DC Adventures presents: The Batman, Vol. 1

Issue 1: Halloween Massacre

It was a dark and dreary night. The streets of Gotham were illuminated by a yellow moon. Children in costumes were running around, for this was Halloween night. The children were having fun collecting confectionary treats. However, the police were not off duty for the night. There had been a crime committed at the Maroni Italian restaurant. Cops and police tape were keeping the public away. The interior was a rather gruesome sight.

Commissioner James Gordon and Detective Harvey Bullock arrive in a car. It was allowed to pass by the yellow tape. Both men got out around the same time.

“So, what are we dealing with Jim,” Asked Bullock.

“Seven members of the Falcone crime family were killed,” Gordon stated.

They enter and the crime scene was utterly horrific. The walls were covered in blood and bullet holes. Seven bodies sat at a table, all mercilessly killed by gunshots. The floor was covered with red stains and shards of glass.

“Sweet Jesus,” Bullock remarked.

Gordon walked up to someone examining the scene. “What can you tell me, Detective…?”

The man got up and shook Gordon’s hand. “It’s Todd. Jason Todd. It appears an assailant or, more likely, assailants fired multiple shots through the front window, killing the Falcones almost instantly.”

“Any clues on who might be responsible?”

“For a crime family, I’d guess that the line of people who’d want to kill them would be around the block.”

Bullock got upset and put a finger to Todd’s chest. “Listen. The Falcone family is the most feared gang of mobsters in the city. The only an idiot would do something like this.”

Gordon put a hand on Bullock’s shoulder. “Easy Harvey.”

Little was anyone aware that upon a rooftop across the street, someone was watching and listening. Someone dressed in a bat costume. Some call him “The Bat of Gotham,” but most know him as “Batman.” He had been monitoring the crime scene. The caped vigilante had been listening through an advanced parabolic microphone. He had heard everything that the police had stated about the case. Once he had what he needed, he grappled down from the roof and down to an alley, where his modified armored attack car, or the batmobile. He drove out of the city, through Gotham Woods, and through a waterfall. He parked inside a massive cave. It contained high tech computers and equipment. This place was called the Batcave.

Down a flight of stairs came a man in fine clothes. He was old but still fit enough to fight. This was Alfred Pennyworth and he was a butler. Out of the car, the Batman stepped out. He then removed his armored cowl, revealing his identity of Bruce Wayne. He had become a vigilante to avenge the death of his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, who were murdered by a mugger. Bruce seeks to protect the civilians of Gotham.

“Alfred, there was a mass killing tonight,” Bruce explained to his butler. “Five members of the Falcone crime family were murdered in a barrage of bullets. I need all possible suspects and victims on a list.”

“Very good sir, but it seems you have a visitor upstairs,” Alfred informed Bruce.

“I’ll be there soon.”

Bruce dressed in one of the fine suits that he wears for his public identity. Going through a secret entrance behind a bookcase, he soon finds someone looking at a book titled “Punch and Judy” by John Payne Collier. This visitor was a young man, nearly thirty. He wore a dark purple suit. He turned toward Bruce and smiled.

“Bruce Wayne,” said the visitor.

Bruce shook his hand. “That’s me, but I don’t know who you are.”

“Oh, I’m Jared. Jared Kipp.”

“Ace’s son?”

Kipp dropped his smile. “Uh… yeah. I have some news for you.”

“And what would that be?”

“Fox has some ‘new toys’ for you, as he put it.”

“I’ll be there later.” Bruce then looks at the book in Kipp’s hand. “Punch and Judy?”

“Oh, right.” He puts the book back on the shelf. “Sorry. The title made me a little curious.”

“It’s fine. Let’s head out.”

Somewhere in the streets of Gotham, a man stood with his back pressed against the door. This man was Bradford Thorne, better known as “The Crime Doctor.” He was holding the door in an attempt to prevent the door from opening. His efforts were in vain. A criminal kicked in the door, knocking the doctor to the ground. The infiltrator wore a leather jacket and dark jeans. His strangest object was the white skull mask with dark lenses.

“Hello Brad,” said the infiltrator.

Doctor Thorne began to crawl back. “Please, take whatever you want. Don’t hurt me.”

The man in the skull mask chuckled, then he crouched down. “You know, I was hoping for begging. This just wouldn’t be as fun without it. Now I want you to deliver a message to your brother, Rupe.” He shoots the doctor in the leg, resulting in Bradford screaming in pain. “Tell him to stay out of Gotham or he’ll be, you know. swimming with the fishes.”

At Wayne Enterprises, Bruce descended into the basement of the tower via a personal elevator. This was the applied science division, where the technology used in his crime-fighting career. The one who kept this part of the company a secret was a family friend, Lucius Fox. Bruce enters the division and strolls through. In the large room where vehicles were tested, there was an air vehicle with the shape of a bat. It was missing some paneling. One of the engines begins to smoke and it lands. That was when a man, who had never before been seen by Bruce, climbed out of the vehicle. He was a lanky man in a black buttoned shirt with a purple tie and dark grey slacks.

“Well, that could’ve gone better,” the man joked, showing a distinct Scottish accent.

Lucius walked up to Bruce. “Mister Wayne,” he said with a kind smile. “Nice to see you again”

Bruce smiles. “Nice to be back. Who’s the new guy?”

The man came over and shook his hand. “Jonathan Stacy.”

“We were lucky to get him, Mister Wayne. He came here from Lexcorp.”

“I haven’t been told what all this is for, but it sure is fun.”

Bruce nods. “So, what did you want to show me so late?”

“Let me.” John opens a drawer and removes a small drone. With a tablet, he controls it and has it shoot targets with stunning rounds.

“Impressive.”Bruce gets a call from Alfred. “Excuse me.” He went into another room and closed the door. “What is it, Alfred?”

“Sir, we have comprised a list of suspects. They include Roman Sionis, Jack Reas, Jonathan Crane, and Harvey Dent.”

“Send me their current locations.”

“Only one is a confirmed location, the old Pollock Manor.”

“Alright, I’ll be there soon.”

Across town, at Gotham Prosecutor building, Harvey Dent sat at his desk in his personal office. There was a sudden breeze caused by the windows being swung open. He looks around fearfully. I-It’s just the wind, Harvey. It’s just the wind.” He continues his paperwork, but he occasionally looks over his shoulder.