A classic issue IMO.

This issue is called "Dying City" and it really lives to it's name. The issue is a part of the "road to no man's land", specifically "Aftershock" crossover and although there were some really strong issues within this crossover(it's a pity, that Shadow of the bat or Chronicles are not on the site), this IMO is one of the most important ones, not because many things happens here, but because it's one of the most important issues to understand why Gotham ultimately became No man's land . Actually it's one of the issues leading to "Road to no man's land".

As I alluded earlier, the issue's title is a great indicator of what to expect here. A slowly decomposing city. But what I love here is how realistically this slow death and it's effects on the normal people and the protagonists are portrayed. Although you can say that for a big part of the event, this is the moment, when you really start to feel that maybe realistically, the hope is vanishing too, because the writer shows very good reasons for it, again very logical reasons. Also usually you just see how the protagonists react to some little situations.

All that is build really naturally, without any rushing and also progresses the story in the same way, giving you hint of the things, that are going to happen next. That's achievement, considering how many people and titles were involved in those huge events.

As for the characters, they are awesome as expected for the whole Moench's era. The effects the quake has on them are also in line and logical for the specific characters . Although Batman and Gordon are pretty much the main characters here, the things happening here are clearly bigger than both of them and even they know it. Both are in a very weird place for them, which is great. Batman, the person who defies nature with his determination, feels helpless, not knowing what to do from now on. As he said he is bad with death, even worse against senseless deaths, without no one to blame. So clearly this is his worse nightmare(there is huge and great emphasis on that) and slowly is becoming even worse. Gordon is in an even worse position, feeling like he failed in his duty, fearing even more the things that are coming next. But even with that, they still find reasons to stay and fight, making them even closer(for now).

Btw the dialogue is awesome, really precise with delivering the themes and the characters emotional states in the moment, but also really natural. Not forgetting Aparo's art, which makes everything better.

There is that sense of shared pain and in the end you feel like maybe there is some hope for the citizen of Gotham, only for that to be broken in the last few panels.

I just love this issue and I'm sure I just touched the surface on why is that, because there is just so much to be said about it and also the whole era in general, because to be honest even that "Contagion" happened some years before this, it's effect can still be felt and makes the story even better. It's just a perfect chapter leading to NML and one of the standouts of the "Aftershock"/"Road to NML". more