Comic Title: Batman (Facsimile Edition) #405
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: February 2024
On Sale Date: December 12, 2023 Direct Market Date December 13, 2023
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99
Page Count: 32

Title: "War Is Declared"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Richmond Lewis

Reprinted From:
Batman #405 (1987)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Batman Annual #13; next appearance in Batman #406)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lt. James Gordon (last appearance in Batman #404; next appearance in Batman #406)
• Harvey Dent (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Batman #407)

Villain(s)

• Albert Blume (a former Arkham Asylum inmate; no further appearances)
• Gillian B. Loeb (last appearance in Batman #404; next appearance in Batman #406)
• A gang of petty thieves (no further appearances)
• Arnold Flass (last appearance in Batman #404; next appearance in Batman #407)
• A gang of drug dealers (no further appearances)
• Falcone (aka the Roman; a crime boss; next appearance in Batman #407)

Other Character(s)

• Merkel (a police sergeant; next appearance in Batman #406)
• Branden (leader of the Gotham City SWAT team; next appearance in Batman #406)
• Barbara Gordon (Jim Gordon's wife; next appearance in Batman #406)
• Sarah Essen (a police detective; next appearance in Batman #406)
• The Mayor of Gotham City and Marian (his wife; no further appearances)
• Several city councilmen (Charlie named; no further appearances)
• Feck, Shelly, Lerner, and various police officers (no further appearances)
• A bag lady (no further appearances)

Comments:
"Year One" Part 2

This story occurs between April 4th and June 6th, while Bruce Wayne is 25 years old.

Batman's costumed debut occurs in April. A comment in this story indicates that Superman is already known to the public.

This story is continued from Batman #404 and continues in Batman #406.

Synopsis:
While Jim Gordon is establishing himself as one of the few honest cops in Gotham City, Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. Within a month of Batman's first appearance in public, the vigilante has begun to make a name for himself in Gotham. When Batman breaks into the mayor's mansion and puts the leaders of organized crime in Gotham on notice, Commissioner Loeb demands that Gordon catch him.

The police begin setting traps for Batman, but he is too smart to fall for them. Gordon begins questioned men he suspects might be Batman including Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent. While driving home with his partner Sarah Essen, Gordon spots Batman rescuing a bag lady. He calls for backup and traps Batman in an old tenement. Commissioner Loeb calls in Branden, the ultra-violent SWAT team leader and they fire bomb the tenement.