Birds of Prey: What Batman’s absence means for Gotham

Credit: DC Comics

Why it works for Birds of Prey 

There aren’t many stories where both Batman and Bruce Wayne are absent for an extended period. Moreover, there isn’t an arc that also allows for the creative freedom of No Man’s Land. Gotham is in ruins and run by criminals from Batman’s rogue gallery. With evil-doers running wild there’s no better time for Gotham to need a hero or heroes.

Moreover, No Man’s Land doesn’t have to interfere with the established, sometimes convoluted nature of the DCEU. In fact, it might give us more clarity. No Man’s Land shrinks the lens that is Gotham and focuses on one the many areas overrun by crime.

It’s no coincidence that No Man’s Land also features all of the characters in Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey. A setting with an arc where Gotham needed them the most. Of course Christian Hudson already wrote the script and we know a little bit about the film. Birds of Prey follows a group of heroes and villains who ban together to protect not just the city of Gotham but a teenage assassin, Cassandra Cain from Black Mask. We’ll explore why Hudson likely drew inspiration from No Man’s Land.