Batman: Abyss

In the premiere episode of this new animated Batman series, Zsasz goes on a rampage and the Dark Knight rushes to confront him. Little does Batman know that his latest pursuit of a carnage-happy madman is no ordinary offensive against yet another of Gotham's deadly undercurrents; no, this time the Dark Knight will be taking his first unwitting steps down into a mind-bending spiral that threatens to contort his ethics and thwart his sense of purpose. Is this void massive enough to negate even Batman's identity? Welcome to BATMAN ABYSS.

In the second episode of this new animated Batman series, our hero retreats to his cave to examine forensics that soon prove more taunt than testimony. But it's not the innocent blood spilt during Zsasz's episode one rampage that vexes the Dark Knight; rather, Zsasz's blood itself is the provocation. The chemical compounds Batman discovers therein reveal Zsasz to be a mere pawn to a pair of villains, his blood delivering their calling cards: Scarecrow beckons in the form of a more potent version of his old fear toxin, while Riddler demands attention with trace amounts...

Find Commissioner Gordon & company in the midst of a firefight at the Gotham Botanical Gardens. Gas masks soon prove useless against a toxin that not only permeates the surrounding air but, thanks to a hail of poisoned darts, penetrates body armor as well. As sanity begins to slip from Gotham's finest, the World's Greatest Detective himself has already crossed the threshold into madness. Up on the roof of the Museum of Fine Arts, the newly scratched Batman writhes in the throes of psychosis while Catwoman looks on, coming to the terrible realization that her claws had...

The Question and Alfred look on, helpless, as the Dark Knight goes to his darkest place. Although newly rescued from Scarecrow's prying clutches and delivered to the relative safety of the Batcave, there's no saving Batman from his own toxin-addled subconscious. A week of nightmares commences, and our hero wrestles with the mounting evidence that often he has not played the hero at all: In his rush to righteous glory, he's let villains live on to terrorize another day, and left dead and maimed children in his wake-all while playacting the life of a playboy. The slant ...

Time to treat the inmates of Arkham Asylum to a two-for-one visit from the world's greatest detectives. The Question and Batman (the latter barely sober after a hellish week buried alive in his own toxin-saturated subconscious) find that all the usual suspects are in tip-top heckling form. Joker, in particular, is as attentive a host as ever. Dr. Harleen Quinzel, however, seems to feel safer with her patient than with his guests-but no matter, for the sleuthing expedition has already proven successful. The way forward comes into focus, and the Dark Knight assigns his ...

Our hero is both in his element and out of his mind as he hunkers down in the Batcave with The Question and Huntress for a fear toxin training session. Never mind the long-awaited arrival of the rhodium chloride, a chemical compound with supposed antitoxin effects: Batman insists on honing his mental and physical agility on the juice before ingesting the untested treatment. Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse across town, another creature of the night is awakening to a pair of attendants: Catwoman's former employers have become her captors. Riddler emerges from the ...

There's no rest for the wicked-or their pursuers. Riddler doles out mysterious final instructions to his accomplice before excusing himself to put the finishing touches on his master plan. Harvey Dent holds forth in a packed courtroom, attempting to neutralize both a notorious lawbreaker and any lingering suspicions that he himself is an incurable criminal. Scarecrow pilots a blimp full of fear toxin toward the courthouse. Catwoman, hooded and shackled, takes her place according to someone else's plan. Commissioner Gordon stands by with a veteran's wary vigilance. ...

What does it take to satisfy as greedy a fear-monger as Scarecrow? A courtroom crackling with the breaking of minds is a good start. If a few of Batman's closest allies happen to be among the casualties, so much the better. For Catwoman, an overdose of fear toxin ought to be sufficient to both render her insane and, conveniently, inspire her to inflict maximum damage on her fellow toxin-sufferers. And who's that gorgeous creature crashing through the skylight? So nice of Huntress to drop by just in time to absorb the wrath of a batshit-crazy Cat. As for Harvey ...

SEASON FINALE What is the last riddle? To answer such a question, Batman brings The Question.