The Cult caused a stir on its initial release as it was, and even today still is, spectacularly gory. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions.

As an example, Blackfire presents Batman with a former prostitute whose face was horribly scarred by her pimp and explains that he had his followers kill the man.Then when he's shaken the drugs and is fighting back, he allows an innocent woman to be raped and killed - because he's got to deal with Blackfire quickly. But there's really no urgency at the end, Blackfire's not threatening to blow up the city, he's just sitting around waiting for Batman to show. While investigating mysterious killings and mysterious disappearances, the Batman is captured and brainwashed into believing the agenda of the psychopathic Deacon Blackfire. This is the weirdest Batman story I have ever read, and I have very mixed feelings about it (some spoilers ahead).

Finally, this Batman seems to have no problem with blowing up bad guys with missiles mounted on the Batmobile/monster truck. Him and Alfred both carry around pistols (not tranquilizer guns but actual bullet shooting firearms).

But those are just the hardcore unable to accept the truth -- Batman murdered a man while under the influence of a cult, incapable of controlling his actions or trusting his own senses.

I’ll probably continue to go back and forth on how I feel about this book and while it’s got its problems, it is something I would read again.It’s because here, there’s so much conflict going on, both internally and externally, and it all plays into each other. He also wrote The Cult, a story about Gotham under siege from an evil religious leader who manages to “break” Batman.