• I awake to find my hands and feet bound. I'm laid out on the table, tied down. Standing above me is a man in a white shirt, black bow tie and white apron with splattered blood stains. He wears a pig mask over his face. Normally I would find such a sight amusing, but for now I'm scared out of my mind. Around him are men - or women, I'm not sure which - in grotesque doll masks, complete with red hair like Raggedy Ann. One of them holds a tray of surgical tools. Seeing this makes my heart skip a beat.

    “Hello, Charlie. I wanted to wait until you were awake before we began the transformation.”

    “Transformation? What are you talking about? For that matter, who are you?” I spoke with fear in my voice. Here I was, one of the toughest mob enforcers in the city, shaking like a scared child.

    “I'm Professor Pyg and you now work for me. Starting tonight, I rule Gotham City and you will be transformed into one of my dolls. I will not lie to you, Charlie; this will hurt, but then there is always pain when the ugliness is burned away. Bring his new face.”

    I smell the ammonia as they place the mask over my face. I feel the burn and all I can think is that there is no God. As I slip into darkness I hear Professor Pyg's words:

    “Now my army of dolls will over run Gotham City, and when Batman and Robin interfere, they will fall before my Circus of the Strange.”

    And somehow I believe he can do it; he can take over Gotham City.