Contagion

"Contagion" is the name of a story arc that ran through the various Batman "family" comic book series. It concerns the outbreak of a lethal disease in Gotham City, and Batman's attempts to combat it. The events of this lead into Batman: Legacy and Batman: Cataclysm, which itself leads into No Man's Land.

Story
Azrael sends Batman a video tape from the Order of St. Dumas. It depicts the gruesome testing of the Apocalypse plague. Azrael informs Batman the man who sent him the tape, also said someone infected with the disease is heading toward Gotham. Batman finds out that the virus is a variant of a Ebola virus, and heads off to a military base for more information and a cure. Robin meanwhile tracks their disease carrier. As it turns out it is Daniel Maris, is ignorant that he is infected. At the wealthy condominium of Babylon Towers he warns of the coming disease. He finds out he has the disease and orders all personal out. Unfortunately Maris infected his pilot, who leaves. Batman is unable to get help from the police, due to the outgoing mayor Armand Krol's scheme to avenge Gotham for his defeat in the election. Krol replaced both James and Sarah Gordon with his own man Andrew Howe. Batman locates the lead General of project in quarantine. The General is dying of the disease and says the only possible cure can come from a survivor. Batman and Robin go to Babylon Towers, in their surveillance they find that Maris is dying of the plague and overhear of possible survivors from an outbreak in Greenland. The residents of Bablyon Towers find of Maris' infection and go for a $5,000,00 reward for a survivor for a cure. The Penguin also puts in an offer. Batman orders Robin to find the survivor in Canada. Robin finds the survivor's home but runs into Catwoman trying to collect on the reward. Both are attacked by Tracker. Azrael, sent in by Batman to watch Robin, attacks Tracker and Catwoman. After reaching an understanding. They take the survivor out, who is soon killed by assassins. Robin takes a sample of his blood and returns to Gotham. Catwoman, Tracker and Azrael follow another possible survivor in LA, named Fong. Despite them bargaining part of the reward for Fon's cooperation, Fong believing he is immortal commits suicide. There is a an outbreaks across the entire city After Robin returns, Batman creates a possible antidote, and uses Poison Ivy (she is impervious to poisons and toxins) to get it to the residents of Babylon Towers. She blackmails the residents for the "cure". Batman antidote does not work and soon the residents being to die. Meanwhile facing the ineptness of Mayor Krol, who plays down the plague, as well as excessive rioting and looting the frustrated GCPD officers turn to former Commissioner Gordon for leadership. While Batman is with Ivy, Robin and Nightwing help stop the riots. Huntress arrives to save the heroes when cornered by looters. Batman arrives and realizes Ivy is taking far too long. Batman, with risk to his own life enters Babylon Towers, Gordon along with his officers convince some looters to go home, Gordon then follows Batman. The Batsquad are fighting off some looters, when Robin becomes infected. Nightwing takes Tim back to the cave and Huntress alone fights them off. The looters set the Towers on fire. Batman and Gordon stop Ivy, and flee the burning fortress. Tim lies in bed while Alfred keeps watch. The governor sends in the National Guard over Krol's orders and locks down the city. Krol himself is infected. Catwoman tracks a third survivor an Inuit in Miami. After rescuing her, she takes her to Batman. Batman says it's to late to save Gotham. Azrael reviewing the writing of the Order of St. Dumas, finds a cure. He races to the city, and Gotham is cured. The Batsquad work to stop the continuing looting. Mayor-elect Marion Grange has her inauguration moved up, and Krol is ousted. Grange then reinstates Gordon as Police Commissioner.

Contagion reading order:


 * Part 1: Shadow of the Bat #48
 * Part 2: Detective Comics #695
 * Part 3: Robin #27
 * Part 4: Catwoman #31 (Cover incorrectly states that this is part 5)
 * Part 5: Azrael #15 (Cover incorrectly states that this is part 4)
 * Tie-in: The Batman Chronicles #4
 * Part 6: Batman #529
 * Part 7: Shadow of the Bat #49
 * Part 8: Detective Comics #696
 * Part 9: Catwoman #32
 * Part 10: Azrael #16
 * Part 11: Robin #28