Since releasing the first images of Tom Hardy as Bane, fans of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises started asking, “What’s up with that mask?”  A new article in Rolling Stone seems to have answered the question along with a point-by-point graphic detailing just why the muscle-bound madman needs a mask at all (and the answer provides a key plot point).  On the other side of the spectrum is the also-masked vigilante known as Batman (Christian Bale), and in this new wanted poster supposedly released by Warner Bros., we see exactly what the Caped Crusader is accused of doing.

The Dark Knight Rises also stars Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman and Liam Neeson.  Look for the bat to bow on July 20th.  Hit the jump to check out the images.

Update: Thanks to a number of readers emails, we’ve been informed the Wanted Poster was part of the earlier viral marketing campaign.