Batman’s Shadow War Kicks Off With a Shocking (and Permanent) Death

In a shocking turn of events in Shadow War: Alpha #1, Batman’s longest-lived nemesis seemingly meets his true end at the hands of Deathstroke.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Shadow War: Alpha #1, now on sale from DC Comics.

“Shadow War,” the latest event to rock Batman’s corner of the DC Universe, begins with a literal bang in Shadow War: Alpha #1 as Ra’s al Ghul is shot in the head and vaporized by a grenade.

The shocking murder occurs as Ra’s speaks at a press gathering in Washington, D.C. The eco-terrorist appears to have had a change of heart following recent events in writer Joshua Williamson’s Robin series, which saw him bonding with his grandson Damian Wayne, ruminating on the violence that he and the other members of the al Ghul family caused over the centuries and suffering from a mysterious illness that threatens to end his life. Inspired by his sudden mortality, Ra’s pledges to stop blaming humanity for the problems of the world and intends to share the secrets of the Lazarus Pits. Unfortunately, this altruistic plan comes to a sudden end as a bullet pierces Ra’s brain — and the sniper appears to be none other than Deathstroke.

RELATED: Shadow War’s Biggest Players Have Subverted the Worst Comic Book Trope

Batman, Robin and Talia al Ghul immediately go on the offensive. As Batman tackles Deathstroke to the ground, the assassin throws a grenade near Ra’s body and reveals a detonator. Deathstroke taunts, “You can either stop me or make sure Ra’s al Ghul still has a body to go into a Lazarus Pit,” as Robin runs to save his grandfather. As the detonator counts down to one, Batman makes a split-second decision and saves Robin instead of Ra’s, whose body is completely disintegrated by the blast.

The remainder of the issue deals with the fallout from Ra’s seemingly permanent demise. An angry Damian Wayne curses his father for failing to save Ra’s while Talia pledges vengeance against Deathstroke, gathering an army of assassins and mercenaries to destroy Slade Wilson and everyone associated with him. The final pages of Shadow War: Alpha end with the surprising revelation that Slade is completely unaware of the attack on Ra’s. As he watches the news feed of the event, Slade points out that he is innocent and the person who killed Ra’s is an imposter. Before he can elaborate further, a group of Talia’s assassins burst in to attack him.

Shadow War: Alpha, available in comic book stores and online now, kicks off a three-month crossover between Deathstroke Inc., Robin and Batman that delves into a family feud between Batman and Robin, Talia’s League of Shadows and the Secret Society of Super-Villains. The next chapter of the story, Batman #122, goes on sale on April 5.

KEEP READING: Where Are Shadow War’s Major Players Ahead of DC’s Next Event?

Source: DC Comics

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