Detective Comics #500

Issue Details

Synopsis

TO KILL A LEGEND To allow Bruce Wayne to sooth his survivor's guilt about witnessing his parents' murder, the Phantom Stranger transports Batman and Robin to a parallel Earth where they must attempt to stop that world's Joe Chill from killing Thomas and Martha Wayne.  Once there, Batman and Robin encounter some criminals and defeat them easily in part by frightening them by their bizarre appearances. However, that engagement finds them confronted by Lieutenant James Gordon and police officers. Knowing that Gordon would never believe any explanation of why they are there while in their superhero personas, the Dynamic Duo are forced to escape by force.   Being only relatively inconvenienced by being wanted by the police, the Duo investigate the Waynes, and Robin is concerned that this Bruce Wayne is a spoiled brat in a troubled family. Regardless, Batman infiltrates the police department disguised as Gordon, only to find there is no file on Joe Chill. With that trail cold, the Duo seeks out and attacks Lew Moxon, the gangster who hired Chill to murder Thomas Wayne on Earth One. Unfortunately, Moxon had not hired Chill yet, and now frightened by the attention of these bizarre vigilantes questioning him, he decides to move up his timetable to kill Thomas Wayne and now Chill as well.   During their short time in that Earth, Batman and Robin have an ethical disagreement as it seems like that Earth doesn't have real heroes, or fictional ones for that matter. Robin believes that Batman should be allowed to exist, but Batman won't allow the Waynes to be murdered... again.   Despite the moral conflicts of the whole ordeal, Batman is unaware that his intervention causes the event in which the Waynes are killed to happen early, and that Chill is now not part of it. Meanwhile, determined to find Chill, Batman breaks into the GCPD's computer room to learn there is an interstate bulletin for Chill who is believed to be heading for Gotham. Unfortunately, Batman is discovered by Gordon, but the Dark Knight manages to persuade the police detective to help him. Batman shortly finds Chill, but he is dying by Moxon's thug. Realizing his mistake, Batman deduces the murder attempt on the Waynes would occur that night because the 20 year difference from his own parents' death does not accounted for five leap year days. As such, Batman races for Crime Alley.   Meanwhile, Robin is shadowing the Waynes and is still deeply conflicted that he would be robbing that Earth of its own Batman if he intervenes in the murder. However, when Moxon's goon appears to kill Thomas, Robin decides he cannot let innocent people die, but before he can strike, Batman saves the Waynes.   Their mission successful, the Phantom Stranger returns the heroes to their own world, with reassurances that not only Thomas and Martha would benefit. Indeed, the deed has changed the young Bruce Wayne's life, who, to the mystified delight of his parents, now changes his demeanour into one better behaved and more studious with new interests in physical exercise and in detective work with books on criminology and the stories of Sherlock Holmes. The reason for this change is that he wants to become the "Bat Creature" who saved them. Thus the Batman will exist, although this time is not because of vengeance, but for an inspired motivation in gratitude of the stranger who saved his family's lives. THE 'TOO MANY CROOKS...' CAPER ONCE UPON A TIME... Once night in Gotham City, the Batman spots a group of criminals during a heist and he tackles them, saving the young couple from being robbed in their own house and allowing them to have a peaceful night and more. THE FINAL MYSTERY OF EDGAR ALLAN POE THE BATMAN ENCONTERS - GRAY FACE Batman encounters Gray Face, a mysterious Chinatown villain dealing in extortion and murder. THE STRANGE DEATH OF DOCTOR ERDEL WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BATMAN DIES? Batman is lured into a trap by Stryker, a hitman who uses attack dogs armed with poisoned fangs. After Batman has received a poisoned bite, he lies near death in a Gotham City hospital. However, he manages to send a mental message to Deadman, who attempts to aid him in his battle for life.   Batman, who has become depressed by his unending battle against crime, clinically dies and meets his parents' spirits in the afterworld, as well as a host of other people the Batman has aided. But the Waynes tell their son that he is more needed in the mortal world, and send his spirit back to his body. With the help of Deadman, Batman manages to rise from his hospital bed, track down Stryker--who is accidentally killed by his own attack dogs--and find an antidote to the poison.