The story was written with the intention of deepening Batman 's relationship with Alfred Pennyworth . Batman sees Alfred as a reminder of his parents' deaths, and an authoritative parental figure, while Alfred sees Batman as a spoiled brat squandering his heritage on his vigilante crusade, causing the two to be constantly at odds throughout the story. Batman clashes with the sadistic Black Mask, Black Mask is the most powerful man in the city, with a lot of money and resources, and he has control over Gotham's underworld crime, eliminating their opposition and consolidating his power. His mask hides his identity, allowing him to publicly operate as Roman Sionis, head of Janus Cosmetics.
