Actor Paul Dano, fresh off his portrayal of the Riddler in The Batman, will explore the origins of the villain in a new six-issue miniseries, “Riddler: Year One.” Scheduled to hit shelves from DC’s Black Label imprint this fall, the comic will be rendered by Serbian artist Stevan Subic, and released bimonthly.
The series will depict the rise of “Gotham City nobody” Edward Nashton, from a mundane life as an accountant, to the masked serial killer depicted in the 2022 film. No other plot details have been released, though it will likely expand on the dark background story revealed over the course of the film. The book has already received the endorsement of the film’s director, Matt Reeves.
Dano is a multi-award winning actor, with multiple stage and screen credits to his name. He’s perhaps best known for his roles in Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and There Will Be Blood (2007). Reeves has stated he wrote the Riddler with the actor in mind, noting his performance as Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014).
Dano’s previous writing credits include his directorial debut Wildlife, which he adapted from the novel by Richard Ford with his wife Zoe Kazan. He’s joined by European artist Stevan Subic, who is also making his DC Comics debut with the series. Subic’s prior credits include French series “M.O.R.I.A.R.T.Y.” from Delacourt, and “Conan le Cimmérien” from Éditions Glénat.
“Riddler: Year One” #1 is due out October 2022. Unlike The Batman, which is rated PG-13, the book will — like all DC Black Label books — be aimed at readers aged 17+.
