SCOURGE IDENTIFIED

by Alexander Knox

The tension has eased as the presence of Batman on the streets of Gotham has been confirmed. The caped crusader has been actively keeping the streets free from the scourge of tyranny and anarchy.

The identity of the masked vigilante has been speculated for some time, but the citizens of Gotham have rallied to ensure that he is protected and his secret remains.

The Arkham Villains Alliance has been smashed with the Commissioner last night personally leading police raids on The Riddler and apprehending them. At the same time across town the identity of the last remaining true villain The Penguin was confirmed and locked inside his hideout by The Locksmith., thus preventing any more loss of life or patients being sent to Arkham apart from the villainous duo.

Not even the powers gained through the LIBRA project could help the evil masterminds as the solidarity and power of the people took control of the streets of GOTHAM.

The rogue partner of the Joker, Harley Quinn managed to escape the raids and remain undetected however. After the Joker managed to find her disguised within the citizens group she was elevated to the evil alliance. Sensing that the crime fighters were closing in to rapid justice manouvres, she went to ground yesterday preparing her daring escape. Will we ever know the true identity of the mischievous former Arkham psychologist?

UPDATE

Psychological evaluations were handed down to the media this morning regarding the mental state of local citizen Rhiannon. Dragged away by staff from Arkham asylum the citizen went quietly, head held high. Citizens thought they may have been guilty of robin banks, or jewellery stores as a mask was found in their belongings. It is confirmed that Rhiannon was a student and a member of The Flying Graysons circus troupe. She may have had some other extra curricular activities also.

EPILOGUE

Peace has been somewhat restored to GOTHAM for now. While the corruption, manipulation and small time crime continues, the crime syndicates jostle for power on the mean streets.

At Arkham Asylum, with the JOKER, PENGUIN, RIDDLER and CATWOMAN all returned to the maximum security wing, a different struggle begins. All of the other inmates begin their own fight to be top dog. Poison Ivy, Bane, Two-Face and many more are ready to be the king of Arkham but will the Alliance of the newly captured four interrupt this plan?

Find out next time in Gotham: White Knights

ARKHAM

by Alexander Knox

There was a feeling of cooperation in Gotham today as citizens gathered around in a joint effort to resolve the underlying issues in City Hall. Citizens stood up bravely, proudly announcing their importance to the city, however the lies and deceit continued as people continued to bend the truth. Even those that were though reputable are now under suspicion for misleading the debate.

Several identities continued to refuse to divulge their true identities. Are they undercover crime figures? Are they vigilantes? Is Batman among us?

Just before City Hall closed for the day one person stood out from the crowd. A new person in town who seemed to be protected by the majority but was still lead to Arkham in the back of a psychiatric ambulance.

There was no kicking and screaming. There was no fuss as the vehicle wound its way to the night wing of the hospital.

UPDATE

Psychological evaluations were handed down to the media this morning regarding the mental fitness of local citizen, HARLEN LENO who was found gagged and bound outside the residence of Sgt Pat O’Hara last night. In a stunning twist, new evidence has found that the man was in fact the JOKER. After a call from Batman was received by Commissioner Gordon, it was confirmed that the masked vigilante had in fact confronted the man after he was found to be trying to gain entry to the house. The villainous psychopath was in possession of a hypodermic needle filled with nerve toxin.

In a scuffle with the Caped Crusader, the Joker injected himself with the toxin. Batman confirmed that he secured the Joker for when Police arrive. There are new concerns now after The Joker claimed to have planted a bomb.

“I might blow up a children’s hospital, a pet store or even… Commissioner Gordon’s own front door!” he announced as being lead away, “Ooh that rhymes”

In other news, The Mayor has been missing for over 24 hours now. He had not been seen until a short while ago when an official contacted City Hall stating that he was found in a straightjacket at Arkham Asylum.

“I’m not a grouch”, the shackled man was rambling as he was assisted into the LIBRA rehabilitation unit.

TERROR TONIGHT

A bomb has gone off in Gotham tonight. After The Joker had threatened staff at Arkham this morning that a bomb had been planted somewhere in the city and would be detonated upon his capture.

The threat became real as the blast tore through a local apartment building on Finger Lane. Luckily, only one body has been discovered, that of local reporter Vicky Vale. The first death on our streets for several weeks.

The night of terror did not end there however, as an enigmatic villain was active on the streets of Gotham.

After first publishing a riddle in this mornings paper eluding to the re-emergence of The Riddler, the anarchistic cryptic criminal visited the home of a woman who claimed to be a medium or clairvoyant.

Security footage obtained from the building show the villain pacing around the room, discussing at length the merits of the abilities they may or may not actually possess and delivering a lengthy, yet entertaining monologue.

The medium, assuring the intruder that she had a premonition about a bomb in the Town Square, begged to be heard and taken seriously, however the sceptical Riddler took no notice of the incessant ramblings of someone in “fear and regret”.

“the clairvoyant is a person capable of foreseeing the future thanks to extrasensory esoteric abilities of precognition. ….. yet you did not foresee me paying you a visit tonight. Why you even have a door bell!! Now what may I ask is the use of a doorbell for one so sensitive to future premonitions?”

The prolonged monologue sent the citizen into a frenetic decline into madness, questioning herself and the lies and deceit she had been peddling as a “psychic”.

POWER, GREED & CORRUPTION

by Alexander Knox

Terror and fear have gripped the streets of Gotham City! Its citizens fed up!

Fed up with unscrupulous officials, crooked politicians and corrupt police that terrorize the public during daylight whilst at night, psychotic villains and vigilantes roam the streets after curfew.

Arkham Asylum is at near capacity, yet we continue to be exposed to constant violence, terror and intimidation. The Gotham Police Department are engulfed in in-fighting, internal investigations and covering their own tails whilst the evil festers among us.

Town Square today became the site of an angry mob seeking justice. Seeking a hero!

What they got was a bombardment of accusations from those that are just as guilty of creating the fear and panic! Lunacy, chaos and anarchy ruled as local citizen Oscar was repeatedly accused of “not being of sound mind”. The delusional citizen claimed he was the mayor, a medium-sized clairvoyant and an honourable citizen, free from any guilt. Even as he was strapped to a wheeled gurney and led away, the man continued violently thrashing and shouting obscenities at the onlookers.

“You’ll all be sorry!” he shouted

“That’s definitely the rantings of a madman. Are these people on drugs? Are they high or just sick in the brain?” one local citizen asked.

As the curfew came into effect, the weary citizens begged for protection during the night as they returned to their dwellings wondering what the night would bring.

Question is; with Gotham’s dark knight missing in action, will we ever feel safe again?

UPDATE

Psychological evaluations were handed down to the media this morning regarding the mental fitness of local citizen, KEGAN, committed to ARKHAM asylum yesterday at City Hall. The assessment told of how the citizen was at first “inquisitive, friendly and playful”, during the assessment but ” began to display characteristics similar to that of a grimalkin”. “The ears folded backward on the head as it arched its back and became aggressive”. The patient has been held in the high security wing of the hospital and given a large ball of wool for further treatment.

Also, breaking news regarding the woman at the centre of that terrible attack last night where a pint-sized man dressed as a chicken, sprayed her with an unknown gas.

The report into the woman, known only as Ann Rabi, has been handed down this morning identifying her as a local juggler and children’s entertainer “BoBo”. Several dolls and other items were seized from her apartment. It is believed that she was searching for members of a “rogue alliance”.

The woman has been released to Arkham Island under Dr. Justin Ballantine and the “Libra” program, which aims to restore balance to patients lives including experimental transmogrification.

THE JOKER’s WILD

by Alexander Knox

The calling card of the Joker was found last night at the site of yet another attack on the streets of Gotham. Police and paramedics were called to Otisburg last night where local citizen Harlan Leno had been attacked and left bound and gagged.

It is alleged that he had been injected with a non-lethal venom which not only disfigures the face and results in gelastic seizures, (uncontrollable maniacal laughter) but also results in a condition called “Risus Sardonicus“.

As paramedics secured the man, he “kicked and convulsed wildly, shouting obscenities and rambling on about “60 spaces”, “red balloons” and “going insane”, all whilst still laughing, according to neighbour Mrs Verbergen. He was later taken to nearby Arkham Asylum where he will be evaluated later today.

The villainous Joker escaped from the asylum earlier this month, aided by Dr Harleen Quinzel, a former psychologist at Arkham. This is the first sighting of the psychotic villain but will it be the last?

“With Batman missing in action, is it any wonder that the villains are ruling the streets, Injecting citizens with their crazy juice?” That’s what local citizens are asking.

As tensions continue to rise in Gotham, sightings of the elusive winged warrior have been few and far between recently, with several citizens believing he has gone into hiding, has retired or has met with foul play, however Sgt Pat O’Hara suggests that “perhaps he is just busy?”

WHO AM I? A RIDDLE FOR YOU ALL

Tomorrow I am surely here,

yesterday I am found as well.

Today I am gone.

Who am I?

ARKHAM ASYLUM: TALES OF MADNESS

by Alexander Knox

Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum has a long and brutal history, beginning in the early 1900’s when its own architect became mentally unwell and hacked his workers to death with an axe. He was convicted and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the same asylum he had been building.

Since that time, Arkham has long been a place of terror for the criminally insane. However, it also houses innocent members of society, set-up by corrupt officials to be long forgotten within its padded walls out of “harms way”.

In Gotham City yesterday, a mob of seven unknown people dressed in white coats and masks dragged two citizens, kicking and screaming through the Town Square to City Hall. After the closing, Mayor Julius Leibemann cast a critical eye over both men, assured that they were not of sound mind, with mistruths, elusive answers and erratic behaviour.

Soon after, the waling of sirens echoed through the wet streets, as interns arrived from Arkham. Securing the citizen, known only as Kegan, in shackles and and removing him from society for “psychiatric evaluation” at the mayors behest.

UPDATE

Breaking news regarding the incident last night where a local Medeco citizen was attacked with an unknown yellow gas discharged from an umbrella, the psychiatric evaluation of the man has been handed down this morning. It reveals that the identity of the man targeted by The Penguin, was in fact a local man named Giovanni “John” Zatara. The man was not an associate of any known underworld figures.

Mr Zatara has since been placed into an Arkham Island rehabilitation center under the supervision of Dr. Justin Ballantine, who shall study the the effects of energy transmogrification on psychiatric patients.

PENGUIN OR CHICKEN?

by Vicky Vale

It would seem that Gotham citizen Oswald Copperpot (also known as The Penguin) is tormenting Gotham, one citizen at a time.

Dressed as an over-sized yellow chicken suit, the villain attacked a local citizen just after 10pm last night, on Bleake Island . An off duty nurse saw the event unfold, telling reporters that “the chicken man was parading around like it was Halloween. Next minute this young woman approached smiling and joking with pint sized character before she was attacked”. The unknown woman, thought to be named Ann Rabi, became the second victim in two nights to be sprayed with a yellow gas. Like the previous attack, it instantly transformed the citizen into, what doctors say is a “delusional psychotic state, experiencing violent hallucinations”.

The woman was taken by the off duty Nurse to Arkham Asylum where she will be evaluated today. The report is due to be released tomorrow.

THE PENGUIN SIGHTED

by Vicky Vale

From the bowels of the Gotham City sewers rose one of the city’s most feared villains.
With his trademark umbrella and monocle, The Penguin was last seen seen on CCTV, near the Mercy Street Bridge.
Several minutes later a man was leaving his apartment on Schlage Lane, Medeco, carrying a bag, when what witnesses say was a “short, rotund man” allegedly sprayed him with an “unknown yellow gas”, before disappearing into a storm water drain.

The resident, known only to GCPD as Michael, seemed to be suffering from “an abnormal condition of the mind”. He became erratic, violent, delusional and then psychotic. He was taken away to ARKHAM ASYLUM for psychiatric evaluation.

An eyewitness who only wanted to be known as Diane, was walking her cat nearby when she saw the terrifying scene. “I cannot believe the brazenness of the man! He just walked up to him and… I thought he was going to stab him with a sword, but he pulled out an umbrella. Next thing you know this yellow haze filled the air around them and he fell to the floor. The little man just walked away and went into the storm drain”

The Penguin escaped from ARKHAM ASYLUM in May last year after a daring breakout of some of this cities most feared criminals, including the Catwoman, The Riddler and the JOKER!

Neither Mayor Leibemann, nor Commissioner Gordon were available for comment although local citizens are wondering “Where is BATMAN?”