Batman Confidential Vol 1 36

"Blackhawk Down, Part I"

Cover
Textless

Blackhawk Down, Part I

Editors

Previous Issue	Next Issue
Batman Confidential # 35	Batman Confidential # 37

Batman is the world's greatest detective. He knew the truth before the lies were ever spoken.

— Janos Prohaska

Batman Confidential #36 is an issue of the series Batman Confidential (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2010.

Synopsis for "Blackhawk Down, Part I"

At the Blackhawk Propulsion Laboratories in San Juan Islands, Test pilot Jim is testing the airspeed on a new aircraft even though his colleague Cedric tells him to be careful since the aircraft is still experimental. Jim chuckles on the comms and asks Cedric how much would it be if he broke the aircraft. Bruce Wayne interjects by saying a mishap would be a 2 billion dollar setback. Lee Chang who oversees the day to day operations, shakes Bruce's hand and Bruce says an extra $40 that Chang owes Bruce for a dog race last Saturday.

Chang chuckles that he will remember to not bet on the lighter dogs on a wet track. Bruce gets serious by telling Chang that he has made several assurance to his board of directors that the aircraft's detonation wave propulsion technology will be worth the sizeable investment that Wayne Enterprises has put in. Bruce is hoping this test run will give him the ammunition he needs to shoot down any lingering doubts. Chang promises that Bruce's investment is well founded since the aircraft is already cruising at Mach 11.

Cedric tells Jim to rein it back to Mach 8 because the SkySat showed thunderclouds converging north of his trajectory. Jim thinks its a ploy to get him to slow down because he sees nothing but blue skies. Cedric informs Jim it might be an error on the anemometer because it shows thunderclouds moving against the wind. All of a sudden, Jim confirms Cedric's initial warning as he sees the thunderclouds developing. Jim thinks he can brave the storm with the aircraft even though Jim orders him to return back to base.

Jim tells Cedric that he sees something in the thunderclouds. Cedric assumes its lightening but Jim reports he sees a skull in the sky along with a squadron of German bombers from WWII. A bolt of lightening strikes Jim and the aircraft explodes. The homebase at Blackhawk Laboratories comes under attack from above. Cedric loses all outcoming communications before an explosion tears into the comm station. Through the smoke a figure appears and quotes Douglas MacArthur "I have returned".

The figure looks at Lee Chang and asks if Chang's uncle was Wu Chang. Chang confirms his relation to Wu and the figure then asks if he looks recognizable to Chang. One of the figure's henchman says they are locked out of the mainframe for Blackhawk Laboratories. The figure says to Chang to allow him a chance to reintroduce himself. The figure shoots Cedric with a Luger and Chang cries out Gaynor...Theodore Gaynor. Gaynor tells Chang to enter the password so Gaynor has access to Blackhawk Laboratories engine schematics for the experimental aircraft.

Once Chang gave the password, Gaynor remarks all the things he hated about Wu Chang. Gaynor despised Wu's goofy grin, his preposterous yellow shirt and how he looked so smug like someone was the joke and only Wu remembered the punchline. However, Gaynor would commend Wu for his stern resolve in the face of an enemy. Gaynor views Chang as an embarrassment to the memory of his uncle who just relinquished classified technology to save his own skin rather than eating a bullet. Gaynor was about to shoot Chang in the head when Batman intervenes.

Batman disarms Gaynor while his flunkies open fire on Batman. Batman can tell that these goons are well trained by moving in concert, controlling the exits and laying down cover fire to discourage a pursuit of Gaynor. Batman grabs Chang and takes cover. In a matter of 5 minutes, the enemy infiltrated a secured military base, transmitted classified documents and vanished into the storm clouds which receded.