 The first Anarky story , " Anarky in Gotham City , Part 1 : Letters to the Editor " , appeared in Detective Comics <unk> , in November 1989 . Lonnie Machin is introduced as " Anarky " as early as his first appearance in Detective Comics <unk> , withholding his origin story for a later point . He is established as an uncommonly philosophical and intelligent twelve @-@ year @-@ old . Lonnie Machin made his debut as " Anarky " by responding to complaints in the newspaper by attacking the offending sources , such as the owner of a factory whose byproduct waste is polluting local river water . Anarky and Batman ultimately come to blows , and during their brief fight , Batman deduces that Anarky is actually a young child . During this first confrontation , Anarky is aided by a band of homeless men , including Legs , a homeless cripple who becomes loyal to him and would assist him in later appearances . After being caught , Lonnie is locked away in a juvenile detention center . 
