Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #101

A battered, bolted iron cowl fills the cover of this December 1997 installment of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, a single crimson tear of blood trailing from beneath the visor — quietly haunting and impossible to look away from. Kevin Nowlan's cover renders the Dark Knight's mask as something beaten and industrial, more medieval helmet than superhero costume, hinting at a story (written by John Wagner with art by Carlos Ezquerra) that takes Batman somewhere distinctly darker and stranger than Gotham's usual streets. The intriguing title — "The Incredible Adventures of Batman 19th Edition Revised April 2098" — promises a tale with a very unconventional perspective on the legend.