Batman: Gotham Adventures #35

The cover says it all — Batman looms behind a judge's bench, gavel raised and scales of justice gleaming before him, as the bold "Crime and Punishment" tagline sets a serious tone for this 2001 entry in the animated-style series. Cover pencils by Bob Smith and inks by Terry Beatty give the Dark Knight a commanding, courtroom-ready gravitas that fits perfectly with the interior story, "Stepping Forward." With Scott Peterson writing and Tim Levins and Terry Beatty handling the art, this is a sharp, cleanly crafted issue that fans of the Batman: The Animated Series aesthetic will find genuinely satisfying.