Various Artists

Batman: Urban Legends Omnibus Vol. 1 treats Gotham like a city full of overlapping stories, not just a stage for Bruce Wayne. Chip Zdarsky, James Tynion IV, Matt Rosenberg, Stephanie Phillips and a wide art team move through allies, side streets and emotional fallout, giving the Bat-family room to breathe around Batman.

Batman Black & White Omnibus strips Gotham down to contrast, silhouette and mood. Short stories by many creators turn Batman into a visual experiment: crime, fear, obsession and design sharpened by black ink and white space.

Batman: Detective Comics: The New 52 Omnibus Vol. 2 continues a harder-edged Gotham built on modern crime, horror touches and a Batman constantly pulled into cases that scar the city around him. Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato, John Layman, Peter J. Tomasi and the art team keep Detective Comics moving through different textures of danger.