Contents 1 Appearing in "Cataclysm, Part 1: Castles Built on Sand" 2 Synopsis for "Cataclysm, Part 1: Castles Built on Sand" 3 Notes 4 Trivia 5 See Also 6 Recommended Reading 7 Links and References

Appearing in "Cataclysm, Part 1: Castles Built on Sand"

Featured Characters:

•  Batman 

Supporting Characters:

• Alfred Pennyworth
• Anarky
• Gotham City Police Department

• Harvey Bullock

• Oracle

Villains:

• Billy Wildman (Only appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

• Martha Wayne (In a photograph only)
• Thomas Wayne (In a photograph only)

Locations:

• Gotham City

• Batcave (Destroyed in this issue)
• Gotham City Midtown Mall
• Gotham City Police Headquarters (Destroyed in this issue)
• Gotham Clock Tower
• Wayne Manor (Destroyed in this issue)

Items:

• Batcomputer
• Giant Penny
• Jason Todd's Costume

Vehicles:

• Batmobile
  
  

Synopsis for "Cataclysm, Part 1: Castles Built on Sand"

Batman is running a search in the Batcave for a criminal named Billy Wildman. Suddenly the seismic sensors go berserk and all hell breaks loose. There is a massive earthquake that runs straight through Gotham City, destroying many buildings and tearing the foundations asunder. The disaster area is huge, and there are many violent deaths in the chaos and rubble. This disturbance also collapses Wayne Manor and Batman's cave on top of him while he is inside.

Alfred Pennyworth is caught in the wreckage. Batman runs for his life trying to find an escape from the natural death trap before he is crushed underneath the rocks, while nearly all of his equipment is destroyed. A rock hits him in the head and knocks him out while his body is carried away by an underground stream, ending with him precariously perched over a yawning chasm mere seconds away from falling to his doom.

Anarky has tracked down Billy Wildman and is preparing to make his move on him. Harvey Bullock is buying cigars when he sees the criminal, and steps in to arrest him. The earthquake hits them right then, and both men dive for cover as the area around them is destroyed. Amidst the chaos, Bullock still attempts to arrest Anarky as an escaped criminal. Anarky saves his life and then insists that he has to help the people in mortal danger around them... Bullock grudgingly agrees and the two of them immediately go to work rescuing survivors.

Oracle is in Gotham Clock Tower when the quake strikes, and she is rattled but the building is secure because it was fortified by Wayne Enterprises. There is no power and all of her systems and electronics are down. She goes out into the street to see what she can do and finds the city that she grew up in turned to rubble. There is a heavy pain in her heart, and she hopes that none of her loved ones were killed. She immediately takes charge of the survivors around her and starts instructing them towards damage control... it was a great tragedy, but the citizens of Gotham need to be strong now more than ever before.

Notes

• This issue is reprinted in the Batman: Cataclysm collected edition.
• This Batman: Cataclysm crossover takes place between Detective Comics #719 and Nightwing #19.
• Batman appears next in Batman #553 which addresses his literal cliff-hanger.

Trivia

• This issue establishes that all Wayne Enterprises properties are completely fortified against earthquakes. They are also completely wheelchair accessible.
• It is later established that the earthquake in this issue is a 7.6 on the Richter magnitude scale.^[1]
• Billy Wildman is later revealed to have died in this issue although his death is not discernible.^[2]

See Also

• Write your own review of this comic!
• Discuss Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 73 on the forums
• Cover gallery for the Batman: Shadow of the Bat series
• Images from Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 73

Recommended Reading

• Batman Recommended Reading

• Batman (Volume 1)
• Batman (Volume 2)
• Batman and Robin (Volume 1)
• Batman and Robin (Volume 2)
• Batman Confidential
• Batman: Gotham Knights
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat
• Batman: Streets of Gotham
• Batman Incorporated
• Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 1)
• Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 2)
• Detective Comics (Volume 1)
• Detective Comics (Volume 2)
• Superman/Batman
• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Volume )

Links and References

• Batman at Wikipedia.org
• Batman at DC Comics
• Batman at DCU Guide
• Batman at IGN Comics
• Batman at Newsarama
• Batman at Dark Knight
• Batman at DC Indexes
• Batman at Comic Book Resources
• Batman Yesterday Today and Beyond
• Batman at TV Tropes

1. ↑ Nightwing #2
2. ↑ Batman #553

Batman: Cataclysm Crossover This issue is a part of the Cataclysm crossover that swept through all Batman Family Titles during 1998. Gotham City was almost completely destroyed by a massive earthquake. This story led into the events that would eventually create No Man's Land. Cataclysm Detective Comics #719 • Shadow of the Bat #73 • Nightwing #19 • Batman #553 • Azrael #40 • Detective Comics #720 • Catwoman #56 • Robin #52 • Blackgate: Isle of Men #1 • Shadow of the Bat #74 • Batman Chronicles #12 • Nightwing #20 • Batman #554 • Huntress/Spoiler #1 • Detective Comics #721 • Catwoman #57 • Arkham Asylum: Tales of Madness #1 • Robin #53 Aftershock Batman #555 • Batman #556 • Batman #557 • Batman #558 • Batman #559 • Detective Comics #722 • Detective Comics #724 • Detective Comics #725 • Detective Comics #726 • Robin #54 • Shadow of the Bat #75 • Shadow of the Bat #76 • Shadow of the Bat #77 • Shadow of the Bat #78 • Shadow of the Bat #79 • Batman Chronicles #14

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