DC High Volume: Batman — Dark Victory, Chapter 7

Podcast: DC High Volume: Batman
Host: DC | Realm
Episode: Batman: Dark Victory - Chapter 7
Date: September 10, 2025

Overview

In this gripping installment of DC High Volume: Batman, Chapter 7 of "Dark Victory" dives deeper into the Hangman killings, exploring both Batman’s isolation and the increasingly complex web of suspects surrounding the murders of Gotham’s police officers. As trust between Batman, Gordon, and their allies is strained, all evidence appears to implicate Harvey Dent (Two-Face), but nothing is as clear-cut as it seems. The episode delves into Batman’s methodical (yet sometimes lonely) investigations, the shifting alliances within Gotham’s criminal underworld, and the emotional cost of the vigilante crusade.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

1. The Hangman Murders Continue (00:45 – 05:00)

• The police and Batman are both under strain, as the Hangman killer strikes yet again, this time with the murder of Watch Commander Stan Merkel on St. Patrick’s Day.
• The killer targets only police, with the murders occurring on various holidays, evoking Gotham’s previous Holiday killings.
• Batman’s Voice-over: “None of you are safe was the message… That makes anyone a suspect. Even me.” (01:29)

2. Batman at Odds with Gotham PD and Investigating in Isolation (02:55 – 03:45)

• Batman finds himself at odds with the police, especially as orders against him intensify, despite Gordon reminding the officers of Batman's value.
• Commissioner Gordon (to his officers): “Batman is not the enemy. Despite what any of you might believe, if you had the slightest grasp of the good he’s done for Gotham City. For all of us who wear a badge.” (03:01)

3. Two-Face’s Criminal Courtroom (05:00 – 08:30)

• In the Gotham City sewers, Two-Face presides over a "courtroom" of notable villains: Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, Riddler, Joker, and Calendar Man.
• Two-Face fixates on Calendar Man as a suspect, interrogating him about the Hangman killings, paralleling their own criminal branding and methods:
  • Two-Face: “Just as a man can change his face, he can change his crimes as well—to also include murder.” (07:40)
  • Calendar Man insists he never killed, highlighting how forgotten villains can become dangerous.

4. Falcone Family Tensions (08:30 – 10:41)

• At the Falcone estate, the power struggle among the Falcone siblings is exposed. Sophia confronts Alberto regarding his loyalties and an ominous package.
• The criminal families are as fractured as the city's law enforcement and masked community.

5. Batman’s Investigation Under Pressure (10:41 – 15:00)

• At Wayne Manor, Batman analyzes the Hangman clues, with Alfred providing perspective and gentle challenges to Bruce’s obsessive solitary work.
  • Alfred (on Batman’s isolation): “The only problem with being alone, Master Bruce, is being alone.” (15:08)
  • Batman realizes the incongruities in the Hangman’s game — “It’s almost as if there is no way to win the game,” (12:30) and puzzles over who would most benefit from framing Harvey Dent.

6. Tensions Between Batman and Gordon (17:49 – 20:30)

• Batman saves Gordon from a Hangman trap on the rooftop, only for Two-Face to reveal himself (without confirming or denying guilt), further muddling the investigation.
  • Commissioner Gordon: “Batman. Did you believe him? Does Two Face tell the truth? Isn’t that what he is? Two Faced?” (20:18)
  • The discovery of an old police report among the clues further suggests a connection between the Hangman’s recent killings and older cases involving both Dent and the Falcone family.

7. Mob Families Plotting and the Circus Tease (21:30 – 22:58)

• The mob plot thickens at the Ace Trucking Company as Maroni associates plan to surpass both the Falcone organization and newer "costumed freaks."
• Circus posters tease the Graysons, laying groundwork for the future origin of Robin.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Commissioner Gordon (on Batman):
  • "Batman is not the enemy. Despite what any of you might believe, if you had the slightest grasp of the good he's done for Gotham City. For all of us who wear a badge." (03:01)
• Two-Face (pressuring Calendar Man):
  • “Just as a man can change his face, he can change his crimes as well—to also include murder.” (07:40)
• Alfred (to Batman):
  • “The only problem with being alone, Master Bruce, is being alone.” (15:08)
• Gordon and Batman discuss trust:
  • Gordon: “Did you believe him? Does Two Face tell the truth? Isn’t that what he is? Two Faced?” (20:18)
  • Batman: “He could have set up your hanging just to throw us off. Or maybe he was telling us that Harvey wasn’t the hangman. But Two-Face is.”

Timed Segment Guide

| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |-----------------|---------------------------------------------------| | 00:45–01:33 | Narration sets the scene, Hangman kills Merkel | | 02:55–03:45 | Conflict between Batman and police on procedure | | 05:00–08:30 | Two-Face’s mock trial of Calendar Man and villains| | 08:30–10:41 | Falcone family intrigue at the estate | | 10:41–14:45 | Batman and Alfred analyze clues at Wayne Manor | | 15:08 | Alfred’s soliloquy about isolation | | 17:49–20:30 | Batman rescues Gordon from Hangman trap, encounter with Two-Face| | 21:30–22:58 | Mob plotting at Ace Trucking; tease of the Flying Graysons|

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a brooding, noir atmosphere steeped in suspicion and moral ambiguity. Dialogue-heavy, with internal monologue and gritty exchanges, it adheres closely to the tone of DC’s “Long Halloween” and “Dark Victory” comics.

Takeaways

• The Investigation Deepens: Batman is both convinced and haunted by his inability to fully trust anyone—including himself.
• Old Enemies and Alliances: Both the underworld and the GCPD are torn between loyalty and suspicion, with old cases resurfacing to haunt the present.
• Isolation & Doubt: Batman’s loner crusade leaves him emotionally and strategically vulnerable, a theme reinforced by Alfred and the absence of key allies like Catwoman and Gordon.
• Next Steps: The Graysons’ introduction signals the coming legacy of Robin, while the fractured crime families and unresolved Hangman killings set the stage for explosive confrontations ahead.

Episode Rating: A dense, suspenseful chapter that both honors and expands on classic Batman storytelling, rich with noir intrigue and emotional complexity.