"Batman: R.I.P." and FINAL CRISIS saw the end of Batman. Now, months following the disappearance of her protector, Gotham City sits at a precipice and it may be too far gone for Nightwing, Robin, Commissioner Gordon and the rest of the city's heroes to save the day. Amid the fires, rioting, looting and gang warfare, one question rings out from the souls of Gotham's desperate citizens: Where is Batman? With guest-stars galore, the destruction of a sacred Gotham City institution and an ending that will have everyone talking, this event written and drawn by Tony Daniel (The Tenth) and other top creators features the battle to take on the Mantle of the Bat. Who has earned the right? Who thinks they deserve it? Robin? Nightwing? Jason Todd? Two-Face? Catwoman? Batgirl? Who will ultimately win the BATTLE FOR THE COWL? Collecting BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL #1-3, GOTHAM GAZETTE: BATMAN DEAD? #1 and GOTHAM GAZETTE: BATMAN ALIVE? #1

This new collection features four tales of Gotham City in Batman's absence. First, a wave of heroes arrive in Gotham City with hopes of helping stem the tide of chaos threatening to overwhelm everybody! Starring Huntress, Batgirl, Misfit, Ragman, Manhunter and many others. But will these heroes succeed or become victims? Then, with Gotham City in a state of emergency, one man has stood firm against the criminal element in Gotham - Police Commissioner James Gordon. Now, Gordon and his police department must reclaim Gotham and take down Mister Freeze without the assistance of Batman. In the third story, Bat-villains including Catwoman, the Riddler, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, The Penguin and Ra's Al Ghul are on the loose. But will they work together to take down Gotham City - or destroy each other? Finally, in the heart of Arkham Asylum, will administrator Dr. Jeremiah Arkham fall prey to the madness that has plagued so many of his inmates? Or will he usher in a new era for Gotham's most haunted institution? Includes BATTLE FOR THE ARKHAM, THE NETWORK, MAN-BAT, COMMISSIONER GORDON and UNDERGROUND.