Batman: Under the Red Hood Page #3

He's still taking huge cuts

from off the streets.

But now

he's eluminating the competition.

He's coming after you.

[CLEARS THRoAT]

[YELLS]

You wanna tell me

why this guy ain't dead?

we're trying.

we sent the Fearsome Hand of Four.

Four? Guess they're gonna need

a new name.

why hasn't Batman wiped this little smear

off the face of the planet?

Maybe he doesn't want to.

Perhaps he's letting you

and the Red Hood war it out.

-He could be waiting--

-To take on the winner?

what do you think this is?

A tennis tournament?

-I'm just saying...

BLACK MASK:
You're an idiot.

And you don't know Batman.

He's not letting this lunatic just run wild.

He can't catch him either.

or it's something else.

Can't you feel it?

we're stuck in the damn crossfire.

oh, hell.

Sir?

RED HOOD:
wow, he sure can move

when he really wants to.

-You okay, sir?

-I'm not dead.

So that's something.

okay.

-Time to change up the ground war.

-How so, sir?

I'm being forced into negotiating

with a psychotic.

That doesn't sound good.

No.

it's going to be a nightmare.

Hey, fellas,

-Terry? what the hell are you doing here?

-You miss me?

I'm covering Rothman's shift.

He's got the flu, bronchitis or something.

we got this. why don't you grab some joe?

we'll meet you in the south wing.

That's not protocol.

Come on, I'm bored,

i need to stretch my iegs: Let's get--

[BULLET wHizzES]

Sorry, schedule to keep.

MAC:

You didn't have to kill him.

one, yes, i did.

Two, we're paying you a ton.

So, three, shut your gob

and open the damn door.

-Does he know what's going on?

-He knows he's leaving.

JOKER:

it's gonna be a sleepover, right?

i packed my toothbrush.

-Do you need more light, sir?

-No:
i can see fine.

well, there you have it.

He's still at rest.

No, he isn't.

That's not flesh.

-Master Bruce, you can't blame yourself--

BRUCE:
it was stupid and careless.

Body was made of high-end latex.

if i'd bothered to look inside

when i brought him home....

Sir, please, remember how distraught

you were. Even i found it hard--

Stupid and careless.

-where are you going?

-To talk to the man who did this.

i hope you understand the trouble

i've gone through...

...to arrange this little get-together here.

A lot of money. A lot of dead meat.

Look, i've got a problem.

And you are absolutely the man

who possesses the gifts...

...to take care of this problem.

i need you to murder the Red Hood.

You think you can handle that?

[CoUGHS]

May i have some water?

[JoKER CACKLING]

I'm going to need something to wear...

...and a very big truck.

Sure:
Anything else?

i'll need some guys.

Not these guys

because, well, they're kind of dead.

what did you do to Jason?

Act like you don't know what I'm talking

about and i'll dislocate the shoulder.

That's just to start.

if you haven't disabled the roof sensors,

my guards will be here in under a minute.

Answer me.

I'm willing to...

...but it'll be more expedient if you hand me

the communicator in my pocket...

...and i call off my men.

Commander, this is Ra's Al Ghul.

Stand down.

i will be entertaining a guest

in my study.

You remember

when we last became embattled?

You were planning to blow up banks.

Accurate, if inelegant.

i was in the midst of toppling the economy

of Europe...

...but you were on to me.

i sought a distraction.

So i hired the Joker.

When your paths crossed in Bosnia...

...it was to appear

that you had stumbled upon him.

He was paid extremely well for what

was intended to be a wild-goose chase.

Then he murdered the boy.

That was not by design.

I'm afraid i overestimated my ability

to control the Joker...

...just as i underestimated his madness.

it grieved me, sir...

...to be a party to something so brutal.

You've never shied away

from drawing blood.

True, but always with purpose.

Always with greater goals.

This was simply an unnecessary casualty.

As penance,

i chose not to make war with you again...

...and to attempt

to rectify this disservice.

Rectify?

Yes:

i had hoped to return to you

what you had lost.

l have walked this world

for nearly six centuries.

As you know...

...i achieve this by bathing in

the rejuvenating waters of the Lazarus Pit.

Along with its healing abilities...

...it has long been rumored

that it is capable of an even greater feat...

...to raise the dead.

Procuring the remains of your partner

was not difficult.

You had come to Bosnia

under the guise of Bruce Wayne...

...and you chose to depart as such.

You even concocted the cover story...

...that young Jason had died in a bombing

in Sarajevo.

This made it easy for me.

All it took was a few payoffs

to replace his body.

i felt confident

that you would not perform an autopsy...

...even if you had,

we still would have bought enough time.

But my plan...

...well, detective,

it had unfortunate results.

[SCREAMING]

He returned to this world...

...but returned damaged.

My army searched for months...

...but we were never able to find a body

or pick up a trail.

i thought him dead yet again.

But i hear you have been having trouble

at home.

i have returned your son to you

as a blight upon your house.

He burns the very kingdom you--

--protect.

Shall i alert the guards to pursue him?

Don't be foolish.

They would never catch him.

Besides, i have done enough.

ALFRED:

Sir, please take this to heart.

who Jason was before,

how we lost him...

...and this dark miracle or curse

that has brought about his return...

...it is not your fault.

l know you view his death

as your greatest failure but--

His life and his death

are my greatest failure.

Do you remember how he was

when i found him?

of course, sir.

Fearless, arrogant, brash and gifted.

BATMAN:
Yes.

Different than Dick in so many ways...

...but still so full of potential and power.

But i knew, even from the beginning,

he was dangerous.

lf i hadn't made him into Robin,

he would have grown to do wrong.

Then i got him killed.

My partner.

My soldier.

My fault.

i own that.

i'll carry that like everything else:

But now there's this.

He's taken everything i've ever taught him

and turned it on me.

it's a hell of my own making, Alfred.

Sir, this is not your doing.

You loved him:
He knows that.

-it should be enough.

-it's not.

[CoMPUTER BEEPING]

woMAN oN TV:

Reporting live from Gotham Bay Bridge....

My word.

Sir, patch into the media feed now.

[SiRENS wAiLING]

[JoKER CACKLING]

MAN:

Come on, get out of there, now.

Don't know what that maniac's up to, but

nobody make a move till i give the order.

JoKER [SiNGING]:

i'm a little teapot

Short and stout

Here is my handle

Here is my spout

This wasn't part of the damn deal,

you freak!

Get me out of here right now!

i thought you'd enjoy

seeing some old faces.

After all, most of these guys

used to work for you.

MAN:

who's that? Get a light on him.

Up there.

Hey, look at you. Mr. Hood.

or do you prefer Red?

i used to wear an outfit a lot like that.

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