Batman & The Outsiders/Lesser Gods

*Lesser Gods* is the first story arc of *Batman & the Outsiders*, it is preceded by the *On the Outside* storyline and is followed by *A League of Their Own*. It follows The Outsiders (The Signal, Black Lightning, Katana, & Orphan) as they try to save Sofia Ramos, the sole survivor of a metahuman experimentation ring, from the clutches of Ra's al Ghul. It is written by Bryan Hill and illustrated by Dexter Soy, and covers Batman & The Outsiders #1-7.

## Plot

*Issue #1*

In LA, Sofia Ramos and Gabriel Ramos are traveling in their car when they suddenly collide with a superpowered individual. The assailant, Ishmael, immediately kills the father before throwing Sofia off of the bridge into a passing fuel tank that explodes on impact. Sofia somehow walks out of the flaming wreckages unscathed. Meanwhile in Gotham, The Signal and Orphan are trying to bring down Saint John, a criminal fixated on church massacres, but are pinned down by gunfire and awaiting orders from Black Lightning. Signal wants to go without waiting but Orphan knows this is not good strategy and tries to restrain him. Signal still does what he wants and prepares to rush in but Black Lightning and Katana crash onto the scene and neutralize the threat. Jefferson is furious with Duke for trying to rush in and the two exchange heated words, but Duke ultimately apologizes for his actions.

Later, Jefferson meets with Bruce in a penthouses, which Bruce had put in his name, and talks to him about the problems with the team: Duke hasn't mentally recovered from his injuries after Karma, Cassandra is still afraid of who she is, and Katana will kill someone soon or later. Jefferson wants to know why Bruce chose him and what is the real reason he reactivated the team. Bruce says he chose Jefferson because Duke and Cass need more than what he can give them, and Jefferson is simply the right person to provide what they need. He wants Jefferson to really believe the team is his, and it should be reflect his ideas and his values. Still not convinced, Jefferson goes to see Tatsu for counsel. The two spar together and he tells her he values her opinion and wants to be her partner, someone on the same level, and not her leader. She tells Jefferson that Duke is lashing out out of anger because he is afraid of being hurt again and that Cassandra is regressing because she still believes she has no hope of being good. She says that he does not need her permission to quit but the team must see he's committed to being with them, even if they fail, or else the team will never work.

Duke and Cass are riding her motorcycle down a winding rode when they are forced to pull over when Duke starts to experience intense visions of Karma. Cass tries to console him, recognizing he's afraid, but he lashes out at her that he's not. Just then, Batman calls upon the Outsiders to brief them on their first real mission and the two head off. At the meeting, Batman explains that years ago he stopped a cooperative of billionaires called The Ark, who would kidnap the poor and lower class to perform experiments in order to create their own army of metahumans. When Batman began burning their operation to the ground, the architects of the program tried to terminate all of the subjects. Batman was able to save the last few, the Ramos family, but the The mother, Ana, died soon after from the experimentation. The father however, Gabriel, was murdered recently by an unknown assailant, and now Sofia is left scared and alone, and Batman wants the Outsiders to help her.

*Issue #2*

Bruce and Jefferson meet before the mission and he tells Jefferson one of his contacts, a man named Kaliber, has intercepted and is looking over Sofia until they can reach her. He warns him that Kaliber is good but not too stable, so he must keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Sofia and Kaliber talk and he tells her he's a former weapons dealer for Markovia who Batman straightened out. She opens up as well and reveals that the Ark program did result in her becoming a metahuman, possessing super strength and the ability to heal rapidly. Kaliber gives Sofia a gun and tells her to stay alert before leaving her in her room alone. Overcome with grief, Sofia prepares to kill herself with the gun but before she can pull the trigger she's attacked by Ishmael. The man does not want to kill her, instead wanting to bring her to Ra's al Ghul. Kaliber intervenes, trying to protect Sofia, and the Outsiders soon arrive to join the fight. The team are overwhelmed by the strength of Ishmael and the man successfully escapes with Sofia and takes her to Khadym to be trained by Ra's al Ghul.

*Issue #3*

Back in Gotham, after their failed mission, Batman feels that the team requires healing to bring them together and orders the Outsiders to meet him in three hours for a special training exercise. Three hours later, The Outsiders meet under the Gotham waterway and split up to find Batman. Once alone, The Signal comes face to face with someone that appears to be Karma. Karma taunts Signal, claiming he is now making the entire team weak, causing Duke to lash out. Duke begins to lose because of his emotions, but just as he's on the verge of defeat the team intervenes, rescuing Duke, and defeating Karma; who is revealed to actually be Bruce Wayne in disguise. Cassandra confesses to Duke she told Batman about his nightmares, seeking help, and the team came together to show him he's not alone. Duke is not angry at her and finally admits he really needs help. Black Lightning and the rest of the team assure him they are here for him.

Meanwhile in Khadym, Ra's begins the process of indoctrinating Sofia and bringing her under his control. He drugs her and begins coercing her to believe that deep down she's a killer that only the Demon will accept and protect. He uses her hatred of Ishmael to ignite her urge to kill and entices her to follow his instruction in the way of death, so that she may never be afraid of it or Ishmael again. Sofia eventually gives in to her rage, and once Ra's sees her capacity to kill, he wakes her from her psychedelic visions. With her indoctrination now complete, he can beginning her training. It is revealed that Lex Luthor is the one behind Ra's new plans, having met with Ra's about an offer of opportunity.

*Issue #4*

In Gotham, Cass meets Duke meet at the park to talk and see if he is ok. Duke feels that she actually wants to know if he's broken, and says that Batman wants him off the field so he's staying out the field. Cass says she can help Duke and offers to show him how to fight his fear, assuring that fear is easy for an assassin to kill. Elsewhere, Jefferson tries to know Kaliber but ends up criticizing his fascination with guns. Jefferson makes it clear that he doesn't trust Kaliber and says Batman may give him a pass but all he sees's in an off-duty gunrunner. Kaliber explains to him that Batman is the one that gave him a second chance, for his own reasons, but the fact of the matter is they don't have to be friends; they just need to work to save a girl.

Jefferson then goes to meet Batman, who happens to be making an appearance as Bruce Wayne "the playboy" at a yacht party. The two talk in the cabin and discuss the Sofia situation. Bruce informs Jefferson that Sofia is in Khadym but, due to personal problems in his life, he can not accompany Jeff and the team on the rescue mission; for fear that Ra's al Ghul may exploit his compromised mental state. Bruce also doesn't want Duke on this mission, but, to his surprise, Jefferson had already asked Cassandra to hang back on this mission to help Duke through his trauma. That night, Black Lightning meets with Signal and informs him that he and Orphan will sit out the mission to focus on his recovery. While he wants to get back in the field, Signal respects Black Lightning's decision as the leader. At the cave, Batman meets with Black Lightning, Katana, and Kaliber to lay out the objective of their mission in Khadym. Kaliber created false identities to infiltrate Khadym safely, their mission is to sneak in undercover, bring Sofia back to Gotham (by any means necessary) without engaging Ra's, and then he will deal with whatever Ra's has made her into once they return.

While the Outsiders prepare to rescue Sofia, Ra's has already begun turning her into a living weapon. Firmly under his control, Ra's arms Sofia and puts her through a baptism of violence where she must kill a number of armed warriors to prove her obedience. Without hesitation Sofia slaughters everyone in her path, completing her transformation by the Demon and receiving the name Babylon.

*Issue #5*

Tatsu and Jefferson arrive in Khadym undercover as weapon dealers and lay low, while Kaliber goes ahead to track Sofia and signal the team once she's in sight. Kaliber eventually spots Babylon in her battle armor, waiting, and he signals the location to his comrades. He tells them that it appears to be a trap but that there won't be a better chance to take her. Jefferson and Tatsu soon arrive and approach Sofia, trying to convince her that they are there to help her. However, the girl is still drugged and under the effect of Ra's, telling them all she hears are the words of the Demon in the wind and she must fight and kill them. She attacks and hordes of assassins emerge from under the sand and attack the team as well. Kaliber and Black Lighting manage to defeat or kill all the other assassins, while Tatsu fights Sofia fight one on one. Tatsu bests Babylon and manages to get through to Sofia, making her realize they are not enemies; and she decides to come with them willingly.

While the mission appears to be a success Jefferson is uneasy. He begins to wonder: if this was a trap, where is Ishmael? Back in Gotham, in Jefferson's penthouse, Orphan and Signal are ambushed by Ishmael. He tells them that he doesn't want to attack them, but rather, has come to show them that Batman has deceived them and to extend an offer to join the Demon's cause.

*Issue #6*

Signal and Orphan standoff against Ishmael. Ishmael tells them that fighting him is useless because the waters of the Lazarus Pits have made him immortal, but the duo attack anyway and a fight ensues. they hold their own against the villain, and even manage to inflict damage, but the the tables soon begin to turn. Ishmael stops fighting and tells them he must show them a truth hidden by their mentor, before fleeing the location. Signal and Orphan grab a pair of jetpacks and immediately give pursuit. The pair track Ishmael to an underground facility, where they discover Ishmael is working with Lady Shiva, mother of Cassandra, and the facility is used by Batman to house the real Karma. The two show Duke and Cassandra that Bruce has been secretly keeping Karma imprisoned in this secret location for his own purposes, unknown to everyone else. At the sight of her mother Cassandra is blinded with rage and attacks, but Shiva is ready for the challenge and the two face off. Shiva easily gains and maintains the upper-hand, and swiftly bests her daughter. Meanwhile, Ishmael grabs Duke and uses his powers on him, causing Duke's metahuman powers to react violently as he experiences a painful transformation. The two escape with Duke, leaving Cassandra behind unconscious.

Later, Shiva communicates with Ra's and tells him that they have shown the proteges Batman's lie and that the mission was a success. She also tells him that, per their agreement, from here she will be the one to re-mold Cassandra, and Ra's agrees. When asked of his plans for Duke, Ra's tells her that he intends to make him afraid of his light so that he can then teach him the way of darkness. He plans to have Cassandra and Duke will become children of the Demon, so that they will destroy the Bat once and for all.

*Issue #7*

Inside a transport vehicle en route to Ra's al Ghul, Ishmael tells Duke his origins. Initially he had the power to deprive metahumans of their abilities until when he met Ra's, who baptized him in the waters of the Lazarus Pit. He was transformed by the Pits, the water fusing with his blood, and he was given the power to "evolve" metahumans; which is what he's done to Duke Thomas. When asked what he's done to him, Ishmael answers that that he's turned Duke away from the light and has given him command over shadows instead. Orphan, acting alone to save her friend, is assisted by Batman in tracking the vehicle transporting Duke and is on their tail before long. Orphan jumps on the truck and blows it's doors off, luring out Ishmael, and the two engage in combat. Realizing Ishmael can't die, Orphan can fight with no restraint and soundly defeats the villain, tossing him from the transport.

Cassandra rescues Duke from the truck just as the driver crashes the vehicle, causing it to explode. Duke, in a state of shock, tells Cassandra that he's changed him, he cannot see light anymore, only darkness. As the two friends sit in the street hurt and alone, the symbol of Doom appears in the sky.

Meanwhile, on the plane bringing Sofia Ramos back to Gotham, Jeff and Tatsu talk about how and if Batman will be able to get her out of the Demon's brainwashing. When Tatsu goes to sleep, Babylon's brainwashing kicks in and she uses her powers to free herself by causing enough pain to make herself strong and break her restraints. She takes the Soultaker and prepares to strike, Black Lightning catches her in the act and Katana awakes. Kaliber then reveals himself a double agent, planning to crash crash the plane so Ra's may resurrect all four of them as his faithful servants. The Outsiders fight Kaliber and Babylon as the plane malfunctions and begins it's crash landing.

## Featured

**Characters:**

* Batman
* The Outsiders
	+ Signal
	+ Black Lightning
	+ Katana
	+ Orphan
	+ Kaliber

**Supporting Characters:**

* Sofia Ramos

**Antagonists:**

* Ra's al Ghul
	+ League of Assassins
* Ishmael
* Karma

**Other Characters:**

* Ana Ramos ***(died)*** ***(Flashback only)***
* Gabriel Ramos ***(died)***
* Maseo Yamashiro ***(In visions)***
* Lex Luthor ***(as a hologram)***
* Alfred Pennyworth

**Locations:**

* California
	+ Joshua Tree
	+ Los Angeles
* Gotham City
	+ Kubrick Towers
	+ Burton Park
	+ Gotham Harbor
* France
	+ Paris

## Continuity

* Lex Luthor’s presence in this collection is a tie-in to the *Year of the Villain* event.
* Batman mentions problems in his personal life. This is in reference to his failed wedding to Catwoman and the many other personal crises he was experiencing during Tom King’s run on *Batman*.
* This story marks the introduction of shadow manipulation to Duke's metahuman abilities
* The symbol in the sky, at the end of this collection, is a reference to *Justice League: Justice/Doom War,* the finale to Scott Synder’s run on *Justice League* and the lead-in to *Dark Nights Death Metal*.