Heroes in Crisis # 1, released on September 26, 2018, is the debut of a nine-issue DC Comics limited series written by Tom King and illustrated by Clay Mann. Billed as a murder mystery, it explores how superheroes handle post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the emotional toll of their battles.
The issue centers on Sanctuary, an ultra-secret rehabilitation facility founded by Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Located on a remote farm in Nebraska, Sanctuary uses advanced artificial intelligence to help traumatized heroes process their experiences.
The narrative follows three main threads:
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The Massacre: Superman arrives at Sanctuary to find it has been violated by a mass murder. He discovers a high body count of fellow heroes, including Arsenal (Roy Harper) and Blue Jay.
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The Suspects: A violent confrontation occurs between Harley Quinn and Booster Gold in a diner; both are patients at Sanctuary and emerge as the prime suspects in the killings.
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The Confessionals: Dispersed throughout the issue are nine-panel pages of heroes directly facing the reader (representing the facility's cameras) to recount their trauma in "confessional" style.
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The DC Trinity (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman): The founders of Sanctuary who must lead the investigation into the murders.
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Harley Quinn & Booster Gold: Lead characters and primary suspects who blame each other for the massacre.
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Arsenal (Roy Harper) & Kid Flash (Wally West): Key heroes established early on as patients seeking help at the facility.