Batman #546

Issue Details

Synopsis

MAJOR ARCANA PART 3 - HELL TO PAY Batman confronts Etrigan and Joker at the roof of Darkhaven Building. Etrigan threw a firing blast towards Batman, but it wasn't aimed to kill him. Batman avoided the blast and landed on an empty area of the rooftop. Etrigan approached Batman and discussed about their actions. Joker wanted to see how Etrigan burned Batman, but he was unable to do so. Joker and his minions continued to throw stone gargoyles to the GCPD. After a few minutes, Joker sent his minions to check over Etrigan and Batman. They walked to where they had been just to find the place empty. Batman attacked them by surprise and Etrigan took the Joker and jumped onto the next building. Joker and Etrigan escaped the scene and Batman took the henchmen to the police.  One hour later, at the GCPD Headquarters; Batman listened to Mackenzie Bock's report on the books found in Joker's Arkham cell. Most of the books were about alchemy and demonology. They contained incantations to conjure demons and information on famous alchemists. Batman knew what the Joker has been doing and came up with an idea to stop the madman and the demon. Batman questioned the Joker's henchmen to know where was the clown hiding. They told Batman all he needed to know.   Batman found the Joker's hideout. He decided to put a dramatic entrance. He exploded a gas pellet at the doorway and upon entering, Batman pronounced an ominous sentence that put Etrigan and Joker in conflict. Etrigan realized that Joker was deceiving him with the promise of a Philosopher's Stone. As soon as the Joker admitted it, Etrigan set the place on fire. Batman saved the Joker from the hell's fire and his actions kept Etrigan pondering about life's purpose. Etrigan wanted Joker to dwell in madness as a punishment for deceiving him. Batman told him that he would be sent to Arkham, to dwell with his own and other's madness. Etrigan was satisfied and left the place. Joker tried a suprise attack on Batman, but the caped crusader knocked the clown. Batman thought about saving Joker was a good action that prevented a crime, but in doing so, he saved one of the greatest sources of evil, giving him another chance to continue committing crimes. It was a paradox for the dark knight to think about as he took the Joker out of the burning building. The fire department arrived and saved Joker's life. They spotted Batman and thought of him as a true hero. Batman knew that they were the heroes and as long as people as them exists, there is a reason to keep fighting.