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| Publisher |
DC |
| Artist |
William Rosado |
| Inker |
Bob Wiacek |
| Letterer |
Todd Klein |
| Published | January 2003 |
ORPHAN A spate of attacks on gunrunner Johnny Gilmore's gang lead Batman to suspect James O'Dell, an ex-GCPD detective whose obsession with infiltrating the gang had permanently ostracized his friends and wife, and ultimately forced him to enter witness protection when a legal technicality freed Gilmore. After interviewing O'Dell's father, Batman trails O'Dell to a vacant lot, where Gilmore and his remaining men have set an ambush. To his shock, Batman soon learns O'Dell is looking to protect his father, the true culprit behind the attacks. By the time Batman has subdued Gilmore's men, the senior O'Dell is already holding Gilmore at gunpoint - but relents upon seeing Batman, deciding to let Gilmore be peacefully apprehended. Unfortunately, Gilmore quickly draws a gun of his own, and Batman intervenes just a second too late to prevent the bullet's impact. After knocking Gilmore unconscious, Batman tries to resuscitate the senior O'Dell, but to no avail. In minutes, the older man dies - whereupon Batman realizes he himself has also been shot, his bleeding slowed but not stopped by sheer force of will. The wounded crimefighter manages to reenter the Batmobile before losing consciousness, and sets the autopilot for home, only for the car's sensors to detect his injuries and instead deliver him to Leslie Thompkins's clinic. Batman recovers after a full day's treatment from Leslie, whereupon he drills his own reaction speeds harder than ever. Meanwhile, moved by his father's sacrifice, the younger O'Dell rejoins the GCPD. SPORE PART 1 On a distant alien planet, a plant launches countless reproductive spores beyond the atmosphere. One of these spores eventually finds its way to Earth, where it infects Batman and quickly mutates him into a grotesque monster.
