Batman Annual #22

Part of DC's 1998 "Ghosts" annuals event, this 48-page Batman Annual features a cover by Bernie Wrightson that sets a fittingly atmospheric tone — Batman looms in the shadows of a torch-lit stone chamber, cape spread wide, confronting a wild-haired, ragged figure clutching a wall in apparent desperation, heavy chains trailing across the dungeon floor. Wrightson's mastery of moody, gothic detail makes every crumbling stone and flickering shadow feel alive with dread. Inside, writer Devin Grayson and artist Yvel Guichet bring "Bough Breaks" to life, promising the kind of haunting, character-driven storytelling that made this annual line a standout of its year.