Gotham Central #3

In "Motive Part One," Gotham Central #3 dives into the gritty heart of the city’s crime scene as Detectives Chandler and Driver confront the unsettling case of Bonnie Lewis’s death, while Sarge races against time to stop the elusive Firebug in a city ablaze. With Michael Lark’s sharp, atmospheric art and Ed Brubaker’s taut storytelling, this 2003 issue captures the tension of a police force stretched thin—watching helplessly as Batman steps in to save lives from the flames. The cover by Michael Lark perfectly frames the chaos, a storm of smoke and motion under Gotham’s flickering skyline.