Batman: The Black Mirror

'Batman: The Black Mirror' is a 10 issue Batman comic written by Scott Snyder, and illustrated by Jock and Francesco Francavilla. The plot tells the story of Dick Grayson continued adventures as Batman as Bruce Wayne continues his work for Batman Incorporated. Dick must battle against a villain, known as Tiger Shark, who is selling various super villain weapons and items in an underground black market style sale. Also, James and Barbara Gordon must contend with the return of James Gordon, Jr., whom they have ex-communicated due to his continued psychosis.

Plot

Dick Grayson continues as the new Batman as Bruce Wayne begins his Batman Incorporated enterprise. Dick struggles to find his identity as the new Batman, refusing to even decorate his suite in Wayne Towers. Wayne Enterprises has given a large crime laboratory to the GCPD, however they do not use it. James Gordon approaches Dick to use the equipment. The two discover someone has been stealing super villain weapons and items and selling them on the black market. Batman interrogates two dirty officers and gets a name, known as The Dealer. Batman infiltrates a meeting of a group known as "Oracle House". The house is a known underground auction of various super villain memorabilia, catering to the rich and powerful. Batman is discovered immediately by the dealer, who infects Batman with some Scarecrow fear gas before ordering the attendees to attack Batman. While he escapes, the fear toxins effects continue to affect him. Oracle discovers The Dealers plane and Batman assaults it in mid-air. Using some Man-Bat serum, the Dealer battles Batman. The plane explodes and lands into Wayne Harbor, but no bodies are discovered.

Meanwhile, James Gordon is alerted by Harvey Bullock that his son, James Gordon Jr., has returned to Gotham. He was spotted at the Gotham Aviary, just before every bird was let loose. Gordon heads to meet Barbara to inform her of James Jr.'s return. In the diner, Barbara reminds her father that James Jr. is a remorseless killer and to be careful while he is in town. As she leaves, James Jr. sits down to talk to his father. James Jr. defends his innocence, that he has never killed anyone nor did he loose the birds. He tells his father that he was diagnosed as a psychopath, however he sought treatment and is currently taking medication that is seemingly helping him. He asks his father for help, if he could talk to Dick Grayson for him, to see about a job with Leslie Thompkins at a center for people like him. Although weary, his father agrees to ask Dick.

Gordon then begins hunting down a child murderer, Roy Blount, known as the "Peter Pan Killer". During the hunt, Gordon recalls when he first suspected his sons insanity. During a camping trip, Barbara was meeting with a friend Bess Keller. One evening, Bess never made it back to her campsite. Her body was never found, Barbara blamed James, claiming to have seen a keychain Bess kept. However, no connection was ever made. While Gordon chases Blount, Blount admits to killing Keller, stating it was out of revenge. With the chase over, Batman appears to inform Gordon that James Jr. was not involved with the birds being released.

Gordon later contacts Dick to use the lab again. This time he is investigating a whale carcass inside of the Gotham City Bank. Inside the whales corpse is a woman who is a friend of Sonia Zucco, CEO of the Bank as well as daughter of gangster Tony Zucco. Batman heads to her penthouse to talk to her. Sonia appears to be innocent, even frightened, she tells Batman of a local crime lord who she refused to launder money for, Bixby Rhodes. Batman heads to Rhodes car dealership, where Rhodes traps him. Escaping, Batman pursues Rhodes who reveals he is a super villain, named Roadrunner. Using special leg prosthesis, Rhodes almost escapes, but is outwitted by Batman. Sonia reveals she was intimidated by another man, who is named Tiger Shark. Batmann investigation lead him to Tiger Sharks base, a submarine. He is captured but eventually escapes and has to flee as Tiger Sharks submarine explodes underwater. Batman realizes he was tricked by Sonia. When confronted, she admits to it, and Batman leads disgusted that she allowed Tiger Shark to flee justice, stating she is no better than her father.

Gordon is still unconvinced that his son is getting the help he needs. He has Barbara run some tests on the medication that James had been receiving. James meets with Dick, and while the two have an uneasy meeting, Dick agrees to talk to Leslie fo him. However, James returns to a home revealing a captured family, and that he is indeed a psychopath. Barbara finishes her tests, and it reveals that James has altered the formula. Instead of treating his psychosis, it is amplifying it. She contacts Gordon, who realizes James plans to use his connections with Leslie Thompkins to infect baby formula, creating thousands of other children with the same psychosis he has. Gordon rushes to James' apartment, but he is not there. Gordon searches the apartment, and discovers a small box, inside is Bess Kellers keychain, as well as several other pieces of evidence from James' other crimes. The Joker then escapes from Arkham and begins a muder spree.

Barbara Eileen, Gordon's ex-wife, is attack with Joker venom. Batman locates the Joker in an underground crypt, and the two battle. Joker says he escaped so he can wait for "his" Batman to return, and that he never attack Eileen. Meanwhile, Oracle has been tracking her brother when she believes he found her. However, she realizes too late that he has found her. He knocks her out and kidnaps her to an unknown location. James toys with Barbara, revealing he has stabbed her with knives if removed will kill her. He tells her his plan, believing his psychosis makes him stronger and empathy makes humans weak, he plans to create thousands just like him. When Dick calls, James taunts his foe, telling Dick he is the "weakest man" in Gotham and has been beaten. Barbara escapes, and a cat and mouse games ensues. Barbara successfully stabs her brother in the eye, but this only delays him. It is enough to allow Batman to enter the location, having placed a subdermal tracker on James. The two fight, and James attempts to escape but is shot in the leg by his father and captured.

Later, Dick has a heart-to-heart with Gordon. Stating that Gotham is like a black mirror, it shows you the worst in you. Gordon wonders with Dick if they really did stop James' plan to infect baby formula with the toxin. The story ends with a close up of an infant, who holds a blank stare and unfliching facial experssions, implying that they may not have succeeded.