Batman: Kings of Fear #1 is an issue of the series Batman: Kings of Fear (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 2018. It was published on August 22, 2018.
Synopsis for "Kings of Fear - Chapter One: Split Decision"
The Joker and his goons have taken a hostage inside a warehouse and Batman is waiting for the right moment to strike. Joker taunts the Dark Knight into coming out, without success. Knowing what will cause Batman to show, Joker attacks the hostage and seriously injures him. Batman comes out of hiding and starts beating the Joker's henchmen to a pulp until their boss is the last man standing. Batman hurries to save the hostage and takes the Joker as his prisoner.
Batman takes Joker inside the Batmobile, where he is strapped to a special chair in the backseat. Joker starts talking to Batman, making fun of his usual brooding mood, but with a distinct interest to dive into Batman's psyche. After rambling about Batman, Joker notices that the Dark Knight is more introspective than usual and he warns his enemy against being in such a state. Joker knows they are both one of a kind and being self-reflective is detrimental to their personalities. Batman tells Joker to shut up, but the clown continues rambling about Batman's similarities to himself. Batman has enough and puts on a gas mask before releasing knockout gas inside the car, putting the Joker to sleep.
Several minutes later, Batman and Joker arrive to Arkham Asylum and by that time, Joker has recovered and continues to mock Batman. The Dark Knight confronts Joker and asks him what was the purpose of his latest crime, to which Joker replies that there was no other purpose than their confrontation, which is more than enough reason for all they do.
Once they get inside the Asylum, Joker continues to be his mirthful self, but the doctor in charge tells Batman that his way of dealing with the inmates is not healthy and she attempts to place the blame of their manias on him. Batman expertly turns the argument against the doctor, but before they can continue discussing, loud metallic noises come from deep inside the Asylum and Batman goes to investigate.
Batman gets to the holding cells area, where a confused orderly tells him that every dangerous inmate has escaped. Batman goes deeper into the Asylum and is confronted by his most dangerous enemies. Killer Croc, Riddler, Joker, Mister Freeze, Poison Ivy, Penguin, Bane and Two-Face are all ready to fight him. Batman takes a small gadget from his Utility Belt and takes down the lights in the entire place, giving him the advantage against his enemies. Using darkness to his favor, Batman beats them in dark and by the time Ivy manages to light a match, Batman takes them all by surprise and beats them one by one. Despite being outnumbered, Batman defeats the lunatics and using Mister Freeze's Ice Gun, he traps Ivy and Riddler in ice and knocks everyone else unconscious.
The doctor scolds Batman for beating the mentally ill into submission, reinforcing and validating their actions with violence. Batman is not having such reproach, but the doctor is once again interrupted by another orderly, who tells her that the Scarecrow, Jonathan Crane, has escaped with a hostage.
Batman hurries to the Batmobile outside of the Asylum, but as he jumps over his car to get inside, he is confronted by the Scarecrow, who uses a great dose of his fear toxin against the Dark Knight, sending him into a terrible state of frightened panic which leaves him at the mercy of the Master of Fear.
Appearing in "Kings of Fear - Chapter One: Split Decision"
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