Batman & The Outsiders/Demon's Fire

The Demon's Fire is the third and final story arc of Batman & the Outsiders, it is preceded by the A League of Their Own. This arc follows the final showdown between The Outsiders and Ra's al Ghul. This storyline covers Batman & The Outsiders #13-17.

Plot
Issue #13

In Gotham, Black Lightning and Batman decide to have The Outsider's stand down while they formulate the team's next move against Ra's al Ghul. Batman brings in Martian Manhunter to shed some light on the nature of the alien technology now in the possession of Ra’s. The martian brings Black Lightning and Batman into his mind to reveal what he was able to discover about Ra's al Ghul's weapon. According to J’onn, the weapon once belonged to an interstellar civilization of that specialized in evolving planets and the "weapon" is actually a terraforming device that uses the electromagnetic forces present in the planet to shape it. During Earth's prehistory one of the ships belonging to this civilization crash-landed in Markovia, where it was discovered and kept secret by the nation until Ra’s unearthed it. Batman theorizes that if Jefferson can dig deeper into his electromagnetic powers he can use his abilities to find and neutralize the technology Ra's is using. He then presents Jefferson with a machine he secretly built to further expand and augment his innate metahuman abilities.

Meanwhile, Duke and Cassandra are sparring in the dojo as Katana and Shiva argue about how to best nurture Signal and Orphan. Shiva believes that the duo have potential but their growth is being stunted by Batman's teachings, while Katana believes that Shiva will only lead them down a deadly path. Katana cuts Duke and Cassandra's training short and ask them to clean up and clear the room while her and Shiva "talk". Duke and Cass realize they're going to fight but leave while the two warriors duel to first blood over who will mentor the young heroes going forward: Katana loses. Lady Shiva takes Duke and Cassandra to her loft to discuss their direction. Shiva questions their satisfaction under Batman's tutelage, and suggest they go their own way independent of Batman. She asked the pair what they would like to do, to which they both agree is stop Ra’s; so that's what Shiva shall have them do.

Issue #14

Now able to pull from the further depths of his powers, thanks to Batman’s machine, Batman asks Black Lightning to tap into the electromagnetic energy of the earth to hone in on the energy signature of Ra’s’ weapon. But before that, Batman and The Outsiders mobilize on their next move: striking back at Ra's al Ghul by attacking his resources. Batman, Sofia, Katana and Black Lightning travel to Khadym and attack assault one of Ra's' strongholds, maiming and incapacitating the Demon's followers. Black Lightning also uses the mission as a field test for his new powers. They leave one conscious so they can pass along a message to Ra's then collapse a cavern over the stronghold's Lazarus Pit, rendering it out of commission.

Meanwhile, Shiva takes Orphan and Signal on a mission in London to track down Mr. Tolan, one of Ra’s’ bankers. The team interrogates the banker about the whereabouts of Ra's al Ghul and Shiva instructs Signal uses his command over darkness to further "convince" him. After experiencing Duke's power Tolan breaks and tells the team that Ra's is currently on the move to Japan. Lady Shiva informs Batman of the new intel and both teams move to rendezvous in Japan to intercept Ra’s.

Issue #15

In Japan, The Outsiders and Batman hunt down Nato, a mercenary who provided Ra’s al Ghul with weapons and armed men. The team capture him and he is forcefully interrogated by Batman and Sofia. They learn that Ra’s came to Tokyo for the Master Group, a consortium of powerful corporate leaders in real estate, media, and tech who deal in unofficial and unregulated backroom dealings. Elsewhere Batman informs the rest of the team about the Master Group and Ra's' plan for the weapon. As a major factor contributing to the persistence of widespread injustice in the world, Batman understands that Ra’s is likely planning on using his weapon to destroy the group and destabilize the modern world. He tells the Outsiders that the primary goal is not to protect the leaders but to destroy the weapon and prevent another China incident. Jefferson uses his new abilities to sense to pin-point the location of Ra’s via the weapon and the Outsiders mobilize.

Elsewhere in Tokyo, Ra's al Ghul and his men are informed of Batman's assault in his Khadym facility and the destruction of it's Lazarus Pit. Ra's is unconcerned, dismissing the attack as desperation, then proceeds with his plan to attack the Master Group meeting. The League of Shadows attack the meeting and kill all of the Masters except Jennifer Cunningham, the owner of a large media company, whom he uses to broadcast his manifesto worldwide. Ra's begins to power up his weapon but it's connection to the Earth's electromagnetic field is blocked by Black Lightning, as Batman and the Outsiders arrive to take him down once and for all.

Issue #16

Black Lightning continues to hold the power of Ra's and his weapon at bay. While the Demon’s Head is infused with alien technology, Black Lightning (now armed with a new level of power) digs deep and is determined to stop him once and for all. Meanwhile, inside the office building, Batman and the Outsiders face down Ra’s al Ghul and his men. Feeling Black Lightning's interference with the weapon's control over the electromagnetic force, Ra’s uses his new abilities to blast the team, knocking them all down. He then uses his new abilities to fly up the building for a showdown with Jefferson and leaves The Outsiders to his men. Black Lightning and Ra’s al Ghul meet face to face in the sky above Tokyo. They trade offers for the other to join their side but neither men are willing to oblige. With one single power lightning blast, Jefferson overwhelms Ra’s and sends him into building. Jefferson refuses to kill Ra's and the Demon vows to aim his war at him. Black Lightning then he blasts the villain once more and blows him across the city.

Back inside, the League move to attack the team while everyone except Orphan is still downed from Ra's' attack. Shiva urges Cassandra to not hold back and show everyone who she truly is. Cassandra obeys her mother and begins to single-handedly battle the League as the team to recovers. As her daughter dispatches the League, Lady Shiva encourages Batman to allow Cassandra to go beyond his shadow and his teachings. By the time the team fully recovered Orphan had beaten all of the League of Shadow's men. With the League defeated, Batman expresses pride in The Outsiders and acknowledges that they no longer need his support anymore. He has one more request for them but says he'll only tell them once they return to Gotham.

Issue #17

North of Gotham City, Bruce and the Outsiders gather at a private ranch to celebrate their victory over the League of Shadows. He gifts Sofia with a horse and ownership of the property as well as workers to help maintain it. Sofia is grateful but she is skeptical is Bruce if actually intends to have her continue to be a superhero. Bruce tells her she could help a lot of people but that's a conversation for another time. Meanwhile, Lady Shiva and Duke discuss his identity and the changes to his powers. Duke is uncertain about his new abilities but still believes in his role as the Signal, but Sofia is less confident about fighting crime Batman’s way. Shiva says she is willing to teach Duke and offers to leave him with a way to contact her if he ever wants her to.

Bruce has the Outsiders join him for a dinner. After the dinner, Jefferson speaks with Katana and expresses uncertainty over where he should go next. Tatsu offers him the chance to come and train with her on her journey to master the new magical abilities she acquired on their mission to Realm of the Sword. Elsewhere, Bruce speaks to Cassandra and tells her he didn’t make her Batgirl or take her in like he did the previous Robins because her unique abilities required a different upbringing. He tells her that, despite this, he does trust and have faith in her, and he believes in her no matter what she does. Cassandra is overwhelmed with emotion and they embrace. Meanwhile, Lady Shiva meets with Sofia. Despite her initial distrust of the assassin, Shiva gets Sofia to admit that simply jailing criminals isn’t sufficient justice for her and Shiva offers to take Sofia with her and see what justice she can offer.

Hours later, Bruce wakes up on the floor. realizing Shiva drugged his tea, he runs downstairs to find the house empty, save for Shiva. She admits to drugging him but also explains that everyone wanted to leave before he woke up. Duke and Cassandra returned to Gotham to meet with Stephanie Brown and Jefferson and Tatsu left together on their own journey. When Bruce asks where Sofia is, Shiva reveals that she’s leaving with her and threatens him not to pursue her. Bruce does not approve of Shiva taking Sofia but Shiva retort that it's the least he could do since he took Cassandra. Outside, Shiva and Sofia leave together, while Bruce is left alone in the house.

Featured
Characters:


 * Batman
 * The Outsiders
 * Signal
 * Black Lightning
 * Katana
 * Orphan
 * Sofia Ramos

Antagonists:


 * Ra's al Ghul
 * League of Assassins

Other Characters:



Locations:



Continuity

 * The Batman and the Outsiders series concludes with this story arc.
 * This arc references Cassandra going to meet Stephanie Brown, which is a precursor to them becoming The Batgirls in __#_
 * The mention of Luthor’s current plan is a reference to the drama taking place across Scott Snyder’s run on the Justice League and Hell Arisen.