- All right, mister whoever-you-are, you've been asking for a war-- and now you have one! And it's a war only one of us will survive!!
- — Batman
Untold Legend of the Batman #2 is an issue of the series Untold Legend of the Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1980. It was published on May 22, 1980.
Synopsis for "With Friends Like These..."
Batman invades a bar looking for any clues to the responsible for sending him the Thomas Wayne's Batman Costume as a threat. He asks a stool pigeon named Snitch for the information and gets a smart-aleck but negative answer, after which Snitch draws a gun on him. Batman beats him to a pulp, shouting at Snitch to never point a gun at him again. Robin arrives in time to stop Batman from injuring Snitch and to protect him from other hoods in the bar.
The two heroes go to the Batmobile and return to the Batcave below the Wayne Foundation building. On the way, Batman tells Robin about the bizarre "gift" and the note found in the display case. Robin reminisces about his own origin, and how Batman helped him bring his parents' killers to justice; how he led the double life of Dick Grayson and Robin, the Boy Wonder; and how he eventually graduated high school and entered Hudson University, after which Bruce and Alfred relocated from Wayne Manor to the penthouse at the top of the Wayne Foundation building.
Once in the Batcave, Batman immediately gets to work at the Batcave computer. Alfred confides to Robin that Batman is a "different man" since being caught in a warehouse explosion. Alfred remembers his own career as a World War II resistance fighter, as an actor on the English stage, and, after his father's death, traveling to America to become the butler of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (as his father had been the butler of Thomas and Martha Wayne) whom he soon learned were also Batman and Robin.
When Alfred asks if Batman has found a suspect, Batman gestures to a pile of his old enemies' photographs, and suggests Alfred take his pick. He recalls the origins of the Joker and Two-Face. Robin suggests they consult with Commissioner Gordon, but when he prepares to start the Batmobile, an alarm sounds and Robin realizes the Batmobile's ignition has been tampered with. Batman, Robin and Alfred throw themselves to safety as a bomb-blast destroys the car. Immediately, Robin finds another threat against Batman and this only serves to make Batman more determined to capture whoever is responsible.
Appearing in "With Friends Like These..."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth (Origin)
- Robin (Origin)
Antagonists:
- Joker (Origin)
- Two-Face (Origin)
- Black Spider (In a photograph only)
- Catwoman (In a photograph only)
- Gentleman Ghost (In a photograph only)
- Getaway Genius (In a photograph only)
- Hugo Strange (In a photograph only)
- Killer Moth (In a photograph only)
- Mister Freeze (In a photograph only)
- Penguin (In a photograph only)
- Poison Ivy (In a photograph only)
- Professor Milo (In a photograph only)
- Ra's al Ghul (In a photograph only)
- Riddler (In a photograph only)
- Scarecrow (In a photograph only)
- Tweedledum and Tweedledee (In a photograph only)
- Tweedledee (In a photograph only)
- Tweedledum (In a photograph only)
Other Characters:
- Flying Graysons (Flashback only)
- John Grayson (Dies in flashback)
- Mary Grayson (Dies in flashback)
- Thomas Wayne (Dies in flashback)
- Martha Wayne (Dies in flashback)
- Joe Chill (Flashback only)
- Mr. Haly (Flashback only)
- Boss Zucco (Dies in flashback)
- Sal Maroni (Flashback only)
- Jarvis Pennyworth (First appearance; unnamed)
- Snitch (Single appearance)
- Wally (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Wayne Foundation
- Wayne Manor (Flashback only)
- Batcave II
- Monarch Playing Card Co. (Flashback only)
- Finger Alley
- The Last Resort
- Haly's Circus (Flashback only)
Items:
- Batcomputer
- Giant Joker Card
- Giant Penny
- Mechanical T-Rex
- Two-Face's Coin (Flashback only)
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue recreates and expands events that took place on previous comics. These include:
- This issue is reprinted in:
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Untold Legend of the Batman series
- Images from Untold Legend of the Batman Vol 1 2
Recommended Reading
- Batman Recommended Reading
- Batman (Volume 1)
- Batman (Volume 2)
- Batman (Volume 3)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 1)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 2)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 3)
- Batman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Batman: Gotham Knights (Volume 1)
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (Volume 1)
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat (Volume 1)
- Batman: Streets of Gotham (Volume 1)
- Batman Incorporated (Volume 1)
- Batman Incorporated (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 1)
- Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 2)
- The Brave and the Bold (Volume 1)
- Detective Comics (Volume 1)
- Detective Comics (Volume 2)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)