DC Adventures presents: The Batman, Vol. 1

Issue 8: Don't Fear the Reaper

One of the few beauties of Gotham City was the building. Some were two hundred years old, dating back to the founding of the city. Less than half of them were designed by Nathaniel Cobblepot, who was considered mad. He was quite superstitious, so he walled any entrance to the thirteenth floor. He feared that it would bring bad luck.

Recently, someone had reopened the thirteenth floor. Someone was using it as a base of operations. This person was one of the assassins and mercenaries hunting Batman. Her name was Joan Chilton, better known as “Reaper.” She was the daughter of an inmate in the Blackgate Penitentiary. He was murdered by other prisoners in a riot. Joan blames those who put her father in prison. The Batman was just another peacekeeper she had to eliminate.

A man entered her hideout. His name was Jonathan Drew. In his left hand, he carried a suitcase full of money. He looked around, not seeing Reaper. However, she dropped down from the ceiling behind him. Jonathan turns to face her and acts as though he was not surprised. She was wearing black body armor and a hooded cloak. Her face was conceived by a skull mask.

“Miss Chilton, I brought the money my employer promised.”

Reaper looked at the elevator. “You were followed.

“Trust me. I wasn’t”

To his surprise, the doors to the elevator open once again. Drew barely had time to react before a Batarang lodged into his back shoulder. Batman now stood in the elevator. Holding his bleeding shoulder, Drew shouted, “KILL THIS BASTARD,” then ran into another room. Reaper extended scythe-like blades from her wrist gauntlets, then charged at Batman. He held a Batarang in each hand like knives.

Reaper swung downward, but Batman blocked each scythe. Then he kicked her in the stomach. She growled with anger and pressed a button on her gauntlet. Two machine turrets came out of the ceiling and fired upon the vigilante. He took cover in the elevator, back against a wall.

“You have entered your tomb, Batman,” she told him.

With expert-level skill and timing, Batman threw two Batarangs at the turret. They lodged in the barrels, causing them to explode. Drew finally pulled out the Batarang in his shoulder and reentered the room. He pointed his pistol at Batman, but he ducked as Reaper tried to kill the vigilante. The bullet accidentally hit her in the back of the head, instantly killing her. He was shocked by the mistake. Immediately, he found himself thrown against the wall by the vigilante.

“Where is Deathstroke?!”

Drew chuckled, but once Batman squeezed his wounded shoulder he groaned. “He’s in an old business building.”

“Where?” He squeezed harder.

“Two-fifty-fifty-second street.”

Batman knocked Jonathan Drew out and tied him up. Next, he contacted Alfred over the intercom, telling him to leave an anonymous tip with the police about Drew and the location of the one who killed several of Falcone family members and scarred Harvey Dent. When he got in the Batmobile, he had no idea that Harvey was nearby, ready to follow him straight to Slade.

Later, someone entered the thirteenth floor. They approached the body of the Reaper and remove her mask and scythes.