Comic Title: Batman:The Cult TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1991
On Sale Date: February 5, 1991 Shipping Date February 5, 1991
Source: Previews, #23

Shipping Date February 5, 1991
Source: Amazing Heroes, #187

Cover Price: $14.95
Page Count: 200
Editor: Dan K. Thorsland

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Ordeal"
Pages: 48

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Bernie Wrightson
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Bill Wray

Reprinted From:
Batman:The Cult #1 (1988)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Action Comics Weekly #606; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman Annual #12; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman:The Killing Joke #1; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)

Villain(s)

• Deacon Joseph Blackfire (a cult leader; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Jake Baker (Blackfire's lieutenant; last name not given in this story; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Members of Blackfire's cult (Ratface named; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Isidro Dominga (a pimp; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Two street punks (both die in this story; no further appearances)
• A gang of hijackers (all die in this story; no further appearances)
• Joker (dream appearance)

Other Character(s)

• Sergeant DeLeon (a cop; no further appearances)
• Sally (a prostitute; no further appearances)
• Don Perry (a young artist; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Klaus and his partner (cops; no further appearances)
• An unnamed street vendor (no further appearances)
• Chief Palebear and the Miagani (an indian tribe; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Holmes (a city councilman; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Several Dutch settlers (in flashback; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story continues in Batman:The Cult #2.

Synopsis:
Many homeless people are disappearing from the streets of Gotham City. At the same time an unknown vigilante group is violently executing criminals in the street. Batman investigates and is led to the Gotham sewer system where the trail goes cold. Then while stopping two teenaged punks from attacking a street vendor, Batman is caught from behind and falls unconscious.

When Batman awakens, he is in the sewers surrounded by the homeless people. He is tied up and wounded. The homeless are now part of a cult led by Deacon Joseph Blackfire whose origins date back to times before Europeans came to America. Using pain, psychological manipulation, and drugs, the Deacon and his followers slowly break down the Batman's mental defenses in an effort to sway him to their cause.