Batman Confidential
Encyclopedia
Batman Confidential was an American monthly comic book
series from DC Comics
which debuted on December 6, 2006 and concluded on March 2, 2011.
Like a previous Batman series, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Batman Confidential featured stories by rotating creative teams set in the early years of modern Batman’s career, post-Batman: Year One
, and illustrated formative moments in the character’s past, such as first encounters with allies and foes.
and Whilce Portacio
features Batman, roughly a year after he started fighting crime, in his first encounter with Superman
’s nemesis Lex Luthor
. A long-distance laser sniper rifle is used to kill a murderer Batman is questioning.
Batman begins investigating the type of weapon, and discovers the only thing that his company
had created as far as energy weapons go could not be simply carried by one man. The next day, Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor
are competing for a military contract concerning a stealth interceptor robot and the O.G.R.E. disaster rescue robot. The robot tries to kill Lex Luthor, who successfully escapes into the sewers. The machine flies away.
At Wayne Enterprises
Captain Jim Gordon
investigates the O.G.R.E. pilot chamber and the pilot, who had died of a heart attack. Bruce Wayne is under suspicion. It is learned the pilot died before the Luthor attack. Batman devises a new way to bring down the robot; after figuring out the dead pilot's mind had been lost inside its machinery. Batman vows to restore the pilot back to life if ever possible.
, Batman recalls all the things that work for being a great crime-fighter. After months of analyzing shipping data, Batman deduces the identity of the man at the top of the drug market in Gotham, a man named Berlanti. After breaking up a shipment and sending the police all the evidence they need to arrest and convict Berlanti, Batman feels like he's on top of the world (Alfred notes that he is smiling for the first time in costume). Commenting to himself that Gotham seems "quiet" and more peaceful, Batman is confident and happy that his efforts to apply reason and logic to fighting crime have been so successful. As a personal reward, he (as Bruce Wayne) manages to get an art exhibit held over for an extra day so he can visit it. There he meets an art expert working for the museum (assigned to be his private tour guide) by the name of Lorna Shore, and he takes to liking her. Later that night Batman looks into the death of three people and a robbery with no motive. Batman starts looking into the crime world of Gotham City for motive, but is frustrated by nothing but dead-ends. Later, a man named "Jack" sits depressed at a bar. He meets a blonde cocktail waitress/psychology student named "Leeny
", and shares his frustrations with her, revealing his boredom with how perfectly he is able to do his "job". Leeny convinces him that if he has a gift for his job, he owes to himself and all those ordinary people without gifts not to walk away from it. After listening to her advice, he decides to seek direction in his life and use his talents. Bruce Wayne and Lorna Shore are seen on a date. Meanwhile, Jack pulls a bank job and still does not feel exhilarated by his "gift". Looking for fun he trips the security systems and the Gotham PD show up. As his hired "goons" and he fight the police, Jack still does not feel the rush he was hoping for and after killing all the other police officers asks the last officer to please shoot him (commenting that suicide is not approved of by God). However, Batman arrives and begins fighting Jack's companions in the other room. Jack takes back his gun from the police officer and is last seen in the issue observing the Batman in action, thinking that he looks "Ridiculous".
Jack leaves Batman a note attached to a pencil shoved into the officer's chest, thanking him for making his day. Over the next weeks he starts committing crimes with no discernible pattern (other than senseless mayhem and cruelty) in order to draw out Batman, and observes from a distance Batman's frustration with being unable to capture him. It is at this point, after leaning on an up and coming mobster called "Maletsta", that Batman is informed that much of whats left of the underworld is also gunning for the mysterious Jack (it seems his violent crime spree has interfered in more than a few rival criminals' business endeavors). With Alfred busy building a state-of-the-art super-computer, Bruce visits Lorna Shore, who after weeks of being sent flowers as apologies for constantly canceling their dates, had sent him flowers hoping to get his attention after weeks of being ignored. Bruce ends up spending the night with her. He comments to himself that he has never felt as at peace as he does holding her, and it is the first time he's slept through the night since he was 8 years old. Making an excuse not to attend the museum ball with her the next night, he returns to the bat-cave where Alfred has completed the computer, dubbed "Dupin" by the butler. Bruce uses it to calculate the mysterious killer's next probable move. The issue ends with the most probable target revealed to be the very museum ball Lorna is attending.
Jack storms Lorna's museum ball with a bull mask on, hoping to attract the attention of Batman. Upon arrival, Jack quickly escapes, taking Lorna as a hostage, holding a gun to her. While Batman easily disarms Jack with a batarang, Jack quickly draws a knife and slashes Lorna across her midsection. Batman rushes to Lorna, who is still alive, while Jack escapes. However, in a fit of rage, Batman flings another batarang at Jack just as he leaves, cutting him on both sides of his jaw, giving Jack a Glasgow smile
. Batman then takes Lorna to the hospital, where she rests in critical condition. Upset that he cannot catch Jack, Batman visits Dr. Jonathan Crane (Pre-Scarecrow
) who profiles Jack as a criminally insane schizophrenic. Dr. Crane is looking to renovate the old Arkham Mental Asylum to further his study on the criminally insane and with the terror inspired by Jack's recent crime spree donations are pouring in. Batman asks Crane how he can keep one step ahead of someone like Jack, to which Crane responds: "Oh you silly man in a silly suit. You can't!" Back at the Batcave, Bruce postulates that Jack will seek medical attention and begins to search for the doctors whom not only could repair his face, but who have a low moral barrier to do so. As he does so, he receives a call from the hospital, which Alfred answers. Lorna will most likely not make it. Enraged, Bruce begins destroying the Batcomputer. Once he calms down, Bruce decides that the old way to fight this evil is with evil. At wit's end, Bruce then makes a mysterious call to 'Maletesta' and informs him that he has found Jack and that Maletesta may do with him as he wishes.
While Batman is watching Lorna through her hospital window, Jack is being taken to an old abandoned chemical plant by Malestesta's men after he was given anesthetic by a doctor to repair the cuts around his mouth he received by Batman. They tie him up to a chair and begin to pummel him with brass knuckles, but Jack, who's been awake this whole time, begins to give them lessons on how to properly torture him. This provokes them to dump him in a chemical vat, but he manages to escape and begins to fight off the goons before falling into a vat with one of them. Batman realizes he's made a mistake thinking he's becoming what he's been fighting against for the past year, so he races to stop Jack's murder. Back at the chemical plant, Jack is disappointed to still be alive after the fall, having landed on the goon in an empty vat. The goon tries to shoot Jack, but he dodges without thinking, and the bullet hits a massive container of anti-psychotics above them, which floods the vat just as Batman arrives. Jack thinks back on everything including the bar girl and Batman, wishing to see him again, as he prepares for death by drowning until he finds a way out, leading him outside the factory in the water. Batman sees the chemicals fill the vat, thinking to himself "What have I done?". Jack emerges from the water with green hair, bleached skin, red lips, and his brown suit has become purple. He begins to laugh at the joke that the world is playing on him, and becomes hysterical as he notices a "bunny in the moon
". And with this, the Joker is born.
Batman, believing Jack to have died in the chemicals, thinks he's seeing a ghost when he catches sight of the Joker outside and chases after him, but loses him in the forest. Later on, he learns that Lorna is still alive but still not responsive. Meanwhile, the Joker then begins his reign of terror. Just as Leeny (the blonde bartender from earlier) discovers that some unknown benefactor has paid her entire medical school tuition, people on the street notice a giant blimp heading towards Gotham's twin towers. Police try to communicate with it, but the blimp (bearing a gigantic smiley face on the front) bursts into flames and explodes with many shards of glass falling towards the citizens of Gotham, killing many. The Joker looks on proudly, in his demented eyes he sees them falling dead with big smiles on their faces. However, Joker is upset that Batman does not show up. Bruce is in the hospital with Lorna saying he will not leave her, but Alfred appears and informs him of the carnage ensuing, leaving him his batsuit. Later at a circus, Joker poses as an ordinary clown and causes a riot when he kills a man in front of his own daughter by spraying a strange green chemical in his face (having offered the little girl the choice of whether she wanted to be sprayed by the clown or whether it should be "Daddy"). When Joker sees a report on how Batman has not shown up, he becomes upset that he has not appeared, even when he rounded up other criminals so he'd have only him to contend with. When one of the captive criminals proceed to tell Joker that Batman wanted him dead, Joker becomes overjoyed saying he really does care. He then kills the criminal the same way he killed the man at the circus. After Alfred talks to Bruce about how he created this monster, he suits up as Batman and heads toward the Batsignal to meet Gordon, but it is the Joker who is waiting for him. Joker thanks Batman for doing this to him and then comes at him with a knife wanting to kill him.
They plummet to the ground, Joker stabbing Batman along the way. The Joker torments Batman with rigged hostages, forcing some to fall, taunting Batman to save them or defeat him. Batman realizes the knife contained psychoactive chemicals and fights past the influence, saving some, but not all of the hostages from death. The Joker is defeated and questions Batman's motivations regarding saving people. The Joker taunts Batman into saving him by leaping himself. After a moment's hesitation, Batman does save him.
In conclusion, Lorna recovers from her near-fatal injury. but Bruce Wayne decides that he cannot have a relationship with Lorna, without putting her at risk and pushes for a break-up. A financial donation from Wayne industries has completed Arkham Asylum
, where the Joker now stays.
Important events: The beginnings of the Joker
; the creation of the Batcomputer; the first meeting between the future Joker and future Harley Quinn
. However, this is contradicting Batman: The Killing Joke
and Batman: The Man Who Laughs
, which may not consider to be a canon to the mainstream continuity.
has returned after five years, and that he continues his vendetta against law enforcement and Commissioner Gordon. Batman goes to his lover, Grayle Hudson, in order to ask her about the villain's return. He and Nightwing
later find out from her and from Gordon's secret police files that it was the Wrath's sidekick, Elliot Caldwell, who was donning his master's costume and was behind the killings.
Batman and Nightwing later rescue Hudson from Caldwell, and foil his assassination attempt on Gordon. The new Wrath is overwhelmed by the amount of teamwork and trust the heroes have, not having the same partnership with his cruel master, and is defeated and sent to Blackgate Penitentiary
.
It is unclear when this story takes place due to the appearance of Nightwing. This could be one of the first stories of when Dick Grayson became Nightwing and returned to Gotham City but that is never stated throughout the storyline
in jail, but that does not stop him from continuing his killing spree while in custody.
and Kevin Nowlan
.
Batman investigates a string of murders involving museum executives. Since mysterious riddles are being left behind as clues, suspicion naturally falls upon the Riddler. However, the perpetrator this time is not the Riddler but King Tut, a character created for the late 60s Batman
TV series making his first appearance in comic-book continuity.
.
with art by Andy Clarke
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series from 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...
which debuted on December 6, 2006 and concluded on March 2, 2011.
Like a previous Batman series, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Batman Confidential featured stories by rotating creative teams set in the early years of modern Batman’s career, post-Batman: Year One
Batman: Year One
"Year One", later referred to as "Batman: Year One", is an American comic book story arc written by Frank Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, colored by Richmond Lewis, and lettered by Todd Klein...
, and illustrated formative moments in the character’s past, such as first encounters with allies and foes.
Rules of Engagement (#1-6)
The first story arc by Andy DiggleAndy Diggle
Andy Diggle is a British comic book writer and former editor of 2000 AD. He is best known for his work on The Losers, Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Adam Strange and Silent Dragon at DC Comics and for his run on Thunderbolts and Daredevil after his move to Marvel.-Career:Diggle took over editing 2000 AD...
and Whilce Portacio
Whilce Portacio
William "Whilce" Portacio is a Filipino-American comic book writer and artist. Noted for his work on such titles as The Punisher, X-Factor, and the Uncanny X-Men. Portacio was also one of the seven co-founders of Image Comics, though he did not become a partner in the company.-Early life:Portacio...
features Batman, roughly a year after he started fighting crime, in his first encounter with Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
’s nemesis Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
. A long-distance laser sniper rifle is used to kill a murderer Batman is questioning.
Batman begins investigating the type of weapon, and discovers the only thing that his company
Wayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
had created as far as energy weapons go could not be simply carried by one man. The next day, Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
are competing for a military contract concerning a stealth interceptor robot and the O.G.R.E. disaster rescue robot. The robot tries to kill Lex Luthor, who successfully escapes into the sewers. The machine flies away.
At Wayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
Captain Jim Gordon
James Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
investigates the O.G.R.E. pilot chamber and the pilot, who had died of a heart attack. Bruce Wayne is under suspicion. It is learned the pilot died before the Luthor attack. Batman devises a new way to bring down the robot; after figuring out the dead pilot's mind had been lost inside its machinery. Batman vows to restore the pilot back to life if ever possible.
Lovers & Madmen (#7-12)
During the events of Batman: Year OneBatman: Year One
"Year One", later referred to as "Batman: Year One", is an American comic book story arc written by Frank Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, colored by Richmond Lewis, and lettered by Todd Klein...
, Batman recalls all the things that work for being a great crime-fighter. After months of analyzing shipping data, Batman deduces the identity of the man at the top of the drug market in Gotham, a man named Berlanti. After breaking up a shipment and sending the police all the evidence they need to arrest and convict Berlanti, Batman feels like he's on top of the world (Alfred notes that he is smiling for the first time in costume). Commenting to himself that Gotham seems "quiet" and more peaceful, Batman is confident and happy that his efforts to apply reason and logic to fighting crime have been so successful. As a personal reward, he (as Bruce Wayne) manages to get an art exhibit held over for an extra day so he can visit it. There he meets an art expert working for the museum (assigned to be his private tour guide) by the name of Lorna Shore, and he takes to liking her. Later that night Batman looks into the death of three people and a robbery with no motive. Batman starts looking into the crime world of Gotham City for motive, but is frustrated by nothing but dead-ends. Later, a man named "Jack" sits depressed at a bar. He meets a blonde cocktail waitress/psychology student named "Leeny
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn was first introduced as a villain on September 11, 1992, in the animated series Batman: The Animated Series, later adapted into DC Comics' Batman comic books. As suggested by her name , she is clad in the manner of a traditional harlequin jester...
", and shares his frustrations with her, revealing his boredom with how perfectly he is able to do his "job". Leeny convinces him that if he has a gift for his job, he owes to himself and all those ordinary people without gifts not to walk away from it. After listening to her advice, he decides to seek direction in his life and use his talents. Bruce Wayne and Lorna Shore are seen on a date. Meanwhile, Jack pulls a bank job and still does not feel exhilarated by his "gift". Looking for fun he trips the security systems and the Gotham PD show up. As his hired "goons" and he fight the police, Jack still does not feel the rush he was hoping for and after killing all the other police officers asks the last officer to please shoot him (commenting that suicide is not approved of by God). However, Batman arrives and begins fighting Jack's companions in the other room. Jack takes back his gun from the police officer and is last seen in the issue observing the Batman in action, thinking that he looks "Ridiculous".
Jack leaves Batman a note attached to a pencil shoved into the officer's chest, thanking him for making his day. Over the next weeks he starts committing crimes with no discernible pattern (other than senseless mayhem and cruelty) in order to draw out Batman, and observes from a distance Batman's frustration with being unable to capture him. It is at this point, after leaning on an up and coming mobster called "Maletsta", that Batman is informed that much of whats left of the underworld is also gunning for the mysterious Jack (it seems his violent crime spree has interfered in more than a few rival criminals' business endeavors). With Alfred busy building a state-of-the-art super-computer, Bruce visits Lorna Shore, who after weeks of being sent flowers as apologies for constantly canceling their dates, had sent him flowers hoping to get his attention after weeks of being ignored. Bruce ends up spending the night with her. He comments to himself that he has never felt as at peace as he does holding her, and it is the first time he's slept through the night since he was 8 years old. Making an excuse not to attend the museum ball with her the next night, he returns to the bat-cave where Alfred has completed the computer, dubbed "Dupin" by the butler. Bruce uses it to calculate the mysterious killer's next probable move. The issue ends with the most probable target revealed to be the very museum ball Lorna is attending.
Jack storms Lorna's museum ball with a bull mask on, hoping to attract the attention of Batman. Upon arrival, Jack quickly escapes, taking Lorna as a hostage, holding a gun to her. While Batman easily disarms Jack with a batarang, Jack quickly draws a knife and slashes Lorna across her midsection. Batman rushes to Lorna, who is still alive, while Jack escapes. However, in a fit of rage, Batman flings another batarang at Jack just as he leaves, cutting him on both sides of his jaw, giving Jack a Glasgow smile
Glasgow smile
A Glasgow smile refers to the wound that results from slashing a person's face from the edges of the mouth to the ears. The cut, which is usually made with a utility knife or a piece of broken glass, leaves a scar that makes the victim appear to be smiling broadly...
. Batman then takes Lorna to the hospital, where she rests in critical condition. Upset that he cannot catch Jack, Batman visits Dr. Jonathan Crane (Pre-Scarecrow
Scarecrow (comics)
The Scarecrow is a fictional character, a supervillain, that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in World's Finest Comics #3 and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
) who profiles Jack as a criminally insane schizophrenic. Dr. Crane is looking to renovate the old Arkham Mental Asylum to further his study on the criminally insane and with the terror inspired by Jack's recent crime spree donations are pouring in. Batman asks Crane how he can keep one step ahead of someone like Jack, to which Crane responds: "Oh you silly man in a silly suit. You can't!" Back at the Batcave, Bruce postulates that Jack will seek medical attention and begins to search for the doctors whom not only could repair his face, but who have a low moral barrier to do so. As he does so, he receives a call from the hospital, which Alfred answers. Lorna will most likely not make it. Enraged, Bruce begins destroying the Batcomputer. Once he calms down, Bruce decides that the old way to fight this evil is with evil. At wit's end, Bruce then makes a mysterious call to 'Maletesta' and informs him that he has found Jack and that Maletesta may do with him as he wishes.
While Batman is watching Lorna through her hospital window, Jack is being taken to an old abandoned chemical plant by Malestesta's men after he was given anesthetic by a doctor to repair the cuts around his mouth he received by Batman. They tie him up to a chair and begin to pummel him with brass knuckles, but Jack, who's been awake this whole time, begins to give them lessons on how to properly torture him. This provokes them to dump him in a chemical vat, but he manages to escape and begins to fight off the goons before falling into a vat with one of them. Batman realizes he's made a mistake thinking he's becoming what he's been fighting against for the past year, so he races to stop Jack's murder. Back at the chemical plant, Jack is disappointed to still be alive after the fall, having landed on the goon in an empty vat. The goon tries to shoot Jack, but he dodges without thinking, and the bullet hits a massive container of anti-psychotics above them, which floods the vat just as Batman arrives. Jack thinks back on everything including the bar girl and Batman, wishing to see him again, as he prepares for death by drowning until he finds a way out, leading him outside the factory in the water. Batman sees the chemicals fill the vat, thinking to himself "What have I done?". Jack emerges from the water with green hair, bleached skin, red lips, and his brown suit has become purple. He begins to laugh at the joke that the world is playing on him, and becomes hysterical as he notices a "bunny in the moon
Moon rabbit
The Moon rabbit, also called the Jade Rabbit, in folklore is a rabbit that lives on the moon, based on pareidolia that identifies the markings of the moon as a rabbit. The story exists in many cultures, particularly in East Asian folklore, where it is seen pounding in a mortar and pestle...
". And with this, the Joker is born.
Batman, believing Jack to have died in the chemicals, thinks he's seeing a ghost when he catches sight of the Joker outside and chases after him, but loses him in the forest. Later on, he learns that Lorna is still alive but still not responsive. Meanwhile, the Joker then begins his reign of terror. Just as Leeny (the blonde bartender from earlier) discovers that some unknown benefactor has paid her entire medical school tuition, people on the street notice a giant blimp heading towards Gotham's twin towers. Police try to communicate with it, but the blimp (bearing a gigantic smiley face on the front) bursts into flames and explodes with many shards of glass falling towards the citizens of Gotham, killing many. The Joker looks on proudly, in his demented eyes he sees them falling dead with big smiles on their faces. However, Joker is upset that Batman does not show up. Bruce is in the hospital with Lorna saying he will not leave her, but Alfred appears and informs him of the carnage ensuing, leaving him his batsuit. Later at a circus, Joker poses as an ordinary clown and causes a riot when he kills a man in front of his own daughter by spraying a strange green chemical in his face (having offered the little girl the choice of whether she wanted to be sprayed by the clown or whether it should be "Daddy"). When Joker sees a report on how Batman has not shown up, he becomes upset that he has not appeared, even when he rounded up other criminals so he'd have only him to contend with. When one of the captive criminals proceed to tell Joker that Batman wanted him dead, Joker becomes overjoyed saying he really does care. He then kills the criminal the same way he killed the man at the circus. After Alfred talks to Bruce about how he created this monster, he suits up as Batman and heads toward the Batsignal to meet Gordon, but it is the Joker who is waiting for him. Joker thanks Batman for doing this to him and then comes at him with a knife wanting to kill him.
They plummet to the ground, Joker stabbing Batman along the way. The Joker torments Batman with rigged hostages, forcing some to fall, taunting Batman to save them or defeat him. Batman realizes the knife contained psychoactive chemicals and fights past the influence, saving some, but not all of the hostages from death. The Joker is defeated and questions Batman's motivations regarding saving people. The Joker taunts Batman into saving him by leaping himself. After a moment's hesitation, Batman does save him.
In conclusion, Lorna recovers from her near-fatal injury. but Bruce Wayne decides that he cannot have a relationship with Lorna, without putting her at risk and pushes for a break-up. A financial donation from Wayne industries has completed Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
, where the Joker now stays.
Important events: The beginnings of the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
; the creation of the Batcomputer; the first meeting between the future Joker and future Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn was first introduced as a villain on September 11, 1992, in the animated series Batman: The Animated Series, later adapted into DC Comics' Batman comic books. As suggested by her name , she is clad in the manner of a traditional harlequin jester...
. However, this is contradicting Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Killing Joke is an influential one-shot superhero graphic novel written by Alan Moore and drawn by Brian Bolland. First published by DC Comics in 1988, it has remained in print since then, and has also been reprinted as part of the trade paperback DC Universe: The Stories of Alan...
and Batman: The Man Who Laughs
Batman: The Man Who Laughs
Batman: The Man Who Laughs is a one-shot prestige format comic book by Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke, released in February 2005, and intended as a successor to Batman: Year One....
, which may not consider to be a canon to the mainstream continuity.
Wrath Child (#13-16)
Batman investigates a string of murders, where all the victims are policemen attending an annual law enforcement convention in Gotham. He suspects that a long-thought dead foe, The WrathWrath (comics)
The Wrath is the name of two fictional comic book supervillains published by DC Comics. The original Wrath debuted in Batman Special #1 , and was created by Mike W. Barr and Michael Golden...
has returned after five years, and that he continues his vendetta against law enforcement and Commissioner Gordon. Batman goes to his lover, Grayle Hudson, in order to ask her about the villain's return. He and Nightwing
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
later find out from her and from Gordon's secret police files that it was the Wrath's sidekick, Elliot Caldwell, who was donning his master's costume and was behind the killings.
Batman and Nightwing later rescue Hudson from Caldwell, and foil his assassination attempt on Gordon. The new Wrath is overwhelmed by the amount of teamwork and trust the heroes have, not having the same partnership with his cruel master, and is defeated and sent to Blackgate Penitentiary
Blackgate Penitentiary
Blackgate Penitentiary is a fictional prison depicted in the DC Universe, traditionally located on a small island in the Gotham Bay, Gotham City...
.
It is unclear when this story takes place due to the appearance of Nightwing. This could be one of the first stories of when Dick Grayson became Nightwing and returned to Gotham City but that is never stated throughout the storyline
Do You Understand These Rights? (#22-25)
The first time Batman puts the JokerJoker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
in jail, but that does not stop him from continuing his killing spree while in custody.
A New Dawn (#26-28)
This arc is written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir; art is by José Luis García-LópezJosé Luis García-López
José Luis García-López is a Spanish comic book artist who works in the United States of America, mostly for DC Comics. He has most recently penciled an arc in Batman Confidential, the Metal Men storyline in the 2009 Wednesday Comics weekly anthology, and, in 2011, one of the stories in The Spirit...
and Kevin Nowlan
Kevin Nowlan
Kevin Nowlan is an American comic-book artist who works as penciler, inker, colorist and letterer.He has been called "one of the few artists who can be called 'artists's artist'", a master of the various disciplines of comic production, from "design to draftsmanship to dramatics".-Biography:Kevin...
.
Batman investigates a string of murders involving museum executives. Since mysterious riddles are being left behind as clues, suspicion naturally falls upon the Riddler. However, the perpetrator this time is not the Riddler but King Tut, a character created for the late 60s Batman
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
TV series making his first appearance in comic-book continuity.
Bad Cop (#29-30)
A sequel to Do You Understand These Rights?. The police officer that the Joker had tortured goes insane and terrorizes Gotham CityGotham 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...
.
The Bat and the Beast (#31-35)
Written by Peter MilliganPeter Milligan
Peter Milligan born in London, a British writer, best known for his comic book, film and television work.-Early career:Milligan started his comic career with short stories for 2000 AD in the early 1980s. By 1986, Milligan had his first ongoing strip in 2000AD called Bad Company, with artists Brett...
with art by Andy Clarke
Andy Clarke (comics)
Andy Clarke is a British comics artist who came to prominence working at 2000 AD and became known to a wider audience at DC Comics.-Biography:...
.
Work That's Never Done (#49)
Written by James Patrick with art by Steve ScottCollected editions
This series has been collected as follows:| Title | Material collected | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Batman: Rules of Engagement | Batman: Confidential #1-6 | Hardcover: ISBN 978-1401214814 Paperback: ISBN 978-1401217068 |
| Batman: Lovers and Madmen | Batman: Confidential #7-12 | Hardcover: ISBN 978-1401216832 Paperback: ISBN 978-1401217426 |
| Batman: The Wrath | Batman: Confidential #13-16; Batman Special #1 (1984) | Paperback: ISBN 978-1401225148 |
| Batman: The Cat and the Bat | Batman: Confidential #17-21 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1401224967 |
| Batman: Dead to Rights | Batman: Confidential #22-25, 29-30 "Do You Understand These Rights?" and "Bad Cop" |
Paperback: ISBN 9781401229252 |
| Batman: King Tut's Tomb | Batman: Confidential #26-28 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1401225773 |
| Batman: The Bat and The Beast | Batman: Confidential #31-35 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1401227944 |
| Batman vs. The Undead | Batman: Confidential #44-48 | Paperback: ISBN 978-1401230357 |