4. Riddler As A Viable Threat
One of the most remarkable accomplishments Snyder's pulled off in Zero Year is the way he's made Riddler into a genuine threat, not just to Batman, but to Gotham City as well. Riddler doesn't have superpowers and he's always been seen as a gimmicky villain, a joke even, who speaks in riddles and wears clothes covered in question marks hardly someone you'd think would be a challenge to the Dark Knight. But he does have brains and Snyder employs Riddler's sharp intelligence and cunning mind to devastating effect. Riddler takes down Gotham's power, throwing the city into nocturnal chaos, gives the GCPD information to help them fight Batman, and finally, in the insanely action-packed finale to Dark City, begins blowing up the blimps Bruce donated to the GCPD, and demolishes the sea walls, causing Gotham to become flooded. Dark City ends with Riddler winning, having beaten Batman. The Riddler. Who'da thunk it? Scott Snyder that's who. And kudos to the man for taking a classic Batman villain and making him work so well in a contemporary Batman story.