Batman Annual #5

In "There Is Hope in Crime Alley," James Tynion IV and James Stokoe deliver a poignant, character-driven story as the enigmatic Clownhunter confronts his past with the help of Leslie Thompkins. Seeking clarity after a tense encounter with Batman and Harley Quinn, he opens up about the trauma of his parents’ murder by the Joker and the moment he chose to become a vigilante during the chaos of the Joker War. The issue’s haunting tone and expressive artwork by Stokoe, with lettering by Clayton Cowles, are matched by Derrick Chew’s evocative cover.