Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City # 1 2022 NM-

Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City #1, released by DC Comics on October 25, 2022, is the opening chapter of a six-issue limited prequel series that directly sets up the Gotham Knights video game.

Written by Evan Narcisse with atmospheric artwork by ABEL, the story explores Batman's final case before his death, masterfully weaving a centuries-spanning mystery across two distinct timelines.

This response includes a visual anchor showing covers from the limited series:

Issue #1 Dual-Timeline Plot Breakdown

• The Modern Day: The "Sadness" Outbreak: In present-day Gotham, a terrifying and inexplicable biological threat grips the populace. A mysterious airborne virus infects citizens, transforming them into rabid, yellow-irised maniacs consumed by uncontrollable looting, violence, and intense bursts of irrational rage. 
• The Knights Stand Ready: Operating in the shadows of what will ultimately become the Dark Knight's final mission, Batman enlists the full strength of his protégés—Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood. Together, they engage in a desperate containment operation to keep the infected population safe while searching for the genetic origin of the outbreak.
• The Historical Cut: Gotham in 1847: The investigation takes a drastic narrative turn into Gotham's past. The team discovers that this exact same "sadness" virus plagued the city over a century prior. The timeline shifts back to the mid-1800s, introducing The Runaway, Gotham City’s very first masked vigilante, who fought a parallel war to halt the infection.
• Centuries-Old Conspiracy: The issue establishes the foundational mystery connecting the centuries: the modern viral weapon is directly linked to an ancient plot orchestrated by the Court of Owls, setting the baseline lore for the timeline of the game.