This is an in-universe article with out-of-universe material.
Batman Chronicles #21 is an issue of the series Batman Chronicles (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2000.
Synopsis for "Apocalypse Girl"
A Batman Elseworlds tale set in an alternative, futuristic Earth, named Earth 14Q3X-9 follows Zia, a young party girl who is the daughter of a scientist working on a portal, as she is transported to an alternative Gotham city where Batman is used as a marketing brand.
Zia heads out on the town to club Xanadu with her friend Minni. After refusing to take drugs from the aforementioned friend, Minni spikes Zia's drink anyway. In a drug addled state Zia finds her way home into her scientist father's laboratory only to stumble into his portal and find herself in an alternate Gotham on the other side, where Batman is everything from consumerist products to the theme of thug gangs that roam the parks. Still in a heightened state, Zia finds herself in front of another club and mistaking it for Xanadu, walks in. Zia is approached by a man and together they go back to his place for the night only for Zia to wake up in the morning, sober and to the sight of the man disintegrated on the floor. Scared and disoriented, Zia flees the apartment. Batman, by the tip of Gordon, begins to investigate the "murder."
Appearing in "Apocalypse Girl"
Featured Characters:
- Batman
Supporting Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Commissioner Gordon
- Zia Halogien (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Krash (Single appearance)
- Minni (Single appearance)
- Mr. Halogien (Single appearance)
- Mrs. Halogien (Single appearance)
- Nic-Lan (Single appearance)
- Warp (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- Earth 14Q3X-9
- Club Xanadu
- Gotham City
- Batcave
- Club Cave
- New York City
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Citizen Wayne"
The eccentric billionaire mogul Bruce Foster Wayne dies in his mansion, and his last word is "Rosebud." Reporter Clark Kent is sent to interview his closest friends in an attempt to discover what his last word meant, visiting Selina Kyle, Dick Grayson, James Gordon and a man named "Jack." His last visit is to Alfred Pennyworth, who explains that "rosebud" was the word written on the side of the gun used to murder Wayne's parents by a mugger.
Appearing in "Citizen Wayne"
Featured Characters:
- Bruce Foster Wayne (Dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Clark Kent
- Dick Grayson
- James Gordon
- "Jack"
- Joe Chill (Flashback only)
- Martha Wayne (Dies in flashback)
- Perry White
- Selina Kyle
- Thomas Wayne (Dies in flashback)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Arkham Asylum
- Crime Alley (Flashback only)
- Wayne Enterprises
- Wayne Manor
Items:
Synopsis for "A Silent Tale of the Bat"
A silent tale of a world where everybody is Batman and all children have to endure the events that made Bruce Wayne so.
Appearing in "A Silent Tale of the Bat"
Featured Characters:
- Batman
Supporting Characters:
- Martha Wayne
- Thomas Wayne
Antagonists:
- Joe Chill
Locations:
Items:
Notes
- "Citizen Wayne" is reprinted in:
- DC Comics has published two different and unrelated Elseworlds stories titled Citizen Wayne. The first was written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn with art by Joe Staton, published in 1994's Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #4. The second is a collaboration between Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos, published in 2000's Batman Chronicles #21. They are both clear references to the classic 1941 film Citizen Kane. Additionally, Part Two of "Blind Justice" by Sam Hamm, appearing in Detective Comics #599 has the same title.
Trivia
- "Citizen Wayne" is the first-published DC work of Brian Michael Bendis, who entered an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics soon after. Bendis (apart from an illustration for Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City) would not return to DC until Action Comics #1000 in 2018.
