|
| Title |
Batman: The
Cult |
| Format |
miniseries |
| Binding |
prestige |
| Date |
1988 |
|
Writer(s) |
Jim Starlin |
|
Artist(s) |
Berni Wrightson |
| Collects |
The Cult 1-4 |
| Storyline |
Batman
awakened from a dream where he killed the Joker to find himself captive in
the sewer. He'd been captured by a cult and was being brainwashed. He
tried to remember what had happened - homeless people began disappearing,
murders happening where the killers escaped into the sewers; he'd been
shot and drug into their sanctuary. After a week with him gone, Robin went
to Commissioner Gordon. Over 500 missing persons reports had been filed in
that week. Deacon Blackfire, the cult's messiah, believed that Batman had
been converted. Batman took part in a raid on a mafia don's house with the
cult. He escaped with a renegade member, but the drugs and lack of food
played with his mind. Robin infiltrated the cult to find his missing
partner. After clearing his head, Batman went back to take down the
deacon. He was again caught. Blackfire called successful hits on the mayor
and entire city council of Gotham City. Batman escaped his execution and
Robin found him in an underground facility filled with dead bodies. The
cult robbed an armory; Gordon found police records on Blackfire ranging
back to the 1920s. The governor placed Gotham under martial law; Gordon
was shot at a press conference. National Guardsmen were sent into the
sewers after the cult and were ambushed and nearly wiped out completely.
The governor asked all Gothamites to evacuate the city. Batman and Robin
reached the surface and called for Alfred, who came and picked them up.
After a week outside Gotham, Bruce and Jason decided it was time to return
and take their city back. The deacon welcomed his impending "martyr's
death." Batman visited Gordon, who seemed to be recovering from the
gunshot wound nicely. He informed the Commissioner of his plans. The
Dynamic Duo returned to Gotham in a modified, armored, monster-truck
Batmobile. They reached Gotham Square and took to the sewers on foot.
Underground, Robin sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. Batman gave him
more ammo (they were using guns that fired tranquilizer darts) and
continued on. He reached Deacon Blackfire and refused to kill him. With
his followers looking on, Batman defeated Blackfire until he begged for
death. Robin took down a sniper that was trying to end the fight early.
The mob turned on their messiah and gave him his death. Order was restored
in Gotham City. |
|
