

- Robin is kidnapped from his dorm room and photos are sent to Batman.
- Ra’s al Ghoul and his servant Ubu show up in the batcave. He knows Bats identity and wants help finding his daughter Talia. Suspecting the kidnappings are related, Batman agrees.
- They find clues linking kidnappers to the Brotherhood of the Demon cult. They track them to the Himalayan Mountains.
- At the peak Batman finds cult temple. He frees Robin, but reveals he knows Ra’s is behind all this.
- Batman fights Ubu and wins. Ra's confesses to staging this so Batman could prove a worthy successor to Ra's role of leader of the Brotherhood. 
- Its revealed that Talia is safe, and in love with Batman.  Ra's wanted assurance that the Dark Knight would be a worthy son-in-law.


Daughter of the Demon

#232 - Daughter of the Demon



- Ra’s needs help. One of his scientists (Striss) went rogue and made a deadly plague formula. He asks the Dark Knight to find and stop Striss from spreading the plague and save Ra's daughter, Talia, who went after the scientist, unaware of the dangers.
- Batman investigates a chemist (Mr. London), who may have helped Striss. But Striss and Talia are already there and long gone. He gets a tip that they went to the Louisiana swamps. 
- He finds a secret base, and stops Talia from killing Striss (she thought Striss killed Ra’s, he was just knocked out).
- Batman fights Striss. In the fight, a vial of formula is spilled, killing Striss. They seal the room so plague can’t spread.
- Batman and Talia away and Ra’s doctors make sure they’re safe. Talia kisses Batman. He thinks she is beautiful, but her willingness to kill unnerves him.


Swamp Sinister

#235 - Swamp Sinister



- Batman is investigating the case of a corpse with a missing brain. He runs into Talia who is working same case, victim was a former business partner of Ra’s. 
- They try to interrogate a thug who confessed to crime. Talia tries to inject a truth serum but “accidentally” injects amnesia serum. Now he’s useless, sorry.
- Talia goes submarine under her father’s Yacht at the Gotham River. Batman tracks her, he doesn’t believe mix up was accidental.
- Batman follows submarine to an underwater hideout. He finds that Ra’s, Dr. Moon and Talia are behind the murder, having the missing brain hooked up to machine to communicate. 
- Ra's says he is only trying to extend life, but Bats doubts this. He realizes that Ra's is bad dude, but hesitates to hurt Talia, so Ra’s and Talia escape.
- The brain-only man tricks batman to kill him.
- Batman wants vengeance against Ra’s.


Vengeance for a Dead Man!

#240 - Vengeance for a Dead Man!



- Bruce fakes his death to take down Ra’s. He decides to recruit some help, beginning with gangster Matches Malone. Malone tries to escape Batman and is kills by a ricocheted bullet from his own gun. who tries to escape and dies.
- Batman tries to recruit Dr Harris Blaine (scientist). He disguises himself Matches Malone and follows Blaine to the Gotham Arms Hotel, attacked by Lo Ling (Ra’s guy). "Malone" saves Blaine and they meet with “Batman” (fake, dummy). Lo Ling attacks again,
- Batman (as Batman) follows Lo and saves him from falling off a roof. Lo feels he should return the favor. They plan to meet again.
- When Batman is alone, he realizes that the odds are against him, but he doesn't give up as he believes he is fighting for the right cause.


Bruce Wayne -- Rest in Peace!

#242 - Bruce Wayne -- Rest in Peace!



- Batman and Ling agree to duel, Batman draws first blood, Ling agrees to serve him.
- Matches Malone (Batman), Ling and Doctor Harris Blaine go to Switzerland to find Ra’s. They encounter Ubu and Talia. Ubu to attacks Bats, but Talia prevents him from seriously hurting Batman.
- Woman name Molly Post decides to join team, her former lover was a victim of Ra’s. They go to Ra’s secret base. They find Talia, Ubu, and Ra’s corpse connected to a machine. Ra’s is dead, so the team leaves with Talia. 
- Talia secretly presses a button on the way out, and the machine lowers Ra’s into the Lazarus Pit and he comes back to life.


The Lazarus Pit!

#243 - The Lazarus Pit!



- Batman and his team are shocked to see Ra's coming after them. Talia explains about the pit, it increases his strength but causes a fit of madness. They try and fail to stop Ra’s. Talia gets away with Ra’s. 
- Ra’s flees to a desert hideout. He tells Talia the pit may no longer work on him after so many uses, needs to accelerate his plan to cleanse the world.
- Batman (alone) shows up. Ra’s, respecting Batman, challenges him to a duel. It’s a long fight and a dead tie, until Bats is stung by a deadly scorpion. Ra’s leaves him to die but Talia kisses him, transferring a secret antidote.
- Batman comes back to fight again. Ra’s is shocked and doesn’t fight back (recognizing Batman as superior?). Batman turns Ra’s in to authorities, but not Talia, kissing her before parting.


The Demon Lives Again!

#244 - The Demon Lives Again!



- James Gordon relocates from Chicago to Gotham. Starts working a GCPD under Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb.
- BW returns to the US after 12 years abroad, about to become Batman.
- Gordon realized Gotham police force is full of corruption, including the brutish Lt. Arnold Flass.
- Flass grows concerned and tells Commissioner Loeb that Gordon may not be a "team player" (not corrupt). Loeb gives Flass permission to teach Gordon a lesson, that night some officers beat up Jim in a parking lot. Gordon recognizes Flass voice and vows to strike back.
- Jim follows Flass to a bar. Waits outside then beats him up, leaves him naked, bound with his own handcuffs on the side of the road. Jim is confident that the incident will go unreported.
- BW (in vagrant disguise) patrols Gotham for the first time. He gets into an altercation w/ a pimp, and Selena Kyle gets involved too to defend Holly, an underage prostitue. Overall its a failure, he gets hurt, the police try to arrest him, people aren't intimidated and he's not in control of the situation.
- Back at the manor Bruce think's he's failed. Suddenly, a bat crashes through the open window. Bruce takes it as a sign and promises to avenge his parents' deaths by taking on the form of a bat.


Chapter One: Who I Am - How I Come to Be

#404 - Chapter One: Who I Am - How I Come to Be



- An escaped mental patient Albert Blume has taken a hostage. Commissioner Loeb sends SWAT commander Branden to the scene of the apartment to take care of the situation, but Lt. Gordon stops him to prevent disastrous results. He goes into the building alone, single-handedly defeating Blume w/o causing him undue harm.
- BW goes out as Batman. He intercepts and attacks a group of teams who stole electronics. He succeeds, but its more difficult that he expected to fight w/o deathly force or risking others lives. He promises to improve his technique.
- Rumors start about the bat.
- Lt. Gordon holds a meeting w/ the other cops about the Batman situation. Flass is not a fan.
- Four nights later, the Batman breaks into the Mayor's mansion. The mayor is hosting a party with several key city patrons including Commissioner Loeb and criminal entrepreneur Carmine Falcone. Batman throws a smoke grenade through the window and warns them that from this point forward none of them are safe.
- Loeb appoints Gordon the lead investigator in bringing down the Batman.
- Gordon begins investigating a chain of suspects. He interviews assistant D.A. Harvey Dent and even begins to suspect him of being the Batman. In truth, Dent is keenly aware of the Batman's presence and has been secretly aiding him.
- Gordon and detective Sarah Essen are nearly killed by a runaway truck. Batman saves them and a bystander. SWAT officers arrive and shoot at Batman, but Gordon begins to suspect that Batman isn't evil.
- Batman goes into derelict building for shelter. Commissioner Loeb authorizes use of deadly force. A helicopter to firebombs the building.


Chapter Two: War is Declared

#405 - Chapter Two: War is Declared



- Batman hides in an electrical utility hatch to survive the bombing ana avoid debris.
- SWAT team the building to find him. Batman lures them into a lower section of the building and traps them.
- Before preparing his escape, Batman uses a device to remotely signal a flock of bats from the Batcave. While the swarm descends on the scene, Batman escapes. Dozens of bystanders (including Selina Kyle) are forced to get rabies vaccinations.
- Later, Jim Gordon consults with Sarah Essen over the Batman issue. Sarah suspects Bruce Wayne is the Bat, but he has an alibi, citing that he was skiing in Switzerland.
- Gordon walks Essen home and the two share a romantic embrace. Jim instantly feels guilty knowing that his pregnant wife is home waiting for him.
- In Gotham's East End, Selina Kyle decides to go into a different line of work. She punches out her pimp Stan and takes Holly with her. She becomes Catwoman.


Chapter Three: Black Dawn

#406 - Chapter Three: Black Dawn



- James Gordon and Sarah Essen have dinner together. Jim feels guilty, but doesn't have the will to call it off. Finally, Sarah makes the decision to break it off. She puts in a transfer to New York City.
- A few days later, Gordon arrests a drug dealer, Jefferson Skeevers. Skeevers is a key figure linking Detective Flass to organized crime, but he's not talking. Assistant DA Harvey Dent allows the court to grant him bail.
- Batman sneaks into Skeevers' hotel room and to sppok him. That same night, Skeevers approaches reveals everything he to the police. Then Gordon goes straight to Internal Affair, bypassesing Commissioner Loeb.
- Loeb does't appreciate Gordon going over his head. Loeb threatens to expose Gordon's tryst with Sarah if he continues pursuing Flass.
- Later, Gordon and his wife Barbara visit Wayne Manor. Jim interviews Bruce concerning his suspicious actions, but Bruce dismisses all notions that he could possibly be Batman. As the two leave, Jim confesses to his wife about his affair.
- A few nights later, Gordon and a few loyal officers interrogate Flass. Eventually, he talks and reveals dirt on Commissioner Loeb.
- Barbara Gordon gives birth to her son – James Gordon, Jr.
- A few nights later, the Catwoman raids the home of Carmine Falcone. But the Batman arrives and attacks Falcone's men. The Catwoman escapes capture, after raking her claws across Falcone's face. The media reports Catwoman and Batman are working together.
- Commissioner Loeb makes calls Falcone, telling his to take measures against Gordon. Falcone sends his men to Gordon's apartment where they abduct his wife and infant son. Jim manages to shoot a few of the kidnappers, but Johnny Viti takes off in his car with the baby.
- Fortunately for Gordon, Bruce Wayne is present incognito. They follow Viti, and while Gordon deals with Johnny, Bruce rescues the baby.
- Days later, Loeb announces resignation. Gordon promoted to Captain and he is working to save his marraige.
- A maniac calling himself the Joker has threatened to poison the Gotham Water Reservoir, but Gordon has already contacted Batman, marking the beginning of their longtime collaboration.


Chapter Four: Friend in Need

#407 - Chapter Four: Friend in Need



- Batman and Robin stake out the warehouse of a child pornography ring awaiting police backup, but Robin rushes in recklessly against Batman's orders. 
- Batman also mentally notes Robin's odd, moody behavior of late.
- Bruce decides to remove Jason from Robin duty. Jason angrily leaves.
- Joker has escaped Arkham. Joker reveals to his goons a cruise missile he obtained from a military contact. He decides to sell the weapon to Arab terrorists.
- While walking through Gotham, Jason visits his mother's friend, Mrs. Walker. She gives Jason a box full of personal effects from his deceased parents. In it, Jason finds his birth certificate with his mother's name blotted out and beginning with the letter S. Realizing Catherine Todd was his stepmother, Jason searches the box and finds an old  address book containing the names of three women whose names start with S, one of whom might be his biological mother. He uses the Batcomputer to locate them. He leaves Wayne Manor to begin his investigation.
- Both Joker and Jason travel to Lebanon. Batman also follows to stop the Joker. It is after arriving that he finds out Jason is also in the middle east.
In Israel, Robin breaks into a military base to find the whereabouts of Sharmin Rosen, an intelligence agent who may be his mother. He learns Rosen is working undercover and staying at the Hotel Blu in Beirut, Lebanon.
- Meanwhile, Batman learns that a man named Peter Brando is offering the weapon for sale at the same hotel.
- Jason arrives at the Hotel Blu and finds Bruce. Jason tells Bruce about his investigation but becomes downtrodden when he is told Bruce is there to stop the Joker.
- They spot Brando with Rosen and follow in a pair of jet-powered bat gliders. The weapon is fired, but it explodes in its launcher and the warhead fails to detonate. The Joker escapes in the ensuing confusion
Robin learns Rosen is not his mother and the three return to Beirut. Robin insists on finding his mother and Batman agrees to help. However, a disguised Joker books a flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


A Death in the Family - Chapters I & II

#426 - A Death in the Family - Chapters I & II



- On the trail of Shiva Woosan, Bruce and Jason learn she was kidnapped moments before their arrival and taken to the Pashar Pass in the Bekaa Valley.
- In a famine relief camp just outside of Magdala, Ethiopia, the Joker blackmails Dr. Sheila Haywood for shipments of medical supplies.
- Batman and Robin infiltrate a terrorist camp and learn Shiva Woosan is none other than Lady Shiva. They fight, then interrogate Lady Shiva, learning she has never had any children. 
- The dynamic duo travel to Ethiopia. They meet Dr. Haywood, Jason’s real mother. 
- The Joker arrives and he takes Haywood to a warehouse to steal medical supplies. Jason follows on a stolen motorcycle. Joker swaps some of the medical supplies for lethal laughing gas. 
Jason returns to the camp to enlist Bruce's aid and soon the Dark Knight chases the trucks carrying the gas in a mini-copter.
- Jason returns to the warehouse and reveals his identity as Robin to his mother. She turns him over to the Joker. 
- The Joker beats Robin with a crowbar.
- Batman is able to warn people about the medical supplies deadly cargo. He then heads towards the warehouse.
- The Joker betrays Haywood and ties her up in the warehouse with a bomb next to her injured son.
- Unable to deactivate the bomb, Jason instead unties his mother. Attempting to escape, Haywood discovers that the door is locked. The bomb then detonates and a helpless Batman witness the explosion from outside the warehouse.


A Death in the Family - Chapters III & IV

#427 - A Death in the Family - Chapters III & IV



After the explosion, Batman searches the rubber. He finds Sheila near to death. She tells Batman what happened with the Joker and before dying, she regrets her actions but is proud of Jason. 
Batman finds Jason’s body.
Meanwhile, the Joker makes a deal with the leaders of the Iranian Government.
Before leaving, however, Batman examines the Joker's hideout and finds a message written on the wall telling him where to meet him - the United Nations Building in New York City.
Back in Gotham, only four people — namely Bruce, Alfred, James Gordon and his daughter Barbara — attend the funeral of Jason Todd and Sheila Haywood.
Batman goes to meet the Joker at a UN meeting. Superman appears and tries to persuade Batman to leave in order to prevent an international incident. Batman punches him in the face. The Joker arrives and reveals that he is the new ambassador of the Iranian Government to the U.N. and thus, he can't be punished by any of his past crimes due to the diplomatic immunity. 
Batman watches in disbelief as his greatest foe stands in front of him, mocking him after killing Jason.


A Death in the Family - Chapter V

#428 - A Death in the Family - Chapter V



- The U.S. Government has called in Superman to make sure that Batman doesn’t cause an international incident at the UN meeting. Batman doesn't like the situation and leaves.
- Batman decides to investigate what is Joker's real plan.
- At the Iranian Embassy, Batman threatens Joker, who starts teasing Batman, confessing that he killed Robin and he enjoyed it. Before leaving, Batman thanks the Joker for confirming the information on Robin's death and for making his decision much easier. 
- As it is planned, people start to arrive at the United Nations Building and among the crowd is Bruce Wayne, who has been admitted to the General Assembly as an unofficial observer.
- The Joker, makes his way into the room and for a moment, he stops and stares at Bruce, long enough for Wayne to wonder if the clown has recognized him beyond the mask.
- Joker sprays the room with his lethal laughing gas and Bruce quickly changes into Batman.
- One of the guards in the room in Superman in disguise. Superman inhales all the deadly gas to move it out of the room while Batman takes down the Joker.
- Joker attempts to escape via helicopter. Batman chases him and the copter chases. No one is able find Joker’s body.
- Batman realizes that things between him and Joker always end up one way: unresolved.


A Death in the Family - Chapter VI

#429 - A Death in the Family - Chapter VI



-  Batman fights the Ravager, had killed two policemen in the last two weeks with no apparent motive. 
- He is watched and photographed by Tim Drake, who has figured out Batman and Nightwing's identities.
- Elsewhere, Two Face hears a voice on a radio talking directly to him. The voice reveals that it is only in his mind, and tries to convince him to kill Batman. The man complains that he had already sent Ravager to kill Batman, but that it had failed.
- Back at Wayne Manor, Alfred Pennyworth tends to Batman's wounds, and notes that since the death of Jason Todd, Bruce has been more reckless. He mentions this to Bruce, who ignores him.
- Two face coordinates a warehouse robbery at 2AM. Batman shows up to stop the goons robbing the warehouse. But he's taken Alfreds words to heart and starts to think: the two cops in two weeks, 2AM; all signs lead to face.
- Tim Drake watches the Titan Tower to find Dick. He isn't there, he asked Starfire about him. She reveals he left the Titans weeks ago. At
- Tim sneaks into Dick's apartment and finds a newspaper clipping stating that Haly's Circus is closing down. He goes there.


A Lonely Place of Dying, Chapter One: Suspects

#440 - A Lonely Place of Dying, Chapter One: Suspects



- At Wayne Manor, both Dick and Alfred are perturbed by Tim's apparent knowledge of Batman's secret identity. Tim explains that he was a witness to the death of Dick's parents at Haly's Circus. After seeing news footage of Dick as Robin repeating his quadruple somersault, Tim easily deduced the identities of his idols.
-  Tim says Batman needs a Robin, he has gone off the deep end since the death of the second robin. Tim pleads with Dick to return to being Robin.
- Elsewhere in Gotham, Batman and Two-Face have each set up a trap for their opponent. Batman has provided 22 million dollars as bait, while Two-Face has kidnapped a pair of twins. They both eventually abandon their posts to take the other's bait.
- Batman follows clues to find the kidnapped twins tied up on the top of the Hawk Bridge over the Twin Rivers. While saving the boys, he accidentally calls one of them Jason, and is horrified. 
- At Club Gemini, Two-Face easily finds his way to the 22 million dollar prize, but flips his coin over whether or not to take it.
- Dick doesn't want to go back to being Robin, but agrees to help Batman. Tim complains that Batman needs Robin, and not Nightwing. Alfred implies that perhaps Tim is meant to be the next Robin.
- Later, Batman regrets allowing Two-Face to escape, despite saving the twins. Two-Face regrets having left the money at Club Gemini. He devises another plan to kill the Batman.


A Lonely Place of Dying - Chapter Three: Parallel Lines!

#441 - A Lonely Place of Dying - Chapter Three: Parallel Lines!



- Tim Drake dons the Robin costume to help Nightwing and Batman. Alfred drives him to the scene. On the way, Tim explains that while he never wanted the role of Robin for himself, Batman needs a Robin.
- Meanwhile, Two-Face wonders whether the voice that has been directing him to kill Batman is coming from within himself or from the outside. 
- Just a Two Face he activates a detonator, Tim arrives dressed as Robin, and warns that he'll make Two-Face pay if Batman or Nightwing are dead.
- Tim is inexperienced, and Two-Face is beating him easily. A horrified Alfred intervenes. This distraction provides an opportunity for Tim deliver a knock-out punch. While Two-Face is down, Alfred helps Tim down the building's coal-chute, hoping to find Batman and Nightwing below.
- Batman and Nightwing are pinned beneath the crossbeams. Tim helps clear the rubble to they can escape.
- Batman immediately removes Tim's mask, angrily stating that there is no more Robin. Batman states that after one boy had died in the suit, he wouldn't take the risk a third time. Tim explains that while Batman is now a symbol, so too is Robin.
- Tim helps them track Two-Face to a junkyard and defeat him.
- Afterwards, at Wayne Manor, the heroes discuss the future of Robin, and while Bruce is disapproving, he comes to realize the need for a partner. 
- It is revealed the voice that had been controlling Two-Face was the Joker - not Harvey's subconscious.


A Lonely Place of Dying - Chapter Five: Rebirth

#442 - A Lonely Place of Dying - Chapter Five: Rebirth

The Freedom of Madness!

#491 - The Freedom of Madness!

Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas

#492 - Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas

Redslash

#493 - Redslash

Night Terrors

#494 - Night Terrors

Strange Deadfellows

#495 - Strange Deadfellows

Die Laughing

#496 - Die Laughing

The Broken Bat

#497 - The Broken Bat

Knights in Darkness

#498 - Knights in Darkness

The Venom Connection

#499 - The Venom Connection

Dark Angel I: The Fall & Dark Angel II: The Descent

#500 - Dark Angel I: The Fall & Dark Angel II: The Descent



- In the quake, skyscrapers crumble and fall into each other, hundreds of deaths. Gas mains explode and there are massive fires.
- Gordon is trapped in the wreckage at GCPD Headquarters.
  -Barbara Gordon rolls into the headquarters, drawing attention by firing a pistol in the air. She takes control of the situation and starts organizing the police officers in the rescue efforts.
- Harvey Bullock calmly walks in with a pipe rammed halfway through his arm and pulls it out with his teeth. Then Bullock rescues Gordon from the wreckage.
- Wayne Manor was destroyed... it was the only Wayne Enterprises building not quake-proofed because of the cavern network underneath it. Batma digs himself and Alfred out of the rubble, but they are still trapped in the cave. Batman start swimming through underground streams to get to the city. Then the aftershock hits.


Part 3: Lifelines

#553 - Part 3: Lifelines



- GCPD watches Quakemaster's video and decides to give into his demands (can’t risk another quake).
- Batman also sees the video, goes to Relazzo's apartment to find out if threat is real. He and finds it empty. He investigates and concludes Relazzo was abducted by Quakemaster for info.
- Batman meets with Gordon and they set a plan to catch the Quakemaster.
- At the ransom dropoff Bats interrogates henchmen for info about their boss, but they know nothing. Bats has the henchmen to take him to the last place they met the Quakemaster, the GCTV news set.
- Montoya and Bullock watch the ransom videotape again, and recognizing the background, they also go to the set, but its empty except for Batman.
- Bats goes to the Batcave. Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Alfred and Harold watch the video and realize some of the info about earthquakes in it is wrong even though Quakemaster is consulting seismologist expert. Batman realizes this is her hinting that the threats are also false. They are less worried about Quakemaster‘s threats now and more worried about Relazzo's life.


Part 12: Master of Destruction

#554 - Part 12: Master of Destruction



- Bruce Wayne goes to DC to promote Gotham’s reconstruction.
- Scratch decides he must prove to the country that trying to save Gotham is futile. Scratch sends some of his minions (in devil masks - or uh, guess their DNA is modified too) to free Garfield Lynns (Firefly). They offer him a million dollars in order to create chaos in the city.
- Scratch is a guest on a talk show and continues to explain that Gotham is hopeless.
- At night, Batman visits a senator opposed to rebuilding Gotham, but a group of Scratch's henchmen break into the room and attack Batman. He is outnumbered and leaves before it escalates.
- The next day, Bruce meets with some congress members, but they all seem to be against Gotham.
- Scratch's minions inform their master they were unable to stop Batman, so he kills them all.
- Later, Scratch leads another televised event against rebuilding Gotham.


Mr. Wayne Goes to Washington, Part 1: The Jackals

#560 - Mr. Wayne Goes to Washington, Part 1: The Jackals



- Bruce Wayne speaks in congress discussing how US government can support Gotham. Some people doubt the playboy Bruce could seriously contribute here.
- Gotham citizen (ones with access to power and TV) watching as BW defends the city.
- Senator Hillier accuses Bruce of only wanting to save Gotham for financial reasons. Bruce says he could never quit on Gotham, tells the senator if they need proof that Gotham worth saving, they should look at how Gotham survived two strains of plague and and now earthquake.
- Outside, the press asks Bruce why he cares so much for Gotham, Bruce replies that it is a promise he made a long time ago and then he remembers the vow made to his parents and his role as Batman.


Mr. Wayne Goes to Washington, Part Two: The Witness

#561 - Mr. Wayne Goes to Washington, Part Two: The Witness



- US government decides to shutdown Gotham, and has given the citizens 48 hours to abandon it if they can. The U.S. Marshals are checking everyone who evacuates, preventing criminals from exiting the city.
- Killer Croc tries to escape but is forced to stay.
- In D.C., Bruce angrily destroys his hotel room. He is later called by Marion Grange (Gotham mayor) to discuss their next move.
- Commissioner Gordon refuses to leave the city without a fight.
- Elsewhere, Nicholas Scratch is notified that his minions failed in killing Gordon, and he has hired a professional killer for Bruce Wayne.
- Bruce and Marion Grange about to get into car when assassin’s bullet misses Bruce and kills Marion.
- Scratch is furious and sends his minions to find and kill Bruce Wayne.
- In Gotham, Lucius Fox prepares everything for his departure and he along with the last of the corporate workers of Wayne Enterprises leave via helicopter. They watch as the bridges to the city are destroyed one by one.
- At the Gotham Clock Tower, Robin announces that he and his dad are thinking of moving to Keystone City and Nightwing says he will return to Bludhaven. Barbara Gordon tells them that she is staying in the city and she won't abandon it.
- The next day, as congress signs "Gotham's Death Warrant", the press notice the conspicuous absence of Bruce Wayne.


Mr. Wayne Goes to Washington, Part Three: The Devil His Due!

#562 - Mr. Wayne Goes to Washington, Part Three: The Devil His Due!



- Cops from GCPD are in Street Demonz territory spraying a false tag, but things get out of hand and they end up killing two gang members. This only serves as fodder for the gang war tho, and the gangs do begin killing each other off.
- Near the Gotham River, three gang members see a lone, old, drunken man. They confront him and bring him to the top of a bridge, telling him that he is going to be swimming out of No Man's Land (their boss wants to know if there are mines in the river). Before they can push the man in he starts to fight back, but he is pushed over the edge anyway.
- Suddenly, Batman drops in on them. The old man, who is revealed to be Alfred Pennyworth, was caught on the edge of the bridge by his coat.
- One of the gang members falls into the river, turns out there are mines.
- Batman apologies for being late. Besides that, their recon mission was successful, and now Bats knows about the mines and that someone is trying to bring something in or out of Gotham.
- The next day, Batman calls Oracle and tells her he is back. She asks about the Batman tags but he says it's not him.
- Day 102, Blue Boys take the Demonz territory, were Oracle was staying. The Gordon family reunites.
- In Batgirl's territory, Batman confronts her. He lets her continue as long as she doesn't disgrace the symbol. He too will begin tagging territory.


No Law and a New Order Part Three: Tactics

#563 - No Law and a New Order Part Three: Tactics



- As Scarecrow observes the fear in the people at the ARC, Huntress asks Bats to help Mikey. Batman brings him to Leslie’s MASH sector hospital.
- Scarecrow, who hoped that the attack on Mikey would cause a riot, fears it brought epople closer together instead.
- Father Chris, meets with Commissioner Gordon, who is adamant that the center comes under the Blue Boys protection. Gordon implies he knows about Penguin’s arsenal under the ARC, and he is not afraid of raiding the center for the guns.
- Meanwhile, Batman confronts Penguin and finds out about the arsenal under the ARC.
- Penguin tells his henchmen to get the gang together to take back his arsenal.
- Scarecrow stirs chaos by sending a notes to Huntress and the splinter False Facer gang about the arsenal.
- The False Facers spliter group shows up outside, ready to attack for the weapons.
- Although Scarecrow convinces the people to pick up the guns and fight for their center, Father Chris realizes it is all his fault, and goes outside by himself to confront the gang.


Fear of Faith, Part Three: Life in Hell

#564 - Fear of Faith, Part Three: Life in Hell



- Black Mask got rid of his mask and now has a “true face” cult that aims to control Gotham.
- One of Oracles spys on Black Mask, Rex, is attacked after reporting in.
- Meanwhile, Batman has formed and alliance with Lock-Up - Batman captures criminals and Lock-Up keep them prisoner in Blackgate w/ help of KGBeast.
- Cops wonder if Gordon is unstable as leader w/ his focus on protecting Barbara possible endangering cops. Gordon is rightfully worried tho - Black Mask has been taking down WE owned buildings and the Clock Tower is one.
- Batman tells Batgirl to protect the tower.
- Black Mask tortures and blinds Rex for info, but he doesn’t break. Black Mask’s gang arrive and throw Rex to police in front of tower. The officers call for reinforcements. Barbara arms herself with a sniper rifle, but the new Batgirl arrives before she has to use it.


Mosaic, Part 1

#565 - Mosaic, Part 1



- Superman arrives in Gotham and stops Mad Hatter from forcing some people to pay him tribute.

- Batman wants him to leave but Superman sasy the people of Gotham need his help and he is not leaving. Batman says he can stay for 24 hours.

- Superman takes an engineer to Gotham's power station and helps him restore power to part of the city.

- Mr. Freeze arrives at the power station to take it over. Superman deals w/ Freeze, then declares Mr. Freeze responsible for power conduit, threating Mr. Freeze that he will be back if it fails.

- People start coming up to the engineer and asking what they can do or give him, he is powerful since he controls the power. Superman returns and realizes that no matter what he does, things will continue to deteriorate in Gotham until the people decide to change things. Before he leaves the city, he asks Batman how is he going to take the city back. Batman tells him that he doesn't know but hopefully he'll figure it out.


The Visitor

#566 - The Visitor



- Batgirl (Huntress) follows Batman to Gotham Cemetery where he buried the six people killed by Two-Face and his gang in the former Batman territory. Batman spots her and says "I trusted you" then disappears.
- Barbara Gordon was using a girl as a courier during the events of No Man's Land. In return, is was teaching the girl how to read and speak. Commisioner Gordon arrives, and as the girl leaves, she notices an assassin trained on the building.
- When Gordon leaves, the girl jumps between him and the sniper’s shot, stopping the assassin from firing. The police try and fail to catch the assassin.
- Across town, Batman is talking to Two-Face after capturing him. With no judge or jury, Batman takes a page from Harvey's book. He flips Two-Face's Coin to decide Two-Face's fate. Batman decides not to look at the coin and warns Harvey not to push his limits again, because they both might lose.
- Back at Barbara’s, they question the girl. She draws a symbol Barbara recognizes as the mark of David Cain, the assassin. Through hand gestures, the girl indicates that she is Cain's daughter. She stops anyone from leaving the apartment, going outside herself to fight Cain. As they fight, she yells “Stop” - a word Barbara just taught her - and Cain is surprised to hear her speak.
- As James Gordon breaks the door and steps outside, the girl daughter tackles Cain, knocking both of them out a window.


Mark of Cain Part One

#567 - Mark of Cain Part One



- Robin frees the kids (orphans Ivy has taken care of during No Man’s Land) and Batman questions Ivy. She explains she found his cave under the park. She destroyed most of it, except for a box that she knew must be important for Batman. She tells Batman she’ll return the box if he helps her. Batman reluctantly agrees.
- Elsewhere, Helena Bertinelli is back to being Huntress. She was mad at Batman and decides to do things her way. She goes to an old warehouse where Pettit and Foley are discussing their next move.
- Pettit had gathered a lot of ammunition for firearms and was planning to use it to take over Gotham City. Huntress arrives and tries to stop him, but after talking for a bit they both seemed to agree that extreme situations require extreme actions and they form an alliance.
- Meanwhile, Batman struggles to free Ivy as Clayface approaches. Batman asked how to recover her strength, and comes up with a plan. Batman contacts Robin, telling him to find some hidden explosives and place them in the park's lake.
- Clayface arrives and fights Batman. Batman uses an electric staff to paralyze him for a moment, and signals Robin to detonate the explosives. The roof above them collapses, sunshine and lake water rushes in. Ivy recovers says it’s time to finish the fight.


Fruit of the Earth, Part Two

#568 - Fruit of the Earth, Part Two



- Batgirl stops a street gang calls the Jets who are attackig a gas station attendant. After, he tells her about the recent attacks, but is distracted, worried about something else.
- Earlier, Batman entrusted Batgirl with the task of keeping the station safe. They needed the gas station to get some fuel for the hospital's generator.
- Batman, Nightwing and Oracle are at the Watchtower. He told them that they needed to wait until dawn to go and help Batgirl.
- Around 4:00 AM the Jets approach the gas station with a rocket launcher. One of the Jets attacks Batgirl, but she beats him with ease. Meanwhile, another of the Jets tries to steal some gasoline, but none comes out of the hose. The station says there is none left.
- Enraged, the Jet's leader fires the rocker launcher at that station.
  no gasoline left in the station and enraged, the Jets' leader took the rocket launcher and fired it towards the station. Batgirl saved the station owner but the rocket destroyed the station.
- Batgirl she failed and she started beating the Jet's leader. Batgirl realized that she would only lose her principles by killing. She calmed down but was still feeling down. Batman arrives and says she did her job.
- The gas station owner give Batgirl the last can of gasoline he had hidden.


I Cover the Waterfront

#569 - I Cover the Waterfront



- Joker takes over Xhosa's territory.
- Harley scopes out the area and finds the upper part of and apartment building untouched. In on apartment, she finds a book, The Code: Laws of L'amour. She decides to being following the rules to make herself irresistible to the Joker. It instructs her to emphasize her independence and play a bit hard to get, so she claims the apartment for only herself and spends more time away from the Joker.
- Joker tries to support Harley despite her odd behavior and tells a new henchman named Josh to cater to her. Josh brings her things and gets her running water.
- Joker questions one of the Penguin's henchmen about his supplier. Harley pretends she has better things to do.
- Joker is feeling unwanted by Harley, and is worried about her interactions with Josh.
- Joker is shining about how to make the people want him instead of running away from him. Harley suggested that he have an election.
- A few days later, Huntress spots election posters and she realizes that Joker was "running" for president of No Man's Land and that his opponent was none other than Billy "The Pig" Pettit.


The Code, Part 1: Breakin' the Law

#570 - The Code, Part 1: Breakin' the Law



- Bane kills some street punks, leaving one girl alive - he needs a “sacrificial lamb” to test the a hidden basement vault for traps. Luckily they had all already been triggered by other intruders, and the girl lives. The vault (created by Lex Luthor) has weapons and ammunition. They take as much as they can carry.
- Bane then goes around killing gang members and leaving behind Ace of Spades cards to frame Two-Face.
- Penguin's henchmen tell him about the killings and cards, but Penguin realized someone might be trying to frame Two-Face. He calls Batman.
- Angered gangs start attacking Two-Face. Two-Face fights back.
- Batman and Robin arrived at Penguin's place and he tells them the situation. Penguin shows them the pattern of attacks formed across the Gotham map leaded to the Hall of Records. The duo moved out to check if Penguin's info was true.
- Bane arrives at the Hall of Records and sees some of Two-Face's people guarding the place. The girl asked Bane what was his plan and he told her that he was going to blow the entire building to permanently destroy Gotham's history.


Goin' Downtown, Part One: The Vault

#571 - Goin' Downtown, Part One: The Vault



- Renee Montoya and her brother are being held prisoners at the Court House. They’ve been held for months, and Two Face also has the rest of their family. The Tally Man brings Renee in front of Two Face.
- Two-Face tells her he needs her to do something for him, and she is given a uniform to wear when he returns to the Court House. It's a bailiff uniform.
- Two face abducts Commissioner Gordon.
- Meanwhile at Gotham Pier 24, Penguin is finishing a deal with a mysterious woman. When the woman leaves, Batman and Robin break in and demand answers from Penguin. Cobblepot tells them that he doesn't know the woman's name or who she is working for, but that she has been placing many building supplies inside Gotham City with his help.
- Oracle contacts Batman about the attack on James Gordon. Batman and Robin head out.
- Two Face returns and says they will have a trial for James Gordon. At first, Montoya refuses to play Two-Face's game, but she remembers her parents and then she obeys Two-Face's commands. The trial begins with Montoya as the first witness.


Jurisprudence: Part One

#572 - Jurisprudence: Part One



- Lex Luthor announced at a press conference that he/LexCorp would rebuild Gotham, and anyone in Gotham who was willing to work. Batman, Robin and Oracle all agreed that Luthor has a more devious plan.
- In their hideout, Joker was upset that Batman wasn’t paying attention to him. Harley told him that she knew where he can get more exposure.
- During the night, Batman sneak into Lex’s compound, knocks Mercy unconscious and warns Luthor not to try anything with Gotham. After Batman leaves, Luthor tells Mercy to get Bane.
- The next day, Bruce calls Lucius Fox and asks him if Luthor has approached Wayne Enterprises and Lucius told him that he haven't yet. Bruce told Lucius to stay alert and to not sell their properties to anyone.
- Meanwhile, Robin is overseeing Pettit’s territory. He hears Pettit losing his temper because some of his people decided to leave.
- Joker attacks the main camp where the rebuilding efforts have started, killing workings a destroying their progress.


Shellgame, Part 1: Gambits

#573 - Shellgame, Part 1: Gambits



- Pettit’s camp is attacked during Christmas dinner. Pettit tells everyone to stand and fight but Huntress tries to tell them that it is a trap. Pettit refuses to listen.
- Pettit, Huntress and some of his men go outside. Pettit sees what appears and be the Joker and shoots him. Then another “Joker” appears and is also shot. Huntress and Foley realize that Joker is sending people disguised as him to their deaths and soon they also realize that all of them are Pettit's own men. They try to make Pettit stop but he is completely out of control.
- Huntress and Foley realize that they are going to need help and Foley decides to go to the GCPD and ask for backup. Pettit notices Foley leaving and he shoots him in the head, killing him for disobeying his orders.
- Huntress is enraged and she realizes that Pettit is completely insane. Huntress attacks Pettit, and when ehe is ready to finish him the Joker shoots Pettit in the back and kills him.
- Joker tells Huntress that he just wanted to steal the babies in the refugee center and that he will leave once he gets them. She refuses to move and stands her ground against Joker and his gang, even though she is drastically outnumbered. She fights them bravely but when she knocks down the last one of them, Joker shoots her multiple times. Joker acknowledges her strength, but as she refuses to pass out, Joker aims his gun at her head and prepares to kill her once and for all.


Endgame, Part Two: ...Tender and Mild...

#574 - Endgame, Part Two: ...Tender and Mild...



- It's Commissioner Gordon's birthday, and the GCPD throw him a party at the local pub. After kindly receiving gifts from his officers, Gordon reveals he has brought gifts for them, himself, as well. He give out handcuff keys, explaing his reasoning: the key is a powerful symbol of Police Officers unique responibility and power: to remove someone's freedom.
- Meanwhile, Batman patrols with his police radio to make sure the party is not interrupted.
- Later, Gordon leaves the pub, and see Catwoman in the alley outside. Several shots ring out, and a confused Gordon hits the ground with three bullets in his back.


These Are Your Rights

#587 - These Are Your Rights



- Former psychology professor Jonathan Crane.
- Sleepy Hollow fanboy.
- Killed some people from Gotham University, Batman investigates, triggers fear toxic trap where he relives the deaths of his parents.
- Batman fights him and overcomes his fear toxin.


Scarecrow - Masters of Fear

Annual #19 - Scarecrow - Masters of Fear



"Batman" was the first comic book series featuring Batman as the protagonist. After a successful year of publishing Batman stories in Detective Comics (Volume 1); DC started publishing "Batman" in the Spring of 1940. As with most books of the era, it consisted of various stories featuring Batman and his recently introduced sidekick, Robin.


Batman Volume 1 (1940 - 2011)

Comics