Chapter Summaries

Batman and his allies fought through the Mad Hatter’s stronghold, using the rats to bypass defenses and then subduing hypnotized guards without killing them. The teams regrouped and sealed off the remaining routes, leaving the stronghold’s defenders under control as they prepared to advance.

• Rats gnawed through the stronghold’s defenses and helped the humans reach its final mechanical gate.
• Batman struggled to fight the hypnotized guards without seriously injuring them, and Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman came to his aid.
• Poison Ivy restrained the guards with vines and pollen while Batman and Catwoman fought side by side.
• Red Hood and Robin arrived, and the regrouped teams surrounded the guards and blocked reinforcements from reaching them.

Batman and the others found Miaomiao unharmed in the Mad Hatter’s lair, where she had rescued the kidnapped girls and left the Hatter entranced in a dream. After reuniting with everyone, Miaomiao explained that she had warned Bruce about the danger, but her message had arrived only moments earlier.

• Killer Croc joined the others after dealing with the remaining guards, and Batman worked out how to open the Mechanical Gate.
• Batman and the others found the Mad Hatter peacefully entranced at the tea-party table while Miaomiao comforted the kidnapped girls dressed as Alices.
• Harley Quinn embraced Miaomiao, and Catwoman and Poison Ivy joined in to make sure she was safe.
• Miaomiao soothed the frightened girls with Illusion Song and explained that she had noticed the Mad Hatter’s attempt to control her.
• Robin checked Miaomiao for injuries and scolded her for entering the lair alone, while Batman warned her that she had been reckless.
• Miaomiao told Batman she had sent him a warning message, and he discovered it had arrived only two minutes earlier despite being sent two hours ago.

Batman and his allies rescued Miaomiao and the other abducted girls from Mad Hatter’s hideout, then located the remaining victims and shut down the hypnotic poison-mist equipment. The chapter left Batman calling for more police cars as Nightwing and Spoiler joined the group and Harley Quinn argued with Robin about Joker’s looks.

• Miaomiao told Batman that Mad Hatter had kidnapped and controlled the girls, while Harley Quinn comforted them with lollipops.
• Batman restored contact with his team, asked Nightwing and Spoiler to meet them, and sent the Gotham Police Department a request to bring more police cars.
• Nightwing and Spoiler finished disabling the poison-mist equipment and headed for the main hall after learning Miaomiao was safe.
• Guided by the rescued girls and the little mice, Batman and his allies found the hidden rooms and freed the other missing people.
• Harley Quinn and Robin traded insults over whether Joker’s appearance showed artistic flair.

The Bat Family and their allies rescued Mad Hatter’s hypnotized captives, with Quan Ke suppressing the hypnosis while the team removed the control chips. Killer Croc was left stunned when the little girl he saved thanked him instead of fearing him.

• Harley Quinn and Robin stopped fighting after Miaomiao reminded them the victims still needed help.
• Batman assigned the team to locate and remove the chips, disable the central signal, secure the area, and keep the captives conscious.
• Miaomiao used Illusion Song to free the victims from Mad Hatter’s control, and the team removed their chips and treated their injuries.
• Harley Quinn shared candy with the rescued people, and Poison Ivy gave a grateful girl a flower that could release paralyzing pollen.
• Killer Croc rescued a little girl from an iron cage, and she held his finger and thanked him for saving her.
• Killer Croc asked the girl whether she was afraid of him and warned her that a big crocodile like him ate people.

Belle comforted Killer Croc after he rescued her, calling him a good person and promising her love would break his curse. As the other rescued captives reconsidered their fear of him, Killer Croc remained unsure what to make of Belle’s affection.

• Belle held Killer Croc’s finger and told him he was good because he had saved her.
• Belle asked Killer Croc to crouch, climbed onto his knee, and kissed his cheek.
• Belle told Killer Croc that her nickname was Belle and promised to love him until his curse broke.
• Killer Croc admitted he could not turn back into a prince, but Belle said she would love him anyway and share her candy and stories.
• The other captives approached Killer Croc and wondered whether he had become an antihero after rescuing them alongside Batman.

Killer Croc was thanked by the rescued hostages and formed a warm bond with Belle as Batman prepared the group to leave before the police arrived. Red Hood gave Killer Croc a motorcycle key to help him escape, while Batman took the still-hypnotized Mad Hatter away.

• The rescued hostages surrounded Killer Croc and thanked him for saving them.
• Belle learned Killer Croc's name, called him her friend, and asked if she could visit him.
• Batman ordered the Bat Family to remove their traces, seal the underground passages, and meet on the rooftop before the police arrived.
• Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn said goodbye to Miaomiao and escaped from the hideout.
• Nightwing gave Killer Croc a motorcycle key from Red Hood, who told him where the modified bike was parked.
• Batman scooped up the hypnotized Mad Hatter and escaped with his grappling gun.

Batman returned the Mad Hatter to Arkham Asylum after Miaomiao’s illusion ended, then confronted him alone in his secured room. The Mad Hatter was left trapped with Batman as the guards outside chose not to interfere.

• Batman brought the half-asleep Mad Hatter to Arkham, where the pain of landing on the concrete jolted him awake.
• The Mad Hatter panicked when he realized his tea party and Alice had been an illusion, and Batman dragged him to his designated room.
• The guards told Batman they had updated the room’s security measures to prevent the Mad Hatter from escaping again.
• The Mad Hatter discovered his Brainwave Control Device and top hat were missing, leaving him unable to hypnotize Batman.
• Batman shut the door and repeatedly punched the Mad Hatter while the guards outside pretended not to hear.

Batman confronted the Mad Hatter with evidence of his crimes and revealed that his perfect Alice and Wonderland had only been an illusion. The Mad Hatter broke down in despair as Batman left, while a green meteor fell toward the ground.

• Batman stopped beating the Mad Hatter and told him there would not be a next time.
• Batman explained that the Arkham guard had confessed and that evidence of the Mad Hatter’s escape and kidnappings had been sent to the Prosecutor’s Office.
• Batman told the Mad Hatter that the girls had been rescued and that his Wonderland and tea party were fantasies.
• The Mad Hatter accepted that Alice and Wonderland were fake and collapsed into despair.
• Batman left the interrogation room, and a green meteor streaked toward the ground.

After Batman had Miaomiao brought to the Batcave, she met Stephanie Brown, who teased Damian by using his special nickname for Miaomiao. Tim then told Stephanie about Miaomiao’s victory over Bane, prompting her to ask what had happened with Batman.

• Stephanie introduced herself to Miaomiao and asked if she could call her Little Fish, but Damian objected that he had chosen the nickname for her.
• Miaomiao agreed Stephanie could call her Little Fish, and Stephanie repeatedly used the nickname to provoke Damian until Miaomiao laughed.
• Tim checked that Miaomiao felt well and told Stephanie that Miaomiao had beaten Bane and become a subject of Arkham headlines.
• Stephanie hugged Miaomiao’s arm and asked Tim what had happened between Miaomiao and Batman.

Stephanie comforted Miaomiao about her past argument with Bruce and offered to show her around Gotham. After Alfred sent everyone to bed, a green shooting star arrived in Central City and urged Barry to go to Gotham.

• Stephanie reassured Miaomiao that arguing with Bruce was normal among the Batfamily, and shared stories about her own and Tim's conflicts with him.
• Miaomiao defended Bruce, saying he had snapped because he worried about the family getting hurt, while Dick agreed that Bruce cared deeply.
• Stephanie invited Miaomiao to visit Barbara and promised to take her exploring and to Chinatown; Jason warned that Miaomiao could not eat spicy food.
• Alfred arrived with warm milk and told everyone it was time to rest, offering Stephanie a room at Wayne Manor.
• The Green Man landed in Barry's Central City apartment and woke him, announcing that they were going to Gotham.

Hal Jordan, a fearless test pilot, became the first Green Lantern from Earth and rose to legendary status in the Green Lantern Corps. After returning from space, he woke Barry Allen at three in the morning and insisted they go to Gotham to see Bruce Wayne’s newly adopted Merfolk daughter.

• Hal Jordan became Abin Sur’s successor after the Green Lantern Ring chose him on Earth.
• Hal woke Barry Allen in the middle of the night after racing back from space.
• Hal told Barry they were going to Gotham to see Bruce Wayne’s adopted daughter, a Merfolk girl.
• Barry protested that it was three in the morning and warned that Bruce’s manor security was difficult to get past.
• Hal urged Barry to go before daylight, hoping Bruce would be too embarrassed to throw them both out.

Hal Jordan and Barry Allen broke into Wayne Manor at four in the morning to see Miaomiao, but Bruce caught them and confronted them for trespassing and treating his daughter like a curiosity. Hal realized his mistake and began apologizing when someone inside called out to Bruce.

• Bruce detected Hal Jordan and Barry Allen approaching Wayne Manor and disabled some defenses to avoid waking the household.
• Hal and Barry crept through the bushes toward the pool, hoping to see Miaomiao.
• Hal slipped, setting off the pool lights and revealing Bruce waiting for them.
• Bruce accused the pair of unlawful entry and intending to spy on an underage girl, calling out Barry's responsibilities as a police officer.
• Bruce reminded Hal and Barry that Miaomiao had personhood and dignity, and Hal recognized that he had treated her like a spectacle.
• Hal started apologizing to Bruce as someone inside asked whether anyone was there.

After Hal and Barry startled Miaomiao by sneaking into Bruce’s home at night, they apologized and gave her gifts. Miaomiao accepted their apology, and the three men were left ashamed of having disturbed her.

• Miaomiao woke in the pool and greeted Hal and Barry after Bruce introduced them as his colleagues.
• Hal and Barry apologized for arriving uninvited and sneaking over to look at Miaomiao.
• Miaomiao offered to show them her tail and leaped out of the pool, revealing its shimmering blue-purple scales.
• Hal gave Miaomiao a glowing alien flower, and Barry gave her a colorful Rainbow Stone.
• Miaomiao said she knew they meant no harm, thanked them for the gifts, and accepted their apology.

After the Mad Hatter’s defeat, Hal and Barry said goodbye to Miaomiao and left, while Bruce sent her and himself back to sleep. Gotham’s residents learned that heroes and villains had joined forces in the rescue, and their fascination with the rescuers flooded the city’s trending topics.

• Bruce accepted Hal and Barry’s apology, sent them home, and urged the tired Miaomiao to return to sleep.
• Hal excitedly praised Miaomiao as a merfolk girl and suggested bringing her candy next time, while Barry warned that Batman would punish them if they returned.
• The Gotham Daily reported that Gotham’s heroes and villains had joined forces to defeat the Mad Hatter and return him to Arkham in less than two days.
• Gotham residents speculated about why the factions had cooperated, and rescued victims praised Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Killer Croc, and Red Hood to reporters.
• Gotham’s feeds filled with trending topics celebrating the rescuers and their growing fan followings.

Penguin and Black Mask reacted to Gotham’s growing praise for Killer Croc and the other recent heroes, each suspecting a hidden scheme behind the public sentiment. Black Mask decided to counter the perceived threat and set his own game in motion.

• Penguin saw Gotham’s posts celebrating Killer Croc and, remembering their shared mistreatment and Croc’s betrayal, grew furious.
• Penguin ordered his men to investigate Killer Croc, the three women, their recent movements, and any connections to Batman and the Bat Family’s new member.
• Black Mask found himself absent from Gotham’s trending topics and concluded that someone had deliberately shaped public opinion.
• Roman Sionis reasoned that the campaign aimed to weaken established underworld powers by making Gotham’s citizens trust villains and vigilantes.
• Black Mask declared, “Let the game begin,” and prepared to act against the perceived scheme.

As Christmas approached, the Wayne family decorated Wayne Manor while Bruce warned them that Gotham’s villains often caused trouble during the holidays. Alfred explained to Miaomiao that the family traditionally spent Christmas Day together, leaving the story with the manor preparing for the season.

• The Wayne family decorated the manor for Christmas while Tim handled emails, Damian complained about the decorations, and Miaomiao helped Alfred check on the cookies.
• Bruce emerged from the study and warned everyone to keep patrols and security plans unchanged because Gotham’s villains often struck during holidays.
• Dick, Jason, Tim, and Alfred complained that Bruce was spoiling the festive mood, though they took his warning seriously.
• Miaomiao asked Alfred about Wayne Manor’s Christmas traditions, and he described the charity gala before the family’s quiet Christmas Day together.

Miaomiao learned why Bruce and the Bat Family kept protecting Gotham despite the toll it took on them, and she resolved to keep troublemakers from ruining Christmas. Damian suggested there might be a way to make that happen.

• Alfred told Miaomiao that the Wayne family would gather at Wayne Manor for Christmas, and she grew excited to give everyone their presents.
• Miaomiao saw Bruce worrying about Gotham’s holiday dangers, and Dick explained that the Bat Family protected the city because its institutions often failed its people.
• Miaomiao realized that Bruce and the others rarely got to rest, and she decided the troublemakers should not ruin their Christmas.
• Damian told Miaomiao that Gotham’s criminals usually became more active during holidays, but said it might still be possible to keep them in line.

Miaomiao persuaded Damian to try keeping Gotham’s villains quiet for Christmas so the Bat Family could celebrate together. The family planned the Gotham Silent Christmas Eve Operation and divided up several groups of villains, leaving the toughest targets to address.

• Miaomiao proposed that everyone put vigilante work aside and enjoy Christmas together, and Damian reluctantly agreed to try.
• Miaomiao gathered the Bat Family to plan the Gotham Silent Christmas Eve Operation, aiming to prevent trouble from Christmas Eve through Christmas.
• Tim reviewed Gotham’s villains and crime data, while the family ruled out Catwoman and Red Hood and identified several villains who might cooperate with Miaomiao.
• Damian and Tim suggested approaching lower-risk villains through Catwoman and Killer Croc, offering incentives instead of threats.
• Jason volunteered to handle Gotham’s small gangs and petty thugs, and Tim crossed their names off the list.
• The family reached the remaining villains, whom Tim described as the tough nuts they would have to crack.

Miaomiao proposed using her illusion song to keep Arkham’s prisoners asleep over Christmas, and the Batfamily worked out a safer way for her to do it. They then turned to plans for the major villains still loose in Gotham, beginning with Penguin and Black Mask.

• Miaomiao was overwhelmed by Arkham’s villain list, and Tim explained that most of the listed criminals were already imprisoned there.
• The family discussed Joker’s recent unsettling laughter and Mad Hatter’s breakdown after Miaomiao’s earlier illusions.
• Miaomiao proposed putting all of Arkham to sleep over Christmas, and Dick warned that the effort could harm her.
• Damian suggested that Miaomiao sing from the sea, and Tim confirmed the Underground Cavern beneath Arkham Island could let her reach the whole facility.
• Tim proposed using legitimate business to keep Penguin, Oswald Cobblepot, occupied and compliant.
• The group moved on to Black Mask, Roman Sionis, as Jason studied his photograph.

The group discussed how to handle Gotham’s remaining villains, with Jason taking responsibility for Black Mask and Dick proposing to reunite Harvey Dent with Gilda. Tim explained Victor Fries’s devotion to Nora, and Damian offered to fund Victor’s research so he could focus on finding a cure.

• Jason volunteered to deal with Black Mask and promised he would not cause trouble by Christmas.
• Dick offered to handle Two-Face and explained that Gilda Grace Gold remained Harvey Dent’s enduring love.
• Dick told Miaomiao that Gilda lived in a Gotham Uptown mansion and studio, and suggested bringing her and Harvey together for Christmas.
• Tim warned the group that Victor Fries would violently defend Nora’s stasis pod and research if anyone threatened them.
• Damian offered to establish a foundation with League of Assassins money to give Victor funding and equipment for his work.