The Dark Knight Rises Riddle Me This: The Riddler Characterization Thread

[BestGirl]

It's his compulsion. He can't help himself. Batman has said often times that Riddler is so brilliant that he would never get caught if it weren't for his Riddles. Riddler is so narcissistic that he wants people to know he's committing the crimes he engages in, and his riddles also are another way of showing off. He thinks that no one but himself (and eventually Batman) are clever enough to decipher what his Riddles mean.

And his Riddles usually point to his next targets.

Yes, I suspected a lot of this. I was referring more to how people want him to be portrayed in B3. A lot of people want him to be a loner and that's fine with me, but what sort of crimes should he commit? People don't want him to be a killer, but what other crimes are so severe that they warrant Batman's full attention? AFAIK, he's just a thief in the comics, but why would Batman or Gotham get worked up over a thief who poses riddles? Especially since a thief who works alone is probably stealing fairly small things.

If the Riddler's a fed, then what would his riddles point to? Who Batman is? I'm just trying to get a handle on what people want out of the Riddler in the next movie. Like I said, I don't read the comics, so I'm having trouble wrapping my head around what he's capable of doing.

 

[rfU]

:LOL: Looks like no one quite liked my ideas

A lot of people want him to be a loner and that's fine with me, but what sort of crimes should he commit? People don't want him to be a killer, but what other crimes are so severe that they warrant Batman's full attention? AFAIK, he's just a thief in the comics, but why would Batman or Gotham get worked up over a thief who poses riddles? Especially since a thief who works alone is probably stealing fairly small things.

If the Riddler's a fed, then what would his riddles point to? Who Batman is? I'm just trying to get a handle on what people want out of the Riddler in the next movie. Like I said, I don't read the comics, so I'm having trouble wrapping my head around what he's capable of doing.

I'm curious to know also. I don't have much of a collection, but I dont remember ever reading any Riddler stories. What does he do, just right riddles and rob banks? What is his motivation? Why would Batman bother with the RIddler. This idea of making him a fed seems pretty left field to me. Have their ever been FBI/Batman stories in the comics. I'm not aware?

 

[COMPO]

I was just watching Waking the Dead, which had a serial killer who liked to play games with people, now I'm not suggesting Riddler become a serial killer but there was a line that caught my interest: "who ever solves the riddle becomes her prefect adversary"

what if at the beginning of the film Riddler did this and who ever solved it he'd leave more riddles for them to solve and them to beat. This being Batman.

 

[jackshea]

i thought he'd kidnap people and leave riddles, thus adding a sense of urgency to the film, taking people that matter both to batman and bruce

 

[Crook]

I was just watching Waking the Dead, which had a serial killer who liked to play games with people, now I'm not suggesting Riddler become a serial killer but there was a line that caught my interest: "who ever solves the riddle becomes her prefect adversary"

what if at the beginning of the film Riddler did this and who ever solved it he'd leave more riddles for them to solve and them to beat. This being Batman.

...isn't this how it's always been?

 

[BestGirl]

i thought he'd kidnap people and leave riddles, thus adding a sense of urgency to the film, taking people that matter both to batman and bruce

Yes, people like Coleman Reese.

 

[Indrid Cold]

Yes, people like Coleman Reese.

No, Reese for Riddler please!

 

[Keyser Soze]

Wow, I just looked back at that epic argument we had in this thread, that spanned over like a dozen pages, revolving around the thematic significance of The Riddler's green suit. Melkay really turned that minor issue into such a big thing, and whipped us up into a maelstrom of conflict over it.

I see Melkay's banned now. Looking back on his Hype legacy, I think the best way to sum Melkay up would be to use a Scottish term, one which fits him perfectly: he was a "sore-arse".

 

[Mr. Earle]

He was banned because he wanted to discuss something trivial? Was he trolling?

 

[Keyser Soze]

He was banned because he wanted to discuss something trivial? Was he trolling?

I don't know why he was banned. I just noted it says BANNED USER under his name when I was looking back through this thread.

However, while it might not necessarily have been for this thread, I wouldn't be surprised if the kind of behaviour he regularly displayed here ultimately rubbed one of the mods the wrong way. He had this knack for being able to argue about ANYTHING. I mean, you could take the smallest, most inconsequential of things - for example, here, he felt that if The Riddler was wearing a green suit, there needed to be an explanation for why in the plot of the movie - and Melkay would find a way to turn it into a fight. Even if you weren't particularly interested in the issue, he's ladle his responses thick with so much condescending smarm and hostility that it riled you up and made you want to disagree with him. And whenever someone tried to throw their hands up in the air and say "This is pointless, we're not even discussing the issue, just arguing to argue, I'm outta here", he'd always find a way to get the last word in, make some comment about them *****ng out or not being able to handle the conversation in attempts to lure them back in.

All in all, a very aggrivating character, with a talent for annoying people. I don't think he was a troll, personally, but if that talent for annoying people got him in conflict with a mod, I can understand why they might have thought his behaviour was troll-like.

 

[CaptainClown]

poor poor melkay

 

[Mr. Earle]

I don't know why he was banned. I just noted it says BANNED USER under his name when I was looking back through this thread.

However, while it might not necessarily have been for this thread, I wouldn't be surprised if the kind of behaviour he regularly displayed here ultimately rubbed one of the mods the wrong way. He had this knack for being able to argue about ANYTHING. I mean, you could take the smallest, most inconsequential of things - for example, here, he felt that if The Riddler was wearing a green suit, there needed to be an explanation for why in the plot of the movie - and Melkay would find a way to turn it into a fight. Even if you weren't particularly interested in the issue, he's ladle his responses thick with so much condescending smarm and hostility that it riled you up and made you want to disagree with him. And whenever someone tried to throw their hands up in the air and say "This is pointless, we're not even discussing the issue, just arguing to argue, I'm outta here", he'd always find a way to get the last word in, make some comment about them *****ng out or not being able to handle the conversation in attempts to lure them back in.

All in all, a very aggrivating character, with a talent for annoying people. I don't think he was a troll, personally, but if that talent for annoying people got him in conflict with a mod, I can understand why they might have thought his behaviour was troll-like.

Haha, it sounds fun! How did i miss all that?

 

[ALittlePush]

I see Riddler as a newly promoted detective working under Commissioner Gordon. He has worked in the GCPD as a cop for twelve years, and is a long time admirer of Gordon and his stand against corruption within the GCPD.
Riddler would respect Gordon and follow his orders without question. So when Riddler accidentally finds out that Gordon is working with Batman on the sly, he's going to feel betrayed. He's going to feel a little bit annoyed that the man who he's been inspired by and looked up to and admired for his honesty is lying to the whole city. So Riddler goes home, gets drunk, and begins to formulate a plan on how to expose his boss for the deceptive liar that he is.

He takes a pair of scissors and begins cutting letters from the newspaper to make a riddle. He then sends the riddle anonymously to Gordon as a warning that someone knows about him and Batman. When Gordon seemingly ignores the riddle, Riddler sends one to Gordon's wife, son and daughter which unsettles Gordon's wife. Gordon, unaware of Riddler's plan, then assigns Riddler to protect his family and find out who is sending the riddles. Gordon's son inadvertently reveals to Riddler exactly what happened at the end of TDK and how Batman is innocent. This revelation blows Riddler's whole world apart as Gordon's lies are bigger than he first thought. Riddler then decides to up his game and begins sending the riddles to various news outlets such as newspapers and news channels in order to expose Gordon's lies. When the riddles are aired on television, it draws Batman's attention. The Riddler becomes obsessed with trying to figure out why Batman would let himself be blamed for crimes he didn't commit.

This is all I've got so far. what do you think.

 

[Mister H.]

^ That's the best proposal I've seen yet. Nice work sir!

 

[ALittlePush]

Thank you. But i'm not a sir.

 

[Mister H.]

Thank you. But i'm not a sir.

Oops.

 

[ALittlePush]

Don't worry about it. I'm glad you liked my idea.t:

 

[rfU]

I see Riddler as a newly promoted detective working under Commissioner Gordon. He has worked in the GCPD as a cop for twelve years, and is a long time admirer of Gordon and his stand against corruption within the GCPD.
Riddler would respect Gordon and follow his orders without question. So when Riddler accidentally finds out that Gordon is working with Batman on the sly, he's going to feel betrayed. He's going to feel a little bit annoyed that the man who he's been inspired by and looked up to and admired for his honesty is lying to the whole city.

If the Riddler is a long time admirer of Gordon, then surely he would confront his boss first rather than expose him to the public. Seems a bit too much him going after the Gordon and his family over simply having contact with the Batman. And what sort of threats would he make against Gordon? Kidnap? Murder?

I'm working on the first few pages of my script (10-15 pages), anyone care to read?

 

[MrQuinn]

I see Riddler as a newly promoted detective working under Commissioner Gordon. He has worked in the GCPD as a cop for twelve years, and is a long time admirer of Gordon and his stand against corruption within the GCPD.
Riddler would respect Gordon and follow his orders without question. So when Riddler accidentally finds out that Gordon is working with Batman on the sly, he's going to feel betrayed. He's going to feel a little bit annoyed that the man who he's been inspired by and looked up to and admired for his honesty is lying to the whole city. So Riddler goes home, gets drunk, and begins to formulate a plan on how to expose his boss for the deceptive liar that he is.

He takes a pair of scissors and begins cutting letters from the newspaper to make a riddle. He then sends the riddle anonymously to Gordon as a warning that someone knows about him and Batman. When Gordon seemingly ignores the riddle, Riddler sends one to Gordon's wife, son and daughter which unsettles Gordon's wife. Gordon, unaware of Riddler's plan, then assigns Riddler to protect his family and find out who is sending the riddles. Gordon's son inadvertently reveals to Riddler exactly what happened at the end of TDK and how Batman is innocent. This revelation blows Riddler's whole world apart as Gordon's lies are bigger than he first thought. Riddler then decides to up his game and begins sending the riddles to various news outlets such as newspapers and news channels in order to expose Gordon's lies. When the riddles are aired on television, it draws Batman's attention. The Riddler becomes obsessed with trying to figure out why Batman would let himself be blamed for crimes he didn't commit.

This is all I've got so far. what do you think.

Pretty good idea, but it seems to me that if he found out about the relationship between Bats and Gordon, he may become obsessed with Batman instead [provided he does in fact look so much up to Gordon and everything]. Why does he like Batman so much? Why does he continue to work with Batman, putting his name, and even his family on the line? What makes this Batman so great? I must find out... See where I'm going. This could lead to him somehow finding out Batman's identity (perhaps getting the scoop from Reece...), and then using the proposed riddle ideas against Gordon and his family, against Bruce as well, thus forcing Batman and Gordon to continue teaming up regardless.

 

[MrQuinn]

elaborating on getting the scoop from Reece, I'd say he leaves a riddle in the paper and Reece deciphers it, realizing he is looking for Batman's identity and will make it worth someone's while big time...

 

[Rodrigo90]

Riddler in my story. He was once a crooked police officor,who was in Falcones pocket. He had a good friendship with Sal Maroni. On the day of his promotion to Detective,he was arrested after being investigated by Internal Affairs,led by Harvey Dent.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was bullied and hounded by the bad guys he helped put behind bars. He became angry at himself. In order to cope about his life in general,he began questioning himself and his questions manifested into complex, bizarre riddles and puzzles. This was to keep his mind preoccupied,but it immensely twisted him.

After being released. He set up his own private detective firm,"Enigma Solved". He then began to work for Maroni,after Falcones downfall.

Read the rest if you like on Batman 3 Where does the story go from here? Its on page 62.

 

[Adenjo]

Riddler in my story. He was once a crooked police officor,who was in Falcones pocket. He had a good friendship with Sal Maroni. On the day of his promotion to Detective,he was arrested after being investigated by Internal Affairs,led by Harvey Dent.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was bullied and hounded by the bad guys he helped put behind bars. He became angry at himself. In order to cope about his life in general,he began questioning himself and his questions manifested into complex, bizarre riddles and puzzles. This was to keep his mind preoccupied,but it immensely twisted him.

I LOVE this idea

 

[ALittlePush]

If the Riddler is a long time admirer of Gordon, then surely he would confront his boss first rather than expose him to the public. Seems a bit too much him going after the Gordon and his family over simply having contact with the Batman. And what sort of threats would he make against Gordon? Kidnap? Murder?

The Riddler did kind of confront Gordon by sending him the first riddle. The Riddler thinks Gordon ignored it which is why he sent another riddle to Gordon's family. My version of the Riddler idolises Gordon which is why he goes home and gets drunk after seeing Gordon with Batman. He feels that Gordon has betrayed him. He's angry at Gordon which is why he sends the riddles. The riddles are like warnings to Gordon. At this point Riddler believes Batman to be a wanted criminal. It is only after Riddler hears the truth from Gordon's son that he sends the riddles to the news outlets.


It's all an over-reaction on Riddler's part to finding out Gordon's not the man he thought him to be.

 

[ALittlePush]

Pretty good idea, but it seems to me that if he found out about the relationship between Bats and Gordon, he may become obsessed with Batman instead [provided he does in fact look so much up to Gordon and everything]. Why does he like Batman so much? Why does he continue to work with Batman, putting his name, and even his family on the line? What makes this Batman so great? I must find out... See where I'm going.

The Riddler does become obsessed with Batman after hearing the truth from Gordon's son. He becomes obsessed with trying to figure out why Batman, an innocent man, would let himself be blamed for crimes he didn't commit.

 

[namtaB]

Riddler in my story. He was once a crooked police officor,who was in Falcones pocket. He had a good friendship with Sal Maroni. On the day of his promotion to Detective,he was arrested after being investigated by Internal Affairs,led by Harvey Dent.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was bullied and hounded by the bad guys he helped put behind bars. He became angry at himself. In order to cope about his life in general,he began questioning himself and his questions manifested into complex, bizarre riddles and puzzles. This was to keep his mind preoccupied,but it immensely twisted him.

My only problem with this is that when people have existential meltdowns, they usually dwell on philosophical questions which by their nature are broad, vague and open ended. They don't really manifest themselves as complex, bizarre riddles.

The Riddler makes the most sense as an extreme 'I hate the world', 'I hate capitalism', 'I hate technology', etc. type person who engages in homicides or terrorist acts and devises complex riddles and schemes to taunt law enforcement into catching him.