Batman #453 1990

Batman #453, published in August 1990, continues "Dark Knight, Dark City: Part II." Batman relentlessly pursues a more sadistic Riddler, whose elaborate game involves reanimated corpses hindering the Dark Knight. The story delves into psychological elements, featuring flashbacks to occult rituals and a desperate moment where Batman performs an emergency tracheotomy on a choking infant. This issue is notable for its darker tone and introduces the demon Barbatos, a key figure in future Batman lore.