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"Riot Act": About one-third of Gotham's population suddenly becomes illiterate, causing traffic disasters, riots, and looting to break out across the city. While Batman, Robin, and the police stru

Quote1 Now, as you face the virtual end of life as you know it... I want to tell you who you have to thank for that: yourselves! After all, you low-browed little vermin, you elected your cretinous Mayor Hill and a City Council full of morons -- none of whom has made a priority of educating your youth! Quote2
The Extortionist

Batman Adventures #4 is an issue of the series Batman Adventures (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1993.

Synopsis for "Riot Act"

About one-third of Gotham's population suddenly becomes illiterate, causing traffic disasters, riots, and looting to break out across the city. While Batman, Robin, and the police struggle to maintain order, a mysterious extortionist takes credit for the illiteracy plague and holds the antidote ransom, citing it as his revenge on a city that undervalues education.

Eventually, Robin secures the first lead when he spots members of the Snake gang planting radios in a store instead of stealing them. His suspicions are confirmed when the radios are turned on, and erase his literacy moments later: the "illiteracy bug" is caused by a high-frequency signal, emitted from a gadget hidden inside certain "doctored" electronics.

In the face of mounting chaos, Commissioner Gordon and Mayor Hill reluctantly agree to pay the ransom, reasoning it is far less than the cost of re-educating the populace. Meanwhile, Batman and Robin rush to stop the ransom scheme, having realized the extortionist is none other than Jonathan Crane, aka the Scarecrow.

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