Batman / Scarface: A Psychodrama

In a single 2001 issue from DC, writer Alan Grant and artist Charlie Adlard deliver a taut psychological thriller that pits Batman against the sentient, mob-ruled Scarface—a ventriloquist’s dummy with a will of its own. This one-shot explores the dark symbiosis between the dummy and its hapless handler, Arnold Wesker, as the Dark Knight confronts a crime boss who is literally a puppet master. A stark, character-driven entry in the Batman mythos, it showcases Grant’s deep understanding of Gotham’s rogues and Adlard’s shadowy, expressive art.