Detective Comics #779

Issue Details

Synopsis

DEAD RECKONING PART 3 News of the Penguin's murder - and the identity of the supposed murderer - disturbs the Riddler, who visits Arkham and demands answers from the Scarecrow. When the Scarecrow replies with only cryptic smugness, the Riddler leaves in disgust.  Meanwhile, after visiting (in his Bruce Wayne persona) the recovering Lucius Fox, Batman interrogates the Penguin's chauffeur, who reveals the Penguin had spent much of his flight at a rest home. There, Batman finds the Penguin had been visiting retired spiritualist (and superhero) Mark Merlin, who explains the Penguin had approached him to "negotiate" with the ghost of actor Paul Sloan.   A subsequent interview with Sloan's widow Veronica reveals the actor was a highly unstable man, obsessed with method acting and prone to real-life violence when playing villains or monsters; he had vanished eight years ago, leaving only talk of a "study opportunity" as explanation. Following the interview, Batman finds Sloan - now clad in overcoat and bandages - spying on Veronica and gives chase, but narrowly fails to catch Sloan.   Two days later, Sloan visits Arkham, and offers partnership to a bemused Scarecrow. SPORE PART 4 After a lengthy battle, the mutated Batman overcomes Superman, absorbing the Man of Steel whole. With no serious opposition left, the alien organism quickls overruns all of Earth.