Batman #378

Issue Details

Synopsis

ONE HAT MADDER! After delivering his warning to Mayor Hill, Batman returns to the Batcave, where he considers his next move regarding the various unsolved issues at the time being. In the meantime, the Mad Hatter, who escaped during his previous encounter with Batman, prepares his next scheme and decides to use his mind controlling hats in order to steal from known criminals. Since the latest crime perpetrated in Gotham City was by Nightmares, Inc., and the only available connection to the criminals is the woman known as Nocturna, Hatter prepares to steal every piece of information from her memory.  The next day at the Gotham Courthouse, a judge decides to end the adoption process of Jason Todd by giving him to Natalia Knight, much to Bruce Wayne's disappointment. After a last farewell, Bruce returns to Wayne Manor, where he is crowded by his friends' good wishes until night comes and he gets tired of their pity, leaving them to go to the Batcave. After a quick change of outfit, Batman considers his options and decides to continue his search of the Night-Slayer, althoug inadvertently, he has chosen this for another reason.   At that moment, Nocturna gets a strange present at her hotel room and upon opening it, she finds a fancy hat from a "secret admirer". Believing that this is a sign of good faith from Bruce Wayne, she puts the hat and outside of her room, Mad Hatter activates the portable computer in order to mind-control Nocturna and steal all her memories. Altough Hatter's plan consist of learning the secret location of Nightmares, Inc.'s loot, he is unaware that Nocturna also knows the real identities of Batman and Robin. At that same moment, Jason decides to pay a visit to his new mother, but he chooses to go as Robin.   The Batman's search has led him back to Nocturna's hotel, just as he wanted, subconsciously. When he goes to her room, Batman finds the Mad Hatter and attempts to stop him, but the resourceful Hatter uses Nocturna and mind-controls her to attack Batman, who can't bring himself to hurt her and instead chooses to avoid her attacks. With Batman busy against Nocturna, Mad Hatter leaves the room just as Robin gets there. Batman commands Robin to track down the Hatter and although the Mad Hatter manages to escape, the kid retrieves the Hatter's computer, which holds all of Nocturna's memories, including their secret identities.   When Robin gets the computer back to Nocturna's room, Batman tells him to turn it off in order to end Hatter's control over Nocturna. When she is no longer under the influence of the Mad Hatter's technology, Nocturna comes to her senses and apologizes to Batman for her behaviour, but Batman remains cold to her pleads, leaving the place with Robin by his side.