Detective Comics #653 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1992.
Synopsis for "The Serpent Pit"
The police attempt to arrest Batman and Huntress for trespassing in the Krasna-Volnians' embassy, but Batman distracts them with a smoke bomb, and escapes with Huntress. Though the Krasna-Volnian thieves are furious, the police all but admit that they have little power to bring Batman in. Far from the embassy, Huntress and Batman discuss the new situation - both agree that the thieves are well-protected by their diplomatic immunity, but neither is willing to drop the case.
The next day, Batman infiltrates the Krasna-Volny embassy disguised as a maintenance man, and finds a cache of guns and explosives in the basement. In addition, the leader of the Krasna-Volnian thieves is identified as Hovar Brenc, a former anti-Soviet guerrilla now classified as one of the world's most dangerous terrorists. Meanwhile, Huntress researches the history of Krasna-Volny, and finds that it has a long-simmering grudge against its neighboring state Transbelvia. This leads her and Batman to believe that Brenc intends to strike on Volzcek Day, an important festival for Gotham's Transbelvian community.
When Volzcek Day arrives, Batman and Huntress chase down a suspicious van found near the festival, but find it to be a decoy; Brenc's real plan is to suicide-bomb the festival with twenty pounds of Semtex. Left with only ninety seconds before the Semtex goes off, Huntress knocks Brenc unconscious, forces him into his own decoy van, and drives the van off a nearby pier. The Semtex explodes underwater, leaving Brenc the only casualty.
Batman pulls a barely-conscious Huntress out of the water, and rebukes her for killing Brenc when there might have been nonlethal alternatives. Huntress remains unrepentant, and as Batman leaves her behind, warns him that she has no intention of retiring.
Appearing in "The Serpent Pit"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Krasna-Voll Beranya
- Hovar Brenc (Dies)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Gotham City
- West Colony
- Krasny-Volna Embassy
- Harbour Lite Motel Lodge (Transbelvian Embassy)
- Volzcek Square
- Whitman High School
- West Colony
- Batcave
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This story is reprinted in Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 8.
Trivia
- A stray newspaper in this issue bears the headline "Nolan Says Bye", signifying artist Graham Nolan's temporary leave from Detective Comics. Nolan would eventually return with Detective Comics #661.
- Artist Graham Nolan and family make a cameo appearance at the Volzcek Day festival.
See Also
Links and References
