Batman: Shadow of the Bat # 1, 2, 3 and 4

#1

Villains Featured:

The Joker

Penguin

Scarecrow

Cornelius Stirk

Mr. Zsasz (First Appearance)

Heroes Featured:

Robin 3

Nightwing

Batman

Shadow of the Bat #1, begins as a new Arkham Asylum is being built and the inmates or patients make their way in. The new head curator of the asylum, Jeremiah Arkham begins his analysis of several inmates while reflecting on himself, the asylum and Batman. Final pages of the story reveal Batman is now locked up in the Asylum.

Included with the comic is polybagged items: Asylum Blue Print, 3-D Poster, Bookmark and 2-Mini Posters of the covers for issue 1 and 2.

#2

Heroes Featured:

Batman

Commissioner Gordon

Nightwing

Robin 3

Villains Featured:

Mr. Zsasz

Maxie Zeus

The issue begins with Batman spying on a little girl burying a doll in a cemetary, he takes her home to find her family slaughtered by what looks like Mr. Zsasz. Gordon and Batman make their way to Arkham to find him tucked away safely in his cell. Upon leaving Batman and Gordon make their way to another crime scene where Batman over hears an Officer make an off-color joke to another officer, Batman in a fit of rage accidentally kills him and is taken to the asylum.

#3

Villains Featured:

Mr. Zsasz

Joker

Scarecrow

Killer Croc

The Ventriloquist 1

Two-Face

Crazy Quilt

The Cavalier

The Spook

Tweddle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Cornileus Stirk

The Mad Hatter

Amygdala

Riddler

Black Mask

Poison Ivy

Heroes Featured:

Nightwing

Batman

In this issue Nightwing breaks into Arkham only startled to find Batman breaking out as well, only instead of escape the two search the offices of the Asylum to find incriminating evidence that puts Jeremiah in cohoots with Zsasz. Soon found out the guards capture Batman while Nightwing escapes. Batman is placed in a cell with all of his rogues gallery in a giant battle put on by Arkham.

#4

Heroes Featured:

Batman

Nightwing

Commissioner Gordon

Villains Featured:

Mr. Zsasz
Joker
Scarecrow

Crazy Quilt
The Spook
Tweddle Dee and Tweedle Dum
Cornileus Stirk
Riddler
Poison Ivy

Maxie Zeus

The Mad Hatter

Black Mask

Two-Face

Film Freak

Batman finishes off the group of villains he was faced to tackle and is put into special punishment. Zsasz uses this to escape for good, Batman figures on this and escapes, Nightwing and Batman corner him in the tunnels and defeat him, finally released Batman confronts Dr. Arkham and tells him he'll be watching.

Overall a very well written story, more of a detective story than action and as a series with a single objective to focus on a new character with each issue the focus here being Mr. Zsasz, it accomplishes its goal very well. 4 out 5