Recaps

While Li Jie took leave to investigate Cliff’s suspicions about Niles Caulder, Gotham’s shifting police order strained his ties with Batman and drew new allies into the East End. The arc ended with General Zod demanding Kal-El’s surrender, as Li Jie prepared Gotham for invasion and sheltered the Kents at Wayne Manor.

• Li Jie left Gotham for a two-month vacation, met Clifford in Las Vegas, and agreed to investigate Professor Caulder after hearing that Cliff suspected Caulder had engineered the Doom Patrol’s accidents.
• Li Jie traveled across the country, heard a Texas town’s stories about justice and community, visited the Kents in Smallville, and later told Cliff that Caulder might be controlling the residents through fear and guilt.
• Li Jie returned to Gotham, reconnected with Harleen and the East End officers, and learned that his Nanny Robot had protected Bruce from Bane in the Batcave.
• Li Jie and Raven discussed her plans for the future, while Raven rejected Dick Grayson’s invitation to form a young-heroes team and directed him toward the Home of Hope.
• Batman confronted Li Jie over his lethal methods and the former criminals serving in the Service Squad, while Li Jie defended his protection of the East End and warned he would oppose Bruce if they became enemies.
• General Zod arrived in Kansas with Faora, Major Ursa, and his soldiers, transformed the surrounding land, and demanded that Earth surrender Kal-El within twenty-four hours.
• Li Jie organized Gotham’s preparations by assigning officers to control the streets, protect the school, monitor communications, distribute weapons, and guard essential supplies, while Batman prepared for combat.
• Li Jie arranged for Harkness to bring Jonathan and Martha Kent to Wayne Manor, then told Bane he would defend his precinct as the city faced the global crisis.

Li Jie and the Justice League stopped Zod’s invasion, though Li Jie and Bruce were left seriously injured. As Gotham rebuilt, Harleen helped the Doom Patrol escape Caulder, while Dick began finding his own path and Bruce worked toward recovery.

• Li Jie transformed into Super Vegeta and killed Faora, then lost the borrowed power and criticized the Justice League’s divided battle plan.
• Li Jie and the others coordinated Gotham’s defenses and used kryptonite and Batman’s armor against the Kryptonians while Zod activated the World Engine.
• Li Jie used Shared Misfortune by shooting himself to make Zod lose his balance, giving Superman the chance to defeat him, then collapsed from blood loss.
• Li Jie and Bruce survived their injuries, while Clark struggled with killing Zod until Kara reassured him that he had protected Earth.
• Harleen and her allies confronted Niles Caulder after he killed Joshua Clay, helped Cliff, Dorothy, and Garfield escape, and secured Caulder’s arrest.
• Li Jie offered the Doom Patrol a choice about visiting him and arranged for Cliff to meet Winslow Schott, while Dick donated money to the shelter and gave Bruce an antique sextant.

Li Jie and his allies faced the Court of Owls’ schemes while Dick formed the Teen Titans and Clark left to search for Alisa. The arc ended with Harkness wounded in a fight against a Talon, Raven restraining the attacker, and Li Jie’s team capturing it.

• Cobblepot suspended his East End redevelopment plan after Bob revealed that the Court of Owls opposed it, while Bob told Li Jie he had secretly chosen to support him.
• The Court targeted Dick as a potential Talon, and Alfred warned Bruce that Dick could be in danger.
• After Alisa was abducted from Saint Agnes Orphanage, Clark left to search for her, and Li Jie helped Dick form the Teen Titans to protect Gotham.
• Dick recruited Cliff, Harkness, and Jason for the Teen Titans, while Raven declined field duty and offered magical advice.
• Theodore Galloway offered to fund Dick’s team and raised questions about his parents’ deaths, prompting Dick and Barbara to investigate the Galloway Foundation as Nygma tracked its larger network.
• After Metropolis was devastated and Kara was blamed, Li Jie persuaded Bruce to use Wayne Enterprises’ media resources to improve her public standing, and Kara agreed to stay out of Gotham.
• A Talon attacked Jason and Harkness near the old tree, leaving Harkness badly wounded before Raven restrained the attacker.
• Nygma took the captured Talon for study, and Li Jie praised Jason’s loyalty before Raven confronted him for sneaking out.

Li Jie and Batman confronted threats from the Mad Hatter, a parallel Gotham, and the Court of Owls as their paths diverged. The Court moved to kill Li Jie and trap Batman, while Li Jie secured Cobblepot’s support for a plan to strike at Gotham’s powerful.

• Nygma warned Li Jie that Talons could survive separation but were vulnerable to extreme temperatures, and Li Jie agreed to seek cryogenic equipment from Bruce Wayne.
• Li Jie investigated the Mad Hatter’s return, found Alice Dee murdered, and learned that Jervis Tetch had paid her husband to leave her alone with him.
• The Mad Hatter kidnapped Natalia and dropped her from a helicopter, but Kara caught her, and Batman subdued Tetch, and Li Jie later shot him dead, prompting Batman to accuse Li Jie of staging the scene.
• Superman brought Alisa safely back to Robinson Park, where Li Jie took her to the East End Police Department’s school.
• Batman followed a mysterious recording into a parallel Gotham, where he met that world’s Alfred and learned how differently its familiar residents had lived.
• Li Jie took up his post at Central Headquarters as Gordon became East End sheriff, while the Court of Owls planned to sabotage Li Jie’s vehicle and lure Batman into its underground maze.
• Batman, Dick, and Cliff entered the Court’s labyrinth and found a chamber linking influential Gotham names to the Owls, while Li Jie learned his car had been tampered with and prepared to confront the Court.
• Li Jie asked Cobblepot to join the fight against the Court, and Cobblepot agreed to help spread a story about Li Jie’s plan to arrest three prominent Gotham figures.