Batman #387

Issue Details

Synopsis

EBONY MASQUERY Hoping to lure Black Mask into a trap, Bruce Wayne organizes a masquerade ball in Wayne Manor and sends out invitations to Roman Sionis. Bruce knows that Sionis won't be able to resist the temptation of attending the party and Black Mask assumes that Bruce wouldn't expect him to go. Like this the set-up is arranged the the plan is set in motion.  During the party, there are several guests, some of which are part of the plan like Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Bullock and some that are not, like Vicki Vale, who just showed up at the party to show off her new athletic body to Bruce. Eventually, Alfred and Bruce learn which of the guests is Sionis and when Bruce confronts him, Sionis attempts to murder Bruce, but fails and is forced to escape.   While Bruce remains at the party to allay suspicions from the guests, Robin follows Sionis after he escapes from Wayne Manor and he tracks down the criminal to the Gotham Cemetery, where he notices Sionis entering his family crypt. Robin calls Batman and a few moments later, the Dark Knight joins the kid before they go to the criminal's hideout. Before reaching the crypt, the heroes are attacked by the False Face Society, but they defeat all of them without any trouble. When they reach the crypt, Black Mask gives them the slip by using a secret underground escape route.   Batman and Robin then follow Black Mask in the Batmobile to the abandoned Sionis Family State, where they have to confront more False Facers before getting to Black Mask, who is in his childhood room and is burning all of his belongings in order to "kill" Roman Sionis. The heroes once again defeat the crooks, but the fire started by Black Mask has gone out of control. When the heroes attemp to stop Black Mask, the crook tries to escape through the fire he started and Batman prevents his escape with a Batrope. Unfortunately, Black Mask's face lands on the fire and by the time Batman and Robin are able to pull him out, the damage has been done. When Batman removes the mask from Sionis' face, there is no difference as the shape of the mask has been charred into his skin, giving him a permanent black mask.   Afterwards, Sionis is taken to Arkham Asylum, where he is only visited by Circe, the model he disfigured, but she only goes to give him back her mask, as she won't need it any longer.