Batman Streets of Gotham #18

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE HOUSE OF HUSH CHAPTER 3 - THE BEDBUG'S BITE Batman investigates a new criminal named Bedbug who can force people to do his bidding but only when they fall asleep. Bedbug even had the Penguin loot a electronic department store. Batman and Gordon analyzed the bugs they took off Harley Quinn. They were genetically engineered to respond to a unique high frequency. Bedbug has his bugs bite his victims while they sleep and with the venom inside his victims, Bedbug uses his frequency to control them. Batman brought his own frequency device and with Gordon's satellite dish on the precinct, he should be able to cancel out Bedbug's enthrallment over Gotham's citizens.  Bedbug's victims were free from his control and Batman notices the criminal from afar, perched on Gotham Hotel. Batman chases after Bedbug and apprehends him with his batarang boa. Batman tries to unmask Bedbug but his infected insects spring from Bedbug's mask and bite Batman. Bedbug frees himself and makes his escape.   Hush meets with Pierce and asks about Pierce's encounter with Dr. Karl Hellfern. Hush learned from his mother's diary that Doctor Death had worked for Pierce and Thomas' father. Pierce says that after Sallie Guzzo attempted murder Leslie Thompkins, he was no closer to getting the deed to her clinic. Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane took over the clinic while Leslie's wounds healed. Dr. Hellfern came highly recommended by Guzzo because he used the cut the heroin for various drug enterprises in Gotham while maintaining an upstanding position at Elliot Pharmaceuticals. Afterwards, Hush reintroduces Pierce to Doctor Death and explains his plan of attack. ASHES TO ASHES PART 2 - SMOLDERING EMBERS During his first day as an assistant to the GCPD medical examiner, Rory Regan arrives on the scene which is four miles downstream from Gotham City. They find a supposed suicide near the shores of Gotham Bay. The medical examiner Hidecki Li ran a DNA test in order to match the suicide to any runaways. The blood work did determine that the victim was six weeks pregnant.   Meanwhile, Mayor Hady talks to his assistant Blumenthal. Hady's push for demolition is almost underway. Hady admits that he has been skimming from the city to line his pockets but he is under the delusion that his reshaping of Gotham will make the city a better place. However, he has a few undesirables that need to be removed. Their next target is named Robbinsville.   As Ragman, Rory is going after an arsonist who has been attacking his neighborhood. Ragman speaks to the spirit of Vicenzo Salavata, an arsonist who died during his last torch job in 1953. Rory wants Vicenzo's expertise on how this new arsonist thinks. Vicenzo tells Rory that the arsonist will need a old but drafty building that is completely dry with no working water pipes. Vicenzo adds that this arsonist believes what he does is a righteous cause because those he burns will turn to ash and their ashes will make the soil fertile for a better tomorrow.   Firefly prepares his latest victims for his own personal bonfire. His victims scream and Ragman hears it coming from the abandoned Gotham Fire Department.