Modern YEAR THIRTEEN (Part 1)

2001 (January to June)^[1]

_______________________________

–NOTE: In flashbacks from The Batman Chronicles #5 Part 1 and Suicide Squad #23. With her rehab and Richard Dragon training having both ended around three weeks ago, Babs now takes the codename Oracle (!) to help her dad crack the computer fraud case against Ashley Mavis Powell. Babs quickly realizes that she can still be a part of the superhero game without the use of her legs. (The Batman Chronicles #5 Part 1 features Babs narrating the story of how she became Oracle, which is shown through a series of flashbacks. I’ve placed The Batman Chronicles #5 Part 1 here because at the end of her story, Oracle states that it has been about a year since she “died and was reborn.” I take that as meaning a year since her shooting, which would place it right about here on our timeline.) Feeling empowered, Babs, as Oracle, begins sending information to Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad. Oracle will continue to remotely inform the Suicide Squad (and its network of ex-members) for the next couple weeks until she eventually officially joins the Squad as their computer expert under the pseudonym Amy Beddoes.

–Swamp Thing Vol. 2 Annual #4
This Saga of the Swamp Thing Annual takes place roughly two years after Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #55. (Specifically, it occurs about one year and nine months after Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #55.) Batman and the GCPD examine a corpse that has been infected with a strange white fibrous spore. After studying the spores with Coroner Macky, Commissioner Gordon, and a specialist, Batman takes a sterilization bath and then visits Arkham Asylum. With Dr. Roger Huntoon away on business, Batman chats with Dr. Lucas, who confirms that Floronic Man is still on the side of good at the moment, thus clearing any possible connection between him and the spores. After a face-to-face with Poison Ivy, Batman rules out her involvement as well. After visiting a bunch of Gotham science labs, Batman discusses the possibility of Swamp Thing’s involvement with Gordon and Detective Bullock. Batman then heads to Chinatown to prevent a suicide attempt. The troubled person attempting suicide, however, happens to be infected by the spore, which subsequently infects Batman. As the virus-spore takes over Batman’s mind and body, he remains hidden in the Batcave for nearly two weeks—(which absolutely has to be retconned down to a few days in order to fit correctly on our timeline)—before traveling to Louisiana to find Swamp Thing. A sick Batman shakes down locals—including a young boy named Etienne Pitrie—before collapsing. Swamp Thing is able to save Batman’s life and hold the spores at bay. Swamp Thing reveals that the spores prey upon the healthiest creatures on Earth, hence their ability to easily infect Batman. Later, Matango, the being responsible for the spores, makes his presence known to Swamp Thing. (Matango represents the alien fungal consciousness known as the Grey aka the Gray—an antithesis to the Green on Earth.)

–REFERENCE: In Huntress #18. Batman adds a portable microscope to his utility belt rotation.

–REFERENCE: In Manhunter #17. The Wayne Foundation begins funding the construction of new homeless shelters across the nation, using rookie NFL superstar Victor Gover (of the Gotham Wildcats) as its spokesperson to help sell the idea to the public. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, Gover fails a drug test for steroids, causing his football contract to be terminated. The Wayne Foundation similarly ends its partnership with Gover. Two days later, a new Sportsmaster debuts by robbing and trashing a club belonging to Wildcats owner Tom Melcher. Batman examines the crime scene and chats with Commissioner Gordon about it. Unknown to everyone, the new Sportsmaster is none other than Gover. Notably, Zero Hour sadly whitewashes Sportsmaster II (Victor Gover) from a Black character to a caucasian character. Thus, we have to imagine the reflected race change in this item.^[2]

–Manhunter #17
As a bounty hunter, Manhunter (Mark Shaw) rolls into Gotham City with hopes of collecting on the new Sportsmaster, whose identity is still unknown. Mark and his half-brother James “Jamie” Shaw attend a Wayne Foundation hotel gala where Mark introduces himself to and converses with Bruce. During the gala, Victor Gover, a pro football player recently fired for taking steroids, angrily accosts Tom Melcher (the owner of his former team) before being shooed-off by Shaw. (As mentioned above, Zero Hour sadly whitewashes Gover from a Black to caucasian. Thus, we have to imagine the reflected race change in this item.) Bruce is impressed by Manhunter but still doesn’t trust him due to his criminal history. Later, after a consultation with Oracle (!), Manhunter learns that Gover is the new Sportsmaster. Across town, Bruce deduces the same. Both Manhunter and Batman go after Sportsmaster but wind up fighting each other, giving the villain the upper hand. Eventually, Batman and Manhunter reluctantly join forces to take down Sportsmaster. Batman leaves the villain with Manhunter, stating gruffly, “I don’t do it for the money.” Manhunter vows never to return to Gotham again.

–REFERENCE: In Batman #440. Two weeks since his dramatic debut, the copycat Ravager strikes again, killing two police officers while continuing to run circles around the GCPD. Batman still won’t be directly involved in the Ravager case yet. However, starting now, Batman will be totally preoccupied with and haunted by Jason’s death (even more than usual), making him incredibly reckless while patrolling. Notably, Batman is shot twice (just flesh wounds) while on patrol.

–Batman #436-439 (“BATMAN: YEAR THREE”)
First, “Batman: Year Three” contains a detailed flashback story concerning the origin of the original Robin and his dealings with Tony Zucco, although—thanks to retcons from The Long Halloween and Dark Victory—not all of the flashbacks are canon. (Specifically, none of the flashbacks from Batman #437 are canon. See Year Five for more details about this.) Second, “Batman: Year Three” is titled so because Bat Year Three was originally the first Robin year. However, the same aforementioned retcons have slid Robin’s first year to Bat Year Six, so really this story should be called “Batman: Year Six.” Third, the hot weather of this story should likely be ignored. Fourth, as per The New Titans #60, this arc occurs specifically a few days prior to “A Lonely Place of Dying.” Fifth, this arc spans just under two weeks in duration. Onto a synopsis! Batman begins aggressively investigating a series of gangland murders (which actually first began about a month ago but have remained woefully unsolved by the GCPD). Meanwhile, Nightwing returns to Gotham, having gotten wind from Alfred that Batman has become more reckless and violent ever since Jason’s death. As the original Dynamic Duo both work separate cases into the same gangland murders, they are shocked to learn that Tony Zucco has been paroled. (Note that the lean russet-haired version of Zucco portrayed in this story is wrong. The correct/current version of Zucco is—and always has been—a plump, semi-bald cigar smoker. Additionally, Zucco mentions having been in jail for eleven years, but, thanks to the aforementioned retcons, he’s only been in prison for about six-and-a-half years. Likewise, gangsters Agoura and Grenada mention that Batman has been stalking them for a decade, but the longest it could have actually been is about six years.) Alfred also hears about Zucco’s pending release and threatens the parolee on his last evening in the can, but Zucco laughs in Alfred’s face. Batman and Nightwing are unsure of how to handle the Zucco situation, especially when they learn that Zucco has been orchestrating the gangland killings. However, in a wild twist, Zucco is gunned down by rival mobsters just as he takes his first free steps beyond the prison walls. (Zucco has not only been executed for his involvement in the gangland killings, but because he had been threatening to reveal a bunch of mob secrets withheld in a secret ledger. This was enough to force the various mobs into forming a truce, joining together to assassinate Zucco.) Following Zucco’s murder, Nightwing chews out Batman, accusing him of being insane ever since Jason died. Nightwing brings up Batman’s dealings with KGBeast from last year as an example, although this is technically incorrect since “Ten Nights of the Beast” occurred prior to Jason’s death. Later, Nightwing finds Zucco’s ledger at the Gotham Youth Center/St. Jude’s Orphanage. Batman arrives after Nightwing, just in time to see Zucco’s final associate fall to his death along with the ledger, which gets destroyed in the process. Still very much at odds with one another, Batman and Nightwing part ways.

–FLASHBACK: From the second feature to Detective Comics #789. Batman combats the super-villain team known as Mayhem (Lightning, Roam, Bullet, Rex, and The Tailor). All members of Mayhem are imprisoned except for the Tailor, who escapes unscathed. However, the Tailor immediately becomes one of Batman’s secret allies, agreeing to design new high-tech costumes for him. The Tailor will continue to function in this role for years to come.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Green Arrow: The Poison Tomorrow. Batman becomes aware of crime broker Lukie the Mouth and his henchman Benny Stout. Active enough to get on Batman’s radar, they are still small-fries. Batman makes a note to go after them at some point in the future.

A LONELY PLACE OF DYING
———————–Batman #440
———————–The New Titans #60
———————–Batman #441
———————–The New Titans #61
———————–Batman #442
I’ve always found this Marv Wolfman story to be a tad overwrought, but here’s what goes down in the now-classic origin story of Tim Drake. Two weeks have passed since the copycat Ravager’s last killings. By day, Bruce makes a donation that saves the Gotham Youth Center/St. Jude’s Orphanage from being torn down. By night, increasingly haunted by Jason’s death, Batman continues to be reckless to the point of sloppy, even struggling to defeat the second rate Ravager, who stabs him twice. The next day, Alfred chews out Bruce for his recent behavior (during both the Ravager fight and recent events of Batman #436-439). After taking down some “two-themed” thieves, Batman realizes that Two-Face has been behind Ravager the entire time. Batman tells Commissioner Gordon, who irately reminds him that Two-Face is only loose because Batman broke him out of jail a month ago (in Batman Annual #13 Part 1). Enter the autodidactic Tim Drake, a boy-genius that has followed his favorite hero’s career for his entire life. (Notably, for the first few years of Tim’s career as Robin to make sense, we must retcon Tim’s age to ten-years-old, turning eleven in July, not thirteen-years-old as both “A Lonely Place of Dying,” “The Penguin Affair,” and The Batman Files tell us. Some regard this headcanon-ish Tim Drake retcon as blasphemous, but there are plenty of legitimate reasons for doing it.^[3] Tim has been able to deduce the secret identities of both Batman and Nightwing, and even knows that Jason was Robin! Fearing the end of Batman’s career, Tim meets with Dick. (Nightwing quit the New Titans a couple weeks ago and has now returned to live a quiet life at Haly’s Circus.) Impressing Dick with his knowledge earns Tim a trip to Wayne Manor and the Batcave where the latter begs the former to become Robin again in order to save Bruce. Dick refuses and heads downtown to aid Batman. Meanwhile, Batman sends the New Titans a data-disc containing intel about the Two-Face case. The New Titans drop everything they are doing (including Cyborg parting ways with his current girlfriend Sarah Simms) to help Nightwing. While chatting with Commissioner Gordon, Nightwing is delivered the data-disc by Raven. Nightwing then joins Batman to fight Two-Face. Meanwhile, siding with Tim, Alfred gives the boy the original Robin costume and drives him into battle! Tim, who has trained since he was six-years-old, is able to help the original Dynamic Duo capture Two-Face. Afterward, Bruce is skeptical but allows Tim to begin out-of-costume training to become the new Robin. It is also revealed (to the reader) that Joker, still injured from the events of “A Death in the Family,” had been manipulating Two-Face the whole time. “A Lonely Place of Dying” is also highlighted through flashback from Robin Vol. 2 #0, Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1, and Batman #683. Also note that a flashback from the second feature to 52 #31 contains a single panel image that shows Tim wearing Dick’s original costume and assisting Batman against Scarecrow. Either Batman accompanied Tim on a patrol on the way home after busting Two-Face (which seems ludicrous) or we should ignore this panel. Up to you. Additionally, as referenced in The Batman Files, Tim gives Bruce his “Batman scrapbook,” which contains action photos of the Dark Knight and journal entries.

–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1. Tim Drake begins training to become Robin. First lesson: fingerprinting.

–Swamp Thing Vol. 2 Annual #5
Government agent Sargent Steel phones Batman and asks him for advice on how to handle a current crisis. A NASA satellite has just crashed into downtown Tampa and released a rampaging reanimated hippie dummy/Trash Elemental from the 1960s known as Brother Power the Geek! Batman points Steel in the direction of Abby Holland (Swamp Thing’s wife). After Abby communes with the Plant Elemental known as Jack in the Green, she sends Chester Williams, self-proclaimed “last of the true hippies,” to talk down Brother Power.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Incorporated Vol. 2 #3. Bruce goes undercover as Matches Malone and affiliates Malone’s name with the Whiskey Road Gang and the minuscule but devilish mobster known as Small Fry.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman #669. Billionaire John Mayhew attempts to assemble the international “Club of Heroes” for the second time. Once again, the venture is a complete failure and Batman doesn’t even show up. It is important to note that Mayhew now discovers that his wife, Marsha Lamarr, is cheating on him with actor Mangrove Pierce. Mayhew murders his wife and frames Pierce for the crime.

–REFERENCE: In Total Justice #1. Batman teaches Tim a very important lesson: Always remain calm in any situation, no matter what.

–Flash Vol. 2 #33
Wally West and his friend Mason Trollbridge move into a Keystone City apartment together. Joan Garrick visits, introducing her friend Dana Simpson, who claims that Joker is targeting her son. Soon after, a Keystone City Police Department (KCPD) captain is found dead with a rictus smile plastered on his face. Flash goes into action investigating the murder, pausing only to flirt with TV reporter Linda Park, who is covering the story. Hoping to gain insight on Joker, Flash dials the Justice League Europe referral code number, which connects him to Bruce on a special Wayne Manor phone line. Bruce tells Flash that he’s dealing with a Joker imposter, saying that the real Joker isn’t currently at-large and might even be dead. (Joker hasn’t reared his head since “A Death in the Family” last year.) Bruce isn’t interested in discussing the matter any further, but he does fax Flash some Joker information. Flash exposes the Joker imposter as Juice Mantee, one of Joker’s former henchmen. Flash busts Mantee and saves Dana’s son. Later, Wally hangs out with Mason, Linda, and Joan. Elsewhere, The Turtle plots against Flash.

DARK KNIGHT OVER METROPOLIS
———————–Superman Vol. 2 #44
———————–Adventures of Superman #467
———————–Action Comics #654
The in-story specificity of April 23-24 should be ignored in this arc. In Metropolis, Slam Bradley, Superman, and Gangbuster save Cat Grant and her son Adam Grant from Intergang’s Blindspot. (Intergang leader Bruno Mannheim and his crony Gillespie are trying to prevent Cat from testifying in court against their defamed partner Morgan Edge.) Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Batman stumbles into possession of Lex Luthor’s missing Kryptonite ring during a random mugging-bust! Batman investigates further, traveling to Metropolis to examine the corpse of seemingly-connected murdered LexCorp scientist Dr. Amanda McCoy. After brushing up on what’s been going on in Superman’s world (including rumors about Lex Luthor and details of Morgan Edge’s connection to Intergang), Batman teams-up with the Man of Steel to break into LexCorp and gather more intel about Dr. McCoy. Immediately afterward, Bruce, Clark, and Lois Lane attend Luthor’s Zenith Awards Gala, which is also attended by Luthor, Cat, Steve Lombard, Inspector Bill Henderson, and Intergang’s Chiller (who is disguised as Gangbuster). Bruce has crossed paths with Lois before, but this is their first formal introduction. Notably, Adventures of Superman #467 has a major continuity error as writer Dan Jurgens shows Bruce meeting Luthor for the first time. Of course, Bruce and Luthor have known each other for quite a while already. Even in 1990 (before retcons), this was a very bad continuity error, especially since Bruce and Luthor were seen together in 1987’s Booster Gold #23, which also demonstrated they were very familiar with one another. In any case, Andy Diggle’s “Rules of Engagement” (Batman Confidential #1-6, 2007) cements the idea of Bruce and Luthor having met long ago, so they are unequivocally not meeting for the first time now. Moving on, Mannheim and Gillespie order Intergang shock-troops to strike at the gala, hoping to abduct Cat. Batman and Superman defeat the Intergang members, but Chiller kidnaps Cat, bringing her to Dr. Moon for an attempt at a good ‘ol fashioned mind-wipe! After Superman and the real Gangbuster defeat Intergang’s Shockwave, they join Batman to bring down a small army of Intergang members and make a daring rescue of Cat. The mystery of the ring is revealed Maltese Falcon-style through a long Batman monologue at the end of Action Comics #654. Basically, Luthor had recently hired Dr. McCoy to determine the secret identity of Superman. Following a few months of investigation, McCoy reported her findings to Luthor: “Superman is Clark Kent!” However, Luthor refused to believe a bumbler like Kent could ever possibly be the Man of Steel and promptly fired her! McCoy became obsessed with proving her findings to be true, stole Luthor’s Kryptonite, stalked Kent, and nearly killed him with the ring. Randomly, McCoy was then killed by the aforementioned thieves, after which the ring found its way to Gotham and our story began. Following the case wrap-up, the Man of Steel entrusts the Kryptonite ring to Batman. Should Superman’s enemies ever gain control over him, Batman will have the fail-safe needed to defeat him. This is a symbolic gesture, affirming that Superman fully trusts Batman. (Superman giving Batman the ring is also shown via flashback from Superman: The Man of Steel #9 and Superman: The Man of Steel #21.)^[4][5]

–REFERENCE: In Batman #467. At the notorious Shanghai Lounge, Batman confronts the “Mayor of Chinatown” Jimmy Wing, who is the head of the Chinese mob in Gotham City. While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, Batman will occasionally butt heads with Wing at the Shanghai Lounge.

–REFERENCE: In Suicide Squad #59. Batman begins frequenting a waterfront dive bar called Lucky Shamrock, a known hangout for crooks and informants. He becomes acquainted with a bartender. While we won’t see it listed on our timeline ahead, Batman will make periodic violent visits to this bar in the coming months.

–REFERENCE: In JLA Secret Files and Origins #2 Part 2. STAR Labs gifts the Justice League a space shuttle. The JL keeps the space shuttle as a trophy.

–REFERENCE: In Penguin: Triumphant Part 2. Bruce meets financier Randall Holmes and his wife Mrs. Holmes.

–REFERENCE: In Batman #478. Batman reads a paper by scientist David Creighton, which leads the Dark Knight to believe that Creighton is the Gargoyle serial killer. Unknown to Batman, Creighton invented the Gargoyle Serum and originally tested it on himself, but the actual Gargoyle is his partner Morris Eagleton. Nevertheless, Batman begins surveilling Creighton. During this time, the Gargoyle (Eagleton) brutally kills his fifteen and sixteenth victims, thus giving Creighton an alibi and clearing him.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #646. Batman adds polarized lenses to his cowl.

–REFERENCE: In Batman #480. Batman teaches Robin how to read lips.

–REFERENCE: In Legends of the World’s Finest #1. Batman busts Two-Face’s newest number one henchman Charlie, who is put on probation and vows to go straight. (Charlie will quickly return to a life of crime, working for Two-Face.)

–REFERENCE: In Batman #611. Bruce gets to know Lois Lane more intimately. No further details are given, but we know that Bruce and Lois become friends from this point forward. Some speculate that there is a romantic history here, but there’s nothing conclusive.

–FLASHBACK: From The Batman Chronicles #7 Part 3. Batman teams-up with Green Arrow to solve the Andrea Lockhart kidnapping case.

–Detective Comics Annual #3
The moody autumn setting should be ignored in this one. Bruce begins brokering an international trade deal with Japanese CEO Noboru Yamada. Soon after, Batman visits his parents’ grave. Curiously, creators Archie Goodwin and Dan Jurgens make a bizarre (and novel) continuity error by placing the Wayne tombstone at “St. Michael’s Cemetery.” This must be ignored—Thomas and Martha are buried in the plot adjacent to Wayne Manor. Batman is surprised to witness a GCPD police detective, Mark Cord, place his own severed finger atop the grave. Detective Cord reveals that his father, Lewis Cord, bumped into Joe Chill just before he killed Thomas and Martha Wayne. (Mark says this occurred twenty-five years ago, but it actually happened thirty years ago, to be precise.) Blaming himself for not having stopped Chill, Lewis tasked his young son with the lifelong mission of protecting Bruce Wayne. Mark tells Batman that he failed Bruce, which is why he did the finger-cutting ritual. Before Mark can explain further, Yakuza assassins try to kill him, forcing him to flee. Later, Batman catches wind that the Yakuza will try to kill Bruce Wayne, hoping to break up his trade deal with Yamada Corporation. Batman gets the jump on the would-be killers by baiting them with disinformation and then, at Wayne Manor, duping them with a Bruce Wayne dummy. While Batman fends off the Yakuza, Mark arrives and kills their leader Jiro Oka. Mark is injured and goes to the hospital, but not before revealing that he swore allegiance to Oka many years ago. When Oka and his Yakuza recently came calling, asking for assistance in assassinating Bruce Wayne, Mark was torn between loyalty to his father’s mission and Oka’s demand. When Oka threatened to kill Mark’s ex-lover Michi Sasuke, Mark reluctantly gave Oka information about Wayne Manor and how to strike at Bruce, which is why he cut off his own finger in disgrace. Having last minute second thoughts about his actions, Mark showed up to defend Bruce. After Mark dies at the hospital, Batman immediately travels to Japan to take on the Yakuza. In Tokyo, Batman saves Mark’s meddling daughter Rachel from Yakuza before getting slashed-up by their top hitman, the Dark Knight’s former mentor Tsunetomo. When Rachel and Michi are both kidnapped by the Yakuza, Batman dons his special camouflage cape and cowl (going white) to invade their snowy mountain stronghold. Batman defeats Tsunetomo in a sword-fight, after which Tsunetomo reveals that he is dying of cancer and impales himself on Batman’s blade, claiming his final wish was to die with honor by the hand of his best student. Meanwhile, Rachel kills the Yakuza boss. Yamada arrives, revealing his true nature—that of a power-hungry would-be killer. Batman arrives just in time to bust Yamada. With the case wrapped, Batman and Rachel return to the States along with Michi and a son that Mark had fathered with Michi.

–Detective Comics #608-609 (“ANARKY IN GOTHAM CITY”)
The September setting must be ignored. Batman brings some earplugs to stalks punk rocker Johnny Vomit, who sells drugs out of a music venue when he’s not performing on stage. Enter Lonnie Machin aka Anarky, a new politically-leftist (albeit leaning libertarian) social justice vigilante. Having heard about Vomit from complaints about him in the “Letters to the Editor” section of the newspaper, Anarky takes out Vomit, leaving him for Batman and the cops. While Batman patrols, Anarky films himself punishing a corrupt industrialist, leaving the video for all to see on the morning news. When Batman finally meets the new antihero face-to-face, he punches Anarky in the gut and it nearly kills him. Why? Because Anarky is only twelve-years-old (!)—son of concerned adoptive parents Mike Machin and Roxanne Machin. This little radical will escape juvie to give Batman countless headaches many times in the future.^[6]

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #620. Batman tells Tim all about Anarky.

–NOTE: In Flash Special #1. In the 27th century, the US National Academy of Science sends scientist John Fox back in time to recruit the Flashes of 1996 (should actually read 2001) to help out with a super-villain situation in the future. Fox’s mission is a failure, but the time-traveling process endows him with super speed. Fox returns to the 27th century and defeats the evil threat. Eventually, Flash (Wally West) travels to the 27th Century and meets Fox, but gets temporarily stuck there. Fox then travels back to 2001. While Wally is away, Fox becomes his temporary replacement as Flash.

–Batman #443-444
WayneTech has been struggling financially ever since Bruce’s arrest for treason last year in ‘tec #598. At the office, Bruce overhears Lucius Fox take a phone call from famous scientist Dr. Jeffrey Fraser, a man that might be able to turn the company around. After nightfall, Batman busts some muggers, during which we get erroneous narrative saying that the Wayne murders occurred twenty years ago. (They were killed thirty years ago.) At Wayne Manor, Bruce continues to train Tim by giving him pointers about detective work. Tim asks when he can don the Robin costume again, but Bruce tells him he’s not even close to earning that yet. Bruce assigns Tim to train with Alfred for a little bit, and if Alfred says he’s done well, then the “real workout” can begin. Later, Bruce rings Lucius after hours (waking him and his wife Tanya Fox), encouraging him to hire Fraser. Afterward, Batman roughs up some curious thieves trying to rob a warehouse. The next day, Bruce and Lucius pitch an offer to Fraser, who is joined by his lovely assistant Maya (also called Raya, which is likely an error). Switching to fighting togs, Batman visits Commissioner Gordon for intel before continuing the warehouse case by going on a stakeout in a homeless disguise. Batman then shakes down the rest of the robbers, learning that they’ve all been guided by the Dr. Mabuse-esque mastermind known as The Crimesmith. When the Crimesmith remotely kills one of the goons before they can spill anymore beans, GCPD Detective Dana Hanrahan arrives to get a debriefing from Batman and clean up the mess. The next day, after work at WayneTech, Bruce schools Tim, who presumably has been given a good report by Alfred. They do more detective training, followed by weight training. Tim tells Bruce a little about his parents. Upon discovering a clue that connects Fraser to the Crimesmith, Batman adds liquid helium capsules, a mirror, and laser-scanning headgear to his utility belt rotation before heading out to infiltrate the villain’s deadly fortress. As Batman evades various death traps, Fraser is accidentally killed by one of them. Unbeknown to Batman, the real brain behind the operation (and true Crimesmith) was actually Fraser’s assistant Maya, who gets away scot-free. While the story hints at future appearances by the Crimesmith, even ending with a classic “The End?” caption, we’ll never see her again. Definitely a wise choice on her part.

–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1. Tim continues his training. This lesson involves several rounds of actual hand-to-hand combat.

–Detective Comics #610-611 (“SNOW AND ICE”)
Penguin fakes his own death (seemingly dropping dead from natural causes in his Gotham Penitentiary cell), after which flamboyant, ridiculous, and televised celebrity funeral is held in accordance with his will. The priest even gives a “loud, bird-like squawk to end the ceremony” much to the disinterested eye-rolls of the departing crowd. Penguin has been able to fake his own demise by slipping into a death-like trance hypnotically-induced by Mortimer Kadaver. While Batman attends Penguin’s wake at The Ritz Hotel, Penguin’s henchmen break Kadaver out of prison so he can revive their boss. Penguin then unwillingly teams-up with Kadaver, who has the ability to send him in and out of a comatose state. Batman eventually realizes Penguin is still alive after the villain robs a gangster’s stockpile of cocaine and diamonds from The Ritz. While robbing a bank, Penguin shoots Kadaver point-blank in the chest. (Kadaver survives, but we won’t see him for a long time.) Batman then easily busts Penguin.

–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1. Batman lets Tim watch and hear him via hidden camera and microphone while on late-night patrol in order to teach his protégé lessons on crime-fighting.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Green Arrow: The Poison Tomorrow. Batman reads the photo science journals of the famed Dr. Efrem Parsons.

–Justice League America #34
Justice League comedy reprieve! Booster and Beetle (and Green Lantern Kilowog) are up to their old tricks again as they embezzle all of the League funds and put the money into a gigantic superhero-themed island resort & casino in the middle of the Pacific. Max Lord becomes apoplectic when he finds out about “Club Justice League,” but Batman actually seems slightly amused, maybe due to the fact that League business is beginning to matter less and less to him these days. The extravagant(ly tacky) club immediately goes bankrupt when villains Major Disaster and Big Sir win big at blackjack. But before Booster and Beetle can even begin to panic, the entire resort crumbles in an earthquake. An unhappy Aquaman shows up and angrily reveals that the duo has built their enterprise on the living island of Kooey Kooey Kooey. The sentient colossus and the local tribal chief aren’t too happy about it either.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #634. Batman learns that Lady Shiva knows how to do the same deadly chest-penetrating martial arts strike that both he and famous contract killer Andrev know how to do. Batman also learns that top international hitman Hattori knows how to do the maneuver as well. The Dark Knight also somehow confirms that only he and these three others know how to do the move. This means they all trained with the same undisclosed master at some point.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Shadow of the Bat #15. Bob Laney becomes Wayne Enterprises new Head of Acquisitions. 

–REFERENCE: In Batman #487 Part 2. Batman and Robin make it a rule that, under no circumstances, will they wear their costumes inside Wayne Manor.

–REFERENCE: In Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #8. Late March. Since Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #8 is linked to Armageddon 2001, it has to take place a little later. However, the annual meeting between Batman and Superman to commemorate Harrison Grey’s death (which is mentioned in Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #8) must still occur here and now.

–Batman #445-447 (“WHEN THE EARTH DIES!”)
Early April. Just as he’s done before, Marv Wolfman begins this arc with the Caped Crusader taking down some random one-shot villain with a generic name. This time it’s “Slasher.” Anyway, like any super-villain worth a damn, KGBeast has a protégé that strives to out-do him: Gregor Dosynski aka NKVDemon. However, unlike KGBeast, NKVDemon is too lazy to come all the way to the US, so Batman has to fly to Moscow to confront him. (As always, all mentions of the Soviet regime should be ignored.) Before departing, Batman tasks Alfred with looking into Tim’s ever-absent parents. In Russia, Bruce gets shown around by clingy government liaisons and runs into Vicki Vale, whom he hasn’t seen since last year. (In a major continuity error, Bruce and Vicki say that they only met a year ago, acting like they aren’t that familiar with one another, but they’ve definitely been close for over a decade now.) Backed by the Moscow City Police, Batman fights NKVDemon—who kills government officials wantonly—to an initial stalemate. Fight #2 ends with more murders and Batman getting his ass kicked badly. Fight #3 ends in another stalemate with more government officials sent to their graves. Following a date with Vicki, Bruce suits up in his Bat-togs one final time to bring down NKVDemon while saving the life of the Russian president (shown here as Mikhail Gorbachev, but it should be Vladimir Putin thanks to sliding-time). The Moscow City Police kills NKVDemon. Keeping up appearances, Bruce purchases a factory before heading back to the States. Notably, this story supposedly ends on Earth Day/Lenin’s birthday (April 22). However, this is an impossibility due to the editorial compression of the year. Basically, we can keep the snowy April setting, but it’s only early April.

–REFERENCE: In Green Lantern Vol. 3 #1. Hot-headed Guy Gardner levels some buildings on 8th Avenue in Manhattan, wrongly convinced they are “vice dens.” It’s unclear if Batman is present or just hears about this disaster.

–Green Lantern Vol. 3 #1
Green Lantern Hal Jordan visits Justice League Embassy in NYC to say hello. Hal is warmly welcomed by Batman and the crew, who practically beg him to replace Guy Gardner on the team. Hal declines and begins a soul-searching journey across America, starting in West Virginia where he reconnects with Rose Lewis Hardin and her son Toby Hardin. Meanwhile, John Stewart has a complete breakdown—an emotional rehash of his failure during last year’s Cosmic Odyssey. In West Virginia, an angry and jealous Guy Gardner confronts Hal and they duel. Hal gains the upper hand before the fight is stopped prematurely by Rose, who makes both men leave. PS. This issue notes that Hal has been a GL for fifteen years, which if we take at face value, means that he was a hero two years before Batman debuted, which is incorrect. Fifteen should read twelve.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League America #39. Mr. Miracle is seemingly killed by Despero. However, the Mr. Miracle that was killed by Despero was actually a robot duplicate sent to fill-in for the real Mr. Miracle while he is on an “intergalactic promotional tour” with Manga Khan and others. Scott had no choice but to participate in the ruse because he owed Khan a favor.

–Mister Miracle Vol. 2 #16
Mr. Miracle continues on his intergalactic tour with Manga Khan, L-Ron, Oberon, and Funky Flashman. While this group remains temporarily stranded on the Brobdingnagian planet Colossopolis, a saddened JLA mourns the death of Mr. Miracle at the NYC embassy, not knowing the deceased is actually a robot. Meanwhile, Big Barda draws the unwanted attention of her nosy suburban neighbors (Andy, Wally, Kathy Ferbel, and Ed Ferbel). Having joined a phony militant animal rights group led by manipulative villains Robert Gashe and Mr. Cutler, Big Barda destroys a warehouse full of nerve gas destined for animal testing and gets thrown in jail. There, Mr. Miracle’s PR manager Ted Brown (son of original Mr. Miracle Thaddeus Brown) visits her and delivers the news about her husband’s supposed death.

–Justice League America #40-42
This item picks up immediately after Mister Miracle Vol. 2 #16. Mr. Miracle’s funeral occurs in issue #40 (and is also shown in Mister Miracle Vol. 2 #17). A small gathering of heroes—including Batman, Nightwing, Green Arrow, and Booster Gold (who has left the JL to join Max Lord’s ex-wife Claire Montgomery‘s shady super-team known as The Conglomerate)—mourn Mr. Miracle’s “death” at the hands of Despero. Little do they know, Mr. Miracle is actually alive and well, his robot duplicate having died in his place. Notably, in issue #40, we enter Despero’s twisted mind and are able to see a vision of his “happiness.” Naturally, it’s the destruction of the Earth bit by bit, including a panel which depicts, among other various cataclysms, the collapsing of the Twin Towers in NYC! Bear in mind, this was written in 1990. Long before 9/11 (or 1990, or even the 1993 bombing, for that matter), the World Trade Center (or a thinly-veiled analogue) had been the target of Bat-adjacent comic book destruction. While calling for Bruce Wayne’s head, the villainous Bill Jensen nearly toppled Gotham City’s version of the Twin Towers way back in 1979 (in Adventure Comics #461 Part 3) and a future Batman was shown figuring into the destruction of the WTC in 1986 (in Hex #11). Pretty wild stuff. It’s also worth mentioning that Batman has now attended two separate fake funerals this year (one for Penguin and one for Mr. Miracle). After Mr. Miracle’s funeral, Superman expresses his concern to Batman that the JLA is too weak. Batman is in no mood for conversation and gives him the brush-off, but Max Lord agrees and soon (in issue #42) begins a full-scale membership drive to increase manpower. Gypsy turns down an offer to join from Martian Manhunter. El Diablo (Rafael Sandoval), flanked by pals Hector Enriquez and
Chuy Salinas, turn down Fire and Blue Beetle. Starman (Will Payton) turns down Guy Gardner. Hawk and Dove turn down Huntress and Ice. Martian Manhunter asks Batman to switch to full-time, but he’s just fine staying part-time. Despite all the rejections, good news comes as, much to the surprise of everyone, Mr. Miracle returns. Sticking by his side is L-Ron, who, by association, becomes a de facto JL member/mascot. Out of the blue, Lightray and Orion officially join the team as well!

–Green Lantern Vol. 3 #9
The Guardians decide that three Green Lanterns in Sector 2814 is too many. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Guardians appoint Guy Gardner as the sole official Green Lantern of Earth, mostly due to his connection to the Justice League. John Stewart is given a gig in Oa’s “Mosaic City” while Hal Jordan is made an intergalactic recruiter for the Corps. The pumped Gardner immediately goes to the JLA’s NYC Embassy to brag about his new position, but either no one cares or no one believes him. In fact, Batman, Blue Beetle, and Martian Manhunter are having a meeting—and, when Gardner’s ruckus interrupts them, J’onn exclaims, “Would you mind keeping it down? Some of us in here are trying to be real superheroes.” Gardner then tries to show his excitement to Max Lord, who is more concerned with the team’s dental plan and figuring out why their recent recruitment drive failed so miserably. Gardner then makes a public declaration, reintroducing himself to the populace of Earth as the one-and-only Green Lantern. Following this, Gardner begins a global campaign of hero-ing that is actually more of a reign of mischief and bad ideas. Green Lantern G’nort then arrives, much to the chagrin of Gardner, with claims that he will also be a Green Lantern in Sector 2814.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League America #52. Batman visits the JL NYC Embassy, but he’s become sick of going there, so much so that he gets knots in his stomach when he arrives. Batman’s disdain and uneasiness toward the shenanigans that regularly occur at the embassy will only augment over time.

–Detective Comics #612-614
These three issues are Alan Grant one-shots. In issue #612, Catman’s tiger gets loose and starts mauling people, thus attracting Batman’s attention. When Catwoman gets mistakenly blamed for the tiger situation, she targets Catwoman. Eventually, Batman takes down the tiger while Catwoman clears her name. In issue #613, Bruce goes on a date with Vicki Vale. He’s very into making something serious happen with her, but they simply are not on that level. Issue #613 quickly morphs into Grant’s bizarre commentary about pollution (maybe?), featuring a turf war between rival sanitation companies, one of which is run by the corrupt Tony Kruden, whom Batman knows about from his Bat-computer database (and from his vast knowledge about Gotham’s municipal workers). One of Kruden’s driver’s, Mike Riley, cameos. At Freshfields Landfill, the sanitation skirmish tragically ends with the deaths of Kruden and an innocent 13-year-old boy. In issue #614, Batman busts members of one of the oldest and largest biker gangs in Gotham, the Street Demonz. When Bruce was just a kid, the Demonz beat him up, so this is a bit of long-awaited revenge. After taking down Skorp and the Demonz, Batman decides to help out twelve-year-old gang members Jon Konik, Chico Mendez, Larry Doofner, and Leroy Snood. Bruce partners with the I Have a Dream Foundation, helping sponsor the needy teens by paying for their college tuition. Bruce promises to be personally involved in their lives, moving forward, but he won’t really have the time. This issue feels like a really pathetic after-school special and even ends with a splash page featuring a grinning Batman posed in front of the American flag! That image alone makes me yearn for the sophistication of Starlin’s run in ’88, and makes me wonder why DC reverted back to using these hacky Grant scripts.

–REFERENCE: In The New Titans #65. Tim surprises Dick by showing up on his doorstep. Bruce has sent him to train with the original Robin.

–Suicide Squad #40-43 (“THE PHOENIX GAMBIT”)
Amanda Waller has just finished serving what we are told has been a yearlong jail sentence for illegally using the Suicide Squad in a personal matter against a drug cartel. (Of course, time-compression has made her jail-term last closer to just under four months long.) Since Waller’s incarceration, the US government has officially ended the Suicide Squad program. Meanwhile, the Eastern European country of Vlatava has fallen into civil war, pitting right wing rebels—backed by Count Vertigo—against the communist Vlatavan government—led by General Kaligari and backed by Russia’s Red Shadows (Major Zastrow, Molotov, Bolshoi, Lady Flash, Gregor Gregorovich, Boleslaw Uminski, and Stalnoivolk). Batman finds himself drawn into the international conflict when Stalnoivolk kills a Vlatavan national in a Gotham shipyard. Batman fights Stalnoivolk, who flees just as Sargent Steel arrives. Representing the US government, Steel also has a vested interest in the Vlatavan conflict. Batman accompanies Steel to Belle Reve to meet with inmate Waller. In exchange for a full presidential pardon (and a lot of money), Waller agrees to reform the Suicide Squad (as a mercenary group), which will secretly support Vertigo’s rebels. While Batman has given Waller and Steel nothing but grief in the past, they not only want his blessing, but his help as well. Therefore, Waller cuts a deal that allows Batman to help choose new members of the Suicide Squad in exchange for aiding him in the capture of Stalnoivolk. Thus, Batman agrees to tag along. While Waller recruits Vixen, Bronze Tiger, and Captain Boomerang, Batman recruits Poison Ivy, who had temporarily taken over the South American nation of Puerto Azul. (For the next six months, Poison Ivy will split time between Arkham Asylum and going on missions for Waller.) Batman also studies up on cult leader Ravan before traveling to London to forcibly recruit him. In Paris, the Suicide Squad reassembles (along with Batman) for a briefing. In Vlatava, most of the Suicide Squad pretends to join up with the Russians while Vixen infiltrates Kaligari’s HQ and Captain Boomerang (disguised as Batman) gets captured by Bolshoi. Meanwhile, Deadshot confronts Waller, having been hired by White Dragon (William Heller) to kill her. Instead, Deadshot rejoins the Suicide Squad. Poison Ivy gets Vertigo to join the Suicide Squad as well. Concurrently, Batman travels to Washington DC to shake down General Stoneman, a corrupt member of the US National Security Council that has been manipulating events on behalf of his mystery boss, who is revealed to be White Dragon. Batman hustles across town just in time to witness Deadshot shoot (non-fatally) White Dragon on Waller’s orders. In Vlatava, Vixen and Bronze Tiger apprehend Stalnoivolk while the rest of the Suicide Squad brings down Kaligari and Zastrow. (Zastrow is revealed to have been manipulating events in an effort to unseat the Russian president with a more hard-liner. In 1990, at the time of publication, this would have made sense with Boris Yeltsin in charge. But, thanks to sliding-time, it’s 2001, so there’s already a hard-liner in office: Vladimir Putin. I guess Zastrow has beef with Putin.) The next day, Batman debriefs with Waller and Steel. Thus ends an excellent Ostrander arc that is definitely not to be missed.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Green Arrow: The Poison Tomorrow. Batman completes an unspecified case. In the process, Batman helps expert forensic analyst Dr. Albert Lyle. Batman tells Lyle he owes him one.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #634. Batman saves the life of the daughter of a top government agent named Briggs.

THE PENGUIN AFFAIR
———————–Batman #448
———————–Detective Comics #615
———————–Batman #449
Penguin escapes prison again and rejoins his crew, consisting of diminutive mechanical genius Harold Allnut and lady bodyguard Lark. (The mute hunchback Harold will eventually become a member of the Bat-Family, but that’s a story for another time.) In this ludicrously campy Wolfman/Grant story, Penguin forces Harold to invent a technology with which he is able to control large flocks of birds. With this Hitchcockian nightmare, Penguin commits several remote atrocities, resulting in the death of hundreds. While pondering Penguin’s true motives, Batman plays online chess, at which Alfred scoffs. (Alfred doesn’t play chess, nor does he like it, and Bruce won’t be able to convince him to play for years.) Batman also works out the case details with a still-in-training Tim, who is referred to as a thirteen-year-old but, thanks to compression and sliding-time, should only be eleven-going-on-twelve at this juncture. As Penguin kidnaps a TV soap opera star with whom he’s fallen in love, the birds keep causing mass death events across the city. Unknown to all, one such event, a tragic plane crash, inadvertently causes the resurrection of the ancient evil demigod C’th. Soon afterward, the birds not only wreck a Batmobile, but they also briefly swarm into Wayne Manor and the Batcave. Eventually, Tim comes up with the idea to track Penguin’s movements using a WayneTech satellite. Batman commissions the Tailor to quickly create a heavily-padded beak-proof version of the Bat-costume (as referenced in the second feature to Detective Comics #789). After locating Penguin’s hideout, Batman—in his new padded costume—shuts down Penguin’s attempt to auction off his bird control tech to terrorists. Batman defeats Penguin in a final showdown, learning that Harold had betrayed his boss in the end.

–Detective Comics #616-617
Detective Comics #616 picks up directly from Batman #449. The ancient evil demigod C’th makes his presence known by killing people along the path of underground ley-lines. These “dragon lines” are connected to the flow of Earth’s energy and are the key to ultimate power. If you know anything about the occult or have read Foucault’s Pendulum or Good Omens (or countless other books) then you’ll know this. Pretty cool stuff—too bad it’s poorly written. I hate to shit on Alan Grant so much, but having the ley-lines coincidentally run both under Wayne Manor and under the home of this issue’s main one-shot character is ridiculous. Also, Batman is able to defeat C’th with greater ease than we’ve seen… well, maybe ever. Are you seriously telling me that the Street Demonz are a tougher fight than a real demon? Sheesh. (This fight is also shown via flashback from The Demon Vol. 3 #12.) During issue #616, Batman also hears a radio report that the “Red Hood” has been committing robberies in Gotham. Curious, Batman becomes nervous about that fact that Joker hasn’t reared his head since “A Death in the Family” last year. In issue #617, after busting up a robbery at a fortune teller’s, Batman gets his tarot read by the psychic, Cassandra, and we randomly segue into a flashback Joker story from “three years ago.”

–REFERENCE: In Robin Vol. 2 #70. Batman continues training Tim, starting him off on a course in how to use a bow and arrow. This course will last for at least a few weeks (although we won’t see it physically listed on our timeline below).

–Batman #450-451
Joker hasn’t felt like his old self ever since almost being killed during the events of “A Death in the Family.” Besides secretly manipulating Two-Face earlier in the year, the Clown Prince of Crime has been unmotivated to make a return to outlandish public crime. Willing to try anything to restore the feeling, Joker has recently taken to donning the familiar ruby dome of the Red Hood and mugging people on the streets (hence the radio reports about the return of the Red Hood in ‘tec #616). However, when a fake Joker (Curtis Base) commits a public murder, the nearly catatonic real Joker becomes bewildered and distraught, fumbling around his dirty home in search of his Red Hood helmet. (A TV news reporter says incorrectly that Joker disappeared several months ago, but he’s actually been off the grid for over a year at this point.) The sequence of Joker clawing through his hoarded apartment reads a little bit as if Joker has only now decided to try doing Red Hood robberies. Of course, the depressed and confused Joker has already recently committed a few Red Hood robberies (in the aforementioned ‘tec #616). Joker commits another Red Hood mugging, but his stunt serves only to further bum him out. (Note that Batman has the original Red Hood helmet in the Batcave, so the helmet that Joker wears in this tale must be a different one.) Worried about Joker, Bruce donates to Tim’s school, which sends him on a class trip to Japan. When the fake Joker commits more public crimes, all while telling awful vaudeville jokes with a flair for the overly dramatic and bad puns, Commissioner Gordon and Batman quickly realize the culprit isn’t the genuine article (even though the news media can’t tell the difference). Fearing that his reputation will be ruined, the real Joker is finally inspired to re-emerge as his old self. Batman and Joker separately stalk the Base’s henchmen. Meanwhile, Base has become so obsessed with his role, he actually believes he can become the new permanent Joker. What follows is a brief confrontation involving Gordon, Dana Hanrahan, and both Jokers. Shortly thereafter, the Base lures the real Joker, Gordon, and Batman to the historical birthplace of the villain: Ace Chemicals. A fight breaks out and Base reveals his plan: to dive into the chemical vats in order to transform completely into a legitimate super-villain. Base takes his glorious Olympic dive and is immediately killed in the toxic sludge! Gordon and Batman confront Joker for the first time since The Killing Joke and “A Death in the Family,” respectively. And do they ever want to capitally punish him on the spot, but you know how it is—by the book, gentlemen, by the book. Joker goes back to Arkham Asylum.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Nightwing: Bloodborne. May 9. Bruce, via Alfred, sends a flower arrangement to Dick to commemorate the anniversary of the deaths of the Flying Graysons. Bruce will do this per annum, moving forward.

–Black Orchid #2
First, this item must go after Batman #451 (in which Joker is incarcerated). Second, we must ignore the specific autumn setting. Black Orchid (Susan Linden) has just been murdered by her husband Carl Thorne. The violent Thorne also kills Susan’s friend Professor Philip Sylvian, after which two Plant Elemental/DNA clones of Susan are born (thanks to Sylvian’s sci-fi botany). The first clone hybrid, called Flora, becomes the new Black Orchid. The second clone hybrid, called Suzy, becomes her sidekick. Shortly thereafter, Lex Luthor and his cronies abduct Thorne, chain him up, and dump him in the river. The new Black Orchid and Suzy reluctantly save Thorne (although Luthor’s men will soon finish the job they started). Hoping to learn details about their mysterious origins, the confused Black Orchid and Suzy seek out Sylvian’s friends (Swamp Thing, Floronic Man, and Poison Ivy). In Gotham City, Black Orchid briefly chats with Batman, who arranges for her to visit Poison Ivy at Arkham Asylum. There, Black Orchid sees Joker, Dr. Phosphorus, and Dr. Destiny and actually has conversations with Two-Face, Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch), and Poison Ivy. Later, Batman instructs Black Orchid to travel south to meet Swamp Thing. Meanwhile, two henchmen working for Luthor abduct Suzy.

–Legends of the World’s Finest #1
This mini-series is nearly impossibly to place, but—on account of a Riddler appearing throughout—its final issue should go prior to Batman #452-454. Scottish teenager Branwyn McDougal (of the Clan McDougal, relative to Siobhan McDougal aka Silver Banshee) finds a thousand-year-old magickal tome while exploring a tiny island off the coast of the Outer Hebrides. The book releases the ancient demon known as Tullus the Damned. Tullus wants to summon old pal Silver Banshee to help him break free of his master, the demoness Blaze, who he refers to as the ruler of Hell. This requires a point of clarification. Blaze is actually the ruler of Purgatory (aka Limbo aka The Ghost Zone aka The Phantom Zone) at the moment, whereas the sovereignty of Hell is currently held by the triumvirate of Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Belial (Etrigan’s father).^[7] Unfortunately for Tullus, Silver Banshee is currently trapped in Limbo. Undeterred, Tullus simply turns Branwyn into the new Silver Banshee! Tullus and the new Banshee strategize a way to defeat Blaze before using magick to spy on Superman and Batman, the latter seen chasing after an escaped Riddler. Sensing that Tullus will try to recruit Superman and Batman against her, Blaze possesses Man-Bat and has him attack Superman. The Man of Steel dispatches Man-Bat and flies to Gotham to meet Batman, who has just busted Two-Face and his number one henchman Charlie, who dies. Superman helps Batman apprehend some thugs and they chat about Man-Bat. Both heroes reveal that they have recently had terrible nightmares. Later, wouldn’t ya know it, Tullus appears to Superman in a nightmare and convinces him to help out by starting a spell that will slowly cause Superman to fall under his control over the course of the next three weeks.

–World’s Finest #1-3^[8][9]
This gorgeously illustrated Dave Gibbons/Steve Rude tale is extremely hard to place. Bruce, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Babs, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lucy Lane (Lois’ sister, who is currently dating Jimmy), and Perry White attend a gala benefit at Reverend Oliver Monks and Reverend Adam Fulbright‘s Midway Orphanage (an orphanage literally midway between Metropolis and Gotham), which is set to open in days. Many of the Midway orphans are present, including Annie Gray and Zachary Sikes. Later, an escaped Joker (with Tweedledum and Tweedledee) causes public havoc in Metropolis while Lex Luthor exacts his more subtle style of crime in Gotham. Since the villains have decided to temporarily switch cities, the heroes soon follow suit. (There’s supposedly a month-and-a-half-long ellipsis here, between issue #1 and issue #2, but we must ignore that since we just don’t have room for it on our highly compressed timeline.) In Gotham, Superman deals with Luthor, who keeps using his means to force people into selling their property to him. In Metropolis, Batman fights Joker and the Tweeds by day and goes on an interview date with Lois by night. After conversing with Perry White, Bruce quickly learns that Luthor is somehow in cahoots with both Joker and Reverend Monks. (Monks has inexplicably sold some Gotham real estate to Joker.) The next day, Bruce chases Joker away from an autograph-seeking child on the street. Bruce gives the kid a Wayne Enterprises address, telling him to write in for Batman’s autograph. (We can assume Batman sends the kid an autograph before the end of this story.) Later, at the Daily Planet building, Bruce and Clark pool investigation notes, discovering that Monks likely faked the death of his adoptive father, Byron Wylie, who had been jailed for using shelters as fronts for running teenage criminal gangs. At a Midway Orphanage party (ignore the Xmas setting), Batman and Superman expose Monks, who had been setting into motion a similar Wylie-esque teen gang scheme for Joker and Luthor. Wylie makes his dramatic return, burning down the orphanage. Monks dies in the fire. Later, Superman gives Batman the tone-deaf gift of a VHS copy of The Mark of Zorro. (There’s supposed to be another ellipsis here, this one a week long, but it must again be ignored. And seasonal specificity should also be ignored.) With their plan kaput, Joker and Luthor end their partnership by attacking one another. Luthor blows up all of Joker’s Gotham properties while Joker causes a major Metropolis power blackout, which gets blamed on LexCorp. After saving lives in Gotham, Batman and Superman bust the Tweeds in Metropolis, learning that Joker has sabotaged one of Luthor’s nuclear power plants. Superman throws the reactor into space just before it explodes. Joker gets away, but not before Luthor warns him never to cross him again. Naturally, there is no evidence of Luthor’s involvement in any criminal activity. Afterward, The Daily Planet coins the term “World’s Finest” for the Earth’s most famous heroes. There’s an epilogue to World’s Finest #3, but it occurs near the summer solstice. Since that is coming up in about a month, we can actually keep that seasonal specificity. Therefore, we’ll get to the epilogue a bit later.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #683 Part 2. Batman smashes the Batmobile into a Crime Alley chop shop, busting a crooked mechanic inside.

–REFERENCE: In Ms. Tree Quarterly #1 Part 3 and Batman: Gotham Knights #1. Batman struggles with an escaped Penguin for four straight days, eventually putting him and his henchman Dio Viella behind bars. (I’ve taken the liberty of combining these two items.)

–Ms. Tree Quarterly #1 Part 3
This is Denny O’Neil’s prose story entitled “The Name.” Bruce and Alfred hobnob at a fancy party at the home of Anders Cawthen to commemorate the discovery of a manuscript that once belonged to the despicable Order of the Black Rose, a 15th century occult group of which one of Alfred’s ancestors was a member. Upon returning home to Wayne Manor, Alfred is kidnapped by unknown men. Batman quickly studies all the Bat-computer files he has on Cawthen (yes, he has detailed files on him). Then, Batman visits Cawthen, who is in the midst of trying to decode the manuscript’s text to reveal the name of the man who betrayed and brought down the Order—either Alfred’s relative or a relative of Texas businessman Randall Maxwellian. Batman learns that British industrialist Acton Haliburt wishes to kill the ancestor of this Benedict Arnold and, accordingly, orchestrated the kidnappings of both Alfred and Maxwellian. Batman also learns that Cawthen is terminally ill and could die within hours. After chatting with Commissioner Gordon, Batman locates and crashes his way into Haliburt’s hideout, beating up Haliburt’s henchmen with ease to rescue both Alfred and Maxwellian. Just as Cawthen dies, he deciphers the code, entering the name of the betrayer into his computer, which is being remotely monitored by Haliburt. Batman destroys the remote monitoring station. Only Batman knows the name, but he opts to keep it to himself.

–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #630. The FBI loops in Commissioner Gordon and Batman to assist with a case. Notorious metahuman gangster Stiletto (Saul Calvino), who Batman knows a little about from his Bat-computer criminal database, has escaped from a Florida prison’s Death Row. (It’s mentioned that Stiletto’s execution date is set to occur in three months, specifically on March 15. Three months is gospel, but we aren’t anywhere near March, so that should be ignored.) Making matters messier, the conjoined twin mobsters collectively known as Two Tone have been hired to execute Stiletto. (By the way, one of the conjoined twins is Black and the other is white. You figure that one out.) Batman travels to Florida only to nearly get killed in a bomb blast from Two Tone. Back in Gotham, Batman continues his investigation, soon getting in a protracted battle against Two Tone, all while having to protect Stiletto. After besting Two Tone, Batman plans to drive Stiletto back down to Florida, but when Riddler (having escaped from Arkham Asylum) causes a distraction, Batman has no choice but to change his focus. Batman turns Stiletto over to the Florida State Police (much to the chagrin of the FBI). Stiletto quickly escapes custody.

–FLASHBACK: From Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1. I’ve taken the liberty of connecting this item to our previous one. Tim solves an online Riddler puzzle on the Batcave computer, thus ensuring the villain’s apprehension. Riddler then goes back to Arkham Asylum. Bruce is so impressed, he can’t help but grin from ear to ear.

–REFERENCE: In Batman #462. A West Coast branch of the Wayne Foundation opens up. While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, Bruce will be involved in its proceedings, taking various meetings pertaining to the venture over the course of the next couple months.

–Batman 3-D (aka Batman 3D)
In this 3D story entitled “Ego Trip,” Penguin, Two-Face, Joker, and Riddler all escape Arkham Asylum together.^[10] Penguin’s then doses his grade-school rival Hardiman Twine with a hallucinogenic drug, causing him to commit suicide. Knowing full well that Twine is already dead, Penguin offers a contest to his fellow rogues to see who can kill Twine first. Once Twine’s body turns up, Batman proceeds to take on Riddler and Two-Face, dealing with various death traps setups from each. (This story shows a flashback to Two-Face’s origin, but it incorrectly places the sequence of him getting acid thrown on his face from the courtroom to the street.) Batman busts Riddler only for Joker to immediately break him back out. Joker, Two-Face, and Riddler are each seemingly linked to Twine’s murder, but Batman clears them of the killing, all while putting Joker and Riddler back behind bars. (Notably, Batman busts Joker at an oversized prop warehouse, which includes a giant typewriter, giant bowling pins, and more.) Batman then busts Penguin and Two-Face, solving the mystery in the process.

–REFERENCE: In Showcase ’94 #3. An escaped Riddler gets away clean with a million dollar heist, but as he is wont to do, he obsessively leaves a clue that leads to Batman busting him and sending him back to Arkham Asylum.

–Legends of the World’s Finest #2-3
Three weeks have passed since Legends of the World’s Finest #1. Thanks to the influence of Tullus the Damned, Batman has been having bad nightmares and is now so bothered that he begins begins screwing up patrols and cases, including an investigation into the criminals Poppa Bear Figueroa and Rags Dentine (both of whom he knows about from his Bat-computer database). Shaken by these ever-worsening dreams, Batman stops answering the Bat-Signal. The Dark Knight reluctantly continues the Figueroa case and shakes down Dentine, but the latter gets away, much to the chagrin of Commissioner Gordon. While Batman tries to figure out what is happening to him in the Batcave with Alfred, Superman fills-in, busting Killer Croc and Riddler in Gotham. Tullus, messing with Superman as well, has used his power to make him more and more increasingly out-of-control and violent. Following a tip, Batman and Superman visit Arkham where Joker tells them that Tullus was recently inquiring (via dreams) about using the services of Arkham’s inmates for an upcoming war against Blaze. While Batman does research, an out-of-control Superman joins Tullus, Silver Banshee (Branwyn McDougal), and a bunch of zombies in a direct attack against Blaze and her demon army in Purgatory. Blaze is quickly defeated. Tullus declares himself the new King of Purgatory and says that Superman will wed Silver Banshee. Superman, completely brainwashed, cannot refuse. In Gotham, Batman has a hallucination involving Catwoman, Penguin, and a giant sewer monster before realizing that Tullus is to blame. Batman travels to Scotland where he infiltrates the black wedding between Superman and Banshee, which is held by Tullus and attended by hundreds of zombies and demons. Also present at the supernatural ceilidh are a kidnapped Man-Bat and Lois Lane, who has been reverted into a child by Tullus. A sword-wielding Batman frees Man-Bat and they begin tearing through demons left and right. Tullus opens a Hellmouth, which hundreds of demons pour through. When things look bleak, Blaze (who was hidden inside of Man-Bat) takes over Man-Bat and grows him to the size of Godzilla. Blaze also endows her power into Batman, who turns into a demon-armored super warrior. Super demon Batman fights possessed Superman in an epic battle. Eventually, Superman snaps out of his trance and helps Batman defeat Tullus and send Blaze back to Hell (technically, back to Purgatory). Lois and Branwyn are both altered back to their natural states.

–Batman #452-454 (“DARK KNIGHT, DARK CITY”)
Written by evil genius Peter Milligan (and with amazing Mike Mignola covers), this sordid tale—one of my personal favorites—temporarily turns Riddler from a campy crook into a sadist. Having escaped jail yet again, Riddler runs Batman in circles, putting him in a series of violently bizarre situations. Riddler uses hypnosis to get a woman to commit suicide while Batman is present, hangs a cop (after which Batman performs CPR on the guy), covers Batman in blood, remotely kills one of his own henchmen while said goon is wrestling with Batman, sics an attack dog on Batman (forcing him to kill the animal with a knife), shoves a ping-pong ball down a baby’s throat (upon which Batman performs an emergency tracheotomy to save the infant), and—in front of a live goat—gets Batman to do somersaults to avoid getting burned by a flamethrower. Riddler’s own henchman remarks that he’s never seen him so bloodthirsty before, stating that he’s “starting to make the Joker seem positively sensible.” And how. Batman doesn’t realize it, but, with these manipulated nightmare scenarios, Riddler has tricked him into performing occult rituals in an attempt to summon the demon Barbathos aka Barbatos. As Riddler captures the Caped Crusader, the gothic horror comes to a ghoulish boil as we learn that Riddler has been manipulated and controlled by “Barbatos” (actually the long dead spirit of the Hyper-Adapter). Paradoxically, this is the very same Hyper-Adapter that will eventually fall through time and die in the year 38,000 BCE following its defeat at the End of Time in The Return of Bruce Wayne. This is exactly as perplexing as it sounds. In the end, the spirit of the Hyper-Adapter releases his control over Riddler, who flees. Batman then finds the skeletal bat remains of the Hyper-Adapter. In the presence of the bones, the spirit of the Hyper-Adapter speaks and shows Batman a flashback vision to 1765 where several prominent figures of the time, including Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Wayne (Dr. Simon Hurt), engage in a Barbatos-summoning ritual in which they sacrifice a young woman named Dominique. The seance is technically a failure, although Hurt does come into contact with the defeated Hyper-Adapter in bat form (which he mistakes for Barbatos) as it continues to fall further backward in time. Hurt feasts upon a bit of the flesh of the Hyper-Adapter, which endows him with extended life. Grant Morrison brilliantly retroactively added Hurt to the 1765 scene, which is also re-told with more detail in a flashback from Batman & Robin #16. If you are confused about the falling-back-through-time bits here, don’t pay it too much mind. We’ll address it in great detail later. After witnessing the vision of the past, Batman can’t quite make sense of what he’s seen. Nevertheless, he finds the skeletal remains of Dominique and gives her a proper burial (alongside his parents graves).^[11]

–The Huntress #17-19 (“DAYS OF RAGE”)
Batman targets a mob boss named Rage, chasing him from Gotham City to New York City. In the Big Apple, a bloody gang war has erupted between rival groups thanks to the overzealous actions of an independent vigilante bomber. Rage quells the horrible gang war by unifying rival groups under his umbrella. Having been overwhelmed by the gang war, Huntress actually breathes a sigh of relief when it ends. Of course, when Batman arrives, he couldn’t care less about the gang war’s conclusion. He only has concerns about Rage’s new domination over the underworld. Unsure of what to do, Huntress initially restrains the Dark Knight. Reluctantly, Huntress teams-up with Batman and they apprehend the bomber, a teenager named James Cooper. After Cooper explains that was only trying to escalate the gang war so that the gangs would eliminate each other, Huntress gives Batman an anti-carceral lecture, convincing him to let Cooper go free. Disguised as a homeless man, Batman accompanies Huntress and Cooper as they take Rage and his consolidated gang head-on. While Huntress, Hector Ruiz (aka “The Waterfront Warrior”), and Cooper take down the gangbangers, Batman busts Rage solo. Huntress leaves the defeated gangbangers with Detectives Fiorello and O’Shea of the New York Police Department (NYPD). Later, Huntress packs up her apartment and permanently leaves New York with the stated desire to move out of an urban area. Of course, this won’t go according to plan since Huntress will move back to Gotham shortly. (Note that, as per the Huntress and Huntress Vol. 2 series, Helena Bertinelli originally grew up in New York City. This gets retconned from NYC to Gotham City by several later series, including Huntress: Year One.)

–Justice League Europe #17
The Justice League Europe loses a fight against Angor’s super-villain team known as The Extremists (Lord Havok, Dreamslayer, Dr. Diehard, Gorgon, and Tracer), who then take control of all the world’s nuclear warheads.^[12] Reacting to this act of terrorism, we see President George H W Bush on the phone with Mikhail Gorbachev, but, thanks to sliding-time, this should actually be his son, George W Bush, on the phone with Vladimir Putin. (Actually, the Bushes look enough alike, especially when drawn, so this isn’t particularly jarring.) In New York City, the Extremists attack the United Nations building, prompting Batman to rush to the Big Apple. Feeling threatened and seeing no other option, the UN General Assembly publicly votes to bend the knee to the villains, essentially handing them the keys to the planet. From a few blocks away, Batman learns this news and is disgusted. Several others—including Superman, Hal Jordan, the Doom Patrol, the Global Guardians, Peacemaker, L-Ron, and Cave Carson—learn of the UN’s cowardice as well. After getting a debriefing from newest teammate Blue Jay, the JLE re-challenges the Extremists in Israel. (While not involved in this issue, Silver Sorceress has also recently joined the JLE.) Dreamslayer transports the JLE to the ruins of Angor (Earth-8).

–REFERENCE: In Batman #462. Bruce befriends eccentric collector Richard Rantzen. While we won’t see it listed ahead, every once in a while (in the coming weeks), Bruce will spend some time with Rantzen at one of Gotham’s fancy clubs.

–REFERENCE: In Batman #467. Batman compiles data revealing that murder is the leading cause of death among teens in Gotham. He shares this shocking factoid with Commissioner Gordon.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #629. Batman reads an awful news item about a woman being strangled by her husband.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #8. The events of this flashback (the entirety of Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #8) dovetail with the Batman-less Action Comics #660, which occurs right here-and-now. However, there are some problems in relation to the placement that must be addressed before moving on. This item is said to occur in late March (on the anniversary of Dr. Harrison Grey’s death). However, we aren’t in March, so any references to that date must be ignored. Moving on the synopsis. Batman and Superman prevent Catwoman from stealing plans for an experimental jet from Lex Luthor. The next day, the news reports the shocking death of Luthor, who has apparently died in a plane crash! In actuality, having become gravely ill due to cancer received from Kryptonite radiation poisoning, Luthor has faked his own death and implanted his mind into a 21-year-old cloned version of himself. From the shadows, Luthor, as “Lex Luthor II” begins planning for a shocking return.

–The Demon Vol. 3 #3-4
Good news: Jason Blood has separated from Etrigan. Bad News: Blood is trapped in Hell where he is bullied by Etrigan and Abaddon the Destroyer (and then tortured by the demons Crone and Jyzyl). Etrigan also plots with his mother Ran Va Daath to take control of Hell. Notably, the current rulers of Hell (emphasis on the plural) consist of a triumvirate of demons, which include Lucifer Morningstar, Belial (Etrigan’s father), and Beelzebub. Elsewhere in Hell, Merlin spies on the rebel demon Morax and then warns the triumvirate that Etrigan is scheming against them. In Gotham City, Batman speaks with Commissioner Gordon, vouching for Glenda Mark and Randu Singh, who have been accused of killing Blood. Unfortunately, Batman’s word is no good with DA Richard Jaynes, who officially charges Glenda and Randu with murder and puts them on a fast-track route to trial. Even Bruce Wayne throwing money at the situation is unable to change DA Jaynes’ mind. Meanwhile, Klarion the Witch Boy (Klarion Bleak) and his feline familiar Teekl arrive in Gotham, causing instant chaos. In Hell, Blood is reunited with the deceased Harry Matthews, who was killed by Belial and has been turned into a talking pillow. Etrigan joins forces with Belial, who agrees to start a coup with him.

–Suicide Squad #44
The Atom (Ray Palmer) dies when his apartment mysteriously explodes! Batman and the other heroes attend his funeral and mourn the loss of yet another fallen comrade. (As referenced in Suicide Squad #59, Batman, Superman, and Aquaman agree to do all they can to figure out who killed their comrade. While we won’t see it listed ahead, Batman begins an investigation.) Suicide Squad member Adam Cray becomes the new Atom, having been previously hand selected by Palmer to be his replacement. (SPOILER ALERT: Palmer has actually faked his own death as part of an investigation.) Batman and company will find out about this later on, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. So yeah, another fake funeral for Bats. That’s the third fake one this year! Speaking of funerals, Captain Boomerang attends his mom’s funeral in Australia. There, Boomerang commiserates with family and gets into a spat with his deadbeat dad Wally Wiggins.

–NOTE: In Justice League America Annual #4. This item occurs prior to Justice League Quarterly #2. Max Lord reforms and re-forms the latest rather-pathetic version of the Injustice League into the Justice League Antarctica! The team features G’nort, Big Sir, Clock King (formerly known as The Clock), Cluemaster, Major Disaster, Mighty Bruce, Multi-Man, and Scarlet Skier. (Multi-Man’s unique power is that he is immortal, but every time he dies he is immediately reborn with a new different random superpower. A side-effect of this power is that his head grows larger and his body grows smaller. He is also completely unpredictable and his personality shifts constantly. Amazing character.) As referenced in JLA Secret Files and Origins #2 Part 2, the JLAntarctica donates some stuffed piranha penguins (dealt with on one of their earliest adventures) to the JL trophy room.

–Justice League Quarterly #2
Justice League Antarctica members G’nort and Scarlet Skier go for a swim in the Rio de Janeiro Embassy’s pool, much to the chagrin of bureau chief Ernesto Lopez and his assistant Inez Luisa. Their R&R is interrupted when gigantic cosmic designer Mr. Nebula—a former student of Manga Khan’s (and Scarlet Skier’s former boss)—arrives just outside of Earth’s atmosphere, ready to give the planet a gaudy makeover. G’nort and Scarlet Skier immediately travel to the NY Embassy to report the news. Batman, who happens to be visiting the embassy, hears but a few sentences of their ridiculous report before opting not to get involved. (Thus, Batman has only a wee comedic cameo in this item.) After turning New York into a garish nightmare, the Justice League America and Justice League Europe go into joint action, causing Nebula to vomit up a colossal mess. The heroes then take Nebula to see Las Vegas, upon which he decides that Earth doesn’t require his skills after all. Nebula departs, but not before forcing Scarlet Skier back into his employ.

–Batman: Bride of the Demon
Summer. When a mutilated body turns up in Gotham, Batman IDs the corpse as small-timer Shifty Monahan, whom he knows of from his Bat-computer data files. Batman takes out Monahan’s killer (a League of Assassins member who eats a suicide pill), soon learning of a connection between Ra’s al Ghul and climate change scientist Dr. Brant Carmody. At the Amazon Rainforest lair of Ra’s al Ghul, a disguised Batman watches as Ra’s al Ghul’s team revitalizes aging Hollywood starlet Evelyn Grayce. (In exchange for eternal youth, Evelyn has agreed to marry Ra’s al Ghul and give him a male heir.) Batman flees back to Gotham just in time to intervene in a firefight between Talia’s troops and some cops, during which Dr. Carmody’s son, Brant Jr, is accidentally shot and killed. Batman, Talia, Dr. Carmody travel to the Batcave, which is soon overrun by Ra’s al Ghul’s troops. Tim helps fight them, but Batman is captured. Dr. Carmody freely departs with Ra’s al Ghul, who promises to resurrect his son in exchange for helping him save the ozone layer (at the expense of most human life on the planet). At a League of Assassins stronghold in Antarctica, Batman escapes captivity thanks to some help from Talia. In the process, Batman kills a few League of Assassins technicians (arguably in self-defense). Eventually, Dr. Carmody is killed while pulling his resurrected son out of a Lazarus Pit. Batman, Talia, Evelyn, and Brant Jr flee the base just as it explodes (due to the malfunctioning of Dr. Carmody’s ozone expansion mechanism). Ra’s al Ghul is seemingly killed, but it’s not made clear. (As always, no matter the case, he’ll be back.) Later, in Gotham, Talia talks to Batman and nearly spills the beans about Damian, but she stops short. (Talia mentions the events of Son of the Demon as being their previous encounter before Bride of the Demon, but she—or, rather, writer Mike W Barr—is forgetting they spent time together in last year’s Detective Comics Annual #1.) After they depart, Evelyn tells Talia that she is pregnant with her father’s baby. NOTES: Just like Son of the Demon before it, this item is one of those unfortunate funky continuity stories that takes place on both Earth-85 and Earth-0. Although, like Son of the Demon, there’s plenty of doubt as to it’s full canonicity as originally written. For one thing, we’ll never see or hear from Evelyn again, so we can only speculate what her future holds in store. My guess/fanwank would be that she dies before giving birth. After all, during Brant Jr’s resurrection, the lead scientist mentioned complications. While Evelyn’s restoration of youth occurred in a different Lazarus Pit, the same lead scientist was in charge. It’s possible the same complications happened with her procedure, thus making her body unstable and even unsafe for pregnancy. In any case, it’s a personal headcanon call whether or not Bride of the Demon is canon on the Earth-0 timeline. The story definitely follows-up on the canonized version of Son of the Demon, and there’s a lot of character development for Ra’s al Ghul and Talia that seem to be canonically important, but, narratively, not much gets touched again. I’ve obviously kept it, but, again, it’s up to you!

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Birth of the Demon. This item occurs in the wake of Bride of the Demon. We are also told this item occurs six months prior to the main action of Birth of the Demon., but, due to compression and sliding-time, the most it can occur prior to Birth of the Demon is five months. Onto a synopsis! Batman worries about the inevitable return of Ra’s al Ghul. After learning more about Lazarus Pits by scouring various online databanks, Bruce has the Wayne Foundation funnel a ton of money into arcane studies and geographic research. In hopes of locating hidden Lazarus Pit sites, Bruce even begins funding occult dowsers to search for hidden ley lines across the globe. Some of the clues point to North Africa, so Bruce sends a pair of archeologists to the desert. They don’t find a Lazarus Pit, but they do find an ancient manuscript that contains Ra’s al Ghul’s entire history, written in an ancient nearly-indecipherable form of ancient Chinese. The League of Assassins kills the archeologists, but not before they transmit a scanned copy to their office in Casablanca. Bruce orders his top Wayne Enterprises scientists to begin translating the manuscript (a job that will take five months to complete).

—^[13]

–World’s Finest #3 Epilogue
June 21—this item occurs during “midsummer,” which I’ve taken to mean the summer solstice. The Midway Orphanage—now run solo by Reverend Adam Fulbright—reopens bigger and better than ever. (There must have been metahuman and/or super-technology involved in its construction to get it rebuilt so fast.) Bruce, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Babs, and Perry White attend the faire to celebrate the grand reopening. Later, Perry writes an article about the World’s Finest. Superman continues hounding Lex Luthor in Metropolis while Batman chases after and busts Joker in Gotham City.

–The Demon Vol. 3 #7-8
Having enacted their coup and overthrown Lucifer and Beelzebub, Etrigan and his father Belial prepare to take over as the new co-rulers of Hell. But Etrigan double-crosses his dad and ousts him too. Claiming new rulership alongside his mother Ran Da Vaath and Abaddon the Destroyer, Etrigan is crowned King of Hell. A great coronation ceremony begins, in which billions of demons—including Morax and Lurgo—bend the knee to Etrigan. During the ceremony, captives—Belial, Beelzebub, Lucifer Morningstar, Merlin, and an unconscious Jason Blood—are paraded in front of the guests. Belial and Beelzebub are thrown into the deepest pit of Hell, but Lucifer escapes and flees. Ex-Roman Emperor Caligula is stuffed, cooked, and served on a platter as part of Etrigan’s coronation feast. Merlin is able to wake Blood, who reluctantly re-merges with Etrigan, thus re-controlling the demon (and ending his very short reign as King of Hell). In Gotham City, Glenda Mark and Randu Singh, accused of Blood’s murder, stand trial. With Bruce watching, Klarion the Witch Boy turns the trial into even more of a disaster than it already was. Bruce prevents a court room riot just long enough for Blood to arrive, putting an end to the charade. At Arkham Asylum, Tenzin Wyatt watches the court room drama unfold on TV, vowing to get revenge against Blood. Meanwhile, Batman visits DA Richard Jaynes’ house to find he and his wife (Janet Jaynes) dead. (They’ve been violently butchered by Teekl.) Batman then has a long chat with Blood, who tells him that he’s leaving Gotham for good.

–REFERENCE: In The Demon Vol. 3 #23. Batman tells Tim all about Etrigan and Jason Blood.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #618. Tim’s parents go traveling abroad—first stop Zanzibar, Tanzania. Bruce is made aware of their trip.

—^[14]

–REFERENCE: In Batman #484. Wayne Enterprises begins focusing the majority of its cash flow into new prime real estate ventures in Gotham. As part of this business strategy, Bruce rents to Branston, the most exclusive jeweler in Gotham, who moves into one of Bruce’s new downtown properties.

–REFERENCE: In Starman #34. Batman tackles Shadow King (Roscoe Barrow) and his aptly named Shadow Kings gang (which includes Shadow King’s brother Julius Barrow). When Shadow King becomes immobile from multiple sclerosis, he undergoes an experimental treatment that turns him into a metahuman. While we won’t see it listed on our timeline ahead, Batman will track the Shadow Kings for the next three weeks.

_______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________

<<< PREVIOUS: YEAR TWELVE <<< | >>> NEXT: YEAR 13 Part 2 >>>

1. ^[1]COLLIN COLSHER: Welcome to Bat Year Thirteen. This is the most compressed year for Batman so far, comprising stories from the end of 1989 to the beginning of 1993. So, we are talking almost four years worth of tales that supposedly take up one storyline year (2001). Woof. Because there is so much being squashed-in here, including Tim Drake’s debut as the new Robin, the year has been split into two parts. Part One will comprise the first six months of 2001.↩
2. ^[2]COLLIN COLSHER: Gotham has three NFL (American football) teams—the Wildcats (as referenced in Manhunter #17), Giants (as referenced in Robin II #3), and Goliaths (as referenced in Action Comics #894). Gotham has two definitive MLB (baseball) teams—the Mammoths (as referenced in a quasi-canonical scene in Batman #411) and Knights (as referenced in many comics). The non-canon Atlas of the DC Universe also lists the Griffins as a third Gotham baseball team, so take or leave that one at your own peril. No Gotham NHL (ice hockey) or Gotham NBA (basketball) teams have been specifically named in the Modern Age. However, in Detective Comics #664, a man is seen wearing a shirt with a Gotham Bulls logo on it. This could be Gotham’s basketball team, but it could also be a defunct franchise, minor league team, or even just a designer logo. While on the subject, Metropolis has the following pro sports franchises. Metropolis has two baseball teams—the Monarchs (Superman Vol. 2 #206) and Twins (as referenced in a quasi-canonical scene in Batman #411). Metropolis has three football teams—the Giants (as referenced in The Man of Steel #4), the Meteors (as referenced in many comics), and the Metros (as referenced in Adventures of Superman #550). Metropolis has one official hockey team—the Marauders (as referenced in Nightwing Vol. 2 #102). The non-canon Atlas of the DC Universe also lists the Mammoths as a possible third Metropolis hockey team. At this juncture, Metropolis has two basketball teams—the Generals (as referenced in Action Comics #838) and Monarchs (as referenced in Superman Inc). As referenced in Superman Inc, in a few years, Metropolis will add an expansion basketball team called the Spartans.↩
3. ^[3]COLLIN COLSHER: Following Zero Hour (1994), DC editors seemingly decided that they wanted Tim Drake to remain a “perpetual teenager,” applying the concept of every four years’ worth of publications equalling one in-story year of character aging. Basically, the editors were like, “To hell with continuity, Tim is better as a teen, so we must ensure that he never grows into an adult.” So from 1989 through 2011, Tim will only age 4 years. (From 1994 through 2011, he will only age 3 years.) Of course, this is bogus. In the timespan from 1989 through 2011, writers show significantly more years’ worth of in-story time elapsing via seasons changing, holidays, topical events, and editorial notation. At our current timeline junction (featuring stories published around 1989), DC editorial nods at Tim being 13-years-old. By the time we get to stories published in 2010-2011 (notably Chris Yost’s Red Robin series), DC editorial will be claiming Tim is still “a minor” (implying 17). Essentially, by blindly adhering to the four-as-one rule, DC editorial screws the pooch when it comes to Tim’s age, which is why we will keep seeing him in high school well past a time where he should have already graduated. Contributor Chris Bronson offers a valid explanation to the use of the word “minor” in regard to Tim, pointing out that “minor” can simply mean “under 21-years-old.” Thankfully, via this logic, we don’t have to ignore the use of the term “minor,” but specific incorrect age references are still no good. Moving forward, I will address any following problems regarding Tim’s age as they arise.↩
4. ^[4]COLLIN COLSHER / MARCELO MILLICAY: Notably, the sequence of Superman giving Kryptonite to Batman is also shown via flashback in Chip Kidd and Alex Ross’s “The Trust” (from Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross, 2003). However, “The Trust” is non-canon, taking place only in the 1970s-styled Ross-verse. Therefore, interestingly, there must be a version of “Dark Knight Over Metropolis” that occurs in the Ross-verse. In the main action of “The Trust,” which occurs at some point after Superman gives Batman the Kryptonite, Superman loses control of his senses and begins raging across Metropolis. Batman fashions a Kryptonite dart and goes after him with a dart gun. With some remote guidance from Robin (Dick), Batman tranquilizes the Man of Steel, discovering that Brainiac is responsible for what has occurred. Having regained his composure, Superman joins Batman in busting Brainiac.↩
5. ^[5]COLLIN COLSHER: “Dark Knight Over Metropolis” was published in 1990, at a time that the undeveloped post-Crisis continuity was still being fleshed-out. As such, Batman and Superman don’t seem very trusting of one another, nor do they have the familiarity and closeness with one another that we have been accustomed to seeing on our timeline for the past seven or eight years. It’s not until later stories and retcons (published throughout the 1990s and beyond) that the Modern Age World’s Finest form that bromance we know and love so much. Thus, while not entirely damning in terms of continuity, we should probably read “Dark Knight Over Metropolis” with this firmly in mind, noting that Batman and Superman probably should be a little more buddy-buddy.↩
6. ^[6]COLLIN COLSHER: Anarky Vol. 2 #8 heavily insinuates that Joker is Anarky’s biological father. Creators Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle wanted this to be canon, but higher-ups and classic writers (like Denny O’Neil) were dead-set against it. Thus, the follow-up confirmation (true or false) never happened. DC’s “official” timeline, which is dramatically shorter than mine (see DC’s Version of History for details), makes it impossible for Anarky to have been Joker’s biological son. However, my timeline—which takes into account all narrative in a more nuanced, realistic, and comprehensive manner—is long enough that Anarky could definitely be Joker’s biological son. Either way, we never learn the truth. Another fun fact: Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle originally wanted Anarky to be the third Robin! Of course, that never happened and we got Tim Drake instead.↩
7. ^[7]COLLIN COLSHER: Now seems like a good a time as any to list all of the rulers of Hell. Believe it or not, naming the domini of Hell is an even more onerous task than naming the mayors or commissioners of Gotham. For one thing, the history of the Hell of the DCU was canonically chronicled in both the main Universe-0 books and in several Vertigo books. Since Vertigo operated on its own from the main DCU but still paradoxically contained a ton of canonical material and references, the list isn’t as smooth as others. Nevertheless, I’ve come up with a pretty decent one. Here goes. The first dominus of Hell was Lucifer Morningstar (from The Sandman and Lucifer). Following the events of Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #50, in which Swamp Thing confronted the Great Darkness, Lucifer wound up ruling within a triumvirate, serving with fellow demon kings Beelzebub and Azazel. Belial (Etrigan’s father) then replaced Azazel in the triumvirate. And that brings us up to speed. But let’s keep going, shall we? Spoilers ahead! In the upcoming Demon Vol. 3 #5-7, Belial and Etrigan will dethrone Beelzebub and Lucifer only for Etrigan to betray his father. Thus, a new triumvirate will emerge, featuring Etrigan, Ran Va Daath (Etrigan’s mother), and Abaddon the Destroyer. Following the Etrigan triumvirate’s short reign (which will last less than a day), Hell will fall into feudal chaos with numerous lords warring for control (although Lucifer is definitely at the top of the food chain). Eventually (as seen in The Sandman), Lucifer will depart Hell for good, allowing Dream of the Endless to give the domini title to the Heavenly angels Remiel and Duma. However, despite outward appearances, the rule of Remiel and Duma will be merely nominal—an unnamed human actually will rule Hell (as mentioned in Lucifer). The “reign” of Remiel and Duma will continue for a bit, but the human domina will soon be replaced by a new triumvirate that includes The First of the Fallen, The Second of the Fallen, and The Third of the Fallen (as seen in Hellblazer). For anyone wondering, Lucifer is technically The Fourth of the Fallen. Scheming by John Constantine (in Hellblazer #83) will bring about the temporary downfall of the First of the Fallen, who will be replaced by the succubus Chantinelle (better known as Ellie). The First of the Fallen will quickly regain his throne. Following this period, things will get a little hazy. We know that the inane Master Baytor will rule Hell for a time (as mentioned in Hitman #17), but eventually Neron will become sole dominus of Hell (as seen in Underworld Unleashed). Neron will be king until Day of Judgment where he is stripped of his title thanks to the meddling of Etrigan. Satanus, who will rule Purgatory with his sister Blaze, will replace him as the new dominus of Hell. However, within two years, Neron will regain his throne (as mentioned in Human Defense Corps #6). Neron will then remain King of Hell for quite a while, although Superman will briefly become the King of Hell (as seen in Superman #666), before the title will return back to Neron again. Eventually, Satanus and Blaze will start a civil war against Neron (as seen in Reign in Hell). Satanus and Blaze will become the co-domini of Hell, ruling as king and queen. At some point, Satanus will fall out of favor with his sister and will be imprisoned (as referenced in Justice League of America 80-Page Giant 2011 #1). Thus, Lady Blaze will become the Modern Age’s final sole domina of Hell prior to the Flashpoint reboot.↩
8. ^[8]RENAUD BATTAIL: In each issue of World’s Finest, Babs can clearly be seen in a wheelchair. Thus, it must go after her paralysis i.e. somewhere post Year Eleven.

   SAM GROOVER: Furthermore, World’s Finest must go after Batman #450-451 since Joker doesn’t make any public appearances between “A Death in the Family” and Batman #450-451.

   MARTIN CROTEAU: World’s Finest #1-3 happens during Christmas time. The first book is in early December; and the second book happens during Christmas where Gibbons and Rude have Joker disguised as Santa Claus at the Orphanage. However, Doomsday kills Superman in late November of this year, meaning that there’s no way World’s Finest #1-3 can fit there. Thus, we must ignore the holiday setting completely. We must also think of this story as only taking up a few days on the timeline instead of weeks.↩

9. ^[9]COLLIN COLSHER: Just as much of the internet incorrectly labels Karl Kesel’s Batman & Superman: World’s Finest series as a follow-up volume of World’s Finest Comics (1941-1986), a significant portion of the web also regards Dave Gibbons and Steve Rude’s World’s Finest as a follow-up volume of the old World’s Finest Comics series. I’m not sure why this is the case. All three series contain the words “World’s Finest” in their title, but they have three distinct titles, meaning three different series entirely. Some regard Gibbons and Rude’s World’s Finest as having the name Superman/Batman: World’s Finest (due to its upper trade dressing containing the words “Superman” and “Batman”). Even if you were to go that route, it’d still have a unique name and wouldn’t be a follow-up volume of World’s Finest Comics.↩
10. ^[10]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that Penguin escapes from Arkham Asylum in Batman 3-D, and we’ll see him re-incarcerated in Arkham Asylum in the upcoming Batman: DOA and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1. This is worth highlighting because it’s quite rare that Penguin is held in Arkham instead of a regular penitentiary. Penguin’s crimes as of late have been a bit zanier than usual, thus possibly the reason for a temporary switch to Arkham. He’ll spend most of the remainder of the year in-and-out of Arkham.↩
11. ^[11]COLLIN COLSHER: This was stated earlier, but it’s worth repeating here. Barbatos is indeed a demon from Hell in the DCU, appearing from 1994 through 2000 as a rival to Tim Hunter in Books of Magic Vol. 2. In fact, Barbatos is pretty high up on the underworld heirarchy, serving as a Grand Duke of the Ninth Circle of Hell. A second Barbatos, as detailed in Dark Nights: Metal (2017-2018) and Justice League Vol. 4 (2019), also exists—a part-demiurge of the multiverse and the demon god ruler of the Dark Multiverse. It’s possible that the Grand Duke is an emanation of the demon-god, thus linking the two together. Simon Hurt, while obsessed with the Grand Duke version of Barbatos, never actually manages to summon the legit demon. Instead, he meets the Hyper-Adapter in bat form, which he incorrectly assumes is the Grand Duke.↩
12. ^[12]COLLIN COLSHER: Just like all the characters of Angor (Earth-8), the members of the Extremists are pastiches of Marvel characters. Specifically, Lord Havok is an analogue of Dr. Doom, Dreamslayer is an analogue of Dormammu, Dr. Diehard is an analogue of Magneto, Gorgon is an analogue of Dr. Octopus, and Tracer is an analogue of Sabretooth.↩
13. ^[13]COLLIN COLSHER: Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome is a BBC radio broadcast from 1989, which supposedly occurs shortly after Batman #436-439 aka “Batman: Year Three.” However, since it features Joker, it must go after Batman #450-451. And, since it also features Talia al Ghul, it must go after Bride of the Demon. Also, the narrative is much too long to actually fit anywhere on our timeline, and the only way it could would be for it to be shortened and heavily modified. Plus, the story begins on the anniversary of the Wayne murders, which also makes it incredibly difficult to place error-free. As such, it’s my firm belief that this item is non-canon. However, here’s a synopsis, should you want to include it. On Crime Alley, Batman is accosted by a League of Assassins villain that has surgically altered his face to look like Bruce Wayne. Their fight ends in an explosion, after which the injured Batman is kidnapped by Talia. When Batman fails to respond to the Bat-Signal, Commissioner Gordon questions Joker and Catwoman. Meanwhile, the fake Bruce Wayne takes over every aspect of Bruce’s life, even telling Alfred and Nightwing that he is retiring from crimefighting. Batman eventually recovers, escapes from the League of Assassins and boots the fake Bruce Wayne out of Gotham.↩
14. ^[14]COLLIN COLSHER: In 1992, Canadian discount store Zellers teamed up with DC Comics (and writer Len Wein) to publish Batman: A Word to the Wise, a PSA comic about how reading is great (and so is Canada and shopping at Zellers). In this comic, Batman busts Joker in Canada with help from some teens. While the story is pretty goofy and ridiculous, there’s nothing in it that technically pushes it out of continuity definitively. However, it definitely wasn’t meant to be canon and I think our timeline is probably better without this odd curiosity included. Feel free to keep or disregard, eh?↩