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| Publisher |
DC |
| Published | July 1985 |
A STUMP GROWS IN GOTHAM Julia Pennyworth has ventured into the freelance aspect of writing and her first publication for the Gotham Gazette features her story about how and old but large tree is taken down and cut by the city municipal officials, leaving only a stump in it's place, where a new building will be constructed after the old factory nearby is demolished. The whole event is perpetrated in the name of progress and the entire neighborhood is present at the cutting of the tree. Like this, Julia ends her article by saying that the tree will probably have other uses in the future. Meanwhile, Batman learns about a certain mercenary who is seeking the support from the Gotham Underworld in order to kill him. The killer-for-hire promises the crooks to eliminate the Batman, as he has become a relic of old times and needs to be "cut down" in the name of progress. After learning of this plan to kill him, Batman returns to the Batcave, where he comes up with a chemical that will slow his heart-rate simulating death and he also dyes his hair red. Going out, Batman confronts the mercenary, who gets a lucky shot at Batman and hits him in the head with a wooden stick. Batman falls unconscious and the crook checks the body and confirms the Batman's death. The mercenary then hurries to buy a wooden coffin, which was made from the tree that was cut down and he also informs all his criminal sponsors about his victory. In order to prove his claim, the mercenary summons all his "patrons" to the Darkwood Cemetery, where he will show them the corpse of Batman. At the gathering, Batman comes out of the coffin and rounds up the largest number of crooks on a single night. Finally, Julia goes to visit the tree stump the next day and is glad to see that a small leaf is sprouting from the stump, making it obvious that you can't keep a good tree down. POOR, HUDDLED MASSES Oliver Queen is broken out of detention, along with two Salvadoran refugees, by Dinah Lance. They head for the next stop on the "underground railroad" and leave their new friends there. A night later, Green Arrow makes his way back to Oliver Queen's apartment, not knowing that Onyx is observing him in secret.
