Batman: The Cult #4

Batman: The Cult #4

by Jim Starlin, Bernie Wrightson (Penciller), Bill Wray (Colorist)

A reinvigorated Batman must reclaim Gotham City from Deacon Joseph Blackfire and his religious cult.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters Thanos and Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Death and suicide are recurring themes in Starlin's work: Personifications of Death appeared in his Captain Marvel series and in a fill-in story for Ghost Rider; Warlock commits suicide by killing his future self; and suicide is a theme in a story he plotted and drew for The Rampaging Hulk magazine.

In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).

When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (

In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.

Reviews

[Olly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storia della fine degli anni '80 che mi ha sorpreso, ho apprezzato qualunque cosa, dai disegni ai colori, dalla trama ai personaggi. Abbiamo un Batman debole, insicuro e molto spaventato, completamente diverso da come siamo abituati a vederlo. consigliatissimo.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal ending! Plus the Batmobile in this thing is insane, love it.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very satisfying to have Deacon be defeated, not in the way he planned where his death would immortalize him in martyrdom, but as another victim to his followers. He was killed by the very weapons he cultivated.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman: The Cult Book 4 brings the saga to a brutal, unflinching close. Bruce finally fights his way back from the psychological and physical wreckage, but it’s clear—he’s not walking away unscathed, and neither is Gotham. The city is in ruins, the scars are deep, and the resolution feels more like survival than victory.

Jim Starlin pulls no punches in the finale, delivering a grim, cathartic ending that stays true to the bleak tone of the series. Bernie Wrightson’s art is, once again, phenomenal—gritty, raw, and packed with intensity that makes every moment hit harder.

This isn’t your typical Batman story—it’s darker, more disturbing, and leaves a lingering weight. A fitting, powerful conclusion to a story that dares to break the Bat and show just how hard the climb back really is.

Whole story is a 4.75-star. Really fun, really dark. Love this iteration of the bat mobile

[Katherine (Kat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The dark knight will yet rise from the ashes of defeat. Tremble, Deacon Blackfire! The batman is coming for you!”

Well that didn’t take long to change Batman’s mind leaving off the cliffhanger in last issue, lol. This issue starts with batman jolting out of bed from a nightmare where his dead parents ambush him for leaving the city as he did. But even then Bruce was already making preparations to return to the city in full force and completely even out the odds. And what a way he did it to, this was an explosively amazing finale, just off the wall insanity through and through and a thrilling conclusion. A position of this setup includes getting special goggles with night vision and guns armed to the teeth with tranquilizer bullets, and Avery specially modified batmobile to roll in with. They aren’t dealing with a few goons here, this is an entire army that has taken over Gotham. Based on the news reports the 50% of Gothamites who stayed have been enslaved by the Deacon and his army and anyone who revolts are being executed. The deacon is completely off the handle now, he doesn’t care anymore and is actively seeking death. No good messiah sticks around once they complete their goal, he is now desperate for martyrdom and to secure his legacy so that his followers will live on. While his underbosses are weary of his mental stability, they are ready to pick up the pieces and continue to lead when he goes away. But before batman storms the gates he has one more place to go…the hospital room of the recovering Commissioner Gordon, where batman assures him that he will be taking back the city. It’s a very sweet moment between two old friends.

The time has finally come, it seems like a still night. The underworlders have used their slave labor to setup barricades at all the bridges that are still standing. But suddenly a blinding light shines down on the guards of a bridge as a giant Batmobile rolls in and over their barricades! This is legit hard to explain, it looks like it was based on a child’s drawings in the best possible ways. It’s as if they took the wheels off one of those giant dump trucks, then slapped it onto the Batmobile with some cobbled together suspension. Add a gunners seat and a rocket launcher to destroy any structure in your way, and you have a tank suitable to clear a path for the army to get in. Robin is naturally in the gunners seat with the machine gun that can fire 200 rounds of tranquilizers a minute. Before fully entering the city batman stops in front of a lone underworlder to pass on a message to Blackfire…the batman is coming for him!

The deacon isn’t concerned at all, he welcomes the batman with open arms so he can finally die at his hands. The under bosses on the other hand are slightly worried, and send out the word to stop batman at all costs. But there is no stopping batman, even as he is forced to watch as desperate slaves try and escape to him for the chance of freedom, only to get dragged screaming into the darkness, even as we can see the desperation on his face as he badly wants to get out an help…batman can’t, he has loses the deck to get to Deacon Blackfire and stop him, and that’s what he has to do. Any side track can prevent that. But as batman and Robin get closer to Gotham square, things get quieter. The forces are drawing back and regrouping for a full assault as batman and Robin drive past the people hung from street lamps, they get to Gotham central and find themselves completely surrounded with at least 50% of Blackfire’s forces. They have planned accordingly for this. They let the forces claw and climb their way into the car, only for them to get inside and find batman and Robin gone. Our duo escape in a hatch leading to the sewer, and left a trap that deployed the entire car and the surrounding area with gas that will make anyone who breathed it in pass out for at least 6 hours.

In the sewers batman hazily follows his way through the path he remembers when he was drugged. Armed with tranquilizer guns and night vision goggles the duo make their way through the forces. Unfortunately as they reach near the end a man with a gun grazes Robin’s leg before batman could shoot him with a tranquilizer…as Batman’s gun jammed. Batman was able to knock the man out, wrap Robin up, then pass him the gun to stay back and guard the way so batman can end things. It’s not how he would have liked it, he would have preferred Robin by his side…but nothing can be that easy. As batman approached Blackfire’s chamber he found the hallways lined with dead disciples that have found their spot honored at the deacon’s side. As batman bursts down the door to the deacon’s final chamber he finds an arena. The seats above are filled with spectators and the deacon is standing there waiting with a knife. I’m not even sure if batman realized it, but he picked up the gun that grazed Robin and is still holding it as he faces the deacon. Once he realizes this and sees the desperate calls from the deacon to die, he tosses the gun away. This enrages the deacon, his easy death is out the window but he will not be denied. He goes for batman with a knife and even though batman is grazed by it, he is a le to disarm the deacon and rip him back to his feet. But batman doesn’t just arrest him, he goes to work on this guy. Hitting him like he has never hit a man before, batman isn’t looming to knock him out, he is targeting every pain point he can so he can break the deacon just like the deacon broke him. As the deacon lays sprawled out on the floor in a pool of his own blood, he grovels and begs to batman to stop. The audience is horrified, and one of the underbosses goes to shoot batman, but before he can Robin hits him with a tranq dart. But then the deacon calls out for his followers to come down and year batman apart. But that’s the thing about messiahs, people except them to be strong and noble. And when you spend your time creating monsters, and suddenly those monsters find that their leader is weak and they have been tricked…those monster are keen to turn on you. Instead of ripping apart batman the underworlders turned on the deacon, ripping him apart in such numbers that batman couldn’t stop them if he wanted to.

As the issue comes to an end order is restored in Gotham and normal police patrols are back with the army set up to leave in a day. The overseers of Blackfire’s operation are in custody and mass burials are scheduled for the next few days. A few days…wow. Gotham citizens are returning and the homeless have returned to the streets, many wondering why they followed the deacon at all. A special panel is being put together to find ways to prevent this from happening again, crazy that it took this to do the bare minimum for trying to help people, but that’s typical. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few loose ends. For starters from a story perspective, what happened to that investigator that told Gordon he was going to infiltrate Blackfire’s cult? Legit nothing came of that. But more importantly batman is still hinged in a question, was Blackfire a supernatural mystic…or a con man who let his game get out of hand. They never actually found the body, the mob didn’t leave enough for identification, but he’s more than likely still dead. The only thing left behind is the totem, and it’s not talking and batman isn’t leaving anything to chance. He decides to go back into the sewers and light it on fire just in case. What a phenomenal story.

[aletheia.sable · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Rating: 4.5 stars; whole series review)

Man conquers man, it is the oldest story in the book. The conquering of another human being is something that has been engraved into our human history since the beginning of time. Predator versus prey as the saying goes, and these issues exemplify that in Batman: The Cult.

The use of religion as a grounds to rebellion or cause damnation is a common theme that has been used; though I have never seen it used in a superhero setting like this one. Gotham, and its citizens falling prey to “Deacon” Blackfire; who uses his charisma (and drugs) to manipulate religion so that he can exploit the desperate and the hopeless by giving them an opportunity to help him in his “divine” purpose, was an interesting new look for a villain that I had not seen before in DC comics. The humanization and victimization of Batman was also very interesting.

Batman, one of the most formidable and intimidating members of the Justice League, was reduced to a puppet; a slave for “Deacon” Blackfire. Through rigorous psychological and physical torture as well as continuous drugging, Batman fell victim to “Deacon” Blackfire; a relatively unknown character in Gotham. All the rogues in his gallery could not prepare him for the “Deacon”, so Batman fell. He fell hard, and almost didn’t get back up.

At the end of the day, Batman is just that; a man. One who has his own weaknesses, his own fears, his own desires, his own purpose. He can fall claim to intense circumstances just like anyone else; he can be manipulated like anyone else. He is just a man; and he now realizes that he is. But, so was “Deacon” Blackfire. That is the realization that needs to be had, he is not a divine being. He is a man with tricks, who has weaknesses like pain just like the Bat. Utilize those weaknesses against him, and he becomes as pitiful as his past victims had been. Begging for a sparring of the pain, only for him to be torn apart by his very own campaign.

Human instincts feed off pain whether from receiving it or dealing it out to others. That’s why the Underworlders were so easy to coerce into going on these mass killing sprees; yes they had been drugged/manipulated but their baser human instincts were there. The primal human desire to hurt, to control, to conquer over others, to preserve one’s life. That was what the “Deacon” was, not a messiah; just a primal man whose own human instincts lead to his own demise.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recovering physically after a week of healing, Bruce still feels broken mentally.
However, he knows it’s time to put a stop to Deacon Blackfire.

Those who stayed in Gotham have become slaves.
The attempts at taking back control from the Deacon have only ended with the dying of troops.

Bruce confesses to Jason that he became the masked hero to overcome fear.
Blackfire reveals he wants to die, to become a martyr to his people.

Batman stops first to his friend, Gordon, who miraculously survived his shooting. Bats lets him know, he is taking back their city!

Then they unveil their new Batmobile!
Batman and Robin make a big show of entering the city. And knock out 50% of the Deacon's army with sleeping gas.

In the sewers, the pair are confronted with a tunnel full of the zealots. But they have prepared.

Sadly, on the way to the final confrontation, Robin is wounded and Bats faces Deacon Blackfire alone.

Bats quickly learns that Blackfire wants to die. But he will not take the easy way, nor will he allow his enemy too either.

After a painful pounding, the Deacon begs for Batman to relent.
Which is his undoing.

His followers will not follow a weak leader and turn on the Deacon.
Robin wants to help but Bats knows there's nothing they can do.

As the city slowly returns to normal, Batman once again goes underground to burn Blackfire's totem.

I hadn't remembered I read this until I started and felt it looked familiar.
It was back in the day, where I had read a lot of the Batman one-shot or limited stories.

I like when Batman is tested beyond how far his body can take him.
Here he was mentally broken and you saw him freeze. You saw maybe a hint of him wanting to give up the fight.

I loved the part where he still felt broken but he decided he would not let fear rule him and went up against his enemy anyway.

It’s good to see Batman like this, where he still feels human and has emotions and breaking points.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird Story

I chose to read The Cult because it is the first appearence of the Miagani tribe in DC and because I vaguely remember it mentioned as one of Batman's low points. And, oh; is it a low point. Batman is captured and brainwashed by a psycho (possibly supernatural) cult leader, nearly abandons Gotham when that cult leader succeeds in taking the city, and - when his own dreams guilt him into coming back and defending the populace - he uses a modified tank and modified assualt rifles to clear a path for the army and confront the cult leader. Granted the weaponry is modified to shoot tranquilizers, but this is still a story where the Batman resorts to firearms when he admits that their usual arsenal would not be up to task and eventually stands aside as the cult leader is literally torn to bits when his followers turn on him. And he's surprised when Jason Todd - the Robin in this story - one day decides that last resort should be first resort weaponry in order to prevent as many casualties as possible from even happening? The Cult is a decent enough story - though the content is a bit supernatural for my taste in a batbook - but I liked it for a better understanding of the Red Hood and for foreshadowing Batman's eventual capture and attemped brainwashing by the Court of Owls.

[BrandonAtRandom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the read, if approached properly

"The Cult" is no doubt a dated Batman story. If that wasn't evident from the art and style, it might be evident since Jason Todd is Robin. I think I've only read a couple other stories where he's Robin. There is a good narrative. Showing that even Batman, under extreme circumstances, can be manipulated by a charismatic and convincing enough force. Although it's not something I'd ever want to see regularly or get used to, vulnerable Batman was interesting to see. I

f this book were re-done and modernized, it would be well-received IMO. For now, I stand by it as a great story if you approach it knowing it's not modern and it's not full of detailed art.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Batman stories I've ever read! It's a shame it's not as well known as other more hyped and famous stories since this one is definitely up to par.

"The fool... Of course I want to die. Martyrdom is the destiny of all messiahs. It is the only way to validate divine inspiration. The faithful expect their saviors to suffer death, defending their religious principles. There's nothing more boring than a deity who hangs past his allotted time.

Anything I do now, other than dying gloriously, would be anti-climatic. Dramatic balance calls for my death. I eagerly await my end."

[Andy Pandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the way this story arc wrapped up! Deacon was a fantastic villain through the entire story and yet so mysterious with his intentions- but I love villains like that! The action throughout the entire 4 issue comic was amazing- and the way Batman was broken was something I’d never seen in a Batman comic before! The artwork was also really good! This is an amazing, underrated Batman comic that is well worth reading! I give the entire comic a 4.5/5 stars!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished this, and if anything it showed me the immediate impact TDKR had on Batman as a comic book. This story is pitch black, relies on media interludes, and has Batman driving a monster truck bat mobile. While I didn't adore it, I thought it was kind of cool at how in the end Batman's no kill rule is actually a punishment for the villain, a villain who desperately wants death. Wouldn't read again, but a cool snapshot back in bat time.

[Persy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That’s the problem with creating monsters. Control is so hard to maintain.”

The conclusion to this macabre Batman tale matched its predecessor’s energy for sure. If you haven’t read this arc I highly recommend it.

[Richard Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet

Enjoyable book, which will be enjoyable for any Bat-fan.
Good to read a story with an otherwise underused villain. Worth the read.

[kev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batman and Robin versing an army is the best thing humanity has ever created.

[Garth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2024 - Year of The Bat (366 Days of Batman)

Day 151: Just disappointing. Story and art.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing art and very good conclusion.

[Mauro German · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que buen viaje fue esta serie la verdad.

Oscura , visceral y ultra-violenta , nunca había leído algo de Batman así. Tal vez la historia en si no es "woooow" pero esta más que bien.

[nia]

thank god it’s over

[JakenHeim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful just peak fiction

[Kamil Henri · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10