The Joining, Part 1

"**The Joining, Part 1**" is the twelfth episode and the first part of the season finale of the fourth season of *The Batman*. It is also the fifty-first episode overall.

## Synopsis

Bruce discovers that Wayne Industries is distributing alien technology across the world and gains the aid of a mysterious ally, who warns him of an alien race threatening to conquer Earth. Meanwhile, Batman begins to wonder whether he'd be better off without Batgirl and Robin.

## Plot

Bruce and Dick visit Lucius Fox at Wayne Industries, and it becomes clear that Lucius knows that Bruce is the Batman. He talks about how he worked on the Batcave and the Shadow Tek (gadgets). They tour the facilities, where the technicians are hard at work, and then leave after having some crates shipped. Outside, Dick asks if there is anyone else he does not know of that knows Bruce's secret. Bruce replies that Lucius was the first and the last, as he does not like to rely on people, especially not for keeping secrets. Lucius goes to his office where he's accosted by a shadowy figure which turns out to be... himself.

Later, Batman is forced to help out Batgirl and Robin as they take on robbers, and Batman wonders if he is too dependent on them. He goes back to the crime scene where he meets police detective John Jones. Jones observes that a recent string of robberies have all targeted Wayne Industries equipment. Batman takes one of the crates that the robbers were trying to steal. Bruce talks to "Lucius" on the phone (while Dick and Barbara are trying to open the crate), and tells him to have the crates brought back. In the background, the Wayne Industry technicians are working in perfect synchronization.

Bruce checks up on Jones and discovers that his paper trail only extends back to his last job in Denver, Colorado. A suspicious Bruce checks the crate the duo opened and discovers they hold anti-gravity platforms,something Wayne Industries do not usually manufacture. Batman goes to confront Jones and sneaks in, finding surveillance photos of himself. Looking into the next round, he finds Jones watching the television and shapeshifting into different people and characters on the screen. Jones notices Batman and shapeshifts into a green-skinned hairless humanoid. Batman tries to capture him but it becomes clear that Jones has superhuman strength as well as shapeshifting. The fight goes out into the streets where Jones flies into the air and Batman pursues in the Batwing. Jones is able to dematerialize and phase through buildings, but Batman manages to snare him with an electrical net. Jones says his name is really J'onn J'onzz and he has determined Bruce Wayne is Batman.

The two go to a diner and compare notes, and J'onn reveals he's an alien. Batman realizes he has a vulnerability to fire, while J'onn reveals he's a telepath but is impressed that Batman can block his own thoughts. Impressed, J'onn reveals that an alien invasion is happening as they speak and Batman will need help to take them on. The robotic aliens call themselves "the Joining" and take over worlds and strip them of their technology. They were built by an ancient, now forgotten, race, who became their first victims. They use technology to evolve, which is why Wayne Industries is the target.

The two heroes go to Lucius' house and J'onn instantly identifies "Lucius" as a replicant robot of the Joining. He knocks off its head and takes it to the Batcave. The head boasts of the Joining's inevitable victory and confirms that Lucius is alive... as long as the aliens need access to his knowledge. It reveals Lucius is held captive at Wayne Industries.

Batman takes J'onn along to investigate Wayne Industries. They spot Lucius and race to free him. Meanwhile, Robin and Batgirl are eating cookies and discussing the reveal that Lucius has a robot replica,and theorise anyone could be a robot without their knowledge. They suspect Alfred and think of kicking his head off, but Alfred threatens them with no more cookies for a year, validating he is the real Alfred. Back at Wayne Industries, Batman and Manhunter sneak inside and take out the robots. The Joining senses them almost immediately and attacks them with the automated industrial robot arms. The duo destroys them and moves on. They manage to rescue Lucius as a secret fleet of ships emerges from the building using the anti-gravity platforms. The heroes get Lucius to the roof but can only look on as dozens of the spaceships fly out across Gotham... and the world.

## Cast/Characters

* Rino Romano as Bruce Wayne/The Batman
* Evan Sabara as Dick Grayson/Robin
* Danielle Judovits as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
* Alastair Duncan as Alfred Pennyworth
* Louis Gossett Jr. as Lucius Fox
* Dorian Harewood as John Jones/Martian Manhunter
* Roger Rose as Worker #2
* Clayface (mentioned)
* Killer Croc (mentioned)
* James Gordon (mentioned)
* The Joining

## Events

- Character debuts:

* Lucius Fox
* Martian Manhunter
* The Joining

- The Batwing is rebuilt after the events of *Thunder*.

- Batman meets another hero for the first time, and in this episode, it is Martian Manhunter.

- Lucius reveals that he knows Batman's identity, and that he built the Batcave with Bruce.

- Manhunter discovers Batman's identity, and vice versa.

- The Joining reveal themselves publicly and start their invasion of Earth.

## Trivia

* A scene in which J'onn J'onzz is watching TV and shapeshifting intro characters on screen is very similar to the scene from DC: The New Frontier Vol 1 4, where Earth-21 Martian Manhunter is doing the same thing.
* In the remastered version, the sound that plays when the intro starts is missing.