Issue Batman 443 Subtitle The Coming of Crimesmith Date January 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline Alfred took Tim back to his boarding school; Bruce told him that Alfred would be continuing his training on weekends. Bruce met up with Lucious Fox and Dr. Jeffrey Fraser. Wayne hoped that Fraser could help bring some positive publicity to Wayne Tech in lieu of the recent allegations of him being a traitor. Batman stopped one of a series of highly skilled robberies, but the leader of the group burst into flames when he said his boss's name - Crimesmith.

Issue Batman 444 Subtitle Crimesmith and Punishment Date February 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline Wayne and Fox met again with Fraser. Bruce let Tim sit in with him in the cave while he did some evidence checking. With the results, Bruce realized that Fraser was the Crimesmith. He went after the scientist, but Fraser's partner double-crossed and killed him.

Issue Batman 445 Subtitle Red Square! Bloody Square! - When the Earth Dies chapter one Date March 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline The KGBeast's protege, NKVDemon, was out to kill 10 Soviet "traitors," who were leading his people away from the teachings of Marx and Lenin. Bruce Wayne pursued business in the Soviet Union. By night, he sought out associates of the demon. The demon found him. Batman led him into an ambush, but he still escaped.

Issue Batman 446 Subtitle Underworlds - When the Earth Dies chapter two Date April 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline Batman outted the demon at a hockey game, but he forced the American's hand; Batman had to be hospitalized. NKVDemon stuck again at a political dinner. Batman was there and the two combatants battled it out.

Issue Batman 447 Subtitle Earth Day! Demon Night! - When the Earth Dies chapter three Date May 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline Seven of the ten on the NKVDemon's list were dead. Numbers eight and nine were quick to follow. Only the Soviet Premier was left. Batman was able to save the leader; the demon was killed by his own people.

Issue Batman 448 Subtitle Pawns - The Penguin Affair 1 Date Early June 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline Penguin picked up a hunchback mute who turned out to be a mechanical genius. He built devices that would allow Penguin to control birds. Thinking of the profit margin, Penguin soon had the birds wreaking havoc all over Gotham City. He also had them kidnap an actress that he had an obsession with. >>continued in Detective 615

Issue Batman 449 Subtitle Winged Vengeance - The Penguin Affair 3 Date Late June 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Mark Bright, Randy Emberlin storyline <<continued from Detective 615 Penguin readied the auction for his new electronics; Batman, Tim, and Alfred monitored possible buyers. They pinpointed Penguin's broadcast location and Batman attacked. Using microwaves, he disrupted the Penguin's signal and took down the crime lord.

Issue Batman 450 Subtitle Wildcard! Date early July 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline A judge was found hanged, Gordon somehow believed Joker (who was believed dead in a helicopter crash) was the culprit. Bruce Wayne paid for a trip to Tokyo for Tim's class to insure he was out of town while Joker was loose. He attacked at an investment party, stealing cash and jewelry from the rich in attendance. Gordon, who was there, felt something wasn't right about the Joker. It was an impostor - actually the man trying to get investments. The real Joker, still recovering from the crash, decided to get back to his roots and wear the red hood he wore before the accident at the chemical plant. The false-Joker struck again. >>continued in Detective 617

Issue Batman 451 Subtitle Judgements! Date late July 1990 Writer(s) Marv Wolfman Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo storyline <<continued from Detective 617 Jim Gordon told his daughter, Barbara, Joker was alive. Batman and Joker both tracked associates of the false-Joker. The two Jokers had a confrontation; it was broken up by Batman and the police. Both Jokers escaped. False-Joker lured Batman and Gordon into the chemical plant where Joker was born. Joker attacked the wannabe. Wanting so bad to be the real Joker, the false one jumped into a chemical vat and was eaten alive by it. Gordon and Batman apprehended the real Joker and placed him in Arkham.

Issue Batman 452 Subtitle Dark Knight, Dark City Date early August 1990 Writer(s) Peter Milligan Artist(s) Kieron Dwyer, Dennis Janke storyline Batman met Gordon on the rooftop - the Riddler was loose. A girl bearing the first clue fell to her death in front of them. Riddler toyed with him at the first location and escaped while Batman saved a would-be victim. He then kidnapped four newborns and waited for Batman at a blood bank. Riddler again escaped, leaving Batman covered in blood. He recovered the first baby, along with a riddle. It led him to a graveyard where a corpse rose from its grave.

Issue Batman 453 Subtitle Dark Knight, Dark City part II Date late August 1990 Writer(s) Peter Milligan Artist(s) Kieron Dwyer, Dennis Janke storyline Batman defeated Riddler's "corpses," actually robots and a man in makeup. Riddler passed on an opportunity to kill the Batman, who then recovered the second infant (and another riddle). At the next location, Batman was attacked by three pit bull terriers. Their riddle led him into the sewers where Batman found the third child choking on a ping-pong ball.

Issue Batman 454 Subtitle Dark Knight, Dark City part III Date September 1990 Writer(s) Peter Milligan Artist(s) Kieron Dwyer, Dennis Janke storyline Batman got the baby to the hospital and went to the next location (he discovered the patter on a question mark over Gotham leading him to the final destinations), an amusement park. Riddler captured him and told him about a journal he'd found. Batman, through the Riddler's actions, had prepared himself for a black magic human sacrifice. Riddler was about to conjure up his very own demon slave. Before the sacrifice could take place, the demon scared Riddler away. Alfred showed up in time to save Batman from his tomb below the burning building.

Issue Batman 455 Subtitle Identity Crisis: part one Date October 1990 Writer(s) Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle, Steve Mitchell storyline Batman stopped an old lady after she blasted away at bystanders for no reason while wearing a skull mask. Bruce and Tim attended his mother's funeral. Tim felt he was ready to suit up, but Batman told him to be patient. Vicki Vale investigated the "whim" killings, where the killers all wore skull masks.

Issue Batman 456 Subtitle Identity Crisis part two: Without Fear of Consequence... Date November 1990 Writer(s) Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle, Steve Mitchell storyline Vale was captured by some men, one wearing a skull mask. Batman went out on patrol; Tim believed he figured out who was behind the whim killings, but could not reach Batman. He phoned Gordon, who played it off. Tim's hunch was right, Scarecrow attacked Batman.

Issue Batman 457 Subtitle Master of Fear Date December 1990 Writer(s) Alan Grant Artist(s) Norm Breyfogle, Steve Mitchell storyline Scarecrow tortured Batman with his fear gases. Tim disobeyed direct orders and went out to help Batman. He burst into the abandoned warehouse, and got his own dose of fear gas. It momentarily disabled him, but he fought through it and knocked Scarecrow into a shelf of his own mixtures. Crane was neutralized. Tim saved Vicki and Batman. Back at the cave, Bruce gave him the new Robin suit.