PREVIOUSLY:
After intense battles with Black Mask and Metalhead, Bruce finds
himself completely exhausted (Batman
484,
485,
486). After barely escaping with his life, he collapses
in his study at Wayne Manor in full Batman garb (Detective
Comics 656). Worried for his health, Alfred and Tim urge
Bruce to see a doctor about his problem (Batman
487). At the same time, a new superhero going by the name of
Azrael lands in Gotham (Sword
of Azrael). Batman decides to keep an eye on his new ally so
he invites Azrael to patrol Gotham together (TEC
657,
658;
Batman 488) at one point even allowing
Azrael to don the Batman cape and cowl when Bruce was under doctor's
orders to rest (Batman
487).
Meanwhile, a Venom powered (Venom
Project) super-sized super-villain by the name of Bane arrives in
Gotham with a taste for power and an intense hatred for Batman (Vengeance
of Bane;
Batman 489). Bane observes the ailing Batman from
afar while concocting his plan for domination. Finally he decides to test out
his Venom super-serum on the Riddler and sends the brain-dead and brawny puzzler
out after the Bat for a test-run (Batman
490). It is during this nearly fatal battle that Bane fully
realizes his plan. Bane has decided that he will do what no other villain has
ever been able to do: BREAK THE BAT!!
SUMMARY:
Bane launches a rocket into the side of Arkham Asylum, freeing most of
Batman's high profile villains. Bruce falls into Bane's trap as he
arrogantly refuses help and seeks to capture and defeat all of the
villains himself becoming weaker and weaker with everyone he puts away.
After a physically and mentally draining battle with the Joker and
Scarecrow, Bane makes his move. He defeats Batman at Wayne Manor,
breaking his back. Bane announces himself to Gotham's Underground by
throwing the broken Batman off a building.
Batman is scooped off the sidewalk and taken back to the Batcave
where he enlists the aid of Dr. Shondra Kinsolving to rehabilitate him
and asks Azrael to take over the mantle of the Bat. Out of fear for
Dick's safety, Batman rebukes Tim's suggestion that Dick Grayson take
over for Bruce and also warns Jean Paul Valley to never engage Bane in
combat. Valley of course ignores Bruce's instruction and faces off
against Bane, nearly getting himself killed. He later challenges Bane
again and defeats him, deciding against murder, Jean Paul leaves Bane
for the police.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kinsolving and Tim's dad are kidnapped. Bruce decides
that he will go and hunt them down. His story is continued in
Knightquest: The Search while Jean Paul's battles as the new Batman
are chronicled in
Knightquest: The Crusade.
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