Greg Capullo

After his deadliest battle to date, Batman is bruised, battered and scarred. And forever changed. Now, on the streets of Gotham, in place of the cape and cowl roams an 8-foot mechanized suit of armor. More powerful than ever before, Batman's pursuit of justice has never been more swift or efficient. But who is the new Dark Knight? And why is he... or she here? In the most shocking chapter in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's #1 New York Times best-selling...

"When two of the galaxy's most ancient and powerful races clash, it's up to Earth's Mightiest Heroes to play cosmic peacekeeper! With Earth in the crossfire, the Avengers are drawn into the conflict--and end up as alien invaders on war-torn worlds of wonder! Assemblers East and West are embroiled in an epic too big for even two Avengers titles--one that will shake the team to its very foundations! Super heroes from three galaxies clash in a war filled...

The bums gather to commiserate on their lives and share stories and philosophies about their religious beliefs. Spawn diplomatically joins into the conversation and avoids heating the age old debate of God versus the Devil. Later, in another part of the alley, a gang of bums plot to rob and kill one of their own. When Spawn steps in to question their motives, they open fire on him. He collapses, wondering why his costume isn't defending him against...

When Chief Banks dismisses Sam and Twitch, the duo heads to the press with evidence linking the chief to child killer Billy Kincaid. Wynn, alerted to the story, eliminates all trace of his involvement and lets Banks take the fall. Cornered, Banks takes his own life. Spawn slowly rejuvenates himself after surviving the Curse's torture. Getting stronger, he gradually makes his way back to New York.

The homeless distract the Redeemer while Spawn recovers. As he fights, Spawn gradually realizes that his foes powers are being depleted. With a final blast, he downs the Redeemer, who is transported back to his heavenly creators. Afterward, Spawn returns to Simmonsville and destroys this reminder of a happier time. He accepts that sorrow and loneliness have become his fate.

While the police search Spawn's alleys looking for Cyan's kidnapper, Wynn directs a surveillance of his own on Terry with orders to find out why the police are looking for him. Spawn then finds Cyan and the Clown who taunts him into a battle. After Spawn uses up a portion of his energy to destroy the Clown, he brings Cyan to her parents.

As Cy-Gor rampages, the Curse prepares to get to the root of Spawn's evil by studying his body. Left alone, Spawn severs his own hand and uses it to crack the tank holding his uniform. The uniform escapes and goes berserk as it re-integrates its host while attacking the Curse, leading him to blow up the entire complex.

By morphing his symbiotic suit to match the soldiers, Spawn infiltrates the compound where Wynn has reinforced security. He successfully severs communication and power systems to cripple the battalions, leaving a terrified Wynn trapped. Spawn threatens Wynn with the promise to undermine his operations until nothing remains of his international empire. In the alley, Sam and Twitch get no information from the bums about Spawn. Cog then fills them in...

Twitch is able to break free from his captor, the Freak, when he is distracted by Spawn's sudden appearance. Then, as Sam, Twitch and Spawn struggle to stop the slaughter in the alley, they feel their curious bond intensifying. Spawn tracks down the Freak, where he is drowned by the worms and insects. Meanwhile, Wanda again witnesses Cyan's psychotic behavior when she loses her soother and necklace out the car window.

A shaken Jason Wynn tells his security forces about a "terrorist threat" on his life and they reinforce the area. Meanwhile, Spawn's face has healed itself. Although startled and confused by this new turn of events, Al forms plans to further intimidate Wynn to ensure Wanda's safety and to win her back. Later, Cog counsels Spawn to get him to reconsider his decisions. Elsewhere in the city, Sam and Twitch are pondering how some of their previous cases...