Lazarus Pit
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A Lazarus pit is a fictional natural phenomenon in the DC Comics universe, primarily in the Batman titles, used most commonly by Ra's al Ghul to regenerate his body. The fanatical terrorist known as Kobra also had his own hidden network of Lazarus Pits.
If used to bring someone back to life, that person is rendered temporarily insane. It has been used by multiple characters throughout the Batman universe, including Ra's al Ghul's daughter Nyssa, The Black Canary, The Riddler, and most recently it has possibly been used by Lady Shiva and Cassandra Cain. Eventually all of the Lazarus Pits were apparently destroyed by Bane and Batman, except for one. Since the Lazarus Pits can reportedly only be used one time, Ra's had to accept the fact that eventually he would die. His daughter Nyssa, however, had discovered a way to make the Lazarus Pits last indefinitely, but rather than let her father use it, she stabbed him to death. Although supposedly only one pit remains, its location has appeared vague - at one point it appears to be in an island compound Ra's assaulted, later it appeared to be in a completely different location, and another "last" pit was constructed inside the Batcave. This may in fact indicate that there is more than one pit remaining, or that Nyssa was able to create additional pits.
The substance that fills each pit is a chemical blend of unknown composition, seemingly originating from somewhere within the Earth's crust. For an unknown reason, it bubbles to the surface only at certain key points around the globe, typically at the junction of ley lines. The chemicals can rejuvenate the sick and the dying (and even the recently deceased), but will typically kill a healthy user. Kobra was somehow able to replicate the chemicals in a Lazarus Pit, and to make pits capable of making those he resurrected into his mindless slaves.
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