Riddler Year One (2022)

EDWARD BECOMES THE RIDDLER IN THIS FINAL ISSUE WRITTEN BY PAUL DANO! The time has come. Edward Nashton's long, painful psychological journey and downward spiral have finally brought him to the point where he is ready to take direct action against the corrupt of Gotham. Embittered and abandoned and believing the world is aligned against him, he's reached the time to lash out. His extensive research and clandestine operations have left him with a deeper knowledge of the city's web of criminality than anyone in Gotham. And now he knows exactly which targets to strike and when. As Edward finally dons the mask of the Riddler, the series ends right before the start of his first murderous attack, shown in the opening scene of Matt Reeves's film The Batman. Actor Paul Dano brought this character to life onscreen, and now he completes Edward's arc with this groundbreaking prequel. Together with renowned European artist Stevan Subic, Dano has crafted a disturbing and emotional tale, filling out the backstory of one of the most unique and terrifying villains faced by any version of the Dark Knight.

The penultimate issue of this hit miniseries features an unusual break in format, as we will see Edward Nashton constructing his master plan for taking down the corrupt officials and criminals of Gotham City in the pages of his journal. As his mind spirals deeper and deeper, so too does his writing become more unhinged. How can he continue to labor at his accounting job by day while also become more enraged by what he's uncovered? As shown in The Batman movie, Edward fills thousands of pages with his rantings. Here we get a glimpse into something that was never meant to be seen and a mind equally brilliant and unhinged. By the end, a turning point will be reached and Gotham's greatest menace will come one step closer to being unleashed. Actor Paul Dano (The Batman) and artist Stevan Subic continue the origin of the Riddler, leading up to his appearance in Matt Reeves's epic film.