Comic Title: Batman:The Cult #1
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: May 10, 1988 Shipping Date May 10, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #3

Shipping Date May 10, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #138

Shipping Date May 10, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #757, Page 26

Shipping Date May 10, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #754, #756, #758

Copyright Date May 17, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Newsstand Date May 24, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #754, #756, #758

Cover Price: $3.50
Page Count: 48
Editor: Dennis J. O'Neil

Title: "Ordeal"
Pages: 46

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Bernie Wrightson
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Bill Wray

Reprinted In:
Batman:The Cult TPB (1991)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Action Comics Weekly #606; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman Annual #12; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman:The Killing Joke #1; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)

Villain(s)

• Deacon Joseph Blackfire (a cult leader; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Jake Baker (Blackfire's lieutenant; last name not given in this story; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Members of Blackfire's cult (Ratface named; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Isidro Dominga (a pimp; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Two street punks (both die in this story; no further appearances)
• A gang of hijackers (all die in this story; no further appearances)
• Joker (dream appearance)

Other Character(s)

• Sergeant DeLeon (a cop; no further appearances)
• Sally (a prostitute; no further appearances)
• Don Perry (a young artist; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Klaus and his partner (cops; no further appearances)
• An unnamed street vendor (no further appearances)
• Chief Palebear and the Miagani (an indian tribe; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Holmes (a city councilman; next appearance in Batman:The Cult #2)
• Several Dutch settlers (in flashback; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story continues in Batman:The Cult #2.

Synopsis:
Many homeless people are disappearing from the streets of Gotham City. At the same time an unknown vigilante group is violently executing criminals in the street. Batman investigates and is led to the Gotham sewer system where the trail goes cold. Then while stopping two teenaged punks from attacking a street vendor, Batman is caught from behind and falls unconscious.

When Batman awakens, he is in the sewers surrounded by the homeless people. He is tied up and wounded. The homeless are now part of a cult led by Deacon Joseph Blackfire whose origins date back to times before Europeans came to America. Using pain, psychological manipulation, and drugs, the Deacon and his followers slowly break down the Batman's mental defenses in an effort to sway him to their cause.