Rebirth Year Eighteen (Part 2)

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(July 2019 to December 2019)
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–Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #4 Part 4
Bruce plays a game of chess against Alfred, but the former is forced to depart mid match to deal with an escaped Two-Face. With chess strategy on his mind, Batman decides to allow himself to be captured by Two-Face’s henchmen in order to infiltrate his hideout. When Two-Face arrives, he immediately knows that his henchmen have erred. Batman springs forth out of captivity, wallops the bad guys, and chases down Two-face, eventually delivering him to Commissioner Gordon. Back at Wayne Manor, Batman finds that Alfred has finished their game with one swift checkmate.

–Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 2
Commissioner Gordon gets a message from a killer that got away thirty years ago, back during Gordon’s rookie year as a cop. Rather than call Batman, Gordon follows the clues to the killer’s location only to find that the villain is old, decrepit, and dying. Batman, who has trailed Gordon, chats with him afterward.

–Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #5 Part 4
In this inventive Choose Your Own Adventure-style short by Kieron Gillen, Riddler and Killer Croc team-up in an effort to off the Dark Knight inside their “Unmaze,” a boardwalk funhouse of death and carnage. With some remote help from Alfred, Batman busts them both (provided you’ve chosen the right path, of course).

–REFERENCE: In Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #11 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #6). Batman investigates a brutally violent massacre against one of Gotham’s top organized crime families. Commissioner Gordon thinks it’s an inside job, but Batman thinks that Solomon Grundy is to blame. Batman begins monitoring a bunch of local mobsters, including Scud and Snake Eye. Several more mysterious mob attacks will occur over the course of the next month or so, and while we won’t see them on our timeline ahead, you can rest assured that Batman is following along and conducting detective work in relation to the ongoing case.

–REFERENCE: In Adventures of the Super Sons #1. August—Jon is now said to be ten-years-old (specifically in Adventures of the Super Sons #5), and the earliest he can be ten is in August of this year. Furthermore, an editor’s note places this item before Superman Special Vol. 2 #1, meaning prior to Bendis’ Man of Steel. Damian (now twelve-years-old) and Jon (as mentioned, now ten-years-old) finish the school year (summer semester) at West-Reeve. The boys mention that their parents are set to go on unspecified business for a couple weeks. I’m not sure what this is in reference to (or if it even is a reference to something). I’d assume that, even if plans were made, they likely get cancelled.

–REFERENCE: In Adventures of the Super Sons #12. August. When Robin and Superboy, having just recently finished the school year (summer semester), are whisked away on an interdimensional adventure courtesy of the Hypercube (as seen in Adventures of the Super Sons #1-12), Batman and Superman become very concerned. However, Alfred is able to track the boys’ energy signatures and vital signs, ensuring Batman and Superman they are okay. Upon their return, the boys think weeks have passed, but in order to jibe with everything else on our timeline, only a few days could have passed. (The boys adventure did indeed last several weeks, but time was flowing differently throughout their interdimensional experience in comparison to the regular flow of time back on Earth-0.) To further muddle the chronology of this arc, when the boys return, Alfred tells them that months have passed and school is already about to begin again, implying that their adventure spanned the entire summer. Impossible! It’s true that school will be starting up again soon, but that’s all we can take from Alfred as gospel. Also, the entirety of Adventures of the Super Sons #1-12 is told by very unreliable narrators—an old Damien and old Jonathan—decades in the future (sometime in the 2070s). This is yet another reason we shouldn’t trust any dates attached to this item. To reiterate, the entirety of Adventures of the Super Sons #1-12 occurs now and spans only a few days.

–Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #7-8 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #4) (“HAUNTED”)
Alfred drags Bruce to a Gotham Historical Society auction, making him aware that his parents set up the charity auction decades ago. When Penguin tries to purchase a mysterious tin box, Bruce pays a whopping $500,000 to outbid him. In the Batcave, Bruce and Alfred examine the box’s contents, finding newspaper clippings and ephemera related to the West End Wraith, an early 1900s ghostly killer that murdered socialites, including Penguin’s relative Charles Cobblepot. With his astounding erudition of Gotham history, Batman regales Alfred with the legend of the supposedly supernatural murderer. While Alfred hops in a Batmobile and defends Wayne Manor against Penguin and his encroaching henchmen, Batman enters a high-tech virtual simulation of 1910 Gotham to examine the digitally-rendered scene of Charles Cobblepot’s murder. In his research, Batman learns that his Great Great Uncle, Court Justice Henry Wayne, dismissed an assault charge levied against Charles Cobblepot by his maid Angela Tatum. As revenge, Angela became the West End Wraith. Snapping back to reality, Batman takes down Penguin, who has penetrated into Wayne Manor. Alfred mentions having recently plastered over bullet holes inside Wayne Manor, which honestly could have come many times on our historical timeline. Later, Bruce leaks Angela’s story to the news media and donates money to a women’s shelter in Angela’s name. Bruce and Alfred lay flowers upon her grave.

–Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #11 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #6)
Batman continues investigating the series of brutal attacks on mobsters that have been occurring over the course of the past month or so. While spying on Scud and Snake Eye, Batman confirms that Solomon Grundy is behind the massacres when the undead villain strikes. Batman rescues (and busts) the mobsters and chases Grundy to Slaughter Swamp. There, Batman discovers that a sliver of Grundy’s villainous Cyrus Gold persona (from when he was still alive hundreds of years ago) has been controlling him and forcing him to kill mobsters. Batman briefly fights his foe, but is able to talk down the Cyrus persona, after which Grundy returns to his simpler undead persona. Batman leaves Grundy in the swamp and returns home to debrief with Alfred.

–Superman: Red and Blue #3 Part 1
Bruce, Diana, and Clark set up a dinner gathering at a Metropolis restaurant, but Clark winds up being too busy with Superman stuff to attend. After rescheduling, Bruce and Diana find themselves once again waiting for a tardy Clark, who is doing a mix of Daily Planet work and Superman work. Diana bets Bruce a cool $10,000 (in charitable donation) that Clark won’t show up yet again. Superman does his thing all over town and then shows up just in time to order food with his pals.

–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 4 #61. Batman and Superman team-up with the Phantom Stranger to take on Kobra King, during which the villain is able to make Superman lose control of his heat vision. Superman is able to squint his eyes to regain control.

–Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #15 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #8)
Commissioner Gordon sends Batman after the notorious gang of thieves known as the Ghost Dogs. Batman catches up with the elusive Ghost Dogs as they rob Winston Jewelers, discovering that one of their best is just a teenage girl, who is aptly named Ghost. She tells Batman that her gang are down-and-out poor folk that were abused by the owners of Winston Jewelers, who doubled as their slumlords and burned down their home in an insurance scam. Batman takes back the loot, but he lets Ghost keep one expensive ruby necklace. Batman tells Gordon that he was unable to track the Ghost Dogs, but then leads him in a bust of the corrupt Winston Jewelers heads.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Detective #4-6. While traveling in France for unspecified reasons, Batman saves the life of an unnamed woman and her daughter Sarah. Seeing that Sarah is a tech genius and gifted mechanic, Batman decides to use her as part of the start of a huge overseas plan that quickly develops into something even larger. Batman and Alfred construct a giant big rig mobile-Batcave, filling it with all the amenities of the real Batcave. Batman puts Alfred and Sarah in charge of the mobile-Batcave, which is specifically for use in Europe. Alfred tasks Sarah with maintaining the cave and running tests drills on it regularly. Batman, Alfred, and Sarah also devise a special calling code that involves purchasing certain fruits at a particular French supermarket, upon which she will deliver the mobile-Batcave to a pre-determined location. Batman, with Batgirl’s help, then completes the final phase of this major plan—assembling a Batman Inc-like venture known as the European Alliance of the Bat, complete with dozens of secret operatives comprised of agency heads, police chiefs, diplomats, spies, and mercenaries across the continent. One of the major players to join the European Alliance of the Bat is a US Army General named Anthony, who has vast international connections.While the entirety of this plan is fully-fleshed out and ready for activation, it will remain more-or-less in the conceptual phase as far as Batman is concerned. He won’t utilize the mobile-Batcave or the Alliance for years to come.

–Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 #16 (Legends of the Dark Knight Vol. 2 Print Edition #8)
Scarecrow captures Batman and drugs him with a new version of his Fear Gas, which pinpoints its victim’s most traumatic moment, delves into it, and then erases it from their memory. Of course, Batman’s most traumatic moment is his parents’ deaths, and while Batman believes in moving past trauma, he’ll be damned if Scarecrow is going to have his fingerprints permanently smudged all over his brain. With some help from Alfred, Batman is able to halt the effect of Scarecrow’s new toxin and, in sleep, re-confront the fading memory of the night his parents died (pieced together from an evening of studying newspaper clippings). After restoring his memory, Bruce is able to therapeutically move past some of the trauma connected to this terrible occurrence. So in the end, I guess Scarecrow did help!

–Batman: The World Part 3
After a particularly brutal fight against an escaped Joker, Batman begins suffering panic attacks and unbearable stress and anxiety. Worried, Alfred forces Bruce to take a beach vacation in Spain. Notably, Bruce puts a picture of himself and his parents into his wallet before departure. After a few days of rest and relaxation, an antsy Bruce gives up on his holiday, dons his Bat-costume, and patrols.

–Batman: The World Part 9
In the Batcave, Batman shows Alfred data detailing Warsaw Tech, a private security company that has been successfully using special tech to help remotely prevent crime in Warsaw, Poland. Hoping to gain access to the tech, Bruce disguises himself as a lower-ranking WayneTech representative and visits Warsaw to meet with an executive of the anti-crime tech company, Anna Wadowska. In the meeting, Anna reveals that her tech has already helped her see through Bruce’s disguise. She rejects Bruce’s offer of partnership, citing that she doesn’t approve of his connections to Batman. Later, Batman trails Anna while she is surveilling some crooks. When the crooks attack her, Batman saves her life, causing her to reconsider Bruce’s offer. The next day, Warsaw Tech forms an official business partnership with WayneTech.

–Batman: Urban Legends #16 Part 2
When folks (including Alfred’s friend) die under mysterious circumstances at Gotham Gardens Assisted Living Facility, Alfred brings the news to Batman. But this is personal, and Alfred wants to work the case, which could involve the Ventriloquist, who has been (temporarily) moved from Arkham Asylum to Gotham Gardens. The next day, Alfred and Bruce visit Gotham Gardens, meeting Dr. Erica Emmett. Going undercover, Alfred checks into Gotham Gardens. Via a wire, Alfred relays info to Batman on the outside. Alfred is confronted by the Ventriloquist and Scarface, but they’ve actually got nothing to do with malfeasance at the facility. Upon learning that Dr. Emmett has been committing elder abuse and killing her patients to steal their money, Alfred is quickly found out, prompting Batman to enter and make the save and bust. Back home, Batman decides to skip his routine patrol to spend time with Alfred.

–Batman: Urban Legends #17 Part 4
Riddler escapes from Arkham Asylum, prompting Batman to seek his return. Batman roughs up Penguin at the Iceberg Lounge. Unable to get any pertinent info, Batman interrupts Catwoman during a jewelry heist. While they are still a bit playful, their recent breakup looms large. With considerable bad blood between them, Catwoman gives Batman no leads. Batman then searches elsewhere, eventually getting a tip that Riddler is holed up in a Gotham mansion. Batman swoops in but Riddler is already gone. In a rare occurrence, Riddler has bested the Dark Detective!

–Batman: One Dark Night #1-3
Summer. Rita Vasquez, head of the private anti-crime organization known as the Prison Bureau, is honored at a downtown hotel. Since Rita originally began her career thanks to support from Wayne Foundation grants, Bruce has been invited to the event, but of course he has skipped. Instead, Batman focuses on a citywide gang war that has erupted in Gotham. The Dark Knight puts the gang war on hold to focus on something equally important: the Prison Bureau’s transfer of EMP from Arkham Aslyum to Blackgate Penitentiary. Equipping himself with a portable Faraday cage, Batman watches from the Batplane (while Alfred watches from the Batcave) as the Berretti Family Z-Boys, a smalltime mob hoping to take over Gotham’s underworld, disrupt the convoy with a rocket launcher. Atop GCPD HQ, EMP overloads on electricity, causing an explosion and a citywide blackout. Batman attaches the Faraday cage to an unconscious EMP, vowing to drag him across the city to Blackgate before dawn (at which time daylight will give EMP power beyond comprehension). Batman fights his way through various gangs that are each trying to kill EMP. Batman is very familiar with all the gangs thanks to detailed records he keeps in the Bat-Computer database. The gangs in question include the Maroni Clan, Berretti Family Z-Boys, Penitente Cartel, Coventry Lowlifes, Robinson Park Dogs, Steel Sevens, East-Side Khadym Mob, Neon Dragons, Midtown Marauders, Sprang Bridge Soldiers, Dockyard Dogs, and Bertinelli Mob. Meanwhile, across town, Renee Montoya is badly injured by another gang. Rita can easily help her, but she opts to leave her behind, instead kidnapping EMP’s metahuman son Brody. When a cop tries to help Brody, Rita (flanked by cops that are loyal to the Prison Bureau) shoots the officer dead. Near the harbor, Batman (still lugging around an unconscious EMP) is forced into the sewers by the Tazers, who are trying to recover their boss. Underground, Batman fights and defeats Killer Croc, who has a gang of his own. Beaten and bloody, Batman brings EMP back aboveground only to run into a hundred members from various gangs. As he charges headlong into battle, Rita delivers Brody to his father, hoping that Brody’s powers will erupt and destroy his dad. But instead, Brody and EMP unite happily. Learning that he’s been manipulated, Brody tries to attack Rita, but Batman saves her from harm. EMP’s power surges out of control as the Faraday cage runs out of juice. Batman prevents EMP’s explosion from destroying the city by knocking him into the bay, causing an underwater detonation. While monologuing about her various crimes, Batman secretly sends Rita’s audio to Commissioner Gordon, leading to her immediate arrest. EMP, having miraculously survived, goes into a special cell at Blackgate. Brody is fitted with a Faraday device that regulates his fledgling powers as well.

–Batman: Urban Legends #18 Part 2
Bruce purchases a supposedly haunted ancient Aztec statue, which he plans to donate to the Mexican Museum of Anthropology. The statue is showcased a black tie gala at the Gotham Natural History Museum, to which Bruce invites Jason Blood and Randhir Singh. The statue isn’t haunted, merely linked to the Cult of the Master-Eye (aka The Reincarnators). Thus, the cult leader, known only as The High One, attacks with his minion, Mord the Executioner, turning an archeologist into a Neanderthal with his magick. The Reincarnators kidnap Etrigan and use him to summon his half-brother, a Lord of Hell named Scapegoat. Batman, Etrigan, and Singh defeat Scapegoat and the Reincarnators, turning the archeologist back to normal in the process.

THE PENNYWORTH FILES
———————––Batman: Urban Legends #18 Part 3
———————––Batman: Urban Legends #19 Part 4
———————––Batman: Urban Legends #20 Part 2^[1]
While visiting a Gotham antique store, Alfred witnesses a man steal a jade earring. Alfred decides to work the case solo. Meanwhile, a chained Batman—half a continent away on an unspecified case—fights his way out of a giant meat grinder only to get pulled through the sky by a blimp. Alfred’s investigation leads him to some violent Russian fishmongers (members of a gang known as The Black Harpoon) and then back to the store to find the shopkeep murdered and a bomb about to detonate. Outside, a strange fish man watches. Alfred disarms the bomb and radios Batman, who is in yet another death trap, this time hung upside-down above a vat of acid. Alfred then visits an art gallery where he is approached by a member of the Black Harpoon named Millie, who explains that members of the Black Harpoon have been killing each other for hundreds of years in an effort to retrieve a treasure of “jade jewels,” which are actually emerald scales of an ancient elder fish god Dagon. Millie storms off, seemingly getting abducted in the process. Alfred radios Batman again, but Batman is back on his blimp shit, too busy free falling from the sky to respond. Alfred follows the clues, which seemingly point him to the D’Agostino crime family. But just as he is about to rush headlong into the dangerous Murder Manor, he realizes that the D’Agostinos are a red herring. Alfred pivots, going to the Gotham Museum of American Mystery, which is currently running a Dagon exhibit. There, Alfred and his security guard friend Sam get in the middle of a fight between Dagon’s fish men and the Black Harpoon. Both sides are vying for ancient treasure and artifacts, including the mummified body of Dagon. Not only are the fish men revealed to just be wearing masks, but Millie is among their ranks as well. Alfred is able to use his wits to bring down both groups. Later, with the case closed, Alfred returns home, gifting Batman matryoshka dolls featuring members of the Bat-Family.

–Action Comics #1051 Part 2
On the anniversary of his death at he hands of Doomsday, Superman has just defeated Doombreaker (Lloyd Crayton), a man that morphed into a new version of Doomsday due to exposure to one of Doomsday’s bones (as seen in The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 Part 1). Following this ordeal, Superman dons his old all-black costume and decides to take a short hiatus from Metropolis. The Man of Steel and Lois take Jon to the boy’s original home in California where he is reunited with his dog Ranger. While relaxing at their California farm, Clark and Lois are contacted by Batman, who tells them that the Doomsday bone that caused the creation of Doombreaker has gone missing. (Unknown to all, Jon has taken it.) After night falls, Jon witnesses a rocket ship crash in the woods. Upon investigation, Jon is greeted by Princess Glyanna of the planet P’luhnn.

–Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Part 1
Harley Quinn, Red Tool, and Harley’s pet dog Nathan prevent members of the Delete Gang—including the Eraser’s sidekick (Eraser #2)—from robbing Harley’s Coney Island residence. When Harley learns that the Delete Gang is also targeting Wayne Manor, she decides to help out Alfred (since Alfred once helped repair her taxidermy beaver). At Wayne Manor, Bruce and Alfred recover from colds. Despite being sick, Batman decides to head out on patrol. Meanwhile, Alfred and Harley Quinn team up to bust the Delete Gang (including the Eraser). Alfred determines that the Delete Gang was hired remotely by a specific Arkham Asylum inmate (although he doesn’t say who it s aloud, so we never learn who it is). Alfred and Harley celebrate their victory with a late night dinner together.

–DC Speechless! #5 (DC Silent Tales #1 Part 5)
After an escaped Joker visits the Gotham Art Museum but doesn’t appear to commit any crimes while there, Commissioner Gordon and Batman review security footage, realizing that Joker seemingly hid in the bathroom until the museum closed. Batman rushes into the bathroom, but Joker isn’t there, having sneaked away. Our heroes are still at a loss until Batman discovers that Joker has achieved his simple goal—vandalizing Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting, which had been on loan for the exhibit. Note that DC Speechless! #5 has fairly stylized art, so any continuity violations pertaining to Batman’s costume should be overlooked. Also, the newspaper that shows the date “March 3, 2023” should be ignored. It merely aligns with the release date of this publication.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4—and referenced in Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4. Still obviously reeling from their breakup, Batman and Catwoman cross each other’s paths while on patrol. They briefly fight but wind up kissing for a moment, although Catwoman frustratedly claws his face as they do, leaving him a tiny scar on his cheek.

–FLASHBACK: From Knight Terrors: Batman #1. Batman dons his scuba suit and enters a sensory deprivation tank in order to isolate his fears far beyond a point he ever has before, also hoping that he will learn how to prevent others from using his fears against him. After twenty four hours of blind underwater hallucination, Alfred pulls Batman from the tank. From the experience, Batman determines that he’ll never truly get over his parents’ murders, but that he has achieved a mental breakthrough that will one day come in handy.

–The Batman Who Laughs #1-4 (“THE LAUGHING HOUSE”)
Commissioner Gordon, not believing that seventeen-year-old James Jr’s drug treatment is really changing him, signs paperwork to end his son’s Diaxamyne trial and work-release program. Soon after, Joker is sent back to Arkham Asylum. A few days after that, Batman’s Last Laugh emergency ventilation system reaches its final stages of construction, soon ready for testing. And shortly after that, Batman chases some crooks that are smuggling cadavers out of Gotham inside extreme-load trucks. After smashing-up their operation on the highway, Batman finds that it was all a setup for him to stumble across a dead body meant to shake him to the core. Batman finds the corpse of an alternate universe Bruce Wayne. Before Batman can take the body, the GCPD gets ahold of it and brings it to the morgue. Batman knocks-out coroner Dr. Veth, disguises himself as Veth, and does an autopsy on the body, learning that he is six or seven years older than him. Via autopsy and deduction, Batman finds that this Bruce quit after getting his back broken by Bane, married Selina, and had a child with her. Batman realizes the delivery of this corpse is the handiwork of the Batman Who Laughs. Meanwhile, the Batman Who Laughs, accompanied by another Dark Multiverse Batman (The Grim Knight), murderously breaks into Arkham Asylum. The Batman Who Laughs murders Joker, but Joker knew he was being targeted and had already escaped, leaving a disguised former henchmen as a decoy in his place. Not long after, Batman meets with Commissioner Gordon and tells him all about the Batman Who Laughs. After a brief investigation, Batman deduces that Joker will try to come visit him in the Batcave. Sure enough, just as Alfred lowers the riparian security system, Joker emerges from the waterway (somehow, inexplicably without any scuba gear or anything). Batman offers to team-up against the Batman Who Laughs just like they did once before, but Joker uses a trick gun to shoot himself in the chest. Batman rushes over to cradle the bleeding Joker, which causes Batman to become infected with the villain’s heart poison, instantly Jokerizing the Dark Knight. Batman responds by stripping shirtless and jabbing dozens of IV needles into his body, flushing his system full of every Joker Toxin antidote he’s got. Meanwhile, Alfred immediately begins open heart surgery on Joker. The next day, the Batman Who Laughs leaves yet another deceased alternate universe Bruce Wayne on the streets of Gotham. A partially-recovered Batman, disguised as Harvey Bullock, examines the corpse alongside Commissioner Gordon. Batman then realizes that the Batman Who Laughs will target the Last Laugh hub in Wayne Tower. By the time Batman gets to Wayne Tower, the Batman Who Laughs has already slaughtered a bunch of guards. Batman fights his foe, but the Grim Knight snipes him in the chest, bringing him down with a sci-fi bullet. (Batman versus the Batman Who Laughs is also shown via flashback from Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4, which reveals this fight leaves Batman with a permanent scar.) The Batman Who Laughs then completely demolishes Wayne Tower. Batman barely escapes with his life. Later, in the Batcave, Joker wakes up to tell Batman that only James Gordon Jr—the “best” criminal planner in the history of Gotham—truly understands what the Batman Who Laughs is planning. After a quick call from Batman to Jim, the Commish reluctantly recruits his son—who is on a monitored Wayne Enterprises/Arkham-sponsored work release program at a supermarket—into the fold. After discovering that the Batman Who Laughs has stolen all of James Jr’s old notebooks, Batman joins Commissioner Gordon to speak to James Jr. Batman tries to hector James Jr into helping, hoping to provoke his evil side to re-emerge, but the Diaxamyne in his system has seemingly turned him into a docile warm-hearted soul with not the slightest hint of schadenfreude anymore. The Grim Knight then interrupts, shooting up the market and confronting Batman head-on. When the Grim Knight threatens to down a passenger plane, Batman has to stand down, allowing the Grim Knight to kidnap Commissioner Gordon. (As revealed in Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #1, Gordon is taken to the Batman Who Laughs’ evil Batcave underneath Crime Alley.) Meanwhile, at Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge, the Batman Who Laughs kills another alternate universe Bruce Wayne and runs homicidally amok. Across town, with James Jr proving to be no help at all, Batman begins to lose faith. He tells James Jr that his dad has cancelled his treatment program. Batman, becoming more and more affected by the Dark Joker Venom coursing through his veins, takes-off. Batman tests the water at the Last Laugh reservoir, during which Joker visits him. Joker says he hopes both he (Batman) and the Batman Who Laughs defeat each other. Joker also promises to kill Batman if he fully-turns. They laugh together. Later, in the Batcave, Batman succumbs further to the poisons in his body. He creates and dons his very own Batman Who Laughs headgear made out of Nth Metal. With this hatting, Batman will be able to see into the Dark Multiverse. Alfred is so aghast at seeing Batman wearing the Batman Who Laughs’ headgear that he begins fist-fighting the Dark Knight in the Batcave. After a brief scuffle, Batman and Alfred hug it out. Batman takes-off and, by using the headgear and coordinating with James Gordon Jr, locates a Dark Metal energy spike inside Blackgate Prison. Inside the prison, Batman accidentally wanders through an interdimensional portal (presumably of the Batman Who Laughs’ design), winding-up in an alternate Dark Multiverse Earth where an elderly Bruce Wayne is warden of Blackgate. Together, both Batman and the alt-Bruce phase back to Earth-0. The Batman Who Laughs, disguised as a prison guard, immediately murders the alt-Bruce Wayne. A bunch of Blackgate guards enter and begin firing upon Batman, mistaking him for the Batman Who Laughs. Meanwhile, the Grim Knight unleashes upon Commissioner Gordon his own Dark Robins, cannibal Boy Wonders that are all alt-versions of James Jr. Commissioner Gordon flees into the sewers.

–The Batman Who Laughs #5-7 (“THE LAUGHING HOUSE” Conclusion)
James Jr kills his anthropophagous doppelgängers and rescues his dad. Meanwhile, in Blackgate, Batman pretends to be the Batman Who Laughs, threatening to harm the prison guards’ families unless they let him walk. Standing down, they let him go. Batman takes the interdimensional portal from Blackgate and brings it to the Batcave for safekeeping. In the Court of Owls labyrinth, the Batman Who Laughs easily rips the arms off of several Talons and confronts the Court members head-on, killing one of their new young leaders. The Batman Who Laughs then summons yet another alternate-Bruce Wayne, this one at Talon and the head of the Court of Owls on his world. The Batman Who Laughs dispatches with Talon Bruce just like all the others. Meanwhile, Batman picks-up Commissioner Gordon and James Jr in a remote-controlled hyper-submarine, bringing them to the Batcave. There, Batman and Commissioner Gordon prepare to activate the Last Laugh system in an effort to prevent the Batman Who Laughs from poisoning the entire city. But before Batman activates it, he realizes that the Batman Who Laughs has played him. The Batman Who Laughs phones-in and reveals that Last Laugh was not built in 1780, but actually in 1699. And it wasn’t built to protect Gotham—it was built as a biological WMD. Batman has accidentally built and refurbished a giant chemical weapon, designed to kill everyone in his beloved city. The Batman Who Laughs psyches-out a poisoned Batman, who starts to agree that Gotham was always evil and deserving of punishment. With tears running out from underneath his weird headgear, a confused and troubled Batman activates Last Laugh. However, Batman has a plan. Able to now view alternate Dark Universes just like the Batman Who Laughs, Batman sees various alternate versions of himself. Batman comes to believe that he is the least effective of the other Batmen, because he would never give up his never-ending vigilante war for grander, more effective crime-fighting plans or for something that might be healthier for himself. Batman reaches out to the Batman Who Laughs, challenging him to a one-on-one duel. Batman deduces that his rival needs one final ingredient to activate the citywide Dark Joker Venom toxin: some of his blood. Batman also realizes that the Batman Who Laughs’ end goal is not only to Jokerize all of Gotham, but also to pass the torch to him, leaving Batman as the new permanent Batman Who Laughs. Batman further realizes that his rival will likely use a Wayne Tech syringe to extract his blood and test him. Thus, Batman rigs a special charge in his costume that will mess with all nearby Wayne Tech syringes. In the Batcave, Commissioner Gordon and James Jr don experimental proto-Batman Beyond costumes and fight a losing battle against the Grim Knight. On the lawn of Wayne Manor, Batman fights the Batman Who Laughs. Batman tries to lure the Batman Who Laughs into a trap by summoning a child version of Bruce Wayne from an alternate universe, but the villain doesn’t fall for it. Instead, the Batman Who Laughs stabs Batman in the chest with a full syringe of Dark Joker Venom, also extracting some of Batman’s blood at the same time. The Batman Who Laughs puts a gun to his own head, convinced that he has finally turned Batman, but he realizes that Batman has tricked him and instead shoots him in the shoulder. Meanwhile, the Grim Knight tries to drown Jim Gordon in a pool of Dark Joker Venom, but James Jr saves his dad, stabbing the Grim Knight to death. Above ground, the Batman Who Laughs chases the young alt-Bruce to the cemetery where Thomas and Martha Wayne are buried (next to Wayne Manor). At the cemetery, Batman and Alfred defend young Bruce and activate their preset harpoon traps. With Alfred blasting shotgun shells into the Batman Who Laughs, and electrified harpoons tearing into the villain’s body, Batman whacks the vile doppelgänger with his mom’s toppled tombstone. Batman begins to finally fully succumb to the Dark Joker Venom in his body and is about to kill the Batman Who Laughs. Joker shows up and spares Batman from doing the deed, taking him down himself, preventing Last Laugh from activating. Alfred immediately rushes a downed Batman into an emergency blood transfusion with young alt-Bruce, saving his life and clearing out most of the Dark Joker Venom in his system. Bruce is in a coma for nearly two weeks before coming-to. Upon awakening, Bruce is notified that the Batman Who Laughs is in a secure cell in the Hall of Justice. (As referenced in Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #2, the Bat-Family has secretly imprisoned the Batman Who Laughs deep beneath Batman’s private domain within the Hall of Justice. They have kept this a secret from the JL and the other heroes. Bruce decides that keeping it a secret is an auspicious idea, taking added steps to ensure that it remains as such.) Bruce does some research and comes to think that Joker helped him fend-off succumbing to the Batman Who Laughs’ toxins via a decelerating agent. Alfred tells Bruce that he sent the young Bruce back to his correct world. While Bruce then melts down the interdimensional portal, Alfred also tells him that he did a full toxicology screening and found no traces of any decelerating agent in his system. Batman was able to fend off the Dark Joker Venom simply because he is Batman. Across town, Jim tells James Jr that he will continue doing his treatments and work-release program. Unknown to all, some of the Last Laugh toxins are within Jim’s body and mind.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1012. Due to all the horror Jim Gordon has just faced in The Batman Who Laughs arc, he decides to distance himself from his work a bit, giving a bit of his caseload to Harvey Bullock by appointing him as interim GCPD captain. Commissioner Gordon will still be leading the Force, but his weekly schedule will be much lighter, moving forward. Don’t forget, the infected Gordon is being partially mind-controlled by the Batman Who Laughs.

–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #2 Part 4
Batman comes home from patrol with an injured leg. He reminisces about all his scars (both physical and emotional) before Alfred comes and helps him stitch up his wound.

–Detective Comics #1012-1014 (“COLD DARK WORLD”)
An editorial note places this item prior to “City of Bane.” A snowy chill falls over Gotham, although, but the winter season does not make sense here on our timeline, so we must ignore. Batman, still lovesick over Catwoman, visits the now-ruined SS Dolphin, the ship where they first met each other in costume. Meanwhile, Mr. Freeze’s henchmen have already kidnapped three Nora Fries lookalikes upon which to test the Lex Luthor-powered rejuvenation process, but Batman’s interest isn’t piqued until he learns that a fourth would-be victim has been able to evade capture. After a brief visit with Interim Captain Harvey Bullock, Batman goes to the home of the woman that evaded capture. He waits, setting up an ambush, nabbing the returning abductor. With Alfred’s thespian assistance, Batman gets Mr. Freeze’s henchman to admit to Mr. Freeze’s involvement in the kidnappings. As referenced in Detective Comics #1014, upon hearing about Mr. Freeze’s involvement, Batman visits the WayneTech Cryogenics Lab and cleans out all compounds and chemicals that Victor Fries ever worked on there in the past. Then, donning his ridiculous Bat-flamethrower costume, Batman crashes into Mr. Freeze’s lair in the Pine Barrens. After dispatching with a bunch of zombified frozen test victims, Batman then chases after a fleeing Mr. Freeze, who escapes with Nora in tow. Batman then brings the three frozen Nora lookalikes into the Batcave, hoping to revive them. Not sure if they are conscious and aware of their surroundings, Batman tells Alfred to put on a mask. Cheekily, he wears a Flash halloween mask (likely left in the cave by Damian or one of the other boys). Back in the Pine Barrens, Mr. Freeze revives Nora! Having his same condition, she must also remain at absolute zero! Bruce meets with Lucius Fox at WayneTech Cryogenics Lab to discuss the Nora lookalikes, but they are interrupted by Mr. Freeze and Nora. Mr. Freeze steals a hidden compound, which he administers to Nora, effectively turning her into a blue-skinned Mrs. Freeze! Mr. and Mrs. Freeze debut by icing-over an entire theater full of people at the latter’s old ballet company. Soon afterward, the villains view an outsize Doom Totality symbol that burns brightly in the sky. (This symbol, meant to coincide with the actions of the Legion of Doom in Justice League Vol. 4, was forcefully shoved—by editorial mandate—into the background of every DC title released in October, November, and early to mid December 2019. Continuity be damned! We should ignore this scene since it makes little to no sense happening now, nor does it make chronological sense in almost all of the titles in which it appears. The only way the appearance of the symbol makes any sense is if it sporadically appears multiple times over the course of the next few months.)

–Detective Comics #1015-1016 (“COLD DARK WORLD” Conclusion)
Picking up directly from our previous item, in the Batcave, Alfred, Lucius, and Batman struggle to find a cure for the theater-goers that have been turned into blocks of ice by the Freezes. Lucius synthesizes a potential cure, but wants to test it on Bat-Cow first. Batman says that he (Batman himself) will be the guinea pig instead. Thus, they freeze Batman’s arm and immediately administer the serum. It works as a de-icer, but leaves his limb totally numb. Back to the drawing board. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Freeze rob a bunch of banks with ease. Then, Mrs. Freeze dumps Mr. Freeze, icing him over and leaving him behind! Soon after, a one-armed Batman meets with an escaped Mr. Freeze, who begs him to help him deal with Mrs. Freeze in exchange for the de-icing cure. (As mentioned above, the Doom Totality symbol is still shining in the night sky, but we might have to ignore this.) Batman agrees and soon has a working arm and the cure, which he sends to Alfred. In the Batcave, Alfred (in his plastic Flash mask) and Lucius (wearing a Batman Halloween mask) revive the Nora lookalikes. At the theater, all are saved as well. Mr. Freeze then teams-up with Batman (back in his flamethrower costume) to go after the former’s wife. Batman and Mr. Freeze fight Mrs. Freeze at the art museum, but Mr. Freeze turns on Batman to help his wife. Still not wanting to be with him, Mrs. Freeze takes down her hubby and flees into the night. Batman settles for busting Mr. Freeze. (Note that the Doom Totality symbol is again shown in ‘tec #1016. A stated above, it was meant to coincide with the actions of the Legion of Doom in Justice League Vol. 4, and was forcefully shoved—by editorial mandate—into the background of every DC title released in October, November, and early to mid December 2019. We should ignore this scene since it makes little to no sense happening now, nor does it make chronological sense in almost all of the titles in which it appears. The only way the appearance of the symbol makes any sense is if it sporadically appears multiple times over the course of the next few months.)

LESSER GODS
———————––Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #1-4
———————––Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #6
(This item seems to have been written to occur in closer proximity to the last Outsiders appearance on our timeline, but it must go here, after Lex Luthor’s resurrection and as close to “City of Bane” as possible. Editorial notation in Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #5-6 places “Lesser Gods” prior to Alfred’s death in “City of Bane.” Alfred’s appearances in both issues also place it prior to his death.) Bruce purchases Jefferson Pierce an apartment in Gotham while Katana moves into a place of her own in Gotham as well. Now equipped with new Bat-signal watches, the Outsiders (Black Lightning, Katana, Signal, and Orphan) are ready for fresh action! Batman sends them to bust a serial killer named Saint John, who has spent the last few days on a murder spree. After the Outsiders bust Saint John, Jefferson debriefs Bruce and chats with Katana. When Batman gets word that Gabriel Ramos has been killed by a League of Assassins member named Ishmael, who is now hunting a scared Sofia Ramos, he sends the Outsiders to work the case. Batman, meanwhile, departs to tackle the much-neglected Markovian Black Market case. (As we learn via reference in Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #10, he discovers a trove of information related to Martina Dimentieva. As Bruce, he also hires investigative journalist Elfa to do some extra digging for him.) In California, Sofia is taken under the protection of Kaliber, who claims to be a time-traveler an alternate future where Sofia one day saves the entire world. Kaliber is only joking, of course. Working under Batman’s employ, Kaliber has been secretly watching over and protecting Sofia for years. In the Batcave, Bruce sips on hot tea and chats with Black Lightning. At a West Coast safe house, Sofia and Kaliber are attacked by Ishmael, but the Outsiders (Black Lightning, Katana, Signal, and Orphan) intervene. The heroes are defeated and Ishmael kidnaps Sophia, taking her into Ra’s al Ghul’s custody in Khadym. Orphan meets with Batman to tell him that the Signal is still messed up over last year’s fight against Karma. Batman then meets with the Outsiders (now officially joined by Kaliber) to discuss the loss of Sofia Ramos to Ra’s al Ghul and to tell the team that he will be putting them through a test. Soon after, Batman—dressed up in Karma’s gear—attacks the Outsiders at the Gotham Waterways plant. But this test is really just for the weakest link of the team: the Signal. “Karma” strikes out at the Signal, who falters but learns a valuable lesson—that his teammates are there for him. Batman unmasks, telling the Signal he knows how he feels and fully supports him. Meanwhile, having been given an offer he couldn’t refuse from the resurrected Lex Luthor, Ra’s al Ghul puts Sofia through a straight-up rip-off of Return of the Jedi, acting in a Palpatine role and urging Sofia to strike down her tormentor Ishmael. She doesn’t kill Ishmael, but she does turn to the dark side and accept Ra’s al Ghul as her master. Sofia slaughters nearly two dozen assassins, earning the super-villain name Babylon. In Gotham, Bruce keeps up playboy appearances by hosting a sybaritic yacht party, during which he secretly meets with Jefferson. Bruce instructs Jefferson to take the Outsiders—sans Orphan and Signal—into Khadym to rescue Sofia, no matter what’s become of her. The Outsiders accede, rescuing the brainwashed Sofia. Black Lightning checks-in with Bruce, who is visiting Paris on unspecified business. Bruce tells Black Lightning to bring Sofia to Gotham. Meanwhile, Ra’s al Ghul ships a chess set to Wayne Manor to mock Bruce. Alfred receives the package and troubles over it. Concurrently, Orphan and Signal chase Ishmael to a hypogeum in Gotham where they are greeted by a resurrected Lady Shiva, who displays a captured Karma. Shiva tells her daughter that they stand in one of Batman’s secret compounds and that Batman has held Karma captive there for some time. Allied with Ra’s al Ghul once again, Shiva takes down Orphan. Ishmael then takes down Signal and abducts him, departing with Shiva to rejoin Ra’s al Ghul. Since Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #1-6 takes place prior to Alfred’s death and Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #7 takes place after Alfred’s death, this creates a ridiculous weeks-long lacuna between the issues, which were written by Bryan Hill as a non-interrupted continuous narrative. Great job, DC higher-ups and editorial department. A total continuity nightmare (or should I say “Knightmare”?) of epic proportions. In any case, since we’ll see Signal in Tom King’s upcoming Batman Vol. 3 arcs, this means that Signal must now immediately be rescued by the Bat-Family. Furthermore, this also means that Black Lightning and Katana must hold off their attempted delivery of Sofia to Gotham for yet even longer due to all that is about to occur—”Tyrant Wing,” “Knightmares,” “Fall and the Fallen,” and the opening of “City of Bane.” Since the Outsiders won’t be able to follow up with Batman for a few weeks, we must assume they keep Sofia captive for the next few weeks.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 5 and Detective Comics #1000 Part 10. September 21. Batman, as he does every year on the anniversary of his parents’ murders, visits both Crime Alley (where his parents were killed) and the cemetery where his parents are buried.

–Batman Vol. 3 #58-60 (“THE TYRANT WING”)
Lately, Penguin hasn’t been following Bane’s secret preachments to the letter, so Bane decides to send him a message from Arkham Asylum. Penguin’s recently wedded “wife” (an actual penguin named Penny) is murdered. Penguin goes old-school and attacks Batman with a trick umbrella, which gets him sent to Arkham for a few-day stint. While there, Penguin meets with Bane and Flashpoint Batman in the bowels of the building. Bane tells Penguin to fall back in line and that he has plans for Bruce Wayne, ordering Penguin to assassinate Alfred. After being released, Penguin attends a funeral for Penny. There, Penguin chats with his henchmen about the still-ongoing Mr. Freeze-copycat murder case, which Penguin is revealed to be orchestrating on behalf of Bane. Penguin then puts out the hit on Alfred. In the Batcave, Alfred cleans the T Rex and sees-off Batman, who heads out upon hearing that there’s been yet another Mr. Freeze-copycat murder (the first one since the triple murder from months ago). Batman meets with Commissioner Gordon, who tells Batman that there was a penguin feather found near the body of the latest victim. Batman immediately visits the Iceberg Lounge and punches a pathway into Penguin’s penetralium. Penguin plays his card, revealing that his men have a sniper rifle targeted on Alfred inside Wayne Manor as they speak. But Penguin tells his own men to kill themselves, which they do. In an ostensibly venturesome move, Penguin appears to be going against Bane. He sits Batman down with quite a yarn to tell. Of course, Bane has anticipated every possible outcome—even a betrayal by Penguin, who, despite great risk to his own life, goes against the grain due to anger over the loss of his “wife.” Penguin tells Batman that Bane ordered him to commit the Mr. Freeze frame-up murders. Penguin also tells Batman that Bane has been in total control of Arkham Asylum for at least a year. From Arkham, Bane has ruled over Gotham’s underworld in this time. Batman immediately visits Bane’s Arkham cell to find the villain a blubbering catatonic mess. Batman beats the shit out of Bane, accusing him of being behind KGBeast’s hit on Dick and all that Penguin has claimed. Bane keeps up his blubbering act. Commissioner Gordon rushes-in and pulls Batman off the shaking bloody Bane. Batman punches-out Gordon, to which the Commish tells Batman to get the hell out. Badly injured, but having fooled Batman, Bane smiles to himself in the infirmary. After leaving, Batman tells Alfred that he doesn’t know what to believe anymore. After building a makeshift cage inside the Batcave, Batman puts a blindfolded Penguin into his protective custody, placing him inside the cage while ordering Alfred to act as his keeper. Batman then sets out to interrogate anyone that has been released from Arkham in the past year. First, Batman mercilessly thrashes a cowering Maxie Zeus, who has been inexplicably paroled despite having been given a life sentence. Batman then terrorizes Firefly (Ted Carson), Kite Man, Signalman, and nine more (unnamed) recently released Arkham inmates. All of them say the same thing: Bane is a blubbering mess and there’s no way he’s the leader of a secret Arkham-based criminal cabal. When Gordon hears that Batman has been mercilessly brutalizing parolees, he angrily clomps up to the top of the GCPD HQ roof and smashes the Bat-signal with a baseball bat. Batman then returns to the Batcave where he is ambushed by Flashpoint Batman.

–FLASHBACK: From Infinite Frontier #4—and referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #70-71. Picking up directly from the end of Batman Vol. 3 #60, Batman and Flashpoint Batman fight each other in the Batcave. After a struggle, Flashpoint Batman knocks Batman unconscious and imprisons him inside Arkham Asylum. After being strapped to a machine that pumps a continuous flow of Fear Gas into his system, Batman hallucinates. First, Batman has a dream about Flashpoint Batman attacking both he and Alfred, reflective of the battle he’s just fought IRL.

–Batman Vol. 3 #61-63 (“KNIGHTMARES”)
Picking up directly from the previous item, Batman continues to hallucinate, having been taken prisoner by Flashpoint Batman and strapped to a machine that pumps a continuous flow of Fear Gas into his system. The Dark Knight dreams about the false origin of the murderous young Matthew Warner aka Master Bruce. Then, Batman finds himself, within the nightmare, trussed and hanging upside-down in a slaughterhouse. Batman struggles to free himself and regain his equilibrium as Professor Pyg strikes out at him. Batman demands answers of the villain, who morphs into Damian. Batman then dreams that his wedding with Catwoman went as planned. Batman vacations, patrols, and lives a happy life of marital bliss. Batman’s deep subconsciousness appears in the form of John Constantine, who follows the Dark Knight and acts as a voice of reason, trying to tell him something is amiss. After witnessing Catwoman die, Batman—via Constantine—struggles to convince himself that he’s been drugged and is being held captive.

–Batman Vol. 3 #66-69 (“KNIGHTMARES” Conclusion)
Batman’s Fear Gas-induced nightmare hallucination continues with a vision of the Question (Vic Sage) in conversation with Selina. They discuss the Bat-Cat relationship, Batman’s relationship to the Trinity, Batman’s war on crime, and whether or not Batman can ever be happy. Batman then hallucinates that he is chasing an extra-agile Joker all throughout Gotham. This segues into a weird dream where Selina and Lois Lane have a drunk and debaucherous bachelorette spa date at the Fortress of Solitude (which includes Supermen Robots stripping for them). Meanwhile, the dream continues with Bruce and Clark sharing together a quiet night of formal dinner, watching football on TV, and playing chess. Realizing that he’s dreaming, Batman tries to turn his vision into a lucid one, forcing the dream to take him to a scene of himself dancing with Selina. Batman faces his greatest fear—the fear of committing fully to Selina. Dream Selina tells Batman that he doesn’t truly love her. Elsewhere, Flashpoint Thomas Wayne spars with a nude Bane.

–Batman Vol. 3 #70-72 (“THE FALL AND THE FALLEN”)
Batman comes-to and smashes out of the nightmare machine to find himself in a Bane-controlled Arkham Asylum. Shaken and believing to have been held captive for what he mistakenly believes to have been weeks, Batman traverses the halls of the asylum. After kayoing Riddler and ignoring an vexatious Calendar Man, Batman easily takes down a sibilating snake man (either a Kobra soldier or Copperhead, but it’s hard to tell), Hush, Dr. Phosphorus, Mad Hatter, Victor Zsasz, a random man-bat (maybe a League of Assassins man-bat since Kirk Langstrom would currently be with the JLD and definitely not in Arkham), Eduardo Flamingo, Black Spider, Firefly, Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, Amygdala, Solomon Grundy, and Two-Face. As Maxie Zeus shouts in the background, Batman orders Two-Face to tell Bane that he’ll be returning with an army in twenty-four hours. Batman then heads to police HQ where he pops a vermillion bulb and new lens into the Bat-signal, shining it for his Bat-Family to see. Batgirl radios the troops: Robin (Tim) wraps-up fighting Samuroids (supposedly with Young Justice, but this is a bad continuity error since the latest incarnation of the team has yet to debut publicly); Robin (Damian) wraps-up dealing with Professor Pyg; Huntress wraps-up a team-up with Tiger King of Kandahar; a sleepy Spoiler ignores the call; Batwoman acknowledges but is out of country; Orphan responds affirmatively; Signal responds affirmatively; Dick (now “Ric”) says Bat-Family matters have nothing to do with him anymore; and Jason, chilling in Suzie Su’s Iceberg Lounge office, flat-out refuses to come. (Don’t forget there are two Iceberg Lounges—one owned by Penguin and the other by Suzie Su.) Atop a Gotham roof, Batman addresses his people, telling them of Bane’s machinations at Arkham. Batman tells the Bat-Family that he had been captured for weeks, which confuses them because there’s no way that could possibly be true. Despite this, they agree to listen to their mentor anyway. At Arkham, all the prisoners are safely in their cells. After a quick call to Alfred, Batgirl learns that Batman had only left yesterday. An irenic Tim (in his Robin costume) tries to calm down a quickly panicking and increasingly confused Batman, but the Dark Knight punches him. (A reference in Batman Vol. 3 #81 reveals that Batman knows that Gotham Girl is secretly listening-in on Bane’s behalf, so the Dark Knight, with this punch, actually sends a hidden message to the Bat-Family to begins communicating on more secure comm channels. He tells his fam that he will take a dive against Bane in order to figure out their plan and how to beat them. This ridiculousness puts some of his old Golden Age ruses to shame, but oh well.) At Wayne Manor, Batman comes face-to-face with Bane and Flashpoint Batman waiting for him at the dinner table. Alfred serves food, referring to Bane as “Master Bane.” An angry Batman flips the table, prompting Bane to rise up and knock his lights out. Alfred helps Batman to his feet, but tells him that Bane has finally truly broken him. Batman fights Bane all over the mansion, but Bane gets the upper hand and gives the Caped Crusader a patented backbreaker.

–Batman Vol. 3 #73-74 (“THE FALL AND THE FALLEN” Conclusion)
Batman, having been knocked unconscious by Bane, is mended by Flashpoint Batman, who performs surgery on his injured spine, saving his life. Heavily sedated, Bruce is hijacked to the deserts outside of Khadym by a horseback-riding Flashpoint Batman. After several days, Bruce awakens and adjusts to his surroundings, seeing his captor and a mysterious coffin. Another groggy day passes and Bruce erupts from sleep to find Flashpoint Batman finishing off The Death of the Desert, Ra’s al Ghul’s personal elite guard unit. Bruce chats with Flashpoint Batman and realizes that the alt-Dark Knight has dug up the corpse of Martha Wayne, which is in the coffin. The plan is to resurrect her in the Lazarus Pit of Khadym, known as the Nain Pit! The next night, while Flashpoint Batman sleeps, Batman sneaks his mother’s corpse out of the coffin, replacing the weight with rocks. He buries Martha in the sand. the next day, the two Batmen near the Nain Pit and defeat the rest of the Death of the Desert, including their mettlesome leader Shaddad the Unbroken. After repelling to the bottom of a deep chasm to the edge of the Nain Pit, Batman stops playing along and kicks his alt-dad’s ass. He tells Flashpoint Batman that Bane’s plan hasn’t worked. He’s not emotionally shattered and done for. Batman pummels Flashpoint Batman, seemingly defeating his faux father. However, such is not the case. As referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #84, Flashpoint Batman wins the fight and ascends out of the pit first. And here’s where things get ever more confusing.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #81. After leaving the Nain Pit, Batman realizes that Bane wants control of Gotham and will likely use Gotham Girl to help keep the Justice League out of his way. Knowing that Gotham Girl needs Super-Venom to slow down her rapid senescence, Batman decides that he must protect the last dose, which is hidden with the Memory of the Mountain in the Himalayas. Knowing that many of Gotham’s worst villains are in league with Bane, Batman orders Clayface (Basil Karlo) to infiltrate Bane’s ranks, disguised as Joker. Batman also preps his Bat-Family for clandestine action. The implication here is that this leads directly to the “City of Bane” arc, starting with Batman getting badly injured by Magpie’s thugs and Bane taking over Gotham. Batman even says he “did not return to the city” after crawling out of the pit. Thus begins “City of Bane.”

CITY OF BANE
———————––Batman Vol. 3 #75-76
———————––flashback from Batman Vol. 3 #77
With the aid of Psycho-Pirate’s brainwashing powers, Bane takes over Gotham, ejecting the Bat-Family from the city. Bane holds Alfred hostage, telling all Bat-Family members that he will kill him if they appear in the city. Flashpoint Batman and Gotham Girl replace Batman and Robin, even moving into the Batcave. The Ventriloquist replaces Alfred as steward of Wayne Manor, although Alfred remains in the mansion as a “permanent guest” under lock and key. Bane appoints Hugo Strange as the new commissioner of police and makes his top cops Riddler, Professor Pyg, Hush, Victor Zsasz, Mad Hatter, Dr. Phosphorus, Killer Croc, and Joker (who is actually a disguised Clayface working for Batman). (Note that the Gotham City Monsters series takes place during this exact time period in Gotham’s Monstertown, a neighborhood in which Bane has no interest. In Gotham City Monsters, Killer Croc is not under Bane and Psycho-Pirate’s spell. Thus, Croc must succumb immediately after that series ends. Additionally, as referenced in Batman and Robin Vol. 3 #5, Batman—despite being uninvolved—is aware of everything that goes down in Gotham City Monsters. He’s likely told by Batwoman.) Firefly and Firebug are put in charge of the Gotham City Fire Department. Psycho-Pirate—with Tweedledum (Dumfree Tweed) and Tweedledee (Deever Tweed) as his cronies—control Arkham Asylum. Only Two-Face—with hired men Solomon Grundy and Amygdala—remains to fight against the new status quo. While Bruce flees to the other side of the planet seeking to retrieve the Super-Venom from his old master, the Memory of the Mountain, Two-Face and his henchmen wage a war against Bane for days, eventually executing Bane’s agent, Dr. Double X. Flashpoint Batman and Gotham Girl then bust Two-Face, leaving his Harvey Dent side catatonic. Two-Face, Grundy, and Amygdala (whose right arm is violently amputated at the elbow by Gotham Girl) are thrown into Arkham where they are reprogrammed by Psycho-Pirate. In the snow-capped mountains of Asia, Bruce arrives at the Memory of the Mountain’s home, but Bane is one step ahead of him. Having sent Magpie to intercept, the Memory of the Mountain is already dead. Magpie’s henchmen steal the Super-Venom, stab Bruce in the neck, and leaving him half-naked and comatose in the snow. Catwoman, having tracked Bruce, saves his life. Back in Gotham, Lex Luthor makes an offer to Bane, telling him he can make his control of Gotham legally-binding in the eyes of the US Government. Bane tells Luthor that the LOD can conquer the multiverse, but he wants Gotham and Gotham alone. Soon after, an executive order from asshole President Trump makes Bane’s control of Gotham legal, simultaneously banning all superheroes from entering the city. Captain Atom breaks the order and enters Gotham to challenge Bane. Upon Captain Atom’s arrival, Gotham Girl kicks his ass and puts him in the hospital. Meanwhile, Flashpoint Batman takes down Tweedledum, Tweedledee, Kite Man, and Scarecrow when they all refuse to fall in line. Damian and Tim (in his Robin costume) meet to discuss a plan of action, but all hope seems lost. Bane’s two-and-a-half-year plan has finally come to full fruition and he now rules Gotham.^[2] In Paris, Bruce comes out of his coma. Selina nurses him back to health. Over a lovely Parisian dinner, a bummed Bruce says that he must return to Gotham even if it kills him. Selina tells Bruce that they can defeat Bane if they work together.

CITY OF BANE (Continued…)
———————––Batman Vol. 3 #78-79
———————––reference in Batman Vol. 3 #77^[3]
This item picks up directly from the previous “City of Bane” item. Catwoman finds out that Magpie is planning on selling the Super-Venom to Bane’s henchmen in Hawaii in a few days. (As referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #85, Selina also tells Bruce that she was able to retrieve Scarface from the Memory of the Mountain’s mountain home.) Selina and Bruce then immediately book a trip to Hawaii. Bruce, disguised as a vacationing Matches Malone, continues his recovery on a honeymoon-like retreat with a disguised Selina at a luxurious Hawaiian resort. They kayak, sip drinks by the beach, and listen to sports talk radio—specifically about the ongoing football season. As honeymoon-like as it all seems, Bruce is here to train and get better, which means no funny business! That’s right, Bruce and Selina will stay in two different rooms. Aside from the sexual edging, poolside tanning, and campfire heart-to-hearts about what went wrong with their engagement, Batman and Catwoman train by rock climbing, cliff diving, and Batarang toss-and-catch. While training, they give in to their true feelings, both attempting to take responsibility for what happened on their wedding day. They embrace and kiss, reunited once again. The Bat-Cat relationship is back on! (This kissing scene is also shown via flashback from Batman Vol. 3 #85.) The next day, Bruce and Selina discuss their past, exercise on the beach, and hear the latest news reports about Bane’s control of Gotham. After things heat up in their now-shared bedroom, Bruce and Selina heat up the streets of Honolulu, costuming themselves to fight crime. Batman and Catwoman spend a night busting stick-up men, gangsters, and Hawaii-based super-villains Knockout and Silver Sword. As referenced in Batman Vol. 3 #83, Alfred, not wanting to screw up Batman’s plans to defeat Bane, contacts the Dark Knight and tells him a lie that he’s safely escaped Gotham. Batman then phones Damian, telling him to go after Bane’s crew. After another night of action, Batman and Catwoman tell each other that they love one another before easily busting Magpie and getting back the Super-Venom. The next afternoon, Bruce thanks Selina for everything she’s done for him. They decide to have a new meeting place that isn’t the street or the boat—it’ll be the beach. In Gotham, the main action of Batman Vol. 3 #77 begins. With his orders from Batman, a determined Damian acquires Klarion’s magick wand, which he uses to defeat and restrain Gotham Girl. On a roll, Damian takes down Zsasz and Scarecrow (who has already been brainwashed into a Bane-cop by Psycho-Pirate). But Flashpoint Batman is too much for young Damian, who gets knocked-out and taken captive. In Wayne Manor, Damain is forced to watch as Bane murders Alfred.

–Batman Vol. 3 #80-82 (“CITY OF BANE” Continued…)
Batman and Catwoman sneak into Gotham City. Batman takes down Officers Pyg and Two-Face. When they fail to report in, Flashpoint Batman knows Batman has returned. While Catwoman takes down Officer Mad Hatter, Batman takes down a rogue Kite Man and Officer Hush. At Wayne Manor, Flashpoint Batman tucks a very sick Gotham Girl, ill due to overuse of her powers, into bed. The Ventriloquist announces that Bane has ordered the execution of Damian. Flashpoint Batman descends into the Batcave and puts a gun to a bound Damian’s head. Meanwhile, Batman and Catwoman defeat Solomon Grundy and Amygdala to infiltrate Arkham Asylum. Clayface takes down Riddler. In the Batcave, Damian easily escapes and, as per Batman’s plan, joins the Bat-Family (Robin costume-wearing Tim, Huntress, Orphan, Batwoman, Signal, and Batgirl) to fight Flashpoint Batman. But the villain kicks their asses and stabs Tim in the chest. Bloody and battered but victorious, Flashpoint Batman sends a fake message to Batman, telling him that the Bat-Family has won. The ham-fisted final pages of Batman Vol. 3 #81 show a nude Harvey Bullock gawping at a giant Doom Totality symbol that burns brightly across the skies above Earth. (This symbol, meant to coincide with the actions of the Legion of Doom in Justice League Vol. 4, was forcefully shoved—by editorial mandate—into the background of every DC title released in October, November, and early to mid December 2019. As with prior titles, we should definitely ignore this scene since it makes little to no sense happening now, nor does it make chronological sense in almost all of the titles in which it appears. The only way the appearance of the symbol makes any sense is if it has already appeared before and will continue to sporadically appear multiple times over the course of the next couple months.) After doing some prep work, Batman and Catwoman fight Bane in the bowels of Arkham Asylum. The trio fights to a bloody stalemate until Flashpoint Batman arrives with the Ventriloquist at his side. Flashpoint Batman puts bullets into both Batman and Bane.

–Batman Vol. 3 #83-85 (“CITY OF BANE” Conclusion)
Batman wakes up what could be days later, finding himself face-to-face with the deceased Alfred in Wayne Manor. Batman cradles Alfred and flips out, smashing things in anger. Batman then finds that all the entranceways to the Batcave have been occluded with brick. After finding and listening to a heartfelt final audio-recorded message from Alfred, Batman sheds some tears before facing the task at hand. The entire Bat-Family has apparently been mind-controlled into subservience by Psycho-Pirate. However, thanks to having an ace up their sleeve—Scarface—Batman and Catwoman are one step ahead of Flashpoint Batman. Catwoman and the Bat-Family are merely pretending to be under Psycho-Pirate’s control. Using Scarface as leverage, Catwoman actually controls the Ventriloquist, who orders Psycho-Pirate to stand down. A “brainwashed” Catwoman escorts Batman into the main parlor where Flashpoint Thomas Wayne (in street clothes) awaits. Batman challenges him to one more winner-take-all fight. (Note that, in Batman Vol. 3 #83, Tom King gives us a flashback to Flashpoint that retcons significant details about Flashpoint Batman’s history.) Flashpoint Batman is stunned to learn that he’s lost control of Psycho-Pirate. Without his metahuman advantage, Flashpoint Batman is defeated. Gotham City is returned to its government, citizenry, and proper authorities. Bane and Flashpoint Batman are jailed in Arkham Asylum. Batman briefly meets with Flashpoint Batman (who is strapped into a Hannibal Lecter getup) in Arkham. Bane also meets with Flashpoint Batman, breaking his back. Soon after, Alfred is quietly cremated and buried—sans funeral. (Alfred’s cremation is referenced in Batman vs Robin #1.) Later, Batman meets with a healed (but now powerless) Gotham Girl to discuss her future. Gotham Girl tells Batman he should marry Catwoman. Batman gives Gotham Girl some Platinum Kryptonite, which returns her powers—this time without a catch. Bruce spends the entire next day hanging out with Tim, Jason, and Damian at Wayne Manor. As night falls, Bruce and Selina visit Alfred’s grave together before going out on patrol. Together, Batman and Catwoman bust Captain Stingaree, Phantom Pharaoh, Condiment King, and Crazy Quilt in quick succession. As the rain pours down, Bat and Cat decide to get married. They discuss wrangling Judge Wolfman to perform a ceremony, but ultimately patrol through the night and head straight home for bedtime. In bed, they agree that their union is a legitimate one with or without the need for a judge to make it official. For all intents and purposes, the Bat and the Cat are “married.” A night later, Bruce and Selina watch football at Porky’s Bar with Chuck Brown (an out-of-costume Kite Man). QB Chris Campbell picks up a very unwonted victory for the Gotham Knights. Note that Batman Vol. 3 #85 contains an epilogue that overlaps with Superman Vol. 5 #18, a bit further down on our timeline. This epilogue does not feature Batman. It simply shows Joker reacting to some big Superman news.

–REFERENCE: In Catwoman Vol. 5 #58. Batman puts Flashpoint Batman’s costume on display in the Batcave. The Bat-Family studies it closely.

—^[4]

–Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #7-8
Lots of continuity errors to address here. We mentioned this above, but it merits re-mentioning. Because DC higher-ups decided to kill off Alfred in “City of Bane” without telling any other writers beforehand, this led to a catastrophic mess—and the mess only clusters here. Despite the fact that Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #1-8 tells one continuous (non-interrupted) arc, Alfred is shown alive and well in Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #6, but by Outsiders Vol. 3 #7-8, he’s dead. This means that there is a significant weeks-long ellipsis between Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #6 and Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #7 even though writer Bryan Hill clearly does not write it that way. Remember how Signal was kidnapped by Ishmael at the end of Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #6? Well, Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3 #7 naturally begins with a continuation of that abduction, showing Ishmael torturing his captive. However, now that there is this large ellipsis, we have to imagine that Signal escaped (which I’ve already added in above on our timeline) and that he has now been recaptured. Stress-inducing levels of bad editorial here. Horrible continuity. Onto a synopsis. Batman sends Orphan to rescue Signal, who has just been captured by Ishmael again. Orphan winds up fighting and defeating Ishamael. Signal is saved, but Ishmael has altered his metahuman physiology, causing him to see only “darkness instead of light.” Meanwhile, the rest of the Outsiders finally take Babylon (Sofia Ramos) to Gotham aboard an airplane. En route, Sofia breaks out of her shackles and confronts Black Lightning and Katana. Kaliber reveals that he is secretly in the employ of Ra’s al Ghul, turning on his teammates by detonating a bomb that sends the plane hurtling toward the ground. Concurrently, a large Doom Totality symbol burns brightly in the sky. (As mentioned before, this symbol, meant to coincide with the actions of the Legion of Doom in Justice League Vol. 4, was forcefully shoved—by editorial mandate—into the background of every DC title released in October, November, and early to mid December 2019. We should definitely ignore this scene since it makes little to no sense happening now, nor does it make chronological sense in almost all of the titles in which it appears. The only way the appearance of the symbol makes any sense is if it sporadically appears multiple times over the course of the next couple months.) As Batman stares at the rapidly descending plane, he calls upon his deceased family (Alfred, mom, and dad) to give him strength. Black Lightning uses his powers to push the plane into the ocean, saving himself and Katana while throwing Ishmael and Sofia into the sea. Batman collects Sofia on the shoreline. Later, Bruce tells Jefferson that Alfred has died. In the Batcave, Katana chats with Sofia, who has seen the error of her ways and wants to be a good guy now. Elsewhere, Signal and Orphan comfort each other. They question whether or not Batman really was holding Karma captive, vowing to bring down Shiva at any cost. Did I mention the absolute shit continuity in this book? The epilogue of Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #8, which is ridiculously labeled with the words “Metropolis. Now.” and details the murder of Black Lightning’s friend, actually takes place in connection with the next issue (Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #9), which does not take place now. It takes place after Superman reveals his secret ID to the world, about a month from now. When will writers learn not to reference every little story detail in every other book when in their own title they haven’t left any room for those things to have occurred? It is cardinal sin numero uno and it shows an amateurish lack of ability to work in a serialized shared universe with other creators. Either that or the editors are to blame. Take your pick. In any case, now that my bluster is over, we must slide this last section of Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #8 way down with Batman and The Outsiders Vol. 3 #9.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #10. Batman aids in the post-“City of Bane” cleanup of Gotham.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 Part 1. Worried that Bane will escape Arkham Asylum (after all, he did just roam freely into Flashpoint Batman’s cell), Batman creates the ultimate inhumane holding device for him. Bane is chained and plugged into a gothic-looking machine designed to slowly drain Venom from his system. An immobile Bane will be strapped to this horrible thing for many months to come.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1018 and Detective Comics Annual #3 (2020) Part 1. Bruce begins a new life without Alfred, learning to do all the things that Alfred usually would do for him on a daily basis. This includes caring for and playing with the Bat-pets. (Bruce will have trouble with the overall adjustment, especially the grocery shopping and preparing repasts for himself.)

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #98. Bruce tries to make Alfred’s special darjeeling tea, but he botches it.

–Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1
A week ago (immediately after the conclusion of “City of Bane”), Lex Luthor visited Riddler, telling him that he (Riddler) himself has been his own worst enemy all these years, shooting himself in the foot with all his compulsive riddling attached to crimes. Luthor, delivering a pep talk, told Riddler that change was a desideratum in order to bring about success. No gifts of power, just a pep talk.^[5] Cut to now. King Tut convinces Riddler to assist him in a challenge against Batman. After sending in a fake bomb threat, the villains are able to lure Batman (drawn wearing the wrong chest insignia, but oh well) into their warehouse deathtrap, an Egyptian-styled maze filled with traps and live crocodiles. Batman easily makes it through and nabs King Tut. An abashed Riddler decides he’s had enough. He walks out on both Tut and Batman, discarding his Riddler attire. It’s time to heed Luthor’s words and start fresh. SPOILER: Riddler won’t start fresh. He’ll just start doing meth. Not even joking.

–FLASHBACK: From Justice League Vol. 4 #51. Batman perches atop a skyscraper gargoyle and grieves over the loss of Alfred, specifically comparing it to how he felt when Jason died.

–REFERENCE: In Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular Part 10. Batman notices that Damian seems especially troubled, realizing he’s been colder and more distant (even for him) ever since Nightwing’s brain injury. Now, with Alfred gone, Damian seems even more on edge. A worrisome Batman will take notice of his son’s behavior for months to come, but won’t be able to speak to him.

–REFERENCE: In Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #9. Wayne Enterprises donates new SWAT uniforms to the GCPD.

–NOTE: In a flashback from Young Justice Vol. 3 #5. This important (although Batman-less) item supposedly occurs two weeks after Batman meets Jinny Hex in “Batman Universe.” This is a bad continuity error as “Batman Universe” occurred nearly a year ago. Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown reach out to Black Canary to ask her advice about Savior, the alternate universe version of himself (from the Titans Tomorrow/666 timeline), and about alternate realities in general. Black Canary tells them to seek-out Marvel’s Doc Sampson on Earth-616! Of course, copyright law prevents them from doing that, so they instead set up a meeting with Zatanna at the Hall of Justice. Zatanna magickally enters Tim’s mind, seeing that some force has blocked his memories (and everyone else’s) of Young Justice! In an instant, Tim recalls a large chunk of this stolen history, including lost memories of Bart Allen and Conner Kent (both of whom had been erased and blocked from everyone’s memories). (Brian Michael Bendis uses dialogue that points toward Conner being from another timeline entirely, hinting that he is the original Conner transplanted from the Modern Age. This can’t be true, and later comics will disavow the idea, instead leaning toward the same type of memory-erasure that happened to Bart.) Also note that, Conner and Bart, despite having been exiled to Gemworld and the Speed Force (respectively), did not age during their primary timeline erasure periods. As such, they are both returning still as teenagers, each around fourteen-years-old—as referenced in Action Comics #1057 Part 3. (Yes, Bendis had Connor pretend to be someone’s husband during exile, so maybe he aged in Gemworld, but then he reverted back to the age he would have been at Flashpoint upon returning to the timeline proper? Best not to think about this too much.) Astounded at this bizarre discovery/recollection, Zatanna invites Tim and Stephanie inside and calls Madame Xanadu to join in the investigation. They also try to call Batman and Superman, but neither can be reached. Stephanie heads off to meet with/deal with her dad (Cluemaster) while Tim heads off to find his lost pals and to reform Young Justice! (This leads directly into the Batman-less interdimensional adventure featured in Young Justice Vol. 3 #1-11.)

–Detective Comics Annual #3 (2020) Part 1
Batman saves some folks from a burning building, which had caught fire due to regressive housing deregulation policies instituted by Gotham’s brand new Mayor Dunch. After saving a family, Batman orders a new wheelchair for a boy. Back home, Bruce finds an empty fridge with a note inside it from Damian, telling him to buy groceries. In the living room, Bruce is surprised by former MI6 agent Marigold Sinclair, who used to be partners with Alfred back in the day. Marigold explains that one of Alfred’s old friends from his spy days, Kendall Pierce, had betrayed him to defect to the Soviets. She tasks Batman with accompanying her on a mission to bring Pierce to justice—out of respect to the dear departed Alfred. Note that Marigold says, “Alfred left the service not long after… before he was able to bring Kendall to justice… some family obligation about taking care of an orphan. We met a few times over the years, but I could never shake Alfred from his sense of duty.” This is an error on the part of writer Peter Tomasi, one that should have been flagged by editorial. Alfred definitely left the British Secret Service to care for Bruce before his parents were killed. Ergo, the “orphan” dialogue and arrangement of the word balloons are off. Tomasi should have said (and probably meant to say) that Alfred met up with Marigold both prior to and after Bruce became an orphan, seeing the ex-spy’s unwavering devotion to the boy. Two nights after accepting Marigold’s mission, Batman meets her in Vinnytsya, Ukraine to hunt down Pierce. Tracking Pierce to an old KGB training site, Batman is confronted by a new NKVDemon. Batman and and a sprightly Marigold bust the new KNVDemon and Pierce. A couple days late, feeling motivated, Bruce cleans up Wayne Manor. Marigold visits Bruce again and she tells him stories about Alfred’s salad days.

–NOTE: In flashback from Man of Steel #1-6. Jor-El returns, visiting the Kents and demanding to take his grandson on a cosmic tour of the universe. Lois and Clark tell him to piss off, but Jonathan wants to go. After discussion, Lois agrees to chaperon Jonathan with Jor-El. After telling Perry White that she’s leaving for what could possibly be “the entire summer,” he fires her from the Daily Planet! (Note that the reference to summer must be regarded as a topical continuity error, and as such summarily ignored. We are not in summertime nor are we nearing the season.) Clark gives Lois his primary Superman costume, saying that it will protect her on her journey. This was originally meant to be writer Brian Michael Bendis’ cheeky way (no pun intended) of having Superman return to wearing his red trunks, but—thanks to the slowness of his writing style (having a decompressed short arc come out over the course of two years)—this cannot be the case as the Man of Steel has already been back in his cerise speedo for nearly an in-story year-and-a-half at this juncture.

–Man of Steel #3
A couple days have passed since Jor-El’s return. Jon and Lois depart on their interdimensional/intergalactic tour with Jor-El, leaving a lonely Clark behind. Not long after their departure, Rogol Zaar, the monstrous alien warlord that claims to have destroyed Krypton, smashes into the Fortress of Solitude and completely destroys it—along with Kelex and the Bottle City of Kandor (including its many residents). Concurrently, in Metropolis, Superman, Batman, and Deputy Fire Chief Melody Moore investigate a series of arson fires. Superman and Supergirl respond to the destruction of the Fortress of Solitude, but soon find themselves face-to-face with Rogol Zaar in Metropolis.

–Man of Steel #5-6
While Superman fights Rogol Zaar in outer space, another arson fire breaks out in Metropolis, prompting Supergirl, the Green Lantern Corps, and the Justice League—which has just been made aware of the Rogol Zaar situation—to save the city. On the dark side of the Moon, Rogol Zaar beats Superman to a pulp, leaving him unconscious. Supergirl collects Superman and the JL puts the Man of Steel into medical care at the Hall of Justice. After a quick recovery, Superman meets Rogol Zaar once again, this time at the molten center of the Earth. Superman flies Rogol Zaar back into outer space where Supergirl blasts him with the Phantom Zone Projector, casting him into imprisonment. Only Rogal Zaar’s WMD and his axe are left behind. Not long afterward, outside the rubble of the Fortress of Solitude, the Justice League, Supergirl, and Hal Jordon honor the millions of dead Kandorians in a funeral ceremony. Supergirl tells Superman that she will leave Earth to solve the mystery of Rogol Zaar. Superman tells Supergirl that he has no way of tracking Lois, Jon, and Jor-El. Later, teenager Darryl Conners—paid-off to lie by the actual arsonist, a gangster named Yogurt (John Bender)—walks into a Metropolis firehouse and tells Chief Melody Moore that he saw Superman start one of the fires. (As revealed via reference in Action Comics #1001, Action Comics #1004, and Superman Vol. 5 #7, Lois will soon secretly return to Earth to work on a book, leaving Jon to continue his tour with Jor-El alone. Clark will continue to think Lois is off-planet, but she’ll actually be at a hotel in Metropolis.)

–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #1002. The Justice League defeats a Star Conqueror (one of Starro’s alien starfish kin) in Seattle.^[6]

–Superman Vol. 5 #2-3 (“THE UNITY SAGA”)^[7]
Rogol Zaar, trapped inside the Phantom Zone, fights and kills Nuclear Man (from Superman IV: Quest for Peace!), which causes a rift in the interdimensional membrane. This rift, combined with experimentation at a STAR Labs site in Colorado, causes the entirety of planet Earth to get sucked into the Phantom Zone. Martian Manhunter is shown telepathically linking all of the Justice League members (and several other heroes, including Plastic Man and Hawkman), helping direct them to various locations around the globe. The appearance of Martian Manhunter is a major continuity error that will be repeated throughout the entirety of Bendis’ Superman run. At this point, J’onn has been absorbed by Lex Luthor and would be off the playing field. Aquaman is also shown among the linked heroes, but this is another major continuity error as he is currently missing at the moment. (Basically, Bendis wholly ignores Scott Snyder’s ongoing continuity, and he will do this consistently, moving forward.) Superman and Flash (Barry Allen) meet inside the newly constructed Fortress of Solitude, now located in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle. Superman has Kelex up and running again too. The Man of Steel and Flash collect the Phantom Zone Projector, but Flash, along with Batman and a few others, collapse due to the brain-strain of maintaining sustained telepathic connection for too long. Superman then visits the STAR Labs site in Colorado, which is coincidentally being attacked by Livewire. Meanwhile, Rogol Zaar meets Jax-Ur. After fending-off a horde of villains, Rogol Zaar forms an alliance with Jax-Ur. On Earth, bridges begin collapsing and chaos sweeps across the globe. With Batman and Flash both sick and vomiting, the other JLers try their best to save lives. Martian Manhunter is shown, telling all that they’ve all been mysteriously poisoned. (Again, the appearance of Martian Manhunter here is a big Bendis continuity error, so we should ignore.) At the Hall of Justice, Superman meets with Mr. Terrific (remotely), Dr. Will Magnus (remotely), both Atoms, and Blue Beetle (Ted Kord). The Man of Steel departs to confront a wave of hundreds of Phantom Zone villains and monsters, led by Rogol Zaar and Jax-Ur.

–Action Comics #1003^[8]
Clark meets up with Lois, who recently surprised him with the fact that she has returned to Earth. (Lois left ten-year-old Jon with Jor-El and returned to work on a book at the Drake Hotel in Metropolis.) Meanwhile, rookie Daily Planet reporter Robinson Goode investigates mafia deaths (including the murders of Yogurt and Moxie) that are linked to the recent arson fires in Metropolis. (Robinson is secretly the super-villain known as The Red Cloud, who is responsible for the mafia slayings and arson fires. She secretly works for top mob boss Marisol Leone, who runs the cartel known as the Invisible Mafia.) During the course of her phony investigation, Robinson purchases a chunk of black market Kryptonite, which she puts in her purse. Upon returning to the Daily Planet Building, Robinson’s Kryptonite causes Clark to collapse. Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Trish Q, and some other Daily Planet staff come to his aid. Once Robinson leaves, Clark recovers and immediately calls Batman for help, filling him in on the situation. Batman flies to Metropolis and accosts Robinson in a ginnel, confiscating the Kryptonite. Batman then meets with the Man of Steel and tells him he’ll hold onto the Kryptonite for safekeeping. Robinson then visits the black market seller from whom she purchased the Kryptonite. Robinson questions the woman before sublimating into the Red Cloud and killing her. Superman arrives just after the caliginous villainess disappears. Robinson feigns being upset and clings to Superman, praising him for his arrival. Meanwhile, at Lois’ hotel, Lex Luthor—having temporarily reverted to his non-Apex suit-and-tie look—surprises her with a knock at the door.^[9]

—^[10]

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #88-89. A cracked-out meth-addicted Riddler has gone into hiding, but stays connected to the outside world by secretly hacking into every camera system in Gotham so as to monitor everything and everyone. Unknown to Riddler, Batman knows exactly what he’s doing. Upon closer examination of Riddler’s downtown lair, Batman finds that it is laced to the brim with C4 explosives. The Dark Knight decides caution is the best course of action. He lets Riddler alone, but will secretly monitor the villain’s monitoring, moving forward.

–Detective Comics #1016 Epilogue
While Mrs. Freeze relaxes in her new home in Canada, Mr. Freeze rots in a special cryogenic cell in the basement of Arkham Asylum. Batman pays him a visit.

–Detective Comics #1017
Batman picks up some chatter that ex-False Face Society members are trying to acquire a bomb. But before he can tackle the case, Lucius Fox visits him in the Batcave to tell him that teenager Miguel Flores has run away from the Martha Wayne Orphanage and that two other teens have mysteriously disappeared from there this past year. The next day, Bruce visits the orphanage, delivering science and art equipment and ice cream. Bruce authorizes a new wing to be built. As snow begins to fall and temperatures plummet across Gotham, Batman calls-in Damian to work the orphanage case. Over the course of the next snowy two weeks, Batman battles ex-Black Mask followers and secures their bomb while Robin searches for Miguel, eventually finding him on death’s door. Batman and Robin rush Damian to the hospital, but the boy is DOA. In the wee hours of the morning, Batman realizes that orphanage director Mr. Morrison is responsible for the missing teens and scaring off Miguel. At dayspring, Bruce, Damian, and Lucius, flanked by police, visit Morrison, exposing his involvement in what appears to be human trafficking. Bruce punches his lights out. Batman and Robin then track down the missing kids and bust the traffickers. Bruce vows to be more personally involved in the affairs of the Wayne Enterprises-controlled orphanages and the lives of the orphans that live in them. We must presume that Bruce stays true to his word.

–NOTE: In Superman Vol. 5 #6 Part 2 and Superman Vol. 5 #7. This item doesn’t have anything to do with Batman per se, but it does help us keep track of the out-of-control continuity of this period. Three weeks have passed since Superboy’s departure with Jor-El (as seen in Man of Steel). Having left his trip early, Superboy now makes a surprise return home. However, Jon is now a fully grown teenager much to the astonishment of Lois and Clark. How is this possible? Jon was actually gone for years, trapped by Ultraman. Thanks to unexplainable sci-fi chicanery, despite the fact that only three weeks passed for everyone else, Jon lived several full years. Notably, Jon can only guess how long he’s been gone for, estimating that he was absent for many years and is now “about, I don’t know, seventeen.” In Tom Taylor’s Superman: Son of Kal-El #9, Jon will say specifically that he was gone for five years, from age eleven through sixteen. This directly contradicts Superman Vol. 5, Adventures of the Super-Sons, and “Warworld Saga,” which all point toward Jon having left at age ten, not eleven. While Jon is unsure of the exact length of time he was gone (making that length of time debatable), he would absolutely know how old he was when he left, and it was at age ten, not eleven. Therefore, Superman: Son of Kal-El #9 makes an error that we must interpret as meaning that Jon left at age ten but spent his entire eleventh through sixteenth years in exile. Since there is some initial confusion about Jon’s age upon his return, we can probably infer (based upon Taylor’s botch/retcon) that Jon is either sixteen-going-on-seventeen or just-recently-turned seventeen upon his return. Did I mention that Bendis aging Jon up is a terrible idea? Sigh.

–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #1007-1012. Leviathan, having already decimated Kobra the night prior (as seen in Action Comics #1007), bombs the DEO offices in Columbus, Ohio (as seen in Action Comics #1008). This is all part of a coordinated multi-faceted attack against several government agencies, cloak-and-dagger spy organizations, and international criminal cartels. Concurrently, Lois Lane finally returns to the Daily Planet and Colonel Sam Lane (Lois’ dad and one of the current senior ranking ARGUS spymasters) is hospitalized after suffering a critical heart attack during a Leviathan assassination attempt. He will remain hospitalized and non-responsive. Less than thirty minutes after the DEO bombing and attack on Sam Lane, Superman visits the Batcave hoping to talk to Batman about Leviathan (as seen in Action Comics #1009). We get a huge and unfortunate continuity error as Alfred tells Superman that Batman is out dealing with Riddler. Alfred should be dead at this point. Again, Alfred was killed off without notifying any other creators that he would be getting killed beforehand, thus causing a lot of continuity errors across the board. There will be at least six more instances of Alfred appearing in upcoming comics even though he should be dead. Sigh. Also, it’s worth noting that Riddler would be methed-out in his lair at this moment, so Batman “dealing with him” must simply mean that he is monitoring him.^[11][12]

–Superman: Leviathan Rising #1
Our narrative begins with a flashback to “yesterday,” which should be read as meaning that it takes place just prior to Leviathan’s purge against Kobra and the DEO. The flashback shows the new mystery leader of Leviathan (disguising his face via stolen DEO tech) approaches Metropolis’ top mob boss (and new owner of the Daily Planet) Marisol Leone, asking her for advice on how to get rid of Superman. Leone tells him that whoever gets rid of Superman won’t get any glory or recognition—the reason so many super-villains fail is ego. Leone also tells the mystery man that Lois Lane is far more dangerous than Superman. She suggests targeting Lois by kidnapping Clark. Cut to now. Across town, Superman easily defeats Mongul II and heads home to find Talia al Ghul’s assassins waiting to ambush Clark Kent. After checking-in with Lois, who has once again sequestered herself away at her secret writing haven in the Drake Hotel, Superman decides that he will allow himself to be kidnapped in order to find out what’s going on. (Note that Superman and Lois discuss a recent article she’s written about Young Justice, but this is a continuity error! Young Justice hasn’t yet returned from their interdimensional adventure featured in Young Justice Vol. 3 #1-11.) All goes according to Superman’s plan until Talia straps Kryptonite to Clark’s chest, hoping to use him as bait for Lois. When Clark doesn’t come home, Lois alerts Batman and Wonder Woman, who begin a search for him with the entire JL. Jimmy Olsen, having just blacked out in Las Vegas and married intergalactic jewel thief Jix Mantel, goes to help find Clark along with Dex-Starr. As referenced in Year of the Villain #1 Part 2, the JLA locates Clark’s position and are able to get drone footage or hacked security footage of him being interrogated by Talia and her men. Soon after, at Talia’s HQ, the new mystery leader of Leviathan enters and saves Clark, removing his Kryptonite chest-piece. After the new Leviathan head disappears, a rescue team consisting of Lois, Jimmy, Dex-Starr, and Firestorm shows-up (with the JL following a few minutes behind). They begin kicking Leviathan ass. (Note that Leviathan Rising #1 has an opening splash that says Clark gets kidnapped for two days, but that’s ridiculous as it’s only been a few hours. Plus, we shouldn’t take opening splashes as any true indicator of canon.) Aboard a Leviathan aircraft, the new leader of Leviathan confronts Talia, who tells him that he stole her organization out from under her and won’t stand for it. The new leader kicks her out of the group by throwing her out of the aircraft. Superman saves Talia and jails her. Not long after, Marisol Leone promotes Red Cloud (Robinson Goode) within her secret crime cabal ranks, making her an equal partner. Note that Superman: Leviathan Rising #1 also contains a Supergirl part by writer Marc Andreyko. This part is completely separate from the rest of the narrative (as specifically highlighted by editorial notation that says it takes place three months later—”after Kara’s space adventure in Supergirl Vol. 7 #32“). While Andreyko’s Supergirl part definitely takes place later, it must occur much sooner than three months later. Supergirl Vol. 7 #32 overlaps with Superman Vol. 5 #10-15, which overlaps with Event Leviathan #1, which occurs a few hours from now. Therefore, if you are reading chronologically and with primary continuity in mind, skip the Supergirl part.

–Year of the Villain #1 Part 2
The superhero community continues to investigate Leviathan in the wake of its all-out attack on government agencies, cloak-and-dagger spy organizations, and international criminal cartels (as seen in Action Comics #1008-1012). The heroes also investigate loose-ends related to Leviathan’s kidnapping of Clark Kent (as seen in Superman: Leviathan Rising #1). In the Batcave, Batman monitors various related items: footage of Clark when he was kidnapped by Leviathan; video of a Leviathan suicide bomber attacking Supergirl’s foster parents (DEO agents Jeremiah Danvers and Eliza Danvers), resulting in the latter’s supposed death; and a live feed of Batgirl and Green arrow, who are currently following-up a Leviathan lead in Seattle. (As referenced in Checkmate Vol. 3, Eliza’s death has actually been faked so that she can join Leviathan.) Batgirl and Green Arrow sign-off after a quick chat with Batman, then easily taking down Merlyn, who tells them that Leviathan has crushed the League of Assassins. The new mystery leader of Leviathan captures Batgirl and offers her a chance to join. In the Batcave, Robin approaches Batman and tells him that he thinks Red Hood is at the epicenter of the new Leviathan.

–Event Leviathan #1-3^[13]
For the past twenty four hours or so, Leviathan has completed a highly coordinated global assault, including the destruction of Kobra, the DEO, Cadmus, Spyral, Task Force X, SHADE, the League of Assassins, the Justice Foundation, and more. The attack now continues as ARGUS’ new Coast City mega-HQ (disguised as The Museum of Super Science) is reduced to rubble and all ARGUS agents disappear without a trace, thus completing the new Leviathan’s purge of all clandestine organizations. Batman and Lois Lane investigate the rubble of the ARGUS compound, finding a shell-shocked Steve Trevor there. Trevor tells them that the new all-powerful Leviathan villain (the same one that leveled the Danvers’ apartment) destroyed the ARGUS HQ. Untrusting of anything or anyone, Trevor starts firing a gun at Lois and Batman. Green Arrow arrives just in time to take him down and send him to prison. The heroes discuss the fact that world governments have been able to keep the Leviathan purge a secret from the greater public so far, but they won’t be able to after this. Together, they decide they must find out who the new mystery leader of Leviathan is as soon as possible. Undetected, the Question (Vic Sage) watches them from the shadows. Elsewhere, the new leader of Leviathan makes an offer to a kidnapped Dr. Strand, one of the top ARGUS scientists. Batman joins an anti-Leviathan team consisting of Lois Lane, Robin (Damian), Green Arrow, the Question, Plastic Man, and Manhunter (Kate Spencer). The Question goes to check on Sam Lane in his Columbus, Ohio hospital room. There, the Question prevents a Leviathan soldier (dressed in bizarre armor) from assassinating Sam Lane. Lane shoots and kills his attacker, a former ARGUS agent gone rogue. Plastic Man goes to examine the attacker’s body in the local morgue, but runs into the mystery leader of Leviathan, who tells him that the new Leviathan is trying to make the world a better place. The leader takes the corpse and disappears, leaving only a Batarang-like weapon behind. Going off Damian’s intel that Red Hood might be a part of Leviathan, the anti-Leviathan team stalks Red Hood, who surveys the Seattle rooftop where Batgirl went missing at the hands of Leviathan. After Batman chats with an unsuspecting Red Hood, the rest of the team jumps him and the chase is on. (This chase is also shown via flashback from Leviathan Dawn #1.) Red Hood masterfully kicks everyone’s asses before speaking with Lois directly. She realizes that he has been set up by Leviathan as a patsy. Red Hood tells her that Leviathan will be targeting Amanda Waller. Green Arrow gets in Batman and Robin’s way as all three try to nab Red Hood, bungling the attempt and allowing Red Hood to walk. Too many cooks in the kitchen here! The heroes regroup at Superman’s Fortress of Solitude in the Bermuda Triangle. There, they discuss the case and discover a listening device that Amanda Waller has secretly hidden. Waller, on the lam in a Latin American country, is confronted by the leader of Leviathan and a squadron of his top men. Superman comes to Waller’s aid.

–Event Leviathan #4-6
Leviathan uses strange tech to disorient Superman, who goes into an intense psychedelic dizzy spell. When he comes-to, Leviathan is gone, along with all his troopers and Amanda Waller. Shortly thereafter, Lois Lane’s detective team gathers in the Batcave with Superman. They regroup and go over the details of the case at hand. As they do, Lois sneaks off, steals a car from the Wayne Manor garage, and drives away. Outside of Wayne Manor, the Silencer watches, reporting back to her boss, Talia al Ghul. In the Batcave, Batgirl reports-in via live video feed, saying that she accepted Leviathan’s offer in order to infiltrate the group. She tells her friends that Leviathan is making a big play in the morning, but then gets cut off. When a giant Leviathan floating fortress appears in the sky Superman flies off with Plastic Man to check it out. Concurrently, Lois steals a car from Wayne Manor and meets with yet another team of detectives working the case: Zatanna, Elongated Man, Harvey Bullock, Deathstroke, the Question (Renee Montoya), and John Constantine. They tell Lois that they believe Sam Lane has faked his heart attack and is the secret leader of Leviathan. Batman and his team watch via bio-sensor cams hidden in the stolen car. Just as Zatanna sends (via magick portal) Lois to her dad’s hospital room in Columbus, Ohio, Leviathan troopers attack Team Zatanna. Chaos ensues, during which the terribly ill Sam tells Lois the answer to the Leviathan mystery lies in the “snowman’s ticket.” As troopers bear down upon them as well, Sam and Lois are teleported to a far off cordillera where Sam dies in his daughter’s arms! Meanwhile, Superman and Plastic Man confront the leader of Leviathan, who stands alongside his flying fortress, a gigantic army, and an entire fleet of airborne warships on Leviathan Island (off the coast of Iceland). In Gotham, Batman, Robin, the Question (Vic Sage), Green Arrow, and Manhunter (Kate Spencer) hop in the war machine hummer and rush to Superman’s location. Robin realizes that the leader of Leviathan has something to do with Manhunter, but before they can pursue the revelation further, Talia al Ghul and the Silencer attack their vehicle, toppling it upside-down. Everyone realizes that the Manhunters are involved with Leviathan, so they all turn on Kate, who attempts to fight them only to get beaten into a coma. But Kate was just a patsy. Knowing they are being watched and listened-to, Batman and Robin begin giving false plans out loud while communicating their real plans in sign-language. The two groups of detectives then finally gather together. At this point, as referenced in Leviathan Dawn #1, Batman moves the comatose Kate Spencer to the Batcave. She will remain there for the next week-plus. Batman also moves Kate’s son Ramsey into a safe house. On Leviathan Island, the leader of Leviathan unmasks to reveal himself as ex-Manhunter Mark Shaw. Now knowing Superman’s location, both detective teams, Talia, and the Silencer appear on Leviathan Island. The League of Assassins and League of Shadows members present, along with Batgirl, betray Leviathan, joining the detective teams and Talia to defeat Shaw’s army. Shaw threatens to release every single military, government, and corporate secret to the public before teleporting away. Thankfully, the device they need to do this is safely in Batgirl’s hands, having been sneaked away to her by Amanda Waller (who is now MIA). However, Shaw still has a treasure trove of info that he could potentially distribute bit by bit, potentially uprooting the global socioeconomic balance and throwing into complete turmoil. The heroes learn that Shaw’s entire plan was actually designed by Sam Lane, a theoretical plan to bring down all clandestine organizations at once, known as the “snowman’s ticket.” Unsure of what to do next, the heroes meet with Lois Lane, deciding that a simple news story is the best course of action. The next morning, Lois’ Daily Planet article exposing Shaw as the leader of Leviathan is published. (Note that the article carries a November 13, 2019 date, but that merely refers to the publication date of Event Leviathan #6, so we shouldn’t take this date as canonical.) In a remote location, Shaw regroups with his secret righthand man, the ex-superhero known as the Guardian (Jim Harper). Together, they vow to rebuild and carry out their plans in the future. (Flashbacks from Justice League Vol. 4 #39 and Leviathan Dawn #1 also shows details from the latter half of Event Leviathan.)

–REFERENCE: In Superman Vol. 5 #26. In the wake of “Event Leviathan,” the Justice League fortifies security at several important locations, including the Daily Planet Building.

–REFERENCE: In Superman Vol. 5 #16. With Batman out of Gotham on an unspecified case, Robin is left alone to defend the city against a horde of lingering Leviathan troopers. After besting them, Damian is visited by Superboy, who is now sixteen-years-old thanks to the cosmic machinations of kooky old Jor-El and Ultraman. (Sci-fi hoodoo has made it so that Superboy was trapped for seven years while only three weeks passed for everyone else, hence his skipping from age ten to seventeen. A few days ago, Superboy initially returned from this aging-exile—at the end of Superman Vol. 5 #6—only to leave again and then re-return at the conclusion of “Unity Saga” in Superman Vol. 5 #15, which overlapped with Event Leviathan #1.) Together, Superboy and Robin bust Riddler, Kite Man, Killer Croc, and Catman. Jon tells Damian that he’s accepted an offer to go live in the 31st century with the Legion of Super-Heroes, who have recently “revealed themselves” to the present day hero community. Don’t forget, thanks to continued memory-blocking, no one recalls the true history of the Legion, which includes multiple time-traveling interactions with the present day.

–Detective Comics #1027 Part 10
After Batman builds and wields a special signal disruptor to best some super-villains that digitally disguise themselves as gargoyles, Batman and Commissioner Gordon light up the Bat-Signal all through the night to let Gotham’s citizenry know the city is safe and sound. Batman is then called away by the Justice League when it is discovered that four planets (including Earth) have been pushed out of the solar system by an unknown force. Creators Scott Snyder and Ivan Reis then treat us to a montage of the JL handling the situation, but there are major continuity errors that must be addressed. At one point, Gordon—the unreliable narrator of our tale—admits he is imagining parts for which he was not actually present. Thus, we should ignore the following as Gordon’s bogus imaginations: Aquaman’s presence and a JL fight against Darkseid. (Both are currently in exile.) I’m hesitant to include the JL fight against the Anti-Monitor, which is also shown, but I suppose it’s possible. The JL also combats Brainiac. In Gotham, Gordon, Renee Montoya, Harvey Bullock, and Arnold Flass help out. (Yes, Flass—a guy that once beat up Gordon with a baseball bat and was involved in various criminal activities—is somehow apparently still employed by a Gordon-run GCPD. Although, Gordon doesn’t mention his first name, so this could be Flass’ kid.) Meanwhile, the JL consults with the JL Dark, Supergirl, Superboy (Jonathan Kent), and the Green Lantern Corps, after which the heroes come up with blueprints for a magick sci-fi device that can save the galaxy. While the machine is built an implemented, Batman rejoins Gordon. Together, they shine the Bat-Signal to let everyone know everything’s going to be okay.

–REFERENCE: In Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 8 #2. Batman gets a tip about Leviathan, so he sends Robin to investigate. The tip turns out to be bunk, but Superboy greets Robin, inviting him to go on an adventure in the 31st century. Note that, in Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 8 #2, United Planets President RJ Brande references Clark having been Superboy when he was a teen. This should likely be regarded as a continuity error. Even if Doomsday Clock/Flash Forward retcons have reinstated Clark’s time with the Legion as a teen, there would be a collective memory block/erasure currently in effect. After all, writer Brian Michael Bendis doesn’t reference Clark as Superboy in any other Legion issue and, in fact, Bendis makes it quite clear that Jon is the “first” Superboy to join the Legion in other issues of Legion! (This is either a straight-up Bendis flub, an error related to the 2020 backstage upheaval in the DC office, or RJ Brande is so cosmic in nature that she knows something—wink wink—that no one else does about DC’s fucked up continuity.)

–REFERENCE: In Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 3 #5. Batman inquires as to how and why Red Lantern Dex-Starr wound up assisting in the recent fight against Leviathan, learning that the interstellar feline got mixed up on a shameful Jimmy Olsen adventure during which the former vomited alien blood all over the latter (as seen in the risible Jimmy Olsen-centric pages of Superman: Leviathan Rising #1).

–Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 3 #4-6
This run of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen occurs specifically after Leviathan Rising #1 and Event Leviathan. Jimmy Olsen has just faked his death and gone into hiding due to fears that Lex Luthor is out for his head due to a connection in their ancestry—one that would allow for Jimmy to come into a large chunk of Lex’s money. (Note that author Matt Fraction writes Lex Luthor in a seemingly anachronistic way, as a pre-Apex version of the character. In Jimmy Olsen, we’ll see Lex Luthor heavily involved in LexCorp affairs, which he really wouldn’t be at this juncture. I’m sure there’s some fanwank for this, but I don’t know what it would be. Basically Lex’s role in this series is a recurring continuity error no matter how you swing it. Sadly, Fraction’s continuity errors will keep on coming, but we’ll address them as we come across them.)^[14] In his awful alter ego of super-troll “Timmy Olsen,” Jimmy films some terrible content for his way-too-popular comedy video blog. In Gotham, Jimmy bothers Dr. Fate and then has seventeen people dress up as Joker in an effort to troll Batman too. Batman shows up and clouts Jimmy in the face. Later, Jimmy heckles Mayor Michael Akins and has a revolving door delivered to Arkham Asylum. He then accosts Bruce Wayne, yelling “You’re Batman!” over and over. Next, he steals a wheel off the Batmobile, forcing Vicki Vale to report that the “Batmobile has lost its wheel.” Okay, maybe this is some good content after all. Other hijinks are more mean-spirited and offensive towards the Bat-Family. I won’t sully our highbrow website by mentioning them here LOL. Later, to keep up sybarite appearances (and to bolster the launch of a new WayneTech mobile platform), Bruce goes on an awful paparazzi-swarmed dinner date with self-absorbed twenty-two-year-old “alpha influencer” Gliminny Tamtam. The next day, Jimmy’s funeral is held. Among the cortège are Clark, Lois, Perry White, Jimmy’s brother Julian Olsen, Janie Olsen, Jimmy’s landlord/lawyer Ed Lynch, Lynch’s secretary Miss Denise, Metamorpho, the Middlefield Cemetery undertaker, and others. Dr. Anton Mantel (Jix’s dad), Jimmy’s STAR Labs scientist friend that helped fake his death with a synthetic corpse, emerges from beneath the earth (actually returning from interdimensional Ultraspace), revealing that Jimmy is still alive to the astonished mourners. A couple days later, Jimmy continues his ultimate “Timmy Olsen” trolling, dressing up a bunch of people as the Joker and having them all visit a frozen yogurt shop. The world’s best sports mascot, The Phillie Phanatic, is there too! Batman shows up and knocks-out Jimmy, leaving him a note saying he will get him back later that evening—and thus begins a ridiculous prank war between the two! But is Batman funny? Does he have a sense of humor? Bruce finds out the hard way that he doesn’t, overhearing two Wayne Enterprises employees reveal that Alfred has been paying people to laugh at his jokes for nearly two decades. A dejected Bruce picks up a classic arrow-through-the-head prop at a gag store on his way home. After a miserable patrol, Batman confronts Alfred, telling him he knows that he’s been paying people to laugh. Batman is so mad, he even tells Alfred he’ll be docking his pay as punishment! (Sadly, Alfred’s appearance here is non-canon, as he is currently dead. This is what happens when you kill off a character without telling any other creators beforehand. Very bad.) Jimmy, still in hiding, meets with his cousin Janie at a diner. There, Batman drops off a wrapped present addressed to Jimmy. Janie opens it, revealing Dex-Starr waiting inside. Dex-Starr spews disgusting blood vomit all over the Olsens. One point for Batman. The next day, Luthor decides to stop the hit on Jimmy, but someone else still has it out for him. A new hit is put out on Jimmy. Jix and assassin Nathan Guy go after him. Luthor has Jimmy arrested in an attempt to put him in a safe place (jail), but Jimmy makes bail. With the help of his assistant Miss Tessmacher, Luthor makes sure that Guy doesn’t live to see another day. All of the chicanery involved with this case doesn’t go completely unnoticed by the law. Metropolis Police Department Detective James “Trey” Corrigan III (unrelated to Detective Jim Corrigan) begins doing some deep digging. In the Fortress of Solitude, Superman and Lois are debriefed by Dr. Mantel. Jimmy then meets up with Janie (and Dex-Starr) again only to get attacked by countless assassins. Thankfully, Batman is nearby. Using his sonic bat-attractor, Batman clears out the would-be killers from Jimmy’s apartment and kicks their asses. Batman then declares victory in the prank war, revealing he’s legally changed Jimmy’s name to “Jimphony Olsen.” The Dark Knight puts Jimmy, Janie, and Dex-Starr into the care of Alfred, who drives them out of Gotham. (Again, Alfred’s appearance here is non-canon, as he is currently dead. Let me repeat, with added emphasis: This is what happens when you kill off a character without telling any other creators beforehand.)

–Lois Lane Vol. 2 #9
An assassin called The Kiss of Death has just tried to kill Lois Lane. Lois sends The Question (Renee Montoya) to meet with Batman. The Question asks Batman to dig up intel on the Kiss of Death, which he does, returning within the hour with a full bio and history. Meanwhile, Lois interviews a Department of Homeland Security agent to track down her missing housekeeper Alejandra Ortiz, who has become collateral damage in the Kiss of Death’s war against her. Ortiz and her family have been detained by the vile US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a government-run concentration camp. Lois checks-in on Alejandra and then sends Renee to meet with Jessica Midnight and Sister Clarice Coeur.^[15]

–REFERENCE: In Lois Lane Vol. 2 #10. Batman tells Superman about Lois and Renee Montoya looking into the Kiss of Death. Batman jokes with Superman, telling the Man of Steel to stay out of it because there is magick involved.

–Action Comics #1015-1016^[16]
Naomi McDuffie, an Oregonian teenager that has just learned she is actually a powerful metahuman from an alternate Earth, crashes into Metropolis, seeking out Superman’s help. Upon meeting Superman, Naomi explains her backstory, also telling him about genocidal metahuman Zumbado, the man that killed all life on her birth-Earth. At the Hall of Justice, Superman introduces Naomi to the Wonder Twins. Ray Palmer tries asking her about which Earth she is from, which only confuses her. Batman tests Naomi’s powers and questions her as well. (Via flashback from Naomi: Season Two #2, Brian Michael Bendis retcons this scene of Naomi greeting and being tested by the heroes, rearranging things and fleshing it out to include a bit more JLA interaction with Naomi, plus first meetings with Black Canary and Flash. But of course, this is a Bendis flashback, so it contains the error of stating that it’s “two weeks” prior to the main action of Naomi: Season Two. It’s actually two years prior. Sheesh. Maybe it’s just a typo?) All of a sudden, Superman detects an emergency. Batman asks if it’s Lex Luthor, but Superman tells him it’s a Leviathan threat, taking off to handle it. But Superman is mistaken, for when he arrives at the site of the emergency (seedy Club Ultimate aka Ace Club), the Man of Steel finds the Red Cloud (now powered-up thanks to a Luthor offer) threatening Rose Forrest aka the schizophrenic antihero Thorn. Metropolis’ shady Mayor Hopkins and Marisol Leone’s top man Mr. Strong are also present at the club. The Red Cloud then kicks Superman’s ass in front of a gathering crowd until Naomi shows up and easily dispatches the Red Cloud. Superman and Naomi then fly to the latter’s hometown of Port Oswego, Oregon. There, joined by Batman and STAR Labs scientists, Superman meets Naomi’s adoptive mom Jen McDuffie. Batman has STAR Labs set up an observation stakeout base to monitor the interdimensional breach where Zumbado came through. The head of the operation, the secretly villainous Dr. Glory, introduces herself to Naomi. In Metropolis, Marisol Leone and Mr. Strong decide it’s soon time to come out of the shadows and make their presence felt. (Note that Action Comics #1015‘s meta splash page, which contains lots of Batman-related info, is placed, not as a frontispiece as usual, but instead at the end of the issue. Despite being in a different location, this splash is still non-canon.)

–Superman Vol. 5 #17
A night prior, Lex Luthor—back in his Apex Lex garb—gifted Lois Lane something worthy of publishing in the Daily Planet, something top secret hidden in a small lead-lined box. Superman asks Lois what’s in the box, but she says she cannot tell him—that he must wait until she publishes it for the world to see. While they discuss a range of topics, including the box, Sam Lane’s death, and Jon’s departure to the future, a frustrated Superman telescopically scans the country looking for any trouble. Notably, Superman sees Batman and Alfred hanging out in the Batcave. Alfred is dead, so unless Superman is looking backward in time, this is a mega-big continuity fuck-up. Later, Young Justice (Tim Drake, Conner Kent, Wonder Girl, Impulse, Amethyst, Teen Lantern, and Jinny Hex)—having very recently returned from a an interdimensional adventure in Young Justice Vol. 3 #1-11—tips off the authorities about a secret unsanctioned STAR Labs compound in Utah that has dedicated its resources to killing the Man of Steel. Brian Michael Bendis infuriatingly implies yet again, in Young Justice Vol. 3 #15, that Superboy is supposed to be the Conner Kent from the Modern Age, but as stated above, several comics during and post-Death Metal disavow this idea. (Note that Tim has a new costume and now goes by the name Drake. Although, we’ll still see Tim wear his Robin costume on occasion. After all, with Tim, old habits die hard and change is gradual. Also note that Superman has yet to personally meet this new incarnation of the Young Justice. He merely goes after the STAR Labs compound based on their informant tip.) Superman’s mere appearance at the Utah compound is enough to shut it down. Exposed as a fraud, Dr. Glory teleports away. Superman and Supergirl then visit Jekuul (aka New Krypton), a planet at the other side of the universe that is ruled by a semi-reformed Zod and his wife Ursa. There, with Lor-Zod (Zod and Ursa’s son) eavesdropping, Superman tells Supergirl that he is going to reveal his secret ID to the world soon.

WHO ARE THE SECRET SIX?
———————––Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #1
———————––Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #2 Part 1
———————––Flash Vol. 5 #65 Epilogue
“Who are the Secret Six?” (specifically Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #3) shows Alfred in a single panel with a hastily attached editorial note over top of it that tells us this arc happens prior to Alfred’s death in “City of Bane.” When your publisher doesn’t tell anyone that he’s killing off a main character in another arc, this is exactly what happens. And then they think they can just slap a literal band-aid onto a comic and it’ll fix the problem. Nope. This is an alpha-level continuity error. This is Continuity FUBAR. The entire Alfred panel (along with its nonsensical editorial note) should be summarily ignored. Furthermore, “Who are the Secret Six?” supposedly takes place a few weeks after the conclusion of The Batman Who Laughs #1-7, but it can only fit several months afterward in order to make sense on our timeline. Batman begins our tale by telling Superman (who has just busted Killer Croc) that the Batman Who Laughs first came to Earth-0 “last year,” but this actually happened toward the end of Bat Year 15, so this should read “two years ago” instead. Commissioner Gordon (still secretly under the influence of the Batman Who Laughs’ mind-altering Joker Toxin) tells Batman and Superman that a teenage boy was supposedly captured by a “laughing Superman,” leading them to the Batman Who Laughs’ abandoned Batcave beneath Crime Alley. After infiltrating the cave, they find evidence that someone close to them (likely a few of their friends) have been infected with the villain’s Joker Toxin. They don’t know who, though. Our heroes are then approached by a teknophagic Dark Robin, who reveals himself to be Billy Batson. Billy turns into a “Shazam Who Laughs” and attacks Superman, trying but failing to infect him with Dark Joker Venom. The magickal disturbance caused by evil Shazam is so strong that it causes Zatanna to collapse and Phantom Stranger to have a nosebleed deep in the bowels of the Hall of Justice. Batman and Superman then fight the evil Shazam, which is also shown via flashback from The Infected: King Shazam #1 and The Infected: The Commissioner #1). Batman crashes one of the Batman Who Laughs’ evil Bat-planes into Shazam, a dangerous maneuver that fails miserably. While Superman rushes an injured Batman into medical care inside the Fortress of Solitude, Shazam flies away. Once recovered, the battered Batman joins the bruised Superman, who tells him that six of their friends have either already been infected or will be shortly (i.e. Shazam and five others). In the Batcave, Batman and Superman continue their discussion of the Batman Who Laughs’s “secret six” situation. The World’s Finest discuss plans on how to handle things.^[17]

WHO ARE THE SECRET SIX? (Conclusion)
———————––Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #2 Part 2
———————––Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #3-5
Batman and Superman deduce that Superman himself has been targeted to become one of the Batman Who Laughs’ “secret six.” Taking a daringly ridiculous course of action, Superman decides to go ahead and infect himself with the Batman Who Laughs’ Dark Joker Venom in order to find out the villain’s plan. With Batman monitoring and setting up various safeguards, the “Superman Who Laughs” meets with the Batman Who Laughs in his underground cell. With the aid of hard-light holograms, a barely-in-control Superman tricks the Batman Who Laughs into thinking he has left his cell. Batman quickly realizes this is a terrible plan and intervenes, sticking Superman with a syringe full of Kryptonite/Anti-Dark Joker Venom and restraining the Batman Who Laughs. Batman then locks up Superman, activating a giant sunlamp to expedite his healing. Realizing that Jim Gordon is one of the “secret six,” Batman tracks him down in Gotham. There, the “Gordon Who Laughs,” via remote-control, sics his old Batman-mech suit (aka “Rookie the Robot”) on Batman. Superman, still giggling from the remaining poison in his system, breaks free of the Hall of Justice to help Batman fight Robo-Batman. They defeat Gordon and the Bat-mech, taking the Commish and his tech to the Fortress of Solitude. There, the another infected hero, replacing Superman as number three, emerges from within the Bat-mech: Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes). (Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #3, at this juncture, shits the continuity bed in more ways than one. First, as mentioned above, it shows Alfred in a single panel with an editorial note telling us this arc happens prior to Alfred’s death in “City of Bane.” The entire panel—along with its editorial note—should be ignored. It’s just not possible. Secondly, a Doom Totality symbol burns brightly in the sky. This symbol, meant to coincide with Justice League Vol. 4, was shoved—by editorial mandate—into the background of every DC title released in October, November, and early to mid December 2019. As also mentioned above, we should ignore this scene since it makes little to no sense happening now.) Blue Beetle opens-up the Fortress of Solitude to Commissioner Gordon and the fourth and fifth infected heroes, Donna Troy and Hawkman (who is being controlled by Earth-3’s Sky Tyrant). As Batman and Superman fight the Jokerized heroes, Gordon tells of the Batman Who Laughs’ evil plan to use Negative Earth-22’s old JL Satellite along with an Anti-Montior-style tuning fork tower to bring doom and gloom to Earth-0. Supergirl and Krypto arrive to assist Batman and Superman. However, Supergirl is already under the secret influence of Brainiac-1‘s nano-bot manipulation, so she quickly succumbs to Dark Joker Venom. (The sequence depicting Supergirl’s arrival is also shown pretty much verbatim and shot-for-shot in Supergirl Vol. 7 #36.) Shazam then arrives, thus completing the assemblage of the new Secret Six. As Batman fends them off, the Batman Who Laughs tries to psych-out Superman by showing him the emaciated corpses of the slaughtered Negative Earth-22 Justice League (Superman, Red Tornado, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter), Negative Earth-22 Lois Lane, and Negative Earth-22 Jonathan Kent. This merely angers Superman, who takes the fight to Supergirl and Shazam. Meanwhile, Batman uses his anti-Blue Beetle tech to take control of Blue Beetle’s scarab. The World’s Finest toss the Negative Earth-22 JL Satellite into the Sun, ending its threat. Commissioner Gordon is jailed inside the Hall of Justice, but the other five Secret Sixers smash into the Hall of Justice and free the Batman Who Laughs. The World’s Finest pay visits to those closest to the infected Secret Six to tell them what has occurred. Batman speaks to Hawkgirl and the Titans and checks-in on the Reyes Family. Superman hangs with Krypto and speaks with the rest of the Shazam Family. Batman and Superman then reluctantly tell the rest of the JL.

–Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #6 Part 1
Batman and Superman visit a fully Dark-Jokerized Jim Gordon in prison. They then visit Wonder Woman on Circe’s isle of Aeaea with plans to tell her about Donna Troy. Of course, an angry Wonder Woman already knows. Batman and Superman watch as she takes her frustrations out on a gorgon and Circe’s bestial Ani-Men. Batman then goes back to Gotham to patrol.

–Action Comics #1017-1021 (“METROPOLIS DOOM!”)
It’s supposedly been a little over a week since Event Leviathan. And supposedly only one day has passed since Action Comics #1016. However, Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #1 through Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #6 Part 1 has to be squeezed in-between, meaning it’s been at least a week-and-a-half since Event Leviathan and a few days since Action Comics #1016. Clark interviews Marisol Leone, but he bails to chase after a comet that rockets through downtown Metropolis. Leviathan teleports Superman to Gorilla City where new ruler King Miramar has turned his soldiers against humans. Superman fights free and heads back home only to find that the Ace Club has been blown sky high. Later, Lois and Superman presume that the Invisible Mafia and Leviathan must be warring. Meanwhile, Mayor Hopkins, disgraced, steps down as Mayor of Metropolis. He is immediately replaced by interim Mayor Glimby and an emergency election is scheduled. Clark interviews Fire Chief Melody Moore, who throws her name into the mayoral election running. In exchange for that info, Clark tells Melody that he is Superman, saying that he’ll be revealing it to the world in just forty-one hours. Out of the blue, Luthor and the Legion of Doom—allied with Leviathan (Mark Shaw)—attack Metropolis. A reference in Young Justice Vol. 3 #12 nods to this LOD/Shaw attack, telling us that Tim is trying to contact Batman, but he is unable to do so. Young Justice Vol. 3 #12 also shows Naomi, the Wonder Twins, Miguel Montez, and Summer Pickens officially joining Young Justice. (Note that writer Brian Michael Bendis specifically tells us that Young Justice Vol. 3 #12 occurs a day or so after Action Comics #1015-1016.) Superman meets the latest Young Justice incarnation—sans Miguel and Summer—at the Hall of Justice, immediately recruiting them into battle. Despite the assemblage of Young Justice and the Justice League (including Batman wearing one of his armored mech-suits and piloting a JL super-tank), the heroes are defeated by the LOD and Shaw. (Batman’s mech-suit is a novel variety we haven’t seen him use before, so it must be one of Hiro Okamura’s designs.) Superman, Superboy (Conner Kent), Wonder Woman, and Batman make a last stand against the villains, but the Red Cloud joins the fray, helping Luthor decimate most of Lower Metropolis. Notably, the villains make mention that Supergirl is off-world at the moment, but she’d currently be an infected Secret Six member at this juncture, so it’s an odd thing for them to be worrying about her. Maybe they don’t know? Meanwhile, Shaw prepares his Leviathan troops aboard his colossal flying fortress. Luthor has merely been his pawn, and he plans on betraying him now that the work has been done. On the ground, Red Cloud, not wanting to be an accomplice to genocide, betrays the LOD and joins the heroes. Red Cloud, Superman, Superboy, Wonder Woman, and Batman then fight the LOD, but Shaw teleports the LOD clear across the universe. Shaw then confronts all the heroes, telling them he’s canceled his plans for now. He warns the heroes that Luthor is planning something much more sinister than what they’ve witnessed today. (He’s, of course, speaking of the “Justice/Doom War” that is still to come.) Shaw then disappears without a trace. The heroes then clean-up the devastated Metropolis. Red Cloud meets with Marisol Leone, who tells her that Superman will be revealing his secret ID in less than 24 hours. (Note that the final page of Action Comics #1017, a Daily Planet page containing a ton of seemingly relevant info, is actually non-canon. Dates, times, and references to other arcs should be ignored here. Likewise, the meta opening splash website pages of Action Comics #1018-1019 and Action Comics #1021 are also non-canon.)

–Young Justice Vol. 3 #17
Young Justice and the Justice League continue cleaning-up the damage done during “Metropolis Doom.” Batman and Drake chat. Impulse reunites with Flash. Superboy (Conner Kent) departs with Superman to discuss the former’s origins. Teen Yolanda Chen helps by handing out bottled water to the heroes. She will be inspired to get an internship at the Hall of Justice.

THE TRUTH
———————––Superman Vol. 5 #18
———————––Superman Vol. 5 #19 Part 1
The Man of Steel is ready to become the Man of Truth! Fresh from the Metropolis clean-up (following the LOD attack upon the city in “Metropolis Doom”), Superman reveals his secret ID to Perry White. Meanwhile, Batman returns to Gotham to bust Scarecrow. Jimmy Olsen follows Batman, hoping to get a scoop on the story. The Man of Steel then visits Jimmy in Gotham to tell him his secret ID. Of course, Lois has already told Jimmy. In the morning, at a huge Metropolis news conference, Superman reveals his secret ID to the world! (Batman is shown watching via flashback from Justice League Vol. 4 #51.) The Legion of Doom also watches with keen interest. A pensive Lex Luthor once again temporarily reverts himself back to human form. Later, Clark meets with the entire Daily Planet staff and they give him a standing ovation.

–REFERENCE: In Leviathan Dawn #1. Superman has just revealed his secret ID to the world less than twenty-four hours ago. Kate Spencer regains consciousness in the Batcave. (She’s been there ever since the end of “Event Leviathan,” which ended a week ago.) Batman leaves Kate in Damian’s care and arranges for her son Ramsey to be brought to the Batcave. Batman then departs on unspecified Justice League business. Meanwhile, Leviathan purchases the entire country of Markovia and re-brands it as the legally-recognized nation of Leviathan.

–Superman Vol. 5 #19 Part 2
Superman, having recently revealed his secret ID to the world, flies through Metropolis and goes on routine patrol, getting applause from the citizenry. As referenced in Superman: Heroes #1 Part 2 and Superman: Villains #1, Superman speaks with Batman about his decision, and Batman takes Ma and Pa Kent’s farm in Smallville “off the grid”—using the same camouflaging techniques and technology utilized on the Batcave—in order to protect it from villains and paparazzi. Superman then meets with the entire superhero community in the Hall of Justice to discuss his decision with them face-to-face. Not everyone is happy about it.

–Superman: Heroes #1 Part 2
Superman’s meeting with all the heroes at the Hall of Justice continues from Superman Vol. 5 #19 Part 2. Everyone is present, which is highly problematic. Included in the gathering are Aria Hax, Azrael, Cyborg, Blackfire, Dex-Starr, Jessica Cruz, and Orion. These folks should all be far away and cut off from Earth on their Justice League Odyssey adventure. (Have they temporarily returned for this momentous occasion, only to go straight back to deep space afterward? Or is this another Brian Michael Bendis continuity miscalculation? It’s 100% the latter!) Everyone gets the opportunity to speak with Superman one-on-one about his decision to reveal his secret ID. Batman talks about how Ma and Pa Kent’s farm has been taken off the grid using Batcave camouflaging tech. Later, Diana visits Bruce at Wayne Manor to discuss the big status quo change. Bruce tells her he thinks it’s a terrible, selfish, and dangerous idea, one that disregards the feelings and safety of others. Diana calls Bruce out, telling Bruce that he is jealous of Superman’s happiness because he could never do what he’s done. Bruce admits to being jealous. A couple days later, Lois hires a staff to handle the thousands of letters (for both she and Clark) that have poured into the Kent apartment and their local post office overnight. Bruce vets the sorters and sets up a warehouse to store the mountains of mail. Later, Superman and Lois examine the contents of a box that Luthor recently gave to Lois. The contents reveal that Marisol Leone is the leader of the Invisible Mafia. (Note that, in the Batman-less first part of Superman: Heroes #1, writer Brian Michael Bendis tells us that Luthor gave the box to Lois just over one week before Superman revealed his secret ID to the world. This actually tracks, as we are  a little over a week since Superman Vol. 5 #17, in which Lois got the box.)

–REFERENCE: In Superman Vol. 5 #20. Batman fights Deathstroke. This combat is shown on a TV screen as “breaking news” at The Daily Star HQ. It is meant to be a reference to “Their Dark Designs”—writer Brian Michael Bendis’ cute but failed attempt to connect other writers’ arcs to his own. But since “Their Dark Designs” doesn’t happen for months, Bendis has just made a continuity error. The only fix, and a totally fine one, is relegating this Batman versus Deathstroke duel to one of their many generic brouhahas.

–Superman Vol. 5 #22
Superman wraps-up a fight against Mongul II, defeating him and delivering him back to his Warzoon race in chains. Dialogue here makes it seem like this is a new Mongul, but it’s definitely Mongul II. (Notably, this fight began immediately following Superman: Heroes #1 Part 2, starting in the Batman-less Superman Vol. 5 #19 Part 3 and continued through the Batman-less Superman Vol. 5 #20-21.) Meanwhile, at Lois and Clark’s apartment, FBI Agent Cameron Chase visits Lois to confront her about some bad mainstream press that Superman has recently received. (Superman was caught publicly saying that he “represented all of Earth” to the United Planets, earning him accusations of being a wannabe totalitarian dictator.) Agent Chase tells Lois that, notwithstanding the bad press, the UN is actually into Superman representing Earth, so long as he doesn’t ever fuck up. On the planet Daxam, Superman—flanked by Batman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter—addresses the representatives of the United Planets. (Again, the appearance of Martian Manhunter here is a big Bendis continuity error, so we should ignore.) Present for this gathering are Dominators, Khunds, Tamaraneans, Thanagarians, Xudarians, and the Sardath. Later, Superman returns home. Lois has finally completed writing her book, which is literally about alternate timelines and how fucked up continuity is right now. Sigh. I remember when meta used to be fun, but now it’s just sad.

–Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1
Bruce finally reads Alfred’s last will and testament, which orders the Bat-Family to take a night off and be together as a family. Shortly thereafter, Bruce opens a new Wayne Rebuild Project medical center, naming it “The Alfred J Pennyworth Children’s Hospital.” Bruce schedules a long overdue (and publicly televised) funeral for his beloved father figure to coincide with the dedication ceremony. A few days later, in front of a bronze statue of Alfred with young version of himself, Bruce delivers a stoic eulogy. Damian, Tim, Babs, Jason, and even amnesiac Dick (aka Ric) are present. Following the belated wake, the Bat-Family honors Alfred’s last wishes and joins together at Noonan’s Sleazy Bar. Catwoman, Batwoman, Orphan, and Signal patrol Gotham in their absence. At the bar, Bruce seems distant and emotionless, which perturbs everyone. Everyone—sans Bruce and amnesiac Ric—tells a touching Alfred story, but everyone is very upset, so each person leaves after telling their individual tale. An austere Babs is especially harsh toward Bruce, scolding him for allowing her dad to get infected by the Batman Who Laughs and imploring him to show some emotion. When only Ric and Bruce remain, the former asks the latter to tell him a story about Dick’s interaction with Alfred, since he can no longer remember. Bruce tells him a deeply moving tale, after which Ric gives Bruce some heartfelt advice. Ric then tacks a photo of the Bat-Family to the wall, which Bruce views with tears in his eyes.

–FLASHBACK: From Batman vs Robin #1. Bruce and Damian mourn the loss of Alfred at his graveside.

–Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #6 Part 2
Batman deals with an escaped Scarecrow while Superman flies into Earth’s orbit to deal with Metallo. Later, Batman decides to update and perfect his computer database of super-villains. (As we learn via reference in Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #7, in conjunction with the database upgrade, Batman and Superman also begin designing/programming a special semi-sentient computer algorithm that can predict crime and guide them towards trouble. As referenced in Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #14, Batman and Superman plan on uploading super-villain data into the memory core of the algorithm, but they start by uploading profiles of themselves.) Bruce also authorizes a Wayne Enterprises-run clean-up of Crime Alley, fixing up the damage done there by the Batman Who Laughs. The villain’s cave is secured and occluded. Clark visits Bruce, who is personally overseeing the construction. Bruce makes a crack about Clark having shared his secret ID with the world. Bruce tells Superman about his new super-villain database sharing plan and also shares data access with the Man of Steel. Batman and Superman visit Jim Gordon in his Hall of Justice prison cell once more only to find that Gordon has regressed even further. Elsewhere, Zod challenges Ra’s al Ghul to a fight, hoping to gain control of the world’s Lazarus Pits.

–Supergirl Vol. 7 #37-38 (“I’M THE BAD GUY”)
Supergirl, although still infected with Dark Joker Venom, is able to regain enough semblance of control to know that she wants nothing to do with her new Secret Six teammates. Supergirl ditches the Secret Six and tries to play hero, but it just makes her more confused. Superman tries to snap her out of her condition, but when she won’t listen to reason, the Man of Steel is browbeaten into fighting his beloved cousin. Batman, in a Batplane, joins the combat. Supergirl gets the better of Superman and Batman before flying away. Later, Supergirl tries to calm herself by meeting with a friend, Ben Rubel, but she starts seeing visions of the Batman Who Laughs. Supergirl then travels to Smallville and erects a giant tower designed to spread the Dark Joker Venom to every person on Earth. From the Fortress of Solitude, Batman and Superman monitor her actions and argue about how to proceed, ultimately deciding to send Wonder Woman. In Smallville, Wonder Woman lassos Supergirl.

–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #86-89, Batman Vol. 3 #92, Batman Vol. 3 #95, Batman Vol. 3 #97-98, Batman Vol. 3 #100, Detective Comics #1025, Detective Comics #1028, and Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular Part 10. With Jim Gordon jailed, Harvey Bullock is promoted to Commissioner. Batman begins drawing up blueprints for a hybrid super-vehicle called the Nightclimber. He also creates special new projectors called Shadowcasters, which can be used to confuse foes, leading them into specially designed traps. Lucius also designs the following tech: the Bat-Shot (a luge-like one-man power-sled that can be fired like a rocket out of a large rail gun); the BatSpawn (a fleet of high-tech drones); the Bat-Train (a high speed subway car); a laser glass gutter; electromagnetic climbing suction cups for gloves and boots; the Human Kinematic Program (lifted from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight film, an app that surveils the whole city with echolocation sonar-vision display); a bunch of new Bat-drones; multiple EMP devices; time-bomb Batarangs, various 3D-printed weaponry; a new Bat-Tank; the Bat-tery (a GPS device that can track every Bat-Family member in real time); special binoculars, a new holographic projection device; a blackout device that can shut down all nearby lights; hearing-enhancing parabolic earbuds, and a new electrified copper wire stun gun. Batman especially loves the Bat-Shot concept, so it immediately goes into beta production. In slightly related news, the brand new GCPD police HQ, built as part of the Wayne Rebuild Project, finally opens. (Bruce’s Wayne Rebuild Project now kicks into super-mega-overdrive as a direct way of responding to the carnage Bane has left in his wake following “City of Bane .”) In conjunction with Commissioner Bullock, Batman sets up protocols for the special prison wing—known as the Black Block—inside the new police HQ. While the GCPD runs the prison wing, only Batman and Lucius Fox know its most clandestine secrets.

–REFERENCE: In Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1. All six of the Dark Joker Venom-infected Secret Six heroes are ostensibly cured of their affliction, seemingly returning to an asymptomatic norm. Despite this, poor Jim Gordon will remain in prison for months! It’s possible that Gordon’s convalescence is longer since he is older and not a metahuman. In any case, the Secret Six are not actually cured. The Dark Joker Venom will linger deep within their bodies. Note that we won’t see all six of the infected together again until they are gathered by the Batman Who Laughs in Hell Arisen, which bridges the gap between “Justice/Doom War” and Dark Nights: Death Metal. And when the Sixers are eventually assembled, they’ll once again fall under the Batman Who Laughs’ evil influence due to the lingering Dark Joker Venom in their systems. Lex Luthor dialogue in Hell Arisen #1 speaks to the continuity rationale of this item: “It’s an infection. The Justice League believed it to be contained.” Since we’ll now see all of the Secret Sixers looking totally healthy in various comics over the course of the next year-plus (starting with Supergirl in the Batman-less Action Comics #1024), and since Luthor delivers that informative line, we can confirm that the JL makes the false assumption that their friends are cured.

–Action Comics #1022
Superman and Kelex interview Superboy (Conner Kent) in the Fortress of Solitude, trying to figure out the mystery behind his existence. No superheroes have any memories of his history except for his fellow Young Justice members. Conner believes that he might be from an alternate timeline. (Again, writer Brian Michael Bendis wants us to think that he is, but he isn’t.) Superboy (Jon Kent) and Brainiac 5 visit from the 31st century to help with the Conner history investigation. Meanwhile, at the Daily Planet office, Perry White addresses the news that their owner, Marisol Leone, has been outed as the leader of the Invisible Mafia. Lois brings her attorney Kate Spencer to the meeting. Elsewhere, in seclusion, Marisol Leone discusses actionable steps with her top lieutenant, the Red Cloud. At the Hall of Justice, the science bros (Batman, Mr. Terrific, both Atoms, Blue Beetle Ted Kord, and Will Magnus) meet Conner. After speaking with him, Kord and Magnus feel confident in declaring that the multiverse has been rebooted at least three times! Superman then takes Conner to Ma and Pa Kent in Smallville. Upon seeing Conner, Ma and Pa Kent instantly regain all their memories of Conner. (In her new book, Lois has coined the term “fracturing” to describe this very phenomenon.) Later, Lois and Jimmy visit Marisol Leone’s mansion where they are confronted by the Red Cloud.

–REFERENCE: In Batman: Black and White Vol. 5 #4 Part 3. Poison Ivy begins threatening and harassing Bruce Wayne, hoping to get him to use his vast wealth to help the environment. While we won’t see it on our timeline, Poison Ivy will bother Bruce for a couple weeks to come.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1038. Bruce reads a series of articles by muckraking journalist Deb Donovan about one of Gotham’s richest and most influential construction tycoons, Roland Worth. Despite exposing Worth to criminal ties, Worth remains untouchable.

–Batman: The Brave and The Bold Vol. 2 #12 Part 5
This item occurs roughly seventeen or eighteen years since Year One, hence placement here. Batman hears that the wife of longtime henchman Barney has died. Blaming Barney’s lifestyle choices for her death, Batman pays Barney a visit at his apartment. Barney chats amicably with but then tries to shoot Batman, who takes him down. Batman then reveals that he knows about an illegal shipment coming into Gotham for Penguin. He also knows that Barney is currently in Penguin’s employ and will be there. Batman tells Barney there’s nothing he can do except walk into the ambush along with all of Penguin’s other henchmen. Our story ends there, but we can presume that Batman and the GCPD bust up the shipment a day later.

–Detective Comics #1018-1019 (“DEAD OF WINTER”)
Late December. While on patrol, Batman busts Aaron Morton. Back home, Bruce plays with Ace and Titus, breaking down in tears when he thinks of how Alfred used to take care of the dogs. Later, Batman meets with Commissioner Harvey Bullock to discuss a bizarre multiple murder case that occurred a few days ago, in which numerous bodies were strung up on a Christmas tree at the Botanical Garden. After investigating the scene and doing some research, Batman discovers that the killings were part of a Norse pagan ritual. Later, Bruce addresses a downtown crowd and performs ceremonial duties at the Annual Wayne Foundation Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. Out of the blue, someone dressed as an ancient 17th century viking warrior attacks. Bruce fends off the viking and knocks him out, allowing the police to haul him into custody, but not before grabbing some of the villain’s hair for analysis. Back home, Bruce reads more about Norse pagan rituals and runs the follicle sample through the Bat-computer system, getting a match of a missing person named Soren Rinsdale. Batman goes back to the Botanical Garden to find a bunch of brainwashed cultists preparing to sacrifice Rinsdale, whom they’ve kidnapped from police custody. After subduing Batman, the cultists conduct their ritual and a giant Cthulhu-esque monster emerges from out of Rinsdale’s body. Batman fights and defeats the cultists, sealing the portal and sending the creature back from whence it came. With the case neatly wrapped, Batman adds details of the adventure to his case-files. Batman mentions that he will run the case by John Constantine as a follow-up, so we can assume that he does.

–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1059. December 31. Bruce attends a New Year’s Eve party hosted by wealthy socialite Darby Turner. Also present at the party is Judge Caroline Donovan (daughter of Deb Donovan), although Bruce doesn’t meet her.

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1. ^[1]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that Batman Urban Legends #20 Part 1 is a non-canon story, taking place on an alternate Victorian-era timeline where Batman, Commander Gordon, and Kirk Langstrom are occult detectives.↩
2. ^[2]TODD CUNNINGHAM / COLLIN COLSHER: Tom King (in both interviews and his in-universe narrative) has implied that his entire run was all part of Bane’s master plan from beginning to end (i.e. from “I am Gotham” to “City of Bane”). During this long arc, King has sold Bane’s actions as ingenious spy-craft in the vein of John Le Carré, but we aren’t buying that. In fact, we’re calling bullshit. Most of Bane’s plan was completely outside of his jurisdiction, requiring pure chance (and the artificial contrivances of the writer) to work out the way it did. It’s clear that Bane was indeed responsible for the creation of Gotham and Gotham Girl when he was experimenting on other strains of Venom years ago, but he likely really only got heavily involved with Batman’s affairs again after Batman invaded Santa Prisca and destroyed his Psycho Pirate-induced state of peace (in “I am Suicide”). There’s no way that Bane could have so-finely orchestrated the plane crash at the start of King’s run, no way he could have known what would happen in the Booster Gold alternate timeline, no way he would have been able to fully sway the distinct actions of his supposed puppets over the course of such an extended period, etc. In summary, Bane’s overall control and involvement throughout King’s run has to be quite reduced for it to make any kind of realistic sense. How ever you’ve chosen to read King’s mega-arc thus far is entirely up to your own headcanon, but there’s no reading that doesn’t require a large suspension of disbelief.↩
3. ^[3]COLLIN COLSHER: Batman Vol. 3 #79 has an editorial note that puts both Batman Vol. 3 #78-79 prior to the main action of Batman Vol. 3 #77. Batman Vol. 3 #77 only shows Bruce via flashback—showing him coming out of his coma and hanging with Selina in Paris. The main action of Batman Vol. 3 #77, which, again, doesn’t show Batman, only depicts Robin challenging Bane and Alfred’s murder, hence its listing here on our timeline as a reference. Why is this arc written in such an oddly disjointed way? Your guess is as good as mine.↩
4. ^[4]Batman/Dylan Dog #1-3 was originally released by Italian publisher Sergio Bonelli Editore in 2019-2020 (and later re-released by DC in 2024), but it is notably non-canon.↩
5. ^[5]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that writer Mark Russell, a devotee of the Silver/Bronze Age, bestows a C-list loser-type characterization unto Riddler, which is dubious in terms of current continuity. While Riddler was indeed a C-list loser in the Silver/Bronze Age (and parts of the unpredictable Modern Age), he certainly hasn’t been portrayed that way in a long time—at least not since the late 1990s/early 2000s. It’s hard to imagine New 52 or Rebirth Era Riddler palling around with the inferior King Tut, yet here it is.↩
6. ^[6]COLLIN COLSHER: Brian Michael Bendis’ meta splash page in Action Comics #1002 contains a reference that tells us Superman chats with Batman and Wonder Woman about making improvements to Sanctuary. Bendis’ Action Comics meta opening page splashes are all non-canon, so this Trinity pow wow is technically out-of-continuity. However, this is so banal, it’s probably something that could easily have occurred (and likely is something the Trinity would have discussed at some point anyway). Up to you if you’d like to include it in your own personal headcanon. The audacious info-packed Action Comics #1002 splash also has a funny reference to Clark wanting to return Bruce’s wedding gift. Again technically non-canon, but I wonder what Bruce could possibly have given Lois and Clark that could be problematic enough to warrant returning over a decade later? LOL.↩
7. ^[7]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that Brian Michael Bendis’ “The Unity Saga” is a very long (but very decompressed) arc that comprises Superman Vol. 5 #1-15. It has a continuous uninterrupted narrative, yet simultaneously (and invisibly) intertwines with Bendis’ other works (Action Comics, Event Leviathan, and Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 8), thus bringing about plenty of room for continuity error. And believe me, there are many errors. To make matters even more troublesome, Bendis generally plays extremely fast and loose with continuity, just as he did at Marvel. As such, even though there doesn’t appear to be one, there must be a hidden interregnum somewhere within Superman Vol. 5 #6 (in-between Rogol Zaar’s defeat and Superboy’s return) in which Action Comics #1001-1006 fits. Thus, in quick succession, Superman Vol. 5 #1-5 will be followed by Superman Vol. 5 #6 Part 1, then Action Comics #1001-1006, then the scene of Superboy returning (Superman Vol. 5 #6 Part 2), which is said to occur roughly three weeks after Jon’s leave-taking with Jor-El in Bendis’ Man of Steel.

   Basically, Bendis’ entire ongoing über narrative is some of the most decompressed storytelling ever. Man of Steel #1 was released on July 2018. Leviathan Dawn was released April 2020. Dozens of issues in-between there—including long intertwining runs on Action Comics and Superman Vol. 5—only span a few weeks of in-story time despite taking two full publication years. Plus, not only does Bendis not account for any other creators’ narratives during this period, he also barely accounts for his own. Action Comics, Superman Vol. 5, Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 8, and Event Leviathan all overlap with each other, yet there is never a moment, single ellipsis, or any breathing room for Bendis’ stories to possibly connect in a sensical way. Therefore, it’s incredibly hard to even come up with a simple reading order, let alone a proper continuity-based chronology. But we’ll do our best.↩

8. ^[8]COLLIN COLSHER / CHIP: Action Comics #1001-1006 features more of Brian Michael Bendis’ mega-compressed continuous uninterrupted narrative. Action Comics #1001 makes reference to a scene in Man of Steel #2 between Trish Q and Clark as occurring “yesterday.” Lois, having left Jon and Jor-El and returned to Earth, reunites with Clark at the end of Action Comics #1002, which is said to occur one day prior to Action Comics #1004. Thus, the implication here is that Man of Steel #2 through Action Comics #1004 spans only two days (roughly). This is ludicrous. Maybe a few days to a week pass at the bare minimum, but two days is a major stretch of attempted decompression, even for Bendis.↩
9. ^[9]COLLIN COLSHER: More super fun meta splash page references come from Brian Michael Bendis, this time in the opening of Action Comics #1006. In these references (which are unfortunately non-canon), Bruce goes on a fake date with a random woman in order to keep up his playboy mien. Later, a tabloid photographer snaps some pictures of Batman in action, sending them to Daily Planet gossip reporter Trish Q, who adds them to her ongoing web-photo-series about the hottest superhero men that wear their underwear on the outside. Batman’s butt makes the latest “Hottest Men in Trunks.” The way these supplemental splashes are built, sometimes you can glean certain bits of info that seem to lean into quasi-canon by the very fact that they don’t really contradict anything else on the timeline. Such is the case with with Trish Q’s amazing column dedicated to the world’s finest derrières. While this is technically non-canon, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be in your personal headcanon.↩
10. ^[10]COLLIN COLSHER: Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #67, a Thanksgiving issue, features Harley at her most meta as she flips through a comic book (within the comic book) showing an alternate reality in which she travels the fictional metaverse with Booster Gold. Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #67 occurs shortly after Apex Lex Luthor has offered Harley powers. In the issue within the issue, which manifests as a result of Harley’s fourth-wall-breaking rage at being roped into yet another tasteless company-wide crossover, Harley and Booster visit Final Crisis, Infinite Crisis, and Crisis on Infinite Earths, ultimately erasing the latter and replacing it with a happy superhero Thanksgiving dinner, an act that causes all future comic book crossovers to become non-existent. Sadly, so very sadly, all of this is non-canon.↩
11. ^[11]COLLIN COLSHER: Starting with Action Comics #1011, Brian Michael Bendis’ opening splashes will get even more extra meta, spiraling into the realm of absolute non-continuity. The splash from Action Comics #1011 tells us that we are in May, which is an impossibility. (Not to mention, the follow-up splash in Action Comics #1012 is listed as April, and all subsequent splashes will have nonsensical dates.) Generally speaking, Bendis’ stuff only works continuity-wise if we ignore all other stories that aren’t his. The same can be said for Scott Snyder, Tom King, and Geoff Johns as well. Sadly, we have entered a period on our timeline where there will be less and less true cohesion, especially since Bendis, Snyder, King, and Johns are DC’s primary architects (under the ardent but improvident watch of Dan DiDio, to boot).↩
12. ^[12]DYLAN ROBINSON: Action Comics #1010 mistakenly lists Kate Kane as Director of Spyral. This is an error upon which both writer Brian Michael Bendis and illustrator Steve Epting are likely both at fault. The correct Director of Spyral is not current Batwoman Kate Kane—it’s ex-Batwoman Kathy Kane (aka Kathy Webb-Kane aka Katrina Netz).↩
13. ^[13]COLLIN COLSHER: Action Comics #1019 places Event Leviathan a little over one week prior to the “Metropolis Doom!” arc, hence its placement here. This placement is further reinforced by Leviathan Dawn #1, which puts Event Leviathan shortly prior to “The Truth.” Event Leviathan #4 also tells us that Action Comics #1007-1012 spans the twenty four hours (roughly) leading up to the Event Leviathan series. Leviathan Rising #1 occurs in-between Action Comics #1012 and Event Leviathan #1, which is corroborated by placement in the collected trade paperback (Action Comics: Leviathan Rising). Here’s the full timeline:

    —Superman Vol. 5 #6 Part 2 — Superboy returns from Jor-El trip.
    —Superman Vol. 5 #7-9 — Precursor to “Unity Saga” conclusion that will overlap with start of Event Leviathan.
    —opening flashback from Leviathan Rising #1 — Occurs “yesterday” according to editorial notation, meaning prior to Action Comics #1007; Mark Shaw talks to Marisol Leone.
    —Action Comics #1007 — Night time/early morning; Jimmy witnesses Leviathan purge of Kobra.
    —Action Comics #1008 — Morning after Action Comics #1007 (hours after Action Comics #1007); Lois returns to Daily Planet; Sam Lane shot; ARGUS safe houses and Amanda Waller targeted by Leviathan; DEO building bombed by Leviathan.
    —Action Comics #1009 — “Six hours after” end of Action Comics #1008; Waller tells Lois and Superman that Leviathan is behind the purge; Superman visits Batcave (which includes Alfred continuity error); Superman and Lois disguise themselves in order to go undercover at Spyral in London, citing that their disguises will “only last one hour.”
    —Action Comics #1010 — Superman and Lois go undercover at Spyral in London; Spyral falls to Leviathan; less than one hour passes.
    —Action Comics #1011 — Only a couple of hours have passed since Action Comics #1009; Kate Spencer is framed (Event Leviathan #4 says this occurs a night prior); Jimmy makes it clear that Event Leviathan #1 is starting “tomorrow” i.e. tomorrow morning or within a few hours.
    —Action Comics #1012 — Still only hours have passed since Action Comics #1009; Superman zips around the globe; Leviathan approaches Thorn.
    —Leviathan Rising #1 — Superman defeats Mongul; Superman talks with Lois at Drake Hotel (they mention Young Justice, which is a continuity error); Clark gets kidnapped by Talia; night falls as Lois notifies Wonder Woman and Batman about Clark’s kidnapping, after which the heroes mobilize; Jimmy blacks out in Vegas, gets married, then departs to help save Superman; Superman is rescued. (Note that the Supergirl section of Leviathan Rising #1 occurs later, as per editorial notation.)
    —Year of the Villain #1 Part 2
    —Event Leviathan #1 / Supergirl Vol. 7 #31-32 / Superman Vol. 5 #10-15 (“Unity Saga” conclusion)
    —Event Leviathan #2-6↩

14. ^[14]COLLIN COLSHER: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 3 was clearly originally written by Matt Fraction as occurring prior to Alfred’s death and prior to Lex Luthor becoming Apex Lex and divesting himself of LexCorp responsibilities and titles. However, Fraction’s prelude to the Jimmy Olsen series occurs in Superman: Leviathan Rising (July 2019), thus cementing the placement of the Jimmy Olsen series (which began in September 2019) after Leviathan Rising and Event Leviathan. This causes the aforementioned errors—namely Alfred appearing and and anachronistic Lex Luthor. While Fraction is certainly at fault, we can also blame the lack of communicative editorial from head honcho Dan DiDio, general loose continuity in regard to Brian Michael Bendis’ entire line, and Tom King killing off Alfred without telling anyone.↩
15. ^[15]COLLIN COLSHER: It is mentioned (albeit by an unscrupulous tabloid journalist) in the Lois Lane Vol. 2 (2019-2020) series that Lois Lane and Clark Kent have been married for twelve years. Even though the in-story source is dubious, this twelve years is likely meant to be a reference to the age of their son Jon Kent, based upon Dan Jurgens’ original timeline from Action Comics #976-978 (which shows Superman’s death and return followed by Lois and Clark getting married followed by Lois and Clark having a baby). However, since Lois and Clark’s marriage is directly tied to Superman’s death/return (and the debuts of several linked characters) and is shown to mirror the Modern Age version of events, this means it makes very little sense for Doomsday to have killed Superman (and for him to have returned and married Lois) twelve years ago. It just doesn’t jibe with the rest of the timeline. As such, while certain personal headcanons (and some DC writers) may disagree, the Batman Chronology Project (and a selection of other DC writers) place Lois and Clark’s marriage in Year 10 (2011), in and around other references/flashbacks to stories that were released in close proximity to the original Lois/Clark wedding. This means that Lois and Clark were married eight years ago while Jon was born ten years ago in Year 8 (2009), two years prior to his parents getting hitched.↩
16. ^[16]COLLIN COLSHER: The Batman-less Action Comics #1014 goes directly into Action Comics #1015-1016 with uninterrupted narrative. Notably, Action Comics #1014 overlaps with Event Leviathan, occurring specifically before Mark Shaw has been revealed as the secret leader of Leviathan. Yet, Action Comics #1015-1016 takes place after Event Leviathan. This means that there must be a hidden ellipsis in the middle of Action Comics #1014, despite the issue clearly not containing an interstice or having any room for one. Brian Michael Bendis is infamous for this perfunctory recrudescence. The out-of-control decompressed storytelling, dearth of awareness, or basic laxity in regard to continuity is truly unbelievable, but I guess at this point I really shouldn’t be surprised.↩
17. ^[17]COLLIN COLSHER: In the epilogue to Flash Vol. 5 #65, Batman and Superman mention the “twelve official multiversial crises.” As referenced in other titles (Action Comics and Young Justice Vol. 3), there have been seven main multiversial crises—Crisis on Infinite Earths, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis, Flashpoint, Convergence, and Metal. The others are difficult to say. Batman and Superman have definitely been involved in saving the Earth, the universe, and even other universes, but less often have they both been involved in an adventure that involves saving the entire multiverse. Notably, Batman was involved (without Superman) in saving the multiverse in the JLA arcs “Milk Wars” and “Dawn of Time” and in Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III aka “Crisis in a Half Shell.” Based upon things that are canon in current continuity, here are the other five major crises: Cosmic Odyssey, Forever Evil, “Darkseid War,” No Justice, and “Legacy” (Justice League Vol. 3 #24-31) from Bryan Hitch’s JL run. Other possible (although much less likely) options might be: “Imperiex War,” JLA/Avengers, “With a Vengeance” (from Superman/Batman #20-25), “Lords of Luck,” or “Tangent Superman’s Reign.”↩