Batman / Deathblow: After the Fire

A 2003 prestige-format one-shot from DC, this story teams Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo for a gritty, grounded encounter between Batman and the military operative Deathblow. Set in the aftermath of a devastating fire, the issue explores the collision of two very different brands of justice in a burned-out urban landscape. It stands as an early showcase of the moody, cinematic approach that would define the creative duo's later collaborations.