The Riddler: Year One (2022-) #5

The Riddler: Year One (2022-) #5

by Paul Dano, Bill Sienkiewicz (Cover Art), Stevan Subić (Penciller)

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.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels Comics

37 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2023

About the author

Paul Franklin Dano is an American actor. He began his career on Broadway. He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for his role in L.I.E. (2001) and gained wider recognition for playing a troubled teenager in Little Miss Sunshine (2006). For playing identical twins in Paul Thomas Anderson's period drama There Will Be Blood (2007), he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Dano had critically acclaimed roles in 12 Years a Slave and Prisoners (both 2013). For his portrayal of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014), he earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He played The Riddler in The Batman and a caring father in The Fabelmans (both 2022), receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for the latter.

Dano made his directorial debut with the drama film Wildlife (2018), based on the novel by Richard Ford; he co-wrote its screenplay with his partner, Zoe Kazan. Also in 2018, he starred as a convicted murderer in the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Dano has also written the comic book The Riddler: Year One (2022).

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to brilliant, though loss of a star as the style choices made it a bit hard to read/follow in places.

Aside from that, though, this was a fantastic representation of Riddler's descent into madness.

Artwork is exceptional and the storytelling is fantastic. You really feel that belief that he's a hero in his own mind - the depth expressed through this comic is sensational.

[Bryham Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it and can't wait to see the outcome!!. We continue with the introspective style both narratively and visually. In much of the story we actually see in first person the notes in Riddler's personal notebook. Paul Dano you are on fire babe!!

[spalanai ⛤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You say we have a choice. That we can make a difference. And like blind mice in the court of rats, we believe that maybe this time it is true.”

[Hannah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love fan girl riddler. This whole issue was him kicking his feet doodling in his diary about Batman, while also plotting crimes….

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

First a question: has anyone successfully translated the binary to text? I've tried a few combinations, but it's jibberish. If it really doesn't say anything, then I'm disappointed because they put so much effort into this rambling ledger and it's so easy to write the text and convert it to binary.

Anyway...

I read this with Dano in my head as he is in the final video he posts to his followers and it is nuts to hear it like that. It truly comes off as unhinged and hysterical even as he does down and calmly justifies it with wee bits of clarity. (Should I add that I've lost count of the number of times I've seen this movie?😅)

The side notes and doodles and evolution for the symbol, the costume, and his name...ok, the name thing made me lol when he was like Bat Man. Blank + man???

The one thing we still don't know is the one thing I want to know most. Who is Nygma? Who got this started? Is it a split personality? Is it another person? Is it a delusion? I'm learning toward the latter since it's one of the names he considers using.

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This was an experience. I've never read a comic like this before. The entire thing is laid out in Nashton's ramblings. It really puts you in to the frame of mind he's in going into the movie. Wow. It's as creepy as anything I've read and it really ramps up the anticipation of his plan in the film. Well done.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly Riddler it's supposed to be Batman and ROBIN

Seriously though, his decent into madness and a peak into his sanity is written so well, I'm starting to wonder what is going on inside Paul Dano's head

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series that gets better and better

Outstanding artwork, focus and direction. If you enjoyed The Batman? This prequel series is a must. Excellent writing and with an art direction to match.

[Simon Dufour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique.

I think that's what it is. I feel like a descent into madness.. and clearly, in the end, we seem to touch the bottom and cut our rope. I don't think there's any climbing back possible at this point.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a Riddler note book than a comic, but it was interesting. Gooing deeper and deeper into his crazy mind!

[alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best entry thus far, and I’m so excited to see how this ends!

[Jamie Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never seen panelling like this. Amazing art, but style over substance knocks off a star for me.

[SYD!!!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

the most direct link between movie and comic issue yet, i would say. honestly more of a graphic novel than i comic at this point.

[Axolotl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored how this mostly was a collage, really felt like he was actually ramping up to be the Riddler from the movie.

[Daniel Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started: 20/09/2023
Finished: 20/09/2023

[jay ‎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow he’s just like me

[mary !]

favorite one of this series by far

[ComicBookCult Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the tone and change in this issue, as the story goes on everything becoming more deranged. Love it.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a bit tougher to read because it consists of writing all over files and such.

[claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this issue was soooo good 🙏🙏 the art, the story, the planning ugh love!!

[njumpty · Rating 4 out of 5]

he's soo teenaged girl