Dini, Faucher and Kramer have a lot of fun with the reader in Detective 827 (March 2007).
The story begins as Batman sees Catwoman fall into the street. It turns out to just be a mannequin,and a trap, apparently set by Scarface. Going to the cemetery, Batman and the police discover that Arnold Wesker’s grave has been dug up, and the coffin is empty. Bullock relates how many cops, and criminals, suspect there is more to Scarface than just a wooden doll.
Scarface calls a meeting of the Ventriloquist’s old gang, and other hoods. Batman, in disguise, is present. Wesker does appear, but his corpse is just used as another dummy, as the new Ventriloquist introduces herself.
Scarface suspects one of the people at the meeting is probably Batman. As the scene starts to get violent, Batman goes into action, and manages to escape. The new Ventriloquist likely does not succeed in hiring any of the people Scarface just shot, or shot at.
Batman, and the reader, do get a glimpse of the Ventriloquist’s scarred face, her bond with Scarface, and the assurance that there is more to her story than we know.
And the relationship between the Ventriloquist and Scarface has changed as well. Yuck.
But I’m glad they brought Scarface back.
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