Story: "The Freedom of Madness!" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Doug Moench (plot, script)
Jim Aparo (pencils, inks)
Adrienne Roy (colors)
Richard Starkings (letters)
Dennis O'Neil (edits)

Feature Character:

Batman

Supporting Characters:

Harvey Bullock
James Gordon (last in Showcase '93 #6; next in issue #493)
Renée Montoya
Jeremiah Arkham
Robin III
Jean-Paul Valley (next in issue #494)
Armand Krol (next in issue #493)

Villains:

Bane
Bird
Trogg (next in issue #493)
Zombie
Joker
Scarecrow (both last in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #4; both next in issue #494)
Poison Ivy (last in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #4; next in issue #495)
Maxie Zeus (last in issue #482; next in Detective Comics #659)
Killer Croc (last in issue #489; next in Detective Comics #660)
Two-Face (last in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #4; next in flashback in Showcase '93 #7) and various other Arkham inmates

Other Character:

Talon (Bird's falcon)

Synopsis:

Bane and his men secure some weaponry and proceed with the testing of Batman - by breaking all of the inmates out of Arkham Asylum. When he hears of this, Mayor Krol wants the police to shoot to kill, but Commissioner Gordon refuses to issue this order. Batman arrives on the scene and is able to safeguard the asylum staff, but his enemies are now all running free, and Gordon wonders if he made the right decision.