Batgirl #57
War Games: Act Three Part 6
Writer: Dylan Horrocks
Pencils: Mike Huddleston
Inker: Jesse Delperdang
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.50
This review contains spoilers.
WBGK is covering the whole Gotham upheaval. Their man on the street, Arturo Rodriguez, explains to the whole Gotham viewing audience that the whole gang war has devolved into a violent and destructive free-for-all. Rodriguez goes on to say that he has talked from Gotham?s Finest who told him that they had everything under control until Batman took over which only exacerbated the conflict. The anchorman asks if Rodriguez knows if Batman deliberately tried to make things worse. Rodriguez responds by saying, ?It?s too early to say, Chet. But on thing?s for sure, The Batman?s doing more harm than good.?
In another part of town, Batgirl is putting down some various thugs. After she?s finished, she?s contacted by Oracle who tells the youngest Bat team member that she thinks that Onyx is in trouble and asks her if she can help. Batgirl asks the location of Onyx as she launches her Bat-grapple. Oracle says that she?s in Gibson Square and goes on to say that Onyx is saying that she?s fine but Oracle was not convinced. Batgirl confirms that she received that last message. Oracle then asks her if she has noticed any patterns in the gang activity since initially the thugs were acting very random but now it appears that there?s some sort of direction that is controlling them. Batgirl validates Oracle?s thoughts and continues to her destination.
Meanwhile, Onyx is getting pummeled by Killer Croc?s crew of henchmen as they are trying to get some info from her about his location. During the crude interrogation, Onyx tells the lead thug that she doesn?t know where Croc is, ?but I hope he?s never coming back.? She follows her words by a head butt to the nose of her oppressor which causes him to fall back. Onyx presses on as she starts to thrash this punk until she?s clubbed in the back of the head by another crew member who brings her to her hands and knees.
The now bloodied lead ruffian realizes that she won?t give up the location of Croc but asks her if she knows how to find the Bat which causes the mob to chant ?Where?s the Bat? Kill the Bat! Kill the Bat!? A voice comes from an alley saying ?You want the Bat? Come ?n? get it.? A female Bat silhouette appears from the shadows ready for action. The henchmen realize that their confronter is Batgirl and is confused on whether they should attack her. The lead punk says, ?You ain?t the Bat!? Batgirl responds, ?Oh, yeah? Try me.?
The gang run head first into battle and are met with a flurry of Batarangs which hit their intended targets. Batgirl is putting the boots to anyone in her way while a couple of thugs observe that she kind of looks like the Bat and fights like him as well. One gangster says that he?s never seen a chick move like that. While being held down, Onyx laughs at them and says, ?Don?t get out much, do you, boys?? The lead hoodlum tells her to shut up while he reaches in his back to get his Glock. He then yells at Batgirl, ?Hey Bat-chick!? He then points his gun at Onyx?s head and bellows, ?Back off, freak ? Or I blow her head off!? Batgirl eases up when she notices that Onyx is ready for this hood.
Onyx then flips and knocks out one of her captives while taking another one down with a well-placed boot to the groin. This move makes the lead henchman to freak out and howl, ?You?re dead, Freak! Dead!? As he fires his gun, a Batarang snags his shirt sleeve of his hand that holds the gun. As the stunned gangster looks at Onyx, she asks him, ?Ever seen a chick do that, tough guy?? Then, she drops him with a right cross to his jaw.
Batgirl runs up to Onyx who has collapsed from a combination of her wounds and exhaustion and asks her if she?s okay which Onyx responds rather huffily that she?s fine. Batgirl tries to tell her that she needs to get her wounds treated. Onyx fervently disagrees and then tells Batgirl that she?s noticed that something has changed. She doesn?t know who but ?someone?s taking control of the situation and it ain?t us.?
Across town, the cops are in a fire fight with some of the gangsters. As the casualties start to mount, a lieutenant radios the Gotham HQ and tells them that at least three different groups have converged on Seguin Street. While the fight is still going on, three gang members from different gangs (Ghost Dragons, Escabedo and Odessa) are conversing about what fraction they belong to. All three of them confirm that they?re supposed to rendezvous across the street from Gotham Central. As they discuss the reasons for the meeting, a bearded gangster yells at them to stop talking and fire back that the cops or it will mean their deaths.
Just then, the cops notice that there?s another wave of criminals coming from the side. The police then realize that they are more than outnumbered and the order is given to retreat to Claude Street. The three goons see that they?ve got the cops on the run and should go finish the fight. The bearded gangster disagrees with their suggestion and tells the rest of the mob to move out to the rendezvous place. As the throng of villainy disperses, the Odessa gangster wonders aloud who?s in charge of gang. The Ghost Dragon thug responds, ?That remains to be seen…?
In another part of town, Black Mask is walking around and reveling in the destruction and death and sings, ?I?m on my way? From misery to happiness again…? He then stumbles upon WBGK?s man on the street, Arturo Rodriguez, in the middle of a report back to the station. Rodriguez is telling the audience that it appears that a large number of armed men are converging on Old Gotham with an indication that an attack is planned on Gotham?s main police HQ.
Before Rodriguez can utter another word, Black Mask interrupts the broadcast and tells them to continue filming as he?s giving them the scoop of their lives. The stunned reporter asks the violent criminal, ?What are you?? Black Mask responds by saying, ?My name is Black Mask. As for the what? Well, that?s simple? I am the new undisputed absolute crime lord of Gotham City. I am everything this city deserves and more. I am the darkness that fills the heart of every living soul in this sordid little town including the blackest most twisted soul of all?? Black Mask grabs Batgirl?s batarang that she used on to subdue Killer Croc?s head henchman and coldly states, ?I think you know who I?m talking about.?
Meanwhile, Barbara is trying to figure out where all of the criminals are moving to and what is controlling them. After becoming frustrated, she rubs her eyes and sighs, ?My brain is like jelly? So tired?? Nevertheless, she trudges on and says, ?Okay, okay. Let?s assume they?re heading for Gotham Central. But why? Surely they know the G.C.P.D. wouldn?t??
Before she can finish her though, the TV that was on in the background interrupts her as Black Mask is still waxing maniacal by saying, ? For years, all of Gotham has been terrorized by that sick, psychopathic Halloween reject, with his ridiculous bat tights and cape? In the name of his self-proclaimed ?War On Crime? this lunatic has beaten, tortured and crippled countless individuals?? Barbara is freaked out by the fact that this sadist is being covered on live TV and wonders, ?What the hell??
Black Mask continues, ?I mean ? excuse me? So it?s not a crime when a masked vigilante brutally assaults a ?suspected? burglar or drug addict? Let?s not kid ourselves, people. The Batman?s no different from Scarface, or the Joker, or even yours truly. The man is a menace. A dangerous criminal. Worst of all ? he seems to think this city belongs to him. Well, I?m here to tell you, Batman ? Gotham is no longer yours. From tonight and forever more? this city is mine. I have summoned the entire criminal population of Gotham ? followed, no doubt, by those fine boys in blue ? here to witness the end of an era and the rise of a new power in Gotham City.?
As the camera pans away from Black Mask, he continues his fanatical tirade, ?My beloved thieves, killers, cops, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you?? Barbara shrieks, ?Oh my God? as Black Mask says, ?The Bat Cave!? and shows his revelation to the viewers of WBGK and points to the Gotham Clock Tower.
