First issue of the series to be set in the then-present day continuity and the first issue to crossover with the other Batman titles. Faces (#28–30) By Matt Wagner Two-Face takes over a small island with plans to create a society in his own scarred image. Family (#31) By James D. Hudnall and Brent Anderson After Bruce forces Alfred to take a vacation to Corto Maltese, he must rescue him from kidnappers. Note: First regular DC Universe appearance of the island nation of Corto Maltese, which was introduced in the pages of the out-of-continuity Batman: The Dark Knight Returns miniseries. Blades (#32–34) By James Robinson and Tim Sale While Batman is distracted with a serial killer who targets senior citizens, a new vigilante, the swashbuckling Cavalier, begins his own war on crime. Note: The Cavalier who appears in the story is a new character, previously never seen before, and has no ties with the more commonly known version of the character. Destiny (#35–36) By Bo Hampton and Mark Kneece Batman meets another costumed vigilante from Norway who dresses like a Viking, and learns an ancient tale of a Norse hero known as the Bat Man. Mercy (#37) By Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Colin MacNeil In his early days, Batman trained a female rookie cop, Mercedes "Mercy" Stone, to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Five years later, he must rescue her from a pit-fighting ring. Legend of the Dark Mite (#38) By Alan Grant and Kevin O'Neill A junkie criminal turned Arkham Asylum inmate, Bob Overdog, claims that the events leading up to his imprisonment were orchestrated by an imp from another dimension (the titular Bat-Mite) who idolizes and attempts to emulate Batman. Note: The first Post-Crisis appearance of Bat-Mite. Mask (#39–40) By Bryan Talbot Batman wakes up in a hospital bed surrounded by doctors who tell him that he is an alcoholic tramp who dresses in a batsuit made of garbage. He wonders whether it is some sort of hallucination, or is his life as Batman the real illusion. Sunset (#41) By Tom Joyner PhD, Keith S. Wilson, and Jim Fern While fleeing the police, Batman encounters an actress-turned-vampire who was thought to have died 40 years ago and Batman is hypnotized into doing her will. Note: Inspired by early Batman stories involving Batman facing vampires in the 1930s. The plotline also deliberately parallels the classic film Sunset Boulevard. Hothouse