Zero Year

Lore & Background

The story unfolds across three distinct arcs: 'Secret City', 'Dark City', and 'Savage City'. In 'Secret City', set three months before a catastrophic flood, Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after being presumed missing or traveling. He clashes with the Red Hood Gang, discovers his destiny in a bat-filled cave via a holographic projector showing a map of Gotham, and faces betrayal from his uncle Philip Kane and strategist Edward Nygma. 'Dark City' chronicles Bruce's first months as Batman, featuring confrontations with Doctor Death and the Riddler, who shuts off Gotham's power. A pivotal moment occurs when scientist Lucius Fox injects Bruce with an experimental antidote after being attacked by Doctor Death. The arc culminates in a battle atop an airship where Dr. Death is killed, but the Riddler succeeds in flooding the city. 'Savage City' depicts a post-flood Gotham under Riddler control, where Bruce fights lions in a pit to survive and uses them to track the Riddler's scent, ultimately restarting his own heart with a defibrillator-like device.

In Their Own Story

Gotham is destroyed by floodwaters, leaving Batman presumed dead. Five months prior, Bruce returns home, donning a disguise to fight Red Hood One before discovering the gang's plan to murder him. After surviving a brutal beating where the leader claims the Waynes' deaths changed him, Bruce finds the cave of bats using a three-dimensional map orb that shatters upon revealing his destiny. As Batman, he stops a robbery at Ace Chemicals, leading to the death of his uncle Philip at the hands of Red Hood One amidst a building fire. Later, Edward Nygma, as the Riddler, orchestrates a citywide blackout while Doctor Death unleashes a bone-toxin virus that twists victims' skeletons. Batman is wounded by police who mistake him for the murderer but is saved by Jim Gordon. In the final confrontation, the Riddler challenges Batman to solve riddles on an airship; Batman tames lions in a pit to buy time for Lucius Fox to locate the villain. The climax sees Batman attach himself to an electrode, turning the city's power back on with the force of his own pulse, saving Gotham from total destruction.

Reader's Guide

The event begins with Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham after years away, immediately facing the Red Hood Gang and refusing to take over Wayne Enterprises. Readers follow his transition as he meets his maternal uncle Philip Kane and encounters Edward Nygma, who plots against him. The narrative shifts when Bruce adopts the Batman persona to stop a robbery at Ace Chemicals, where he witnesses Philip's death and forms a tenuous partnership with Jim Gordon after being framed for murder by Doctor Death's toxin. Key moments include the Riddler shutting off power, the battle in the catacombs, and the destruction of an airship. The story concludes in 'Savage City' with Gotham flooded and under Riddler rule. Bruce must solve riddles to stop a military airstrike ordered to level the city. He restores power through his own heartbeat, leading to Nygma's imprisonment in Arkham Asylum. Finally, Alfred presents Bruce with a choice: live as Bruce Wayne or protect Gotham as Batman. Choosing the latter, he disappears into the night, leaving Julie Madison behind.

Did You Know?

• Issue #28 was repurposed as a preview for 'Batman Eternal' because Scott Snyder felt the original story material was too cramped and Greg Capullo needed more time to draw new scenes.
• In the 'Secret City' arc, Bruce Wayne finds his destiny when he uses a black orb to reveal a three-dimensional holographic map of Gotham City.
• During 'Dark City', Lucius Fox injects Batman with an experimental antidote after being attacked by Doctor Death, saving him from a bone-toxin that twists human skeletons.
• In 'Savage City', Bruce Wayne fights lions in a pit to survive and uses them to track the Riddler's scent during their final game.
• The crossover received critical acclaim specifically for its art, action, and Scott Snyder's writing, with Batman Volume 2 Issue 21 averaging an 8.5 out of 10 score.