightwing, Oracle, Huntress and others this book sets out the standard of Batmans ability and his obsure keen for martial arts and dealing with physcos, The Vigilate that is Batman begins in the greastest Batman series, No Man's Land. 9/10.
Rating:
Summary: His name is Bane, and he's back
Review: (Note: This is a review for No Man's Land Vol. 4. Amazon groups all five volumes and the novelization as one product.) After stumbling a bit in volumes 2 and 3, No Man's Land gets back on track with volume 4. The big draw here is Bane, who has been sent to Gotham by a mysterious backer for purposes unknown. And really, that turns out to be the weakest part of the volume. The opening chapter with Bane's return is just horribly written, with Batman and Bane talking way too much. The other parts, where Bane mows a path through downtown Gotham, isn't that interesting to read and only builds up to a small plot point. However, the other chapters in the book completely make up for that let-down. Devin Grayson returns to pen two amazing stories, one involving Leslie Tompkins and the MASH sector, and the other featuring Clark Kent visitng NML. Dale Eaglesham also returns as artist, and draws a great Billy Pettit who is looking more crazed than ever. The Two-Face/Montoya/Gordon story also comes to head, as Two-Face puts Gordon on trial for war crimes. It's one of the best arcs of No Man's Land, and bring this subplot full circle. After that, Gordon and Batman finally have their long-awaited chat. Then it's simply a matter or repositioning everyone for the final volume, and finding out who the mysterious outside interest is. If I have one complaint, it's that DC didn't bother to include the Nightwing arc of NML in these volumes. In volume 3, he was assigned to retake Blackgate Prison. Here he's already done it. I've heard Nightwing's adventure in Blackgate was pretty good, and it's unfortunate it didn't make the cut. If you've read the other 3 volumes, continue reading. Volume 4 does a great job of continuing this major Batman crossover arc.
Rating: 
Summary: There's a new bat in town...
Review: (Note: This is a review for No Man's Land Vol. 3. Amazon groups all five volumes and the novelization as one product.) This third volume in the "No Man's Land" series will be remembered as the first appearance of the new Batgirl, whom Batman passes the mantle to after unmasking the old one (you can probably guess who it was, but I won't spoil it). Superman also visits Gotham, Billy Pettit finally splits from the Gotham Blue Boys, and Batman and Robin have to free Poison Ivy from Clayface. By now, the weaknesses of writing a major comic-book crossover are starting to show, though No Man's Land is still more coherent than it has any right to be. Since Billy Pettit wasn't featured at all in volume 2, his departure here comes across as more of a plot point than something dramatic and meaningful. The new Batgirl's origins also feel rushed, and it seems odd that Batman would be so quick to accept her - maybe desperate times call for desperate measures? There's also a filler story involving Mr. Freeze that is horrible to read, both from a writing and artistic standpoint (and why would Batman blow up a power plant when Gotham desperately needs power?) That aside though, there's some good stuff here to balance out the bad. It's always fun seeing Batman upstage Superman, even if it's been overplayed. The new Batgirl looks to be an interesting character, and I look forward to the role she'll play in restoring Gotham. The Poison Ivy/Clayface arc is great in terms of story and artwork, and also furthers the subplot concerning Gordon, Montoya, and Two-Face. This volume, like the previous two, is still worth picking up. It's the slightly awkward period of any major crossover, but things only get better from here.
Rating:
Summary: Shadow of the Night
Review: Batman No Man's Land is a great book to read, unless you hate short chapters and multiple characters. Greg Rucka does a good job in keeping the readers attention and keeps the reader guessing with a suspenseful thought of mind.
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