Batman Missing!

Batman Missing! is the second episode of the first season of the DC Universe: Legends TV series.

Synopsis
''Batman goes missing in Gotham City and Robin calls on the JLA for help. During this time, villains are out causing havoc and an impostor Batman runs amok. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal why Bruce Wayne became Batman.''

Plot
3 years ago, Professor Hugo Strange works on genetic manipulation, working on Arkham Asylum subjects on death row. In doing so, he releases the Monster Men, a race of cannibalistic mindless monsters that end up rampaging throughout Gotham. Batman luckily provides an antidote and confronts Professor Strange, having threatened his bankroller, Sal Maroni, to turn on him. Strange nearly loses his license but is saved by pinning the blame on his assistant.

In present day, Batman chases down one of his enemies, the serial killer Victor Zsasz. However, this leads to a trap where the building collapses on him. Alfred loses communication as Batman frees himself, only to be injected with a paralytic by Professor Strange. Robin appears on the scene minutes later and finds nothing but a tattered cape and a broken grappling hook, indicated Batman escaped.

Days go by with no reports, sightings or hints of the vigilante, leading to Alfred being extremely worried. Bruce's recurring nurse, Dr. Thompkins, police commissioner Jim Gordon, and even WayneTech manager Lucius Fox report nothing. Alfred contacts Robin for another sweep of the city and, this time, Dick calls on some of Batman's allies.

Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and the Flash sweep the city, discovering how corrupt and dangerous the streets are. Flash stops serial arsonist Firefly, Wonder Woman knocks out the Greek-obsessed Maxie Zeus, Superman chases down a flying figure resembling Batman, only to realise it's Killer Moth. Martian Manhunter also mistakes the criminal Film Freak for Batman. Robin stops Cavalier as the JLA meet up to report that, despite having stopped various criminals, no sightings of Batman have occurred. Meanwhile, the G.C.P.D. see the mountain of criminals at their doorstep and Commissioner Gordon is exasperated at the presence of more vigilantes, albeit being secretly glad.

Batman wakes up in a dark room, revealed as Arkham Asylum. Riddler is in a cell nearby and taunts him for getting caught. He suggests a riddle but is silenced by an arriving Professor Strange. He admits his curiosity at his real identity but reveals that some of his patients have nearly died trying to unravel his secret. Instead, Professor Strange promises to cure him and, arriving at his study, procures a lookalike Batman suit.

In a flashback incurred by Batman, Bruce begins his vigilante career, much to Alfred's chagrin. He struggles to find an effective symbol to present himself and a theme to scare criminals. Just then, a bat crashes through the window and he remembers his fear of bats. He enters a makeshift cave underground and begins working on a suit as well as shurikens resembling bats.

The JLA & Robin continue searching for Batman but decide to take a break. Superman asks Robin to contact them if there's any news and they apologise for being unable to help. Robin makes his way back to Wayne Manor when "Batman" seemingly returns. Robin demands an explanation and is given a story about being abducted by 'Blackfire cultists'. Robin feigns believing in the story and secretly waits for the perfect time to confront him. "Batman" then stops, sensing Robin's hesitation.

Back in Arkham Asylum, Batman is tortured by one of Professor Strange's allies, Dr. Jonathan Crane. Crane digs deep to find his fear and procures a live bat infected with Strange's old Monster Men serum. Crane taunts him with it and the bat bites through his suit before being electrocuted. The poison is in Batman's system as Crane teases the antidote in front of him, stating he'll receive the cure of Batman takes off his suit and stops struggling. During all this torture, Batman experiences visions and hallucinations of his enemies and his parents, goading and jeering him.

Robin and "Batman" have a stand-off, where Robin reveals that he's memorised every inch of the Batsuit and recognises its crude nature, not to mention his personality, flaws in his story and overall stature. "Batman" drops the act and uses Batman's gadgets against Robin, something which is easily avoided due to the sidekick's experience with the weaponry. However, Strange gets the jump on Robin by injecting himself with the "perfected" Monster Men serum, giving him the edge over Robin.

Batman agrees to stop struggle to Dr. Crane and seemingly drops his guard. Crane nears him until he's headbutted and knocked out. Batman breaks free with a loose Batarang in his suit and ties up Crane. Feeling the effects of the serum, Batman pockets the cure and escapes Arkham to find Robin.

Alfred sees the scene from the Batcave and urges Robin to escape. Luckily though, Strange is knocked off by the real Batman, who angrily confronts him. Both enhanced by the serum, they briefly fight, though Batman's skill proves him victorious. He then administers little of the cure on Strange to test it and, proving that it truly works, injects himself with the rest. Batman finally reunites with Robin and Strange is left at the G.C.P.D.. Batman then contacts the JLA to inform them of his return as Professor Strange formally appears alongside the mayor, announcing his encounter and blaming Batman for the trauma endured. With no proof against him, Strange opts to willingly be on probation under the asylum's head-psychiatrist, Dr. Jeremiah Arkham. Dr. Crane, in the meantime, descends into insanity after his experience with Batman and talks to a scarecrow. Bruce looks at a portrait of his parents and recalls their deaths. He apologises to them but tells himself that his mission is beyond himself and his failures.

Main characters

 * Dynamic Duo
 * Batman (Bruce Wayne)
 * Robin (Dick Grayson)
 * "Batman" (Prof. Hugo Strange) (debut) 
 * '''Monster Men (debut; flashback)

Secondary characters

 * Penny-One (Alfred Pennyworth)
 * Riddler (Edward Nygma) (debut) 
 * Commissioner Jim Gordon
 * Dr. Jonathan Crane (debut) 
 * Justice League of America
 * Flash (Barry Allen)
 * Wonder Woman (Diana Prince)
 * Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz/John Jones)
 * Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)
 * Mister Zsasz (Victor Zsasz) (debut) 

Guest characters

 * Batman rogues gallery
 * Film Freak (Burt Weston) (debut) 
 * Killer Moth (Drury Walker) (debut) 
 * Firefly (Garfield Lynns) (debut) 
 * Two-Face (Harvey Dent) (debut) 
 * Joker (debut; visions/flashbacks) 
 * Maxie Zeus (Maximilian Seuss) (debut) 
 * Cavalier (Mortimer Drake) (debut) 
 * Ra's al Ghul (debut; visions/flashbacks) 
 * Catwoman (Selina Kyle) (debut; visions/flashbacks) 
 * Gotham City Police Department
 * Detective Crispus Allen (debut) 
 * Lieutenant Harvey Bullock (debut) 
 * Detective Renee Montoya (debut) 
 * Captain Sarah Essen (debut) 
 * Mayor Hamilton Hill (debut; on-screen) 
 * Henri Ducard (debut) 
 * Dr. Jeremiah Arkham (debut) 
 * Dr. Simon Ecks (debut) 
 * Joe Chill (debut; visions/flashbacks) 
 * Dr. Leslie Thompkins (debut) 
 * Lucius Fox (debut) 
 * Martha Wayne (debut; visions/flashbacks) 
 * Dr. Sanjay (debut; flashback) 
 * Thomas Wayne (debut; visions/flashbacks) 

Groups

 * Batman rogues gallery
 * Gotham City Police Department
 * Justice League of America
 * Wayne Enterprises
 * WayneTech

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States of America
 * Delaware
 * Metropolis
 * New Jersey
 * Gotham County
 * '''Gotham City
 * Amusement Mile (debut) '''
 * Burnley (debut) 
 * Burnside (debut) 
 * Chinatown (debut) 
 * Crest Hill
 * Wayne Manor
 * Batcave
 * East End
 * Park Row
 * Gotham Harbor (debut) 
 * Blackgate Penitentiary (debut) 
 * Gotham River (debut) '''
 * Old Gotham
 * Clock Tower
 * G.C.P.D. headquarters
 * Wayne Enterprises headquarters
 * Narrows (debut) 
 * Arkham Asylum (debut) 
 * Tricorner (debut) 
 * Tricorner Yards (debut) 

Objects

 * Batcave display case
 * Catwoman's whip
 * Clayface's mud
 * Clock King's clock
 * Deadshot's bullet
 * Joker's playing card
 * Mister Freeze's cold gun
 * Penguin's umbrella
 * Two-Face's coin
 * Batcomputer
 * Batmobile
 * Batsuit
 * Prototype Batsuit (displayed)
 * Bat-Belt
 * Batarangs
 * Grappler gun
 * Tear gas pellets
 * Robin suit

Characters

 * Batman rogues gallery
 * Deacon Blackfire (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Deadshot (Floyd Lawton) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Man-Bat (Dr. Kirk Langstrom) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Deathstroke (Slade Wilson) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Talia al Ghul (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Catman (Thomas Blake) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) (pictured; on-screen) 
 * Dr. Harleen Quinzel (mentioned) 
 * Justice League of America
 * Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) (mentioned)
 * Aquaman (Orin/Arthur Curry) (mentioned)
 * Salvatore "The Boss" Maroni (mentioned) 
 * Starro the Conqueror (pictured; on-screen) 

Groups

 * Blackfire cult (mentioned) 
 * Maroni crime family (mentioned) 

Trivia

 * This episode shows an extensive look at Gotham City, including its crime, inhabitants, vigilantism and layout.
 * This episode is loosely adapted from the Batman: Gotham Knights arc Batman: Transference, where Hugo Strange poses as Batman and abducts Bruce Wayne's allies in an attempt to psychologically break him.
 * This episode serves as an origin for multiple characters:
 * Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who shows a vague fascination in the Joker in the episode, though he himself does not appear. This acts as foreshadowing to her comic-book counterpart, where she falls in love with the Joker and becomes his apprentice Harley Quinn.
 * Dr. Jonathan Crane, who reveals an obsessive fear over scarecrows. This also foreshadows his eventual break, where he becomes the Batman villain Scarecrow.
 * Dr. Simon Ecks, who is revealed to be busy working on his "Double X formula" to try and replicate the mind. This also foreshadows his comic-book counterpart's turn to villainy as Doctor Double X, who succeeds in replicating himself into two people.
 * When Bruce begins hallucinating he sees many of his past enemies, such as Catwoman, Joker, Ra's al Ghul and Two-Face.
 * In addition, he envisions his former mentor Henri Ducard, his parents' killer Joe Chill and his mother and father.
 * Deacon Blackfire is mentioned in this episode, both in the form of his cult and his head-shot.
 * In the Batcave, many articles of memorabilia are seen originating from the comics. This includes a large joker playing card, a giant mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex and a giant penny. In the comics, all of these items come from the Joker, Dinosaur Island (in some versions) and Penny Plunderer respectively.
 * Head-shots of various criminals are seen on-screen in the Batcave when they search for who may have taken Batman.
 * The ones shown are, as follows: Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Two-Face, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, Man-Bat, Deathstroke, Catman, Deadshot, Killer Croc and Deacon Blackfire.
 * The Batcave display case featured various trophies alluding to other members of Batman's rogues gallery, including Mister Freeze's cold gun, Clock King's clock and Clayface's mud.
 * On top of this, larger memorabilia can be seen such as a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex, a massive coin and a large Joker playing card, also alluding to various events in the comics, such as Batman's adventure on Dinosaur Island, Penny Plunderer and the Joker respectively.
 * Whether or not Batman has actually visited Dinosaur Island, if it even exists, is unknown, as some other stories have been shown to neglect that backstory in favour of a different one.
 * A black mask is seen hanging in Dr. Jeremiah Arkham's office, alluding to his brief tenure as the Black Mask in the comics.