100 Days of Batman, Day 56

For tonights Bat-reading and Bat-blogging I read two one shot issues in order to finish up volume four of Batman: No Man's Land. The first of those issues was Falling Back by Greg Rucka and art by Rick Burchett. Commissioner Gordon finally, after a year, agrees to meet and talk to Batman. Will the Commissioner be able to forgive the Dark Night for abandoning Gotham in the early days of the "No Man's Land" crises? The final issue of the volume is Assembly Redux also written by Greg Rucka but with art done by Paul Ryan and Bill Sienkiewicz. Having regained his former ally Batman sets out on a mission to take control of Gotham so that order can be restored.

Both Falling Back and Assembly Redux are very slow. Especially when read back to back. I made it through Falling Back without becoming distracted, but it took me twice as long to read Assembly Redux. Nothing is wrong per-say with either issue but having to slow books back to back can be a little boring. Both issues are most defiantly set up for the big conclusion to the No Man's Land story. The most exciting thing that happened was finally brining the Joker into the story line. What better time to do just that than with the final act of an overall great tale. Other than that Rucka has provided a very good if not boring set up for the ending. Both books are WORTH YOUR TIME only if you have been reading since the beginning. Neither will stand very well on their own.

N. S.