Batman: The Ultimate Evil
Encyclopedia
Batman: The Ultimate Evil (1995) is a novel by Andrew Vachss
, a crime
novelist known for focusing on child abuse
in his novels.
worker, Debra Kane, Batman
begins investigating sex crimes against children in Gotham City
. He soon discovers that his mother, Martha Wayne
, had been a social worker investigating a group of child molesters and producers of child pornography
. Batman also discovers evidence that the man who killed his parents was not in fact random street thug Joe Chill
, but an assassin hired by these same pedophiles in order to silence Martha. In the present, after beating some information out of Gotham City's criminal element, Batman finds the same gang his mother had been investigating running sex tourism
charter trips to Udon Khai, a thinly-disguised Thailand
. Using the alias "Big Jack Hollister," Batman signs on as a charter trip client. Once in Udon Khai, Batman recruits some local help and swings into action against the sinister head of the sex slave organization.
boycott. This grassroots campaign encouraged people to boycott all products of Thailand until the Thai government effectively addressed the rampant prevalence of prostituted children
that had been present in that country for years and catered to prosperous foreign tourists. One result of this trade is that many poor children became HIV-positive; eventually, most developed AIDS
. An appendix to the novel, written by investigative journalist
and child protection advocate David Hechler, discusses the sex trade, the foreign firms that profit from it, and the Don't! Buy! Thai!
boycott.
, released by DC Comics
in 1995, scripted by Neal Barrett, Jr.
and with art by Denys Cowan
and Prentis Rollins.
Andrew Vachss
Andrew Henry Vachss is an American crime fiction author, child protection consultant, and attorney exclusively representing children and youths...
, a crime
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
novelist known for focusing on child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
in his novels.
Plot Summary
After encountering a Child Protective ServicesChild Protective Services
Child Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Some states use other names, often attempting to reflect more family-centered practices, such as "Department of Children & Family Services"...
worker, Debra Kane, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
begins investigating sex crimes against children in Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. He soon discovers that his mother, Martha Wayne
Martha Wayne
Martha Wayne is a fictional character of the Batman series of comic books, published by DC Comics. She is Dr. Thomas Wayne's wife and mother of Bruce Wayne. When she and her husband are murdered during a holdup, young Bruce swears to avenge their deaths by fighting crime...
, had been a social worker investigating a group of child molesters and producers of child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. Batman also discovers evidence that the man who killed his parents was not in fact random street thug Joe Chill
Joe Chill
Joe Chill is a fictional character in the DC Comics Batman series. He is best known for murdering young Bruce Wayne's parents , thus making him indirectly responsible for Batman's existence....
, but an assassin hired by these same pedophiles in order to silence Martha. In the present, after beating some information out of Gotham City's criminal element, Batman finds the same gang his mother had been investigating running sex tourism
Sex tourism
Sex tourism is travel to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary...
charter trips to Udon Khai, a thinly-disguised Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Using the alias "Big Jack Hollister," Batman signs on as a charter trip client. Once in Udon Khai, Batman recruits some local help and swings into action against the sinister head of the sex slave organization.
Background
Udon Khai is "a thinly-disguised reference to Thailand" and Vachss wrote the book to specifically address the issue of the Thai child sex trade. The novel was released during the period of the Don't! Buy! Thai!Don't! Buy! Thai!
Don't! Buy! Thai! was a campaign initiated in the early 1990s by child welfare advocate and author Andrew Vachss to boycott goods and services produced in Thailand until its government introduced formal and practical reforms to significantly curtail the prostitution of children.The organization of...
boycott. This grassroots campaign encouraged people to boycott all products of Thailand until the Thai government effectively addressed the rampant prevalence of prostituted children
Prostitution of children
Prostitution of children or child prostitution is the commercial sexual exploitation of children in which a child performs the services of prostitution, for financial benefit. The term normally refers to prostitution by a minor, or person under the local age of majority...
that had been present in that country for years and catered to prosperous foreign tourists. One result of this trade is that many poor children became HIV-positive; eventually, most developed AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. An appendix to the novel, written by investigative journalist
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
and child protection advocate David Hechler, discusses the sex trade, the foreign firms that profit from it, and the Don't! Buy! Thai!
Don't! Buy! Thai!
Don't! Buy! Thai! was a campaign initiated in the early 1990s by child welfare advocate and author Andrew Vachss to boycott goods and services produced in Thailand until its government introduced formal and practical reforms to significantly curtail the prostitution of children.The organization of...
boycott.
Adaptation
The novel was also adapted into a two-volume graphic novelGraphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, released by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
in 1995, scripted by Neal Barrett, Jr.
Neal Barrett, Jr.
Neal Barrett, Jr. is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery/suspense, and historical fiction. His story "Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus" was nominated for both the 1988 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1989 Hugo Award for Best Novelette...
and with art by Denys Cowan
Denys Cowan
Denys B. Cowan is an American comic book artist and television producer. He gained prominence as the primary artist on The Question, an acclaimed comic book series published by DC Comics for 36 issues from 1987 on, written by Dennis O'Neil.-Career:Denys Cowan is a 1979 graduate of the High School...
and Prentis Rollins.
External links
- Batman: The Ultimate Evil at Vachss.com