Detective Comics #698 – Vol. 1 – 1996 serves as a crucial prelude in the lead-up to the highly regarded Contagion crossover event. Written by Chuck Dixon, this issue builds tension across Gotham City as a mysterious and deadly virus threatens to unravel the city’s already fragile stability. With its mix of detective noir and urgent action, this instalment of the long-running Detective Comics series offers a gripping and atmospheric entry point into one of the most memorable Batman story arcs of the 1990s.

The narrative focuses on Batman’s relentless investigation into a series of unusual deaths with symptoms that defy known science. His pursuit leads to a chilling discovery—one that hints at the bio-engineered chaos to come. This issue expertly balances detective work and action, keeping readers immersed in Gotham’s underworld and the looming biological threat.

The artwork by Graham Nolan, paired with inking from Scott Hanna, delivers strong visual storytelling with moody shading, expressive faces, and tight action sequences. The depiction of Gotham is brooding and tense, heightening the sense of dread that permeates every panel. Detective Comics #698 also features several familiar faces from Batman’s extended cast, all of whom begin to feel the ripple effects of what’s to come in the wider Contagion arc.

For collectors, this issue is a great find—not only as a standalone detective-driven story but also as a valuable piece of DC’s mid-90s continuity. It stands out for its tone, story progression, and its role in setting up one of the more grounded, real-world inspired threats in Batman’s publication history.

Available now at ComicBookXS.com, this copy of Detective Comics #698 is in excellent condition. Orders are dispatched quickly and packaged with reinforced materials to ensure every comic arrives safe, flat, and in pristine condition—ready for archiving or immediate display.