We now come to the biggest inciting event of the Knightfall Arc – the rubber hits the road from here.

We get into another, more significant member of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery this issue.

We’re coming up on our last little prelude storyline before we get into the numbered Knightfall Issues.

We continue with Azrael’s first outing with the Bat-Family.

And we return to Detective Comics with the continuation of Azrael’s first outings with the Bat Family.

We start our first story-line integrating Azrael with the Bat-Family.

When we last left Detective Comics, The General’s War Dogs have decided to enact the plan of Cyrus from The Warriors – with the next step being cribbed from Assault on Precinct 13.

When we last left Batman, he was now facing an alliance of gangs lead by a murderous pre-pubescent, who has been dubbed The General by his followers.

We’re shifting Bat-books this issue to Detective Comics, and the introduction of another new villain.

In the wake of the battle with Metalhead, Batman is beaten, battered, and exhausted. But can he handle a new threat against Commissioner Gordon?

After Black Mask’s gang has been rounded up, Batman has to deal with the aftermath.

We’ve finally come to the last part of the road to Knightfall, and argueably the first part of Knightfall as well, with the introduction of Azrael.

We continue with the return of Black Mask with Batman undercover in Black Mask’s operation, as Black Mask’s gang has kidnapped Lucius Fox.

After the introduction of Bane, we have a slight side story as we ease into Knightfall proper.

We now start getting into the Knightfall Saga proper with the introduction of Bane.

This week we move on to the introduction of the super-steroid that will play a major role in the Knightfall saga – Venom.

Today we wrap up our introduction of Azrael to the Bat-Family.

Last time Batman had his first encounter with Azrael, and the Avenging Angel of Death was forced to withdraw.

When we last left off, the previous Azrael had died in Gotham and left the mantle to his as-yet-unnamed son (who we will later learn is Jean-Paul Valley). Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth have traveled to Switzerland to learn the truth about the Order of St. Dumas – but arms dealer Carlton LeHah has gotten there first.

At last we come to the last of the lead-in stories to Knightfall, and one with the most direct hook outside of Venom – the introduction of Azrael.

I’m continuing with the beginnings of Tim Drake’s time of Robin with the follow up in Batman – issues #455 – #457, rounding out 1990.

Today we’re wrapping up this part of the Road to Knightfall.

After getting clean, Batman is on the hunt for the men who got him addicted.