Gotham by Day

Gotham by Day is the story featured in Batman and the Signal #1-3 by Tony Patrick and Cully Hamner, and is the debut of Duke Thomas as The Signal. The story follows Duke's first day as the Signal, as he investigates the sudden emergence and deaths of teen Metahumans across The Narrows.

5:00am
After over a year of training under Batman, Bruce surprised Duke with an upgraded suit and his very own base of operation; The Hatch. He had finally completed his training and, with Bruce's blessing, he took the codename  Signal . Duke was now ready to begin his mission as Gotham's daylight protector and help save young metahumans like himself.

The Signal's first solo mission was investigating the sudden emergence of young metahumans in The Narrows.

young people would go out partying and would wind up dead from overactive metagenes overwhelming their natural biology by morning.

7:00am
This led to The Signal coming into conflict with a metahuman named The Null.

Null gave Signal his first clue as to what's going on, repeatedly making reference to being part of a mysterious "Dial" before being defeated.

10:15am
After taking a sample of Null's blood, Duke, Izzy, and Riko analyzed the cells for any additional leads.

They learned that Null's cells were reactive to Duke, getting stronger when near him.

Izzy discovered that the city had turned the old Solarium into Juvie Arkham for metahuman delinquents, so The Signal went to see if the other metas would reactive similarly and hopefully find more leads.

11:03am
Signal used his photokinetic vision to infiltrate Juvie Arkham, but it was a trap.

12pm
Luckily, Detective Aisi was also investigating the metas in the Narrows and arrived just in time for Signal to narrowly escape the ambush.

12:42pm
At the Hatch, Duke being ambushed creates a rift between Izzy and Riko over his methods. Riko feeling they aren't taking his role as Signal seriously enough, seeing this as training to be the next Batman, she wants him to be more radical and aggressive. She quits the team, not wanting to see Duke get himself killed.

3:10pm
The Signal sneaks into the coroner's office to speak with Detective Aisi and compare notes. Using his photokinetic sight, he examines a sample of the organic tissue from one of the dead metahumans and discovers trace amounts of Nth metal embedded in the tissue. The metal, and the sample, appeared to be reacting to both Duke and something in the air: sunlight. That's when Signal noticed a strange solar pattern radiating from the solar arc above the newly developed Gotham Proper housing project. they deduce that Gotham is "the Dial" Null was speaking of. someone is using the windows of Gotham Proper to supercharge sunlight and direct it toward different sections of the city like a sundial, creating metahumans across The Narrows.

Knowing the building was built through Wayne industries, Signal goes to confront Batman.

4pm
At the Batcave, Duke questions Bruce, accusing him of harnessing the sun using Gotham Proper to create metahuman and manufacturing his origin as a test run.

Gnomon reveals he was the one creating metahumans and he is making his presence known now to ask Duke join him.

Gnomon declares Gotham is for Duke as he displays his master plan, activating innumerable metahumans, all chanting Signal's name, across the Narrows.

At the Batcave, Duke accuses Bruce of being the one responsible for harnessing the sun via Gotham Proper. His theory being, Bruce manufactured his origin as a test run for a scheme to create a metahuman army. Before Bruce could defend himself the Bat computer is hijacked by a man calling himself Gnomon, who reveals he is the one creating metahumans. He then shows a live broadcasts of The Narrows overrun with innumerable metahumans, all chanting Duke's name, and wreaking havoc across the city. Gnomon extends an invitation to Duke to join him and declaring Gotham belongs to him. The Batfamily are scrambled to protect Gotham.

5pm
When Signal and Batman arrive on the scene the Batfamily are spread thin across the borough, trying to contain the metahumans and being overwhelmed. Batman's sensors point to Gnomon being in Gotham Tower but Signal detects the source of the light signature coming from the solar arc above Gotham Proper. Unsure which way to go, Batman reaffirms Signal's place in Gotham's pantheon of heroes and the two split up. En route, Signal recognizes the sunlight's signature, it's the signature of light reflecting off of and being filtered through 8th Metal. Signal realizes that Gnomon must have some kind of 8th Metal machine in the needle of the solar arc, which means that's where the Gnomon will be.

5:20pm
(batman falls for a trap)

5:23pm
Signal arrives at Gotham Proper just as Aisi and the GCPD clear the area of civilian. They use Detective's resident key pass and enter the building together to confront Gnomon.

5:30
Signal and Detective Aisi make their the solar observatory but the detective is immediately incapacitated by Gnomon with a mental command. Now face to face, Gnomon reveals his relationship with Duke. Years ago, Duke's mother Elaine was made an offer by The Immortal Man to use her powers in his immortal war for good. She declined and chose to flee to Gotham with their secrets and Gnomon's unborn child: Duke. Gnomon searched for them for years, until the day a jokerized Elaine momentarily reactivated to save her son. Once he found there in Gotham, he set in motion his plans for Duke. He created the 8th metal machine to react to and bolster the similar genetic characteristics of their powers, using the solar arc and metahumans to take over Gotham as an inheritance for Duke. Signal could physically feel the truth of Gnomon's words but power through to try and stop Gnomon.

Signal tries to take down Gnomon but he's too skilled and too quicker to react for his future sight. He then goes for the 8th Metal machine but sees a vision of it exploding if he tries to use his powers to stop it. Out of moves, Signal was at the mercy of Gnomon when Detective Aisi recovers, managing to shoot and subdue Gnomon.

7:00pm
With no other options to stop the metas, Signal leaves bringing in Gnomon to the detective and resolves to overload the machine with his powers; regardless of what may happen to him. Once Aisi and Gnomon were clear of the observatory Signal overloads the machine. the machine explodes, Signal is launched from the solar arc by the explosion, and Gnomon slips away in the chaos.

Duke is falling to his death when Batman swoops in, just in the nick of time, and saves Signal from certain death. He congratulate Signal on a successful first day.

The Next Day
The next day Duke has breakfast with the Batfamily, finally feeling like he's earned his seat at the table. He then goes to see his parents and tries to get answers about Gnomon from his mother to no avail. We see Gnomon is still lurking in Gotham, with his eyes set on his next scheme.

7:00am

Duke meets up with Detective Aisi, atop of the GCPD headquaters, ready to get to work once more as the Signal