Detective Comics #744

Detective Comics #744 brings a striking cover by Dave Johnson that sets a tense, atmospheric mood — Batman crouches in the background, blood on his glove, while a sharp-eyed red-haired woman dominates the foreground, a mysterious skull-marked figure lurking in the shadows behind a dragon medallion and Chinese characters. The bold red-and-black palette gives the whole image an almost noir-thriller quality that suits the "Evolution II: Unity of Purpose" story title perfectly. With Greg Rucka writing and Shawn Martinbrough on interior art, this 2000 installment of DC's longest-running series delivers the kind of brooding, street-level Batman story the creative team does so well.