Batman: Zero Year
| "Zero Year" | |||
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| Publisher | DC Comics | ||
| Publication date | June 2013 – July 2014 | ||
| Genre | |||
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| Main character(s) | Batman, Alfred Pennyworth, Red Hood Gang, Edward Nygma, Superman, Barbara Gordon, Luke Fox, Black Canary, Catwoman, James Gordon, Barry Allen, John Stewart, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Kate Kane | ||
| Creative team | |||
| Writer(s) |
Scott Snyder James Tynion IV |
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| Artist(s) |
Greg Capullo Rafael Albuquerque |
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| Inker(s) | Danny Miki | ||
| Letterer(s) | Nick J. Napolitano Taylor Esposito Dezi Sienty |
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| Colorist(s) |
Dave McCaig FCO Plascencia |
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| Editor(s) | Mike Marts Katie Kubert |
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"Zero Year" is a yearlong comic book crossover event published by DC Comics that began in June 2013 and ended in July 2014, featuring the superhero Batman. The series is written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with artwork by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and Rafael Albuquerque.
The story is intended to redefine the origin of Batman in The New 52, being a fresh story unconnected to other interpretations such as Batman: Year One. The story does, however, incorporate several elements from "Batman: Year One", such as Bruce Wayne's long absence from Gotham City and his first attempts at vigilantism.
Initially conceptualized as a Batman storyline, it was announced that in November 2013, various titles would tie in directly to the "Zero Year" story line. Writers of various titles in The New 52 were given the option of writing a tie-in to the storyline, which would include their connections to Gotham City and first encounter with Batman.
Snyder announced in December 2013 that issue 28 would no longer be a part of the event, as he had written a lot of material that felt "too cramped" and extending the issue at this point would not give Capullo ample time to properly draw the new scenes. Thus, the original story from issue 28 was moved to issue 29, with issue 28 becoming a preview issue to the future storyline in Batman and the weekly, Batman Eternal. Issue 28 was written by Snyder and Tynion, with Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs providing the artwork.
The story begins with Gotham City being destroyed in a flood, and Batman believed to be dead. The first arc of the event, titled 'Secret City', is set five months before the flood, and begins with Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham City after being away for so long that he has been declared dead. He dons a disguise and fights Red Hood One, and discovers he has much to learn if he wants to fight the new breed of costumed criminals plaguing Gotham. Bruce meets with his maternal uncle, Philip Kane, but refuses to take over Wayne Enterprises. In a flashback, Bruce's father shows him a black orb, used for showing a three-dimensional map from inside a building. Edward Nygma, Philip's strategist, tries to get Philip to arrange Bruce's murder, in order to gain public sympathy and avoid a power struggle. After Philip refuses, Edward hires the Red Hood Gang to murder Bruce. In disguise once again, Bruce rescues Oswald Cobblepot from Red Hood One and takes a sample of the gang leader's blood, but fails to find who it belongs to. After Bruce has an argument with Alfred, the latter leaves and Bruce meets with Philip, who against Bruce's will, debuts him to the public. After Bruce retreats from the media, he meets with Nygma. He then goes to his brownstone, where he is attacked by the Red Hood Gang. The gang beats Bruce to a pulp, and the leader tells him that the Waynes' deaths changed him too. Bruce then retreats to Wayne Manor, where Alfred Pennyworth treats his injuries. Using the camera orb, Bruce finds the cave of bats he fell into as a child. Bruce finds his destiny as the orb falls and breaks.
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