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Issue 52 - The life stories of a few superheroes who did things, on their year off.
Explored 4.27.15
This concludes the year long Real H. Word project!
Thank you to all of you who stuck around for the ride! Its was so much better having you with me. Been on Flickr for years, and now being able to go from zero views and subscribes to many has been freakin awesome, and I like it. I wonder what can we do next???
See all 52 weeks in the album The Real H Word:
www.flickr.com/photos/lyarks/sets/72157644108372801/
Go behind the scenes and see other extras from the year online at:
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Drury- What’d you mean she’s gone into labour?!
Tiger Shark- I mean she’s become the fairy queen of Paradise Island. What else could I mean?! Just get your ass down here!
Drury- My taxi left me!
Tiger Shark- A taxi? Wow. You need to Über that shit, Walker
Drury- Why? I’m not a sheep.
Tiger Shark- No, you’re an ass! Think of something. Fast!
Drury- Not to worry. I have an idea...
—————————
Drury- Thanks for the lift, Bats.
Batman- The Batsignal is meant for emergencies.
Drury- My wife’s giving birth! Surely that’s an emergency?
Batman- Hmm.
Drury- Y’know I’ve never been in the Batwing before? Been in the Batmobile a bunch though.
Batman- Walker-
Drury- I’ve got to evict The Moth right? I don’t want to but he’s left me little choice. Leaving cocoons and skin all over the place...
Batman- This marriage of yours-
Drury- Oh, right! You remember Tiger Moth right? We met an unspecified amount of time ago. Back when El Macho broke your back. I take it you remember that? Of course you do. Len, The Eraser, gave out free drinks. He’s a bartender now. We started dating shortly after and she’s been welcomed into my crew. Her pop, Gaige, really likes me, shot me in the crotch, though I’m sure that’s how he shows love.
Batman- And this Carson? The man in the cocoon
Drury- Aaah. Ted Carson. I ran him over. He died and I stuffed his body in the Arkham gardens
Batman- That was you?
Drury- Then he came back, Bummer. Captured the two of us. And Gar. Firefly. You know Firefly. Fortunately he picked up my old cocoon gun and encased himself in gooey foam. Thought that was the last of him.
Batman- Came back? He cheated death?
Drury- It’s Gotham Bats, everyone cheats death. I did it. You did it. Robin did it. He crashed our wedding, with Zodiac Master’s help. I reckon that’s a name you’ve not heard in some time. And the Joker shot him.
Batman- You invited the Joker to your wedding?
Drury- I invited you too! You didn’t show! You’re inviting me to your wedding though right?
Batman- What are you talking about?
Drury- Don’t lie. Hush told me. You and Selina. Always liked you two. Anyway, thought that was the last of Ted, I mean, Gaige skinned him to make a coat, that put a dampener on the honeymoon. And then several months ago he came back. Somehow. He was that ape in Pyg’s circus. I thought he’d killed him. Again, that is.
Batman- What the-
Drury- Just drop me off here man. Cheers!
Batman- What are you? Just... what are you?
A rainy day at home so what better way to spend it by photographing Batman and the Joker battling it out on my coffee table with Gotham city (my tv screen!) in the background.
Anarky- The prosecutor calls David Wist to the stand!
Dave- S’up
Drury- Zodiac, sit down!
Zodiac- But I hate him so much!
Dent- You are David Wist, yes? The Human Magnet?
Dave- I am.
Dent- Might I ask you a question, Mr Wist?
Dave- You may
Dent- What prompted you to become a supervillain?
Dave- Even when I gained these powers I doubted I could make it as a career criminal. I was content to simply return to work. But when I saw Walker on the news, calling himself “Killer Moth”, I thought to myself “if Killer Moth can make it as supervillain, perhaps the Human Magnet can too”
Dent- So I’d be correct in saying Drury Walker inspired you to become a villain?
Dave- I suppose so.
Dent- And, if you don’t mind me saying, you have been somewhat of a joke amongst more notorious supervillains?
Dave- That is sadly true
Dent- No further questions your honour
Zodiac- Wait, I have a question.
Drury- Oh God.
Zodiac- How does it feel to fuck a woman who doesn’t love you back? Magpie loves me and you know it!
Dave- Son of a bitch!
Anarky- Order! Order! I must have order!
Zodiac- Fuck you all! Zodiac out!
Drury- Is he allowed to do that?!
Anarky- Eh, I’ll allow it
—————————————
Batman- How many times? The Batsignal is not a toy you use for when you’ve misplaced your car keys.
Gar- Wedding planning’s really getting to you, isn’t it?
Miranda- Listen, we’d only call you if absolutely necessary.
Batman- Like when Walker got donut jelly on his tights and wanted them cleaned?
Gar- When you have a butler, you might as well use him...
Batman- Goodbye. You’re lucky I’m not arresting you here and now.
Miranda- Look at you, so high and mighty! Drury’s been abducted.
Gar- (for the fifth time this year)
Miranda- He needs you!
Batman- I can’t. I need to find out who manipulated the Moth.
Miranda- Please! All the “classic” bad guys have him at some kinda trial!
Batman- There was a military grade plane heading to Santa Prisca. That’s where he’ll be. Go.
Miranda- Not without you! You want to find the mastermind behind Charaxes? Chances are he’ll be there.
Batman- What did you say?
Miranda- All I said was “ if we’re lucky, that’s where he’ll be”
Batman- Get in the plane, both of you.
Miranda- What?
Batman- Santa Prisca will have to wait. I know the man behind the Moth! Now get in!
Gar- Finally! You better have heating in there. I've been freezing my ass off
November 7, 2042
29 years have passed since Bruce Wayne retired as Batman. He and Selina Kyle moved to Corto Maltese, a country where the ‘’Caped Crusader of Gotham’’ is nothing more than an urban myth, and have led a safe life there. After changing their identities to Matches Malone and Irena Dubrovna respectively to avoid them getting recognized, the two married a few decades earlier and got a daughter named Helena together roughly 17 years ago. Although Bruce sometimes misses the life he lived before this, he wouldn’t trade his current one for anything.
It is a quiet night when Bruce gets awoken by some noise coming from the kitchen. He tries to get back to sleep, but hears something isn’t right when he hears something clattering on the ground. Bruce gets out of bed, puts on a dark red bathrobe and walks downstairs to investigate. Making sure to walk as silently as possible in order to remain unnoticed, he takes a peek around the corner but doesn’t find anything out of the ordinary there. Everything is just as he left it the day before, without any signs of a break-in. He prepares to head back to bed as he notices some sound coming from upstairs now. He hears a window opening in another room, but as he slams open the door he finds another empty room. He takes a look outside the window he heard getting opened which has a view over the wide garden of their house, but he fails to spot anything there either. Bruce decides to leave it be for now and to contact the authorities the next morning as he returns to bed. However, as he enters the bedroom, he is met with a gruesome sight.
Before him he sees his wife Selina reaching for her throat, struggling to breathe as blood spills everywhere. He rushes to help her and notices that her throat has been slit open by a sharp object. Knowing that he can’t do anything to help her himself Bruce grabs the phone on the nightstand and dials 911 hoping that he can save her life that way. He gets connected to an emergency medical dispatcher and gives the necessary information to call an ambulance. After this, he lifts her up out of bed and carries her downstairs to make it easier for the paramedics to get her in the ambulance, trying everything to comfort her as he does so. He lays her on the couch as he hears the sirens of the ambulance approaching in the distance. The paramedics rush inside the house, putting her on a brancard and bringing her into the ambulance as Bruce can only watch. He stands next to the brancard in the ambulance, holding her hand as he hears the heartbeat monitor flatlining.
A week has passed since the murder on Selena. Both Bruce and Helena are still processing the event. Despite the best work from the local police force they did not manage to find any clues as to who did it, leaving them without a single idea as to why it happened. After not having slept for almost a week and refusing to enter the place where his wife got her throat slit, Bruce decides to finally go in there to clean the mess from that night. As he takes the blood-stained sheets off the bed, he sees something weird under the sheets; a playing card with a bloody, golden knife pierced through it. He takes the knife out of it and takes a look at the card, noting a short message written on there in a messy handwriting.
“Why the long face, Bruce? I know this truly puts a smile on my own face.”
He turns over the card, almost losing his balance in shock as he sees the trademark design Joker always used on the front of the card. Despite him finding out his identity years ago and ruining his life shortly after, Bruce hoped that he would leave him alone now that he is retired. He looks up what he has been up to for the past years, and finds out Joker has supposedly been in the highest security wing of Arkham for the past 25 years. Despite his instincts telling him to leave it be and just continue to make the most of his retirement, he can't seem to shake off the urge to return to Gotham to get to the bottom of this.
A couple of days later, Helena gets awoken by her dad early in the morning. She puts on some clothes and steps outside her room as her dad prompts her to follow him to the attic. As they are making their way there, Bruce asks her if she ever heard of the Batman. Although she has read the rumors online of a vigilante dressed as a bat fighting crime in Gotham for several years, she never really believed them to be real. Despite all of the evidence, from pictures in newspapers to blurry videos of somebody in a bat costume flying over Gotham, something about it just seemed weird to her. Knowing that her parents lived in that city for some time she did ask them about it once, but her dad said all the stories were just hoaxes made up by the police force in order to scare off criminals.
After walking up the stairs Bruce turns on a light to illuminate the messy attic. He makes his way over to a wooden closet in the back with a big padlock around the door. As he looks around for something, Helena notices a lot of little trinkets filling up the attic; some kind of jester hat, a glass dome with an old handgun in it, a cane with a weird question mark on it along with a bunch of other items. Bruce finds the key and opens the closet, revealing a suit hanging upside down in it. Helena notices a bat symbol on the chest of the suit as she begins to put together the pieces; her dad was Batman. She picks up a bat-shaped weapon from the ground as Bruce takes the suit out of the closet.
“Pack up your stuff.” Bruce says. “We’re going to Gotham.”
---------------------------
A few days later, after getting on the next flight to Gotham City and after telling Helena of his suspicions, the two arrive in the city. Although Bruce didn’t expect Gotham to look exactly like how it did when he left with Selina almost 30 years ago, he’s still shocked to see how much it changed. As he looks at the skyline of the city through the window of the airport, he sees that the dark and mundane buildings of the city he used to know have all been replaced with tall, futuristic skyscrapers. All personnel on the airport have also been replaced with androids and computer systems. While Bruce struggles to get used to this new and completely different Gotham, Helena guides them to a metro line leading right into the center of the city.
Another hour passes before the two find their way to the center of Gotham, making their way towards the newly rebuilt Wayne Enterprises building; a gigantic black structure, contrasting sharply with the clean lightly colored buildings surrounding it and with a big neon-lit sign on top of the roof. Knowing he left most of the gadgets he used as Batman in one of the floors of the building, Bruce hopes that he can still find and use them. He tries to enter, but he gets halted by a security guard asking him why he wants to enter the building. Bruce directs the guards attention towards the sign on the structure as he pulls out his ID-card, making sure to point out the fact that the name plastered on the building belongs to him. The guard nods and lets the two in, turning on his earpiece and muttering something to the person on the other end as he does so.
As they find themselves in the lobby, a well-dressed young man approaches Bruce and Helena. He introduces himself as Lucius Fox Jr, current CEO of Wayne Enterprises and son of the late Fox Sr, who he used to know back during his prime as a vigilante. He talks about the stories his father used to tell about him before getting to the reason he is here. Fox guides them to one of the elevators in the building and touches in a specific code into the panel after they enter. A fingerprint scanner flips open from the wall as he asks Bruce to put his thumb on it. He does so and feels the elevator descending downwards right after, despite there officially not being any levels below ground in this building. The elevator stops going down after a short while, giving way to a dimly lit storage area filled with items hidden under big pieces of cloth when the doors open. Bruce walks over to one of the bigger items and takes the cloth of it, seeing that someone put the Batmobile under there. He walks around the place and takes a look at more of the items, seeing that most of what he stored in the Batcave when he retired has been put in here. He sees that one of his batarangs, an old prototype for a suit for Robin and even the old Batsignal were brought to this place. As Bruce shows Helena some of the objects, reminiscing about when he was still in his prime, he suddenly hears a female voice behind him.
He turns around and sees Barbara Gordon sitting in a wheelchair behind him. She and him haven’t seen each other since the Joker paralyzed her from the waist down almost thirty years ago, with Barbara cutting off all contact with him shortly after the incident. She begins talking about how after Bruce left Gotham nobody was left to look after Wayne Manor. Roughly 15 years ago, when plans were announced to tear down the vacant house, Lucius Fox took it upon himself to get all of the items left in the Batcave out of there before someone would stumble on them during the demolition. Out of the faint hope that the Dark Knight would one day return to Gotham, he decided to store all of his items right under the Wayne Enterprises building instead of destroying them.
During this time, Barbara had moved back to Gotham and got a position within the GCPD again. She got assigned to lead the investigation behind the addicting, strength-enhancing drug known as Venom which had been becoming more and more popular in Gotham over the past years. Due to it becoming more and more difficult to keep track of all the Venom-related incidents within the city, she reached out to Wayne Enterprises for help. Fox Jr. showed her the storage space and asked her to help him look after the Dark Knight's gadgets. Although she refused at first, wanting nothing to do with Bruce and the Batman after the incident at Wayne Manor, she eventually agreed in case he would ever return to Gotham.
Barbara then shows Bruce something she has been working on in the past years. After the company abandoned their contract to make military equipment years ago, many projects which were still a work in progress got scrapped and left behind in the Applied Science division. One of these projects was a prototype for an exosuit which would give more strength to older or wounded soldiers, allowing them to be more effective in battle despite their handicaps. Seeing how Bruce isn’t as strong as he was in his prime almost 30 years ago, she modified and prepared the prototype for him to use as a new suit. He walks over to the suit, seeing a gun-metal gray suit with a black cowl and purple gloves outfit on display. He contemplates his decision for a moment, doubting if adopting his Dark Knight-persona again is the right choice, but the thought of figuring out who was behind the murder on his wife finally convinces him to do it. Right next to his outfit is an old, red and green-colored suit originally intended for Duke Thomas to which Helena takes a liking. Bruce tries to talk her out of it at first, remembering the guilt he felt after letting the first Robin getting killed, but her insisting on helping solve the murder on her mother persuades him to let his daughter help him out.
A few days have passed when a young man walks down Park Row, now more commonly known as Crime Alley after the murder on the Waynes took place there almost 50 years ago. After finishing his 10-hour shift at LexCorp all he wants to do is go home, but his way gets blocked by a figure emerging from the shadows. He tries to turn around, but two other people are blocking the way there as well. He notices they are all holding some kind of weapon in their hands as one of them asks him to hand over his valuable possessions. The man, paralyzed with fear, finds himself too scared to do anything. Seeing that the man isn’t complying with them, the criminal commands the other two people to beat the man up and to take whatever valuable he has from him after that. They approach the young man, but the two stop in their tracks as the streetlights illuminating the alley suddenly all burst apart. All of the criminals get their phones out of their pockets and turn on the flashlights to investigate as they find a weird, bat-shaped weapon on the ground. Before any of them can react, a shadowy figure drops from the rooftop and lands on top of one of the criminals, knocking him out instantly. The young man drops to the ground in fear while the remaining criminals aim their flashlights at the figure. Before them stands a person with most of his figure hidden behind a completely black cape, wearing a cowl with spikes on top of it. While they can't see the face of the person, the white eyes of his cowl suddenly light up as he looks the two right in the face.
In their youth, every kid in Gotham heard the ghost stories of the Batman from their parents, who would come after them if they ever commit a crime. Most kids always thought this was just a myth told to keep their kids from doing anything stupid, but the two criminals are doubting the legitness of these stories as they lay their eyes upon the figure in front of them.
One of the criminals clenches his fist around the wooden baseball bat he’s holding and charges at the Batman. He swings the weapon at full force in an attempt to hit him, but Batman grabs the bat right before it strikes him and tests out the power of his new suit by breaking it in half with his hands. After throwing away the one half, he uses the other half to beat up the perpetrator. Once he’s done with him, Batman redirects his attention to the other criminal as he slowly approaches him. Out of fear he pulls out a gun from his back pocket, bringing Bruce back to what happened 50 years prior in this exact alley for a short moment. He fires the gun several times, but finds that the Batman is unphased by the bullets as he continues to steadily walk towards him. Before he’s able to run away, the Bat grabs him by the coat and lifts him in the air. He grabs the gun out of his hand and tosses him against the wall, breaking the gun in two and dropping it on the ground.
Then he turns to the young man who is still cowering in fear. He walks towards him as the man tries to get away too, scared that he is going to beat him up too, but stops once he sees that he is just offering him a hand to get up. For the first time since the start of the fight, Batman begins talking and warns him to not go through this alley again as he won't always be there to protect him. He unbuckles the grappling gun from his utility belt, but right before he goes away the man asks him who he is.
‘’Me?’’ He asks. ‘’I’m Batman.’’
Upon returning to the Wayne Enterprises building not too long after, Batman starts the engine of the Batmobile up for the first time in thirty years. Using Barbara’s connections with the Arkham Asylum, she was able to get him and Helena into the high-security wing of the prison in order to meet up with the Joker. After parking the vehicle in front of the gate, the two head inside to investigate the Clown Prince of Crime’s involvement with the murder on Selina. They register themselves at the front desk and have to follow a security guard in order to get to the proper wing. While they are walking through the lower-security wings of the prison Batman notices a lot of people, both inmates and employees of the facility, staring at him in disbelief. As they descend into the higher security levels Batman begins to see some more familiar faces like Edward Nigma, who is scribbling dozens of tiny question marks on the wall of his cell and even the Condiment King who tries to greet him like an old friend.
After making their way through the complex, the guard unlocks the big door leading to the high-security wing. As the gate opens in front of them, Batman and Robin see a long hallway with cells on each side. Despite almost every single cell having their lights on, the one at the end of the wall is completely dark. While Batman avoids any contact with the inmates in this wing, only focused
on the cell at the end of the hall, Helena takes her time to see who is in which cell. Although most of them are empty, she sees one with plants covering every inch of the cell belonging to Pamela Isley and another right next to the one Batman is walking towards containing Mr. Freeze, now not much more than a corpse being kept alive by his own suit. Batman stands in front of the dark room, only being able to make out a vague silhouette in the darkness. He orders the guard to turn on the light, and sees the Joker staring right into his eyes on the other side of the glass when the lights flicker on.
He has changed a lot since their final confrontation which led to the death of Duke Thomas; he abandoned his long tousled, spiked up hairstyle in favor of a shorter swept back one, his permanent white make-up almost seems to have faded from his skin, and his smile has disappeared from his face. While Joker does his best to strike a conversation with him, acting like he’s an old friend of his who he hasn’t seen in years and asking what made him come out of retirement, Batman only responds by taking the playing card out of his pocket and holding it in front of his face. Batman explains his suspicions, showing him the message on the back of the card. Joker becomes genuinely confused, stating that he hasn't used those cards in decades because he lost his motivation to commit crime after he drove the Dark Knight out of Gotham. Along with that he has been on constant supervision within this prison, locked behind bulletproof glass walls 24/7, so someone would’ve noticed if he got out of his cell to deliver the card somehow.
“Listen Bats, I know you don't trust me at all, but for once I'm not making some sick joke. I swear i was not involved with the murder on your wife.”
After this, Joker asks to see it for himself stating that he might be able to figure out some more clues. He manages to slip his fingers through one of the openings in the glass wall, insisting him to hand over the card. Batman hesitates for a moment, but agrees to give it to him in a moment of desperation. He attentively looks at it from all angles, noting how the handwriting is just slightly off from how he actually writes and how the design of the card doesn’t quite match up to what he used as well. As he asks Bruce if he even bothered to check the item for any traces of DNA on it before coming up with this plan, he notices some low beeping coming from the inside of the card. He tears it open without a second thought, discovering that a strange flat device with a blinking light has been sitting in the card this whole time. Joker tosses the torn pieces of the card away to examine the thing, seeing the symbol of an owl embedded on the back of it. Before Joker can comment on it, the device begins beeping louder and louder while the light begins blinking faster as well. Batman realizes he unknowingly gave the Joker an explosive and tries everything he can to prevent it from going off, but it's too late. Joker looks him in the eye for one last time, putting a big smile on his face right before he gets engulfed in a sea of flames.
Batman and Robin manage to get out of the blast zone just in time. After the dust settles, he sees that the entire back of the prison wing has been obliterated. Nothing’s left of Joker and his cell along with the ones holding Freeze and Ivy next to it. Only some smoldering pieces of the playing card remain, floating through the air and burning up before they can be salvaged. Alarms start going off as a group of guards rushes into the wing, forcing Batman and Robin out of the wing. As they get guided out of the building, moving past the chaos which has erupted in the other parts of the facility, Batman is struggling to comprehend what he just witnessed. His head’s filled with burning questions; Why did someone pretend that the Joker was behind the murder? Why was there an explosive hidden in the card? Why was there an owl printed on said explosive? And most importantly, why was it detonated at that exact moment?
The sun has begun to rise when Bruce and Helena return from their trip to Arkham. As they use a hidden entrance to get inside the Wayne Enterprises building, stories about the explosion in the prison start flooding every news station. Almost all of them point towards the Batman having brought an bomb into the facility on purpose in order to finally get rid of his arch nemesis, despite there not being a lot of actual evidence to support this. Bruce parks the Batmobile in the storage facility and steps out, looking around to see if Barbara is around here anywhere. He calls out for her, but as his voice echoes through the place without a response he begins to think something is not right. Bruce spots three figures standing in the distance, but before he can identify them the lights suddenly turn off. A voice echoes through the space, saying something about the ‘’Court of Owls’’ wanting to see the Dynamic Duo. He tries to approach them, but suddenly feels a small dart piercing through his cowl and hitting him in the neck. He falls to the ground, feeling himself getting dragged away towards the Court as his vision turns black.
-----------------------------
Mini Battle for the Batcave is a collaborative project between LEGO Ideas users, BrickadierG (Model Design), omarovalle (Graphic Design), and mreilly44 (Video).
This is the perfect Easter Egg for Batman fans to add to their LEGO city! This minifigure-scale MOC was built to emulate the design of the famous Bat-Signal seen in "The Dark Knight" (2008).
Currently, one downfall of this design is part #6222 is surprisingly rare in black. To cut down on the price, you can swap in a more affordable dark bluish grey #6222. Another option is all the black pieces that comprise the body of the signal are also available in light-bluish grey if you would prefer to switch the entire signal to that color.
Find the free instructions on Rebrickable.com!
You can also follow all the fun on Instagram: @BenBuildsLego
Meanwhile, in Batcave 66...*
"Robin, it's time we-"
POW!!
"Gosh, Batman!"
"Robin, we have to-"
BAM!
"This Bat-Special-FX generator is GREAT, Batman!"
"Robin, stop-"
WHAM!
"Robinstopusingthat!!"
BOOM!
"Exceptionally epic effects, Batman!"
*sigh* "Right. Now... we have to carefully... plan... sniff? sniff?... Robin... be ready. I smell evil..."
"Oh... um... it's a special effect, Batman!"
"No... Robin... this is the stench of foul death... perhaps the Joker... has left another... unpleasant surprise... in the Bat-Fridge."
"It might be that, Batman! Or, gosh, it might be the chili from the Greasy Freeze?"**
"The... Greasy Freeze?"
THWACK!!
"Robin!!"
"Sorry, Batman!"
═════════════════════════════════════
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
DC Batman 1966 TV Series Batcave
2021, McFarlane Toys
Batman Classic TV Series
Batman
2017, Funko
DC Comics Classic TV Series Batmobile Die-cast
2019, Jada
Batman Bat-Signal
RP Studios
2021, Running Press
Jada
* Not to be confused with the 'real' Batcave, as seen in Paprihaven 1503!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/47822354291/
(Batman 66 entered Paprihaven through the REM Ripple in Paprihaven 1626, and tries to keep his existence secret from 'serious' Batman.)
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53505377336/
** For the cheapest, greasiest food in Paprihaven, go to the Greasy Freeze!
There's trouble in Gotham City and only one man can save the day! Get to the top of the GCPD and help Commissioner Gordon activate the bat signal. - Out of the darkness comes a quite stillness, not even a rustle or a murmur. Has he arrived yet? You feel something near you but there's no one around. Suddenly it appears the shadows have moved closer and closer until you make out a shadowy figure, a dark silhouette with a warrior like stance. A man who has nothing to lose, who fears no one, a brave solider, a watchful guardian,a dark knight. Yes he is here. Batman.
"Why so serious?"
This MOC is designed in the style of the Architecture skyline series and features the iconic locations from "The Dark Knight" trilogy, including:
- Wayne Manor (from "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight Rises")
- The Narrows (from "Batman Begins")
- Wayne Tower (from "Batman Begins")
- Wayne Tower (from "The Dark Knight")
- The Batsignal
- The Ferries (from "The Dark Knight")
- Gotham City stadium (from "The Dark Knight Rises")
- and a couple tiny hidden Easter Eggs :)
Dimensions: approximately 11.4" x 2.6" x 5.4"
The length of this skyline is exactly the same as the official LEGO skyline sets for London and Paris.
Find the instructions here and on Rebrickable.com!
You can follow all the fun on Instagram: @BenBuildsLego
"Why so serious?"
This MOC is designed in the style of the Architecture skyline series and features the iconic locations from "The Dark Knight" trilogy, including:
- Wayne Manor (from "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight Rises")
- The Narrows (from "Batman Begins")
- Wayne Tower (from "Batman Begins")
- Wayne Tower (from "The Dark Knight")
- The Batsignal
- The Ferries (from "The Dark Knight")
- Gotham City stadium (from "The Dark Knight Rises")
- and a couple tiny hidden Easter Eggs :)
Dimensions: approximately 11.4" x 2.6" x 5.4"
The length of this skyline is exactly the same as the official LEGO skyline sets for London and Paris.
Find the instructions here and on Rebrickable.com!
You can follow all the fun on Instagram: @BenBuildsLego
Batman hält die Welt in Atem
Spielfilm / USA 1966
Regie: Leslie H. Martinson
Drehbuch: Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Produktion: William Dozier (20th Century Fox)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(1966_film)
==Gotham City==
December 24th. Thursday Night. 10:30 pm. Across Gotham, children were in their beds, eagerly awaiting Christmas morning; cookies were laid out beside their Christmas Trees, stockings were hung up along their fireplaces and grey clouds cast down perfect, white snowflakes onto their roofs.
The Misfits sat around the table, toasting their absent friends with mugs of boozy eggnog. Though Sharpe had initially struggled to win back Ito's trust after they had freed Dekker from his dungeons, their relationship had been mended with a 'brand-new' teapot Sharpe had covertly liberated from an Englishman's larder. Gar, stopped by Clair's residence, to hand over a stack of poorly wrapped presents, and left unsure if Clair was feeling festive enough to hand over the DVD boxset he had intended to gift Jenna. Bridget, nodded politely along to the Misfit's banter, thinking of her uncle's empty apartment, still furnished with the decorations she had placed in the vain hope that she might have been able to celebrate the holiday with her father.
Batman had shed his police officer disguise, but remained at the GCPD, keeping watch over the prisoners. The impending snowstorms had made the prospect of transferring them to a more secure location impossible. His Knights stood watch over several key locations around the city; Nightwing and Red Hood were positioned on a rooftop overlooking the GCPD itself, Red Robin and Spoiler surveyed the dockyards, taking keen interest in the Tiger Shark's penthouse while Robin and Batgirl observed the ISA headquarters from a rocky outcrop nearby.
Posted on the bridge opposite the Asylum, Needham's eyes squinted. It was currently rather difficult for him to think, what, with the constant scratching sounds on his left: Azrael, was tonight's chaperone, the one-time Caped Crusader and the long-time enforcer of the will of the Sacred Order of Saint Dumas, a secret order that had sworn righteous judgement on all criminals and heretics. For the last five minutes, he had been enforcing their will through an attack on Eric Needham's hearing, grinding his blade against the stone balcony to sharpen it, whispering a hymn as he did so.
Elsewhere, exhausted parents sat down in front of their TVs: The 10 o'clock news had just finished broadcasting, and the latest instalment of Jack Ryder's late night talkshow was up next. Ryder, mug of cocoa in hand, was dressed in a padded Santa suit, with fluffy fur lining around the wrists.
"To all of you folks just tuning in, stay right there. We've got an extra special show for you all! Later tonight, we'll be joined by fashion guru Mari McCabe, and we'll have music by- by-"
An ear-piercing noise burst through the speakers. Ryder winced, as he put his finger to his headset.
"I'm very sorry, folks, but there appears to be some kind of issue with the equipment, we'll try to resolve that immediately," Ryder pledged.
~-~
As they walked through the hallway together, Batman and the Commissioner came to a stop outside the breakroom, their eyes fixed to the TV.
"Some kinda issue with the audio," one of the cops inside was muttering to his friend.
"Well, it better not get pulled, this show's been the only thing that's gotten me through this rotten week."
"It could be that the snow knocked an antenna loose," Gordon suggested.
"Could be," Batman frowned, rejecting his friend's optimism.
Ryder's voice was crackling now, as the screen turned to static. "Huh. We seem to be losing our signal... That's weird. Bear with us for a few minutes, my team and I will be working hard to give you another thrilling show of 'You Don't Know Jack!'"
"tesssssting... tesssssting..." a different voice rasped, separate from the noises of Ryder's show. The feed cut to a lush green forest, or rather, a crude replica of one; the tree trunks were cardboard, the bushes were painted, and the blue sky was a creased shower curtain.
~-~
"Turn that up," Batman ordered the cops as he entered the breakroom. A mistake that their ears would pay for:
"GOOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM!" the voice boomed, as the camera panned out to reveal a familiar, pale man, dressed like an American G.I. "King Cong here with an extra special all points bullet-in! I know how you all like to be kept informed on matters of strife and death!" the man grinned, lowering his pair of sunglasses to reveal his manic green eyes.
"Drum roll please!"
The camera panned out further still, as The Joker pattered his palms across a cylindrical metal drum. But Batman's eyes were instead drawn to a small watermark on the corner of the screen: Bowman Consolidated.
"Tah Dah! It's the Cloudburst! Well, the fun size variety. Parps out gas faster than the Penguin on Taco Tuesday! Funny the kind of goodies STAR Labs just leaves lying around, isn't it? I would have been happy with milk and cookies.
Now, what kind of gas, I hear you ask? Dunno! I just filled the tank with a chemical cocktail and two teaspoons of lemon curd! I suppose we'll find out together!
And if you want to stop it, Batsy, 'cause I know you're watching, you little TV addict, then you'd better grab your Batreindeers and Batsled and get your Bat-Ass moving! Heh.
After all, I'm a Ryde or Dye kinda clown, so you can be absolutely sure I'm not bluffing. Of course, I also have a reputation as a general mirthster and prankmaster extraordinaire, so perhaps I am! What do you have to lose? Oh, right, the city. Heh. Toodles!"
"I have to find that bomb, Jim."
"You know it's a trap," Gordon advised him, as he removed his glasses and wiped them with a piece of cloth. As he put them back on, he turned to his right, and smiled thinly.
"Hm. Of course, you do... Just like I knew you'd be gone by the time I put these damn things back on."
~-~
Batman entered the Batmobile, then inserted a cable from his gauntlet into the USB port below the monitor. "I take it you saw it?"
"The watermark? What do you take me for, Baffler? First thing I noticed," Oracle's voice replied, her green avatar lighting up the screen.
"Good, then I hope you have something for me. What do we know about Bowman Consolidated?"
"Alright... Founded on March 15th, 2002, by Louis Bowman, it's a tech company, based in Connecticut."
"And Bowman himself?"
"He's a recluse. No public appearances, nothing."
"So, he's a ghost," Bruce said grimly.
"No. I know a forgery when I see one. But everything checks out, Bruce. I've got his birth certificate, marriage certificate, property deeds; he's got a mansion just outside of Metropolis. Seems like a lot of work for a shell company."
...
"Look, I know what you're thinking, but it's not Billings. Maybe it's not even Joker. Is it really too much of a reach to say they just... stole Bowman's gear to make their broadcast? Did Joker even take the aftereffects course?"
"There aren't any coincidences with him, if he let me see it, it's because he wanted me to," Bruce answered, steadfast in his assertion. "I need you to send the Batwing over here, navigate a flight plan to Metropolis,"
"You're leaving tonight? Now? With everything that's going on-"
"If this is what I think it is, then it's our best way of finding the Cloudburst."
~-~
Dick was perched on the edge of the rooftop, watching the yellow glow of the Batsignal break through the grey skies. "Bruce, Dick here. Babs filled us in, you need us to help find this thing?"
"Negative, Nightwing. No one leaves their posts, understand?"
"Yeah, because that's been working out great, so far. What, did Az put Spider to sleep with scripture? Joker got past them no problem," Jason folded his arms.
Bruce sighed. "I heard that, Jason. I'm chasing up a new lead. In case I'm not back in time, I'm sending each of you instructions on how to defuse the Cloudburst. If worse comes to wear, it's up to you."
"Yeah? And how'll we know when that is?" Jason asked pointedly.
Bruce answered hesitantly. "I'll be dead."
Dick pursed his lips. "Well, there's the Christmas Spirit we've all been missing."
Jason sighed and leaned his back against the fire escape.
A scraping sound broke the temporary silence, an ear-splitting screech of metal on concrete. Jason was the first to investigate, holding his pistol in front of him as he stepped behind the plastic tarp. The noise had subsided now, but his eyes were drawn to the source; a discarded, rusted crowbar, covered in dried blood, its' edges lightly charred by an explosion of some kind. He shook slightly as he knelt beside it, and though he came close, he couldn't bring himself to touch it.
An additional clattering came from the other side of the roof, quieter than the crowbar had been. This time, Dick checked it out. As he walked towards the fire escape, he froze: An orange and black domino mask had been placed on the top of the ladder, alongside two silver sai. "Jay, I think something screwy's going on here," he called back to his brother.
"You think?" Jason called back to him sarcastically, as the two turned their attention to a new challenger, a thin man dressed in a red and black costume with a matching cape and a golden mask.
The interloper raised his hand in the air and waved at them cordially. "Oh, hello! How lovely to see you!"
His opponents drew their weapons. "Don't take another step," Jason barked. His gun trembled, just slightly but enough for Dick to notice.
"Jay, it's ok," he whispered. "He's not here. He can't hurt you now."
Hayden stopped walking, and looked down at his shoes, like a child who had just been caught scribbling on the walls. "Oh. Alright," he obliged to Jason's request. "Did I do something wrong? Was it the presents?"
"Well, you could have wrapped them better," Dick joked, but there was a lack of confidence in his voice.
Beneath his mask, Hayden smiled sweetly. "I'll take notes for next year," he pledged, as he continued his approach.
"I said you're fine right where you are, Goldeneye," Jason warned.
"But you're anything but!" Hayden protested. "It's not me you're angry at, not really. Yourself, yes. The Joker, certainly. And of course, the family who let you die."
"Don't listen to him-" Dick interjected.
"Tsk, tsk. Still won't let you think for yourself, will he? Older siblings are always such a bore... Always casting their shadows over your achievements. Always father's favourite, hm? Not your real father though. He couldn't be bothered with you. Your mother practically guided you into your grave herself... Family. Who needs family. It's a fa-arce. A concept built to stop one another from tearing out each other's throats for the sake of blood or kinship. But you understand, don't you? You're not The Red Hood, not really. You're the Black Sheep. Because you see through the lies, don't you? Not like him, he's still telling himself the same old fantasy. 'Justice not Vengeance.' But the truth is, you want to kill each other. You want to rip each other apart. Why wouldn't you? Why haven't you? Because you've been told not to. By Daddy. But Daddy's gone away now. So, I am here, to tell you yes. It's alright, it's ok, it's what you deserve, it's what he deserves. Kill him."
"Hood..." Dick watched as Jason's hand rested on the handle of his handgun.
Jason's mouth was dry. "He's right," he answered with a voice that wasn't truly his own. "Why shouldn't I kill you?"
=Arkham Asylum. The Night Before=
Billings joined Crane on the grounds, two glasses and a bottle of champagne in hand. He offered one to Scarecrow, who immediately flapped his hand away dismissively. Unoffended, Billings popped the cork off and simply drank both glasses himself. "This is really it, isn't it?" he asked his associate. His voice wavered slightly, which did not go unnoticed by Crane.
"Do I detect doubt in your tone, Mr Billings? In this critical stage?" Crane pondered, his one good eye scanning the man's face for any sign of weakness.
Billings' eyes widened as the ramifications of what such a betrayal would bring played vividly in his mind. "No, no. Not me," he spoke, perhaps a little too quickly. Now he was chugging the champagne straight from the bottle. "Never. I think this is great. All of this."
Crane leaned back in his chair, an irritated grimace on his face. "Your sycophantic mewling is not endearing. It is exhausting. I am in no hurry to report your misgivings to the clown or the speedster, so if you have reservations, I suggest you share them. Now."
Billings scratched the back of neck, peeling off clumps of dead skin. "No! No, really, it's nothing like that, I'm onboard 100%. However! and this is not a criticism of you persay, or at all, but this stuff, with the Bats, I mean, it's ugly. Personal. And the only way you could know this shit, if you know know them."
"Ah."
Beneath his burlap, Crane smiled. The first sociopathic grin in months. "Once Two-Face divulged to me the secrets behind that cowl, identifying the Batman's brood was child's play. The acrobat, the runaway, the prodigy, the offspring... The daughters of assassins, policemen and overcompensating criminals. Yes, I know them well.
He gives them shelter and they serve him faithfully, like good little boys and girls... But their loyalty is a failing of its' own.
The Batman has coddled them, filled their heads with false purpose. Always there to catch them when they fall and drape his cape around their shoulders like a security blanket. But this is Gotham. There is no security. There is no safety. There is no refuge from the horrors that dwell in every corner of this damned city. Too long have they patrolled our rooftops with unearned confidence. Too long have they disrespected us and mocked us as though they are any better, in their pixie boots and masks. The clown wants them distracted. I want them unnerved. Off center. And above all else, I want the children of the Batman to be afraid."
~-~
Blam. Blam. Blam.
Gunfire lit up the rooftop, discarded bullet casings littered the floor. Dick flipped back and forth across the roof, dodging Jason's bullets as best as he could without hurting his brother. Jason, on the other hand, was not feeling particularly sentimental. He unhooked a grenade from his belt and hurled it Dick's way, blasting him off the roof; Dick extended his escrima sticks into a staff as he fell, hooking into the narrow gaps between the buildings; he used his momentum to flip up into the air, and then threw his baton at an air-con unit. The baton bounced off the sides, and struck Jason in the side of his head, cracking his crimson mask.
"You never trusted me! The Pirate's right! I was always the black sheep to you! To all of you!" Jason yelled, continuing to fire off rounds.
"Yeah, well, the bullets aren't doing a whole lot to dispel that feeling. Snap out of it, Jay, this is what Joker wants!"
Sitting atop the roof access' roof (how he accessed that, was anyone's guess), his legs hanging over the doorway, Hayden tittered. "I could watch you two forever! But there's a lot of little boys and girls on Santa's list tonight, and they all need a gentle sprinkling of Christmas cheer."
There was a fleeting burst of lightning, and then the Pirate was gone.
===GCPD===
Even with the chaos of the night's broadcast, the desk sergeant didn't seem to be particularly worried, on one monitor, he was playing online poker, on the other he was ordering a pair of diamond earrings for his wife with money he had not yet won. His attention focused squarely on the screens, he barely heard the sound of a man entering the precinct and ringing a bicycle bell for his services.
"Yeah?" the sergeant asked disinterestedly.
“I believe the Commissioner was looking for me," the man replied.
“Hn. Name? The desk sergeant, not looking up from their monitors.
“Kerr. Joe Kerr," the man answered.
“Funny," he chuckled under his breath, as he slid a clipboard over to the visitor. "That almost sounds like... Joker."
The sergeant finally looked up, and was met with the haunting white-faced, grinning visage that had been plastered onto every notice board and wanted poster in the station.
“Boo.”
The sergeant tumbled off their chair in shock, his face almost as white as the clown's, then he screamed into their walkie talkie. "Code Purple! Code Purple!"
"Code Purple?" Joker blew a raspberry. "Tell Jimbo I'm flattered! What's Scarecrow? Code Brown? Oh, as if that poor man hasn't suffered enough, tsk tsk."
The thundering of footsteps from every direction filled the air as the entire force of the GCPD mobilised towards the reception and leading the charge, was 'Jimbo' himself.
"Oh, there you are!" Joker clasped his hands together. "I'd like to register a formal complaint."
"Keep your guns trained on him," Gordon spoke calmly.
The youngest of the cops there, who had unfortunately ended up the closest to the Joker, shuddered nervously. "But- But, sir-"
"Don't waver, Wilkins, he's just a man. Flesh and blood," Gordon reassured him.
"But... But I heard... I mean, they say he can't die."
"C'mon, that's a loada bull!" Bullock derided the young man.
"And you oughta know, ya big hunka beef!" Joker giggled, delighted by the disorder he'd caused with his mere presence.
"He's b-been fed to sharks, electrocuted, f-fallen off buildings, washed out to sea... One of our own s-shot him in the face, remember? Bullet went through his jaw and came out his forehead. But he always returns."
"It's true! It's one of my many hidden superpowers! That and my inability to tan!"
“What do you want?” Gordon asked sternly, his arm was the steadiest of anyone's in the room. His history with the Joker the bloodiest of anyone's in the room. And his resolve was the strongest.
Joker's face scrunched up as though he was having to think long and hard about his answer, and then it came to him. “That's easy. Cuba! Actually, given the choice, I'll take an island the size of Cuba, but without the complicated political and socio-economic factors. But I suppose I could settle for, say... Drury Walker?”
====The Belfry====
*This was an embarrassment. Bad enough he had call upon the help of these scumbags, now he's promising them freedom. Freedom! He was sure that Strange's thugs would get the job done regardless. This, was just adding insult to injury.*
Bolton- People of Arkham, some of you know me, others have not yet had the... pleasure of meeting me. My name is Lyle Bolton, and for the past year, I have overseen this little experiment of ours, as Arkham City's warden. Go on, let all your anger out now. Swear, complain, shoot the person next to you, just get it out of your system, because I need your help. Let me explain. You see, there are some among you who do not belong. Those among you who are sheep, in wolves clothing. They're weak. They think they can come here to Arkham, and make it theirs. They are wrong. And you will show them just how wrong they are. The inmate or inmates who brings us these five individuals will be rewarded. With freedom.
Bring us Drury Walker, and Gotham is yours. This is a limited time offer, of course, so if I were you, scum- I'd get a move on.
====The Iceberg Lounge====
*A lone crow flies through the door, and perches atop the bar. Fiasko attempts to shoo it away, but it doesn't budge. Then he sees the letter tied to the bird's foot, and unfurls it.*
Caw caw.
*Sionis glared. He'd had many setbacks as of late, but never would he have suspected Chuck Brown would be the root of his ire.
It's for you, Len mimes to Chuck, catching his eye, in-between nervous glances at Sionis and his entourage. He was sure Penguin was watching from above.*
Chuck- I don't have time for this.
Sionis- Make time. Funny, eh? You visit Needham. Alone. Beg Dent for a fair trial. Next thing you know, the itsy bitsy spider has gone walkies. What, covering your tracks now?
Len- That's bull. He's fuckin' Kite-Man, he ain't a mass murderer.
Sionis- That's what they said about Signal Man. And Calendar Man. Sorry, if I'm a little hesitant to believe you.
Caw caw.
*Sionis spies the letter in Len's hand, and wrestles it from his grip, passing it to his assistant*
Sionis- Li, read it out.
Li- "Hello Charles. Merchants Bridge, Warehouse Six. You'll know the one."
Sionis- Would you look at that. Who's it from?
Li- It... doesn't say. What's at Merchants Bridge?
*Chuck takes a few more feverish glances to the office above them. He could just make out the top hatted silhouette looking intently from behind the glass. In a second he was certain he'd draw his umbrella.*
Caw caw.
Chuck- I really can't do this here.
Sionis- Oh, is this a message from one of your friends, from Needham perhaps? Li, get Freeze, tell him to-
Caw. Caw. Caw.
*In an instant, and with a force he'd never shown before, Charles Brown punched Sionis in the face, his mask splinters, and he collapses to the ground*
...
Len- Shit.
Chuck- Give me your pistol.
*Li reaches into his pocket, and hands a tiny pistol to Chuck.*
Chuck- Is... is that it?
Li- I tried a bigger size. It slowed me down.
Len- Hey! Where the hell are you going?
Chuck- Where do you think?
Len- Just... wait a minute.
*Len disappears under the counter, and hands over his shotgun*
"I bet this is more your style"
====Gotham City====
Joker- So, it's not really like I'm cheating now, is it? If he can sleep around with whatever femme fatale he comes across, why can't I have some fun of my own?
Between you and me, he's been getting a little sloppy in the sack anyways. I notice these things, a punch there, a kick there, even let me stab him last year, real amateurish... I need something new! Something more! I mean, these days he treats me like everyone else, like a common C-Lister, on par with, I don't know, Clock King! I ask you, is that fair, after all the effort I put into our relationship?"
White- Well-
Joker- I'm only saying! Yeesh! The sidekicks, the friends, that's all me! When's the last time he fractured my ribs? Not since that last laughing gas caper, I'll tell you that!
Now who pulls in the ratings? Take a guess! A case could be made for Eddie, maybe Harvey or Scarecrow... But this face? This is the real moneymaker, and I wish he saw that!
White- Sure, but-
Joker- Ah, the other guy? Well, y'know, I just think there's more fun to be had there- new horizons! Why, have I killed a single kid of his? Nope! I tried to, but that's not the point is it?"
White- I guess-
Joker- Oh you're so right! I mean Batsy doesn't have a single adjective to his name! Ah, it does me good, just being able to talk with you! Now, more pie?
White- Uh-
*He slides a slightly green custard pie over to White*
White- Ok, ta. But what the fuck does any of this have to do with me?
Joker- Right, right. You're a direct fella, I respect that. Onto the matter at hand! Where is Drury Walker?
...
White- Wait, why the fuck would I know?
Joker- Oh, I- Heh. Sorry, I must've got the wrong shark guy
...
White- You are kidding me.
Joker- No, honestly! This has never happened to me before! Well, that's not entirely true... Remind me which one you are again?
White- White! The Great White Shark!
Joker- Ahhh. Should've led with that. Oh well. Third time's a charm...
====Warehouse Six====
*Chuck rushed over. They were all alive, thank god, but hurt. Badly. A silky smooth voice called out*
Zeiss- Charles "Chuck" Brown. Glad to finally put a face to the name.
*Chuck cocks his gun*
Zeiss- Oh, no need for that.
Chuck- Did Penguin send you?
Zeiss- Yes, he did. I must say, I'm surprised you went back there of all places. I assume you were hoping to recruit the bartender to your cause? Shame. I'll have to visit him next.
Chuck- This is wrong. Penguin's wrong.
Zeiss- Yes. Yes, he undoubtedly is. But I'm not here because of semantics. I'm here because I have a job to do.
====The Old GCPD Rooftop====
*By the time Miranda and Chancer arrive, Drury's hard at work, perched over the Batsignal, blowtorch in hand. She drops a duffel bag at the bottom, and he slides down, kissing her and patting Chancer on the back*
Selina- What kept you?
Miranda- Run in with an old friend. You?
Selina- Same. More or less.
Drury- Did you see Chuck on your way here?
*Miranda shakes her head "Nope. So, 'gang,' What happened to under the radar?"
Selina- I'll let Drury tell that story.
Drury- Oh, well, tried it, was a little boring if I'm honest.
Miranda- Heh.
*Drury is now stripping, having emptied the bag's contents onto the ground, he passes Selina her cowl. "Let's see what surprises Twag has left us" he thinks to himself, as he puts on a familiar purple suit, attaches the wing harness to his back, and installs a cable into the spotlight. Behind them, Norbert looks off into the distance. Bolton's message has been playing non stop.*
Selina- Drury, now might be a good time to leave.
Drury- Just a second. Chancer, hit that switch.
*The spotlight flashes a bright yellow, it's symbol etched into the clouds for all of Arkham to see, from the Iceberg Lounge to the Belfry. For some a warning, others a promise*
Selina- You know what, I think you're crazier than you let on.
Drury- They want us. They can have us. They can look at that symbol, and know that we aren't scared, not of Ra's, Bolton or anyone. And *they* can know we're not giving up on them. That I've never given up on them.
Norbert- But, what is it?
Drury- I'll explain later, let's go.
*Charles Brown looked to the sky, and let out a relieved laugh. Beside him, beaten and broken Joseph Rigger cheered. From the bar, Leonard Fiasko smirked, just a little- hidden under his pencil shaped mask. A very confused Penguin stood beside him, monocle in hand. And from a gargoyle high above Arkham, even the Dark Knight smiled. Slightly.*
Penguin- Leonard, what is that thing?
Len- Heh. Not a clue, not a clue.
*For the first time in years, a Moth Signal was lit, and *everyone* was watching.
Deathstroke- So... the bug has balls. Come, he's left us an invitation.
Batman turns on his batsignal and wait for the Man of Steel to arrive
Suddenly he appears with his eyes glowing red with energy.
Superman lands on the ground and exclaims "I warned you, to never show your face again."
Batman replies "Your no hero Superman. Tell me. Do you bleed?"
Superman simply stares at him.
Batman getting his gun ready says "You will."
The battle commences
Batgirl: You will suffer for an eternity.
Nightwing: Man, if this how you react to winning I’d hate to see how you'd handle defeat.
Needless to say, Barbara beat me to GCPD.
Comfortably.
I’m never going to hear the end of this now, am I?
Batgirl: I’d handle it a lot better than you are right now.
Nightwing: Oh? I’m not handling it well am I?
Batgirl: Oh dear, is someone getting sarcastic? Oooft, you really don't like that you lost.
Nightwing: I didn’t lose, you just….won….
Batgirl: Well that’s an interesting way to rephrase it. Last time I checked, if you didn't win a race then you lost it.
Nightwing: Alright, I get it say no more.
Rather than say another word I decide to play a joke of my own on Barbara. She might have won the race, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t have some fun in this situation.
Without saying a word, I get down on one knee and place my right hand behind me. Her eyes light up with what I presume to be horror as she thinks I’m about to ask the question again.
Batgirl: Dick, I don’t think this is the right time to…
Wait, she didn’t immediately say no. Maybe I really should ask her…no....too late. My big mouth can’t resist the opportunity to tease her.
Nightwing: Your majesty! I, your humble servant, await your command!
-------------------------------------------
Oh great. Here I was thinking that he was actually going to do it again. Well what did you expect Babe? Did you honestly expect him to do something nice for a change? I guess that makes you the real fool in all of this after all, Barbara.
Well…
I guess all I can do now is play along. After all, why should Dick get to have all the fun?
Batgirl: Arise, my loyal subject. We have much work to do.
Nightwing: Yes, my Queen!
-----------------------------------------
As I climb back on to both feet, Barbara turns to look at the GCPD. She’s most likely looking at the exterior of the building to see if there’s anything out of place. If the League are here already, they’ll likely have decided to infiltrate the building covertly before they make their move. From what Bruce used to tell me, there were only three ways to enter the GCPD:
-Through the ventilation system
-From the sewer system
-Through the front door
Given how Jim’s already expecting a possible attack on the building, the doors will be under heavy guard. So, if the League are already here, they’ll be using either the sewer tunnels underneath, or the ventilation system. Well assuming that they're not crazy. Then again, how can we truly know if they're crazy or not? Maybe that Lazarus stuff messes with your head if you take too much of it.
Come on Grayson, focus. You've got a job to do. Barbara seems to be confirming if any of the ventilation shaft covers have been tampered with. A smart move. If none of them have been removed, then that means they’ll probably be coming from below.
Nightwing: What is your command, my Queen?
Batgirl: There’s no obvious signs of tampering on any of the ventilation system covers, so if they’re already here they haven’t snuck in that way.
Nightwing: Perhaps they tried the front door, your majesty.
Batgirl: Knock it off. If they did try the front door then they would have been disappointed. According to the GCPD’s central computer, the main entrance’s security barriers are down so no-one would be able get in even if they wanted to.
Nightwing: And the roof?
Batgirl: It’s locked too. Looks like if they’re going to have any hopes of getting in to the building then it’s going to have to be by the…that’s odd.
Odd? What kind of odd? Wonder Woman’s love of ice cream type of odd? Or a bunch of crazy ninjas down in the sewers of Gotham kind of odd?
Nightwing: Something going on in the sewers?
Batgirl: No it’s the rooftop door. It was just unlocked.
Nightwing: By who?
Before Barbara can load up the I.D tag of the officer who unlocked the door, we’re both startled as a large floodlight on the GCPD shines on us. It takes me a moment to realise that it’s actually the Batsignal and there's only one person who uses the Batsignal.
Jim Gordon (with a megaphone): If you two are done flirting, we could use your help.
Oh Jimbo. Hearing your gravelly voice again after all these years is music to my ears. Would it be weird to hug him in costume?
Nightwing (shouting): We’ll be right there!
As he turns off the Batsignal and begins to slowly move it back into its resting position, I turn to look at Barbara who seems hesitant for some reason.
Nightwing: Are you alright?
Batgirl: I’m fine, it’s just…
Nightwing: The arm?
Batgirl: How did you know?
The honest answer is I didn’t. It was just a guess, but it’s not it’s a difficult guess to make. Barbara’s been really hesitant discussing her father these last two or so weeks, especially after his run in with the so called ‘Crimson Knight’. For a while, I couldn’t figure out why. But seeing Jim with a metal hook where his right hand should be…. it’s…. difficult to ignore. Back in the first few months as Robin, knowing that there were good cops like Jim out there on the streets, and not just cops bought off by Falcone, made me feel safer going out onto the streets of Gotham at night.
Now though, seeing him struggle to move the batsignal back into position with just his left hand….. it’s difficult to not feel a little uncomfortable. If one member of the League can make a man as strong as Jim look vulnerable, what the hell can an army of them do to all of us?
Nightwing: I always know you.
That comment makes Barbara smile. Nice one, Grayson. With that, I offer to let her jump over to GCPD first, but she declines so instead I leap across on to the police station rooftop. Barbara follows almost immediately behind me. We both land next to the Batsignal as Jim picks his cup of coffee up off a nearby table.
Nightwing: Commissioner.
Jim Gordon: Nightwing. Batgirl. You two picked a hell of a night to come back to Gotham.
Nightwing: It would seem so. There’s nothing special going on tonight is there?
Jim Gordon: Nothing more than the usual chaos.
Batgirl: Are you and your officers alright? Was anyone infected when the toxin was dispersed?
Jim Gordon: We were lucky enough to be inside when it was released into the city. Can’t say the same for most of the National Guard.
Nightwing: How many are dead?
Jim Gordon: It’s still too early to tell. I’ve got what officers I can spare helping out at the hospitals, but from what little I've heard, it doesn’t sound good.
Batgirl: Damn it.
Jim Gordon: So…Batman thinks these psychos want to attack the GCPD?
Nightwing: Yeah. Apparently, their aim is to cripple the city so it’s unable to stop a breakout at Arkham.
Jim Gordon: A breakout at Arkham!? Why the hell didn’t he tell me about that !?
Batgirl: Don't worry. We’ve got people working on it.
Jim Gordon: Working on it?
Nightwing: They’ll make sure there’s no breakout. Right now, we need to focus on making sure the GCPD is secure.
Batgirl: Has there been anything unusual in the last few days?
Jim Gordon: For Gotham? Not real. Although actually….
Nightwing: What is it?
Jim Gordon: You two better come inside.
Batgirl: Commissioner?
Jim Gordon: There’s something I think you both need to see…
Batman and Robin. The Joker's Funhouse. Be sure to watch all the automation on my YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=95gUCiT_-A8
Thanks to Nicole from Dynamic Video Creations for creating the amazing video!
Hang on Commissioner Gordon!! The Batsignal is up in the night sky and help is on it's way!
Many thanks to Carlyle Livingston II who graciously photographed and edited the photos.
This is the perfect Easter Egg for Batman fans to add to their LEGO city! This minifigure-scale MOC was built to emulate the design of the famous Bat-Signal seen in "The Dark Knight" (2008).
Currently, one downfall of this design is part #6222 is surprisingly rare in black. To cut down on the price, you can swap in a more affordable dark bluish grey #6222. Another option is all the black pieces that comprise the body of the signal are also available in light-bluish grey if you would prefer to switch the entire signal to that color.
Find the free instructions on Rebrickable.com!
You can also follow all the fun on Instagram: @BenBuildsLego