Bruce Wayne manages to figure out that the creep is an Egomaniac Hunter called The Stalker ('The Hunter' was already taken), and finds the hotel room where he's waiting for Terry. The Stalker himself exposits more to Matt while they're waiting for Terry to show up; he was a normal poacher until he underestimated a panther he stalked and got his back broken. He was saved by a surgery that gave him a cybernetic spine, but now that he's superhuman, hunting normal prey is no longer challenging enough. So now, he's hunting Batman, who he sees as a sort of body-hopping spirit possessing the greatest warrior of each generation.
Batman may in reality be just a series of people who happen to think dressing up as bats to fight crime is a good idea, but he does pose a challenge. He even manages to turn the Stalker's cybernetic implants against him, shorting out his cybernetic eyes and causing him to hallucinate, scaring him into the path of a train. Batman then saves Matt, and all is well at the McGinnis household.
Tropes featured
- Big Brother Instinct: Sure, Matt may annoy Terry as in any sibling relationship. But, you're a dead man if you dare endanger Matt's well-being...or at least, beaten until you're literally bleeding.
- Egomaniac Hunter: The Stalker before he was wounded after underestimating a wounded panther.
- Electronic Eyes: In addition to his artificial spine, the Stalker has cybernetic eyes. When he gets electrocuted, they malfunction and cause hallucinations (complete with static).
- Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: The Stalker believes Batman to be some kind of dark spirit, inhabiting each generation's greatest warrior. He views this as the only prey that might still challenge him.
- Meat Grinder Surgery: In a flashback, it's clear this is how Stalker's spine was fixed, as the doctors clearly used no anaesthetic whatsoever. Despite (or maybe because of) this, the surgery seemed high-tech.
- Mugging the Monster: A random Jokerz member tries to mug Terry while he's running from the Stalker. Terry one-shots him without breaking his stride.Mook: Your money or a pie!
Terry: Some other time. (punch) - Mr. Exposition: Stalker seemed all too willing to explain his history and intentions to an imprisoned Matt.
- Nice to the Waiter: Zigzagged. After the Stalker's belongings are brought to his hotel room, the bellboy holds out his hand, expecting a tip. The Stalker walks straight past him. He later proves much nicer to his hostage. Possibly justified because said hostage is a child.
- No Challenge Equals No Satisfaction: The episode's plot is kicked off by Stalker being depressed that no prey is too difficult for him to hunt.
- Nothing Personal: His attitude towards Matt after kidnapping him. Matt is The Bait for the guy he wants.
- Pie in the Face: The Jokerz grunt gets his face shoved into his own pie by the Stalker.
- Villainous Breakdown: After he's given an electric shock, the Stalker starts having hallucinations of the panther that maimed him, causing him to flee in terror.
- Wouldn't Hurt a Child: Downplayed. The Stalker had no problem kidnapping Matt and putting him in a cage as bait, but makes clear he has no intention of actually harming him (for practical and personal reasons). When Matt asks him if he plans on cutting out his heart and eating his liver, The Stalker simply remarks for him not to be so dramatic.
