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"Shadows of the Bat" is a 12-issue weekly comic book event published in December 2021, mainly set in the Detective Comics series. Set after "Fear State", the storyline features the Bat-Family dealing with a new villain and Arkham Tower being created in Gotham City. The event received positive reviews from critics who praised the action, story, and art.

Publication history

After the announcement of James Tynion IV departure from Batman after Fear State, DC Comics revealed the new event, where Batman and his allies must deal with a new villain and how the Arkham Tower will cause a split between the Bat Family. It was also revealed that Batman will leave Gotham City temporarily in order to deal with a new villain called Abyss, leaving the Bat-Family in charge of Gotham City.

Main plot

Prelude

Batman remembers the time when Thomas Wayne tried to save a mentally ill individual name Peter Faust after they tried to murder him and his wife when Bruce was young. In the present day, Lucius Fox meets with representatives of Mayor Nakano (Gotham City's new mayor) in discussion of creating Arkham Tower to rehabilitate criminals since Arkham Asylum is not seen as effective. Nightwing and Batman investigate with Nightwing wondering if Arkham Asylum is even effective since that is where the Bat Family just lock criminals without rehabilitating them. Nightwing and Batman apprehend Peter Faust, where Nightwing asks Batman why can't they send irredeemable people to better prisons in order to prevent them from hurting other people.

While the police are escorting Peter Faust, their car explodes and Peter Faust is captured by a mysterious group of people. Nightwing and Batman manage to find Peter Faust after determining where he got inspiration for his costume and prevent him from committing suicide. Nightwing gets in a confrontation with police officers, and a therapist name Dr. Chase Meridian admires Nightwing's courage for wanting to rehabilitate criminals and plans to support Nightwing.

Main plot

The main story is told in a nonlinear fashion. After Arkham Asylum was blown up and Scarecrow nearly took over Gotham City, Mayor Nakano decides to create Arkham Tower in order to treat prisoners instead of punish them. A man named Dr. Wear decides to show an example of Nero XIX (an enemy that nearly killed Nakano back in "Fear State") as completely rehabilitated. Dr. Wear wants Dr. Chase Meridian to work with him in rehabilitating criminals. Kate Kane goes undercover at the Tower, being hired in under the alias of Dr. Lisa Frow, a psychiatrist, in order to investigate Dr. Wear, the facility itself, and the "miraculous" methods keeping the patients under control. Helena Bertinelli, due to her continued ability to see violent acts through a victim's eyes as a result of her parasitic infection during "Fear State", voluntarily checks in to Arkham Tower as a patient to receive treatment.

21 days after the Tower opens, Batwoman tells Barbara Gordon that there is a new drug on the streets and Arkham Tower was bombed. The criminals kill Dr. Wear, and Cassandra Cain, Nightwing, and Batwoman go to Arkham Tower to investigate when they hear Helena is missing. In a flashback, Dr. Wear wants to help cure prisoners because Ana Vulson, his mother, attacked him, and Mr. Freeze is rehabilitated. Before the Arkham Tower was bombed, Batwoman investigates the Arkham Tower and sees a previous criminal and Ana Vulson in the tower. Cassandra Cain follows a girl who met with Dr. Wear and Batwoman meets Huntress who's memory is gone and is "rehabilitated". Batwoman escapes when the police arrives, and Nightwing wonders how the Arkham Tower has "rehabilitated" criminals using drugs. Nightwing remembers how Huntress has been acting more violent and goes to Arkham Tower to get treatment. Nightwing goes to Arkham Tower to investiage and meets Mr. Freeze, and it's revealed that Psycho-Pirate is also one of the leaders of Arkham Tower. Psycho Pirate was trying to escape from people, and is responsible for the drugs that help make criminals rehabilitated and the recent drug deals that Barbara Gordon and Nightwing are trying to take down, and Penguin is one of the ringleaders. Psycho Pirate struggles to control the Arkham Tower residents (including Nightwing) and passes out briefly which causes pandemonium to occur in the tower. Dr. Wear finds Psycho Pirates and makes him take control of the Arkham Tower once more.

Batwoman reveals that she put a listening device on Dr. Chase, but Dr. Chase (under the influence of Psycho Pirate) hangs up to prevent anyone from listening in. Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, and Batwoman take down a drug deal that was heading for the Arkham Tower. Dr. Wear meets up with Penguin to talk about the Bat Family interfering with the Drug Deals, and tells a group of criminals to kill a woman who was a witness to the illegal operations. Cassandra Cain prevents that from happening, and Nightwing goes to investigate when he encounters Psycho Pirate. Nightwing breaks Psycho Pirate's mind control, which breaks Psycho Pirate's other holds on the inmates and criniminals which causes a criminal named Siphon to stab an innocent person and pull a gun on Dr. Wear.

Siphon kills Dr. Wear and the criminals take Mayor Nakano's wife hostage in the Arkham Tower. Nero Xix, Ana Vulson, and Siphon plan to take control of the Arkham Tower. Huntress fights Ana Vulson but is stabbed by Huntress and is nearly killed by Mister Freeze before Nightwing arrives with a defeated Psycho Pirate. Psycho Pirates escapes, and in the confusion Nightwing falls into a hole and is captured by Scarecrow. Huntress defeats Dr. Freeze, and Harley Quinn saves Dr. Chase, revealing that she was in the Arkham Tower all along. Harley and Huntress meet to try to save Nightwing as the rest of the Bat-family (Batwoman, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain) arrive, but Scarecrow throws Nightwing off the tower and Batman saves Nightwing.

Ana Vulson shoots Psycho Pirate in the chest, and Scarecrow takes Psycho Pirate and Mayor Nakano's wife to a secret room. Huntress uses her ability to see where is Ana Vulson, and defeats her. Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Batwoman take down Penguin's men who are storming Arkham Tower and they all meet up with Batman to confront Scarecrow. Mayor Nakano's wife helps Psycho Pirate be more confident to prevent Batman from falling under Scarecrow's fear toxin, and Mayor Nakano's wife wears Psycho Pirate's mask. In the aftermath, it is revealed that Dr. Wear was a con artist who created the Arkham Tower to steal city funds. Dr. Wear's wife receives flowers from Huntress, Batman and the family arrest Scarecrow and take down Penguin's men when Batman hears Riddler calling him out to challenge him.

Collected editions

Critical reception

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1047 received an average score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1048 received an average score of 8.3 out of 10 based on 11 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1049 received an average score of 8.3 out of 10 based on 11 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1050 received an average score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 14 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective comics #1051 received an average score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1052 received an average score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 14 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1053 received an average score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1054 received an average score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1055 received an average score of 8 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1056 received an average score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 12 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1057 received an average score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 11 reviews.

According to Comic Book Roundup, Detective Comics #1058 received an average score of 7 out of 10 based on 14 reviews.

References

1. "DC Announces Shadows of the Bat Event". DC. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
2. "Batman To Leave Gotham City In DC's 2022 'Shadows Of The Bat' Event Dark Knight News". Dark Knight News. 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
3. "Batman: The Villains Who Died and Survived The Attack on Arkham". ScreenRant. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
4. Detective Comics #1048 (January 2022)
5. Detective Comics #1049 (January 2022)
6. Rudolph, Casper (2022-01-04). "Detective Comics #1047 review". Batman News. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
7. "DC Comics & Detective Comics #1048 Spoilers & Review: Shadows Of The Bat Thrives Without A Batman?! | Inside Pulse". insidepulse.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
8. Wright, Theodis (2022-01-18). "Review: Detective Comics #1049". The Batman Universe. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
9. Staff, Beat (2022-01-25). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
10. "Detective Comics #1051 Review". The Super Powered Fancast. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
11. Trudeau, Anthony (2022-02-10). "Detective Comics #1052: Tamaki's Tower Keeps Rolling". Comic Watch. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
12. Trudeau, Anthony (2022-02-16). "Detective Comics #1053: The Tower Begins to Stall". Comic Watch. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
13. "Comic Book Review Round-Up For Week Of 2/23/22". Comic Book Revolution. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
14. Terror, Jude (2022-02-26). "Detective Comics #1055 Preview: Who Could Have Seen This Coming?". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
15. Cruickshank, Reg (2022-03-08). "Detective Comics #1056 review". Retrieved 2022-03-12.
16. Terror, Jude (2022-03-13). "Detective Comics #1057 Preview: Finally Batman Stars in Another Comic". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
17. McCreery, Cori (2022-03-22). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
18. "Detective Comics #1047 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
19. "Detective Comics #1048 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
20. "Detective Comics #1049 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
21. "Detective Comics #1050 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
22. "Detective Comics #1051 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
23. "Detective Comics #1052 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
24. "Detective Comics #1053 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
25. "Detective Comics #1054 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
26. "Detective Comics #1055 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
27. "Detective Comics #1056 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
28. "Detective Comics #1057 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
29. "Detective Comics #1058 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-03-23.

v t e Batman publications and storylines
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Completed ongoing series	Azrael Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Batman (comic strip) Batman and the Outsiders Batman: Arkham Unhinged Batman: The Brave and the Bold Batman: The Dark Knight Batman: Gotham Knights Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Batman: Shadow of the Bat Batman: Streets of Gotham The Batman Adventures The Batman Chronicles Batman Beyond Batman Confidential Batman Family Batman Incorporated The Batman Strikes! Batman/Superman Batwing Batwoman The Brave and the Bold Gotham by Midnight Gotham Central Gotham City Sirens Gotham Girls Grayson The Huntress The Joker Man-Bat Mother Panic The Penguin Red Hood/Arsenal Red Hood and the Outlaws Red Robin Robin Robin: Son of Batman Superman/Batman Tim Drake: Robin We Are Robin World's Finest Comics
Completed miniseries	Anarky Batman: Anarky Batman & Dracula trilogy Batman: Arkham City Batman: Battle for the Cowl Batman Black and White Batman: Cacophony Batman: Creature of the Night Batman: The Cult Batman: Damned Batman: The Dark Prince Charming Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Batman: Earth One Batman: Gates of Gotham Batman: GCPD Batman: Gotham County Line Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City Batman: The Imposter Batman: The Knight Batman: Orpheus Rising Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity Batman: Three Jokers Batman: Thrillkiller Batman: Turning Points The Batman Who Laughs Batman: Year 100 Bat-Mite Dark Knights of Steel First Wave Flashpoint Beyond Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons Gotham Underground Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy Man-Bat Penguin: Pain and Prejudice Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death Red Hood: The Lost Days Section 8 Superman & Batman: Generations Trinity The Untold Legend of the Batman Batman Eternal Batman Eternal Batman and Robin Eternal Dark Moon Rising Batman and the Monster Men Batman and the Mad Monk The Long Halloween Batman: The Long Halloween Batman: Dark Victory Catwoman: When in Rome Millerverse The Dark Knight Returns The Dark Knight Strikes Again The Dark Knight III: The Master Race Murphyverse Batman: White Knight Curse of the White Knight White Knight Presents: Red Hood Beyond the White Knight Year One Batgirl: Year One The Riddler: Year One Two-Face: Year One Robin: Year One
One-shots	Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth Castle of the Bat Dark Knight Dynasty Dark Night: A True Batman Story Death of Innocents Digital Justice Gotham Noir Holy Terror Batman/Houdini: The Devil's Workshop In Darkest Knight The Killing Joke KnightGallery Leatherwing The Man Who Laughs Nine Lives Noël Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl The Joker: Devil's Advocate Batman/Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows Son of the Demon The 12 Cent Adventure Two Faces War on Crime The Batman Adventures: Mad Love The Berlin Batman Gotham by Gaslight Joker Poison Ivy: Thorns Red Hood vs. Anarky Superman and Batman: World's Funnest
Storylines	"The Man Behind the Red Hood!" "The Joker's Millions" "The Joker's Double Jeopardy" "Batman: Year One" "Year Two" "Batman: A Death in the Family" "Year Three" "The Man Who Falls" "Anarky in Gotham City" "Gothic" "The Return of the Joker" "Prey" "The Last Arkham" "Knightfall" "Contagion" "Legacy" "Cataclysm" "No Man's Land" "Joker: Last Laugh" "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" "Hush" "Broken City" "War Games" "City of Crime" "Under the Hood" "War Crimes" "Face the Face" "Batman and Son" "The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul" "Batman R.I.P." "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" "Batwoman: Elegy" "Bruce Wayne: The Road Home" "The Black Mirror" "Night of the Owls" "Death of the Family" "Zero Year" "Endgame" "Robin War" "The Button" "Dark Nights: Metal" "The Joker War" "Dark Nights: Death Metal" "Fear State" "Shadows of the Bat" "Shadow War" "Gotham War"
Intercompany crossovers	Batman/Aliens Batman/Hellboy/Starman Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham Batman/Spawn: War Devil Batman & Spider-Man: New Age Dawning Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Batman/The Spirit Batman Versus Predator Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham Daredevil/Batman: Eye for an Eye Ghost/Batgirl: The Resurrection Machine Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica Spawn/Batman Superman and Batman versus Aliens and Predator
Incomplete	All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder Batman: The Widening Gyre
Related topics	Batman: Child of Dreams Batman: Haunted Knight Batman Legends DC Comics – The Legend of Batman Elseworlds The Further Adventures of The Joker
Category Publications are listed alphabetically by published titles. Storylines are listed in publication order. Compiled without respect for canon or "current" continuity.

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