Season Three

**Season Three**is the third season of *Batman: Shadow War.*It introduces new villians Bane, Clayface, Hush, Great White Shark and Calendar Man.

## E1: First Foot in Insanity

During a party at Wayne Manor with a charity, Hugo Strange arrived at Bruce Wayne's dismay and Strange began having a conversation with Bruce for a "experiment" before asking for his services, but Bruce refused. Strange appeared angered but regained his composure, leaving the mansion. Strange, working on his latest device, was greeted by the Joker himself. Strange tried to call security but Joker utilized his acid flower to prevent that by destroying the alarm. A horrified Strange asked him why he isn't in his cell, so Joker explained he escaped to see him and his interesting machine. Joker tried to try out the device and revealed it is used to go in one's mind, which Strange was going to try and use it to discover Batman's secret identity. Strange however grabbed Joker in anger and threatened he'll make his life in Arkham "hell" if he doesn't go back to his cell, so Joker became hysterical and asked him who does he think he's talking to. The sadistic clown then injected Strange with a non-lethal variant of Joker Venom and stole the machine; leaving a Joker playing card behind as a calling card.

Strange was left constantly laughing hysterically which tortured and tormented him, and was sent to hospital. Batman arrived and when his doctor left, he revealed an antidote to Joker Venom and then cured him in exchange for information on his experimental device and what the Joker did. After given the cure, Strange was left temporarily paralyzed with a large grin on his face but he would wake up soon and return to normal. Batman then left to go after the Joker and the Dark Knight deduced that the Joker didn't kill Strange because he needed him for that information to provide to Batman.

Inside the Ace of Knaves' hideout, Batman searched until the clown attempted to ambush Batman, only for Batman to counter his attack and knock him down. Batman then asked Joker where the device is, only for Maniax thugs to aim their guns at Batman and demanded for him to let Joker go. Batman then threw Joker at the thugs and the Caped Crusader assaulted Joker, however the Joker used a spring-loaded boxing glove to knock him unconscious. Batman was strapped to Strange's machine and Joker had his henchmen strap him to it too so that Batman could enter Joker's mind with the clown attempting to drive him insane. It looked like the device didn't work, until the henchmen was transformed into Jokers and the device began laughing to Batman's dispense and Batman was sent down to a hole which revealed a destroyed and burning Gotham City overrun by multiple Jokers with some even killing each other, burning large piles of money and blowing up buildings. The moon itself then grinned at Batman and fired a missile targeted at Batman and a civilian, so Batman rescued the citizen who was revealed to be Joker and a child as Joker, Batman demanded for him to be released but they both literally zipped their mouths and took them off.

Batman tried to find the real Joker and went to his idea factory, where there was Red Hood; the only thing Joker seems to remember about his old self, who was signing papers for his master. Batman looked at one of the papers which was just sick jokes, Red Hood then said all he wanted was to make people laugh and Batman interrogated him to try to find a way out. When Red Hood was about to speak, Joker yelled at him saying that he shouldn't be revealing family secrets and a large amount of chemicals was poured all over him, transforming him into Joker and gave Batman images of his closest friends being brutally murdered. Joker then fled to a funhouse where Batman witnessed a tied up victim for the Dark Knight to see, revealed to be the corpse of Gordon with a carved smile but Batman shouted that it was all fake and continued to escape the funhouse to head to the comedy club.

There it is revealed Joker telling dark humor and sick jokes to an audience full of Jokers, when they realized Batman was sneaking; they all attacked him and laughed at him, causing Batman to even laugh as well until he regained his sanity and broke free, then attacked the Joker. A giant Joker used Batman like a puppet and tormented him, however Batman began climbing him and threw an explosive Batarang at his head; both vanished and Batman was in a straightjacket inside of Arkham Asylum with Joker escorting him and a captured Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Aaron Cash and Vicki Vale screaming for help, as an armed Victor Zsasz and Ventriloquist where taking them outside to be executed. Scarface is the Warden on the televisions and Scarecrow and Killer Croc are on the other side, with Batman shouting to be freed. Due to Batman's strong will when an armed Joker was laughing in his face and pointed his gun in his face, he broke out of his restraints and attacked the Joker, causing everything to turn black and Joker was alone.

Joker was sent to a world without Batman nor Joker, nobody knowing the two. Joker was terrified to the point of begging him to be freed, however Batman arrived and locked Joker away in a secure cell which led the clown to being imprisoned in a deep, dark place all alone and forgotten. In reality, Batman escaped the device and Joker was seen being tortured and suffering inside, Batman defeated his henchmen and then freed the horrified Joker. Batman then used his Explosive Gel to destroy the device and took the clown back to Arkham.

## E2: The Act

Basil Karlo is shown trying to audition for the act but is denied due to the appearance for an advert for sprays. In anger and depression, he began drinking at his house until he heard an announcement from Bruce Wayne on television to create a substance that would allow one to shapeshift his face. He plotted to steal it, infiltrating Wayne Tower with the disguise of a scientist after sneaking up on one and knocking him unconscious. Karlo then stole the substance after tricking the research team, escaping the tower and then used some to change his face. He was successful in the advert with his new handsome face and then managed to use his new looks to become the main villain of the horror film *The Terror*as a serial killer armed with a hook which he became famous for and gained massive quantities of money.

However, the film director, Julie Madison, planned to cut Karlo out of the deal and gain all the money herself. She managed to do this by hiring some hitmen to assassinate him, then the three men broke into Karlo's home and tied him to a chair, revealing to him sadistically why Madison wants him killed. They then found the substance, recognizing it from Wayne Tower and were surprised that Karlo was the thief, so they decided to pour it all over him and left him for dead, believing too much would kill him. This transformed Karlo into the monstrous Clayface, who was horrified by his appearance however got used to his new powers.

Clayface then managed to find and kill the hitmen and with the corpses around him, the Batwing hovered over him and Batman jumped down, surprised by his appearance and powers. Clayface tried to kill the Dark Knight but Batman avoided his attacks and used ice pellets against him but this merely stopped him temporarily, after the battle, Clayface escaped but left some clay which Batman collected.

In the Batcave, Batman investigated it to discover it was his latest invention which was recently stolen, then deduced that Karlo was Clayface, as he was the thief who went "missing". When Julie received her money and packed it to leave the studio, Clayface revealed himself to be in the studio as well and shapeshifted into the serial killer he played as, killing anyone who got in his way to kill Julie. He attempts to kill her but is stopped by Batman, armed with an antidote for his mutation, frightening Clayface and he desperately tried to kill Batman. During the fight, Julie accidentally dropped her money and lost it all, so Clayface took the opportunity and attacked her; causing her to fall to her death. Clayface then began to shapeshift into many of Batman's rogues and tormented him, saying he created them and is making Gotham worse, then asked him why he wasn't saved before Batman managed to inject him with the antidote; turning him back into a human. Batman however mentions that the antidote will only temporarily stop his powers and mutation, causing Karlo to seem sad, but begins giggling and says he'll kill Batman when he gets his powers back. Karlo is then taken to Arkham Asylum.

## E3: Knightfall

On Gotham Bridge, Vicki Vale is reporting the celebration of Dent's recent capture and conviction of crime boss Lew Moxon and Bruce is also present to shake Dent's hand as well as Mayor Hamilton Hill. During Dent's speech, a group of military vehicles invade the bridge and start shooting at Dent and the crowd, causing Bruce to escort Dent to safety before having Alfred drop the Batsuit off via the Batwing. After the Batsuit was deployed, Bruce then has the Batwing fire off tear gas grenades into the terrorist group as Bruce then leaves to become Batman. Batman fights off the terrorists until he is confronted by a large bulking, masked man named Bane, who claims that he's come to Gotham to fight Batman to death. Batman tries to fight Bane, but Bane easily grabs Batman and throws him into his humvee. Two men fight but in the end, Batman couldn't defeat Bane, so the police arrived led by Gordon to engage Bane and his militia. Bane was nearly shot, so he threw a truck at the cops, distracting him to use the Batwing to grapple the truck and drop it into the sea, allowing Bane to escape.

Bane starts wreaking havoc around Gotham City such as beating down Killer Croc severely to get Batman's attention and has his right hand man, Bird, lead a group of his men to tell Batman where he is. Batman investigates these disturbances until Bird confronts him, with the group battling Batman. Batman interrogated Bird, who willingly tells him that Bane is in a warehouse waiting for him, so Batman punches him unconscious and leaves him for the police to arrest.

Batman then arrives at the warehouse, where Bane's militia have taken a mechanic hostage and is forcing him to repair their damaged vehicles. Bane then threatens the mechanic to speed up the process, until Batman uses a shock weapon to paralyze two henchmen, then confronts Bane. As Batman defeats Bane's men, Bane orders them to step aside while he battles Batman and tells them to watch as he destroys a legend. Batman and Bane are on par in battle, with Batman even managing to injure Bane with several punches and kicks to the face and other body parts. However, Bane revealed his Venom tubes, which he used to gain superhuman strength and durability, allowing him to overwhelm Batman and so, Batman has to rely on his gadgets in an attempt to defeat Bane. Bane then manages to beat Batman down and when severely injured and weakened, Bane's men grab Batman and force him to watch as Bane grabs the mechanic, who saved Batman's life during the fight by taking down some of Bane's soldiers with his wrench, and snaps his neck. Batman, angered, takes down Bane's thugs and then uses his Batarangs as weapons to non-lethally stab Bane however Bane then grabs Batman and breaks his back against his knee. Bane then begins choking Batman and taunts him by telling he's failed, so Batman calls in the Batmobile to crash through the warehouse, knocking out several of Bane's men and then begins firing at Bane with it's Riot Suppressor. Batman desperately gets in the Batmobile and drives off, leaving Bane feeling victorious.

In the Batcave, an injured and bloodied Batman shows up to a concerned Alfred, who begins medically treating him. As they talk with Batman expressing his guilt over not being able to save the mechanic despite him saving his life, the news interrupts them, revealing that Bane is attacking Wayne Tower and Bane then gives a broadcast; telling Gotham that Batman has failed them and is now bringing the city to it's knees by attacking several key locations at first, starting with Wayne Tower.

An angered and pained Batman tries to get up, only to be put down by Alfred, who claims even if he went, he would die in his state. Batman then starts to come up with a plan, and meanwhile, Bane's men is seen shooting up the tower and has several people rounded up and taken hostage, before confronting Lucius. When Lucius attempts to use the prototype non-lethal rifle against Bane, Bane breaks the gun and then slams Lucius against the wall, telling him that Gotham his now his and he should just surrender. When Lucius tells him that Batman will stop him, Bane laughs mockingly and tells him he broke Batman's spirit and back, calling him a dead legend. Batman then shows up, in an armored Batsuit and punches Bane in the face, causing him to bleed. Batman effortlessly takes out Bane's men and has the hostages evacuated, however Bane activates his Venom and the two men engage in a aggressive and brutal battle. During the fight, Bane nearly kills Lucius when he attempts to let armed police in, causing Batman to remember the mechanic and then aggressively assaults Bane, saving Fox and letting Gordon's forces in.

With Gordon and the cops engaging with Bird and his men, Batman and Bane continue their fight. When Bane asks why he came back, Batman claims he never gives up on Gotham and that he'll show him what happens when he messes with his city. Batman then cuts down Bane's Venom tubes with a Batarang, causing him to get severely weakened and collapses unconscious. Gordon's cops then prevail over Bane's men, with Montoya managing to take down Bird and hold him at gunpoint with a shotgun, arresting him. A defeated Bane is then arrested, and convicted and sentenced to life in Blackgate Penitentiary and Batman returns to the Batcave, showing Alfred that he could save Gotham and defeat Bane.

## E4: Mask of the Cat

In a jewel store with two armed criminals who managed to silently execute the security guards, encountering Catwoman who was also there trying to steal a precious golden cat statue. She manages to stealthily knock out one of them and when she moves in to steal the statue; the other mistakens her for Batman and fires his silenced pistol. Though Catwoman takes the loot and escape, causing him to follow and call him in backup, revealing that he is working for Black Mask who intends to steal more loot and extend his wealth.

A helicopter with a sniper fires off a shot which just misses Catwoman, and when the sniper prepares to eliminate her, Batman swoops in and kicks him out of the helicopter, causing him to land on a rooftop and is then knocked unconscious by Catwoman. The pilot is then subdued and the helicopter is crashed onto a rooftop, where Batman tosses the pilot at a fleeing criminal to stop him. The two then work together to fight Black Mask's mobsters and Black Mask eventually arrives, firing off a tranquilizer dart which hit Catwoman, incapacitating her, so the mobsters kidnap her while others struggle to restrain the Caped Crusader.

Black Mask takes Catwoman back to his hideout and drives off while Batman still fights the gangsters. Black Mask demands for the loot but Catwoman says she would've had it if his men didn't intervene much to the crime lord's annoyance. Batman manages to successfully subdue the mobsters and heads to Black Mask's hideout. Black Mask then angrily draws his switchblade and threatens to kill her, but Catwoman manages to kick him away and uses her claws to escape from her binds, then attacks him and scratches his face violently with her claws. Batman then arrives and stops Black Mask's gangsters from killing Catwoman, then Black Mask nearly uses a gun to shoot Batman but Catwoman stomps on his face, knocking him unconscious. Black Mask is then arrested by the police and is taken to Blackgate while Batman and Catwoman converse on the roof.

## E5: Return of the Bat

Kirk Langstrom is in his cell in Arkham Asylum and Strange has been seen recovered from Joker's toxin, allowing Bruce to visit him. Bruce offers the man an antidote for his condition and can get his old job back at Wayne Enterprises to help actually create a cure for deafness, a saddened Langstrom takes the offer and apologizes for the deaths he caused as Man-Bat, especally his wife. Langstrom makes his desire to cure deafness clear, claiming he can honor his wife by doing it.

Bruce leaves to finish the antidote, with Strange overhearing the entire conversation and has revealed to have stolen a sample used to mutate Langstrom into Man-Bat. He plans to "experiment" on him as he is interested, and when Bruce returns with the antidote, Strange encounters Bruce and says he'll give it to him. Bruce reluctantly gives Strange the antidote and Strange tells him he'll have Langstrom kept in Arkham over night for the cure to kick in, then release him. While sleeping in his cell, Strange destroys the cure and injects Langstrom with the Man-Bat serum. When Langstrom was released and during his work, he mutates into Man-Bat to Bruce's horror and the CEO manages to escape but not before witnessing Man-Bat kill a scientist who failed to run away. Bruce becomes Batman and goes to stop the creature, however this leads to a chase and Batman manages to sedate him and temporarily cures him, and then takes him back to Arkham to Strange's delight.

Batman escorts Langstrom back to his cell and the cuffed man states he thought the antidote won't work, the Dark Knight then conducts an investigation to how he mutated; discovering Strange was behind the incident. Batman confronts Strange in his office, who is in the middle of looking at a photo and information on Batman to try and deduce his secret identity, becoming obsessed with him. Batman notices this but demands to know why he ruined Langstrom's chance on being happy. Strange reveals his experiments with patients and his working on uncovering his secret identity to Batman's dismay. Due to the incident, Batman cuffs Strange and calls security however he manages to use a hidden lock-pick to unlock the cuffs and holds Batman at gunpoint, causing him to escape and security guards arrived in confusion.

## E6: Rivalry

During a gang war between the Joker, Penguin and Bane, the intellectual Riddler shows up and challenges each gang leader to a proposition; whoever uncovers Batman's secret identity gets to control Gotham City. The four agree on the challenge, with the Riddler grinning sadistically and cunningly.

Joker lures in Batman at night by having a Jack N' the Box in the middle of the streets, so Batman rushes to stop it only for Joker to appear out of nowhere and held the Dark Knight at gunpoint and fired, only for Batman to avoid it and jam a Batarang in the death trap's lever too. Batman then fought Joker, smashing him against a wall. When Batman finishes disarming the bomb, Joker draws a blood covered razor playing card and throws it at Batman's head only for Penguin to save him and then attempted to take out Batman for himself with his trick umbrella, but Batman breaks it and tosses him at Joker. Bane though arrives and the three villains fight with Batman being the main target for the criminals. Batman escapes Bane's grip to call in the Batmobile which runs him down and the Caped Crusader then takes down the clown and bird.

Riddler watches the battle, calling them fools, and starts messing with Gotham's electrical grid; even forming his symbol in Wayne Tower. Batman believes the Riddler is the true mastermind while the villains are just his puppets to play with, a bleeding Joker reveals his intentions in the "game" is to prevent the others from unmasking Batman as he believes such an idea is no fun, then draws his jester cane sword in an attempt to kill Penguin only for him to draw a trick umbrella with a hidden blade; the two duel while Bane announces Batman is heading to Riddler at the docks.

Riddler is confronted by Batman at the docks with the mastermind managing to control everything technologically linked with his cane, attempting to use a crane against him. The three other rogues intervene with Riddler clicking his fingers to reveal his henchmen who break out of the cargo. Joker, Penguin and Bane temporarily team up to take out his henchmen, while Batman fights Riddler and manages to use a Remote Control Batarang to locate and destroy what's giving him power. Riddler, powerless, is scared and tries to flee to his henchmen only to discover them all eliminated by the villains. Batman easily takes down the Riddler by disarming him of his staff and punching him in the face, then Batman deals with the three villains with Bane's Venom supply being cut by his Batarangs, Penguin left hanging tied by his feet and Joker being covered in rubble, with the four criminals being arrested by the police.

## E7: Jaws

Warren White was a crooked financial businessman who managed to embezzle millions from his company's pension funds and rob virtually all of it's clients both working class and upper class of their life savings. However when he is about to leave Gotham at the train station with his embezzled millions, Batman ambushes White and effortlessly takes him down, revealing that he knows of his crimes after investigating him and hands him over to the police. During his trial, White knew how to play the judge and successfully pleaded insanity, managing to avoid Blackgate by going to Arkham instead in hopes of an easier and quicker sentence.

However, White realized this was a mistake when his cellmate was the Riddler, who taunted and annoyed White with his riddles and arrogance. During lunch time, White was revealed to have a set of "gills" sliced into his neck by Killer Croc and he was nicknamed "fish" in the asylum. When eating his lunch alone, a Joker playing card was thrown at White, frightening him as the Joker approached him in glee. Joker asked White numerous questions and even revealed he knew he tricked the courts, so he plans to drive him crazy if he wants to stay in Arkham. Joker has Victor Zsasz squeeze White's shoulders to hurt him when White begins to "bore" Joker, with the Joker demonstrating that he snuck into a patient's electroshock therapy and messed with it, causing him to be paralyzed and is played with by the other inmates, shocking White. While walking back to his cell with security guard Frank Boles escorting him, the Joker confronts the two and asks Boles if he can "borrow" White, to which Boles smiles and complies, letting the Joker take White to a room full of other maniacs. Joker eats popcorns while he forces White to do a "clown dance" to his entertainment but White ultimately refuses, causing the Joker to grow angry and has the inmates attack him. A beaten up White is then taken by the Joker to Mr. Freeze's cell, where he locks him in it much to White's cries and pleas. Joker then comments that although he's killed people, he at least didn't steal "their kid's college funds", before leaving White for dead. As a result of his injuries and horrific frostbite, this left White with pale skin, and his nose, lips, ears, hair and several of his fingers fall off. These deformities, along with a set of "gills", leave him resembling a great white shark. Driven insane, White calls himself Great White Shark and even fills his teeth to points to further resemble a shark.

Bruce is then seen on a cruise ship along with Vale, Fox, Jack Ryder, Alfred and Dent, celebrating on Dent's success in recent conviction of crime boss Rupert Thorne. Shark then attacks the ship with his new gang in hopes of robbing and murdering the wealthy people by blowing up the ship after stealing their fortunes, wanting to regain his millions. The armed gangsters began holding their targets at gunpoint for money, jewels and other valuables while Shark confronted the captain to steal his valuables but when he disarms one of his henchmen and goes to shoot Shark, Shark angrily and sadistically bites into his neck, killing him and then loots his corpse. Shark then robs Bruce, Dent and Vale, Bruce then attempts to reason with Shark. Shark tells Bruce that he is now insane after a mistake he made by going to Arkham instead of Blackgate, causing Bruce to deduce that he is Warren White. Upon hearing his old name, Shark becomes enraged and then has two of his men to take him to the engine room to be executed. However when in the engine room, Bruce knocks the gangsters unconscious and has the Batboat called, becoming Batman.

Batman then went to rescue the hostages and defeated Shark's gang. Shark witnessed this and tied up Vale, tossing her off the cruise to distract Batman. While Batman rescued Vale, Shark destroyed the cruiser and escaped via jet ski with his stolen money as the hostages escaped. Laughing and believing he is successful, suddenly the Batboat pursues Shark and fires torpedos at his jet ski, causing Shark to fall off it and lose all of his valuables much to his sadness. When attempting to drown himself in depression, Batman rescues him and handed him over to the cops. Shark is then returned to Arkham, being seen in a straightjacket and this is witnessed by the Joker, who smiles at him.

## E8: Hush

One night, Bruce is seen remembering the days before his life became dark until Alfred called him about a crime in progress for Bruce to suit up in a brooding look. As Batman, he goes to find a corpse with a mutilated face and investigates the scene. He doesn't find the killer but notifies Gordon about it, so he begins a police hunt to locate the serial killer as he reveals two more victims that were recently discovered and Batman also investigates each body, finding a pattern as each murder had the same cause of death.

Batman eventually comes across a murder in progress but the killer manages to flee only for Batman to follow him. The killer goes into an alley where Batman tries to corner him however the Dark Knight is shot by a well-placed bullet which wounds him; allowing for Hush to escape, leaving a blood trail which was eventually cut off. Batman returns to the Batcave to heal himself and discovers each victim has features of the face of Bruce. He tries to find another victim carrying the features and manages to find one, watching over him during the night until he spots Hush. Hush corners his victim in the alleyway, though the World's Greatest Detective ambushes the serial killer and demands him to turn around, only for the knife-wielding man to turn with bandages all over his face, calling himself Hush.

Batman calls Hush sick and asks why he is targeting victims with Bruce's features, so Hush answers that he's seeking revenge for what Bruce's family did to him. He then throws his knife at Batman and draws two pistols, which he uses to shoot his victim dead and then fights off Batman, overwhelming him with a barrage of bullets. Batman, taking cover with his cape, throws a smoke pellet at Hush and Batman tries to stealthily take him out only to find he actually used the smoke to escape. Batman, in anger, punched the wall after looking at the dead victim and is determined to discover what Hush is planning.

## E9: The Flood

During Mayor Hill's speech, a flood rushes out and nearly kills him however Bruce manages to rush to save the unconscious mayor. He then calls the Batmobile secretly, which manages to stop the flood and save the crowd. Batman comes back to investigate and goes to the source of the flood, where he finds the corpse of the sewer manager Derek Erickson. Batman goes to investigate the body to find out who did this and eventually sees a shard of a tooth that was left behind, deducing Killer Croc was responsible due to his recent escape from Arkham.

Batman goes to Gordon about it and the Dark Knight is informed about recent heists on various manufacturers and factories for devices and parts. Batman deduces Croc's next target and heads there, where Croc is seen fighting off security guards and the CEO tries to call the police only to be stopped by Croc. Croc attempts to kill him only to be stopped by Batman and after the Caped Crusader orders the CEO to run, Batman and Croc fight. Croc though manages to steal his target and throws Batman out of a window before escaping.

Though Batman manages to discover a blood trail and follows it to the sewers, wounded still however manages to retain his conditions enough to face the humanoid crocodile. Croc is seen finishing up his project with a gang of thugs fearing the cannibal, Batman then throws a Batarang at one henchman only for Croc to catch it and mock Batman, but the Batarang then detonates and injures Croc. Batman then knocks out the gang members and takes on Croc, with Croc revealing his grand plan to flood Gotham, making it his own personal swamp and any survivors will become his food. When Croc nearly succeeds in killing Batman, only to be stopped when the Dark Knight uses his Acetylene Torch to disable his device, then tosses an Electric Batarang at it to shock Croc, enough for him to be weakened. Batman then delivers the finishing blow to defeat Croc, who is then arrested by the police while Bruce funds for the sewers to be repaired.

## E10: Date to Die

On Happy Valentines' Day, Vale and Bruce have dinner until a waiter arrives, giving Vale a valentines card and some flowers which were apparently sent from another man calling himself Calendar Man. The card contained threats and Bruce assured her she will be fine, just claiming that it's probably some sick joke. Calendar Man is then seen watching Bruce and Vale leave the restaurant.

While Bruce is at Wayne Manor with Alfred, on the news, it reveals that a couple have been murdered and a message had been left behind from the killer. Bruce becomes Batman, arriving to investigate and discovers that the killer was Calendar Man, with Batman believing Vale may become a target. Gordon then mentions the case to Batman that the Calendar Man is linked to killing sprees and crimes taking place on special holidays. Batman then decides to go to Vale's apartment, where he witnesses through the window that Calendar Man has taken Vale hostage and wants her to bring him his "valentine", to which Vale gets terrified of. Batman then breaks through the window and demands for Calendar Man to give up, however Calendar Man announces that Batman is his "valentine" before giving him a card. Batman takes the card and reads it as Calendar Man threatens to kill Vale, discovering that Calendar Man has also set up a bomb at a valentine party. Calendar Man gives Batman a hard choice: to either let him capture Vale or let the bomb go off and kill everyone at the party.

Batman asks Calendar Man why he's doing this, so Calendar Man explains his love for holidays and that he needs to do something special for each every year. Batman presses a button on his utility belt, then throws a Batarang at Calendar Man in the face, disarming him of his knife, and then he smashes him into a table, knocking him unconscious. Batman then goes in the Batwing to head to the party, where he has Gordon evacuate the area. While the majority escaped, the bomb still exploded and killed some people. Batman, guilt-ridden over another failure, apologizes to Gordon and then hands Calendar Man over to the cops angrily. Calendar Man taunts Batman, saying he will see him next holiday, resulting in Batman punching Calendar Man in the face aggressively, breaking his teeth. Gordon calms Batman down and comforts him for his failure, then Calendar Man is sentenced to Arkham Asylum.

## E11: Cats that Laugh

Catwoman is seen getting away with a diamond she stole from a museum and is seen at the docks hiding from cops until she spots the Joker along with his lieutenant, Johnny Frost, and some goons waiting for Carmine Falcone's underboss, Jimmy Saviano. Catwoman hides still and watches as Saviano arrives with a cage and several bodyguards. Saviano sits on the covered cage and demands for the money, which Joker hands over in cash and then comically tosses him a coin on the pile of money he gave to Saviano. A grinning Saviano then opens up the cage to reveal two laughing hyenas Joker names Bud and Lou.

Saviano and his men try to leave, but Joker states he wants to know if his pets known sense of humor. He then grabs one of the bodyguards' hands and shocks him to death with his lethal joy buzzer, and when the bodyguard attempted to shoot Joker, Frost shot the bodyguard in the hand to stop him, allowing Joker to stab the bodyguard in the stomach with a knife. The hyenas begin "laughing" to Joker's delight and Saviano becomes terrified as he attempts to escape. Frost then quickly alerts Joker of Catwoman after she is spotted, Joker then orders him and his goons to go after her while he restrains Saviano with his trick streamers and hysterically takes him back on his ferry while rigging it with explosives, then sends him away from the docks while comedically waving until the ferry explodes, killing Saviano, and Joker then joins in the chase of Catwoman with Bud and Lou. Catwoman is cornered by the hyenas and Joker then knocks Catwoman out by hitting her in the face with a crowbar.

Meanwhile, Bruce is seen in Wayne Manor talking to Alfred about Catwoman. Meanwhile, Catwoman is tied to a deathtrap by Joker which is designed to rip her apart with it's giant joke teeth. Joker then uses his acid flower to squirt acid on the rope binding Catwoman which slowly starts tearing and the henchmen activate the trap. Though upon hearing of an explosion at sea near the docks from the news, Batman goes to investigate. Catwoman saves herself from the trap by using her grappling device to escape and then causes a henchman to accidentally fall into the trap, brutally killing him. Joker is enraged by this and he along with Bud and Lou began to hunt for her, but then he spots Batman, excited by his presence.

Catwoman encounters a brooding Batman and after some flirting, Joker interrupts this and orders Bud and Lou to attack Catwoman. The hyenas attack however Catwoman fights them off, rendering them unconscious while the clown laughs hysterically as he gets away and leads Batman into a trap by trying to crush him to death with cargos however he survives and the Joker throws a razor playing card at a rope which drops another cargo for the Dark Knight to evade.

Joker laughs when he manages to steal a ferry from a rich group, killing them while holding one hostage only for Batman and Catwoman to rescue her together, and Joker then battles the two while knocking Catwoman off the ferry for Batman to save. Joker then draws his knife in an attempt to kill Batman only for Catwoman to use her whip to choke the Clown Prince of Crime until he passes out. Joker is then taken back to Arkham while Catwoman attempts to take off Batman's mask only for him to leave as he apologizes to go and fight more crime when he hears on Gordon's radio that the Penguin has escaped Blackgate.

## E12: Night and the City

During the night at the Iceburg Lounge, the Penguin sets up a bidding auction for various super-criminals including Killer Croc, Black Mask, Ventriloquist, Poison Ivy and Great White Shark with Penguin selling a powerful nuclear bomb capable of destroying Gotham City. However after some discussions with Tracey Buxton and Candy, Penguin thinks back on the idea and has the villains leave in disappointed. Joker then suddenly comes into the lounge and offers the Penguin $5,000,000 for the bomb, however Penguin refused and ordered him out, prompting Joker to attack him with a knife in an attempt to steal the bomb, so Penguin's men attempt to beat down Joker and throw him out only to be killed. Penguin then escapes with the bomb.
After Penguin goes to plan his threat to Gotham City to hold it for ransom or he'll blow up the city, Mayor Hill responds to this with not negotiating with criminal scum and orders Gordon to arrest the Penguin. Batman joins in the police hunt and breaks into the Iceburg Lounge but finds nobody except Joker armed with a knife who reveals that he is hunting Penguin as well, even mockingly suggesting they should work together to find him, but Batman disarms the Joker and pins him to the ground, then cuffs him for the police and says he doesn't have time for him. When Batman leaves, Joker giggles as he reveals he cuffed fake hands and brings out the real ones; preparing to exact his revenge on the bat and the bird.
Penguin gives another message to the mayor with frustration; claiming he'll never find him and gives him 3 hours to pay the ransom or Gotham will face destruction. Batman continues the hunt by infiltrating several of Penguin's operations and finds Loose Lips in the middle of packing weapons and ammunition with his men to join up with Penguin's position in case Gotham is destroyed, despite Loose Lips doubting their boss would do it and claims he only wants the money. Batman attacks them and interrogates Loose Lips, with the fearful thug revealing the location, so Batman headbutts him and knocks him out before leaving.
Batman goes to confront Penguin only to be ambushed by Joker who comically places a trash can over his head and then beats him down with a lead pipe. While Batman was down on the ground in pain, Joker revealed he already discovered Penguin's location by interrogating and murdering one of his lieutenants before leaving a photo of the murder victim to Batman and left to confront Penguin. At a mountain, Penguin's thugs were seen trying to defend their boss only to be killed by Joker and his gang and the clown then assaulted Penguin, arming the nuclear device and even sending it off targeting Wayne Manor, muttering that he always hated Wayne. Batman though intervenes and calls in the Batwing to chase the missile, using his Pneumatic Mangler to climb the nuke and then managed to disable it to explode in the sky instead of nuking Gotham before escaping.
Joker grinned sadistically at the "fireworks" and prepared his flower, tauning Penguin about the possibilities of what could come out. Penguin is terrified and tried to escape only for Frost to grab him. Joker then tries to activate his flower only for Batman to stop him, kicking him away and then moved to arrest him however the Joker refuses to give up and takes out his jester cane sword, challenging Batman to a duel. However, Batman defeated Joker and knocked him unconscious. Penguin escapes before he could be arrested, disappointing Batman and Gordon.

## E13: Killing Spree

At Arkham Asylum, Clayface is seen in his cell and attempting to escape by impersonating Warden Quincy Sharp to Aaron Cash; however the guard saw through Clayface's trick. So instead when Cash left, Clayface morphed into a wall and another guard appeared, who was shocked and called help as he opened the cell to try and find out how Clayface escaped, allowing him to murder the panicking guard and then took his appearance. Before he could escape Arkham, Cash ordered the guard to guard Victor Zsasz during his session. However halfway through, Zsasz used a hidden knife to stab one guard death while he stole his rifle and shot at Clayface. However, Clayface is invulnerable to bullets which confused Zsasz, but she shrugged it off and murdered his psychiatrist. The two villains escaped Arkham planning to wreak havoc.

However during a police chase, Clayface was "recaptured" by the police but Zsasz continued his tally mark murders and evaded the cops. Zsasz killed several victims and grew his already massive body count, concerning Batman who investigated the murders with each sharing Zsasz's murder method with a knife and being placed in lifelike poses. During a night on patrol, the cops managed to corner Zsasz who is holding a woman hostage. Batman arrived and after demanding for the serial killer to surrender, Zsasz refuses which leads Batman using his Grapnel Gun to tear apart a wall to knock out Zsasz.

However even when Zsasz has been locked up, murders still began growing with no traces even though Batman extensively investigated each and every new victim involved with Clayface. Batman interrogated Zsasz and after he mocked the Dark Knight, even inviting him to end his life. Batman then made Zsasz believe he'll kill him and this scared Zsasz enough to reveal Clayface's plans. The rest of Clayface's targets was in one place as planned so Clayface tried to kill them all at once until Batman intervened. After an intense fight, Clayface was defeated when Batman trapped him with a large amount of ice pellets and then called the cops to escort him back to Arkham in a more secure cell.