Batman's Lost Money Was Just Stolen Back By [SPOILER]
While the Joker War began with Bruce Wayne losing all of his assets to the Joker himself, someone just stole some money back from Gotham's criminals
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Catwoman #25
In DC Comics, The Joker War began with Joker himself stealing all of Batman's money and assets, including his house, tech, gadgets, and the entirety of Wayne Enterprises. Now, as the war nears its end, someone just a stole a big chunk of those funds back. In Catwoman #25, Selina Kyle has finally entered the fray, joined by Penguin and the Riddler. Together, they make plans to rob the bank of the Underbroker, the man who manages all of the ill-gotten gains accrued by Gotham's worst criminals, including Joker's. However, one of them has ulterior motives beyond just filling their own pockets.
At the start of the war, Selina Kyle was injured by Joker's girlfriend Punchline after being tricked into helping steal the Wayne Foundation and its assets. Thankfully, the Penguin took it upon himself to rescue Selina from the hospital before Joker's goons could finish the job, taking her to his secret bunker along with the rest of Gotham's rogues who sought to wait out this latest Joker attack. However, once Selina heals up, she can't sit still and do nothing. She convinces Penguin and Riddler to come with her, and together they form a plan to rob the Underbroker and all of his accounts, including the account that holds a large portion of the funds seized by the Joker from Wayne Enterprises.
In Catwoman #25 from writer Ram V with art by Fernando Blanco, Riddler hacks into the security systems of the Underbroker's offices, remotely hacking into their accounts after weeks of preparation. Meanwhile, Penguin and his men keep the Joker's clowns busy under a hail of gunfire, making sure their attention is elsewhere and away from the offices. Catwoman infiltrates the offices herself, needing to physically initiate the funds transfer. However, Selina chooses not to send the money to the pre-agreed upon account.
As was her plan all along, Selina betrays Cobblepot and Nygma, using them so she can steal the funds back and put the money back in the accounts of Wayne Enterprises, covering its valuation before the theft. However, another chunk of the money Selina tasks to specifically go to the low-income population of Gotham's citizens, effectively giving back a large amount of money Gotham's criminals had stolen from them over the years.
It's a cool move on Selina's part. No doubt she felt guilty after being used by the Joker, with her own plan being used to steal Bruce Wayne's assets in the first place. Naturally, this was before Selina and Bruce became romantically entangled, but all the same, it was still her idea and concept from back in the day when she was more of a Batman rogues as opposed to the ally she's become. In any case, Catwoman's actions have now provided a means for Wayne Enterprises to continue its operations. However, it's implied that not all of the money was recovered, meaning that Batman probably won't be able to have a new multi-million dollar vehicle and/or gadget designed and fabricated for him every single issue like he had been before the Joker War. If anything, Catwoman has merely ensured that Wayne Enterprises can keep on operating, though Batman's resources will still probably be more reduced, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.