No Man's Land continues on with the final Chronicles issue of the saga. And we are doing a character study on Leslie Thompkins for it.

Unlike every other issue of Batman: Chronicles, this issue only has one story in it, so we got an extra-long tale.

The issue opens on an overwhelmed/overworked Leslie Thompkins trying to assist a large number of people with medical issues. She has no supplies to help everyone relying on her...

But this is a fake out, cause it is just Leslie's dream! But reality is about as grim as the nightmare, it is still No Man's Land.

Leslie does a checkup where it is revealed that Victor Zsasz is being treated there. Which is a bad thing because as this issue keeps telling us, Zsasz is a man who only wants to kill people... so her decision to give the serial killer medical assistance is very unpopular.

Mikey (the ex-gangster from the second arc of NML) is assigned the job of watching over the ticking timebomb that is Zsasz. Leslie continues to some doctoring...

But at as time passes, Leslie takes a break and talks with Killer Croc. It turns out Mr. Zsasz got his injury from attacking one Croc's lieutenant... and said lieutenant got seriously injured in the fight. Croc is there to get update on the injured man, and to see if he can kill Zsasz in retaliation.

Leslie manages to calm down Croc... until the cops come to make everything worse. Pettit, Huntress, and the rouge GCPD officers came to Thompkins's Clinic for medical help. Leslie yells at Pettit for being, well, a cop, but accepts the injured anyway.

Mikey yells out in pain, because he was assaulted by Zsasz. Huntress and Leslie go to help Mikey. Huntress judges Leslie because the doc just won't let a psycho like Zsasz die. But Leslie explains that as a person, she can't let a person die even they are a serial killer. Leslie will help anyone who needs help. If she just him die, then Leslie couldn't be live with herself.

Anyway, we get a fun moment of former Batgirl, Helena, meeting up with the new Batgirl, Cass, who is wearing her old costume. It is a cute moment for the comic that needed to happen.

But Batgirl did not come alone, because Batman is also here. Bruce gives Leslie medical supplies...until he realizes that the medical supplies were meant for Victor Zsasz. Batman is annoyed, but he has to leave when the hero hears some gunshots. Before Bruce can leave, Cass asks if Leslie is his mom; Batman tells her no, but Leslie is a motherly figure to him.

Everything is heating up, as the cops are shooting at Croc, who decides if he is getting shot at might as well kill Zsasz. Batman tries to move Leslie out of fear she might be shot, but she refuses. Instead, Bruce leaves Batgirl to protect her from the powder keg that is happening.

As things are getting worse, Zsasz finally wakes up. And like the bastard that he is, Zsasz tries to some killing. Leslie stands up to Zsasz, trying to get him to feel compassion. While this is happening, we get scenes of Huntress and Batgirl/GCPD and Killer Croc fighting each other. It is a really neat sequence.

But Zsasz is a psychopath and decides to kill our good doctor. Leslie does not resist because she does not violence to be done in her name. Luckily Croc's friend has no such ideals, so Killer Croc charges at Zsasz before he can kill Leslie! Croc is just a fun character.

Batman ends the fight by trapping Zsasz in a metal tube. Bruce tells Leslie that Zsasz will be going to Blackgate (as soon as Nightwing takes it over). Leslie gives Bruce a hug for saving her, and out of sight Batman gives a smile at the soft, caring moment.

Anyway, this is another strong one-shot in the No Man's Land. It has great Leslie Thompkins moments, highlighting her role as caring, pacifist, motherly character in the Bat mythos. It is great to see Bruce to happy. Devin Grayson understands this character and Dale Eaglesham gives the issue some great art.

But the role of out villains in this tale are excellent too. It is nice to a frightening Zsasz as the villain. It is terrifying to see him as this psycho killer. This one of definitive Zsasz tales (and this issue is in his collection of stories about him. It is a correct choice.) Killer Croc is also fun here, and it builds up the crapness of bad cop Pettit in a compelling way. Just a fun story.

John: Ohhhh, we each get our own oven?

Branch: ... N-No...

Branch, laughing: How many ovens do you think I have???

John, motioning to their kitchen: Three, I thought!

Branch: I see a-

Branch, motioning to one device: This is a microwave.

John: Oh, well I-

Branch: Hey wait wait, actually- hang on- *fiddles with the buttons on the microwave*

Branch, amazed: Its got a bake setting!

Floyd: Ohoho, you learn something new every day!

Clay: Do we- Do we roshambo for who gets to pick first?

Branch: Now I've just discovered I have more ovens than I thought, we don't have to roshambo nothin!

Branch: I am someone who owns four ovens...

Branch, louder and way too happy: I am someone... who owns FOUR OVENS...

Branch: I didn't know I was so rich with ovens...

Poppy, pointing to another appliance: Also the toaster oven!

Branch:

Bruce: Ohhh, toasty boy! Four- Five ovens!

Branch:

Milestone 30th Anniversary Special (one-shot) (2023)

[Carmine Infantino's the Flash Vol. 1 #123 (1961) homage.]

BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS CONTESTED TP • cover art • Brian Bolland [Feb 2021]

The eclectic early millennium stories of Batman, Nightwing, and the extended Bat-family continue as Dick Grayson returns to his acrobat roots to take on the criminal sister duo, Double Dare! Then, Batman calls Aquaman for a favor, Scarecrow unleashes his fear toxin in Arkham, and Superman pays a visit to Gotham City! Collects the lead stories from Batman: Gotham Knights #14-24 and #29.