Story: "War Games: Act 3 Part 8. No Going Back" (30 Pages)

Credits:

Bill Willingham (plot, script)
Kinsun (pencils)
Aaron Sowd
Rodney Ramos and Adam DeKraker (inks)
Ken Lopez (letters)
Tony Avina (colors)
Michael Wright (associate edits)
Bob Schreck (edits)

Feature Character:

Batman (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in flashback in Batman #634, then in Gotham Central #25, then in flashback in Detective Comics #800)

Guest Stars:

Batgirl III (last in Batgirl #57, next in ...)
Catwoman (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in Catwoman Vol. 3 #37)
Nightwing II (last in flashback in Batman #634, next in Nightwing Vol. 2 #99)
Onyx I (last in Batgirl #57, next in Detective Comics #800), Robin III (last in Teen Titans Vol. 3 #15, next in flashback in Batman #634, then in Teen Titans Vol. 3 #16, Teen Titans/Legion Special #1, Teen Titans Vol. 3 #17-#19 and Identity Crisis #1)
Spoiler (last in Batman: Gotham Knights #58, dies)
Tarantula III (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in Nightwing Vol. 2 #99)

Supporting Characters:

Oracle II (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in Birds of Prey #75)
Michael Akins (behind the scenes in telephone conversation, last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in Gotham Central #25)
Arturo Rodriguez (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in Detective Comics #809)
Alfred Pennyworth (last in flashback in Batman #634, next in Nightwing Vol. 2 #99)
Leslie Thompkins (last in Batman: Gotham Knights #58, next in flashback in Batman #634)

Villains:

Black Mask (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in Detective Comics #800)
Scarecrow (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, next in ...)
Alexandra Kosov (last in Detective Comics #798, next in Detective Comics #800, then in Batman #634)

Other Character:

Charlie (last in Catwoman Vol. 3 #36, dies)

Comment: Act Three of War Games continued from Catwoman Vol. 3 #36.

Synopsis:

Black Mask has invaded Oracle's clocktower sanctuary, believing it to be the Batcave. While he threatens her and murders Arturo Rodriguez' cameraman, Batman gathers his allies, going in to face Black Mask alone, whle they deal with any further trouble, which takes the form of Scarecrow in his enhanced bestial form, outside. However, his struggle with Black Mask becomes ever more brutal and Oracle fears that they will kill each other, so sets off some explosives which will destroy the entire building, killing her as well s the two combatants unless Batman saves her, which he eventually does. The heroes disperse from the scene, no longer welcomed by either the police or the media, and as they do, Batman receives word from Leslie Thompkins that Spoiler is dying. He gers to her bedside for her final moments, and is able to reassure her that she really was part of the team for a brief time, and that her heroism will be remembered. It is a new dawn for Gotham, which will survive as it ever does, but the cost of war has been high for Batman and his allies, and the city now has a new over-arching crime boss in Black Mask, to whom all the other bosses must pay homage.