People think it's an obsession. A compulsion. As if there were an irresistible impulse to act. It's never been like that. I chose this life. I know what I'm doing. And on any given day, I could stop doing it. Today, however, isn't that day. And tomorrow won't be either. 
- — Batman
Identity Crisis #4 is an issue of the series Identity Crisis (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 2004. It was published on September 15, 2004.
Synopsis for "Chapter Four: Who Benefits"
Jean Loring has been attacked by the same killer who murdered Sue Dibny, she is strung up in her own apartment and hanged by a noose. Atom rushes through the phone lines to save her, getting there to cut her down just in time. As he resuscitates, he begins to pray for her a little bit. She revives, and the two share a romantic moment.
Jean Loring rescued
The crime scene is investigated by Superman, Green Arrow and Mister Miracle. For the second time in a row, their highly advanced security system has been beaten, leaving no trace of the assailant. Superman recognizes the knot, and Oracle establishes that it is the trademark of Slipknot. They find him in his cell, and Wonder Woman interrogates him with her Lasso of Truth, but he doesn't know anything either. The only connection between the active suspects is that they have been members of the Suicide Squad, which is still not much of a lead, but it's the best that they have.
There is a large stir in the supervillain community as well. A group of the professionals are getting together, and sitting around playing risk, including Black Spider, Chronos, Deadshot, Mirror Master, Merlyn and Monocle. Although some of them seem to be enjoying the chaos, the consensus is that this is bad for everybody. There's hostility towards whoever is responsible because riling the heroes like this is simply bad for business. Nobody benefits. Rumors have also spread of Doctor Light's mind wipe.
Spectre summoned
Captain Boomerang is still trying to connect with his long lost son, Owen Mercer. Calculator helps him work up the nerve. Noticing him parked on the street again, Owen approaches his father and confronts him. He reveals that he's already aware of their relationship because tabloid reporters have been stalking him all week. The two connect immediately, Boomerang apologizes for not raising him properly, is forgiven, and they drive off together to talk.
Batman is performing his own investigation of the murder, using the Batcomputer. He does not believe that it could have been the Suicide Squad because there's absolutely no gain there. And that's the first rule of solving any crime. You have to figure out who benefits. But there doesn't seem to be anything good coming out of this crisis for anyone at all. At the very least, across the country, the danger is bringing family members closer to their loved ones.
Lois threatened
Oliver Queen confronts his old best friend Hal Jordan, who is now the Spectre. He asks that the Spectre's powers, which are used to find and punish the guilty from a divine perspective. Hal apologizes and tells him that he can't pick and choose who to take vengeance upon, it's all dictated by a higher power. He can't even reveal who the murderer is, which pains him greatly. Hal tells Ollie to make sure that the bastard pays. As they sit together and talk as friends, Ollie asks Hal when he's going to be coming back from the dead, and the response is that he's working on it.
Lois Lane worried about the emotional toll that everything is taking on Clark Kent. He puts on a brave face for the rest of the community, but it's clear that he's scared. For all of his powers, he can't be there to protect everyone all of the time. At the Daily Planet, she receives an anonymous threat in the mail. The killer knows her husband's secret as well and plans on coming for her next.
Appearing in "Chapter Four: Who Benefits"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Captain Boomerang
- Jack Drake
- Jean Loring
- Lois Lane
- Mister Miracle
- Oracle
- Owen Mercer
- Robin
- Spectre
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Fiddler (Behind the scenes)
- Jonathan Kent (Cameo)
- Kobra Cult (Behind the scenes)
- Suicide Squad (In a photograph only)
- Black Adam (In a photograph only)
- Blockbuster (In a photograph only)
- Captain Cold (In a photograph only)
- Count Vertigo (In a photograph only)
- Duchess (In a photograph only)
- Javelin (In a photograph only)
- Jewelee (In a photograph only)
- Killer Frost (In a photograph only)
- Multiplex (In a photograph only)
- Parasite (In a photograph only)
- The Penguin (In a photograph only)
- Plastique (In a photograph only)
- Poison Ivy (In a photograph only)
- Punch (In a photograph only)
Locations:
- Central City
- Gotham City
- Batcave,
- Drake Family Condo
- Gotham Clock Tower
- Ivy Town
- Justice League Watchtower
- Metropolis
- New York City
- Opal City
- Opal City Penitentiary
- Smallville
Items:
Notes
- This issue was collected along with the rest of the series in the Identity Crisis graphic novel.
- Hal's response of "working on it" is a reference to Green Lantern: Rebirth #1, which came out the following month.
Trivia
- This issue includes Blockbuster, Roland Desmond, as a former member of the Suicide Squad; the Blockbuster who served in the Suicide Squad was the original, Mark Desmond.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Justice League Recommended Reading
- Justice League of America (Volume 1)
- Justice League of America (Volume 2)
- Justice League of America (Volume 3)
- Justice League of America (Volume 4)
- Justice League of America (Volume 5)
- JLA (Volume 1)
- Justice League (Volume 1)
- Justice League (Volume 2)
- Justice League (Volume 3)
- Justice League (Volume 4)
- Justice League International (Volume 1)
- Justice League International (Volume 2)
- Justice League International (Volume 3)
- Justice League Europe (Volume 1)
- Justice League America (Volume 1)
- Justice League Task Force (Volume 1)
- Justice League Quarterly (Volume 1)
- Justice League Dark (Volume 1)
- Justice League Dark (Volume 2)
- Extreme Justice (Volume 1)
- Justice League Elite (Volume 1)
- Justice League Odyssey (Volume 1)
Links and References
 
Identity Crisis #1 • Identity Crisis #2 • Identity Crisis #3 • Identity Crisis #4 • Identity Crisis #5 • Identity Crisis #6 • Identity Crisis #7 Crossovers
Adventures of Superman #636 • Adventures of Superman #644 • Firestorm #6 • Flash #214 • Flash #215 • Flash #216 • Flash #217 • Green Arrow #52 • Green Arrow #54 • Green Arrow #55 • Green Arrow #56 • Green Arrow #57 • JLA #115 • JLA #116 • JLA #117 • JLA #118 • JLA #119 • JSA #67 • Teen Titans #20 • Teen Titans #21 • Teen Titans #22 • Teen Titans #23 |
 The events from this issue or series are related to the Mindwipes Storyline, and/or any of its surrounding events, including the League That Defeated Itself, Identity Crisis, and Crisis of Conscience. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the Mindwipes Storyline category. Identity Crisis #1 • Identity Crisis #2 • Identity Crisis #3 • Identity Crisis #4 • Identity Crisis #5 • Identity Crisis #6 • Identity Crisis #7 |