Description

Batman: Rules of Engagement                    Sealed Hardcover
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Whilce Portacio
Inker: Richard Friend
Colorists: David Baron, I.L.L. & Allen Passalaqua
Letterers: Travis Lanham & Rob Leigh
Editors: Tom Palmer & Mike Carlin
Cover by: Whilce Portacio, Richard Friend, & David Baron

Go back to Batman’s roots and learn where the Dark Knight got the weapons he uses in his war on crime. Discover when Batman first developed his arsenal of technological weapons to combat Lex Luthor’s evil plans to move in and take over Gotham City!

Story/Spoilers
In part 1, Batman bursts into an apartment building where a sadistic killer wearing a ski mask has already killed a young mother. The killer lets loose with a volley of gunfire from an Uzi, but Batman manages to disarm him with a well-placed Batarang. The killer escapes to the rooftop, but Batman ensnares him with his bat-line and begins interrogating him. From across the street, an unseen assailant murders the masked killer with a laser-guided weapon. The man disintegrates instantly. Later, Batman returns to the Batcave where he converses with Alfred. Alfred grows disturbed as he watches his master fondling the weapon that once killed his parents so many years ago – a weapon that Batman saw fit to steal from the Gotham City Police evidence locker. The following day, Bruce Wayne makes a rare appearance at Wayne Aerospace where he confers with one of his engineers, Lucius Fox. Bruce begins asking Lucius questions concerning energy weapons. Lucius has no idea why Bruce would ask him about such things, but he does tell him that the government had recently developed a particle-beam cannon. Unfortunately, the device is not a portable unit (such as the one used to disintegrate the masked killer the previous evening). The next afternoon, Bruce attends a government contract bidding session between Waynetech and rival firm Lexcorp. Lexcorp president and CEO, Lex Luthor, attends. Bruce unveils plans for a disaster recovery armor known as O.G.R.E., but Lex sees only its military applications. As the meeting concludes, Bruce and Lex exchange words. Suddenly, the O.G.R.E. armor blasts upward from the ground and begins attacking innocent civilians. Bruce dives onto Lex and pushes him out of harm’s way. Lex coyly remarks, “I hate to be the one to say this, Wayne – but… isn’t that one of yours?”

Next in part 2, Batman continues to investigate the assault on Lex Luthor by a Waynetech O.G.R.E. and discovers the motive behind the attack. After dealing with the O.G.R.E., Batman decides it’s time to pay Luthor a visit. Batman discovers the malevolent force behind the huge robot that’s menacing Gotham City – and it pits Bruce Wayne head-to-head for the first time against the Metropolis mogul Lex Luthor

Next in part 3, Batman uses Waynetech technology to break into a Lexcorp building. Hacking into a secure computer, Batman finds that Lex has data on a number of people including the late Dr. Eugene Underhay that Luthor was blackmailing in order to get Waynetech secrets. There is also an entry for Bruce Wayne (with not a whole lot of information) and Senator Crabtree, the senator that will decide between Waynetech and Lexcorp for the weapons contract. For some reason, the file also contain Senator Crabtree’s DNA sequence. Lex calls the senator to see if he’s decided on which corporation to go with. The senator has decided to postpone the decision until they obtain more information as to what went wrong with the Waynetech system. Lex urges him to make a decsion stating that the senator has a lot he could lose if he waits. Later at the senator’s house, in the midst of a birthday party for his granddaughter, Captain James Gordon arrives with an arrest warrant for conspiracy to murder. It seems a hooker has been murdered and her child’s DNA results say that Crabtree is the father. Batman was allegedly seen fleeing the scene. With the senator dealing with his problems, Washington granted the contract to Lexcorp. Lucius express concern after Waynetech spent six years and half a billion dollars on the development of their plane. Bruce Wayne replies that he has plans for the plane. On top of the Gothom City Police Department, Gordon tries calling Batman with the Bat-signal. As he is wanted for questioning in the murder of the hooker, snipers are in place waiting for him. After two hours, Gordon calls them off. As soon as he turns off the signal, he sees Batman standing there. Batman informs Gordon that he’s been there the whole time waiting for the snipers to stand down. He didn’t want to have to hurt them. Batman gives Gordon information that shows that Luthor set up Senator Crabtree. He tells Gordon to go after Luthor. With the source of the data, he tells Batman it won’t be that easy. Back at Luthorcorp, Lex talks to his technician, Clayton, to see if he’s been able to track Batman to his lair. Clayton tells Luthor that Batman’s plane is invisible to radar. They were able to track it using acoustic triangulation but lost it in a swarm of bats. Luthor has a solution to this problem. He shows Clayton a mechanical bat that would be able to track Batman.

Next in part 4, Lex meets with a U.S. Army General as he gives him an enormous platoon of G.I. Robot units after winning the defense contract. Lex then gets a phone call about his robotic bat that is trying to infiltrate Batman’s “lair.” It’s attached itself to unidentified aircraft that most likely belongs to Batman. At the Batcave, Batman arrives in his new plane. As he goes over the plans of the military command base to try to figure out what Lex is up to, the robotic bat begins to make its move. It works its way to a control pad and types in, “KILL.” The bat-plane starts up and fires a missle at Batman and Alfred. Batman falls back into the deep of the cave. At the army base, Lex is still pleased with the possibility of what his robotic bat will accomplish. He tells the general that there’s been a change in plans. He’s taking the base and robots back. He gives a counter-command to the G.I. Robots and gives the command to allow the general just enough time to run out screaming or he will be vaporized. Batman survives his fall by falling in twenty feet of bat guano. It literally “stinks.” Batman has to use a breathing mask to get away from the smell of ammonia. He can hear the bat-plane still trying to kill any available targets. It seems to have Alfred in its sights. Batman manages to jump onto the plane as it passes by. He accesses the controls and returns it to manual control. Using the plane’s sensors, he finds the robotic bat that caused this problem. It’s making its way to the batmobile. Alfred simply stomps on it. In Gothom, Captain James Gordon is in a patrol car with an officer. For some reason traffic is incredibly backed up. A radio transmission starts up on all channels. It tells them that Democracy isn’t working. It goes on and on. Gordon gets out of the squad car and walks up the street. He sees Lex on a jumbotron as he finishes his speech and says he is going to be making some changes.

Next in part 5, Lex Luthor’s robots turn on the U.S. Army, and Batman shows up to put them in their place. He destroys the largest one on his arrival, then proceeds into the main building.

Finally in part 6, Batman defeats Luthor’s army of robots with Lex’s own tech, but Lex manages to use Waynetech to cover up his involvement in the incident. Afterward Bruce Wayne holds a press conference where he declares that Wayne Industries is out of the defense business and announces the opening of the Wayne Foundation charity.

Hardcover reprints/collects: Batman Confidential (2007) Issues #1-6.  DC Comics

Sealed Hardcover is bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: 2007
Format: FC, 144 pages, HC, 10″ x 7″
ISBN-10: 1401214819
ISBN-13: 9781401214814

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover is Brand New & Factory Sealed.  Very Fine condition. (lightly bumped corner >> top left front cover corner… see 1st scan) otherwise… Very Nice!  Please see scans!!  A must have for any serious Batman collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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