There are twists and turns aplenty, as Batman and Jim Gordon act on two fronts in a bid to stop Riddler bringing chaos to Gotham. If you’ve been around since the start of Zero Year, which post-dates this sequence, you’ll have an inkling as to how well they do, but the journey really is worth your time. Among other things, we’ve had background on Gordon’s difficult first days after joining Gotham PD, a glance back at Bruce’s world travels and an expanded look at the Waynes’ tragic trip to see Zorro at the cinema.
It’s the day of the cinema trip that opens this instalment, as we join Martha, Thomas and a contrite Bruce Wayne at police headquarters in a striking, silent page. Words just aren’t necessary as the demeanour of the Waynes tell its own story. And when the ‘sound comes on’, the family dynamic is so wonderful that it really makes me mourn for the loss that’s coming to Bruce. Snyder elegantly give us little moments that anticipate Bruce’s future without hitting us over the head with the Significant Stick.
For example, later in the issue, as the narrative rejoins the Zero Year ‘present day’, a fight between Batman and Dr Death plays out alongside a dialogue that likely inspires the bat-signal, while making sense of the Tokyo Moon flashback of a couple of issues back. The mad medic’s near-monologue also makes Bruce a little bit complicit in Gotham’s woes, in his own mind at least.
Elsewhere, Gordon tried to foil the Riddler’s plans at Wayne Tower in a scene that shows how entertainingly bonkers and dangerous Edward Nygma is. As a cop, Gordon tends to be reactive rather than proactive, so when he’s facing someone who’s had time to plan, an urban god of mischief, without the shoot-first ruthlessness of his colleagues he’s not going to win the day.
Meanwhile, we see that Commissioner Loeb isn’t a total stinker, but officer Dan Corrigan is. Alfred is off-panel but ever the voice of sanity. And the Bat Blimp makes its debut, and young Batman couldn’t be happier.
And the art! It’s simply sumptuous, full of striking illustrations which never fail to serve the storytelling. When, for example, one of the most iconic Batman images shows up, it’s a page-turn splash, perfectly placed within the issue as the only visual that would make sense here.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
I will say that I was disappointed that Snyder made Riddler yet another genocidal maniac–after a terribly convoluted scheme to get “complete control” of Gotham, the first and only thing Nygma does is an act which has to kill thousands. Because, well, just because, I guess.
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Damn you mart and Damn you snyder and capullo for making me regret not catching up on this book also mart when i do catch up should i read death of the family
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