It begins when that most compelling of costumed heroes, Batman, learns that his old enemy, the mysterious and possibly immoral Rā's al Ghūl, has abducted a scientist who specializes in studying Earth's ozone layer. Batman pursues Rā's to a vast arctic fortress where he discovers that Rā's has begun a scheme to save the Earth's deteriorating atmosphere, but at a terrible cost. He meets Evelyn, the aged film star to whom Rā's has given the gift of a second youth. And he again faces Talia, Rā's's daughter and the only women Batman has ever truly loved. Then, when Batman refuses Rā's's offer of a partnership, he finds himself fighting for his life, binside theethe fortress and in the merciless emptiness of the icy wastes outside. He is the most resourceful man alive, although altough the odds are overwhelmingly against him, he just might win. But if he does, will the Earth itself lose?