Batman (1990) # 445

By Mark Rodriguez

We continue my look back to the actual Batman comics I purchased back during my childhood. The first Batman issue I bought was issue 444, but that was part 2 of a 2-part story. This was before the days of going to an actual comic shop and back-ordering a missed issue. This was when you just bought comics at a grocery store or pharmacy. This is my first full Batman story, a three part tale that takes the Caped Crusader to Russia. Let's check it out.

"When the Earth Dies! Chapter One: Red Square! Bloody Square!" opens with narration explaining how Batman knows every bit of the city. He knows every street, every back alley, every sewer, from the business district, the parks and the ghettos. They are all part of his city to protect. Just then Batman leaps into a dark alley to stop a villain named Slasher from killing another victim.

Slasher has sharp weapons attached to his arms, a blade on one hand and a spinning buzzsaw on the other. Slasher says these 'people' are dirt and pestilence and he will cleanse their city of its vermin. He swings at Batman with the buzzsaw but misses. Batman punches him in the face but Slasher manages to slice him across the chest with his blade arm. The killer takes this chance to escape through the sewers.

Rather than follow, Batman runs in another direction. He knows the sewer pathways and he knows where that one ends. Slasher is running through the sewer tunnels and Batman appears in front of him. Batman says the city doesn't belong to the murderer, but to its people. He knocks him out and leaves him in the sewer.

Elsewhere, in Russia, police detective Nikita Krakov gets waken up at 4:23 in the morning to investigate a murder, a man found floating in the river, having been cut in half. A man named Dimitri tells the detective that the victim was Politburo Member Yuri Grearoff, number three on 'his' list. Krakov doesn't want to hear about 'that man' and 'his list' (Chris Jericho??) ever again and asks if the KGB has been alerted. Dimitri says the KGB got involved the moment Yuri was identified. Krakov walks off saying maybe he can finally get a full night's sleep.

Later on, Gotham City, Commissioner Gordon explains to Mr. Kesegan that they can't just ask Batman to fly out to the Soviet Union. He explains Batman is more of a freelancer that cooperates with the police sometimes. Kesegan says if they can't order Batman, perhaps he can be enticed. He asks Gordon if he remembers the KGBeast. Gordon says they haven't replaced half the men he killed.

 

Kesegan explains that the Beast had a protege named Gregor Dosynski. He vanished two months after the Beast was defeated. They received a letter from him two weeks ago. The letter says that Anatoli Knyazey was trained by his government and they turned his back on him. They worked with the Americans to stop and capture him. He states that they have grown weak and have adopted the ways of the Americans. The Beast had once targeted ten Americans to die, so he will target ten 'Soviet traitors' to die. He says these ten have made the country weak so they must die to make the country strong again. Kesegan says that so far three of the men were already killed in gruesome ways.

Batman is hiding under the roof and listening to the whole conversation. Gordon asks why he wants Batman. Kesegan says Batman was the only one that could stop the Beast, so he might be the only one that can stop the Demon. Dosynki is now calling himself the NKVDemon. Batman swings off into the night.

Later on, Bruce tells Alfred to arrange a Visa for the Soviet Union since he plans to open a division of Wayne Industries there. Alfred asks if it's an actual business trip or if he should pack his 'grey and black' suit. Bruce tells him to include it, since he has unfinished business and some mistakes to fix. Alfred asks about Tim Drake, who is eager to leap into action. Bruce says he won't send an inexperienced kid into the field again. He asks Alfred to find out more about Tim's parents. There's something strange about his parents and he wants to find out what that is.

Back to Russia, a couple, Vasily and Marsala attend St. Basil's church. Vasily is one of the party members. As the couple admires the paintings in a corner of the building, someone starts spilling gasoline into the room. The mystery man says this religion goes against what they believe. He kicks a light stand over, the candles making contact with the gasoline. The ill-fated couple burn to death as their poor kids run in. The only thing they can do is watch.

Elsewhere, Bruce Wayne arrives in the Russian airport. A woman named Anna Petrova goes to meet him and show him the manufacturing plants for his business. Boris will tend to his luggage. As they get into the car, Bruce says he'll need time to freshen up and possibly take a nape since he had a long flight. Anna offers to wait and show him the sights when he wakes up. Bruce says he might be a while and can call when he's ready. She insists on waiting.

Bruce sneaks out but Anna and Boris catch him. Bruce says he was looking for someplace to get some dinner. He invites her to join him and she brings Boris along too. They take him to a restaurant where Americans and Italians go. Bruce says he can eat American food any time and would rather try some of theirs. Just then Bruce is recognized. It's Vicki Vale, also in town since she is working on photo essays in the Soviet Union.

Bruce introduces Anna to Vicki and vice versa. Anna explains she's from the Bureau of Economic Development. Vicki wants another dinner date when they return to Gotham. He offers a date the following day but Anna reminds him that he has business to tend to. Bruce says he'll see Anna the following afternoon, but she says she will be at the hotel at eight in the morning. Bruce finally excuses himself. Vicki likes Bruce's looks but considers him to be very aloof. Anna says that there seems to be more to Bruce Wayne. At the hotel we see Bruce pull out his famous costume.

Batman studied the most he can about the Moscow streets since he was on the flight. He studied a lot but he doesn't know enough of the city the same way one would if he actually lived and grew up there. He sneaks into Nikita's home. He said he studied his files and knows he's a good cop. Nikita knows he's Batman from the photos in the news. The news say he might be a criminal, but he's heard different. Batman says he stops criminals. They shake hands as they are on the same time. Nikita asks if he's there for the Demon. Batman is surprised he knew. Nikita says he doubts he's in town for their common black marketers and juvenile delinquents.   

Nikita knows some of Dosynski's associates that speak English that Batman can persuade since he can go above police procedure. He warns Batman to be careful since he has no sanction in Russia. Batman thanks him but says he's used to it.

Tim is at his dorm when he finds out that Bruce had left to Moscow. With his family also out of the country, Tim asks Alfred is he head over to train for the weekend. It seems his parents are doing something involving medical supplies but his father doesn't talk much about it. Just then a girl knocks on his door. Her name is Rebecca Curley and she just started so she can't find her room. Tim says the girls dorm is across the street and her grade should be on the top floor. The girl thanks him and heads off. Tim thinks about how Bruce is out of town and Alfred is asking about his parents. He wonders what they're up to.

The following morning, Bruce and Anna see five different buildings. Bruce says he's tired and wishes to continue this the next morning, and for once Anna agrees.

That night, two men, Yakov and Nikolay,  are waiting for Gregor at a cemetery. Yakov is afraid of the cemetery and says this is where demons appear. Just then Batman leaps in and starts to fight with Nikolay. Yakov thinks Batman is the wolfwizard Volkh, a powerful and blood thirsty werewolf, wizard and warrior. The man tells Batman not to hurt him and he'll do anything. Batman asks if he knows him. The man seriously thinks he is Volkh, and he has always believed in him and all the legends about him.

Batman says he knows Yakov knows where Gregor Dosynski is, despite what he told police. Batman tells him to tell him that the man that defeated the Beast is now after him. He will tell him where he can find Batman. The Dark Knight warns that if he doesn't tell him exactly as he says, heaven itself won't save Yakov from him.

Later on, Yakov is in a cannon and Gregor tells him that the person he saw wasn't a demon, but a bat. This is the bat that destroyed his master, and now he will kill him painfully.

The man, covered up by a robe, meets up with Batman at a place called Lobnoe Mesto. It was a place known as the Place of Skulls and a place of executions. The NKVDemon removes his cloak to show his demonic looking form. He says this will be the perfect burial ground for Batman.

 

The fight begins as Batman dodges a punch. The Demon explains he was trained by the Beast and given special steroids to make him faster and stronger than any man. Batman elbows the back of his head, but it has no effect. The Demon says his skin was hardened and his nerves were deadened so he can barely feel pain. The Demon punches and kicks Batman to the ground, completely overpowering him.

Batman is down and the Demon pulls out a knife. The Demon lunges at him and Batman rolls out of the way. The Demon says he expected nothing less since only a master would have been able to defeat the KGBeast. He tosses the knife and it pins Batman's cape to the wall behind him. The Demon approaches as Batman tries to pull the knife out of the stone wall. The villain says once he kills Batman he will kill the remaining traitors. He chokes Batman and he tries to knee him in the gut. The Demon says he can't fell pain but soon America will when their country gets stronger. He continues to monologue as Batman wraps his legs around his neck. 

 

The Demon struggles as Batman chokes him with his legs. He finally lets go of Batman's neck when suddenly searchlights hit them. Nikita orders his police force to open fire, but only on the Demon. The Demon realizes this wasn't the one on one grudge match he was expecting. Batman says he's not there to play games. He doesn't fight for the thrill of battle, but only when there is no other choice. Sure Batman, tell that to all the muggers you just beat up on a daily basis.

The Demon says he won't be taken this way, or at all. He tackles Batman and uses him as a human shield so the police won't shoot. The Demon tosses Batman aside and says this trickery shows how weak they have become, especially since they need an American to lead them. He gets away through the sewers. Batman ponders that the Demon knows this city. Every street, every intersection, every sewer tunnel. This is the Demon's city and he will do whatever he must do to save it from itself.

 

My Thoughts-

One of the first thing I remembered about this story, before I picked up again after 20 or so years, were the narrative bookends. It opened with Batman in full control of Gotham as he knows every street corner, every sewer pathway and so forth. It ends with Batman not just in another city but a whole other country as the villain now has the home-field advantage. Batman might have read up on the Moscow streets but it's not the same as being a native.

I liked the story and certain parts, like Kesegan thinking Gordon just has Batman on call and can order him to do whatever. Then we have Bruce trying to find some time to be alone so he can dress as Batman during his business trip. I did think it would be odd that Bruce was in Moscow at the same time Batman would be, but so far the only people that know Batman was lurking around are Nikita, the Demon and his flunkies. You also have to consider that Bruce wouldn't be the only American visitor in Moscow. After all, if Batgirl or Supergirl showed up, I doubt anyone would look towards Vicki Vale who also happened to be in Moscow during that time.

One thing I was surprised to find out was that this was the one and only appearance of the villain The Slasher. I was a new reader back in the day so I figured he was one of the many bad guys Batman has faced over the decades before I decided to pick up a comic. I mean, Batman already knew the guy by name. I felt the design, coupled with the knife and buzzsaw arm would make him worth seeing again, but I doubt he'll be making a comeback tour in 2026. 

The other odd thing was that Batman just knocked him out in the sewer and.... left. Like, he didn't tie him up for the police or anything. What's stopping him from resuming his killing spree once he wakes back up. Maybe we can assume Batman called the cops and told them where to find him... but that is assuming too much. 

I liked the fight between Batman and the Demon, as we see that he's quite the challenge. The Demon is faster and stronger than a normal man, has hardened skin and can't feel pain. Even if Batman landed a few hits, the Demon can't feel them so there's no effect. Regardless, he's not resistant to getting choked out, which Batman almost did with that head-scissors choke hold. Batman having the Russian police on stand-by showed that he was there to wrap things up quickly and efficiently, and not just wanting to test his skills against the KGBeast's protege. I wonder what would have happened to the 'business venture' if Batman did capture the Demon on that second night in town? Would he have just told Anna that Moscow wasn't what he was looking for business-wise and just bounce?

The letters are fun to read, as this time the readers go over the third part of A Lonely Place of Dying (Batman issue 441) where it was clear that Tim Drake was going to be the next Robin. Opinions are mixed. Most people like Tim, as he seems more likeable than Jason, but one reader felt he was too ordinary and hasn't shown any impressive feats to be the next Robin in line. One person literally put 'no. no. no. no. no. no' as his letter and would much rather have Nightwing be Batman's partner than another Robin. It's fun looking back at opinions of Tim being on the verge of becoming Batman after several decades of him being Robin and Red Robin. One funny thing was a reader pointed out that Tim was accidentally called Jeff somewhere in issue 441. The editor admits it was a mistake and at one point the new Robin's civilian name was going to be Jeff.

There were a lot of fun ads that really take me back. There weren't just ads for Nintendo games, but also for the Atari 7800. Oddly enough there were ads for both Double Dragon and Double Dragon II in the same comic. If you count that Double Dragon was shown as one of the games in the Atari 7800 ad, that's three times that Double Dragon is advertised in this comic.