The Friend

Batman #609

January 2003

The book opens with Batman lying seemingly helpless as a group of thugs close in, and since Batman was responsible for numerous injuries that these goons have suffered over the years we see they're quite eager to return the favor. However thanks to some automated systems that Batman had incorporated into his costume, he's able to hold them at bay until the Huntress arrives responding to the calling all crime-fighters distress call that Oracle sent out when she realized Batman had gone down. After the Huntress deals with the thugs we see her load Batman into the waiting Batmobile, which transports the gravely injured Batman back to the Batcave. However when Alfred concedes that Bruce needs medical attention that is far beyond his ability to deliver, we see a plan goes into action where one of Bruce's cars is driven off the road, and Bruce is placed within the twisted wreck to make it appear his injures are the result of a car accident. While Bruce manages to pull through the surgery he undergoes, we see that the surgeon who brought Bruce back from the brink is a childhood friend of Bruce, and from the flashback we receive it looks like this childhood friend played a large role in shaping Batman's personality.