Detective Comics #727

Issue Details

Synopsis

ROAD TO NO MAN'S LAND: NEST OF VIPERS Oracle, Nightwing and Robin watch the broadcast of the United States Congress discussing to decide if helping Gotham City is worth it. The trio realize that there isn't much hope for Gotham if the decision was up to Congress.  Meanwhile, Firefly starts to act under Scratch's orders and finds a chemical plant that was destroyed after the earthquake. Some EPA members are at the plant trying to clean the spilled chemicals when Firefly strikes. The chemicals react to the fire causing an explosion big enough to make the ground tremble and large enough to set Firefly in flames despite his insulated battlesuit. The Gotham Clock Tower feels the explosion and when Nightwing looks through the window, he sees the fire coming from the chemical plant. He and Robin decide to check it while Oracle updates them with any information they might need. The Gotham City Police Department also are headed towards the scene and the reports confirm that Lynns was responsible for the damage created. Commissioner Gordon discusses the future of the city with his wife and they decide that perhaps it is time to move to another place and start anew.   When the Gotham Fire Department arrive at the scene they notice that there is a man in the fire and they try to help him. It is Firefly but half of his suit is burned and at the sight of the firefighters he attacks them and burns their car. Nightwing and Robin follow him and almost stop him from doing more damage but he is faster and uses his flamethrower to avoid them. Nightwing and Robin know that the chaos will be ten times worse when Firefly starts to walk towards a refinery.   At Washington, D.C.; Marion Grange talks to the press and tries to explain them the situation in Gotham, to no avail. She knows that Gotham is doomed and there is nothing anyone can do about it. At the same time, a commercial featuring Nicholas Scratch promoting the destruction of Gotham is aired.   Nightwing and Robin follow Firefly from a safe distance and then Robin has an idea. Nightwing tries to stop Firefly and at the same time, the Gotham Police arrive with some military force. Firefly attacks the police, but Nightwing deflects the flames and the two of them start to struggle. One of the military men shoots at Nightwing and this time, Harvey Bullock deflects the shot and the bullet hits the flamethrower's supply hose and the gasoline spills all over Firefly making him a human torch. Robin comes in driving a cement mixer and he pours all the cement on Lynns, putting the fire and Firefly down. Lynns is scarred all over his body and he is sent to Mercy Hospital to be treated.   Nicholas Scratch learns of the incident and he isn't happy with the results and he tells his minions to find someone who can really create chaos in Gotham. His henchmen tell him that they already found them and they introduce Scratch to Gearhead, Dynamiteer and Tumult.