Batman Vs. The Crime Doctor

Batman has been around for about 80 years at this time....and, you get old, you check in with the doctor.  Bruce Wayne did have a regular doctor....but, he needed a specialist...

...and unknowingly, ended up in the hands of the Crime Doctor in a couple issues of Detective Comics!

The Crime Doctor Calls At Midnight

Jim Aparo gives this creepy cover of Detective Comics #494 (September, 1980), wherein a helpless Bruce Wayne is under the knife of a disreputable doctor, with more in a story by Michael Fleisher, Don Newton and Bob Smith.

Batman is dealing with a new villain in Gotham, the Crime Doctor, who uses medical practices to help criminals.  During the course of this case, Batman get injured, and Alfred, instead of being able to go to Bruce's usual doctor, has to go to Dr. Bradford Thorne, who stitches up Bruce Wayne's wound.  Bruce Wayne then invites Thorne to a special event at the Wayne Foundation.  But...a case calls them both away.  Batman tries to stop the criminals, but is confronted by the Crime Doctor, who sees the special bandage he put on Bruce Wayne.....

.....allowing Crime Doctor Thorne to figure out that Bruce Wayne is Batman!  Then, the criminals figure they won't have to pay the Crime Doctor if they kill him, so trap Batman and the Crime Doctor in a lab with a bomb!

Murder In Quicksilver

Batman and the Crime Doctor work together in Detective Comics #495 (October, 1980) in a story by Michael Fleisher, Don Newton and Frank Chiaramonte, with a cover by Jim Aparo.

Batman saves the Crime Doctor from the bomb, but escapes an exhausted Batman.  The criminals go to their leader, crimelord Sterling Silversmith (whom Batman has faced before).  The criminals reveal they knew that the Crime Doctor knew Batman's identity (but didn't reveal it).  Sterling Silversmith has the Crime Doctor brought to him, but Thorne won't reveal the name to Silversmith as it would violate normal patient/doctor confidentiality.  So, Silversmith poisons Thorne with mercury....but Batman does save him (tracking down Silversmith by his thugs).


Batman was too late, with Thorne remaining in a coma, so Batman doesn't know if Thorne revealed his identity to anyone else.  Thorne must have recovered, at least temporarily, as the Crime Doctor was spotted in an issue of Crisis On Infinite Earths.

The Crime Clinic

That wasn't the first Crime Doctor that Batman faced.  In Detective Comics #77 (July, 1943) by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and George Roussos, Dr. Matthew Thorne opened his crime clinic to take care of criminals.

Batman and Robin got to work stopping him, and did, even with the doctor working to save patients.

The Crime Doctor returned in Batman #18 (August-September, 1943), escaping prison, and even shooting Robin, but died in that issue after being shot by one of his patients.

Flash Facts: USA March

Neal Adams and Dick Giordano gave us the March art for the 1976 Super DC Calendar.

It was Barry Allen's Flash, taking a leisurely run around the neighborhood....that of the United States of America!

Flash, of course, would appear in later calendars as well....

Detective Comics 1000 Will Be Here Soon

Quite a bit of history led up to Detective Comics #1000.

Batman wasn't the star to start the book, but took over soon after, starting with #27 by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, back in May, 1939, and took over completely by adding Robin to the book with #38, with his Secret Origin.

It even went through 9 previous centennial issues (though, to be fair....one of them wasn't....900 was only 19!).

#100 #200  #300 #400  #500  #600 #700  #800

Brian Bolland variant

As well as so many issues in between....


So many villains started here, like Penguin and Riddler, Two-Face, Clayface, the Calculator....and even some of these short-lived villains like Zebra Man and Zodiac Master, though they weren't as much a pest as Bat-Mite!



There were also other heroes in Detective Comics who were detectives, times when Batman's dad was the hero, or maybe a Mystery Man, as well as times Batman was more stylish than others.


Heck, Batman must be starting to feel a little old, as Batman's own title is 79 (with Batman approaching 80 years!).

Dan Jurgens/Kevin Nowlan variant

 
Sadly, Detective Comics was outpaced by Action Comics, who got to 1000 first.


What will happen in the next 1000 issues?

Detective Comics Stars Besides Batman JLA

Elongated Man and Green Arrow were two of the longer running JLA members who were featured in Detective Comics who made the cover....

...but, there was one man who lasted even longer, but, because Batman always had the cover, had never had a cover of Detective Comics while he was a back up feature in it.

Martian Manhunter

J'onn J'onnz premiered in Detective Comics #225 (November, 1955) by Joe Samachson and Joe Certa, when Dr. Erdel accidentally beamed the Manhunter from Mars to Earth using his robot brain.  The shock of J'onn's appearance was enough to send the doctor into cardiac arrest, killing the doctor and stranding J'onn on Earth.  Being a manhunter on his world, he felt qualified to become a detective on Earth, and after taking the form of Earthman John Jones, he did.

The Martian Manhunter mostly hid his powers and alien nature for his earliest cases, he eventually did reveal his Martian form as a super-heroic identity in Detective Comics #273 (November, 1959), joining the Justice League of America soon after.

J'onn did have a few foes while running in Detective Comics, like Monty Moran, the Human Flame and Professor Arnold Hugo (who, unlike the Martian Manhunter, made a cover of Detective Comics, #306, as he first faced Batman), as well as a few alien menaces, and even a new friend, Zook.  J'onn's Detective Comics run came to an end with Detective Comics #326 (April, 1964), moving over to House of Mystery, where he finally got some covers.

The Martian Manhunter finally did make a Detective Comics cover, #715 (November, 1997), the second part of when he teamed up with Batman to face Firefly.

Aquaman

Aquaman was already a founding member of the JLA, and finishing a try out four issue run in Showcase as he was losing his home as a back-up in Adventure Comics that he had held for decades.

The Sea King and his young ally, Aqualad, got a temporary home with Batman and the Martian Manhunter, running from Detective Comics #293 (July, 1961) to Detective Comics #300 (February, 1962), after which, he started his own comic for the first time!

Sadly, Aquaman never made the cover of Detective Comics, but the stories were drawn by Nick Cardy, who also did the earlier issues of Aquaman's first series, and so, a representative cover of the era was chosen.

Elongated Man

When Martian Manhunter left the title, the book got a new back-up detective with the Stretchable Sleuth, Ralph Dibny and his wife Sue, starting with Detective Comics #327 (May, 1964) by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino.


The Elongated Man moved over from working with the Flash, and stayed in Detective Comics, getting a couple of costume changes, working with Green Lantern, the Atom, Zatanna, Zatara, Commissioner Gordon...

...as well as a couple of full issues team ups with Batman and Robin, as well as facing foes like Mirror Master, Chronos and the Riddler, until his continuous run ended with Detective Comics #383 (January, 1969).

Elongated Man then made occasional appearances as a back-up feature in Detective Comics (and was soon made a member of the Justice League of America as well at this time, which was a more regular home for him, as well as renewing his friendship with the Flash and his wife, Iris), usually with his wife, Sue helping him along.


The pair were traveling the country as Ralph used his Gingold powers to sniff out mysteries, including issues #426, #430, #436, #444, #449, #453, #456, #457, #462, #465, #488 and #500, as well as appearing with others in two issues that will come up!

Hawkman

Katar Hol, the Thanagarian policeman who was also a member of the Justice League of America, became an occasional back up feature in Detective Comics starting with Detective Comics #428 (October, 1972), after losing his own title, and even a title he shared with his friend, the Atom.


Hawkman (and eventually his wife, Hawkgirl), would appear in as back-ups once in a while, including in issues #434, #446, #452, #454, #455, #467, #479, #480 and #500 (as well as in one issue with Elongated Man and more...which more will be said on soon).

To be fair, Hawkgirl even made it into a Roy Raymond feature in Detective Comics #487 (December-January, 1979/1980, one of very few appearances of Hawkgirl without Hawkman) before the pair settled in World's Finest Comics, which eventually led to the Shadow War of the Hawkman, and then a regular comic series for Hawkman right around the time of the Crisis On Infinite Earths.


Hawkman and Hawkgirl didn't make many covers, so instead, here's a few from Brave and the Bold with Batman, including a foe introduced to Hawkman in Detective Comics, the Fadeaway Man.

Atom

The Atom had also been a hero who lost his regular title, and was only appearing in the Justice League of America, but he started up again as a back-up in Action Comics for a while, but first he popped up with his fiancee, Jean Loring and friend, Alpheus Hyatt, for Detective Comics #432 (February, 1973).

The Atom then kicked off a run of back-ups, with the Calculator as the focus with Detective Comics #463 (September, 1976).  Atom defeated him, but then appeared in the Black Canary back up of the next issue, and, along with all the heroes he faced in back ups (including Elongated Man, Green Arrow and Hawkman) in issues leading up to Detective Comics #468 (March-April, 1977)...

...where Batman was finally able to beat the Calculator (Aquaman appeared briefly here as well, as did the head of Metropolis' WGBS, Morgan Edge), which can be seen on this Jim Aparo cover.


Atom also had one last back-up in Detective Comics, facing a foe from the JLA, the Dharlu, in Detective Comics #489 (April, 1980) before settling back in Action Comics (alternating with the second Air Wave and Aquaman, including another battle with the Calculator), then getting into the Sword of the Atom mini-series and specials around the time of the Crisis On Infinite Earths.

Black Canary

Black Canary did have a brief time in Detective Comics with Detective Comics #464 and #468 in the 1970s, but the majority of her appearances in the title were as a part of the Green Arrow back-up features, coming from the feature they shared in World's Finest Comics, though Black Canary didn't show up until Detective Comics #549 (April, 1985), eventually getting her new costume (as she dealt with changes in her life), and faced a foe based on a foe her mother faced, Bonfire.

Green Arrow and Black Canary also faced Steelclaw in Star City (and a team-up with Batman and Catwoman), as their time in Detective Comics wore down, ending Detective Comics #567 (October, 1986), after which, she became part of the Justice League and Justice League International.

Green Arrow

Green Arrow had been a back-up in Action Comics and World's Finest Comics (mostly with Black Canary, and one back-up in Detective Comics #466 with Elongated Man and with the group in #468 facing the Calculator), but when he moved over to Detective Comics with #521 (December, 1982) under a Jim Aparo cover.


Green Arrow spent most of his time concentrating on being a columnist for the Daily Star.

Green Arrow got some odd villains at this time based on simple gimmicks, like Hi-Tek, the Executrix, Ozone, the Detonator, the Printer's Devil, the Death-Dealer, Bad Penny, the Pinball Wizard, and Vengeance...

...before re-teaming with Black Canary, helping her with her history, and facing villains Champion, Steelclaw and Barricade, as well as working with Onyx, who came from the monastery Ollie had once taking refuge in (helping her out, and the mysterious Onyx stick around for a bit), as well as teaming with Batman and Catwoman for one full issue story...

 
....all before his back-ups ended with Detective Comics #567 (October, 1986), and Green Arrow would then get a new look and attitude with Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters by Mike Grell.

Red Tornado

Last, but not least, for JLA member Detective Comics back-ups, it's worth mentioning that the android Red Tornado, while only really having a few back-ups in World's Finest Comics, did come around to appear in a back up in Detective Comics #493 (August, 1980) in a tale of Gotham City by J. M. DeMatteis, Jose Delbo and Joe Giella, with Reddy facing drug dealers, all under a Jim Aparo cover...

...which also features back-up characters Human Target, which has already been covered, and Batgirl and Robin....who will be!

Detective Comics Centennial 800

When is an anniversary not a celebration?


When it is Detective Comics #800 (January, 2005).


This issue has two stories, both great tales, but not detailing a happy time in the life of Batman.

So, let's look under the cover by Mark Simpson....

Alone At Night

First story in the issue has Batman dealing with the Mad Hatter, and his drones (including a hypnotized Killer Croc) all across Gotham in a story by Andersen Gabrych, Pete Woods, Cam Smith and Drew Geraci.

Batman is dealing with the fallout of recent activities in Gotham (the War Games Bat-titles crossover), with Nightwing (Dick) being injured (and tended to by Alfred), Robin (Tim), Batgirl (Cassandra), Oracle (Barbara) and even Commissioner Gordon all leaving the city.

During his run through Gotham, Batman even finds the Mad Hatter is a pawn of the Black Mask...and does thwart his plans....for now.  But, Catwoman confronts Batman, declaring him unfeeling, with Batman admitting she's wrong....he feels everything....which is why Batman does what he does (and drives those he cares about away....

In The Dark

The second story is by David Lapham, and is a moody piece about Batman confronting crime on his own.


This is a Batman who is aware of being a part of the night, and swoops down vengeance on those who harm others.



Gotham will be safe....or at least as safe as one man can make it.



Both not exactly the joys of previous anniversary issues (like 500 or 700), but dark looks at the life of the Batman.

Now, there isn't an official Detective Comics #900 (it was numbered #19 thanks to the new 52....too much math!  It does feature a variant on the star of 400), but that might be covered later.   As next week is Detective Comics #1000....don't want to end on a downer, but time to prepare for life after Batman as well!

Batman Sheds Light On A Mystery

Batman solved the mystery of the missing Facebook/Instagram, preventing the Final Night!

Okay, that wasn't the focus of Detective Comics #703 (November, 1996) by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna.   Instead, Batman, Robin and the Huntress were busy saving Gothamites from the effects of the sun going out (the focus of The Final Night, a 4 issue mini-series crossing over many of the DC titles at the end of 1996) in "Howling In The Dark".

Robin and Huntress were working together, Batman saved a radio deejay who was preaching about how no one could save the world, and the Riddler pays someone to break his arm in jail (hint: what sets up for the next issue?)

But, the way some folks acted yesterday, you'd think the sun was going out!

Detective Comics Stars Besides Batman Golden Age

Detective Comics has had many features over the decades, but Batman was usually the dominant one, being featured on most of its covers over the years.

Still, a few other characters have managed to be featured on Detective Comics covers, and, as Detective Comics #1000 approaches, time to take a look back at a few of them.

Crimson Avenger

Premiering before the Batman, Crimson Avenger was Lee Travis, who originally fought crime in a cloak, with a mask and a hat, like the old pulp heroes, starting in Detective Comics #20 (October, 1938) by Jim Chambers. 

With his chauffeur, Wing How, the two battled crime through Detective Comics #89 (July, 1944), with the two eventually adopting more traditional mystery men outfits (Crimson Avenger in Detective Comics #44, Wing in Detective Comics #59), with the two being members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory for the first 14 issues of Leading Comics. 

Retroactively, they were both members of the All-Star Squadron during World War II (though those comics didn't happen until the 1980s). 


Too few of their original tales have been reprinted, but here's a guide, adding Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman to it, with a reprint of Detective Comics #20.


A planned 2 volume reprint of Detective Comics #1-26 was scheduled, but cancelled...

....a shame, as a look at comics that existed before Batman would have been fascinating!

Boy Commandos

Very few characters even made it onto the cover of Detective Comics other than Batman, and it was a lock for the Dynamic Duo after Robin's debut.  Still, an issue after they debuted, the Boy Commandos did indeed share a cover with Batman and Robin.

The Boy Commandos were a creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, and ran in Detective Comics from Detective Comics #64 (June, 1942) to Detective Comics #150 (August, 1949), as well as having their own series that lasted 36 issues!

Read more about these youths that fought for our freedoms here, as we've covered them before as Jack Kirby was being celebrated!

All The Detectives

So many other characters didn't make the covers of Detective Comics, but quite a few did long after their premieres, with a special story in Detective Comics #500 (March, 1981), with the lot making the cover, as they all met in a special story covered here, but, here's a little bit more info on all of them....

Slam Bradley

Slam Bradley first appeared in Detective Comics #1 (March, 1937) in a story by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.



He was a simple but tough private investigator, not the smartest of men, but good in a fight, whose series ran until Detective Comics #152 (October, 1949), as well as appearances in both New York World's Fair Comics.



Bradley was an old school gumshoe....who was replaced by the latest in technology!

Roy Raymond TV Detective

Roy Raymond took the spot of Slam Bradley, starting in Detective Comics #153 (November, 1949), in a series that was first titled after his TV Show, Impossible -- But True in a story drawn by Ruben Moreira!

Roy was a wealthy man, but got that wealth by not believing in anything.  During his life, he would expose charlatans for what they were, and did so on his TV show, with his assistant, Karen Colby, for years, until Detective Comics #292 (June, 1961), after which he disappeared for a while...

....being saved by Superman in Superman #285 (March, 1975), with his show being revived for Galaxy Broadcasting under Morgan Edge, next being in Action Comics #448 and Superman Family #195, returning for one special appearance in Detective Comics #487 before issue #500.

Pow Wow Smith

This is actually the story of two heroes, both named Ohiyesa, who both got the unflattering nickname of Pow Wow Smith.

The first premiered in Detective Comics #151 (September, 1949) by Don Cameron, Carmine Infantino and George Klein.  Ohiyesa was a Sioux Indian Tribe member, who went to college, and came back to Red Deer Valley to become come home, to use his learning to help his people and becoming sheriff, with the locals giving the nickname Pow Wow Smith. 

This was the modern day Pow Wow Smith, which lasted until Detective Comics #202 (December, 1953), then switched over to Western Comics.  That series, which lasted from Western Comics #43 (January-February, 1954) to #85 (January-February, 1961), with the later series focused on 1880s adventures in the desert.

Captain Compass

Mark Compass started his career as a naval investigator in Star-Spangled Comics #83 (August, 1948) working as a detective for the Penny Steamship Lines in a story drawn by Jimmy Thompson (the title's covers were dominated by Robin at this time).  His adventures on the high seas lasted until Star-Spangled Comics #130 (July, 1952), moving World's Finest Comics #63 for an issue, then to Detective Comics, from #203 in January, 1954 to #224 in October, 1955 (with his spot going to Martian Manhunter's debut in the next issue).

Mysto Magician Detective

Rick Carter was a stage magician, who also solved crimes as a detective from time to time, with his adventures first appearing in Detective Comics #203 (January, 1954) by George Kashdan and Leonard Starr. 


Sadly, this didn't seem to catch on with readers...


....as Mysto soon pulled a disappearing act for years after Detective Comics #212 (October, 1954).

Jason Bard

Jason Bard first appeared in Detective Comics #392 (October, 1969) in a Batgirl story by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson, as Barbara Gordon saw a man with a limp fleeing a murder scene.  That was Jason, who was a Marine and a Vietnam veteran, who had taken up criminology on campus.  Working with Barbara and Batgirl, Jason eventually became a Private Investigator, hanging up his own detective shingle starting with Detective Comics #425 (July, 1972), appearing in every other issue of Detective Comics until #435, then Batman #252, Batman Family #15 and #16, Batman #297 before working regularly with Man-Bat, starting in Batman Family #20, Detective Comics #481, #485 and #491, and Batman in Brave and the Bold #165 and #172.

Human Target

Christopher Chance was an assassination expert for hire.  He wouldn't assassinate people, but instead take over their life for a time, using various Hollywood make-up tricks, then find the assassin as they tried to kill him, and stop the villain. 

Chance premiered in Action Comics #419 (December, 1972) by Len Wein, Carmine Infantino and Dick Giordano, and had tales in Action Comics #420, #422, #423, #425, #426, #429, and #432, before making a cover with a back-up in Brave and the Bold #143 and #144  in 1978, then living to nearly die in Detective Comics #483, #484, #486 (saving Dane Dorrance of the Sea Devils) and #493, before attending the detective's send off for Archie Evergreen with all of the above.

The DC Universe by Len Wein recently collected the Action Comics stories of the Human Target (hoping the B&Bs and Detective Comics come somewhere soon).

Now, there were more back ups in Detective Comics, and even a few of the characters in them made it onto covers, but, more will come later, but here's the cover of the Best of DC #30 from November, 1982, with a cover by Jim Aparo, to give clues to who some of those characters are! 

This issue also has reprints of some of the ordinary men who were featured in Detective Comics mentioned above.

Wonder Woman Fights Time

Wonder Woman's tired of losing sleep thanks to daylight saving time, as are we all when we lose that hour, so, she goes in search of "The Trail Of Lost Hours" in Wonder Woman #46 (March-April, 1951) by Robert Kanigher and H. G. Peter, with a cover by Irwin Hasen and Bernard Sachs.

Detective Comics Centennial 700 And Legacy

When last we met (other than a brief interlude), Batman, Robin and Nightwing were about to encounter the villain of the piece in the desert....meanwhile, captive below ground, Catwoman herself found out one of the secrets of this dig as well.

No time to wait, Bat-fans, let's just dive right into the action that starts in Detective Comics #700 (August, 1996).

Detective Comics 700

The anniversary issue, by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna, had Batman in one normal cover, then a special edition, with Batman in on an envelope...and, when you opened the envelope, you saw the cover which revealed one of the secret villains of the issue.

Have the clues from the last column pointed you to who it is yet?

Well, here is the answer.  The mystery villain is Ra's Al Ghul, with the story of the "Progeny Of The Demon" to kick off Batman: Legacy.

Ra's has a new plan to rid the world of its human population, using the wheel to get the secret to a new contagion, as well as having a new man he deems worthy to marry his daughter and take his legacy.  Batman, Robin and Nightwing plan to stop him, with Batman and Robin getting trapped down the mineshaft as Ra's prepares to destroy the wheel to prevent anyone from getting the cure. 

Nightwing briefly faces Ra's as Batman and Robin struggle to get free from the now flooding mine.  Getting free forces Ra's and Talia to flee (planning on releasing their new plague on the New World), but also revealing the identity of the man Ra's intends to wed his daughter...Bane, the man who broke Batman's back!

Meanwhile, Catwoman, still trapped in her cell, prepares to deal with the water rapidly filling that room...

Catwoman 36

In a story by Chuck Dixon, Jim Balent and Bob Smith, Catwoman faces the unappealing death by drowning in a desert in "The Best Of Enemies".

Freeing herself and Brother Umberto, Selina also realizes she must free her foe, Hellhound, as it will take all three of them to escape the flooding complex.  Alfred brings a jet to pick up Batman, Robin and Nightwing, who get a chance to repair their wounds, then the team gets in touch with Oracle, who spells out where they need to go next to stop Ra's, with Robin and the injured Nightwing headed to Paris, Batman to Edinburgh.

After a battle in the desert with Hellhound, Catwoman gets revenge on the Collector for involving her in this mess.

Robin 32

"Born With Teeth" is part three, by Chuck Dixon, Staz Johnson and Ray McCarthy, with Robin and Nightwing in Paris.

Tim and Dick look for where Ra's men might deploy the newest contagion, with Tim meeting up with Shen Chi (an oriental master Robin trained with when last in Paris) as well as Henri Ducard (who had trained young Bruce Wayne as recounted in Detective Comics #598 to #600).  Nightwing, Robin and Ducard stop Ra's men at the Louvre, with Ducard dispatching them fatally, angering Robin. 

Tim and Dick take a plane back to Gotham, with Tim worrying that everyone, himself included, may be dying from the clench virus.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat 54

Batman's detour to Edinburgh shows him "The Power Of The Picts" in the Legacy chapter by Alan Grant, Dave Taylor and Stan Woch.

Bruce Wayne explores an ancient castle, finding out a little of the history of the area, before having to become Batman.

As Batman, he faces the Taskers, a family that Ra's has inspired to use the virus to destroy the people around the castle, stopping them and Ra's plan here. 

In talking with Robin and Nightwing via radio, as his time was successful, they tell him that Oracle found another destination of Ra's, which he will investigate....Calcutta.

Batman 534

Doug Moench, Jim Aparo and Bill Sienkiewicz bring the next chapter of Legacy, with "A Wound On The Heart Of Heaven".

Batman ends up working with Lady Shiva (the world's master assassin, whom Batman has crossed paths with before).

The pair must stop the agents of Ra's from releasing the virus into the water supply which the town bathes in.

Along the way, they meet one of the starving urchins of the city, which was a good thing for the world, as he ends up preventing the virus canister from releasing, but at the cost of his own life.

Mission completed, Batman leaves Calcutta and Lady Shiva behind, returning to Gotham.

Detective Comics 701

Legacy goes into high gear with "Gotham's Scourge" by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna.

With Oracle directing Nightwing, Robin and Huntress against other minions of Ra's in an effort to keep Gotham safe, Batman deals with Bane in his triumphant return to Gotham.

Bane and Batman battle under the docks, with Batman renewing his fortitude for his cause, recalling how he lost his parents, to give him the strength to beat Bane, though the currents sweep Bane away from Batman.

Hearing of Bane's defeat, Ra's cancels his engagement to Talia, with her suggesting "The Detective" (Batman) as a replacement, to which, Ra's disagrees.

Robin 33

The end of Legacy comes with "Riptide" by Chuck Dixon, Staz Johnson and Rob Leigh.

Nightwing, Huntress and Robin don diving gear to sneak aboard Ra's yacht, as directed by Oracle.  The team split up, with Nightwing and Huntress facing Ra's and Talia, while Robin gets a computer model of the Wheel of Plagues to Oracle, so she can find a cure, all while Batman fights the current to stay alive (as Bane eludes his grasp). The proteges of Batman are successful, detonating Ra's yacht as well (though Ra's and Talia must have escaped the explosion), all while a new mystery surfaces as bodies wash up from Bludhaven, to be discovered by Harvey Bullock  and Renee Montoya (which will lead Nightwing to that city....and his own ongoing title by Chuck Dixon).

Detective Comics 702

Legacy gets an epilogue by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Scott Hanna, with "Second Chances".

In this case, Bruce Wayne saves Gotham, as Wayne Pharmaceuticals produces the cure to the clench virus, James Gordon reconciles with his estranged wife (and fellow police officer) Sarah Essen.  Bruce also sees the death toll that the virus has taken on a larger scale in the morgue, as does Robin, trying his best to save just one more life, with Alfred reminding the dynamic duo to remember their successes as well as their failures.


This tale also puts a wrap on Batman title crossovers for a time (though it tied together epics like Knightfall and Contagion), even though the next issue of Detective ties in with the DC crossover, the Final Night; all in all, an entertaining and thoughtful look at the career of the Batman for one of his anniversaries....recalling the past, while looking to the future!

Before And After

These tales, except for Detective Comics #700 are all in Batman: The Legacy Part 2, which also includes the four part mini-series that came out later, Batman: Bane Of The Demon, by Dixon, Nolan and Tom Palmer, detailing how Bane came to work for Ra's (and become a temporary beloved of Talia).  All these tales also showcase the true legacy of Batman....Nightwing, Robin, Huntress and Oracle.