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"The Scene of the Crime": The Gotham City Police Department begins a manhunt for Bruce Wayne, who has escaped from custody. Wayne has returned to his manor and changed into Batman to revisit the place, specifically the Batcave beneath it, remembering many of t

Quote1 Bruce Wayne is a mask I wear, that I've been wearing since I was a child... but it's become a liability, so it's over. -- Bruce Wayne and his troubles aren't my concern anymore. Quote2
Batman

Batman #600 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 2002. It was published on February 27, 2002.

Synopsis for "The Scene of the Crime"

The Gotham City Police Department begins a manhunt for Bruce Wayne, who has escaped from custody. Wayne has returned to his manor and changed into Batman to revisit the place, specifically the Batcave beneath it, remembering many of the pains of his life so far, the complications of his double life. Here he is confronted by Batgirl, Robin and Nightwing, and via computer, by Oracle. They want to know why he didn't tell them that he was planning an escape, and are shocked when he says he's not going to try to prove Bruce Wayne's innocence. He also refuses to confirm to them that he is indeed innocent. The evidence is strong, particularly as it seems Vesper had indeed discovered that Bruce and Batman were one and the same.

Batman declares that Bruce Wayne is nothing more than a mask, and that from now on there simply is no Bruce Wayne, a declaration that is shocking to the others, particularly to Nightwing, as Dick Grayson is Wayne's adopted son. Nightwing punches Batman in the face and demands an honest answer from him. Batman refuses to fight back and avoids Nightwing, which in turn makes Dick angrier and he starts fighting Bruce with all his skills. However, Batman dodges and avoids almost all of Nightwing's attacks. The battle comes to a head when one of Nightwing's errant blows accidentally smashes the case containing Jason Todd's Robin costume. The others are stunned at the accident which gives Batman the distraction he needs to escape. Batman leaves the cave, the others wondering what on earth is going on. Batman then hits the streets, feeling free now that Bruce Wayne is no more.

Appearing in "The Scene of the Crime"

Featured Characters:

  • Batman (Flashback and main story)

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Synopsis for "Mystery of the Black Bat!"

Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson watch a TV report where an anchaeologist claims to have found an old dime novel about an avenger called the Black Bat, who is very similar to the current Batman. Bruce and Dick are really curious to learn more about the Black Bat and they decide to ask Professor Nichols his time machine so they can go back to the time when the Black Bat as alive.

They arrive at the past during the Civil War and they come across a man called Samuel Braxton. Sam is an african american and he helps others like him to escape the oppression of slavery. Batman and Robin decide to join the man in his journey and they save a caravan of escaping slaves from the southern folks. Sam is impressed by Batman and Robin fighting skills and weaponry and also the fact that the enemy was scared of their strange costumes. However, Sam tells them that he must meet someone else and he asks them if they could deliver his people to the north, where they'll be free. Batman and Robin agree and they give Sam a batarang in case he needs it.

Batman and Robin lead the caravan to their final destiny at Miller's Far, where there is also the first sighting of the Black Bat. Sam is on his way to see his friend but he notices that there are hoofs marks on the ground headed toward Batman and Robin and he knows that the enemy will capture them. Sam wonders how can he help while he stares at the Batarang given to him.

As Sam expected, Batman and Robin are ambushed by the enemy and they are taken prisoners, but out of nowhere, The Black Bat appears and frees them. Batman, Robin and the Black Bat start fighting the enemy and together, they are victorious. Batman and Robin are shocked to meet the Black Bat, but the mysterious man turns out to be just Samuel Braxton, trying to emulate Batman's style. Sam continues his travel with the caravan, while Batman and Robin start being pulled back to the present.

In the end, Dick wonders if Black Bat was created because of their appearance, but the dime novel already existed even before the traveled in time. Bruce just gets all confused.

Appearing in "Mystery of the Black Bat!"

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Antagonists:

  • Confederate States Army

Other Characters:

  • Baldwin (Flashback only)
  • Harriet Tubman (Mentioned only)
  • Nettie (Flashback only)
  • President Lincoln (Mentioned only)
  • Professor Dalton (On a TV or computer screen)
  • Underground Railroad

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Synopsis for "Joker Tips His Hat!"

Batman is gone to help the Justice League of America and it is up to Robin and Batgirl to keep Gotham City safe. During their patrol, they notice a man walking across the street without realizing that the traffic hasn't stopped. Robin saves the man and notices that he was wearing a playing card on his forehead and once it's out, the man recovers consciuosness. Batgirl and Robin know that the mind controlling card belongs to The Mad Hatter, but the card is a Joker.

At that moment, Joker appears and reveals his plan. After stealing Mad Hatter's hat, he will control everyone in Gotham to do as he wishes. Before they could capture him, Joker leaves them behind and mindcontrolled mob try to grab Robin and Batgirl, who are forced to escape from the place.

Robin has an idea to stop Joker and he goes to prison to talk to Mad Hatter. As it turns out, Joker played Hatter for a fool and convinced him to reveal the location of his weapons, hats and cards. Robin asks Hatter for help and he gladly tells Robin what he needs.

Batgirl and Robin get on the streets again and they allow the mind conrolled mob to capture them and they are taken to Joker. The Clown places two cards on their foreheads and decides that is would be funny to make them kiss. Batgirl and Robin kiss each other, much to Joker's amusement, but with a single movement, Robin takes off Hatter's hat from Joker and they take the clown down. Joker wants to know how they managed to escape his mind control and they tell him that Mad Hatter gave them some false foreheads that shorted-out the mind control, but that doesn't explain why did they kissed when Joker told them to. Robin is also curious why they did kiss but Batgirl wouldn't tell.

Appearing in "Joker Tips His Hat!"

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Synopsis for "The Dark, Groovy, Solid, Far-Out, Right-On and Completely With-It Knight Returns"

Batman arrives to the batcave after a very rough night and he tells Alfred all the events that happened that night. Batman feels like his style is considered old-fashioned in these modern times. Looking for a better way to fit in the modorn world, Batman decides to change his technology, pets, the batcave decoration and the batsuit, to a more fashionable disco-style.

Appearing in "The Dark, Groovy, Solid, Far-Out, Right-On and Completely With-It Knight Returns"

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See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

Batman 10 Cent Adventure 1
Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Crossover
DC Bullet 2024

This comic issue is a part of the Bruce Wayne: Murderer? and Bruce Wayne: Fugitive story that went through every Batman Family title in 2002. Bruce Wayne was framed for the murder of his love interest Vesper Fairchild and forced to go on the run from the law so he could prove his innocence. This adventure almost completely compromised his identity from the inside.

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