- "Ladies. Gentlemen. You have eaten well. You've eaten Gotham's wealth. Its spirit. Your feast is nearly over. From this moment on -- none of you are safe."
- ―Batman
| "War Is Declared" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Batman | |
| Title: | "War Is Declared" |
| Storyline: | "Year One" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 405 |
| Cover price: | .75 |
| Cover date: | March, 1987 |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jenette Kahn |
| Ex. Ed: | Dick Giordano |
| Writers: | Frank Miller |
| Pencilers: | David Mazzucchelli |
| Inkers: | David Mazzucchelli |
| Cover artists: | David Mazzucchelli |
| Cover inker: | David Mazzucchelli |
| Cover colorist: | Richmond Lewis |
| Cover letterer: | Todd Klein |
| Colorists: | Richmond Lewis |
| Letterers: | Todd Klein |
| Editors: | Denny O'Neil |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Batman #404 |
| Next: | Batman #406 |
"War is Declared" is the title to the 405th issue of the first Batman ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics. The story was written by Frank Miller with artwork and inks by David Mazzucchelli. It was colored by Richmond Lewis and lettered by Todd Klein. The story was edited by Denny O'Neil. This issue shipped with a March, 1987 cover date and carries a cover price of .75 cents per copy.
Synopsis[]
An escaped mental patient named Albert Blume has taken a child hostage and is threatening to kill her. Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb sends SWAT commander Branden to the scene of the apartment to take care of the situation. Lieutenant James Gordon hears about the maneuver and intercepts Branden before he can do anything rash. Jim enters the building alone and manages to single-handedly defeat Blume without causing him undue harm. He knows that if Branden's team went in, the results would have been disastrous.
A few nights later, Bruce Wayne makes his first official debut as Batman. He attacks a group of teenage punks stealing electronics and intercepts them on an apartment fire escape. The fight proves difficult and one teen nearly loses his life. However, he succeeds in apprehending all three and promises to improve his technique before venturing out for a second time.
Over the course of several weeks, rumors of a "Bat-Man" begin circulating all throughout Gotham City. Even Detective Arnold Flass experiences a chance encounter with the mysterious vigilante.
Lieutenant Gordon holds a meeting with the other cops and addresses the Batman situation. Flass gives his jaded and biased eyewitness account of the Batman, but neglects to include details involving his own illicit affairs at the time of the encounter.
Four nights later, the Batman breaks into the mansion of crime boss Carmine Falcone. Falcone is hosting a party with several key city patrons including Commissioner Loeb and the mayor. Batman throws a smoke grenade through the window and warns them that from this point forward none of them are safe. Following the event, Loeb appoints Gordon the lead investigator in a special task force designed to bring down the Batman.
Gordon begins investigating a chain of suspects – a chain that takes him all of the way to the District Attorney's office. He interviews assistant D.A. Harvey Dent and even begins to suspect him of being the Batman. However, Dent has a solid alibi for his whereabouts and Gordon crosses him off the suspect list. In truth, Dent is keenly aware of the Batman's presence and has been secretly aiding him.
Later, Gordon and detective Sarah Essen are nearly killed by a runaway truck driver asleep at the wheel. Batman arrives on the scene and Gordon witnesses him rescue a wino who has fallen in the path of the out of control vehicle. He commands Batman to halt, but the vigilante darts down an alleyway. SWAT officers arrive and open fire, but Gordon begins to suspect that the Batman is not the evil creature that he read about in his files.
Batman runs inside of a derelict building for shelter. Commissioner Loeb consults with the SWAT officers over the radio and authorizes the use of deadly force. Chief Branden uses a helicopter to firebomb the apartment building.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Harvey Dent
- Sarah Essen (1st appearance)
Villains
- Albert Blume
- Arnold Flass
- Branden
- Carmine Falcone
- Gillian B. Loeb
- Jefferson Skeevers (In flashback only)
Minor characters
- Barbara Eileen Gordon (1st appearance)
- Charlie
- Feck
- Marian
- Stan Merkel
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
- Falcone Manor (1st appearance)
- Gotham City
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- Batman was created by comic book writer Bill Finger and graphic artist Bob Kane. He first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May, 1939. He received his first ongoing series, Batman, in the Spring, 1940 beginning with Batman #1.
- According to DC Releases #34, this issue shipped to retailers on November 18th, 1986.
- This issue is reprinted in the Batman: Year One trade paperback collection, which was published in October, 1988. It is also reprinted in the Batman: Year One Deluxe hardcover edition, released in April, 2005.
- The tagline for this issue is, "He has trained and planned and waited eighteen years. He thinks he's ready..."
- Scenes from this issue were adapted into the Batman: Year One animated movie, which was directed by Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery and released direct-to-video on October 18th, 2011.
- This story is the official canonical re-imagining of the origin of Batman in Post-Crisis continuity. This is the earliest chronological appearance of Bruce Wayne as Batman.
- This is the earliest chronological appearance of Batarangs and Batman's utility belt in Post-Crisis continuity.
- Barbara Eileen Gordon remarks that "(You) don't have to go to Metropolis... for a Man of Steel", indicating that Superman is already active as a super-hero by the time Bruce Wayne first dons the costume of the Batman.
- Gillian B. Loeb can be seen wearing a Mickey Mouse badge at Carmine Falcone's party. Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character and the mascot of Walt Disney Productions.
- Reference is made to Arkham Asylum in this issue. Albert Blume is an escaped mental patient from Arkham.