Paul Weissburg - Batman Undercover

PUBLISHED BY STONE ARCH BOOKS IN 2013

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COPYRIGHT 2013 DC COMICS.
BATMAN AND ALL RELATED CHARACTERS AND ELEMENTS ARE TRADEMARKS OF AND DC COMICS.

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STAR26108

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING, OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA IS AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WEBSITE.

ISBN: 978-1-4342-4094-1 (LIBRARY BINDING)

ISBN: 978-1-4342-4213-6 (PAPERBACK)

ISBN: 978-1-4342-6371-1 (ebook)

SUMMARY: THE COSMIC ANNIHILATOR, A DOOMSDAY WEAPON CAPABLE OF DESTROYING ENTIRE PLANETS, HAS GONE MISSING! BATMAN IS ON THE CASE, BUT SO FAR THE ONLY CLUE IS A TICKET TO THE SUPER-VILLAIN CRIME CONVENTION. THATS ONE PLACE THE DARK KNIGHT CANT GO... SO HE DECIDES TO ATTEND AS THE MOBSTER, MATCHES MALONE, INSTEAD.

ART DIRECTOR: BOB LENTZ

DESIGNER: BRANN GARVEY

WHILE STILL A BOY, BRUCE WAYNE WITNESSED THE BRUTAL MURDER OF HIS PARENTS. THE TRAGIC EVENT CHANGED THE YOUNG BILLIONAIRE FOREVER. BRUCE VOWED TO RID GOTHAM CITY OF EVIL AND KEEP ITS PEOPLE SAFE FROM CRIME. AFTER YEARS OF TRAINING HIS BODY AND MIND, HE DONNED A NEW UNIFORM AND A NEW IDENTITY.

CHAPTER 1

On a Gotham City subway train, Matches Malone fidgeted restlessly. Malone was a two-bit criminal on his way to make the biggest deal of his life. He wore a green plaid suit and tinted glasses, but his behavior was even stranger than his clothing. Every few minutes hed try to engage a fellow subway passenger in extremely annoying small talk.

So, he said to a middle-aged woman in a business suit. Come here often?

The woman sneered at Malone. Every work day, she snarled. Leave me alone, you creep!

Matches shrugged. He went and sat next to an elderly man with a long, gray beard. Hows it going, Grandpa? Matches said. Liking the weather?

The... weather? the old man said. Were in a subway, you dolt! And its raining cats and dogs outside. Get away from me.

Malone shrugged and moved on down the subway car. He started to sit down next to a young woman, but she blocked the seat with her hands.

HISSSSSSSSSSSS! she snarled at him.

Matches jumped back. Yikes! he cried out.

Matches gave up hope of finding casual conversation and found a seat in the back of the subway car as the train rose above ground. Matches loved talking with folks, but most of the time they didnt enjoy talking with him. That made him angry.

RRRRRRRING! The criminals cell interrupted his brooding. He flicked open the phone and listened. Ill be there in a few minutes, he said. You just make sure you dont forget to bring the money!

The old man nearby wrapped himself in his blankets and glared at Matches. In front of the old man stood a shopping cart stuffed with plastic bags, empty bottles, and old newspapers.

Just some homeless guy, Matches thought.

When the subway stopped at the station closest to Harper Pier, Matches Malone stepped outside, still shouting into his cell phone. Look, buddy, he said, if you want this thing, you better come out to the pier right now. Im not going to sit around and wait all night!

Just before the subway doors closed, the old man got up and jumped out of the car, leaving behind his shopping cart. The old man moved with surprising quickness. He was graceful and agile, like a trained athlete. Thats because the old man wasnt an old man at all...

He was Batman!

The Dark Knight had been following Matches Malone in disguise all night. And now he was about to catch his prey.

As Batman trailed Matches out of the subway station, Batman spoke softly into the earpiece that was hidden by his fake beard. Robin, he said, Matches is headed toward Harper Pier.

Several miles away, the Boy Wonder started his motorcycle and raced toward the pier. This was a very important case. Matches Malone had gotten his hands on the Cosmic Annihilator, a deadly weapon that had been created by Darkseid, one of Supermans most feared foes. His creation was so powerful that it could blow up an entire planet with ease.

Darkseid had planned to use the Cosmic Annihilator during his invasion of Earth, but a team of heroes led by Superman defeated him. Before Darkseid could use the weapon, he was sent back to Apokolips.

As Darkseid vanished, the Cosmic Annihilator fell from his hands and was lost somewhere in Gotham Harbor.

Until now. Now it was in the hands of Matches Malone. A homeless woman had found it a few nights back and sold it to him.

Matches smirked. And I only had to pay her fifty bucks for it, he thought.

Matches Malone couldnt even use such a big weapon all by himself. So he decided to sell it to the highest bidder.

Batman and Robin had been following him for several days and nights, waiting for Matches to meet with his buyer. That way, the Dynamic Duo would be able to capture them both and retrieve the Cosmic Annihilator.

And now was the time to strike!

Robin turned off his motorcycle as he neared the pier and coasted the rest of the way in. He didnt want Matches to hear the roar of the engine and realize that he was being followed.

At the pier, Matches Malone looked around nervously. He didnt see his buyer anywhere.

From behind a crate, Robin watched Matches pace back and forth. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Robin whirled around to see Batman standing there. He had removed his old man disguise and was now wearing his super hero uniform.

Pointing to Matches Malone, Batman whispered, The buyer should be here in a few more minutes. Once he arrives, well catch them both.

Just then, they heard a loud scream.

AHHHHHHHH!

Robin though it sounded like a scared child. What do we do? Robin asked. If we leave to help, Matches Malone might get away!

It doesnt matter, Robin, Batman said. Saving innocent lives is our top priority.

Batman and Robin raced toward the source of the scream. They saw an old apartment building on fire. Most of the people had escaped, but there were two children trapped on the seventh floor. They shouted for help from the windows, waving their arms frantically back and forth.

Help! Help! cried the young boy.

Somebody save us! the older girl shouted.

FWIP! Batman and Robin threw their Batropes to the top of the building. CLANK! CLINK! The hooks caught hold. With practiced ease, the two heroes quickly climbed up the ropes toward the children.

As they reached the third floor, Batman looked up. The kids were trapped on the seventh floor. The kids could see the heroes climbing up toward them now. Batmans uniform had been designed to frighten criminals. He certainly didnt want to scare these kids, though, so he made sure to greet them kindly.

Hello, he called out to them. Im Batman and this is my partner, Robin. What are your names?

Im Brooke, said the young girl. And this is my little brother, Gus.