PROLOGUE

The title of Batman had been passed on for generations. Bruce Wayne was the spark to a fire that burned for decades. A fire that, like all flames, had to burn out eventually.

A fire that burned out with the death of Chance Whidmore, the last Batman.

Gotham City was finally slipping from Batman's reign of justice. The Jokerz, a clan of twisted criminals who worshipped the original Joker, were slowly taking control of Gotham.

The concept of another Robin was out of the question. The men Batman dealed with were too dangerous. Chance was alone, facing an army of mentally insane freaks.

But he had an idea. Cloning.

Batman realized that if he could create duplicates equipped with all of his memories,

then there was a chance for Gotham. He could regain control.

So, with the help of Wayne Industries, longtime financer for the Batman, Chance began the production of an entire squad that would grow up to be him. That was the plan. But not all plans follow through.

In a horrible incident, the Jokerz infiltrated Wayne Headquarters as Chance pulled the first clone out of its generative pod. The infant was healthy, and Chance was alerted that Jokerz had infiltrated the building.

Chance ran to the second pod, desperate to save the children, but that was when a Joker blew open the vault door, with a gun trained at Batman.

With no other options available, Batman grabbed the first infant, and ran away from the lab.

The Jokerz, realizing that Wayne Enterprises was affiliated with the Batman, stormed anything related to Bruce Wayne, included Wayne Manor, home to all of the men who donned Batman's suit.

Surprised, Chance was killed off as his home was destroyed. But the one child he saved was nowhere to be found.

But this child never grew up to become Batman. There was never a Batman again. In a few years' time, the Jokerz took control of Gotham completely. The legend of the Batman disappeared, and eventually became forgotten. There was no Bat. Only the Joker's legacy lived on, while Gotham rose as an independent nation under Jokerz rule.