Trials of the Demon! - Recap

Scarecrow and Scream Queen are in a diplidated manor preparing pumpkin bombs when Batman and the Golden Age Flash break in. Scarecrow throws a pumpkin at them, revealing that it contains his patented fear gas. The villain boasts that he has rigged every pumpkin in the city the same way. Flash disperses the gas with a burst of superspeed before it can affect them, then runs off to get all of the pumpkins. Scarecrow sends Scream Queen after him and then tells his skeleton-costumed men to attack. Batman easily defeats them but finds himself face-to-face with Scarecrow, armed with a scythe.



Scream Queen flies after the Flash, emitting sonic screams. He manages to dodge most of them while grabbing the pumpkins, but Scream Queen nails him. As she moves in for the kill, Flash jams a pumpkin into her gaping maw and the gas causes her to hallucinate him as a fearsome monster. At the manor, Batman knocks Scarecrow down and breaks the scythe. Scarecrow runs out the door only to find himself surrounded by all the pumpkins that Flash collected. They fall over on him, pinning him to the ground. The townspeople arrive demanding to know who stole their pumpkins. Batman makes a quick exit, leaving Flash to explain.



In 19th century London, a woman is walking the streets when a coach pulls over. Its occupant, a shadowy figure in a black cloak carrying a skull cane, offers her a ride. Nearby, Sherlock Holmes and his close friend Watson are on the streets investigating a case when they hear the woman scream. They follow the sound and find that the woman is lying in the street, in a mystic coma. The townspeople arrive and suspect a stranger who recently moved in, Jason Blood. They storm his house, unaware that Blood is preparing a potion and drawing a chalk circle. When they break in, Blood attempts to transform into his demonic alter-ego, Etrigan, but the townspeople knock him out halfway through the necessary incantation. They use iron shackles to constrain Blood and take him away over Holmes’ deductions that Blood is innocent.

Holmes compares Blood’s handwriting to the footprints at the crime scene and deduces that Blood is not the killer. Noticing the potion and the chalk circle, Holmes pours the potion onto the chalk.

In the present, Batman is battling Crazy Quilt, an art-obsessed villain. Batman easily disposes of him but a glowing circle suddenly appears and transports him to the 19th century. Sherlock Holmes quickly deduces that Batman is a rich man who had a doctor as a father and suffered a childhood trauma, but is astonished that Batman identifies him at a glance.

Holmes informs Batman that Blood attempted to summon him originally and that the townspeople have him outside. Batman sweeps down and rescues Blood just before the townspeople can burn him to death. The meet with Holmes and Watson, and the Great Detective tells them that he been investigating the case of eight women who were found in magical comas. The seventh victim had a note on her and Holmes concludes from it that the malefactor is at a church with gargoyles. Batman corrects him, determining that the note is a taunt directed at Blood and his alter ego. They hear a scream. Blood transforms into the Demon Etrigan and the heroes follow the sound. The cloaked figure is guiding another woman, the ninth victim, into his carriage. Etrigan attempts to intervene but the figure summons a demon snake to oppose the hero. The figure uses an ancient horn to cast a spell on the woman, draining her of much of her life force. Batman approaches and sees the figure clearly: it’s Gentleman Jim Craddock, fated to become the Gentleman Ghost.



Craddock uses his cane to transform Batman’s cape into a demon-bat that lifts the Caped Crusader high into the air. Batman fires a grappling hook and stops the demon bat, and the recoil slams the creature into the ground. Etrigan breathes mystic flame to destroy the demon snake and checks on Batman. Etrigan lends a hand, defeating the bat-demon, but Batman’s costume is ruined. Etrigan mystically summons a Bat costume more suitable to the period, then changes back to Blood. They examine the woman as Holmes and Watson arrives. As Batman explains that he knows Craddock from the future, Holmes examines a footprint. They go back to Blood’s home to research the horn, while Holmes goes off on his own and Watson informs the police to keep everyone off the streets.

Craddock has fled to a windmill in the countryside, and uses a mirror to speak with Asteroth, his mystical patron. Asteroth warns him he’s not immortal yet.

Blood identifies Wagner’s Horn, belonging to Asteroth, who he defeated centuries early with the help of Merlin. Batman concludes that Craddock will become immortal when he sacrifices ten souls, and Asteroth can use the souls to break free of his Underworld prison. Watson arrives to tell them that Holmes has located Craddock and is going to arrest him.

At the windmill, Craddock attacks Holmes and quickly knocks him out. Craddock prepares to use Wagner’s Horn to take the tenth soul, but Batman and Etrigan arrive. Craddock casts down a ring which becomes the nose-ring of a giant demon. Craddock captures Holmes in animated vines, Etrigan directs Batman to pull the nose ring from the demon. The Caped Crusader does so, sending the demon back, but Craddock completes the ritual and summons a portal to take him to the Underworld.



Etrigan and Batman leap through the portal. Craddock is out of Batman’s range so Etrigan throws the Caped Crusader at Craddock then leaps across the molten lava to follow. Asteroth emerges from the lava and attacks Etrigan. Meanwhile, Craddock demands to know how Batman recognized him. Batman explains that in the future Craddock is a ghost but Craddock doesn’t believe him. Asteroth casts Etrigan into the pit and the demon sinks into the flames. Batman tries to warn Craddock that Asteroth will betray him. The demon knocks Batman back but Craddock demands that Asteroth fulfill his part of the bargain first.



Craddock feels the energy of immortality fill his body. Etrigan leaps from the lava and attacks him before he can hand over the horn. Craddock uses his iron cane to burn Etrigan, and Asteroth attacks Etrigan. However, Etrigan managed to grab Wagner’s Horn. Asteroth beats him repeatedly until Batman tries to distract him. Asteroth knocks him back and he lands near Craddock’s iron skull cane. Etrigan attacks Asteroth once more and tells Batman to throw him the cane. Etrigan catches it and throws it down Asteroth’s throat, banishing him once and for all. Etrigan opens the horn, releasing the souls, and Batman collects Cradock.



Later, Blood draws the circle and thanks Batman for his help. Holmes asks how he knew who he was, and Batman admits that everyone knows he’s the world’s greatest detective. Watson wonders what will happen to Craddock and Holmes is sure the highwayman will get his just reward.

Sometime later, Craddock is hung and buried. His ghost emerges from his grave and swears vengeance on Batman no matter how long it takes.

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