BATMAN #14, by the New York Times bestselling creative team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo, hit shelves earlier this week.

The issue made some major revelations about Gotham City’s Clown Prince of Crime and his ruthless plans to annihilate The Dark Knight’s allies.

“Everything that has happened to these characters in the past year is ammunition for the Joker,” said Snyder to THE WASHINGTON POST. “He’s been away for a year, so he’s been watching them all year long, and everything that they care about is something that he can burn to the ground.”

For more from Snyder about “Death of the Family” head on over to Comic Riffs and pick up BATMAN #15 December 12.

So you want to launch a criminal empire.

Maybe you really, really like money, but don't want to spend years toiling away at a job and earning it through "hard work" and "dedication." Maybe you really like the idea of being in charge and having minions to do your bidding—and the idea of monologues gets you as giddy as Cookie Monster locked in an Oreo factory. Maybe you seriously love the movie Scarface but totally missed the point of that film. Or maybe Super-Villains Month on DCComics.com has brought out a bit of your evil side—which we totally get (we recently saw a sign that said "No Loitering" and stood there for, like, 20 seconds!).

Whatever the reason, being bad just seems oh so good all of a sudden, and you’ve decided it's time you started your own villainous organization. Considering the amount of heroes that generally populate the DC Universe, we don't necessarily encourage this course of action, but to each their own. We won't judge. But we will offer this little piece of advice: DO NOT GO TO GOTHAM CITY. Seriously. Start your organization somewhere else.

Gotham may seem appealing—it’s already a breeding ground for crime and seems to have a revolving door policy on criminals—but don't be fooled. In fact, we’re here with 5.2 Reasons to Stay Away from Gotham (When Starting a Criminal Empire).

1. Batman

Honestly, this should be obvious. If you didn't know, there's a nocturnal enthusiast in Gotham that enjoys dressing like a bat, hopping around rooftops, and—most importantly to you—beating the ever-living tar out of criminals. This guy has a zero tolerance policy on crime and will use not only his fists to prove it but a whole array of gadgets and gizmos designed to disable even the toughest of foes—and believe us, there are some tough ones. He got his back broken and got better. He was jettisoned back in time as a quantum-leaping bomb and still figured a way out of it. Unless you have superpowers—and even then it probably wouldn't do you much good—he is not someone you want to tangle with.

2. Criminal Overpopulation

You never want to saturate the market. Stock goes down or whatever. We're not too sure how it works. We hide our money in squirrel nests—because if they can hide their acorns in our yard, we can hide our money in theirs. The point is that too many people competing for the same steal is bad for business, and Gotham gangs are incredibly territorial. It's not uncommon for wars to break out and one gang to eliminate another. In fact, there was an instance after an earthquake where that exact thing happened. But really the biggest gangs already belong to the biggest bads, and they would not hesitate to torture or kill anyone who tries to encroach on their territory—especially some upstart newcomer.

3. Costumed Villainy

Another trademark of the Gotham City criminals is their tendency toward the spectacle—namely dressing up in costumes and running amok throughout the city committing acts of themed villainy. The most powerful villains all have their own shtick, and if you really want to become someone in Gotham, you'll have to follow suit. However, all the really good ones are already taken: ice, birds, enigmas, Alice in Wonderland-based psychotic delusions. But hey, you could always be the next Balloon Master, committing crimes and leaving behind balloon animals as your calling card.

4. It's Full of Crazy People

Look, Gotham City is protected by a potentially unstable human being that dresses like a bat. So needless to say, its villainous population isn't exactly the sanest group of individuals. One guy commits crimes on holidays dressed in a costumed based on said holiday. (Google Calendar Man if you don't believe us.) But make no mistake: crazy as they may be, they are all incredibly dangerous. Going into Gotham, you're practically walking into a madhouse...

5. Arkham Asylum

...and then you get sent to an actual madhouse. Just about all of Gotham's worst villains get sent to Arkham eventually. And of course, they respond by eventually and often violently breaking out—leaving behind a path of death and chaos with a regularity that would make the sun rising every day seem like a freak occurrence. Arkham Asylum is not a place you want to be. Ever. Unless you enjoy living each day of your life in constant fear of a guy who thinks his ventriloquist dummy is real or a girl who not only spends every day talking to plants, but somehow gets them to do what she says. In which case, maybe you belong in there after all.

5.1 There's a 10-Year-Old That Can Beat You Up... And Will Gladly Do So

5.2 You Never, Ever, Ever Want to Run Into This Guy:

So as you can see, Gotham City might not be the best place to kickstart your criminal empire. Maybe you should try Metropolis... oh wait, they have Superman. Well, there’s Star Ci... Central or Keystone... no... You know what, maybe you just shouldn't start a criminal empire. We really don't think it's going to work out. Instead, keep visiting DCComics.com and live the bad life vicariously as Super-Villains Month continues!

When Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight first came out in theaters, naturally we went to a midnight showing. Afterward, we all thought basically the same thing, "Wow. We need to see that again." We went again the next day.

A similar thing happened after watching Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, the animated adaptation of Frank Miller's seminal best-selling graphic novel. In fact, it was so enjoyable that part of our brain isn't even here right now. It's still thinking about the film and fighting with the other half to just stop writing and go home and watch it again.

Since, you know, job and responsibilities (dolla dolla bill, y'all), we can't really do that, we're instead going to give you 5.2 Reasons to Watch Batman: The Dark Knight Return, Part 1!

1. It's an Adaptation of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

Let's get this one out there early. Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns ranks as one of the most influential and character-defining comics in modern history. His grim and gritty take on the Caped Crusader set the tone for the character for almost every interpretation that followed. Even after 25 years, it still remains a perennial best-seller month after month. All that and it's quite simply a fantastically well-told story.

2. It's a GREAT Adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns

While watching the film, we popped open a copy of the graphic novel to compare. We suggest doing the same. Seeing certain iconic images come to life brought out a childlike giddiness. It's an extremely accurate adaptation. There are some slight deviations—tweaked dialogue and extended scenes—but it all enhances the story for film and allows both comic book and film to stand on equal footing of greatness in their respective mediums.

3. Peter Weller as Batman

When they announced Peter Weller as the voice of the aged and grizzled Bruce Wayne, it just seemed like a perfect fit. It also sent our nerd-fueled brains into a conniption. (Robocop as Batman?!) Weller's take on the character plays out brilliantly. It takes a little bit to see exactly what he's doing as it's subtle, but once you get it, it's like Joker gas to the face: you can't help but grin.

4. The Score

A good or bad musical score can make or break a movie. Christopher Drake—who composed the music for a number of DC animated films including Wonder Woman and Justice League: Doom—really struck the perfect chord (ha!) for the mood and tone of the film—and most importantly, the setting. Something about the music fit perfectly with the world itself and enhanced all the dialogue and action on the screen. You might even find yourself humming it while doing everyday stuff afterward. It'll make pouring cereal super epic.

5. It Gets You Excited for Part 2

As the title may suggest, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 covers the first half of the graphic novel—basically the initial, uh, return of the Dark Knight. Because of the split, the pacing excels tremendously and the end leaves you very, very excited for the next installment.

5.1 Awesome Easter Eggs

5.2 We Could Watch This Iconic Moment Over and Over Again

Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to go watch that movie again. Let us know in the comments below (hey, that rhymed!) what you're excited to see in the upcoming film and what other adaptations you think would be awesome to see!

This month marked the one-year anniversary of DC COMICS—THE NEW 52. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by, but times flies when you're having fun and reading some rad comics. Also when you're playing video games. You think, "One more level and then I'll go to sleep," and next thing you know it's 4 a.m. so you might as well play through till morning.

Excuse us for the ramble. We're a little sleepy...

Anyway, over the past twelve months comic readers saw the early days of the Man of Steel as he rose from champion of the people to the world's greatest super hero, the formation of the world's premiere super team, a Bat punch the heck out of some Owls, a war of the gods, the rise of the Rot and much, much more.

It's been an insanely fun journey so far—but it's only just begun.

As much as we loved Year One, we're incredibly excited for what comes next and so, this week, we're giving our fans 5.2 Reasons to Look Forward to Year Two of The New 52!

1. Comics' Power Couple: Superman and Wonder Woman
In the Justice League arc "The Villain's Journey," two of the world's most powerful heroes began a relationship—one that's sure to have lasting consequences and repercussions throughout the entirety of the DC Universe. We're rather excited to see their relationship unfold and the impact it will undoubtedly have on the rest of the team. And there's also the fun of coming up with couple names: Dian-El... Kaliana... Dialark... Then again, maybe we should leave that to the professionals.



2. The Rise of the Third Army
We spoke about the awesomeness of the Green Lantern Universe previously, but it absolutely bears repeating. Over the past year writer Geoff Johns built an amazing story featuring (among so much more) the almost buddy cop-like relationship between Hal Jordan and Sinestro, the introduction of a new Green Lantern of Earth, and the decent of the Guardians into near kitten-punching villainy. And as fantastic as that's been, we know it'll only keep getting better:



3. Earths of the Multiple Variety
Writer James Robinson and artist Nicola Scott launched Earth 2 as part of the New 52's "Second Wave" of titles and introduced readers to a whole new world of super heroes similar, yet vastly different from our own. From the very first issue it has been a thrill ride filled with unexpected twists and turns—from the sudden death of the Trinity to emergence of a new breed of heroes—and there's literally a whole world of possibilities still out there to explore!



4. Girl Power
Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Batwoman, Worlds' Finest, Birds Of Prey, Catwoman—there are a number of phenomenal books currently on shelves that are written and drawn by all-star creative talent and headlined by female heroes, and this month Amethyst joins those ranks with SWORD OF SORCERY #0. Not to mention brilliant characters like Sir Ystin and Exoristos in Demon Knights, Zatanna and Black Orchid in Justice League Dark and more! Plus, one of our favorite female characters, Stargirl, returns in January in the pages of JLA!

5. Aquaman's Revenge
For quite a while Aquaman held a pretty bad rep. Even just recently he was lampooned in the extremely hilarious Robot Chicken DC Comics Special. But when writer Geoff Johns relaunched Aquaman last year, he accomplished something incredible: he made Aquaman one of the best-selling comics out there, period. It's been a breakout year for our aquatic hero and earlier today USA TODAY broke the story of what's coming next: the "Throne of Atlantis" crossover with Justice League! We can't even begin to imagine the depths of awesomeness this new storyline will take us, but we are more than ready and willing to take the plunge (puns!).



5.1 New Gods



5.2 The Joker's Back



What have you enjoyed most over the past year of The New 52? What are you looking forward to in the coming year? How much pickled peppers can the Pied Piper pipe? Let us know in the comments below!