Batman (1990) # 444

 By Mark Rodriguez

Back in the 90's, I decided to finally get into Batman comics. My first ever Batman comic was Detective Comics issue 611, but my first ever Batman comic in reference to the title of the book, was issue 444. Easy number to remember. I guess you can technically say Detective 611 was my first and Batman 444 was my second, if you go strictly by 'books with Batman in them' rather than 'the actual Batman comic book, not Detective'.

As luck would have it, both Detective 611 and Batman 444 were part two of a two part story. It took me a while to track down the issues before them, and now I have the full story.

Batman is facing a mysterious criminal mastermind that advises regular thugs on how to perform more complex heists that involve bypassing advanced security systems. Batman finally got his hands on a thug named Montgomery to get some answers, but the bad guy barely had enough time to mention the Crimesmith before something implanted in his body caused him to burn alive from the inside out. Now Batman has to track this mystery man down, but at least now he has a name... the Crimesmith. 

 

"Crimesmith and Punishment" opens with Batman and the rest of the tied up thugs, staring in shock at the burnt remains of Montgomery Marr. One of the men tells Batman he killed him. He kept badgering Monte until he talked and it cost him his life. Batman examines the body and picks his wallet out. He asks the thug who the Crimesmith is. The thug says he saw what happened to Montgomery just because he said the name, so he's not saying anything.

Just then, homicide detective Dana Hanrahan and the police show up and tell Batman the guy knows his rights and they'll take over. The thug tells the police to take Batman in too, since he forced Monte to say the name that killed him. He says Monte would die he told anyone who he worked for but Batman didn't care. He made Monte talk and he blew up. Dana asks Batman if this is true. Batman says he's dead. She says Batman couldn't have known. Batman walks off and says he's dead. Back at the Bat Cave, Batman removes his cowl and looks down in sadness.

Back at Wayne Tech, Fraser tells Bruce that the Justice Department cleared him of spy charges, but the negative publicity cost Wayne Tech more than they thought. Fraser says he's a scientist, but due to his media work he knows things like this take time. Maya (who was called Raya in the last issue) reminds Fraser of a 11:15 appointment. Fraser hands Bruce his notes to see if they will see things eye to eye. After he leaves, Lucius says Fraser has his vote and asks Bruce what he thinks. Bruce isn't sure and says he'll abstain for the moment.

Later on, Batman stalks outside as Commissioner Gordon and a coroner check over the burnt body they found earlier (in the last issue). The coroner explains the body had suffered both  a chemical deflagration  and chemical transformations to cause the explosion. Deflagration deals with chemicals that burn explosively and transformation deals with chemicals that achieve detonation through a series of high-temperature reactions. Gordon says something still would have to set them off. The coroner says a low explosive was probably set by an electronic detonator to cause the chain reaction. He points out a flash burn on the victim's neck. Based on the burn direction and intensity, he figures whatever caused the explosion was triggered from the neck.

The coroner says they'll do a full analysis of the chemical residue but he assumes they will find sodium, potassium nitrate, ammonium, per-chlorate and appropriate binders and stabilizers. The coroner adds that whoever constructed this mechanism had to be well versed in micro-circuitry, physics and chemistry.  This is moving into the territory of science beyond most explosive experts. Gordon says dealing with mad scientists is the story of his life.

In the Batcave, Bruce and Tim are studying the contents of Montgomery's wallet. Bruce unfolds a paper found inside, which reveals a floor plan for the garage with the security cameras highlighted. He says it was computer generated and printed on a laser jet. Tim asks how he knows. Bruce explains all the angled and circular lines are jagged, indicating that they were printed from a computer. Then he points out that laser printers used tower cartridges to control how black each print it, and as they get used up you get blurred streaks as shown on the paper. Depending on the print degeneration they should be able to identify the printer. 

 

Tim is amazed at how Bruce doesn't miss a single detail. Bruce says he can train himself to do the same. He asks him to guess what he's currently doing. Tim surmises that based on what happened at the coroner's office, Bruce must be cross-checking companies that sell those chemicals. Bruce asks what else. Tim says he'll find scientists who specialize in micro-circuitry, physics and chemistry. Bruce says that Tim is catching on. Now they set the computer to cross reference the data bases and signal them when it's done.

Batman grabs a dumbbell and says that they've exercised Tim's mind, so now he has to get his body into shape. Tim says he's in pretty good shape. Bruce says what they do demands discipline in both mental and physical arenas. They must develop them together without favoring one over the other. 

As they both work out, Bruce asks Tim if he's spoken with his parents about hanging out with him. Tim says he doesn't know where they are since his father is a corporate exec as they go all over the world. They haven't called in a while. Bruce asks if that happens often. Tim says they're so busy they probably forget. He says they've been having problems too. They've been fighting recently and were hoping this trip would make things work. If they don't, Tim is worried about a separation. Bruce offers to help in any way he can when the computer goes off.

They see a list of names and Fraser's name stands out. Bruce angrily steps out of the cave and into his main office. He takes Fraser's notes from earlier and sees the same toner streak. The Crimesmith's plans were printed off by Jeffrey Fraser's laser jet. Bruce angrily crumples up the papers and tells Tim that he wants a list of all property owned by Fraser and his companies. Then he wants Alfred to take him to school. Bruce is going out tonight.

Bruce gets his costume, as we're informed that the shirt is reinforced with an armor plate sewn beneath the golden shield. The cowl is both soft and solid with the crown and back also reinforced. Bruce exhales smoothly as his cowl fits into place and locks under his chin. His utility belt has rope, a medical kit and a radio in place. He checks his shelves for anything else he might need. His suit up ritual is somber and never broken, and his preparation must be thorough without room for a single mistake. As Batman sits in the Batmobile, he determines that he's ready.

Batman arrives at the room with all the cameras where Montgomery was previously. Fraser and Maya watch through their security cameras and can tell by the way Batman is looking around that he knows. Jeffery says he doesn't know how Batman found them but he activated security. They use their cameras to study Batman's vitals, but the Dark Knight smashes them all. Maya says he definitely knows. Batman looks around for some way to enter the main house.

 

Batman ponders how to get past the security of a security specialist. Just then the floor heats up as the Crimesmith is setting up a chemical reaction. The floor has been mined with phosphorus blasts. The heat from Batman's footsteps is the catalyst to make the explosions go off. Batman makes a run for it as the floor explodes behind him. One of the blasts hit him and Batman quickly rolls along the floor before the fire can get through his uniform. As Batman smothers the fire out, he realizes his own body heat will set off more explosive blasts.

Batman rolls and dodges the blasts and figures he can't stay on the ground. He tosses a spike into the wall and leaps up to grab onto it. Jeffrey wonders where they made their mistake, and it couldn't have been too big. Maya says with Batman, it doesn't have to be.

Batman says Fraser made a mistake, using the same murder method twice. He tosses some capsules of liquid helium. It'll be cold enough to temporarily lower the temperature of the chemicals used. Batman runs along the floor and leaps into a hole in the wall. The room on the other side explodes, as Batman comments on cutting it so close. 

Now inside, Batman wonders what's next since he doesn't smell any chemicals. He triggers laser security beams. Fraser tells Maya that Batman was lucky once, but not again. Batman flips and dodges the laser beams, but one of them slice him across the ankle. With Batman down, Fraser aims the laser beam towards him. 

Batman pulls out a tiny mirror and reflects the laser beam towards the water pipes above. The pipes burst and the steam covers up the view of the security cameras. Fraser says he can't see where to aim the lasers now. Maya says Batman is using the lasers to burn past the steel doors.

Maya suddenly takes over and tells Fraser to find something to amuse himself with as she doesn't need a front man. Fraser is confused. Maya tells him he does best at smiling for the cameras and to leave the real thinking to her. Maya sees that Batman is now in the maintenance room. Maya tells Fraser that everything in the building is run through their computer. She controls the lights, the gas, electricity and even the heating and cooling systems.

Batman, now with his leg taped up, climbs up towards the vent, but the nearby pipes let out steam which knock him back. Batman quickly tosses a Bat-Rope to hang onto a pipe and avoid falling from the high distance. Maya is impressed and says it's almost as if Batman ignored pain. She tells Fraser to take over the computer and do something deadly with it. She leaves, and Fraser asks where she's going. She says he knows better than to ask questions. Fraser now knows what to do.

Fraser shuts off the lights to the maintenance room, which is now filling up with methane. The gas is very combustible and starts to ignite as Batman desperately opens a vent door. Fraser says he hopes Batman's final moments to be painful ones. Batman barely makes it to the vent.

Batman makes it to the room where Fraser is in. The flames come through the vent and Fraser adds that they will ignite the chemicals in the lab. Batman grabs Fraser but he says Maya has to come with them. Fraser slips out of his coat and runs towards the flames as Batman calls out to him. Batman uses his cape to shield himself from the flames as Fraser calls out to Maya. Batman tells him that Maya left him and saved herself. He tells him to come with him. Maya is watching this through a desperate view screen. 

Fraser pulls out a gun and open fires. He says Batman and lying and Maya would never abandon him. He says that Maya took care of him. Before he can say more, Maya activates some wall mounted guns. She says confession is not good for the soul as the guns take Fraser out. The fire rages out of control and the building starts to collapse. Batman barely makes it out on time as everything explodes. 

Maya watches the scene from her car as she drives off. She sees that Batman has escaped the fire. It's over.. for now. 

My Thoughts-

So between Detective 611 and Batman 444, I was instantly hooked on Batman's more epic adventures in the comics rather than the sillier Adam West show. Being a kid of the 80's and 90's seeing stuff like Penguin gunning down a guy (in the Detective issue) and Batman taking a laser to the leg drawing blood got me pumped to see more as the stakes felt higher. Plus I always liked stories where the heroes have to get past all sort of deadly traps. 

Other than the action involving the Crimesmith's security system death traps, I did like the scene of Bruce helping Tim with his deduction skills. I do wonder what I thought about this back in the day though. I wouldn't have known about the multiple Robins at the time, nor about the death of Jason with Tim being next in line. Without any mention of Tim in the Detective issue, I was probably wondering who the hell this kid was.

The opening scene with one of the thugs calling Batman a murderer because he purposely made Monte talk despite saying he'd die if he did so was a bit odd at the end. Yes, Batman wouldn't have known, but geez, can you drop the dark mysterious act and just tell that to the police detective without dancing around the question? Of course we saw what happened, and we also saw Bruce mourn that loss of life in the privacy of his own home.. but the cops didn't see that. Asking if Batman knew the guy would die if badgered and him just saying 'he's dead' as he walks off isn't exactly denying the accusation there. I guess he's lucky he has a lot of good will with the police at this stage of his career.

Another cool scene was when Bruce was suiting up as the narration went into detail with how the costume was reinforced with armor and how it overall works. This was incredibly helpful to a Bat-newb like myself back in 1990. I also like actually seeing Batman check his shelves of gadgets and deciding which ones to use in his utility belt that night. Of course, it seems he always chooses the right ones, no matter how his adventures would pan out, but it's still cool to see.

So it turns out that the real Crimesmith was Maya. In the last issue she was called Raya and was mostly seen as Fraser's secretary.  Here she acts as his partner in crime, but suddenly takes over, showing she was the one in charge all along, while letting Fraser think he was. I was confused by the name change and went back to the last issue to make sure it wasn't a typo, but no, she was called Raya in issue 443. She was only named once or maybe twice last time where in this issue her name was way more prominent, especially with Fraser calling out to her a lot. I'm not sure if Raya was a typo, if the writers just forgot from one month to the next or if they decided last minute that Maya sounded cooler than Raya. 

 

Even though Maya got away scott free, it seemed she never came back in some later story. I guess cutting it this close with Batman, she decided it was best to just take the money and run and not risk a future encounter. For all we know Raya was a fake name used so if Batman ever decided to go after her, he wouldn't be able to track her down. I'm sure it would take more than a fake name to get away from the Dark Knight Detective, but that's the story I'm going with. I assume Batman just thought Fraser, the renown scientist, was the mastermind and just saw Maya as a regular assistant who got freaked out about Batman showing up and decided to abandon him and make a run for it. To be fair, there was no outside evidence that she was calling the shots.

Overall it was a fun issue and it took me back through memory lane. My memory for this one didn't seem as vivid for me as it was for Detective 611. Before re-reading this, the most I remembered was the fact that Maya ran out on Fraser and the panel of the laser cutting through Batman's leg.

This issue didn't have any particular ads that stood out. There are things I shown before in earlier reviews like the Acclaim wireless controllers for the NES. I wonder how good those were when compared to the regular controller, if anyone reading this ever owned them and still remembers using them. At least this issue didn't have a 16-page ad in it.