Good evening, Gotham City. I am the Quakemaster. Using technology unknown to you, I caused the earthquake which has your city on its knees. You have to pay me one hundred million dollars... or I will burn what's left of Gotham to the ground. 
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #74 is an issue of the series Batman: Shadow of the Bat (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1998.
Synopsis for "Cataclysm, Part Nine: The Naked City"
Batman finally reaches Gotham City after the fight at Blackgate Prison.[1] The destruction of his city in the earthquake wears down on him like nothing else ever has before. He's spent his entire life protecting Gotham only to see it wrecked beyond repair in an act of god... he's used to hunting thieves and fighting villains in his crusade for justice, but this is an enemy that he can't fight. It's like the cosmos are mocking him. For a moment, he stops to wonder what a single man can do in the face of such tragedy... but immediately springs into action, because if he had ever spent very much time wondering that, then he wouldn't be Batman. Batman runs around helping with the rescue efforts, dragging endangered survivors out of the rubble and saving as many lives as he possibly can. Realizing that he can't do all of this himself, he visits the greatest man around for organizing manpower... the Penguin. Instead of looting, the Penguin is going to use the considerable resources at his disposal to help in the relief efforts. There's nothing in it for him, but if he doesn't Batman is going to make the rest of his life a living hell. And given martial law, his men will probably be shot dead in the streets for looting anyway. The sooner things get back to normal, the better it will be for everybody. For once in their lives these criminals will help their fellow man.
Tim Drake has recently arrived in Bludhaven by plane, having come back from Europe.[2] He needs to get back to the city so he can help out, but all roads in are blocked because of the crisis. He steals someone's motorcycle, and leaves behind a note saying that he'll repay them as soon as he can.
Seismologist Jolene Relazzo, the woman who predicted the quake, is trapped in her apartment. Two henchmen stop by and bust her door down, then they point a gun at her and kidnap her. Their boss believes that they will make a massive profit off of the cataclysm, and she is part of their plan.
Barbara Gordon and Commissioner Gordon are still coordinating rescue efforts from Gotham City Police Headquarters. More survivors come in, and they mention that there are plenty of people from their area who didn't make it... but the body count would've been a lot higher if it wasn't for Barbara organizing everything.
There is a news broadcast once the televisions are back online... put out to everyone in the city still capable of receiving it. A new villain named Quakemaster is taking credit for the earthquake, revealing that he created it... and he will unleash another one much worse than the first if his demands are not met. One hundred million dollars, or he will burn Gotham City to the ground.
Appearing in "Cataclysm, Part Nine: The Naked City"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Ace the Bat-Hound (Mentioned only)
- Dan (courier)
- Gotham City Police Department
- Legs
- Baldy (Single appearance)
- Mo (Single appearance)
- Suggs (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Bludhaven
- Gotham City
- Dockside Cafe
- Gotham City Police Headquarters
- Iceberg Lounge
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This Batman: Cataclysm crossover takes place between Blackgate: Isle of Men #1 and Batman Chronicles #12.
- This issue is reprinted in the Batman: Cataclysm collection, as well as the 2015 edition.
- The cover credits include a special thanks to Laurel Blechman.
Trivia
- There is a movie poster that reads: "Slyarnold is The Verminator". This is a parody reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie Terminator.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Batman: Shadow of the Bat series
- Images from Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 74
Recommended Reading
Links and References
  This issue is a part of the Cataclysm crossover that swept through all Batman Family Titles during 1998. Gotham City was almost completely destroyed by a massive earthquake. This story led into the events that would eventually create No Man's Land. Cataclysm
Detective Comics #719 • Shadow of the Bat #73 • Nightwing #19 • Batman #553 • Azrael #40 • Detective Comics #720 • Catwoman #56 • Robin #52 • Blackgate: Isle of Men #1 • Shadow of the Bat #74 • Batman Chronicles #12 • Nightwing #20 • Batman #554 • Huntress/Spoiler #1 • Detective Comics #721 • Catwoman #57 • Arkham Asylum: Tales of Madness #1 • Robin #53 Aftershock
Shadow of the Bat #75 • Batman #555 • Detective Comics #722 • Shadow of the Bat #76 • Robin #54 • Batman #556 • Shadow of the Bat #77 • Batman #557 • Detective Comics #724 • Shadow of the Bat #78 • Shadow of the Bat #79 • Batman Chronicles #14 • Batman #558 • Batman #559 • Detective Comics #725 • Detective Comics #726 |