Batman: Bad Blood

Six months after the defeat of the Court of Owls, Batman intercepts a crowd of criminals including the Electrocutioner, Tusk, Firefly, and Killer Moth. A masked leader calling himself Heretic emerges, claiming to be a vision of Damian Wayne as Batman. The Heretic detonates explosives, Bruce shields Batwoman, and the blast leaves Bruce Wayne seemingly dead.

Two weeks pass since Bruce's apparent death as Gotham grapples with the loss. Alfred Pennyworth sends a distressed signal to Nightwing. Meanwhile, Bruce's twelve-year-old son Damian Wayne leaves a Himalayan monastery to confront the mystery in Gotham.

Batwoman Katherine Kane meets her father, Colonel Kane, and confesses the childhood trauma that fuels her vigilante path. She digs into the abduction, rescue, and losses of her sister and mother, revealing why she became Batwoman. The revelations deepen her resolve to investigate Bruce's disappearance.

As Bruce resurfaces, Nightwing teams with Batwoman to pursue the reappearance of the Dark Knight. They suspect the figure is not Bruce’s usual return, but an altered Bat-cape and a ruse. Their inquiry into the Heretic begins as they monitor Wayne sightings and threats.

The Heretic and his crew strike Wayne Enterprises, forcing Lucius Fox to unlock the vault and threatening Luke Fox. The theft demonstrates their access to Wayne technology and serves as a chilling warning with Electrocutioner’s death claimed by the Heretic.

Back at the Heretic's hideout, it’s revealed the Heretic answers to Talia al Ghul and she has her own agenda. Bruce Wayne is imprisoned by the Mad Hatter’s brainwashing, setting the stage for Damian’s fate within a larger plan. The Heretic is revealed to be a Damian clone created by Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Shadows.

The Heretic infiltrates the Batcave and abducts Damian. Talia arrives and kills the Heretic for defying her orders, leaving Damian furious at the manipulation and his own identity being used as a pawn.

Nightwing, Batwoman, and Luke Fox, in the exosuit Batwing, arrive to rescue Bruce and Damian. Talia and most of her henchmen vanish in the confusion, and Bruce begins to recover with his allies at his side.

One week later, Bruce appears to be recovered but remains under the Mad Hatter’s influence. Katherine Kane and Luke Fox work to bring him back to clear his mind. They also uncover the League of Shadows’ plan to brainwash world leaders at a tech summit hosted by Wayne Enterprises.

During the tech summit, mind control tightens as Nightwing, Robin, Batwoman, Alfred, and Batwing clash with Talia’s forces. Alfred kills the Calculator, disrupting the mind control, and the Mad Hatter dies in the process. Bruce remains under the brainwashing, fighting Nightwing’s attempts to reach him.

A decisive moment arrives when Nightwing’s stirring speech helps Bruce resist the brainwashing and reject orders to kill Nightwing and Damian. Enraged, Talia escapes in a vessel. Onyx strikes back, the vessel crashes, and both Onyx and Talia are presumed dead.

Bruce consoles Damian and Alfred notes that Talia remains Damian’s mother. The Bat-family—Batwoman, Batwing, and Nightwing—join Batman and Robin on the rooftop, ready to patrol Gotham. A new threat emerges as a Penguin-led robbery starts nearby, prompting Batgirl to watch from a building, contemplating joining the team.