Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #12

Issue Details

Synopsis

PREY PART 2 - DARK SIDES Following his escape from Cort's squad, Batman is forced to abandon his glider (due to unfavorable winds) and return to Wayne Manor on foot. Meanwhile, Hugo Strange continues to play-act his own "Batman" identity, but quickly sobers when he nearly falls off the edge of his penthouse; embittered by his physical shortcomings, he begins violently abusing the "live-in" mannequin he normally uses as a sounding-board.  Subsequently, both Strange and Bruce Wayne find themselves attending a small dinner party hosted by Mayor Klass. There, Strange continues to extol his theories and psychological campaign against Batman, only to be repudiated by the mayor's strong-willed daughter Catherine. To Strange's pique, and Bruce's ambivalence, Catherine insists that Batman is "more of a man" than any guest at her father's party.   As the week wears on, Strange redoubles his efforts to unravel Batman's psyche and true identity, Gotham's news media closely following his every scrap of progress. While this inspires only tepid concern from Batman himself (and jealous antipathy from Catwoman), Captain Gordon grows alarmed when Cort begins supplying Strange with material evidence, including Batman's abandoned glider. Worse, a warrant for Cardona's arrest is soon issued, allowing Cort and his men to stake out Cardona's brownstone in hopes of ambushing Batman.   Batman - having wiretapped the brownstone long before - avoids the ambush, but nevertheless acknowledges to Gordon the taskforce's growing threat. For his part, Gordon admits himself reluctant to risk his career, but even more reluctant to see Batman's ended; while he resolves to build a better line of communication, Batman hunts down and apprehends Cardona as a peace offering to Cort. However, being "upstaged" by a vigilante only escalates Cort's hatred, sparking another shootout that Batman barely escapes.   More obsessed than ever, Cort begins surveillance on the roof of police headquarters (where Batman had initially brought Cardona). Soon, he witnesses Gordon installing a searchlight emblazoned with Batman's symbol - proof positive of the captain's secret alliance with Batman. A further search of Gordon's office uncovers many files that Gordon had tried to withhold from Strange's investigation; these, Cort immediately brings to Strange himself, hoping to destroy both Batman and Gordon once and for all.