Batman 5: No Man's Land

Gotham City crumbles

Lex Luthor is now a two-term President, and is more popular than ever with his anti-metahuman and vigilante agenda. Criminals are emboldened, overwhelming police departments. The rogues in Gotham see Batman's protection of Joker in the Injustice crisis as validation for their behavior and they get more extreme and aggressive. A mega earthquake strikes Gotham, killing thousands, razing all its bridges, and cutting it off from the mainland. Luthor seizes the opportunity to isolate Batman. He declares that Gotham is exiled from the country and is now a no man's land, sending the military to block its borders. Bruce spends a month away poorly lobbying Congress on behalf of the city. When he returns, he sees the devastation and lawlessness that has overtaken the city. Superman tries to assist but Bruce declines. They agree to a truce. Batman teams up with the Bat Family, including Huntress and a mysterious Cassandra Cain, to get things back in order. Bruce figures out that Lex was behind all of it- the earthquake and the lawlessness- in order to take control of the city for himself. But before he gets to reveal it, Lex announces that he will allow Gotham to rejoin the country and will personally fund the rebuilding. He says he will make Gotham the gateway to America, where all are welcomed - except vigilantes and superhumans. He activates the military and claims that it is every American's "duty" to detain or eliminate vigilantes and superheroes on sight.

Story added by justincasts on May 31, 2025