Batman: Cataclysm by Chuck Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gotham has just made it through a horrid plague. But Mother Nature refuses to give Batman's home city a break, hitting them with a devastating 7.8 earthquake. Much of the city is in ruins (though all of Wayne Industries holdings - minus Wayne Manor - have held their integrity thanks to Bruce Wayne's forethought. The graphic novel follows Batman, Barbara Gordon, Nightwing and Robin as they do what they can -sometimes together, sometimes along - for the people of the Gotham.
Partway through the story, once we know our heroes are all safe (Batman was in the bat cave when the earthquake hit and much of it - and Wayne Manor above it - collapsed), a villain comes forward to claim responsibility for this disaster. He sends word that he'll cause another earthquake - a 9.6 - if the city doesn't pay him a million dollars. So along with trying to keep as many Gothamites safe as possible, the Bat family needs to try to find this supposed Quakemaster.
I really enjoyed this story. I love seeing people band together to help one another when disaster hits their world. Not every story has a happy ending, but that fits reality. Not everyone ends up being saved and one in particular brought tears to my eyes.
There was only one blurp that bugged me a bit. Tim Drake, the newest Robin, has been in Europe and arrives home just after the earthquake hits. He makes his way into Gotham and, after briefly seeing Alfred, heads next door to his own home to make sure that his father is alright. Then, a chapter or two later, he is helping the people of Gotham and wondering if his family is ok, but not feeling that he can get away from his duties to the people of Gotham to find out.
Otherwise, it was a wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of hopefulness in their Batman stories.
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