- "You could have tried to make a connection. But you didn't. Because you're incapable. Because you are a fuckup! Because you deserve--"
- ―Edward Nashton
Chapter One: A New Beginning is the first chapter in Paul Dano's limited series The Riddler: Year One.
Plot[]
Edward Nashton has been working as a forensic accountant at the KTMJ firm for over five years and believes he is more competent than his boss, Zach Morley, as Zach had only been working for three months and gained his position because of his education and upbringing. Nashton spends time visiting various online websites and has grown to hate Gotham City, as he believes it is a corrupt city. He eventually begins to develop an admiration for the vigilante Batman and learns more about his activities through online forums. He also suffers from various mental health issues, and experiences hallucinations, self-loathing, and suicidal thoughts.
Nashton is assigned to investigate a file for the New Beginnings Animal Rescue legal team. He discovers a recurring payment of $10,000 and decides to investigate after becoming suspicious. He traces its origins to the Waterfront Industries company and realized that the money was split into smaller payments to avoid discovery. As he goes home, he witnesses Batman rescuing a young woman from being mugged by two thugs. He posts about his experience online and believes that Batman is "hope incarnate" and rescuing Gotham City, to which other users also commented their admiration for Batman.
The following day, Nashton asks Zach about the payment. Zach reports Nashton's findings to his boss, Richard Stone, to which he takes credit for. Nashton decides to inquire Stone about the payments and follows him to the Corner Diner. Stone dismisses him and threatens Nashton to stop investigating. One of the thugs Nashton encountered yesterday, Higgins, was standing trial, who claims that Batman mugged him and planted drugs on the scene. Nashton learns that Higgins was an employee of New Beginnings, and a former member of Salvatore Maroni's organization. He visits the company despite Stone's threats, though he leaves after he attracts attention for asking about Higgins. He then notices Stone and Zach meeting with the woman Batman rescued yesterday and deduces that the events are connected.
Characters[]
- Edward Nashton
- Batman
- Mr. Higgins
- Annika Kosolov
- Richard Stone
- Zach Morley
- Don Mitchell, Jr. (footage)
- Salvatore Maroni (mentioned)
- Thomas Wayne (photo)
- John Joon (mentioned)
- Mr. Goodman (mentioned)
Appearances[]
Locations[]
Events[]
Items[]
Vehicles[]
Species[]
Organizations[]
- Maroni Crime Family (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- This issue takes place before the movie The Batman, but after the novel Before The Batman: An Original Movie Novel.
