Story: "[Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Part One]: The Scene of the Crime" (32 Pages)

Credits:

Ed Brubaker (plot, script)
Scott McDaniel (pencils)
Andy Owens (inks)
John Costanza (letters)
Gregory Wright (colors)
Wildstorm FX (color seperations)
Bob Schreck (edits)

Feature Character:

Batman (last in Batman: Gotham Knights #26; also appears in various flashbacks; next in JLA #64)

Supporting Characters:

Silver St. Cloud
Vesper Fairchild
Catwoman
Alfred Pennyworth
Jason Todd (all five in flashback only)
Oracle (also in flashback)
Nightwing II (also in flashback)
Robin III (all three last in Birds of Prey #40)
Batgirl III (between Batgirl #25 and #26)

Fugitive: Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Part Two is in Birds of Prey #41

Synopsis:

The Gotham City Police Department begins a manhunt for Bruce Wayne, who has escaped from custody. In his Batman persona, Wayne has returned to his manor, and specifically to the Batcave beneath it, remembering many of the pains of his life so far, the complications of his double life. Here he is confronted by Batgirl, Robin and Nightwing, and, via computer, by Oracle. They want to know why he didn't tell them that he was planning an escape, and are shocked when he says he's not going to try to prove Bruce Wayne's innocence. He also refuses to confirm to them that he is indeed innocent. The evidence is strong, particularly as it seems Vesper had indeed discovered that Bruce and Batman were one and the same.

Batman declares that Bruce Wayne is nothing more than a mask, and that from now on there simply is no Bruce Wayne, a declaration that is shocking to the others, particularly as Nightwing (as Dick Grayson) is Wayne's adopted son. After a tussle with Nightwing, Batman leaves the cave, the others wondering what on earth is going on. Batman then hits the streets, feeling free now that Bruce Wayne is no more...

Second Story: "Mystery of the Black Bat" (10 Pages)

Credits:

Ed Brubaker (plot, script)
James Tucker (pencils, inks)

Feature Characters:

Batman
Robin I

Supporting Character:

Professor Nichols

Other Characters:

Professor Dalton (historian)
The Black Bat (Samuel Braxton)

Comment: This is a not-in-continuity tale which pays homage to the Finger-Sprang era of Bat-tales.

Synopsis:

Batman and Robin hear of a civil war hero called the Black Bat whose costume is remarkably similar to Batman's own. They enlist Professor Nichols help to travel back in time and manage to inspire Samuel Braxton, conductor of an underground railway to help slaves escape, to become the Black Bat.

Third Story: "Joker Tips His Hat" (6 Pages)

Credits:

Ed Brubaker (plot, script)
Stefano Gaudiano (pencils)
Eric Shanower (inks)

Feature Characters:

Batgirl I
Robin I

Villains:

Joker
Mad Hatter

Comment: This is a not-in-continuity tale which pays homage to the late 1960's 'hip' era of Bat-tales.

Synopsis:

The Joker has appropriated some of the Mad Hatter's technology and uses it to force upstanding citizens to do foolish things. He forces Batgirl and Robin to kiss, only to discover that they were not under control and are easily able to defeat him, begging only the question of why they went through with the kiss...

Fourth Story: "The Dark, Groovy, Solid, Far-out and Completely With-it Knight Returns" (5 Pages)

Credits:

Patton Oswalt (plot, script)
Sergio Aragonés (pencils, inks)

Feature Character:

Batman

Supporting Character:

Alfred

Villains:

The Streaker
Steve Rudell

Comment: This is a not-in-continuity tale which imagines what is a PLOP-style parody of the Bat-mythos