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

[J. Custer]

I don't like the idea of Riddler as some computer cyber terrorist, please, let's keep computers out of the the story as much as possible(unless it's in the Bat cave). This is a story about a man that is warring on the criminal element using his mind and fists...and a few secret "weapons". I also hate the fed idea. Really! Riddler had a high profile job in the FBI? FBI?? That sure takes away a lot of mystery....unless he was able to fake his death. Still I'd rather the Riddler be....well, I'd rather he not be in the next movie to tell you the truth! I have to re-read Riddler origin stories and see where this can go....

 

[ALittlePush]

Part two of my Riddler idea.

Gordon suggests that they should redirect the investigation into finding the escaped inmates rather than Batman much to Nashton’s annoyance. Deciding that he should put his plan into practice, Nashton’s first act as the Riddler is to leave a riddle on Gordon’s desk:

I tick down to the end of a school day but I’m not a clock.
What am I?

The riddle is printed on a blank business card with a green question mark on the back. Gordon finds the riddle and asks if anyone knows who put the riddle on his desk but no one does. Nashton asks if Gordon thinks the riddle means something and Gordon replies that he’s not sure. Gordon works out that the answer is “Bomb” and that the use of the word “school” in the riddle could imply that a bomb is hidden in a school somewhere in the city. Wanting to be safe than sorry, Gordon orders for all the schools within the city to be evacuated and searched.

The bomb is found within Gotham High School’s air conditioning where the countdown just reaches zero. However the bomb does not go off. Next to the bomb is another card:

Congratulations! This bomb was fake but the next one won’t be. Print this in the papers.

Batman
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Nashton suggests to Gordon that they do as the card says as “who knows what sort of psycho we’re dealing with”. Gordon agrees and assigns Stephens, Bullock and Montoya to the escaped inmate case. He then gives a press conference regarding the bomb and riddles. The riddle appears in the paper the next day.

Nashton waits at the docks later that evening for Batman to appear. When he does, Nashton attempts to arrest Batman but is overpowered and knocked unconscious. When Nashton awakes, he feels humiliated that Batman got away. He decides to up his game and heads back to the MCU.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Honest to God...Im starting to go off Riddler altogether now. I think many people have lost touch with what things were. Riddler didnt have a backstory,he just appeared and many people dont want that in a movie...why?

Riddler as a Fed and his spiral into madness will over take the movie IMO. Its all about Nashton becoming Riddler.

What I truly want is something original that splices with the movie. An obsessed madman who wants to challenge Batman,the police, and the FBI that are hunting him (Batman) to stop him. Its about him using his intellect to fight the law and defeat it so that it can quench his ego. He then starts shift his focus more on Batman.

 

[ALittlePush]

An alternative idea I had about Riddler.

Instead of being a fed, he is a reporter working for the Gotham Times. He believes there is a conspiracy cooked up by the GCPD to defile Batman’s good name. Everyone laughs at him so he goes to desperate lengths to prove his theory correct.

 

[ALittlePush]

Honest to God...Im starting to go off Riddler altogether now. I think many people have lost touch with what things were. Riddler didnt have a backstory,he just appeared and many people dont want that in a movie...why?

Riddler as a Fed and his spiral into madness will over take the movie IMO. Its all about Nashton becoming Riddler.

In previous posts, you have wanted to give Riddler a backstory.

Heres the plot of Batman 3 if Riddler is a Fed. Obsessed FBI Agent creates traps and an alter ego (for some reason) to capture Batman. He accidentally kills somebody,goes insane and permanently becomes his alter ego. Simple,but brilliant.

Heres my plot, isnt a Fed. Obsessed P.I. Obsesses over Batman and discovers his identity before 3 begins. He used to be a highly intelligent,but crooked cop (longing to be a detective and pleased at his high status),but was set up by Gordon and sentenced to 3 years in prison. During that time,he cracked up and became obsessed with riddles and puzzles,to keep his mind preoccupied. 3 years passed and he was released,but was never the same again. He set up a private investigation firm,at the time Batman was already around and Joker was on the upcoming. Edward began to see psychiatrists,as he wasnt coping well. But they werent giving him "the right answers" to his questions. Edward was soon falling apart.

He then realised the only other man who understood obsession better than any psychiatrist was Batman. But he knew Batman wasnt going to understand the sheer complexity of his mind, unless he made him. During the events of 3. Edward began studying Batman at every angle and wanted to understand the knowledge of him,before any further action would be taken. Eventually he deducted that Batman was Bruce Wayne,but decided to keep that knowledge and use it in his quest. Edward decided to create an alter ego,in hopes of getting Batman's full attention...by becoming what Batman hates. His fascination (obsession) with riddles and puzzles was to become his image. As he identified himself as a complex riddle,that MUST be solved by Batman,by any means necessary. so that Edward could finally gain the knowledge of what he desires most...himself.

But his alter ego (the Riddler) personality gradually begins to take over his mind,until he loses himself and becomes a real threat.

 

[Rodrigo90]

I know. But the more I thought on it,its not really that important is it?

Im not too familiar with the Riddlers backstory in any medium. He is without one I think,save for his childhood explanation.

I do agree. He shouldn't just pop out nowhere like The Joker did. But I dont want his whole development to span across the entire movie. It should be brief,otherwise its just going to be a full blown Riddler origin movie.

He should come about at the worst possible time for Batman. Instead of being created just because Batman is wanted by the authorities,its more fun if Riddler takes advantage of the situation.

 

[ALittlePush]

I do agree. He shouldn't just pop out nowhere like The Joker did. But I dont want his whole development to span across the entire movie. It should be brief,otherwise its just going to be a full blown Riddler origin movie.

I see your point and I agree.

 

[Brother Jack]

I do agree. He shouldn't just pop out nowhere like The Joker did. But I dont want his whole development to span across the entire movie. It should be brief,otherwise its just going to be a full blown Riddler origin movie.

You act like he has to either be a complete enigma or have a backstory that takes over the narrative. You can have a compromise. Just bring him in with a few scenes or even a few lines of dialogue which explains who is and where he came from.

 

[Rodrigo90]

I would like to see him as a criminal of some sorts to start with,but not the Riddler straight away. Even though he is insane,he is calm and collected,but also with a childlike mind. He sadisticly taunts people for their lack of intellect.

He see's Batman's predicament with the police and FBI as a challenge to take them all on. He wants the attention Batman is getting and knows how to get it. By outsmarting and defeating them all,he will have purged his insane obsession...that he is the smartest man alive. He doesnt care who lives or dies in his traps, they are tests to see if the person is smart and worthy enough to live. People are just like peices in a game of chess to him.

So instead of him wanting to find out who Batman is from the off,its about defeating him. Then he realises that the only way to destroy Batman is to destroy the man who is behind the mask and that means solving the riddle of who he is.

 

[Closerframe]

I prefer the idea of the Riddler being a John Doe type of character, playing as a puppet master behind the scenes. None of Nolan's villains seem to have a background, so Riddler not having one doesn't really bother me, but I do like the idea of him dwelling deeper and deeper into madness.

 

[Mister H.]

Why do so many fans think the Riddler needs to be insane?

 

[Texas Zombie]

I like the idea of riddler being eccentric, conceded, and very obsessive.

PS why do something that has been done before, i dont want batman to be doing local cyber crime units job, or have the movie be se7en.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Why do so many fans think the Riddler needs to be insane?

He's not insane per se. Just really obsessive about leaving his mark and saying to himself...

"Im the smartest...I beat the The Police,The FBI and The Worlds Greatest Detective".

What drove him to that obsession can be explained throughout,I think it will be rather chilling if so.

 

[Rodrigo90]

I dont think their would be anything wrong with a Batman spin on Zodiac or Se7en. But Riddler should be a lot more open than those killers (IF he is a killer)...appearing on video messages with what is left behind explaining his next crime through riddles.

 

[Texas Zombie]

It just seems so used trash, when I look at the BB, TDK, and the inception trailer, I just couldnt see nolan doing that.

Se7en which is a great movie by the way, is not how I have ever pictured riddler.

He should stick to the core of the character.

PS Why does everyone think riddler is gonna be the next villain, or even want him to be?

 

[Rodrigo90]

But the Zodiac killer is more up Riddlers turf.

That guy made puzzles that still to this day have not been solved.

I think it would be a nice touch if Batman were to combat and defeat a Zodiac like threat. The evils that society face.

 

[Texas Zombie]

But that is so boring, I wouldn't want to watch a man(dressed like a bat) chase after some random guy.

I want it to be an action movie,
I like dynamite, and gunpowder, and....... gasoline.

Batman is a comic, comics are known for action, and batman is particularly known for great villains, it should stick to those basic elements.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Exactly. Thats why Riddler should have multiple skills for different types of challenges. Not confined to just one thing throughout the entire movie.

 

[Jolly C.]

they just announced that the producers are writing the script as of now-ish.

 

[Marx]

I don't mind a little backstory to Riddler...but I don't want it to become a full fledged origin story.

 

[BestGirl]

I don't mind a little backstory to Riddler...but I don't want it to become a full fledged origin story.

I don't think it will be. The only villain we've seen an origin for is Two-Face, and that's practically unavoidable at this stage in Batman's career. I don't think we'll be getting much backstory on the Riddler, Catwoman, Black Mask, or whoever else is in the movie.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Edward shouldn't be The Riddler right from the start and is already beginning his crimes like The Joker.


It should be a very brief intro about who he is and what he is planning to do. Maybe show his home and its covered with puzzles and games. We then see him working on his plan formations and what he has gathered.

 

[Marx]

I don't think it will be. The only villain we've seen an origin for is Two-Face, and that's practically unavoidable at this stage in Batman's career. I don't think we'll be getting much backstory on the Riddler, Catwoman, Black Mask, or whoever else is in the movie.

I agree.

 

[Rodrigo90]

I mean dont get me wrong,I think The Fed is great. But...it seems as though the entire movie will be focused on Agent Nashton's transformation into The Riddler. Thats making him too much like Harvey Dent,never mind trying making him less like The Joker.

It would be too much a Riddler movie tbh.

Its been said that the whole "getting lost inside this monster of yours" is a basis for Federeal Riddlers character...Thats not what Riddler is about at all. The only thing he and Batman should have in common are their intellect. Riddler knows Batman has a detective mind and seeks to exploit it for his own obsession,cause he likes to challenge minds that are potentially greater than his and purge that obsession by outwiting and defeating them.

 

[Jolly C.]

I can see it perfectly working the way rodrigo suggested before how he starts out as a criminal with no villain alias and then offers to catch the batman for the police then goes overboard with his methods and becomes the riddler fulfledged.