12. The Beginning...

Complete story — includes the ending

Ten years later, Bruce returns to Gotham following his extensive travels across the world and his reappearance is publicly announced. Cobblepot is released from Blackgate after a decade in custody, and Gordon wants to retire from the GCPD, though he relents when Nygma, who has been incarcerated at Arkham Asylum for a decade, escapes and kidnaps Mayor James to destroy Wayne Tower at its reopening. However, Nygma is a patsy as they successfully defuse the real bomb. Simultaneously, Cobblepot frees Nygma once again while Bullock frames himself for the murder of the guard who broke Nygma out from prison, though Gordon frees him after learning that Jeremiah Valeska, who has faked brain death, is the true culprit. Bruce, now secretly working as a vigilante in a bat-themed costume, captures Cobblepot and Nygma; after they break out of a prison van, they decide to seek revenge on the vigilante but remain afraid of him. Jeremiah kidnaps Barbara Lee in a showdown with Gordon, though she is rescued by Bruce. Finally, Bruce reconciles with Selina, who has become a cat-themed burglar, and is summoned by Gordon using a police searchlight bearing a bat emblem.