(Catwoman III #48, 49) - Strange called a meeting of his East End crew for a progress report. Captain Cold chased two costumed villains out of town who were trying to horn in on their action, Angle Man said he was working angles, and Smart Bomb, Hammer and Sickle forced local car thieves to pay tribute. Cheetah had been defeated by Batman, and arrested by the GCPD. Smart Bomb was visibly surprised when Strange told him Catwoman was also part of their syndicate. Smart Bomb / Sam reported to Carl Worth and James Lenahan that Strange was keeping him busy making sure they were the only game in town, and he was doing his best to make sure no one got killed. Lenahan said not to try too hard, because the East End could do with a few less live criminals, and Sam told him to watch it. Angle Man was trailing him, and he claimed that the cops he was talking to were crooked and looking for some business with him. Angle Man was unconvinced, and trailed him again, witnessing his meeting with Catwoman, who laid out her plan to take down Strange's men. Angle Man confronted Catwoman, telling her he knew what she was up to. She said Strange would never believe a nobody like him over a professional like her, but he produced a tape recording of her conversation with Smart Bomb. He said he was sick of noone taking him seriously, and could deal with Strange speaking condescendingly to him, but not Catwoman. He produced a gun, and shot her in the stomach. Angle called Strange, who brought along Smart Bomb and Hammer, and Strange gave him permission to finish off Catwoman, so he stabbed her in the head with an angle. Sam wanted to end the investigation when he believed Strange had Catwoman killed, but Commissioner Akins told him to remain on the case until he had evidence of bigger crimes than the death of one person. Catwoman had faked her own death, and ran Strange's men out of town.

(Catwoman III #50, 51) - Worth and Lenahan interrogated Angle Man, asking him why he didn't use his angles that bent time or controlled gravity anymore, and Angle Man admitted he'd lost some of his tech, and the rest had been stolen. They brought out an old explosive angle from evidence, which the bomb squad assured them was disabled, and said he'd be doing them and himself a favor if he revealed how his tech worked. The bomb squad didn't know how to properly disarm the weapon, so Angle Man turned his weapon on and blew a hole through the floor, escaping. Lanahan contacted Smart Bomb, telling him Angle Man had escaped. They wanted him to contact him, but not apprehend him, because word on the street was that he had a connection with Black Mask. Smart Bomb found Angle Man hiding in an alley, and nearly blew him up with a rocket, still furious that he was willing to kill Catwoman. Angle Man convinced him to calm down, and said that with his smarts and connections he could hook Smart Bomb up. They met with Black Mask, who agreed with Angle Man's assessment that Catwoman needed to die for humiliating them, but said first they'd be targeting someone close to her. Once the idea of torture came up, Smart Bomb said he was out and left the meeting. He contacted Lenahan and said he had to break cover to save Holly, and Lenahan, despite his orders from the Commissioner, told him to do it. Smart Bomb broke into Black Mask's dungeon, and took down Mask and Angle, only to discover that instead of Holly they'd decided to abduct and brutalize Slam Bradley. He took off his mask, cradled his nearly lifeless father, and when Catwoman arrived for the aftermath she was surprised to learn Smart Bomb's identity.

(Catwoman III #52) - Sam flew Slam to the hospital, and despite his injuries he was tough, and looked to pull through. Sam visited Selina Kyle at home, and she wondered if he'd figured out her secret identity by himself, because he was very much his father's son. He said Slam had a GCPD officer guarding him at the hospital, but Selina said that wouldn't help her, and she'd have to be proactive taking down Black Mask. Lenahan informed Sam that he was off the force for his breakin, and would likely face criminal charges since Black Mask was suing the city. Lenahan said he never liked Sam, seeing him as an uptight prig who coasted on his father's reputation, but he deserved to know what was coming and get ahead of it. Sam agreed to help Selina, breaking the Smart Bomb suit out of evidence. Angle Man had sabotaged the suit, and Sam made a crash landing into a rooftop, barely clinging to life as he was rushed to the hospital. Catwoman visited Slam in the hospital, and even though he was comatose she felt the need to talk to him. She'd almost decided that to keep her friends safe she'd have to take out Black Mask permanently. She broke into Black Mask's penthouse, and shot him in the head, killing him.

(Catwoman III #58 (fb)) - Black Mask's lieutenant Xavier Dylan discovered his body, and said reprisal had to be swift and brutal. Catwoman overheard him ordering Martin and Lewis to Gotham General to kill Sam Bradley, Jr. Catwoman rushed to the hospital, but the two thugs fought well in tight quarters. Sam woke up, and shot Louis, saving her life before passing out again. Catwoman was amazed at his fortitude, and thought she might be in love.

(Catwoman III #59 (fb), 60 (fb)) - Selina told Sam that Black Mask's death had left a power void that his loyal lieutenants would soon fill, and they decided they had to take extreme measures to destroy the False Face Society once and for all, even if it meant their own deaths. Selina had one other thing to bring up, the obvious attraction they had for each other since the day they met. Sam agreed there was something there, but the circumstances were strange, and Selina replied that falling for someone while undercover in a criminal gang was normal in her world. Knowing they might not have another chance to express themselves they made love. Slam was cleared to leave the hospital, and told Sam he was glad Blask Mask had been killed. Sam told him Lenahan suspected Catwoman, and Slam said that was impossible, bragging about how well he knew her. Sam said they had to have a little talk about Catwoman.

(Catwoman III #62 (fb)) - Catwoman and Sam took out the remains of the False Face Society, taking apart their operation a piece at a time. They took down Xaviar Dylan, the second-in-command, and even though Catwoman originally intended to kill him, she decided she couldn't murder again, and handed him over to the authorities. The rush of their success ignited passion, and Sam and Catwoman made love again. Before long Selina realized she was pregnant, but before she could tell Sam he was abducted by Xaviar, who'd been released on bond. He tied up Sam and beat him, taking his cell and calling Catwoman to lure her to her death. Sam was being held in a kitchen, and when he realzied the stove had a gas leak he set off an explosion that destroyed Xavier's compound, killing him and his men. He was blown clear, but fatally wounded. Catwoman begged him to stay with her, saying he was going to be a father, and he passed on happy that Selina and their baby was safe.

Sam Bradley, Jr. had a cameo in Catwoman III #56.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © DC Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Official DC Comics Site at: http://www.batman.com