Batman Adventures Vol 1 4

"Riot Act": About one-third of Gotham's population suddenly becomes illiterate, causing traffic disasters, riots, and looting to break out across the city. While Batman, Robin, and the police stru

"Riot Act"
Cover
Batman Adventures Vol 1 #4
January, 1993
Executive Editor	Dick Giordano
Cover Artists	Ty Templeton
Riot Act
Writers	Martin Pasko
Pencilers	Brad Rader
Inkers	Rick Burchett
Colorists	Rick Taylor
Letterers	Tim Harkins
Editors	Scott Peterson
Previous Issue	Batman Adventures # 3
Next Issue	Batman Adventures # 5

Now, as you face the virtual end of life as you know it... I want to tell you who you have to thank for that: yourselves! After all, you low-browed little vermin, you elected your cretinous Mayor Hill and a City Council full of morons -- none of whom has made a priority of educating your youth!

— The Extortionist

Batman Adventures #4 is an issue of the series Batman Adventures (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1993.

Synopsis for "Riot Act"

About one-third of Gotham's population suddenly becomes illiterate, causing traffic disasters, riots, and looting to break out across the city. While Batman, Robin, and the police struggle to maintain order, a mysterious extortionist takes credit for the illiteracy plague and holds the antidote ransom, citing it as his revenge on a city that undervalues education.

Eventually, Robin secures the first lead when he spots members of the Snake gang planting radios in a store instead of stealing them. His suspicions are confirmed when the radios are turned on, and erase his literacy moments later: the "illiteracy bug" is caused by a high-frequency signal, emitted from a gadget hidden inside certain "doctored" electronics.

In the face of mounting chaos, Commissioner Gordon and Mayor Hill reluctantly agree to pay the ransom, reasoning it is far less than the cost of re-educating the populace. Meanwhile, Batman and Robin rush to stop the ransom scheme, having realized the extortionist is none other than Jonathan Crane, aka the Scarecrow.

Appearing in "Riot Act"

Featured Characters:

• Batman

Supporting Characters:

• Alfred Pennyworth
• Commissioner Gordon
• Robin/Dick Grayson

Antagonists:

• The Extortionist
  • Mario (First appearance)

Other Characters:

• Mayor Hill
• Summer Gleeson
• Gotham City Police Department
• Barney Corbett (Mentioned only)
• Dirk Bricker (Single appearance)
• Clayface (Mentioned only)

Locations:

• Gotham City
  • Gotham State University
  • Wayne Manor
    • Batcave
  • WGBS

Items:

• Batcomputer
• Batrope
• Bat-Signal

Vehicles:

• Robin's Motorcycle
• Batwing
  

Notes

• Collected in Batman Adventures Vol. 1.

Trivia

• This issue marks the first time a writer from Batman: The Animated Series has written an issue of its tie-in comic. Martin Pasko was then a story editor on the series, and writer of the episode "See No Evil".

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Batman Adventures series

Recommended Reading

• DC Animated Universe Recommended Reading
  • Adventures in the DC Universe (Volume 1)
  • The Batgirl Adventures #1
  • Batman Adventures (Volume 1)
  • Batman Adventures (Volume 2)
  • The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years (Volume 1)
  • The Batman Adventures: Mad Love
  • The Batman and Robin Adventures (Volume 1)
  • Batman and Superman Adventures: World's Finest
  • Batman Beyond (Volume 1)
  • Batman Beyond (Volume 2)
  • Batman Beyond (Volume 4)
  • Batman Beyond Unlimited (Volume 1)
  • Batman Beyond Universe (Volume 1)
  • Batman: Gotham Adventures (Volume 1)
  • Batman: Harley and Ivy (Volume 1)
  • Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - The Animated Movie #1
  • Gotham Girls (Volume 1)
  • Justice League Adventures (Volume 1)
  • Justice League Unlimited (Volume 1)
  • Superman Adventures (Volume 1)
  • Superman & Batman Magazine (Volume 1)
  • Justice League Infinity (Volume 1)