Chapter Summaries

Constantine and Jeremiah escalated a cheating card game into Russian roulette, with Jeremiah provoking Constantine to confront his fear of death. Jeremiah revealed that he was a psychologist who had seen through Constantine, and Constantine left insisting the explanation was bullshit.

• Constantine cheated at cards, but Jeremiah revealed an ace of spades of his own, exposing their mutual cheating.
• Jeremiah proposed Russian roulette, and he and Constantine took turns pulling the trigger; each shot landed on an empty chamber.
• Jeremiah taunted Constantine about his fear and urged him to pull the trigger, but Constantine could not bring himself to do it.
• Jeremiah pulled the trigger without hesitation, survived, and told Constantine to take the remaining bullet.
• Jeremiah said he had recognized Constantine's self-deception and could not be fooled by him; Constantine pocketed the bullet and called the explanation bullshit.

Miao Mu and Constantine summoned a demon to provide a body-restoring treatment for Jerry, who was near death. After Constantine explained the procedure, Miao Mu brutally subdued the demon and prepared it for the treatment.

• Miao Mu asked Constantine to examine Jerry and find a way to restore his failing body.
• Constantine proposed turning Jerry into another creature, then purifying him, and summoned a demon through a blood-drawn magic circle.
• The demon recognized Constantine and cursed him, but the circle trapped it inside.
• Miao Mu tore into the demon with his claws while Constantine said he could put it into Jerry without killing it as long as their contract held.
• Constantine smoked a cigarette and realized his bleak mood had lifted, then slapped himself after suspecting the demon had influenced him.

Miao Mu gave Constantine the Spear of Destiny, then discovered the bullet Constantine had discarded contained a tracker and investigated the dental clinic crime scene. Meanwhile, Barbara found surveillance devices at the WM Group headquarters and suspected the CIA was monitoring the Kane Family’s companies.

• Miao Mu gave Constantine the Spear of Destiny and showed him the strange demonic power he could use without an apparent contract.
• Miao Mu found a tracker hidden inside Constantine’s bullet and asked where Constantine had gotten it.
• Miao Mu visited the dental clinic crime scene, where Sheriff Bullock told him he was leaving Gotham and warned that Gordon would be in greater danger.
• Miao Mu told Bullock he would stand behind Gordon and warned him to leave Gotham before the conflict turned violent.
• Barbara showed Brucie surveillance devices and said their signal sources were concentrated around the Kane Family’s companies, leading her to suspect the CIA.

Miao Mu met with Gotham's precinct chiefs and urged them to retire before Commissioner Nathaniel Barnes could bring them down. He offered them a final chance to leave with money if they helped eradicate the gangs during a citywide crackdown.

• Miao Mu returned to Zero Bar, where Jerry and the assembled officers welcomed him.
• The precinct chiefs complained that Commissioner Nathaniel Barnes was targeting them and looked to Miao Mu for direction.
• Miao Mu explained that the chiefs had become an independent faction and offered them a chance to retire with their past crimes forgiven.
• Miao Mu ordered the precincts to impose martial law and wipe out every gang in their jurisdictions, promising to lead the operation with Gordon's guarantee and WM Security Company's support.
• Miao Mu proposed dividing the seized money, supplies, and assets among the officers, the chiefs, and the authorities, then warned the chiefs not to obstruct the plan.

Miao Mu described how he had arranged for WM Security Company to lead the raid on Gotham’s gangs, then asked Jerry about the Red Devil bound to him by a contract. At school, Jason met his new substitute teacher Pamela Lillian Isley and was challenged to a card game involving circus tickets and Alexis.

• Miao Mu told Jerry that WM Security Company would take the blame while police and precinct chiefs looted the gangs, and Jerry asked whether they might target ordinary people.
• Miao Mu asked Jerry about the Red Devil, and Jerry said the demon was terrified and had not spoken.
• Jason saw the dead flowers outside his classroom and met Pamela Lillian Isley, who warned him not to care for plants.
• A classmate challenged Jason to a card game in which the loser would have to attend the circus with Alexis.
• Jason said he had taught Alexis her moves, then dealt cards to the classmate.

Jason got tickets to see the Flying Graysons and invited Brucie, but she arranged for Croc-Man and Bruce Wayne to accompany him because Gotham faced trouble that night. The group headed to the circus, where Bruce was expected to attend as part of Brucie's plan to work with Batman and support Gotham.

• At school, the chubby student proposed a circus-and-confession bet, and Pamela confiscated the tickets Jason and the student had dropped.
• Jason invited Brucie to the circus, but she said she could not go and arranged for someone else to accompany him.
• Croc-Man arrived, and Brucie explained that he was on a mission and would pass the tickets to Bruce Wayne.
• Bruce Wayne arrived in a Porsche, and Brucie told Jason to keep him in sight while Croc-Man protected him.
• Jason, Croc-Man, and Bruce set out for the circus, which Bruce had to attend as part of Brucie's plans for Gotham.

Gordon convened an emergency meeting over the resignations of six precinct chiefs and thirty-one other officers while Miao Mu launched a citywide assault on Gotham’s gangs. The operation left Black Mask captured and wounded after Deadshot shot off his gun hand.

• Gordon asked the assembled precinct chiefs to decide what to do about the mass resignations, while Barnes questioned whether Gordon had approved them.
• Miao Mu coordinated hooded police and armed WM Security teams for an overnight operation, ordering them to seize the gangs’ goods and avoid disrupting commuters.
• WM Security personnel stormed gang hideouts, and police followed to arrest suspects, confiscate money, and trace the gangs’ drug networks.
• In Burnley District, Black Mask fled as police raided his company and killed his bodyguard, Big Man.
• Hooded officers caught Black Mask, and Deadshot shot off Black Mask’s right hand as he tried to draw his pistol.

Miao Mu directed WM Security Company and the police as they launched sweeping raids across Gotham, while Bruce tried to reach him and learned that the night’s actions had left Batman with no clear side to support. Jason told Bruce that Gotham was entering a new era, but the chapter left Bruce unable to decide who he should help.

• Miao Mu watched WM Security Company operatives wipe out gang strongholds while the Arkham Police Department pursued powerful figures in the Diamond District.
• Miao Mu spoke with Nygma, who confirmed that the raids had arrested people listed in court and City Hall rosters.
• Bruce tried to leave the circus to confront Miao Mu, but Jason and Croc-Man kept him there, and Bruce discovered his phone had no signal.
• Jason told Bruce that he would not be able to see Miao Mu until tomorrow and explained that the police and criminals were both being attacked across Gotham.
• Jason asked Croc-Man whether he could take down Gotham’s famous playboy, and Croc-Man boasted that he could beat three of him.

Bruce Wayne fought Jason and Croc-Man at the circus, easily defeating them before Jason teamed up with Dick Grayson to attack him. The chapter left Jason and Dick preparing to fight Bruce together while Dick demanded an explanation.

• Jason opened the fight with a punch, but Bruce caught him and threw him into the pool.
• Croc-Man charged Bruce, who tripped him, knocked him unconscious, and tied him up.
• Jason ambushed Bruce with a punch, but Bruce kicked him back into the pool and shoved him underwater when he tried again.
• Dick Grayson interrupted after thinking Bruce was drowning Jason, and joined Jason in attacking Bruce.
• Bruce defeated both boys by throwing them into the pool, then identified Dick as one of the Flying Graysons.
• Jason introduced himself and asked Dick to team up, while Dick grabbed a hose and ran toward the faucet.

Bruce witnessed the deaths of Dick Grayson's parents during their aerial act and tried to save Mr. Grayson, but Dick's father died in his arms. Later, Miao Mu defended his operation against Gordon and revealed a sweeping list of corrupt officials he intended to arrest, while Gordon warned that the CIA was investigating him.

• Bruce subdued Jason and Dick, then rushed backstage after hearing a woman's scream and found the Flying Graysons' wires snapped and the performers fallen.
• Bruce treated Mr. Grayson and brought Dick to his dying father, but Mr. Grayson died after saying goodbye to his son.
• Miao Mu told Gordon that Batman had carried out the operation against Black Mask's criminal network and showed him evidence linking the raid to Batman.
• Miao Mu gave Gordon an arrest list targeting corrupt police officers, city officials, and judges, and said he intended to purge Gotham's institutions.
• Gordon agreed to handle the fallout and warned Miao Mu that the CIA was investigating him.

Gordon began questioning the captured Gotham officials in Arkham, while the Court of Owls met to respond to Miao Mu’s actions and WM Group’s rapid growth. The Court approved a plan to unleash violence and ordered Arkham cleansed.

• Gordon brought documents and a camera to the detention room and demanded that the captured officials confess to their crimes.
• The officials questioned Gordon about the situation, but he said he would wait until they were ready to talk.
• The Court of Owls discussed Miao Mu’s actions and learned that City Hall officials had been detained in Arkham.
• The Court of Owls voted to target WM Group and approved a plan to stir up riots and recruit mercenaries, former gang members, and assassins.
• The owl judge issued the Court of Owls’ final judgment: death, ordering the cleansing of Arkham.

Robert assessed a bank robbery job as a bounty to kill Miao Mu drew widespread attention after Deathstroke warned people away from it. Batman visited Miao Mu, agreed to a wager over the Court of Owls, and left to investigate Bane.

• Robert approved a plan to rob a bank and considered the rising bounty on Miao Mu, despite Deathstroke's warning against taking it.
• Batman entered Miao Mu's fortified police department and questioned him about the bounty and his preparations.
• Miao Mu challenged Batman to bet on whether the Court of Owls would kill him or he would destroy them first, and Batman agreed to officiate Miao Mu's wedding if he won.
• Miao Mu warned Batman that Bane was in Gotham, so Batman ordered Alfred to search for information on him.
• Batman sampled Miao Mu's hot pot, turned red from the spice, and hurried out the window.

Batman fought the Copperheads, a trio of assassins who ambushed him in an alley and poisoned him. He escaped through the sewers with the third Copperhead defeated, but the poison was worsening as he called Alfred for help.

• Batman hid from the Copperheads and recorded the eldest sister’s voice while Alfred ran a voiceprint comparison.
• The eldest Copperhead found Batman and poisoned him with a strike from her curved blades.
• Batman blocked the eldest Copperhead’s poison needles with his electrified cape and evaded the brothers’ attack by escaping through a manhole.
• The third Copperhead brother fell into the sewer, and the eldest sister and second brother followed him underground.
• Batman dragged the unconscious third Copperhead out of another manhole and took his blade, then called Alfred as the poison blurred his vision.

Gordon secured evidence against corrupt officials while Miao Mu and his allies prepared Arkham District for an imminent attack. Brucie, Barbara, and Huntress formed the Birds of Prey and set out to find the Court of Owls.

• Gordon emerged from the holding room with incriminating footage, and Miao Mu gave him a gun as they prepared for the coming fight.
• Miao Mu arranged to move the judges to Arkham Asylum, while Gordon learned that Batman had raised the Iron Framework Bridge and sealed off Arkham District.
• Otis’s rats hunted through the sewers, closing routes and consuming anyone they found as Otis tracked the remaining passages.
• WM Security personnel, Croc-Man, and Deadshot fortified Arkham Asylum and prepared to defend the district.
• Barbara scanned for the Court of Owls’ base as Brucie equipped her Arc Reactor exoskeleton and Huntress agreed to join them.
• Barbara proposed the name Birds of Prey for their team.

Miao Mu prepared to draw the Court of Owls' Talons into a fight in Arkham District, while Nygma warned him that the Kane family had stopped a report accusing him of rebellion. When the Talons arrived and began killing police officers, Miao Mu confronted them as Deadshot opened fire from Arkham Asylum.

• Nygma told Miao Mu that the Kane family had intercepted a report calling for the military to suppress him.
• Deadshot destroyed an unauthorized helicopter, and the Talons killed two patrolling police officers in Arkham District.
• Miao Mu spotted the Talons' approach on his computer and ordered Deadshot to kill them all.
• Deadshot fired an RPG at the Talons, blowing two away and severing another's arm as mercenaries followed behind.
• Miao Mu confronted the Talons, and Deadshot shot one through the head from the asylum roof.
• Miao Mu blasted a charging Talon in the chest with his shotgun as the others attacked with darts and weapons.

Miao Mu and his allies fought off the Court of Owls’ Talons around Arkham Asylum, while Deadshot and the asylum’s defenses helped repel the attackers. The chapter ended with the Talons still committed to their mission, as Mrs. Kane judged Miao Mu an extremely dangerous individual.

• Miao Mu used armor and gunfire to kill several Talons, while Deadshot shot another from Arkham Asylum’s rooftop.
• The Court of Owls sent Talons after opening one hundred frozen coffins to suppress the threat to its control of Gotham.
• PROM-1 mines shredded several attackers approaching Arkham Asylum, and Croc-Man rallied the guards to prepare for more.
• Bane canceled his group’s bounty mission and withdrew after hearing the mines explode.
• The Talons continued their assault despite the defenses, while Mrs. Kane watched Arkham District and classified Miao Mu as extremely dangerous.

Miao Mu and Deadshot used the streets of Arkham District to draw the Talons into a deadly ambush, while armed guards and Croc-Man fought off their assault on Arkham Asylum. In Gotham Old Town, Brucie and Huntress Helena broke into a hidden passage and prepared to descend.

• Miao Mu baited the Talons beneath the streetlights while Deadshot shot down attackers from the Arkham Asylum rooftop.
• The Talons launched a frontal assault on Arkham Asylum and tried to break through the side walls.
• Croc-Man and the WM Security Company fought back with machine-gun fire as Talons stormed into the asylum.
• In Gotham Old Town, Brucie smashed through hidden mechanisms and opened a secret passage while Huntress Helena prepared a poison gas grenade.
• Helena placed a tracker, called the police, and followed Brucie toward the passage's spiral staircase.

Police and Miao Mu’s allies moved against the Court of Owls, driving its members into the Owl Maze and turning them against one another. Brucie and Barbara navigated the maze as the fleeing members realized their secret had been exposed, while Miao Mu’s plan left their fate in the hands of the police and Scarecrow’s Fear Gas.

• Gotham police prepared for unrest and rushed to respond when an officer was attacked on 42nd Street.
• Jerry led police into Gotham Old Town after Renee Montoya reported new information, with tracking devices guiding them toward their targets.
• Brucie used her exoskeleton to break through the Owl Maze while Barbara remotely scanned its routes.
• Court of Owls members fled through the maze toward other bases after women forced them from their homes and destroyed hidden doors.
• The Court members suspected a traitor had revealed their identities, unaware that Miao Mu already knew who they were.
• Miao Mu planned to have the Court members slaughter one another so police would classify them as a cult, while Scarecrow’s Fear Gas intensified the chaos.

The Court of Owls members turned on one another after being told there was a mole, while Brucie and Helena broke into their headquarters. Brucie and Helena began hunting down the fleeing members, leaving the Court in chaos.

• The Court of Owls members accused one another of being a mole after some of them began laughing uncontrollably.
• Ramru kicked his elderly aunt and led the crowd in beating the accused traitors and moles.
• Brucie smashed through the headquarters’ walls as Helena followed with a route-guiding computer.
• The Court of Owls members fled when Brucie and Helena arrived among the bodies.
• Brucie charged after the fleeing members while Helena shot them in the thighs with her crossbow.

Croc-Man fought the Talons at Arkham Asylum while Harley Quinn went to free Mr. J and move him to safety. A Talon broke into Mr. J’s room, and Harley was fatally stabbed when Mr. J’s bound body deflected the attacker’s blade; the Talon then turned to attack Mr. J.

• Croc-Man killed an injured Talon with his ammunition belt and headed upstairs as the battle continued through Arkham Asylum.
• Harley Quinn left the medical office and went to Mr. J’s ward, determined to rescue him from the fighting.
• Harley removed Mr. J’s muzzle and loosened his chair restraints but kept his straitjacket on.
• An injured Talon crashed through the ward window and attacked Harley as she reached for her revolver.
• Mr. J’s movement caused the Talon’s blade to strike Harley in the neck, and she collapsed as the attacker turned on Mr. J.