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booknooknoggin's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't realize this was an omnibus and that was why it was so big. I had already read most of this in other volumes.
purplebubblesinmytea's review against another edition
3.0
At this point, it feels like I've been reading about NML for forever and I'm honestly so tired of what feels like the same plotlines being regurgitated. This did have a bunch of highlights, though: the Harvey/Gordon/Montoya courtroom thing was really cool, especially how Gordon turned the tables on Harvey ; tHE TALK BETWEEN BATMAN AND GORDON???????; every scene with Robin, Oracle, and Batgirl is a highlight, despite them not having that big a role in this; and the issue with Clark coming to Gotham was great. I also really enjoyed the shift in the story after Bruce realised he needed other people's help in order to manage Gotham.
Hopefully the fifth volume will be able to wrap things up nicely.
Hopefully the fifth volume will be able to wrap things up nicely.
nightxade's review against another edition
4.0
I learned from Phoenix: End Song that Greg Rucka is skilled at turning characters I dislike into human beings. (Or in that case, back into human beings). In No Man’s Land, he managed to come close with Batman, by allowing him so many moments of weakness before his friends and enemies, but unfortunately, there’s only so far you can go with Batman’s character, (or any of the main DC heroes). In all their time, these characters are largely unchanged, remaining untouchable, inhuman gods. I’ve realized that this is why I have never truly cared for DC comics when I had Marvel characters who, despite being very powerful, were always human with human flaws and human successes and we always know their minds and could relate.
Batman is, ironically, one of those untouchable, inhuman DC gods. We don’t get to know what he’s thinking any more than his companions do. But Rucka does well in making us see Batman through the eyes of those who have come to rely on him, perhaps too much. And it’s not all that pretty. Batman's an asshole.
This is, by no means, a condemnation of NML. NML is an excellent read that I would recommend to any Batman/comic book fan. Rucka’s descriptions of the physical and emotional hopeless of No Man’s Land carry much weight and his characterizations are his strength. The plot moves along at a sometimes slow, but acceptable pace, but I’m more interested in the character interactions and what it means for the future of Batman’s supporting cast members, than I am in what happens to Gotham after a devastating earthquake.
Batman is, ironically, one of those untouchable, inhuman DC gods. We don’t get to know what he’s thinking any more than his companions do. But Rucka does well in making us see Batman through the eyes of those who have come to rely on him, perhaps too much. And it’s not all that pretty. Batman's an asshole.
This is, by no means, a condemnation of NML. NML is an excellent read that I would recommend to any Batman/comic book fan. Rucka’s descriptions of the physical and emotional hopeless of No Man’s Land carry much weight and his characterizations are his strength. The plot moves along at a sometimes slow, but acceptable pace, but I’m more interested in the character interactions and what it means for the future of Batman’s supporting cast members, than I am in what happens to Gotham after a devastating earthquake.
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