Batman #446

WHEN THE EARTH DIES PART 2 - UNDERWORLDS

VF/NM

The Moscow Police and Batman have organized a close vigilance of Lenin Stadium, where another of the The Demon's possible victims is among the audience to see a hockey match. While the police have their eyes close to the victim, Batman investigates the area and eventually finds one of the players dead in the lockers, realizing that the Demon is hiding in plain sight.  Batman alerts the police, but the warning comes too late as The Demon kills his intended victim with an explosive puck. After his mission is accomplished, The Demon starts his getaway and after running past the police enforcers, he goes to the nearest subway station, where he takes a train and is followed closely by Batman. Inside, The Demon takes an innocent woman as a hostage and forces Batman to jump off the moving train to save the woman's live. Batman's fall is hard and when he is found by the police, he is taken to a hospital, to have his wounds treated.  However, the doctors tell Police Chief Nikita Krakov that the Batman has apparently gone into a self-induced catatonic state to prevent further damage to his body. As soon as the doctors and the police leave Batman alone in the hospital room, the Dark Knight rises and leaves the place through the window. The next morning, Bruce bandages himself, much to his assistant, Anna's surprise.  That night, Batman meets with Krakov again, who is shocked at Batman's endurance and determination. Krakov then provides Batman with the name of another possible victim of The Demon and this time, they are determined to stop the killer. During a special international dinner, the Police and Batman have tighten the security inside in order to stop The Demon. Everything seems to be perfectly normal until the place is attacked from the outside by mercenaries dropping from hot air balloons. Krakov sends all his men to fight the attackers, but Batman deduces that this is all part of The Demon's plan. The killer reveals himself as one of the guests inside the dinner, in disguise and he shoots his victim, although the man doesn't die and Batman reveals himself as another guest in disguise and confronts the killer.  Batman and The Demon fight inside the place and they take their combat to an upper catwalk, where Batman uses his Batrope to attach the Demon's arm to his own. The fight continues, but Batman's previous injuries prevent him from fighting at the top of his abilities and The Demon gets the upper hand in the fight, pushing Batman off the ledge of the catwalk and cutting the Batrope, after the two of them ended in a similar situation as Batman had during his confrontation with the KGBeast. Batman falls from the catwalks as the police in the ground flloor can only watch, helplessly.