Batman (S1)

Prologue - "The Bat"
''Bruce Wayne and his parents exit the Monarch Theater after a show of "The Mask of Zorro". Bruce is elated, as he enjoyed the evening profoundly. As he imitates the cavalier, the three take a shortcut through Park Row while Martha's pearls glisten in the pale moonlight. As they walk, a man with a voice like crushed glass stands before them. Two bullets go though Thomas Wayne, killing him instantly. The third bullet leaves a smoking hole in Martha's fur coat. Pearls are scattered across the pavement, tainted with the blood of innocents. A boy falls in shock beside the corpses of his parents, left with only a vow.''

Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham city after 9 years of studying abroad. He reunites with Alfred, and the two restore Wayne Manor to its former glory. Bruce traverses the property, finding a well he had fallen into as a child. Bruce and Alfred enter the well, descending into the caverns beneath Wayne Manor. Alfred tells Bruce of the legend of the Miagani, a tribe of Bat-people who once inhabited theses very caves before Gotham was built. The two then visit the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne, where Bruce promises to keep his vow to them: to wage war on all criminals.

Bruce investigates the crime in Gotham, pinning the sides on the Falcone and Maroni families. He goes out on his first night, observing the state of deterioration that the city has fallen into. He encounters a prostitute being harassed by her pimp, and attacks the pimp. From a window overhead, Selina Kyle watches the scuffle. Bruce battles the enforcers, but is shot in the process.

He escapes, arriving at Wayne Manor barely conscious from the blood loss. Bruce limps to his father's study, collapsing into a chair. Across from him stands a marble bust of Thomas Wayne, and Bruce begins to cry. In his hands lies a bell; if rung, Alfred will come and stop the bleeding. Bruce looks at a bust of his Father. "Father, I'm afraid I have to die tonight. What do I do? I can't wait any longer, I can't save Gotham. I am alone."

Without warning, a bat crashes through the window, landing on Thomas Wayne's bust. As it stares into Bruce's eyes, he smiles.

"Yes Father, I shall become a Bat."

Bruce rings the bell to summon Alfred.

Chapter One - "The Mob"
Detectives James Gordon and Harvey Bullock perform a drug bust on a mob shipping pier in Gotham Harbor. However, they are confronted by Sergeant Arnold Flass, Commissioner Loeb's right hand man, who orders them to turn a blind eye or face the consequences. Bullock has lost faith in the system, alleviating his regret with alcoholism, while Gordon clings to his last vestiges of will to serve Gotham.

Bruce embraces his place as the creature of the night, and with the help of Alfred, takes on the persona of Batman. He begins taking out muggers and petty criminals in the poorer districts of Gotham as word spreads of the Bat's creed of violent justice.

Bruce assumes the head of Wayne Enterprises, befriending Lucius Fox, the division head of WayneTech subsidiary. He comes into conflict with Whitney Earle, the then CEO of the company before Bruce's return. Bruce is then formally introduced to Carmine Falcone and Salvatore Maroni, heads of their respective crime families. They, and Earle, both attempt to bribe him into embracing the established corrupt politics of Gotham City.

Alfred and Bruce create a makeshift Batman suit from military spec ops and mountain climbing gear. Bruce investigates the corruption in Wayne Enterprises; digging up collusion between the crime syndicates, the mayor's office, and the GCPD itself. As Batman, he interrupts another drug convoy at Gotham Harbor, discovering a money/drug trail that leads to a launderer and casino owner, Oswald Cobblepot.

Batman arrives at the Iceberg Lounge, where Cobblepot denies any involvement, and Batman is forced to escape as GCPD surround the building. Batman fights off the police, coming to blows with Gordon. He disappears into the night.

Chapter Two - "The Cat"
Selina Kyle, inspired by Batman, decides to take on a persona of her own, the Catwoman. She weaves a costume, and begins hitting numerous banks across Gotham.

Bruce goes to Wayne Enterprises and asks Lucius Fox to create a few gadgets for him; claiming they are for "mountain climbing". Returning to the manor, Bruce finds Alfred incapacitated by Catwoman, who is wearing Martha Wayne's pearls. Bruce fights the burglar, and he recognizes her from his first night on the street. Selina is surprised by Bruce's combat, and she also recognizes him from battling the pimp. Selina gains the upper hand, shocking him with a kiss, but Selina knocked back by Alfred. The GCPD arrive, and Catwoman escapes with the pearls.

Bruce investigates this cat burglar, finding that she has been targeting mob reserves, predicting her next heist to be the Casa Dei Romani: the Falcone mansion. Alfred is impressed with Bruce's investment with the cat burglar, but Bruce shrugs off the remarks, eager to reclaim his mother's jewelry.

Selina infiltrates the mansion, entering Carmine Falcone's private office. Just as she takes a number of heirlooms and valuables, she recognizes a woman in a photo on his desk, becoming paralyzed with shock. She is then surrounded by Falcone enforcers and the Roman himself. Selina goes berserk, going straight for Falcone; slashing his face, but taking a bullet in the process. Just as she is incapacitated, Batman arrives and dispatches the enforcers, allowing her to escape.

Batman tracks Selina down to the Gotham Graveyard, finding a trail of blood to the grave of Maria Kyle. On the grave, Batman finds a photo of Maria Kyle and Carmine Falcone as well as Martha's pearls. He departs just as the GCPD arrives.

Chapter Three - "The Asylum"
As Batman continues to attack the Maroni and Falcone operations, the Mayor Rupert Thorne decides to reopen Arkham Asylum in order to keep the overflow of prisoners from Blackgate. The corrupt Commissioner Loeb enlists Professor Hugo Strange to man the facility with his partner Jonathan Crane, introducing a new drug to rehabilitate patients.

Lucius presents Bruce with the gadgets he required, and confronts him about the largest: highly equipped supercar with special capabilities. As Bruce tries to deflect, Lucius reveals that he knows he is Batman, and he an trust his secret with him. He then presents Bruce with a special device called a "utility belt" filled with a custom arsenal known as "Batarangs".

Origin of James Gordon. Transferred from Chicago in his teens and was strong willed, but refused to take payout from Crime Families, forcing demotion by Loeb. Bullock and Gordon are confronted by Batman, who attempts to enlist them in his crusade to rid Gotham of corruption. The duo go undercover and snag a sample of the drug, while also putting together evidence of Earle and Cobblepot securing shipments on Gotham Harbor with aid from Wayne Pharmaceuticals. Bruce analyzes the drug, finding trace compounds of hallucinogens linked with toxins.

Bruce is infuriated, confronting Earle as Batman in her office; she tells him the location and arrival of the next shipment. Batman attacks another shipment of the drug, but is ambushed by Strange and the GCPD. Doctor Crane then sprays Batman with his fear toxin, causing debilitating flashbacks to his trauma. Batman is taken to the Asylum by Crane and Hugo Strange, where he awakens strapped to a chair.

Chapter Four - "The Chemist"
Batman is tortured by Crane's fear toxin, resulting in Bruce being haunted by souls from his past. He relives his parents death. Crane taunts him, recounting his past and study of phobias and what makes the mind tick. He becomes obsessed with fear, and has admired the Batman's work. Crane puts on a mask, referring to himself as "Scarecrow".

Selina robs the Iceberg Lounge, coming into conflict with the Cobblepot. Cobblepot proposes a deal; though there is a price on her head, he will allow her to escape due to the fact that her hurting the other capos helps him in the end; he reveals large deposit in the Arkham restructuring.

Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock uncover Strange and Crane's illegal experiments, tracking them down to the Asylum. However, they are attacked by Flass, now tasked by Loeb to silence any prying eyes into the operation; Bullock and Gordon have gone too far and must be eliminated. Shootout ensues, but Alfred crashes the Wayne car into Flass' cruiser, creating a public scene that allows a diversion.

Bruce fights through the gas, embracing his fear and turning the gas against Crane, escaping his bonds. Gordon and Bullock enter the Asylum but are overwhelmed by the freed prisoners, led by Strange. Batman knocks out Crane, going out to confront the Professor Strange.

Chapter Five - "The Professor"
Batman fights the inmates across the Asylum. Hugo taunts Batman, telling him that he as become obsessed with the idea of a caped crusader since his first appearance in Gotham. He releases his newest experiments, two hulking monsters created using an illegal drug (venom) from the island of Santa Prisca. Batman battles these "monster men". Catwoman frees Gordon and Bullock. Batman confronts Strange, who has dressed himself in a makeshift Bat costume.

Strange explains that his suit is rigged to blow if any harm is done to him, and Batman is forced to allow him to escape. Catwoman attacks Strange, slitting his throat. Strange is alive and activates the trigger, with Batman grabbing Catwoman and jumping through the window as the room is engulfed with the explosion. Catwoman escapes, but Gordon and Bullock were able to evacuate the prisoners. The Asylum undergoes reconstruction, and Batman escapes into the night.

Epilogue - "The Hood"
A failed comedian is approached by two gangsters with the opportunity for a heist by masquerading as the infamous Red Hood Gangster. The two reveal that there never was a Red Hood, and that they always hire someone new to take the role for each heist. The comedian considers, but receives a call saying that his pregnant wife has died from a freak accident at a convenience store. He returns to the gangsters, agreeing to take the job.

They rob ACE Chemicals, but the police are alerted. The cops shoot and kill the two gangsters, and the comedian is forced to run. Due to the red hood mask's shape, he cannot see well, but is confronted by the Batman. Batman greets the hood, stating that he has been trying to find him for weeks. The comedian runs to a ledge over the acid, scared for his life. Frightened by Batman, he trips and falls into the acid. The comedian washes up outside the facility, taking off the red hood. He looks at his reflection in a puddle and begins to laugh hysterically.

Timeline

 * This event is part of Year One
 * This event is followed by Superman: Birthright

Links

 * Full Reading Order
 * Batman Reading Order