Batman #6

In the final issue of the relaunched series' opening arc, Batman must deal with the deteriorating mental state of Gotham Girl who struggles to understand and deal with her partner's recent demise. A super-human with a thin grip on reality (she continues to talk to Gotham as if he is still present) but who is still continuing to serve the city and dispense fair justice makes for an unusual problem for Batman to solve.

Although the comic's solution to this brings up several logical and logistical questions which put Batman's secret identity at risk in public (both in his discussions with Alfred and in choosing to remove his cowl on a rooftop where any number of people, or satellites, might see), the emotion of the plot is quite strong and deals with Bruce Wayne's own loss without delving the comic into grim and gritty territory or relying on the overused flashbacks of that night in crime ally.

Batman #6 isn't your typical Batman story, but it gets the humanity of the character right, putting in forefront over justice or vengeance. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]