Chapter Summaries

Damian met Clayface at Wayne Tower after Lobo delivered an invitation from the supposedly dead Joker to a gathering in Gotham's deepest sewers. They suspected a dangerous plot aimed at the Bat-Family, and Damian considered how to stop it as Clayface offered to infiltrate the party.

• Damian corrected Clayface for calling him Little Robin and demanded the important news he had promised to share.
• Clayface told Damian that Lobo had fought him and delivered a message inviting him to a party in the deepest part of Gotham's sewers in Joker's name.
• Clayface revealed that Lobo had invited more than a dozen people and that he had glimpsed Black Adam, Lady Shiva, and Psycho-Pirate on the list.
• Damian questioned whether Joker's Daughter had organized the gathering, since she had vanished into the sewers after rumors of Joker's death.
• Damian said they needed to disrupt the gathering and contact Orphan, while Clayface offered to infiltrate it with a camera and listening device.

Barbara met her brother James Gordon Jr. on the Gotham Police Department rooftop, where he had turned on the Bat-Signal and asked about their father. The chapter left Barbara unsettled as James revealed he suspected something had happened to Gordon.

• Barbara found James Gordon Jr. beside the Bat-Signal and checked that he had taken his medicine and was wearing his tracking anklet.
• The chapter recounted how James had become Gotham’s Ripper and Throat-Slasher before his father discovered and arrested him.
• James gave Barbara a hamburger and observed that she was exhausted from handling Gotham’s crisis while Batwoman was absent.
• James asked whether their father was still alive, explaining that Gordon’s absence from news coverage during the mushroom incident had seemed suspicious.

Barbara learned that Joker might be alive and received a guest list of dangerous figures planning to gather in Gotham. She brought the warning to Alfred, who led her to the Batcave, where an alternate Harley Quinn asked her to examine a dead Joker.

• Barbara's brother, little James, told her that Lobo had delivered Joker's invitation to a meeting in the sewers and gave her a photograph of the guest list.
• Little James argued that the inviter could be the real Joker, then left Barbara and slipped into the sewers.
• Barbara chose not to contact the Justice League and rode to Wayne Manor to find Alfred and show him the photograph.
• Alfred told Barbara that Master Bruce had gone to the Dark Multiverse and led her down to the Batcave.
• Barbara found an alternate Harley Quinn and a pale man beside the Final Machine, which had been turned into an autopsy table.
• Dr. Harleen Quinzel asked Barbara to examine the dead Joker and confirm whether she had been present when he died.

Joker and Luthor discussed developing a cure for The Batman Who Laughs Virus and using Doctor Ivo’s Amazo forces, while Su Ming and his companions arrived at a Kansas farm after leaving the Legends of Tomorrow. Su Ming headed to check on Superboy-Prime’s weapon, while Harley and Bobo playfully scuffled behind him.

• Luthor told Joker he was working on a cure that would remove The Batman Who Laughs Virus without killing its victims, and said he needed leverage.
• Joker said Doctor Ivo had agreed to support their cause after Punchline tortured Ivo’s daughter, and Luthor ordered the woman hidden.
• Su Ming told Sara to return to Earth -11 and tell Bliss to prepare Project Z in case their situation became impossible.
• Sara left with the Legends of Tomorrow after Harley rejected her offer to join the Lily Sisterhood.
• Su Ming, Harley, and Bobo walked toward the farm, where Su Ming planned to check on the weapon Superboy-Prime was developing with Clark.

Su Ming and his companions visited Clark at Martha’s farm, where Clark and Superboy-Prime had been waiting in the barn. Deathstroke pulled Superboy-Prime away from repairing a tractor and asked if he was ready to become a Superhero and save the world.

• Su Ming, Harley, and Bobo approached the farm and discussed Clark’s family and Harley’s offer to help Lois.
• Clark came out of the barn, declined Harley’s counseling offer, and realized she was concerned about General Lane’s death and threats to Lois.
• Clark admitted he had misunderstood Harley and said he would apologize to her.
• Su Ming entered the barn and found Clark and Superboy-Prime there, with Superboy-Prime repairing a tractor.
• Deathstroke pulled Superboy-Prime out of the air and asked if he was ready to become a Superhero and save the world.

Su Ming and the others discussed the threats posed by The Batman Who Laughs and The Upside-Down Man, while Little Superman agreed to help investigate. Damian then called Su Ming to report that something had happened in Gotham.

• Little Superman said he had found little to do on Earth-0, and Su Ming explained that trouble was brewing in the Magic World.
• Superman proposed gathering the Justice League, but Su Ming and Superboy-Prime argued that everyone should stay spread out and remain alert.
• Su Ming said Gotham might be the final battlefield and told Little Superman he would help search for clues.
• Little Superman asked how to improve his reputation, and Su Ming proposed having Channel 52 film a documentary of his heroic work.
• Harley received a call from Damian and passed the phone to Su Ming after complaining about being called old.
• Damian told Su Ming that something had happened in Gotham and that he and Clayface were waiting at the top of Wayne Tower.

Damian, Su Ming, and their allies headed into Gotham’s abandoned sewers to investigate a gathering, where they encountered mutated creatures and then an approaching stranger. The stranger turned out to be Jason, whom Damian recognized at the end of the chapter.

• Damian challenged Superboy-Prime over his past betrayal, and Deathstroke told him to be friendlier because the team needed Superboy-Prime’s strength.
• Su Ming decided to investigate the sewer gathering and brought Clayface along with the group.
• The group traveled through Gotham’s abandoned second sewer system and fought beetle-like mutants.
• Deathstroke detected a human approaching, and Su Ming used a flare to reveal the figure.
• Damian recognized the stranger as Jason.

Damian and his allies encountered Jason Todd, who had returned to Gotham after escaping a strange dimension with the Outlaws. Their reunion turned tense when Harley reminded Jason of his death at the Joker’s hands, while Superboy-Prime quietly bristled at her claim that Deathstroke was Gotham’s strongest.

• Jason revealed that he had come to investigate trouble in Gotham’s sewers, while Damian asked whether he had received a Joker invitation.
• Damian explained that the Deathstroke beside him came from a Parallel Universe and could be trusted, and Jason described escaping the Hall of Everything with help from Sulu.
• Jason recognized Harley and recalled his torture and death, then said he would tolerate her for Batwoman’s sake but did not want to see her in Gotham again.
• Harley mocked Jason for being a guest in Gotham and claimed Deathstroke was now the city’s strongest, while Superboy-Prime silently disapproved.

Deathstroke’s group exposed Jason Todd’s excuse for coming to the sewers and knocked him unconscious so they could search his memories. Damian worried about Jason’s safety, but Deathstroke reassured him, leaving Damian feeling closer to his biological father.

• Deathstroke and the others accused Jason of lying about why he had come to the sewers.
• Jason drew the Blade of the Great Caste and refused to explain himself, so Deathstroke told Superboy-Prime to take him down.
• Superboy-Prime knocked Jason unconscious with one punch, then performed for the supposed documentary camera.
• Su Ming began using Strangle to read Jason’s memories, and Damian asked Deathstroke to make sure the process would not hurt him.
• Deathstroke assured Damian that Jason would be unharmed, and Damian smiled and thanked him.

After uncovering Jason’s memories, Su Ming learned that Jason had entered the sewers to find Duela Dent, the girl he had secretly rescued and cared for for years. The group continued deeper into Gotham’s sewers with a list of dangerous party guests, while Su Ming suspected the matter might connect to a larger plan.

• Su Ming discovered that Jason had hidden Duela Dent in an abandoned juvenile reformatory and had gone searching for her after she escaped.
• Jason learned from Barbara that a Joker-themed party was being held in the sewers, then entered alone to find Duela without revealing his reason to Deathstroke.
• Su Ming explained that Jason had not joined the villains or taken money, and told the group he believed Jason was trying to rescue Duela.
• Harley said she had stopped wanting revenge on Duela years ago, despite their past conflict and Duela’s attacks on her friends.
• Su Ming led the group toward the third sewer network, while Superboy-Prime volunteered to clear the way.

Wonder Woman tried to leave Sepulk and return to battle, but the Adjutant restricted her to the rear area until Batwoman arrived with permission to take her back to Earth. Batwoman asked for her help and said they were going to Earth -3 to prepare and locate The Batman Who Laughs.

• Wonder Woman asked the Adjutant to teleport her to Deathstroke or give her a ship, but the Adjutant explained she lacked authority to do either.
• The Adjutant listed Diana’s limited privileges and offered her ice cream, while insisting that keeping her in the rear was a form of protection.
• Batwoman emerged from the darkness and asked Wonder Woman for help.
• The Adjutant revealed that Deathstroke had authorized Batwoman to leave with Wonder Woman aboard the Bat-ship.
• Batwoman told Wonder Woman they were going to Earth -3 to prepare and find where The Batman Who Laughs was hiding.

Dr. Quinzel finished dissecting the Joker in the Batcave but left Barbara uncertain about how quickly she would develop the Serum. Meanwhile, Deathstroke’s group reached the Abyss and spotted the Joker hosting a party on a yacht across a red underground lake.

• Dr. Quinzel completed the Joker’s autopsy, then said she needed more information before researching an antidote and asked Jack to show her to a guest room.
• Su Ming, Harley Quinn, Bobo, Damian, Deathstroke, and Superboy-Prime traveled through Gotham’s old sewer labyrinth toward the Abyss while discussing the Joker Virus and Damian’s family.
• Damian shared news about Talia and Lois with Deathstroke, who listened patiently and said he hoped Talia was doing well.
• Superboy-Prime cleared a passage to a deep underground lake, where Su Ming saw the Joker’s brightly lit yacht and heard laughter from the party below.
• Su Ming gave Cloak to Harley and Bobo and planned to sneak down to eavesdrop on the Joker’s gathering.

Su Ming, Deathstroke, Bobo, and Harley watched the Joker gather a group of villains at an underground lake and wondered what he intended. The Joker began explaining that he could help everyone gain what they wanted, then hinted that the red water beneath the boat was connected to his survival and the Ten Metals.

• Su Ming and Deathstroke discussed whether the man on the yacht was the real Joker and why he was gathering a team.
• Su Ming explained that Gotham's connection to Amber Gold made it dangerous, while Deathstroke said Batwoman might have used The Upside-Down Man and Diana to pass along information.
• The Joker welcomed the assembled guests, announced that his plan would let him take control of Gotham, and offered them benefits for cooperating.
• Black Adam objected that he wanted tangible benefits for his people, and the Joker pointed out the red pool beneath the boat.
• The Joker asked why he could not die and brought up the fairy tale of the Ten Metals, drawing covert attention to the red water.

Deathstroke and Superboy-Prime rescued the villains from Joker’s blood-red pool, which contained Dionysium and the blood of an unknown creature. As the rescued villains attacked, Deathstroke fought Lady Shiva and negotiated with her before she joined his side.

• Superboy-Prime and Deathstroke agreed to stop Joker’s plan, while Harley suggested that the red liquid was a Blood Pool and warned that the yacht was a trap.
• Superboy-Prime attacked the villains, and Deathstroke captured Joker, lifted the yacht with Strangle, and carried everyone to shore before sealing the lake with his Green Lantern Ring.
• Strangle tasted the pool and sensed Dionysium, unknown blood, and madness within the liquid.
• Lady Shiva attacked Deathstroke as the other villains closed in, but she revealed that she wanted money and invoked her ties to Batwoman.
• Deathstroke and Lady Shiva spoke Chinese and settled their terms, after which she joined him against the attacking villains.
• Deathstroke drew Godslayer and prepared to fight alongside Lady Shiva.

Su Ming subdued Lobo and helped Lady Shiva and Superboy-Prime defeat Joker’s guests, then sent the unconscious enemies to Arkham. After Damian reported that Harley had given Joker pills, Su Ming took Joker aside to speak with him alone.

• Su Ming struck Lobo with a staff and then launched him skyward with Godslayer transformed into a warhammer.
• Superboy-Prime defeated Black Adam while Lady Shiva took down several opponents, though Doctor Phosphorus gave her some trouble.
• Su Ming gathered the fighters at the shore and told Superboy-Prime to take the unconscious enemies to Arkham while making a show of respecting them.
• Lady Shiva asked how Su Ming had gotten Superboy-Prime to listen, and Su Ming said he knew what the unstable teenager wanted.
• Damian told Su Ming that Harley had fed Joker pills, but Harley said her medicine did not work on him.
• Su Ming took Joker aside to talk after Joker laughed, complained that nobody understood him, and called it his stand-up show.

Su Ming sent Damian and Clayface to deliver Joker to the Hall of Justice, then questioned James Gordon Jr. and assigned him and Lady Shiva to find Duela Dent and take her to Wayne Manor. After discussing the other Jokers with Bobo, Su Ming set off with Harley and Bobo for the Rock of Eternity and the Dreaming.

• Su Ming returned with Joker, then sent Damian and Clayface to take him to Green Arrow at the Hall of Justice.
• James Gordon Jr. emerged from beneath the overturned yacht and explained that he had come seeking information about his sister and the real Joker.
• Su Ming asked James Gordon Jr. and Lady Shiva to find Duela Dent and bring her to the Pale Knight at Wayne Manor, offering them a gold bar as a down payment.
• James Gordon Jr. deduced that Su Ming wanted to settle things with Red Hood, while Lady Shiva agreed to take the job.
• Su Ming told Bobo that two other Jokers were with Batwoman and Luthor, but said they could not be resurrected like Gotham's Joker.
• Su Ming took Harley and Bobo aboard the Cloak of Levitation and headed for the Rock of Eternity and then the Dreaming.

Su Ming, Bobo, and Harley entered the Dreaming to find a dream that could help save Donna and the others from The Batman Who Laughs Virus. They discovered the Dreaming had changed, with faceless white beings murmuring about work, and Su Ming prepared to capture one for examination.

• Su Ming explained that Luthor believed the virus's metal could hypnotize its victims, and the group might find the corresponding dream in the Dreaming.
• Bobo doubted Joker's reliability, but Su Ming said Joker's goal of killing The Batman Who Laughs aligned with theirs and revealed he had swapped Harley and Dr. Quinzel to restrain Joker if necessary.
• The group walked toward the white castle and noticed that many Dreaming residents had become faceless, white figures who muttered words such as "work," "job," and "labor."
• Su Ming drew Godslayer and told Harley to prepare to dissect one of the new creatures.

Faceless Men poured through a rift into the Dreaming, built settlements, and began to outnumber its natives. Su Ming, Bobo, and Dr. Quinzel investigated after one of them was killed, but they found no clue to who had sent the creatures.

• Faceless Men fell from the rift and obeyed the Dreaming’s residents, who put them to work and ordered them to build homes.
• More Faceless Men arrived until they outnumbered the natives, and suspicion grew after fairy-tale characters disappeared and turned up dead.
• A lone Faceless Man built a house and wall, but Wu Song entered his home and cut off his head.
• Bobo watched Dr. Quinzel autopsy the corpse and asked Deathstroke what the Faceless Men were.
• Su Ming suspected the creatures came from another multiversal system and found that their memories held only work, communication, and claims to territory.

Su Ming and Dr. Quinzel determined that the Faceless Men were identical, mass-produced beings, and Su Ming went to Dream’s castle to investigate their takeover of the Dreaming. Lucien agreed to help Su Ming search Dream Bubbles for his missing allies in exchange for Su Ming dealing with the Faceless Men.

• Dr. Quinzel found that the Faceless Men’s bodies were identical and suggested they were mass-produced Synthezoids.
• Su Ming concluded the Faceless Men were outsiders and ordered Strangle to destroy their corpses before heading to the castle.
• Lucien reclaimed Dream’s mask and told Su Ming that the Faceless Men were occupying the Dreaming and that several storybook characters had been murdered.
• Su Ming proposed killing the Faceless Men while Lucien searched Dream Bubbles for Commissioner Gordon, Donna, Supergirl, Blue Beetle, Hawkman, and Shazam.
• Lucien accepted the deal after Su Ming threatened him.

Su Ming led the purge of a Faceless Men village while discussing their nature and offering Doctor Xavier customized Synthezoids. Meanwhile, Batwoman brought Diana to Earth-3’s Hero Cemetery and opened a passage to its mirror world, where someone awaited them.

• Su Ming sent the Orange Lantern Corps and Strangle to wipe out the Faceless Men village, while Bobo questioned the morality of killing its inhabitants.
• Su Ming explained that the Faceless Men were likely programmed creatures and said he planned to take corpses for his scientists to study.
• Doctor Xavier asked Su Ming for Synthezoids modeled after Jack and Joker, and he promised to give her several, including a butler model.
• Batwoman flew with Diana to a cemetery on Earth-3, where Diana saw signs of widespread street violence that Batwoman refused to interfere with.
• Batwoman opened a hidden entrance beneath a statue at the Hero Cemetery and led Diana toward the mirror world, where someone was waiting.