Recaps

Roland and his allies discovered Ares had engineered King Arthur’s resurrection attempt to provoke a wider war, then tracked him to the ruins of RAF Lakenheath and joined Wonder Woman in defeating him. Ares chose to die and passed the mantle of the God of War to Wonder Woman, who suspected his fear had centered on Darkseid.

• Wonder Woman told Roland and the others that Ares was trying to ignite a war, while Batman argued Ares was more likely operating in the United States than at the British Ministry of Defence.
• At RAF Lakenheath, General Charles discovered the base’s fuel reserves and fighter jets had been sold; the base commander shot him, but a god intervened and destroyed the base.
• Batman identified Ares as the likely attacker, and Merlin traced divine power at the wreckage before Wonder Woman joined the group to pursue him.
• Wonder Woman and Merlin attacked Ares together, then Roland and the others helped overpower him.
• Ares turned into a lifeless marble statue after declaring his final attempt had failed, and Wonder Woman inherited the mantle of the God of War.
• Merlin suggested Ares had feared the future, and Wonder Woman wondered whether he had been afraid of Darkseid.

After defeating Ares, Roland and his companions discussed the possibility of Darkseid invading Earth, then celebrated at a magician’s Italian restaurant. They parted from Wonder Woman and returned to the Batwing, where the captured villains were playing cards as Roland prepared to go back to his church.

• Wonder Woman explained how Ares had wounded Darkseid in ancient times, and Roland warned that Darkseid might come to Earth in a few years.
• Merlin took Roland, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Justin Knight through a portal to a restaurant for magicians, where they ate pasta and learned about the owner’s connection to Aleister Crowley.
• Merlin paid with a gold coin from King Arthur’s era and urged Justin Knight to keep the payment secret from his queen.
• Wonder Woman exchanged phone numbers with Batman and Roland, then rode away, while Merlin departed through a portal.
• Roland and Batman returned aboard the Batwing, where Joker, Bane, Deadshot, and Bronze Tiger played cards and Harley Quinn declined to comment on Joker and Batman’s relationship.

After learning that Amanda Waller had taken Killer Croc, Roland arranged a protest at Belle Reve rather than attempting a direct rescue. The protesters clashed with prison guards as reporters documented the confrontation, leaving Waller facing a growing public scandal.

• Jason told Roland that A.R.G.U.S. had taken Killer Croc and that government agents and hired thugs had attacked the church.
• Roland stopped his followers from trying to rescue Killer Croc through the Mob and called Bruce, Poison Ivy, and Bronze Tiger for help.
• Roland had Eddie contact Black gangs and hired them to join a protest outside Belle Reve.
• Amanda Waller interrogated Killer Croc and tortured him with his explosive collar when he refused to cooperate.
• A crowd of Black protesters charged Belle Reve's gate, and Waller ordered the guards to arrest them.
• The guards fought the protesters as reporters filmed, while the protest leader accused the prison of abusing and experimenting on Killer Croc.

Roland orchestrated a protest and prison riot at Belle Reve to free Killer Croc and expose Amanda Waller’s treatment of him. Killer Croc was rescued and gave reporters a staged account of his abuse, while Waller and Captain Boomerang were knocked unconscious.

• Roland and Deadshot watched as a protest against the treatment of Black people surrounded Belle Reve, with Bronze Tiger hidden in the crowd.
• Environmental activists and members of the Animal Protection Organization attacked the prison, overwhelmed the guards, and demanded Killer Croc’s release.
• Captain Boomerang struck down the animal activists, but Bronze Tiger ambushed and knocked him out before kicking Amanda Waller unconscious.
• The protesters broke into Killer Croc’s cell and carried him outside, where Roland coached him to describe his imprisonment to reporters.
• Killer Croc told reporters that Waller had abused him, while an activist falsely presented laundry detergent as a dangerous drug; Roland then warned Bronze Tiger to move Waller away from the protesters.

Roland and his allies exposed Belle Reve Penitentiary’s abuses, forcing a congressman to free Killer Croc and blame Amanda Waller. As they prepared to return to Gotham City, Killer Croc reflected on his role as king of the underground and protector of its outcasts.

• Roland explained that the reporters, public attention, and Wayne Enterprises would protect the group, then paid the reporters for their coverage.
• After learning about the scandal, Amanda Waller’s superior panicked, ordered an apology blaming her, and went to Belle Reve Penitentiary to free Killer Croc.
• The congressman apologized to Killer Croc in front of the press, denied racism, and told reporters that Amanda Waller had acted on her own.
• Roland accepted the congressman’s donation to his church, then prepared to leave for Gotham City with Killer Croc.
• Killer Croc said he had no interest in politics and described how he had built an underground domain to protect the people who depended on him.

After Killer Croc returned safely to Gotham, Batman asked Roland to connect him with Lady Shiva, who revealed that she had once crippled King Snake. Roland recognized King Snake as Bane’s father, and Batman considered how to stop the gang leader as the Ghost Dragon Gang targeted Gotham’s drug trade.

• Roland declined an offer for Killer Croc to become a spokesperson, then brought him back to Gotham, where grateful members of the underground gathered at Roland Cathedral.
• Batman asked Roland to arrange a meeting with Lady Shiva, and Cassandra led Roland to her mother in Chinatown.
• Lady Shiva told Batman that she had crippled King Snake, leader of the Ghost Dragon Gang, after discovering his plan to unleash a plague in Hong Kong.
• Roland recognized King Snake as Bane’s father and explained how King Snake had abandoned Bane’s pregnant mother in Santa Prisca.
• Batman said the Ghost Dragon Gang had come to Gotham to pursue the drug trade, and he considered whether Bane should confront his father.

Batman, Roland, and Bane raided the Ghost Dragon Gang’s hideout after learning King Snake was Bane’s father and a drug kingpin. Bane captured King Snake, learned the truth of their relationship, and attacked him despite Batman’s attempt to intervene.

• Batman learned that General Su’s traffickers were negotiating drug-dealing rights with the Ghost Dragon Gang, and Batwoman returned with a broken arm after locating King Snake’s hideout.
• Batman and Roland visited Bane in Arkham, where Bane learned King Snake was his father and persuaded Batman to take him along by revealing Arkham director Sharp’s plan for an open-air prison called Arkham City.
• Batman released Bane from Arkham, and the three headed for King Snake’s hideout after Bane revealed Sharp’s mayoral-election plans.
• Roland discovered that King Snake’s negotiations had collapsed and the Ghost Dragon Gang had turned against the Golden Triangle traffickers, while Bane broke into the building and Batman and Roland followed.
• Bane captured King Snake and revealed that he was the son King Snake had abandoned, then attacked him in fury as Batman tried to stop him.

Bane killed King Snake after learning the truth about his father, then fought Batman to numb his grief. Batman and Roland searched for a Gotham mayoral candidate, and Batman persuaded Batwoman to consider running.

• Bane shot King Snake after hearing his account of abandoning Bane and his mother, then fought Batman while grieving.
• Roland healed Batman, and he carried Bane to Arkham Asylum, where Batman told Warden Sharp to arrange therapy for him.
• Batman and Roland asked Harvey to run for mayor, but Harvey refused and hinted that Roland had killed Mayor Hamilton.
• The group debated possible candidates, and Roland suggested Batwoman.
• Batman told Batwoman that King Snake had been killed by his son, then urged her to run for mayor; she began to consider it.

Batman and Bruce Wayne helped Kate Kane and Penguin prepare rival campaigns for Gotham’s mayoral race before Bruce was called to Roland Cathedral over an FBI raid. The raid turned out to be Lex Luthor’s attempt to target Kara, and Roland summoned Jeanne d’Arc and Miriel as he prepared to investigate Luthor in Metropolis.

• Batwoman told Batman that Rose Kane, a former governor, could advise her on running for mayor, while Penguin asked his great-aunt Rose to guide his own campaign.
• Penguin invited Kate Kane and Bruce Wayne to the Iceberg Lounge, where Kate and Penguin confirmed they would compete for mayor and Rose offered to share her election experience.
• Gordon called Bruce to report an FBI raid at Roland Cathedral, where Deadshot and the students had driven the agents into a standoff.
• Bruce learned Kara had searched Roland’s computer for advice about making Carl more attached to her, and he persuaded the FBI agents to leave after discovering Lex Luthor had ordered the raid.
• Superman joined Bruce and Roland, and they decided to investigate Luthor in Metropolis; Roland then summoned Jeanne d’Arc, Miriel, and a giant turtle.

Roland and his companions uncovered Lex Luthor’s plan to kill Superman and rejected Lex’s offer to join him. Lex then ordered his plot to proceed and arranged to have Roland detained and a disguised gunman hired.

• Roland explained to Miriel that they were in another world, then took Jeanne d'Arc, Superman, and Batman to Metropolis to investigate Lex Luthor.
• Roland asked Jeanne d'Arc to enter spirit form and search LexCorp, where she discovered Lex’s plan to capture Roland and shoot Superman with a Kryptonite Bullet.
• Roland and Batman questioned Superman about Lois Lane, then discussed how to deal with Lex’s scheme.
• Lex Luthor called Roland and offered to join forces to kill Superman and rule humanity, but Roland refused and hung up.
• Lex ordered his plan to begin, directed the FBI to detain Roland, and hired a skilled disguise artist to kill Superman for ten million dollars.

Roland and Jeanne d'Arc stormed LexCorp after Lex Luthor sent the FBI after him, fighting through the building's defenses to reach Lex. Roland beat Lex and returned to the hotel, while Batman announced he planned to visit his ex-girlfriend.

• Roland and Jeanne d'Arc entered LexCorp, where Roland defeated the guards with Wind of the Night and called Lex Luthor to demand an apology, compensation, and a chance to beat him up.
• Lex Luthor challenged Roland to reach his office on the top floor, and Jeanne d'Arc destroyed the Automatons and mutated big cats guarding the fifth and fiftieth floors.
• Jeanne d'Arc said she was using up Magic, and Roland called Merlin to ask how to keep her manifested; Merlin suggested drawing Magic from the earth with a Magic Circle and agreed to discuss it in Gotham City.
• Roland reached Lex Luthor's office, fought him, and returned to the hotel saying Lex would be unable to get out of bed for three months.
• Batman said he wanted to visit his ex-girlfriend, and Superman told him a good ex-boyfriend acted like he was dead.

Batman, Superman, and Roland investigated a supposed Kryptonite mine in the Congo Basin and discovered Gorilla City and a trap aimed at Superman. Grodd invaded Roland’s mind, where a mysterious masked figure destroyed him before asking Roland which of the figures in the church was his son.

• Batman learned that a reported Kryptonite deposit in Africa might be a trap for Superman, and he and Superman took Roland to investigate.
• The Batwing struck Gorilla City’s invisible barrier, and Jeanne d'Arc explained the city’s history and isolation.
• A gorilla with Kryptonite eyes attacked Batman, who killed it and gave Roland Kryptonite as a safeguard against the telepathic gorillas.
• Grodd invaded Roland’s mind, intending to use him to catch Superman off guard, but found himself inside Roland’s imagined church.
• A masked figure emerged from the church mural, used Word Spirit: Time Zero and Word Spirit: Indra's Wrath to destroy Grodd, then asked Roland which one of the figures was his son.

Roland, Batman, and Superman pursued Grodd’s plans from Gorilla City to Central City, where they defeated the Rogues and discovered the location of a disguised gorilla army. Roland and Batman headed to the pharmaceutical factory to confront it while Superman stayed with The Flash.

• Roland and Batman learned from Bruno that Grodd’s remaining army had infiltrated the United States, and that Solovar was in Central City.
• Roland persuaded Bruno to let him take Gorilla City technology, including a cure for Nora’s illness, and the group flew to Central City.
• Superman defeated Captain Cold and the Rogues, freed The Flash from the ice, and helped him recover with a large supply of food.
• Roland summoned Jeanne d'Arc, who used Apocalypse to locate the disguised gorillas at a pharmaceutical factory beside S.T.A.R. Labs.
• Roland and Batman rode to the factory while Superman stayed behind with The Flash.

Roland and Batman destroyed a gorilla pharmaceutical plant, then arranged cooperation with Solovar before returning to Gotham. At Wayne Manor, Bruce announced that he would marry Selene, who was pregnant with his child, while Roland left for the church and told Clark the news.

• Roland and Batman killed the gorilla loyalists at the pharmaceutical plant, and Batman set the facility on fire to destroy the evidence.
• At the Central City Zoo, Solovar spoke to Roland and Batman, then agreed to lead Gorilla City and keep Batman as a point of contact.
• Back at Wayne Manor, Catwoman took Bruce to Gotham City Cathedral and told him she was pregnant with his child.
• Bruce returned with Selene and announced that they would marry as soon as possible, asking Roland to officiate.
• Roland subdued Catgirl, then called Clark to tell him that Bruce was getting married.
• At the church, Bronze Tiger questioned Roland about the bloodlust he sensed, and Roland began to describe the extraordinary country in Africa.

Bruce Wayne arranged to marry Selina Kyle while preparing for the recovery of Nora Fries, whose revival let Mr. Freeze see that his wife was alive. On the wedding day, Bruce and Selina gathered friends, Gotham figures, and Arkham inmates at Roland Cathedral, where Joker arrived to congratulate them.

• News of Bruce Wayne's engagement to Selina Kyle spread, prompting friends and acquaintances to discuss attending the wedding.
• Bruce injected Nora Fries with the medicine that cured her, and Nora woke asking for her husband, Victor.
• Bruce and Roland showed Mr. Freeze a video of Nora, and he watched it repeatedly before returning to his cell.
• Bruce told Roland that the wedding date was set and that the ceremony would be held at Roland Cathedral.
• Bruce and Selina's wedding brought Gordon, Harvey Dent, Nightwing, several Arkham inmates, and other guests to the cathedral.
• Joker arrived at the wedding and congratulated Bruce and Selina on behalf of his Arkham colleagues.

Bruce Wayne and Selene Kyle married at Roland Cathedral, but their ceremony turned into a brawl when Joker and other guests launched into chaos. A mysterious Batman subdued the rioters, and Bruce and Selene left together while Roland mourned the damage to his church.

• Roland began Bruce and Selene’s wedding ceremony as their unusual guests traded jokes and chatted.
• Bruce and Selene exchanged vows and rings, and Roland pronounced them legally married.
• Joker drew a gun, Deadshot shot it from his hand, and the guests broke into a fight as Nightwing evacuated Gordon and other guests.
• Kara stopped Scarecrow’s fear toxin, while the other guests fought or took cover around the church.
• A second Batman appeared and subdued the rioting guests, leaving the villains to be taken away.
• Roland lamented the damage to his church as Bruce and Selene drove off, tossing Catgirl out of their car.

After Clark revealed his identities to Lois, they embraced and flew off together, leaving Roland and Kara behind. Roland then helped Merlin test ways to supply Jeanne d’Arc with magic, and they subdued a demon until it agreed to sign Merlin’s contract.

• Lois realized Clark had been Batman and Superman, and Clark confirmed that he was also Clark Kent before kissing her and flying away with her.
• Kara arrived too late to stop them, and Roland explained that Kryptonians had been genetically assigned their roles while natural reproduction had been abandoned.
• After Bruce’s wedding, Roland asked Merlin whether he could create a Holy Grail War and how to supply Jeanne d’Arc with magic.
• Merlin said Gotham’s magic was inaccessible because of a curse, a sealed terror, and The Green, so they decided to bargain with a demon instead.
• Merlin summoned a bull-headed demon, but Roland’s Storm Bolter nearly killed it, and Merlin finished it off.
• Merlin summoned Demon Ora, and Roland used Star Platinum to beat her until she agreed to sign the contract.

Roland and Merlin gathered magic by tricking Demons into contracts, then tried to have a Demon possess Jason. Jason killed the Demon with magic taught by Miriel, and Merlin stayed at Roland Cathedral to study Miriel’s sorcery.

• Roland and Merlin summoned Demon Ora’s father, Murmur, defeated him, and made him sign a contract before summoning more Demons to fill Roland and a Bible with magic.
• Merlin warned that Demons had learned of their tricks, so he and Roland brought Jason to a former cult hideout to attract a lesser Demon for possession.
• Jason returned after killing the Demon and revealed that Miriel had taught him Glintblade Sorcery and Carian Greatsword.
• Merlin and Roland visited Miriel, who explained that magic in the Lands Between came from studying the stars and developed into Primeval Sorcery.
• The next morning, Merlin chose to stay at Roland Cathedral and exchange magical knowledge with Miriel instead of going Demon fishing.

Roland and Merlin traveled to Newcastle to stop a girl’s summoning ritual, but arrived after Nergal had manifested from the nightclub’s slaughtered victims. Roland and Jeanne d'Arc fought the demon while Merlin used Holy Relics to pin him down and struck him with an Imperial Seal.

• Roland found a forum post containing a real demon-summoning ritual and asked Kate to trace the girl who had posted it.
• Kate located the girl at the Casanova nightclub in Newcastle, and Roland brought Merlin there by teleportation.
• Roland and Merlin found the nightclub deserted and its basement filled with victims’ remains; Nergal formed a body from the blood and flesh and threatened the girl.
• Roland attacked Nergal and protected the girl, while Jeanne d'Arc used her flag to shield them from his physical attacks.
• Merlin pinned Nergal with Excalibur, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Aaron’s staff, then struck him with an Imperial Seal as he recited an incantation.

After Roland and Merlin left the nightclub, they met Constantine’s band and warned them away from the site of a magical disturbance. Back at Gotham Cathedral, they learned the rescued girl’s condition came from psychological trauma, and Roland took her to Gilda for counseling while warning that her powerful Telekinesis made her dangerous to leave alone.

• Roland and Merlin encountered Constantine and his band outside the nightclub, and Roland warned them to leave the area.
• Merlin teleported Roland and the girl to Gotham Cathedral, while Constantine’s group decided to find shelter elsewhere.
• Merlin, Miriel, and Jeanne d'Arc concluded that the girl’s condition came from psychological trauma rather than magic, and Merlin warned that her Telekinesis could endanger ordinary people.
• Roland arranged an appointment with Gilda and brought the girl to her clinic that afternoon.
• Roland told Gilda the girl had suffered abuse and summoned a demon that killed her abusers, then insisted that he and the others stay nearby because of her Telekinesis.

Roland discovered demon-worshipping cultists in Gotham and defeated the demon god Senrak, then worked with Commissioner Gordon and Harvey to prepare a citywide crackdown. The chapter ended with Roland giving Gordon magical compasses that could identify cultists.

• Roland found suspicious vagrants near the cathedral and learned they belonged to the Sacred Heart Church, which falsely claimed ties to him.
• Roland drew out and defeated the cultists, while Merlin trapped Senrak and forced the demon god to sign a contract before returning to Hell.
• Roland warned Kate about the danger posed by the three great fallen ones, then returned to the cathedral and arranged for the traumatized girl to stay with Kara.
• The next day, Roland met Commissioner Gordon and Harvey to discuss suppressing cults capable of summoning demons.
• Roland gave Commissioner Gordon a box of magical compasses that spun when they encountered cultists and told him to call for help rather than confront them alone.

Harley Quinn was discharged from Arkham Asylum and took on the challenge of treating Astra, a traumatized girl who attracted Demons. As Astra recovered enough to speak and hold conversations, Harley Quinn kidnapped Little Barbara.

• Harley Quinn passed her evaluation at Arkham Asylum and was released the next day.
• Harley Quinn met Bruce Wayne and Selene, learned Selene was pregnant, and accepted their offer to pay for new clothes.
• Bruce and Selene brought Harley Quinn to Roland Cathedral to treat Astra, and Roland showed her how Astra's drawings summoned Demons.
• Harley Quinn began treating Astra, while her unsettling behavior and a stolen cup of Milk Tea led Cassandra to punch her.
• After a week, Astra could say her name, and after another week she could mostly hold a normal conversation.
• Harley Quinn kidnapped Little Barbara when she came to Roland Cathedral for a training class.

Roland helped Astra recover while Harley Quinn returned to Arkham for treatment, then Lucifer Morningstar appeared and declared that Roland would be the Messiah in a new prophecy.

• Harley Quinn drove to the Gotham City Police Department with Little Barbara and demanded to be sent back to Arkham Asylum, but Roland persuaded her to stay for another week while Astra recovered.
• Astra returned to normal, and Harley Quinn went back to Arkham for treatment after robbing luxury stores and giving the stolen goods to students.
• Roland found Astra with red-and-blue dyed ponytails and then met Lucifer Morningstar, who said Merlin had sent him.
• Lucifer described his history with Etrigan, Merlin, and Hell, then explained a prophecy about a child born at the winter solstice who could heal the world.
• Roland suggested Constantine as a candidate for the Messiah, but Lucifer chose Roland instead.

Lucifer persuaded Roland to pose as the Messiah and gave him three lifesaving feathers before revealing that Barbatos threatened Roland’s universe. After Lucifer destroyed Barbatos, he returned to God, who confirmed Roland was not the real Messiah.

• Roland objected to being called the Messiah, but Lucifer insisted the title would protect his plan and gave him three feathers that could summon rescue or resurrection.
• Lucifer led Roland beneath Gotham City and revealed Barbatos, warning that the Dark Knights would arrive unless Barbatos was destroyed.
• Roland reluctantly agreed to Lucifer’s plan, and Lucifer burned the Barbatos statue in five-colored flames before disappearing.
• Lucifer appeared before Jeanne d'Arc, who recognized him and asked him not to impersonate the Lord to give her revelations.
• At Time Bar, Lucifer told God that everything was done, and God confirmed Roland was not the Messiah.

Roland prepared to leave for Avalon to escape demons he had offended, while Jason gained the Soul-Soul Fruit and discovered the Purging Armor had a Machine Spirit. Roland departed Gotham, but four hours later news reported that his plane had crashed.

• Roland emerged from his room wearing the Purging Armor and told Deadshot he was leaving to deal with trouble in Hell.
• Roland offered Jason two Devil Fruits, and Jason ate the Soul-Soul Fruit despite its foul taste.
• Jason sensed a female soul inside the Purging Armor, and Roland had him ask the Machine Spirit to help him and bring him back alive.
• Roland told Bruce he was going to Avalon because demons might threaten Gotham, then boarded a chartered plane.
• Four hours after Roland left, news broke that his plane had crashed.