It was just this way.

The web-slinger thwipped, and his fingers closed around the next line of web as he swung himself around the corner. The tower was a block down, with a faded-out sign at the top, even with a few lights blinking on the rooftop. Peter Parker, the Spider-Man, dove down towards the entrance. He thwipped at a nearby tree, and landed on one of the branches as gently as possible.

Peter poked out of the leaves, and surveyed the structure carefully. No armed guards patrolled the entrance, and he didn't see a single trap in sight. And yet, there had been reports of suspicious activity in this area. He looked closely, and noted the door was half-open.

He leaped out of the leaves, and cracked his knuckles. Peter dashed towards the entrance, and threw himself through the door... to the sight of masked guards laying on the ground. Someone already WAS here, but whomever it was, the wall-crawling superhero hoped he wasn't getting in their way. The enemy of the enemy was a friend, the usual team-up stuff.

Odd music played on a loudspeaker, which raised an eyebrow on Peter, especially as the tune didn't sound like the normal kind that played in a waiting room. He surveyed the lobby, and saw an elevator door that had been forced open. He jogged towards the opening, and stared down the shaft, staring into the darkness below.

'Sometimes, we just have to take a little leap of faith...' Peter thought, and he leaped off the edge. He grabbed the cable, and let gravity guide him downward. The elevator tunnel had to lead into a basement area, and the yellow coloring told the Spider-Man he was looking at a service elevator. He felt the thump under his feet, and noticed he'd reached the bottom, the top of the elevator, no less.

Peter jumped down the open hole, into the dimly lit lift as a few lights flickered. The doors rolled closed, and opened up, with a faint dinging sound resonating through the eerie tunnel. He leaped out of the lift, and carefully treaded his way down the dark corridor, as pipes creaked before steam gushed out for a moment. The red-blue superhero's spider sense tingled, and he heard the sound of footsteps ahead.

He followed the sound, and stared through the dark, keeping alert for a sign of danger. Peter saw someone, a dark cape flowing in the dimly-lit tunnel. Spider-Man quickened his steps, then he slowed down a little, making sure he didn't alert whomever he was following. A moment later, he caught the outline of someone wearing a bat-like cowl. Wait, was it...?

The figure turned, and Peter's spider-sense went off. A black bat-shaped boomerang flew towards him, and Spider-Man's reflexes kicked in. He ducked and grabbed the weapon, just moments before it could hit him. Peter straightened up, meeting the eyes of Gotham City's caped crusader.

"Spider-Man...?" Batman said, his voice gravely but firm, "I heard the sound of someone following me, and thought you were... Well, I didn't think you would be here as well."

"Well, y'know me." Peter quipped, "Whenever something comes up, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man's on the job, and I heard of strange activity happening in this area. So, what brings you out to these parts in New York, Batman?"

"I was conducting an investigation into a puzzle." Batman reached into his pocket behind his cape, and brought out a white envelope featuring a stamp with an odd TV symbol etched into it, "The puzzle of... PUZZLEVISION. Found it in the mail during breakfast, and ran it through the Bat Computer, which picked up a strange signal coming from this city..."

"...and from this building." Peter remarked as he looked at the envelope, "Looks like we're both investigating this PUZZLEVISION matter, and it sounds like someone's inviting you to play some sort of game. I'd say they've been watching way too much SAW, and have probably been super fixated on you for some time. Think it's that Riddler guy?"

"Doesn't look like one of Riddler's tricks and traps. If it was, the envelope would have green question marks on it, and the letter would be one of his riddles." Batman put away the envelope, "Whomever this PUZZLEVISION is, they're conducting something sinister, and they're operating under the building."

Peter chuckled confidently. "Don't mind if I join?" He asked, "You could use a little help from a wall-crawler..."

Batman turned and continued walking through the corridor. Peter followed after him, and silently surveyed the surrounding area. The caped crusader glanced at him, and Spider-Man saw a light smile on his face, which was enough for the web-slinging superhuman to know the Dark Knight had no objections.

In fact, something told Peter that he reminded Batman of his sidekick Robin.

The two superheroes carefully treaded their way through the shadows, and the faint sound of music perked their attention from somewhere else. Peter's eyes lit up in a heartbeat, and he listened closely. It was the same music he'd heard in the entrance hall, and he could make it out a little more. The music sounded like an upbeat fanfare with a little chime sprinkled in.

"I've heard that music before." Batman muttered, "The Bat Computer played it when it scanned the envelope and picked up the PUZZLEVISION signal, while flashing the TV-looking symbol..."

"Sounds like inviting carnival music." The wall-crawler commented, "Deceiving and inviting. Someone might be setting a trap, and PUZZLEVISION is at the heart of it. We better be careful, who knows what we're up against..."

Batman grunted softly, and followed the chime. Peter walked beside him, and glanced around, prepared to start thwipping the moment trouble arose. A light flickered on and off, and a rat scurried through the shadows. The two crime-fighters proceeded further, and the tunnel widened, leading into a dimly-lit room as a camera near the wall rotated in the superhero's direction.

An odd TV signal noise resonated through the area, and the music started to fade, with static filling a loudspeaker. Beeping attracted Spider-Man's attention, and he spotted a large signal receiver device in the middle of the room, sporting the same symbol that was on the envelope Batman was carrying.

Someone was attempting to make a studio here, and in a basement. Talk about a literal underground operation, and this PUZZLEVISION had to be something underground. And yet, why in a basement beneath a building?

"Whomever set this up, they got really advanced technology." Peter quipped, "Its logically impossible to get a TV signal underground and in a freaking basement."

Just then, a shrill, sinister laugh resonated off the walls, carrying through the shadows and sending a chill down the Spider-Man's back as Batman drew his Batarang. Seconds later, an eerie voice spoke out; "That is quite observant of you, Spider-Man. It's all thanks to my genius that I will be able to make this broadcast from all the way underground. Oh, we're going to have so much fun, and I've been looking forward to having Batman on my show.

"The best part? I get to have both Batman and Spider-Man, two of the most well-known, highly-regarded 'superheroes' of the age. The Dark Knight of Gotham, and New York's friendly-neighborhood web-spitter... or as Mr. Jameson would say, A PUBLIC NUMBER ONE MENACE! You two are quite the vigilantes, but people do love team-up stories, and its been so long since the world saw an on-screen superhero crossover of the ages! Wouldn't you agree, Batman? Or, should I say, Bruce Wayne?!"

Peter's eyes went wide. "Oh great, the bad guy knows your identity." He remarked, staring at Batman, "Don't your enemies find out or figure out later during their battles with you in some form?"

"Not all the time." Batman said uneasily.

"I know everything all about YOU behind the mask, Peter." The speaker went on, addressing the Spider-Man, "Using your powers selfishly for money after you gained them, and your recklessness led to your dear uncle being shot by a greedy criminal. And what did Uncle Ben say before he died? 'With great power, there must also come great responsibility'? Peh, responsibility. Who needs that WHEN YOU GOT POWER?! And you can't even keep a woman in your life, let alone protect them from your enemies. Oh, may Gwen Stacy rest in peace, killed by the Green Goblin..."

"Just who the heck are you?!" The wall-crawler shouted angrily.

A tall figure stepped out of the shadows on a platform above, and a light shone down upon him, revealing a man with a lanky, cybernetic body in a suit and a large TV-shaped head. The screen for a face lit up, with the strange entity giving Peter and Batman a creepy smile. "The greatest showman ever, the face of PUZZLEVISION itself, and the one who sent Mr. Wayne the letter..." The TV man introduced, "You may call me MISTER PUZZLES! And you two look dashing already, we were just about to start our show."

"Hey!" Peter yelled, "Mister Puzzlevision! You got a big head there! Care to explain where you came to be so... BIG-HEADED?!"

Mr. Puzzles laughed like an unhinged maniac. "Oh you wanna know how I came to be like this?" He quipped in a mocking tone, "My dear Spider-Man and Batman, it started when I was in high-school. I was watching TV when a special cybernetics ad came up, with an offer one couldn't resist. I was just diagnosed with cancer, so my father paid for my special treatment, and as I was placed in my new cybernetic body, someone decided to make my head a TV. It came with so many benefits, like I was able to see EVERY movie that exists, INSPIRING ME TO CRAFT PUZZLEVISION!"

"What's your game, you demented cyborg?!" Batman questioned, "You sound and act like a full-on villain, and I can see it on that screen for a face of yours. As a matter of fact, the madness in your voice reminds me of someone who is currently locked up in Arkham..."

Mr. Puzzles studied Batman in a demented manner, quietly observing him and Spider-Man for a moment. And then, his face flashed a demented smile, and he jumped down from the platform. A sinister tune played over the speakers, and Mr. Puzzles straightened up, staring at both superheroes with a maniacal gleam before speaking again.

"I aim to make the greatest show that New York and the world has ever seen..." The TV-headed villain said, "No. Not just that, for, as you know, New York is where millions flock to see the most dazzling shows. All on a corner called Broadway. Those agents can think bigger, for I am going to make New York life THE GREATEST SHOW EVER SEEN, AND I'LL BROADCAST IT WORLDWIDE.

"In order to take the world by storm, I must craft THE GREATEST SHOW EVER! Five star reviews! FIVE-STARS! AND WHEN THOSE GORGEOUS STARS HIT FIVE, I'll get creative control over... EVERYTHING! Everyone will love my brilliance, and I'll be the top star of them all! It'll be perfect, IT WILL BE FANTASTIC! You two will be just the start, especially when I can get ALL OF THE WORLD'S FAMOUS HEROES TOGETHER FOR OUR FIVE-STAR SHOW!"

"You're enjoying this way too much, dude..." Peter commented uneasily.

"Oh, I do enjoy this, Parker..." Mr. Puzzles hissed, "YOU AND BATMAN WILL LOOK FANTASTIC ON CAMERA, JUST OUTSTANDINGLY BRILLIANT! The cameras are about to roll, and the world is watching. Times Square will be in for the greatest marvel of the age, as people get to see Batman and Spider-Man together again..."

"But you're not getting creative control over everything, and we'll be making sure of that." Batman told Mr. Puzzles.

"Really?" The villain glared angrily at the Dark Knight, "And what are you two going to do to stop me, you... you... YOU BAT-HEADED SHADOW OF A BILLIONARE?! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THE BRILLIANCE OF MR. PUZZLES, YOU AND SPIDER-MAN?! YOU ARE MY CAST, YOU ARE MINE TO CONTROL! I AM NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER, ON MY CROSSOVER SHOW!"

A deranged laugh echoed through the custom underground studio, and Mr. Puzzles' face flashed an eerie skull symbol. Peter and Batman nodded to one another, and faced their TV-headed nemesis, ready for the impending battle.

The sound of demented laughter from the insane cyborg carried through the room, lights flashed on, and cameras started rolling as the signal receiver beeped like a bomb about to detonate.

Mr. Puzzles flashed the two crime-fighters an evil glare, and brandished a cartoonishly large pistol from his "pocket", aiming right at Spider-Man. Batman tossed his Batarang swiftly, and knocked the weapon out of Mr. Puzzles' hand in a heartbeat. Peter leaped in, thwipped a web towards the ceiling, and swung towards the TV man with the intent of kicking his butt into submission.

The PUZZLEVISION master brandished a small TV-shaped bomb from thin air, with the snap of a finger, and tossed it at the wall-crawler as the tiny screen on the explosive blinked a bright red. Peter swooped out of the way, just before the bomb exploded on impact with a nearby corner, and the red-blue spider hero threw himself at Mr. Puzzles like a sumo wrestler.

A large screen blipped on, with footage showing the battle between the TV man and the wall-crawler as Batman joined the chaos.

The Dark Knight rushed in, his cape flapping behind his back, and his hook shot towards side of Mr. Puzzles' face. The unhinged PUZZLEVISION master ducked his TV-shaped head, avoiding his superhero stars' attacks, and clicked his finger, shooting out a bolt of energy that stunned Spider-Man on the spot.

Puzzles laughed, only to yelp as Batman's fist slammed into the side of his head, causing his screen to crack. A monstrously enraged, wide-eyed face appeared on Mr. Puzzles' TV head, and he glared angrily at the Dark Knight, just before the caped crusader held up his grappling gun and fired near the TV entity's neck. The hook whopped around Mr. Puzzles' shoulders, and wrapped itself around his torso until the hook connected with his belt.

Batman pulled back, and Mr. Puzzles went flying through the air before crashing into the signal receiver. A shower of sparks flew across the ground, and the light on top burned out as the device shut down from the damage caused by the Dark Knight tossing its creator into it.

Mr. Puzzles snarled and jerked his arms, breaking free from Batman's grappling hook, and a demonic face appeared on his screen as he bellowed with unhinged rage:

"You... are... ruining... MY... SHOW! I WILL HAVE MY FIVE STARS! I WILL HAVE MY FIVE STARS! I WILL HAVE MY FIVE STARS! ITS GOT TO BE PERFECT! ITS GOT TO BE PERFECT! ITS GOT TO BE PERFECT! EVERYONE LOVES SUPERHERO CROSSOVERS! EVERYONE LOVES THE MULTIVERSE! EVERYONE LOVES SUPERHEROES... SUCH... AS... YOU! AND YOU'RE RUINING ALL OF IT!"

Peter flicked his wrist, and a wad of web shot into Mr. Puzzles' face, causing him to stumble backwards as he fought to tear it off. Batman threw his Batarang again, and the bat-shaped boomerang smacked Mr. Puzzles in the leg, causing him to fall over. The demented TV host ripped the web off his head, flashing a hideous, inhuman face with malice filled eyes as a red knife materialized in the palm of his hand.

Peter and Batman approached him, cautiously and calmly, and Mr. Puzzles shot back up on his feet as a red aura surrounded his cybernetic body. He gripped the knife with a shaking hand, and he surveyed the two heroes with malice-filled crimson eyes of insanity.

"You think I don't know everything about you and your lives?!" He hissed, "Every tragedy, every loss, every battle you've fought?! Your principles, your codes, mean NOTHING! What is even the point of beating your enemies if you let them live, believing they will change when they continue their crusade of evil, resulting in more lives being destroyed on your watch!?

"Why hold back? Why not take your chances? Even here and now as we fight, as you destroy my work?! I've seen ALL of reality and all of your histories! I've looked beyond the confines of this world, and have seen EVERY INCH OF TIME-AND-SPACE, seeing into the infinite realm of the multiverse beyond and I can see ALL OF YOU! Every finite version of you who wears the mask, and you all continue to pull your every punch, fighting the same battles against mad scientists, power addicts and kingpins of criminal empires, regardless of who wears the mask and who your enemy is.

"And, all the while, many of you serve to entertain multidimensional observers, even those of lower power. Why don't you push your limits, and rid the world of the greatest deviants to ever menace mankind. Your morals mean little in the long game of cosmic proportions, and yet, you act above the law despite aiding the law in bringing criminals to 'justice'. Are you fighting for order or are you fighting for chaos?

"I AM ORDER! I AM PERFECTION! I AM MR. PUZZLES AND ALL OF YOU WILL FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTION! YOUR STORIES ARE MINE TO DICTATE, ALL MINE, AND THE REST OF EARTH'S PRECIOUS MIGHTIEST HEROES SHALL FOLLOW, ALONG WITH ALL OF YOUR GREATEST ENEMIES THAT YOU HAVE EVER FACED! AND ANYONE WHO DISREGARDS MY GENIUS SHOWMANSHIP WILL ALL SUFFER THE GREATEST OF SUFFERING!"

Mr. Puzzles raised his knife and moved towards the red-and-blue-clad Spider-Man with a snarling demonic rage, the blade glinting as he prepared to strike.

Batman intercepted, grabbed the TV man's arm, and twisted it. It was the web-slinger's turn now. Peter thwipped, and wrenched the knife from Puzzle's hand. The web-slinger flicked his wrists, spraying a thick layer of web around the demented PUZZLEVISION crafter, and Batman grabbed Mr. Puzzles by the shoulder as the unhinged maniac struggled to free himself from Peter's growing web cocoon prison as it swallowed the TV man halfway.

"You're off the air." Batman said, and the fist slammed into Mr. Puzzle's face again... and again... and again... before Spider-Man thwipped another web at the maniac as Puzzle's vision went black to the whine of a "no signal" sound.


Arkham Asylum, home to the most demented criminals to walk the earth.

He sat in the corner of the drab, padded cell, confined by a straightjacket, his TV head repaired after the damage received during the battle with Spider-Man and Batman. His body shook, and his screen flashed a demented smiley face as he chuckled to himself. And yet, Mister Puzzles was not alone in here.

Just across from him, a gaunt-faced man with green hair in a straight jacket sat in the corner, glancing at his "special roommate" with a sense of unease. Puzzles stared back at him, and chuckled again as the TV man's eyes swirled like a rainbow.

"Joker, Joker, Joker, Joker..." He said with a maddened smile, "You don't know, you don't know the truth of HIS true identity. The Batman is more than meets the eye, more than just the caped crusader. He's very rich, one of the richest men in Gotham, with all the money in the world... and he finances his own crime-fighting operations. I found the truth, Joker. The Batman... is Bruce Wayne, and the Batcave is right under Wayne Manor. BATMAN IS BRUCE WAYNE! BRUCE WAYNE IS THE BATMAN, MY FRIEND! THE BATMAN WAS BRUCE WAYNE ALL ALONG!"

"What's even the punchline... knowing that?" Joker questioned as he flinched.

"And he became Batman... because Joe Chill killed his parents when he was a boy. Your enemy is a rich boy with trauma..." Mr. Puzzles laughed, "And Batgirl is Commissioner Gordon's daughter... ha ha ha ha... and we are all not alone. There's more... more universes where Batman exists. There's a multiverse, a multiverse full of heroes and villains like us. The multiverse is infinite, the multiverse is endless, and Bruce Wayne is always Batman, as Spider-Man is always Peter Parker. And... where there's heroes, there's always villains. Villains, like... the Shadow Nightmare..."

"The Shadow Nightmare?" Joker echoed.

"THE SHADOW NIGHTMARE!" Mr. Puzzles howled, "The Nightmare is real, the dark Sha'D'Oh Nightmare is real! OH, THE SHADOW NIGHTMARE! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

And the TV Man laughed, and laughed, and laughed. His sense of humanity was absent, and The Joker flinched with horror, screaming for a guard to relocate him to a different cell, away from the ever demented cyborg as Mr. Puzzles' laugh echoed through the halls of Arkham Asylum. And unbeknownst to all, a dark figure observed as his red-orange eyes glinted under his hood. The evil Sha'D'Oh Nightmare smiled, and disappeared into the darkness...

The End