Gotham Central #27

Gotham Central's street-level take on Gotham's finest gets a striking visual jolt in this 2005 issue, with a bold two-tone cover by Michael Lark showing Catwoman standing triumphantly over a fallen figure, whip in hand, a revolver lying nearby on the ground. It's a tense, stylized image that captures the series' trademark collision between ordinary police work and the unpredictable world of costumed figures. Ed Brubaker and Jason Alexander bring "On the Freak Beat" to its conclusion here — making this a satisfying pick for anyone who loves crime comics with a Gotham edge.