Story: "Far from the Tree" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Devin Grayson (plot, script)
Roger Robinson (pencils)
John Floyd (inks)
Bill Oakley (letters)
Rob Schwager (colors, color seperations)
Dennis O'Neil (edits)

Feature Characters:

Batman
Robin III

Supporting Characters:

Jack Drake
Dana Drake

Villain:

Poison Ivy (last in Detective Comics #752; next in ...)

Other Characters:

Smith (first appearance; a guard at Arkham Asylum; dies)

Chronological Comment: This story takes place before the events of the Officer Down story arc which significantly altered the relationship between Batman and Robin.

Synopsis:

While Tim Drake wonders about his relationship to Batman in light of some files discovered on the Batcave's computers, his parents attend an ecological charity event. This event is crashed by a newly-escaped Poison Ivy, who entwines all the women in vines and puts the men under her control - Tim switches to his Robin identity and joins Batman out there. Although Tim's dad and step-mother are under Ivy's control, Batman elects to free the hostages himself while sending Robin after Ivy. Robin negotiates with Ivy, saying that he'll give in to her demands about the ethics of some of the businessmen, but qon't allow them to be killed. He then holds the grass hostage with the threat of fire and explains his own demands. Ivy will agree to release the hostages, but not to return to Arkham. She makes to leave, allowing Robin to live, but is knocked out by a batarang from Batman. Batman tells Robin that he sent him after Ivy because he trusted him, not because he didn't think he'd handle seeing his dad in danger, and Robin realises his relationship with Batman is more secure than he thought.

Second Story: "Stormy Weather" (8 Pages)

Credits:

Tom Peyer (plot, script)
Gene Colan (pencils)
Tom Palmer (inks)
Rick Parker (letters)
Mark Chiarello (edits)

Feature Character:

Batman

Villain:

Prave (first appearance; dies)

Comment: This story takes place at an undisclosed time during Batman's career.

Synopsis:

Batman and Prave (a child-snatcher) battle atop the Gotham rooftops. After falling, Prave finds himself relentlessly pursued by supernaturally invulnerable Batmen everywhere he goes. Elsewhere, Batman and a policeman contemplate Prave's dead body and wonder whether he got what he deserved.