Justice League" Identity Crisis

DC Comics · 2014

The Flash

25 · Vol. The Flash

A BATMAN: ZERO YEAR tie-in! What crucial part did Barry Allen play in the Zero Year saga, and how did it shape his future as The Flash?

DC Comics · 2002

Adventures of Superman

606 · Vol. Adventures of Superman

"Return to Krypton II" Part 2! Jor-El and Superman confront the Rao zealots, led by the evil Xon-Ur ? who has harnesed the power of Krypton's red sun. The duo must also rescue Kal's mom Lara from their clutches.

DC Comics · 2001

Adventures of Superman

589 · Vol. Adventures of Superman

Part 2 of "Return to Krypton!" Superman's visit and reunion with his father Jor-El may be cut short as his father's enemy, General Zod, unleashes the Eradicators against them. Follow up to Superman 167 To be continued in Superman Man of Steel 111

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

79 · Vol. The Flash

Wally finds out everything about the so called Barry Allen, but what will Wally do about it? Wally West has proven that Professor Zoom is the fake Barry Allen , but the Zoom that faces Wally now is not the same man that killed Iris . Eobard reveals that he is from the future and that he saw Barry as a hero and even had surgery to look like Barry and stole the Cosmic Treadmill . He then gave himself super speed and came the the 20th century to meet Barry Allen. But something went wrong and he arrived years after Barry's death. He went to the Flash Museum where he learned that he was going to become the man that killed Iris and was going to be killed by Barry. Eobard went crazy and thought that he was Barry Allen. When he remembered who he was he deduced the only way to survive was to stay in the present and become Barry Allen. Eobard is about to kill Wally when Max Mercury , Johnny Quick and Hal Jordan arrive and force Eobard to run away. They take Wally to the hospital where Jay Garrick is laid up. Then they see on the news that Eobard is attacking Linda and Wally rushes off to save her. This time beats Wally up and forces him to chase after. But Wally has a plan and tricks Eobard into thinking that he used the treadmill to kill Eobard as a baby. Eobard uses the treadmill to stop Wally but is launched into the future with no memory of where he was and Wally reveals he just hid. Epilogue: The book The Life of Barry Allen was written by Iris Allen three years later.

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

78 · Vol. The Flash

The real identity of the impostor revealed! The man who is supposedly Barry Allen organizes a prison break to assemble an army and take down the city. It's up to Wally West to stop him and solve the mystery of the fake Flash. "The Return of Barry Allen" part 5. Wally West now knows that the real Barry Allen is still dead and the man who is posing as his uncle is faster then Wally, so Johnny Quick tries to teach him his formula. Max Mercury tries to teach him the Zen of Speed. but it is Jay Garrick that shows him that the way to be faster is inside of Wally. Wally then tells the other who Barry really is but he needs their help to prove it. Wally runs off to the Flash Museum and the rest go to find Barry. The Barry imposter has gone to Central City State Penitentiary, to release and arm the convicts inside. Luckily Jay, Max and Johnny show up before anyone gets hurt. During the fight Jay tears the symbol off Barry costume forcing him to flee back to the Flash Museum where Wally is waiting for him. Wally throws the fake Barry a Flash ring and tells him he found the book he had dropped, The Life of Barry Allen. Realizing the gig is up the fake Barry reveals is is really Professor Zoom

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

77 · Vol. The Flash

Jay Garrick, Max Mercury and Johnny Quick team up to try and bring down the man who claims to be a returned-from-the-grave Barry Allen, but whose recent behavior has proved that's a lie! "The Return of Barry Allen" part 4. Wally West is still reeling from the fact that Barry Allen is back from the dead and that his former idle left him for dead in a Combine deathtrap. And now Wally learns that Barry is battling Hal Jordan , and destroying the Flash Museum . Wally isn't sure what to do but luckily Jay Garrick formed his own team to stop Barry. While Barry is trying to kill some of Central City's citizens, Jay, Johnny Quick and Max Mercury save the day. Barry throws a handful of gravel at Johnny injuring him and hits Max with an I-beam while he is trying to save a construction worker. Barry then causes a helicopter to fall on Jay while he is trying to save the crew. Meanwhile, Wally walks the streets and finds himself in the alley that Barry found himself in when he returned from the dead. there is finds a book that has Iris's name in and learns the secret of the Barry Allen impostor.

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

76 · Vol. The Flash

Barry Allen and Wally West team up to take down the Combine but Wally still remains skeptical that Barry is the real thing. Featuring the re-introduction of another old-school speedster--Max Mercury! "The Return of Barry Allen" part 3. Wally West is still reeling from the idea that Barry Allen is back from the dead and that Barry wants to be the one and only Flash. Wally is still not sure what that means for him and Central City . While trying to figure out what to do, Wally gets a letter from his friend the Pied Piper informing him that the Combine, the latest super gang in Central City, have there headquarters in Broome Building, 26th floor. Wally quickly finds Barry and the pair of Flashes rush to the building where they find a scale model of the city and a member of the Combine. He tells them that the Combine will Central city and the first step is to get rid of the speedsters. When Barry blindly attacks him he triggers a force field that traps the heroes. Barry can't vibrate through it and it begins to shrink around them. Wally uses his quick thinking to help Barry vibrate through but, Barry leaves Wally trapped. After Barry just leaves Wally to die, Wally tries a new trick and gets out too. When Wally gets home he hears Barry on the news tell all of Central City that the Flash is dead. Meanwhile, Jay is putting together a team of Speedsters, that include Max Mercury and Johnny Quick , for some mysterious life or death mission.

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

75 · Vol. The Flash

The Fastest Men Alive and three generations of Flashes--Wally West, Barry Allen, and Jay Garrick--team up to take down some high-tech punks, but when the normally levelheaded Barry loses his temper, Wally becomes even more skeptical of his return. "The Return of Barry Allen" part 2." Wally West and Jay Garrick are trying to stop a train heist by The Combine, a gang hired by the new mysterious crime boss of Central City . It looks like the two Flashes have it under control but one on the gang derails the train and Jay and Wally have to try and save the bystanders in the way. Then Barry Allen shows up to stop the train before it hits PS114, then takes all the credit. Wally feels okay with this and later tells Linda, that he is thinking of moving to Midway City or change his name, but they are interrupted by police Chief Hotchkiss and Jay calling to tell him the C.C.P.D . found the Combine's hideout. Wally leaves Linda to find Barry and meet up with Jay at the hideout. He finds Barry wondering the streets, and after a quick talk the three speedsters head to the hideout. At the hideout the Flashes try to figure out how to handle the situation when the Combine attacks them. Jay get taken out by a ray gun and Wally gets buried under a collapsed wall, to which one of the gang yells "I killed the Flash". Upon hearing this Barry goes crazy and almost kills the man but Wally, who was just shaken, has to stop him. When he stops Barry he is shocked to hear that Barry was angrynot because Wally could be dead but because he feels he is the only Flash.

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

74 · Vol. The Flash

"The Return of Barry Allen" part 1! Barry Allen has apparently returned from the dead, but his successor--current Flash Wally West--is somewhat skeptical. Regardless, the two speedsters must team up to prevent an assassination attempt on a mob boss! Wally and Linda West, Jay and Joan Garrick and Hal Jordan are having a New Years Eve party when Barry Allen , who is suppose to be dead shows up at their door. After Hal's ring proves it is Barry, he explains that a week ago he found himself in Central City lost and confused and it wasn't until he saw the Flash Museum that he knew who he was. Hal believes him but needs to go, promising that Barry being back would be a secret. After Hal leaves Barry sees the Pied Piper on the street and attacks him. Barry has to explain to Barry that the Piper is now a good guy and that things have changed. He is about to explain more but Wally gets a call that there is a hit on "Handsome Jack" Giacomo. Barry and Wally leave Jay behind and rush to help. The two Flashes catch the three hit-men and save Handsome Jack, but Wall is still unsure if he is truly happy that Barry is back and if he even believes it is Barry. Before they take the hit-men to jail Barry freaks out and leaves Wally. Barry runs to Iris's grave and apologizes that only he came back, this is where Wally finds him and tells him that now he trusts Barry again.

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash

73 · Vol. The Flash

"One Perfect Gift." Wally West and Linda Park spend Christmas with the Garricks. While dinner is being prepared, Wally and Jay Garrick, the original Flash, head out into the snowy weather to run, talk, and spread a little Christmas cheer.

DC Comics · 1993

The Flash" Return of Barry Allen

Story arc · 9 issues

Barry Allen, the second Flash has returned from the dead, but not everyone is happy, nor is everything as it seems as the world of Wally West is about to turn upside down. Story Overview After preventing the robbery, Jay Garrick (the original Flash) and Wally West (the third Flash) enjoy the Christmas Eve with Joan and Linda in Jay's house. And then, someone knocks on the door, everybody is shocked to see Barry Allen , the Flash before Wally West and his uncle and mentor who died, alive and well. A week later, Jay and Hal Jordan (the Green Lantern) are happy to see Barry alive who according to Barry himself, reformed from a being of energy into a human during Wally's fight with Doctor Alchemy . He could not remember who he is until he visited Flash Museum and stole one of the older Flash costumes he found there and the next thing he did was found Jay and Wally. While Wally is very skeptical about Barry's return, according to Hal's ring, Barry is telling the truth and Hal tells Wally that he should not worry. He knew Barry for a long time as they were best friends. And then, Hal takes of. As they walk out on the streets, Barry sees his old enemy, Pied Piper and attacks him with full force, extremely aggressive and unusual behavior for Barry. As Wally tells him that Piper is his friend now, Barry is skeptical because of the fact that Wally revealed his secret identity to the public but before the two could end the discussion, Piper informs Wally that there is a gang war going on and it is about to turn the city upside down. As Wally suits up, Barry compliments his new costume while Wally was just asking himself what will Barry's reaction be as he never told him he is the new Flash now. Just as they stopped the assassination of Jack Giacamo, Barry tells Wally to avoid for him and he needs to take care of it. Wally followed him and he saw Barry visiting the grave of his wife Iris . He remembers how happy they were, especially when she accepted his proposal and tells her he loves her. Barry thinks about how proud she would be if she saw Wally in action and he knows that Wally does not believe him. However, Wally heard everything Barry said and tells him he is sorry for not believe he came back. His death hurt him pretty badly and he wasn't happy when he saw him, he was afraid. Tomorrow starts a new year and people have to move on with their lives. And just like that, the two speedsters run together. Few weeks later, Wally and Jay stop a gang of high tech equipped commanders. Unfortunately, the train ran out of control and was about to crush civilians. Jay and Wally were unable to stop it but with Barry's help, they were successful. Civilians ask the Flash for autographs but just as Wally was about to give them, Barry is the one who wrote the autographs. Back home, he talks to Linda about taking a different name considering the fact that Barry came back and wants to move out of the city which Linda does not really agree with. As the two laugh over different ideas for Wally's potential new alias, Jay calls, telling them that the commanders they fought on the train took over a warehouse but before he could go there, Wally saw Barry standing in the same alley he came back from. He feels weird considering the fact that he was dead for years but to him, it all seemed like seconds. The two speedsters start walking but it seems that there is a book next to a trash container. During the fight, the commanders shot laser at Wally that tore the ground apart, slamming pieces of rock on to Wally. The commander screams he killed the Flash and at the moment he heard it, Barry asked him what he said and blitzed the commander with rage in his eyes, beating him up. Wally stopped Barry from beating the commander to death. Wally believed Barry acted that way because he thought the commander killed Wally but what Barry actually said that nobody else heard is Barry screaming how he is the Flash. He almost killed the man for calling someone the Flash other than himself. Wally asks himself what is happening to Barry as he never acted the way he does now. He reads a message from Pied Piper about the new location of the commanders. Meanwhile Jay Garrick visits his own friend from World War II, one of the original speedsters Johnny Champers , or as he is commonly known, Johnny Quick. He asks him for help but they both agree they will need Max Mercury for this problem as well. They meet Max who currently sells metro tokens. Max for reasons unknown claims that he is not Max Mercury and they got the wrong guy. Jay drops his tokens, making Max reveal his reflexes and reminds Max that he owns him one. As he agrees, Jay gives Max his old costume which he kept all those years because he wanted to remember him. While Wally was reaching his location, Barry met him and they team up. However they were trapped in a force field they can't penetrate or phase throw. Wally finds a way to save Barry and vibrates on the force field to allow him to phase throw and as he asks Barry to help him. Barry refuses, telling him he stole his name and identity, trying to make Barry Allen a forgotten history but he will make everyone remember who Barry Allen was and still is, by destroying Central City . Wally begs Barry to understand he never wanted to replace him, he wanted to honor his memory but Barry does not listen and leaves him to die. Wally only focuses on vibration and phases through the force field. He comes back home and sees Barry on TV having a Press Conference where he said that his protege Wally West, former Kid Flash is not dead. Hearing it, Wally throws his costume in the trash, feeling nothing but grief. Barry started to terrorize Central City which drew the attention of Darkstar who tried to kill him but was stopped by Hal Jordan. However, Hal chased Barry to the Flash Museum, asking him why he is doing all of this but Barry only wants to make them remember him and beats up Hal. While Darkstar tried to kill him again, Barry got away. Next day, Barry attacked construction workers at construction site but they were all saved by Jay Garrick, Johnny Quick and Max Mercury. Despite their combined efforts, they were unable to stop Barry who left construction site once the news helicopter was about the crash but the reporters were saved by Jay and Max. Meanwhile Wally came to the alley where Barry appeared when he was resurrected and he found a book about the Flash from a homeless person nearby which gave him the answer about all this crisis. Johnny, Max and Jay meet Wally, talking about his speed. Johnny mentions the formula he invented which gave him super speed. Max is trying to train Wally and teach him how to get faster and tells Wally how he is afraid of replacing Barry which limits his powers. Jay on the other hand tells Wally he deserved the name the Flash and from now on he will call him that way and will no longer use the word junior. After Wally showed them the book he found, he had an idea how to stop Barry and he went to the Flash Museum. Jay, Johnny and Max were searching for Barry who freed all of the prisoners from their cells and starting a riot which was easily stopped by Johnny and Max but Barry defeated Jay in a fight by breaking his leg and he knocked down Max and Johnny. He ran back to the Flash Museum, just the place where Wally waited for him to show up. Wally gave him the ring with the suit inside which looked familiar. Wally find out everything. Somehow he did not full them but himself which made Hal's ring think he was saying the truth. He was confused because he dropped the book which was revealed to be The Life Story of The Flash , Barry's biography from life to death. It could not have been written in this time because it is from the future. As Wally tells the man who everyone thought was Barry Allen all this time all this, the man puts on a suit and it was revealed that all this time, the man who claimed to be Barry was actually Professor Zoom , the Reverse Flash, Eobard Thawne, Barry's arch enemy from the 25th Century. Two speedsters, one good and one evil start to fight at the remains of the Flash Museum, Wally tells Professor Zoom how Barry killed him years ago by snapping his neck in order to stop him from killing his fiance. Thawne explains how he still did not meet Barry Allen. He came from the timeline where technology was so advanced the crime did not exist but it was also the era without super heroes. However, there were people who felt nostalgia for super heroes. Thawne was one of them. He adored Barry Allen. He was worshipping him, he was his hero. Thawne was always reading about him, he knew everything about Barry and the only thing he wanted is to meet his hero. He changed his face to make himself look like Barry and wanted to use the Cosmic Treadmill to travel back in time and meet his hero before he died by replicating the accident that gave Barry his super speed. However, Thawne traveled into the wrong era, years after Barry's death. Thawne visited the Flash Museum, realizing he was brought to this timeline for a reason, to continue the legacy of Barry Allen and become the new Flash of this timeline. Because of his new goal, he begin to study various enemies of the Flash, especially the Reverse Flash, his greatest enemy. Because the Reverse Flash's name was unknown in this timeline and in the 25th Century, Thawne did not know that he was Reverse Flash and when he found out his future identity plus the fact that his greatest hero will be his murderer, the shock put Thawne in the state of extreme confusion and madness, making him believe that he was Barry Allen. Wally plans on stopping Thawne but he has no chance as he is much faster than Wally. Thawne will not allow himself to be removed from this timeline as he is away from Barry and the events of his death so he tries to destroy the cosmic treadmill. But because the treadmill is the item that gave Thawne access to his timeline which is the only thing preventing him from dying at the hands of Barry Allen, Wally tells him not to destroy the treadmill or he will reset the timeline. Because of that, Thawne refuses to destroy the treadmill and escapes after Wally was saved by Max, Johnny and the Green Lantern. In the hospital where Jay is right now, Wally plans to send Thawne back to his timeline where he will eventually become Reverse Flash once again. Max once again reminds him how he needs to stop being afraid of replacing Barry by becoming his equal. On the news, Thawne admits he is the one who was terrorizing the city, not the Flash who is indeed dead. As he was about to kill Linda, he was stopped by Thawne who easily defeated Wally once again. When he finally admitted he was afraid of replacing Barry, Wally realizes his speed never left him, it was just limited by his own psychic blocks and not they returned. Wally overpowers Thawne who begs for mercy, but Wally only mocks him, calling him pathetic and a victim of his own obsession. Wally jumps on the cosmic treadmill, telling Thawne how he might travel into the future and terrorize him like he terrorized him, or maybe even kill him. As Thawne uses the treadmill to travel into the future to stop Wally, it turns out that Wally just ran so fast it looked like he disappeared. He wanted Thawne to travel into the future in order to set the timeline the way it was suppose to be. The Flash Museum was repaired after getting destroyed in Thawne's fight with Hal but now they added the statue of Wally West next to his mentor Barry. Wally finally gets out of his uncle's shadow but he knows he will always be there watching for him. Wally looks at Barry's biography which turned out to be written by his Aunt Iris, Barry's wife and she is about to write it only few years from now, meaning that she was alive and not killed by Thawne. Wally throws the book into the river because he can't find out what the history has in store for him, because his history belongs only to him.

DC Comics · 1992

The Flash" Year One: Born to Run

Story arc · 4 issues

Born to Run is a retelling of Wally West's origin by Mark Waid. The story covers Wally first gaining his powers, learning to be the Kid Flash, and dealing with the emotional baggage between him and his father.

DC Comics · 1992

Superman" Panic in the Sky!

Story arc · 9 issues

"Panic In The Sky!" is an eight part crossover story that was published in four Superman titles. The title is borrowed from a 1950s television episode in the "Adventures of Superman" series starring George Reeves. Brainiac takes control over Warworld and attempts to take over Earth.

DC Comics · 2002

Superman" Return to Krypton II

Story arc · 4 issues

Superman goes with his father back to Krypton to save his mother Lara from the Holy Order of Raom and discover the mystery of his origin. Sequel to the Return to Krypton arc, Superman goes with his father to Krypton to save his mother Lara from the Holy Order of Rao. Once there, Superman will discover the true nature of Krypton and the mastermind behind all.

DC Comics · 2001

Superman" Return to Krypton

Story arc · 4 issues

After a mysterious menssage apparentely sent by hisfather Jor-El, Superman and Lois Lane travel through time and space back to planet Krypton, to discover what they believed a cold and steril land to be a colorful fantastic place.

DC Comics · 2012

Batman" Zero Year

Story arc · 38 issues

A re-imagination of Batman's origin in the New 52. Telling the story of an inexperienced Bruce Wayne in his formative years in his war on crime before finally honing his skills and truly becoming the Dark Knight. Plot Summary Zero Year is an eleven-part story arc in the Batman comic book, written by Scott Snyder and pencilled by Greg Capullo, which tells the untold tale of an inexperienced Bruce Wayne's formative years in his war on crime, before honing his craft and establishing himself as The Batman. Someone said In this story, a young Bruce Wayne attempts to save Gotham City from the murderous group known as the Red Hood Gang. However, since Bruce has yet to establish a reputation in the criminal underworld, and has yet to turn himself into the fearsome figure of Batman, he has been having a hard time winning his war. His inexperience, carelessness and uncontrolled anger have not only stalled his mission but also strained his relationship with his faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce's uncle, Philip Kane, who had declared Bruce legally dead during his absence from Gotham, has taken control of Wayne Enterprises and is using it to produce weapons. In an attempt to improve the company's public image, Philip attempts to convince Bruce to take control of his family's company, but Bruce refuses, as has no interest in living as "Bruce Wayne", focusing all his attention on his war on crime. To make matters worse, the Red Hood gang is stealing the weapons produced by the company to further terrorize the city. Phil's leading strategist, Edward Nygma, the future Riddler, advises Phil to kill Bruce in order to solve their problems but Philip refuses and still tries to convince Bruce to lead the company. For weeks, while keeping his identity a secret using sophisticated technology, Bruce has been hunting down the Red Hood Gang and sabotages several of their operations, but is unable to take them down. The gang is getting stronger and stronger, equipping themselves with Wayne Tech and causing several random acts of violence throughout the city. However, following a surprise party for Bruce by his uncle, the Red Hood Gang, thanks to a tip from Nygma, ambush Bruce and give him a vicious beating. Bruce barely makes it back to the manor where he is nursed back to health by Alfred. Enraged by Nygma's actions, Philip attempts to kill the villain, admitting that Bruce is a better man than both of them, but Riddler incapacitates Philip and ends their alliance. Bruce comes to terms with the fact that he is losing this war and asks his father for guidance. Then a bat crashes through his window, and Bruce finally decides that he will become a Bat. Finally realizing his purpose, Bruce and Alfred set up their base in a cave under Wayne Manor, and Bruce sets off to strike fear in the hearts of criminals as a vigilante who the press calls Batman. He starts by methodically taking out members of the Red Hood gang, quickly establishing his reputation and finally getting the attention of Red Hood One. While investigating the gang's operations, eventually, with some help from a guilt-ridden Phillip, who was forced into becoming a member of the gang, Bruce discovers that the Red Hood gang are planning to use a dangerous toxin from the Ace Chemical factory to terrorize the city. He holds a press conference in front of the factory and exposes the gang's plans, forcing them to invade the factory right away. As Batman, Bruce fights off the Red Hood gang, but not without the death of Uncle Philip, who was killed by the leader for attempting to stop him. As the GCPD round up members of the gang, the factory burns down and Batman goes after the leader, preventing him from escaping and defeating him, but despite Bruce's efforts to save him, the Red Hood allows himself to fall into a large acid container. In the aftermath, Batman continues setting up his Bat-Cave and establishing himself as a hero in Gotham. Edward Nygma, now calling himself The Riddler, then makes his presence known and knocks out all power from the city, in an attempt to challenge the people to get smarter. During the massive blackout, a heavy storm comes and the city falls into chaos, and Commissioner Loeb makes it the GCPD's priority to take down the Batman, but to no avail, as the hero repeatedly evades them. Bruce is determined to make an enemy out of the police because he sees them as corrupt and untrustworthy, especially James Gordon, who seems to have a connection to the Waynes' deaths and Bruce resents him for it. Bruce is also working on a jammer, because he feels that, even if the police manage to get the power back, they'll only fall into Riddler's trap and another blackout will take place. During this time, a series of suspicious murders have taken place, the victims, who were scientists working for Wayne Enterprises, had been ripped apart from the inside after their bones radically grew out of their body. Bruce investigates these murders and he is eventually led to Doctor Karl Helfern, a former Wayne Enterprises scientist who developed the formula that causes these effects. Bruce decides to visit the only man who may know something about it, Lucius Fox, an engineer who used to work for Bruce's father but was fired by Philip. Fox reveals that Helfern was working on a serum that was supposed to harden bones for protection against trauma, but it became unstable, and so was Helfern. However, Fox reveals that it was also his project and injects Bruce with something that incapacitated him, thus apparently revealing himself as an ally of Helfern, who is now known as Doctor Death. Bruce is kidnapped by Doctor Death, who has apparently injected himself with his own serum but instead of killing him, it has turned into a monstrous figure and becomes even more unstable. He almost kills Fox, but Bruce manages to fight him off. Lucius apologizes for the injection and reveals that it was actually a vaccine against Helfern's serum. As the two try to make their escape, Doctor Death catches up to them, now has become even more monstrous, and almost kills Bruce if it wasn't for the timely intervention of Gordon, who shoots Helfern and knocks him out of the building. Bruce is brought to a hospital where he is confronted by Gordon who wants to help Wayne and seeks to get more information about the killed scientists. However, Bruce does not like Gordon because he believes that, before his parents' deaths, Gordon and his partner, Corrigan, once escorted Bruce, who believes to have seen them take bribes from the neighbourhood. Bruce declares that Gordon and the rest of the police are crooked and that he will never trust them. Full Plot Bruce Wayne In: At the age of nineteen in Rio De Janeiro, Bruce met a criminal by the name of Don Miguel who taught Bruce high-speed driving and several insane driving tricks including colour cover, crowd ducking among others. In their final lesson, however, Bruce was instructed to lose the Policia in a bright red custom-made convertible car. After an intense car chase, Miguel attempted to kill the cops using a dangerous, but Bruce, having learned everything he needed from the criminal and wanting to prevent him from causing any more damage, crashes the car, trapping Miguel before finally knocking him out and leaving him to be apprehended by authorities. At the age of twenty-one, in Egypt, Bruce seeks out an old Russian scientist named Sergei to teach him what they call the impossible. He challenges him to test by trapping him under the Sphinx, where he has limited supplies and oxygen. Bruce spends six months preparing for this test, tinkering with tools and planning for every scenario in order to survive, but Sergei tells him that he needs to go beyond planning and what is called possible in order to survive. Indeed, once Bruce is actually trapped, most of his preparations weren't operational and he was forced to go beyond what he thought is possible in order to escape and pass Sergei's test. At the age of twenty-four, Bruce found himself in the middle of a pit in the Northeast of Harstad, Norway, fighting for twenty-eight hours straight in deathmatch, defeating every fighter to challenge him but avoided killing anyone despite the insistence of the Pit Queen. Bruce came to this pit seeking to use his body to wage war, but the Queen claims that he cannot win this war without killing, and he will continue to fight until he dies. However, Bruce persists, winning battle after battle but without killing anyone, and in the end, there were no more fighters to challenge because they were all afraid of him. Secret City: Bruce's disguise is blown The story starts six years ago, having recently returned to Gotham City after travelling the world, Bruce Wayne decides to use the skills he learned abroad to cleanse his city of crime, his first target being the Red Hood Gang, a growing group of criminals made up of middle and upper class Gothamites who were convinced or blackmailed into joining the group by the leader, whose identity still remains a mystery to Bruce, as he never takes off his mask, not even in front of his crew. Using a disguise, Bruce infiltrated the group but his cover was eventually blown, and he was cornered by the gang. Though he managed to escape and save the hostages held by the gang, this encounter showed Bruce's carelessness and lack of discipline that almost jeopardized the entire mission. Edward Nygma Back at his base, Bruce's faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth, who is heavily against Bruce's crusade, tries to talk some sense into him and attempts to convince Bruce to announce his return to the city, but Bruce says that he wants to remain legally dead as he feels that he's more efficient that way in his war and he doesn't want to be distracted by "Bruce Wayne". On his way out of the manor, Bruce is met by his uncle Philip Kane, much to Alfred's dismay, who reveals that he was the one who declared Bruce legally dead so he could re-built Wayne Enterprises into something new, by merging it with Kane Chemicals, becoming a leader in protective technology, specializing in weapons. Bruce disapproves of what his uncle has done with the company, and despite Philip's attempts to convince Bruce to take control of the company, he refuses because that's not what he's here to do and it's not who he is. Later that night, while meeting with an associate, Philip reveals that he wants Bruce to lead the company to improve the company's public image since they are hated for building weapons, and to make matters worse, the Red Hood Gang is stealing those weapons from them. The associate, who is revealed to be none other than Edward Nygma, tells him that the solution to Philip's problems, or Riddle as Edward calls it, is simple: killing Bruce Wayne. The Red Hood Gang Strikes The Red Hood Gang hijack Luca Falcone's blimp, as part of their plan to take over all other gangs in Gotham. After the leader, Red Hood One, throws Falcone off the blimp, he gloats to his captive, who appears to be Oswald Cobblepot, about having acquired all the drugs, information and advanced weaponry, including a Wayne Sonic Rifle. Then suddenly, "Cobblepot" attacks Red Hood One and reaches for his hood, but gets electrocuted. The Hood then deduces that this is, in fact, the vigilante who has been giving them trouble for the last few weeks. It was in fact, Bruce, having kidnapped the real Cobblepot and trapped him in the blimp's basement, disguised as the villain, in another attempt to take down the gang. Impressed, the Red Hood leader offers Bruce a spot on his team, claiming that they are two of a kind, but Bruce refuses and manages to take down some of the Hood's men, and even stabs the leader with his gauntlet, thereby getting a sample of his DNA. Bruce barely manages to escape unscathed, with the real Cobblepot with him. Alfred slaps Bruce Back at the manor, Bruce is still upset by the fact that he's still losing this war, as the leader's DNA has no match in any records, and he is still unable to stop this gang while it's quickly growing and becoming more dangerous. Alfred tells Bruce that his war is doomed and disapproves of the way in which he is fighting it. At Bruce's insistence, Alfred tells him that fighting from the shadows as a ghost is cowardly, unlike his parents, who fought for their city in public. He also disapproves of the fact that he is letting the Wayne name rot and leaving Wayne Enterprises in the hands of his uncle, who he sees as a sad, angry man with no purpose but glory. A heated argument breaks out between the two, as Alfred claims that Bruce's parents would be ashamed while Bruce tells him that's the real coward, provoking Alfred to slap Bruce in the face, before heading back to the manor. Bruce Wayne vs Edward Nygma After the argument, Bruce meets up with Philip at the Museum and tells him to shut down his operation because gangs have been stealing tech from Wayne Enterprises. Philip is reluctant and again tries to convince Bruce to be part of the company so they can things out, but Bruce turns him down again and insists that Bruce Wayne should stay dead. Philip then turns on the lights and reveals Welcoming Party thereby revealing his return to the city. Bruce angrily storms off and while searching for the Museum's exit, he encounters Edward Nygma. During their conversation, Nygma implies to Bruce that his uncle is giving weapons away to the Red Hood in an attempt keep them away from bigger ones, but refuses to say anymore. After solving Nygma's riddle concerning the Museum's exit, Bruce tells Edward on his way out to try harder next time, to which Edward mutters that there won't be the next time. As he reaches the manor, he is caught in an explosion set up by the Red Hood. Under the mercy of the Red Hood Bruce is then ambushed by the Red Hood Gang, who give him a vicious beating. The Red Hood reveals that the death of Bruce's parents changed his own life as well. The fact that the Waynes, scions of the city, were randomly killed by a nobody for no reason, inspired what the Red Hood gang is all about, acts of randomness inspiring madness, fear and survival. He also reveals that there is another man, like Bruce, who has been fighting them, but promises that, in the end, they will get him just like they got Bruce. Before leaving Bruce to die, the Red Hood thanks Bruce for leaving that theatre with his parents that night, because it inspired him and then proceeds to takes down down the Waynes portraits and puts two bullets through them. Severely wounded, Bruce barely manages to make his way to the lower levels of the Manor before passing out. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Edward Nygma was the one who sent the gang after Bruce, and Philip, enraged by actions, threatens to kill him. However, Nygma says a password that activates the magnetic plate in Philip's head, which was placed there after a childhood accident, causing Philip to collapse and to be incapacitated. Nygma announces his resignation and leaves Philip laying on the floor in pain, but not before Philip taunts him with the fact that despite all his strategies, he's nothing more than a shadow, an empty question mark and that no one will know who he is. Edward simply pauses and tells him goodbye. The moment of truth Bruce is found by Alfred and was nursed back to health. Alfred tells Bruce that despite their differences, he promises that he will always be there to patch him up. Bruce simply taps him on the shoulder as a sign of gratitude. Bruce then wanders the mansion, distraught at the fact that he is unable to win this war, and then faces a statue of his father, asking for guidance. Remembering the traumatic event as a child when he fell into a pit near Wayne Manor, before he was saved by his father, he was attacked by a swarm of bats. His father once told him the lifeblood of Gotham runs under Wayne Manor and asks him what the city told him to be. Just then, a bat crashes through the window and lands on Thomas Wayne's statue. Bruce replies "Yes I see. Yes, Father. I shall become a bat." Dark City Finally realizing his purpose, Bruce and Alfred set up their base in a cave under Wayne Manor, and Bruce sets off to strike fear into the hearts of criminals as Batman. He starts by methodically taking out members of the Red Hood gang, quickly establishing his reputation and finally getting the attention of Red Hood One. Following the gang's heists, Bruce sees no patterns, as all their acts are random, and decides that he needs help from his uncle. Philip is extremely regretful of what happened and reveals that he has been marked by the gang and forced to become a member himself. He gives Bruce access to the system which allows Bruce to realize what the gang's plan is, when and where they are planning on executing it. On the anniversary of the Waynes' murders, the gang is planning on forming a deadly poison using material obtained from the Ace Chemical factory, and exploding at several different locations around the city. Bruce realizes that this is a job for Bruce Wayne, not Batman, so he holds a press conference the day before the scheduled execution of the plan, outside the Chemical factory, to officially announcing his return to Gotham City. He goes on to explain why he came back despite what happened to his parents, because Gotham city, despite its flaws, is transformative and challenges everyone to be the best person they can be. He exposes the Red Hood Gang's plans and encourages the people of Gotham to fight back against this menace. Before he could finish, however, the gang launch their attack in an attempt to kill Bruce, but he is saved by Lieutenant James Gordon. During the confusion, Bruce sneaks into the factory during while Gordon attempts to lead a group of cops through the front door. Inside, Bruce is confronted by Red Hood One, who is impressed by Bruce's efforts but tells him that the cycle of randomness opened with his parents' murder and it will close with his death, and the destruction of the factory with the police inside while the gang escapes through the back entrance with what is available of their toxin, which they will unleash on the city the next day, opening a new cycle. But Bruce tells him that his parent's death may have been random and meaningless but their lives weren't, and he tells Red Hood that his life is an abomination and he is nothing more than an evil man pretending to have a purpose. Just before the leader can pull the trigger, a massive outage takes place in the entire neighbourhood, thanks to Alfred, and in a masterfully executed facade give the illusion that Batman appeared to save Bruce. The light then goes back on, and Bruce, now suited up, as Batman, appears and engages the gang in combat and gains the upper hand while Alfred shuts down the bay doors to prevent the gang from escaping. After defeating most of the gang, Batman is almost shot by Red Hood One, but he is saved by a member of the gang, who is then shot and killed in retaliation by the leader. To Batman's horror, it is revealed to be his very own uncle Philip who was forced into joining the gang. As the place starts to go on fire, Gordon and the police enter the factory and confront Batman, who manages to evade them to go after the fleeing leader. As the police round up the incapacitated members of the gang, on the rooftop, Red Hood attempts to make his escape using a helicopter but Batman grapples onto him and they both plummet into the burning factory. They engage in combat and Batman finally defeats the Red Hood but the railing they were standing collapses. Batman extends his hand and tries to save his enemy but the Red Hood refuses and declares that this is just the beginning before allowing himself to fall into the acid below. In the aftermath, Bruce and Alfred finish setting up the Bat Cave, and they finally reconcile, with Alfred telling Bruce that his parents would have been proud of him and that Batman's legend begins with him saving Bruce Wayne thus cementing their separation into his legacy. Though Bruce has doubts that his identity will be uncovered, Alfred reassures him that if plays his role right, the p

DC Comics · 1985

Swamp Thing" American Gothic

Story arc · 14 issues

Storyline that ran through Saga of the Swamp Thing (Later Swamp Thing) from issues #37 to #50. American Gothic involves the introduction of John Constantine, and what that meant for Swamp Thing. Essentially, Cosntantine works as a sort of plot driver for the series of stories that make up “American Gothic.” An evil South-American magic cult named the Brujeria are using the Crisis on Infinite Earths to help them take over the supernatural arena, and as part of their plot, they began having all sorts of evil events take place across America. Constantine manipulates Swamp Thing into taking down these threats. Eventually, it all leads to basically one big ol’ fight between good and evil, and literally the Ultimate Darkness against the Ultimate Light. There are a series of artists at work during this storyline – the standard brilliance of Stephen Bissette and John Totleben, but also impressive work from Rick Veitch and Stan Woch on pencils. Moore handled the slow build towards issue #50 about as well as any writer has ever handled a build to a “big” issue number – this is a storyline without being a strict storyline (for most of the story, at least). The final battle in #50, though, is given all the trappings you would expect from a “big” issue, with Moore playing with the vast history of DC Comics and their supernatural characters. Moore stayed on the title for a little while longer (and did some excellent work), but in many ways, this was the pinnacle of his Swamp Thing run.

DC Comics · 1989

Catwoman" Year One

Story arc · 5 issues

Mature and violent reimagining of Catwomans origins. "Metamophosis!" V1, "Downtown Babylon!" V2, "Gothic Baptism!" V3, and "Consecration!" V4. Written by Mindy Newell, Art by J.J. Birch. This mini series is the continuation of Selina Kyle's origion as Catwoman, from the classic Batman: Year One. In the first issue, after being assaulted by a criminal associate she learns to defend herself and learns her future is destined to be Catwoman. Collected Editions Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper Non-U.S. Editions Shockwave #3 Shockwave #4

DC Comics · 2017

Harley Quinn" Joker Loves Harley

Story arc · 3 issues

DC Comics · 2018

Harley Quinn" Angry Bird

Story arc · 5 issues

Non-U.S. Editions Harley Quinn - Volumen 7: Invasion Aus Gotham City (German)