Batman Annual Vol 1 19

From DC Database

"Scarecrow - Masters of Fear"

Gallery

Batman Annual Vol 1 #19
October, 1995

Executive Editor

Jenette Kahn

Cover Artists

Bret Blevins

Writers

Doug Moench

Pencilers

Bret Blevins

Inkers

Mike Manley

Colourists

Stuart Chaifetz

Letterers

Albert DeGuzman

Editors

Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Denny O'Neil

Previous Issue

Next Issue

Batman Annual #18

Batman Annual #20

Appearing in "Scarecrow - Masters of Fear"

Featured Characters:

• Batman

Supporting Characters:

• Captain James Gordon

Villains:

• Scarecrow (Also in flashback)
• Bo Griggs (First appearance)
• Sherry Squires (Only appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

• Avram Bramowitz (Only appearance; dies)
• Banion (Behind the scenes)
• Craw
• James B. Fontana
• Joe Chill (as an illusion only)
• Joker (Cameo)
• Martha Wayne (as an illusion only)
• Raymond Cowper (Only appearance; dies)
• Thomas Wayne (as an illusion only)
• Two-Face (Cameo)

Locations:

• Gotham County

• Arkham Asylum
• Gotham City
• Gotham City Police Headquarters
• Gotham University
• Park Row (as an illusion only)

Items:

• Batsuit
• Batarang
• Batrope
• Bat-Signal
• Scarecrow's Fear Toxin

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Scarecrow - Masters of Fear"

Ten Years Ago
Batman responds to a signal from police captain James Gordon. They meet atop the roof of police headquarters and Gordon informs him that the Dean of Gotham University and his four regents had been murdered. The victims all suffered from cardiac arrest, their faces displaying looks of abject horror. They had been literally scared to death. The only clue left at the crime scene was a single piece of straw. Batman takes the evidence and begins investigating the case.

Batman sneaks into the records room at Gotham University and learns about a former professor of psychology named Jonathan Crane. Crane had been dismissed after a violent demonstration in the study of fear resulted in the injury of a student. Batman finds the street address to Crane's apartment and goes to investigate. While there, his foot catches on a tripwire, which activates a spring-loaded scarecrow dummy to leap out at him. Batman kicks the head off the scarecrow, but upon closer inspection, finds himself exposed to a powerful hallucinogen that cause him to relive the death of his parents. Though caught off guard, Batman succeeds in escaping the apartment just as a timed explosive detonates.

Jonathan Crane meanwhile, having taken up the costumed identity of the Scarecrow, attempts to make his mark on the Gotham underworld. Using his fear gas as an incentive, he convinces industrialist James B. Fontana to hire him to eliminate his competitors. The Scarecrow then begins targeting the three men whose business interests are threatening Fontana's livelihood.

Batman later reconvenes for a second meeting with Captain Gordon. The two exchange information and Batman learns about the Joker's attacks against Fontana's rivals. He sets a trap for the Scarecrow and the two soon come to blows. The Scarecrow sprays his fear toxin at Batman, but the dark knight detective has taken precautions against such an attack and defeats him. The Scarecrow is then admitted to Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane where he shares a cell with other notorious patients such as the Joker and Two-Face.

Notes

• This issue was published between Batman #522 and Batman #523. Issue #523 begins a two-part story-arc centering on the Scarecrow.

• Earliest chronological appearance of the Scarecrow; origin revealed in multiple flashbacks in this issue.

• This issue establishes that the Scarecrow is the fourth villain in Batman's famed "rogues gallery" that Batman has ever encountered. He is preceded by the Joker, Two-Face and Professor Hugo Strange.

• Includes representations of characters created by Washington Irving as seen in the short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

• Bo Griggs appears next in Batman #523.

• According to the timeline presented in the back of Zero Hour #0, the events from this issue take place approximately nine to ten years before the events of Zero Hour.

Trivia

• No trivia.

See Also

• Discuss Batman Annual Vol 1 19 on the forums
• Cover gallery for the Batman Annual series

Recommended Reading

• Batman Titles

• Batman (Volume 1)
• Detective Comics
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat
• Batman: Gotham Knights
• Batman Confidential
• Batman (One-Shots)
• Nightwing (Ongoing Title)
• Robin (Ongoing Title)
• Batgirl (Volume 1)
• Catwoman (Volume 2 • Volume 3)

Links and References

• No external links.

Year One Annual This issue was part of the 1995 Year One Annuals crossover event, in which every annual was an origin story. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Annuals and Year One Annuals category. Checklist Action Comics Annual #7 • Adventures of Superman Annual #7 • Aquaman Annual #1 • Azrael Annual #1 • Batman Annual #19 • Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #5 • Batman: Shadow of the Bat Annual #3 • Catwoman Annual #2 • Deathstroke the Terminator Annual #4 • Detective Comics Annual #8 • Doomsday Annual #1 • Flash Annual #8 • Green Arrow Annual #7 • Green Lantern Annual #4 • Guy Gardner Annual #1 • Hawkman Annual #2 • Justice League America Annual #9 • Legionnaires Annual #2 • Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #6 • Lobo Annual #3 • New Titans Annual #11 • Ray Annual #1 • Robin Annual #4 • Shadowdragon Annual #1 • Steel Annual #2 • Sovereign Seven Annual #1 • Spectre Annual #1 • Superboy Annual #2 • Superman Annual #7 • Superman: Man of Steel Annual #4 • Wonder Woman Annual #4