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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:46:30 GMT -5
 Batman
Issue 0: "Shadow of the Bat"
Written by Charles HoM
Cover by Brandon Herren
Edited by David Charlton I take a deep breath.
Standing atop the pit, wind rushing around me, the thick black cape billowing behind my back.
I stand, silent, waiting.
“No time like the present...” I take out the grapnel, swing it round hard, again and again, gain momentum, release… and watch as it flies over the chasm until it connects with the other side.
I take another deep breath, prepare myself… and I make the first jump, the line taking my weight, I feel weightless, as though flying… and I swing over the abyss that is Gotham City.
“This is for you, mom…”* EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS TITLE TAKES PLACE SIX YEARS BEFORE CURRENT DC2 CONTINUITY. |
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:48:39 GMT -5
Before: “It’s the first day off you’ve had in three months, Thomas! Let’s do something for him…” Martha Wayne has her hands on her hips, a stern look across her face, dressed in one of her finer dresses. “Darling… I know, I know… But the company has just started… And there are so many things I have to do…” “Thomas. We are going to see the film, no matter what you have to do.” Thomas smiles. “I love it when you get annoyed. You look even more beautiful…” “Not this time. Not getting out of this with compliments.” He kisses her neck slowly, and she giggles quietly. “Even though they’ll get you everywhere…” “Alright, my beloved wife… I’ll get my coat, and I hope that little Bruce is ready to go. Bruce? We’re going!” “Coming dad!” Bruce Wayne runs down the massive stairs in the centre of the reception area of the manor. Alfred Pennyworth, loyal manservant of the Wayne’s, smiles as he sees the lad jump down the last four steps. Martha gasps at this but Thomas smiles. Alfred’s smile vanishes for a moment, as he leans over to his employers’ son. “Master Bruce, one of these days, you might hurt yourself doing such a thing…” “But… Alfred… You showed me…” Thomas let out a guffaw as Alfred put a finger to his lips. “Anyway, where are you headed tonight?” “We are going to see a film of Bruce’s choice…” Thomas picks up his son and smiles. “My how you’re growing! What would you like to see?” “Zorro! Zorro is on! Oh! Mom… Wear your pearls… Those nice ones… ” Bruce smiles and laughs. “Ok then, son… For you… I’ll only be a moment Thomas.” “ Alfred, would you please warm up the car and meet us out front?” “Yes, sir…” Alfred bows slightly then walks out the back door, into the garage. “Now be good, son. And stay close.” “Yes, dad.” |
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:48:55 GMT -5
Now: GCPD, Gotham City Police Department. Gotham’s Elite Police Force. 96% Dirty. And currently investigating a string of attacks… “A scar. A question mark scar… Another one?” Detective Jim Gordon slowly removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Who’s doing this?” “The victim said he wore a mask. Couldn’t see his face.” Merkel flicked through his notes, and nods. “Nothing linking the victims as of yet.” “Guy jumps these people on their way from the shops… the gym… and drags them into an alley… Drugs them… Paralyses them… And carves a question mark into their foreheads!” Jim clenched his fist and shook his head. “Dammit… What did the plastic surgeon say?” “He can fix them up sure… Psychological damage is another thing though, sir… They’re all pretty shook up.” Gordon nods slowly at the words. “Hey, Gordon…” A rough voice came from down the hospital corridor, and the two officers turned. Merkel let out a sigh and looked over to Gordon. “Bullock. What you got?” “Well, I went to all the victims homes… Looked around a bit… Guess what I found?” Bullock pulled out a couple of evidence bags, and inside them… Letters from Enigma Technology. “They all received these. I’m thinking we should go give a mister…. Edward Nigma… A visit.” “You’d be right on that, Harvey. Merkel… You stay here and keep an eye on our victims. Me and Harv will go see this Edward character.” |
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:53:06 GMT -5
The cape flies through the air, slowing me slightly, but I still fly. I strain my arms, release the grapnel and roll onto the building, dragging the line as I go. I look up, and see it start to rain. Perfect. The rain from the heavens… Baptizing me into this new life I have chosen.
I smile.
The uniform is perfect, just like I planned it. The Bat. I am The Bat. More so than the Master wanted…
Ignore that thought.
Through my life… However short it’s truly been… I have seen more than any. I died that night when my parents were shot on Park Avenue. Crime Alley. My soul died. I became unresponsive. No one was able to reach me. But Alfred Pennyworth… My best friend… My confidant… He helped me. Never gave up on me. Anyone else would have shipped me off to some asylum.
Arkham.
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
You may have heard the stories. A well-rounded, quite sane man, one Amadeus Arkham, set up the facility, named it after his beloved mother…
His wife and unborn child were killed by the first escapee.
So, obviously, in a bout of insanity… He killed him with some ill advised mass shock therapy. Burnt the guy right up. From the inside, out.
He was screaming all the way through it. And Amadeus did nothing. He just watched, smoking a cigarette.
Gothamites tell that story to their children. ‘Be a good boy/girl or the Arkham residents will pay a visit to you in your sleep.’
No wonder Gotham City has the highest concentration of sociopathic, psychotic criminals in any urban settlement.
They never learn…
It’s a wonder I’m as sane as I am. My parents must have really… Raised me… Well…
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:53:55 GMT -5
Before: The family got out the car, and Thomas Wayne leans over to the driver. “Alfred… The film finishes in two hours. Meet us over at the train station.” He smiled. Alfred turned at this, surprised. “Sir… I can easily pick you up at the multiplex itself…” “No, no… It’s a lovely evening… We’ll walk.” He laughs. “It’ll be easier anyway. Traffic.” “Of course.” Alfred frowned and waved goodbye to his employers. “Have fun, sirs and madam.” “Thank you, Alfred.” Martha waved as the black car drove off. “Ok then Bruce! Do you want some popcorn?” “Yes please, mom!” |
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:55:43 GMT -5
My parents…
I miss them. I miss them so much.
But I’m beyond that. I traveled the world, put the past behind me. But everyone I trained under, everyone I met… They all said the same things.
“Broken…”
“Shattered…”
All true, I guess… Twenty years… And that wound hasn’t healed yet.
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:56:50 GMT -5
Before: “That was fantastic!” Bruce jumped and leaped in front of his parents, picking up a stick and pretending it’s a sword. “He was amazing! Fighting, stopping the bad guys! He was a real hero…” Thomas puts his arm around Martha and hugs her. “Son, when you grow up… I want you to be a hero to people. I want you to be someone that people look up to. And respect…” “I will! Just like Zorro! Like Rocky! Conan! That guy off Terminator…” Thomas looked at Martha, who had a shocked look on her face. He smiled and then nodded, mouthing the word ‘Alfred’ rolling his eyes… “Excuse me, sir…” A voice came from behind the family. “I would really appreciate it if you gave me your wallet… And those pearls… And I’ll let you keep your lives, alright?” A man stood in the alley; gun pointed at Thomas, slowly moving it to Martha, then back over to Thomas. “Hurry up…”He moved closer to the family, Thomas hurriedly rummaged through his pockets. “You’re very pretty miss…” The man stroked the side of Martha’s face with his gun, causing Thomas to crack. “Get your hands off her!” |
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:57:26 GMT -5
The rain floods the streets as I stand atop the building. I shake off the memories of that night, and look around. The night is dark… Darker than usual… I squat over the ledge of the building, magnify ambient sound in the vicinity through my ‘ears’… (You thought they were there for show?) and concentrate, disregarding natural occurrences…
Got something.
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Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2005 23:58:42 GMT -5
“You don’t want me?! You don’t want me?!” The mass of muscle pounds his way towards the cowering woman, her screams falling on deaf ears. He raises his fist slowly, deliberately, and brings it down hard… My batline cuts into his wrist as it pulls him back. I tether the line to a gargoyle, leap down, and land in a puddle, water showering everywhere. “You… She don’t want me! She… Mine! Mine to do what I want! I wanna’ cause some pain!”
“No. Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to calm down. You’re going to hand yourself over to the police for assault. Or you can charge me. And I’ll share with you a thing or two about pain you never thought existed.”
I stand tall, defiantly, the water falling down my cowl and cape. And await his answer.
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHH!” He runs at me. I nod slowly and grab his fist as he comes in close. He’s strong. Clumsy. And easy for me to maneuver. I use his momentum against him, kick him in the shin and knee, causing him to stumble forward, into the wall I positioned behind me. He connects with it hard, causing a wet crunch to echo up. He doesn’t stay down. I hit him hard in the knee and shoulder blade and watch as his arm goes limp to his side, and he collapses to the floor again. I watch from afar, an arms length away from him, but it doesn’t stop him from trying. He swings his dead weight arm at me, and I step away, moving fluidly, and then I look over to his victim. “Are you alright?”
“Y-Yes…” She shakes her head slowly, and I nod.
“Call the police.”
At this moment, the mass of muscle bears down on me, arms outstretched, ready to crush my bones. I tense my muscles as he grabs me, and then kick his knees, but to no effect. Damn. I push my hand down to my belt and press a button on it, causing a spark to fly through my suit, and gas to rush out my cowl. He goes down coughing, and I look down on him.
“I… I need my medicine…. Just… She wouldn’t…”
I nod slowly. “I have your medicine right here.” I raise my arms up, and bring them down on his neck with crushing force. The power of the blow causes him to collapse completely, and then I’m left standing there, waiting for the police to arrive.
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2005 0:00:23 GMT -5
I hide in the shadows for about three minutes, and then hear the sirens in the distance… I lean against the wall in the corner of the alley, shadows disguising me.
“Where’d she say the attacker was? And the Batman…?”
I recognize the voice. It’s Sarah Essen. I wait for the ambulance to be called, and then flap my cape slightly, gaining her attention. She spins round, hand on holster, but then realization floods through her.
“This one of yours..?” She whispers slightly, out of earshot from her fellow officers.
“No. A new one. Keep an eye on him. He’s strong.”
“So the vic said. I’ll tell Gordon you had this one.” She turns to nod and quickly waves me goodbye. I nod slowly, and then throw up the grapnel, and vanish into the night, heading for home.
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2005 0:01:08 GMT -5
Before: One gun shot. Blood everywhere. Martha screams, but is cut off by another bullet. More blood. Bruce is silent, standing in the shadows. “Shame… Pretty girl…” The man ran off, leaving a seven-year-old boy cradling the bodies of his beloved parents. “Mom… Give him the pearls… Just… Give him the pearls…” |
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2005 0:03:24 GMT -5
I awaken from the dream. Same as always… But each time… Details… Changing… Two shots… But then again… Other times… Four… Five… Seven shots… I wipe my brow and go downstairs wrapped in a dressing gown.
The television is on, as always at this time, Alfred catching up on his soaps… I creep past him, and open the secret passage into the cave. A barren, rocky chamber, with a massive computer set up against one of the cavernous walls. I tap the control pad, type in my password… And have access to everything: Pentagon databases, CIA networks...
I review the latest front pages.
Gordon Gets Gangsters in Gangland Crackdown. Simplistic headline… Gotham Star. Yup. Tabloid rubbish. And below that… Batman Sighted: Urban Legend, Vigilante or Hoax? You Decide…
Interesting… They think I’m an urban legend?
Good.
Falcone Free on Bail. I bookmark this. Sofia Falcone.
Damn.
Sofia Falcone is the daughter of the biggest crime lord on this side of America, and a giant of a woman.
Carmine “The Roman” Falcone. He knew my father.
I… I remember things.
I put her behind bars, and I don’t think she’ll keep to the straight and narrow.
I continue my browsing, read the occasional hack column… Vic Sage always gives me a laugh… Only because I know… That all these crazy things he reports … There all true. The headline for today’s article? Green Rocks Cause Mutations in Kansas Town….
I skip today’s and go to the Daily Planet, hoping for an article by Clark Kent. But instead I sit staring at the front page.
Superman Sighted.
I turn off the screen.
I lean back in my chair. This… This sounds interesting…
A Superman...?
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Post by mockingbird on Jul 28, 2011 10:59:45 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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