10 Best Moments From Batman: Zero Year – Dark City

A still-very-green Batman takes on his biggest challenge yet: defeat the brilliant mind of the Riddler and save his city.

By Noel Thorne /

Dark City is the second act in Zero Year, the New 52 Batman origin story, set between Secret City, the first act, where Batman fought the Red Hood Gang and where the New 52 Joker seemingly gets his origin, and the forthcoming third and final act beginning next month, Savage City. And what an amazing ride it's been so far! Anyone who doubted Scott Snyder was somehow going to botch Batman's origins or that another Batman origin was pointless or that it'd somehow tarnish Frank Miller/David Mazzucchelli's Year One, have been proved wrong by the highly original, incredibly imaginative story that Snyder and Greg Capullo have created in Zero Year. In Dark City, the Riddler, aka Edward Nygma, has blacked out Gotham City and, while Batman struggles to hunt down Riddler and restore power, a mad scientist nicknamed Doctor Death is murdering Wayne Enterprises research staff. Bruce Wayne's distrust of the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) €“ including Jim Gordon €“ is explored, and Batman is still viewed by the police as a menace in league with the likes of Riddler and Red Hood. A still-very-green Batman must take on his biggest challenge yet: defeat the brilliant mind of the Riddler and save his city. But a storm's coming (Mr Wayne) and Batman will realise that he's underestimated his opponent €“ and failed Gotham. This is a look at the best moments from Dark City, taking in Batman #25, #26, #27 and #29 €“ why not #28? Because that wasn't a Zero Year issue, it was an early look at the forthcoming Batman: Eternal series. So putting aside two obvious points like Snyder's writing and Capullo's art €“ we'll take it as given that these are highlights of any comic they do €“ here are the best moments of Batman: Zero Year €“ Dark City. Light 'em up!