Someone explain The Riddler.

[Hobgoblin]

I get that he's a long time, classic villain but I dont see how he can be compared to the Joker or Two-Face. What is it about him that made him such a popular villain? What made him such a danger to Batman? Also, what are some good Riddler stories? Besides Hush, I mean.

 

[Batman]

One of my personal favorites is actually a comic I just recently managed to grab ahold of: Detective Comics Annual #8. It's a retelling of The Riddler's origin, part of the 'Four Of A Kind' collection of origin annuals.

And personally, my favorite thing about The Riddler is not what the villain offers himself, but the keen detective skills that he brings out in Batman. Whereas The Joker and Two-Face usually require brute force and/or reasoning to be contained, The Riddler makes it all a mindgame. He's absolutely and utterly obsessed with playing a game of chance with the lives of every citizen in Gotham City, just waiting for that day when Batman won't be able to outsmart him. But given that he always does, The Riddler is compelled to keep being who he is. It really plays on the whole debate of whether or not Batman's villains would exist without him, as The Riddler more directly exists to challenge him alone. Batman is his ultimate adversary, which is what he was looking for from day one.

To answer your question, though, I think it's the fact that The Riddler is so smart that makes him a danger to Gotham City. While The Joker is a criminal mastermind, he doesn't exactly make it a point to make every last one of his crimes focused on that point. Two-Face is too conflicted by his psyche and his dependence on his coin to really use all of the mental potential at his disposal, which usually leads more to violence than feats of genius. But The Riddler is a villain that does rely on his genius, which leads to lethal puzzles and deathtraps that no one else could invent or even begin to understand. Batman's the only one that's managed to figure him out.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

One of my personal favorites is actually a comic I just recently managed to grab ahold of: Detective Comics Annual #8. It's a retelling of The Riddler's origin, part of the 'Four Of A Kind' collection of origin annuals.

And personally, my favorite thing about The Riddler is not what the villain offers himself, but the keen detective skills that he brings out in Batman. Whereas The Joker and Two-Face usually require brute force and/or reasoning to be contained, The Riddler makes it all a mindgame. He's absolutely and utterly obsessed with playing a game of chance with the lives of every citizen in Gotham City, just waiting for that day when Batman won't be able to outsmart him. But given that he always does, The Riddler is compelled to keep being who he is. It really plays on the whole debate of whether or not Batman's villains would exist without him, as The Riddler more directly exists to challenge him alone. Batman is his ultimate adversary, which is what he was looking for from day one.

To answer your question, though, I think it's the fact that The Riddler is so smart that makes him a danger to Gotham City. While The Joker is a criminal mastermind, he doesn't exactly make it a point to make every last one of his crimes focused on that point. Two-Face is too conflicted by his psyche and his dependence on his coin to really use all of the mental potential at his disposal, which usually leads more to violence than feats of genius. But The Riddler is a villain that does rely on his genius, which leads to lethal puzzles and deathtraps that no one else could invent or even begin to understand. Batman's the only one that's managed to figure him out.

I could not put it better myself. I would also like to add emphasis to the fact that the "danger level" of a villain alone does not make him great, though it does help. Riddler is not in enough stories these days because hack writers are too lazy to a) make a complex plot that doesn't involve a woman named Jezebel Jet, and b) can't be bothered doing a classic detective story. Riddler is in my opinion almost equal to the Dark Knight's detective and problem solving skills, he is master of the twist and fools everyone. There's always an ulterior motive and the fact that he only kills when utterly necessary and even then only by death traps and other contrivances really bring home the fact that he deserves to be regarded as such a great menace.

Also, is Four of a Kind in continuity and in a tpb? Is it any good?

EDIT: And for the thread cstarter, I recommend Catwoman: When In Rome, Riddler tags along with her and is pretty darn funny. He's also great in Dini's detective run.

 

[Batman]

I believe it was in continuity during Post-Crisis, but with Infinite Crisis/Final Crisis/New Earth/The Kitchen Sink kind of mucking things up, it along with alot of stories are still up in the air. I distinctly recall a TPB being released, at some point, though I couldn't tell you if it's easy to find.

And the story's fairly decent, overall. I wouldn't say every one of the chapters are my favorite, but I specifically enjoyed the ones for Riddler and Poison Ivy.

 

[Hobgoblin]

EDIT: And for the thread cstarter, I recommend Catwoman: When In Rome, Riddler tags along with her and is pretty darn funny. He's also great in Dini's detective run.

Yeah, I read When in Rome. Loeb does good stuff. I read the Detective issue where Nygma works with Harley. Didnt like that one as much. What is his best villain story?

Also, can it be said that, in a way, Bats created Riddler? If Batman didnt exist, Nygma would have no one to compete with.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

I believe it was in continuity during Post-Crisis, but with Infinite Crisis/Final Crisis/New Earth/The Kitchen Sink kind of mucking things up, it along with alot of stories are still up in the air. I distinctly recall a TPB being released, at some point, though I couldn't tell you if it's easy to find.

And the story's fairly decent, overall. I wouldn't say every one of the chapters are my favorite, but I specifically enjoyed the ones for Riddler and Poison Ivy.

Ahh, thanks for that, might have to track it down, for a whole universe DC is really lazy in filling in the gaps.

Yeah, I read When in Rome. Loeb does good stuff. I read the Detective issue where Nygma works with Harley. Didnt like that one as much. What is his best villain story?

Also, can it be said that, in a way, Bats created Riddler? If Batman didnt exist, Nygma would have no one to compete with.

I'd say his moment in Hush, despite all it's other problems, was a defining moment for him. He has a great stint in Knightfall in which his gang gets sick of him sending clues to the police about stealing from the mail vault, so he gets on TV with a fake bomb and gives the entire city of Gotham a whole heap of riddles to clue them in on the job going down so he can get revenge. I recall another brilliant story with him but can't recall the title, he and Query and etc were holding a man hostage and Batman had to find his location while navigating through riddles which lead to death traps which again led to riddles.

The episode Riddler's Reform in BTAS is a favourite of mine, an excellent example of his obsession with Batman, robbing banks and sending clues before them even though he is now a millionaire.

With your second question, I'd say Riddler would be a villain anyway, he gives himself a purpose unlike Joker who is pretty bored for the most part without Bats. But he does keep sparring with him because he is the ultimate mental adversary. In fact, I think unlike Joker he is tamer this way, threatening one man as opposed to a larger group of people he would be if Bats wasn't there. (I say this because without Batman, Riddler would match wits with a group of minds or even an entire police/government department.

 

[The Navigator]

One of my personal favorites is actually a comic I just recently managed to grab ahold of: Detective Comics Annual #8. It's a retelling of The Riddler's origin, part of the 'Four Of A Kind' collection of origin annuals.

And personally, my favorite thing about The Riddler is not what the villain offers himself, but the keen detective skills that he brings out in Batman. Whereas The Joker and Two-Face usually require brute force and/or reasoning to be contained, The Riddler makes it all a mindgame. He's absolutely and utterly obsessed with playing a game of chance with the lives of every citizen in Gotham City, just waiting for that day when Batman won't be able to outsmart him. But given that he always does, The Riddler is compelled to keep being who he is. It really plays on the whole debate of whether or not Batman's villains would exist without him, as The Riddler more directly exists to challenge him alone. Batman is his ultimate adversary, which is what he was looking for from day one.

To answer your question, though, I think it's the fact that The Riddler is so smart that makes him a danger to Gotham City. While The Joker is a criminal mastermind, he doesn't exactly make it a point to make every last one of his crimes focused on that point. Two-Face is too conflicted by his psyche and his dependence on his coin to really use all of the mental potential at his disposal, which usually leads more to violence than feats of genius. But The Riddler is a villain that does rely on his genius, which leads to lethal puzzles and deathtraps that no one else could invent or even begin to understand. Batman's the only one that's managed to figure him out.

Bingo.

 

[Rasputin911]

i still think he's pretty lame.

He's got potential as a criminal-genius type character, but just doesen't have any good stories. He seems like Joker or Two-Face without any balls in everything i've read.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I think the Riddler was pretty lame when he was first created he was basically a Joker rip-off but I think that as of late (past 20 years) he's really made his own name.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

Bumping this because I had somewhat of a revelation. What would you guys think if Riddler WAS Hush? I mean, cut all the crap about Hush killing Harold and stuff, and just be the mastermind in the story instead. Given that Tommy was always looking evil in certain panels, and the story was obvious, do you reckon it would've been cool if Tommy actually DID turn out to be a truly good man, and Riddler was merely using his status as a childhood friend to manipulate Bruce further?

I know a lot of large plot points would have to be changed, but I think this reveal would've been far better and even more villainous of good ol' Eddie.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

The Riddler isn't so much a supervillain as a super-criminal. He is not motivated by evil, and his crimes are rarely against people. He is obsessed with the puzzle-solving aspect of crimes, and proving his own superiority. In real life, a lot of criminals do boast about what they have done. In detective fiction, solving the crime is the hero going thru a series of puzzling clues and assembling them. What if the villain himself was aware of that process and laid clues deliberately? That's the Riddler. He's his own worst enemy.

 

[Rasputin911]

i think they should either stick with the "rogue police agent" thing they have right now, or remake him into a narcicistic (not spelled right, i know) master thief who deplores violence but is willing to hire out thugs to do the dirty aspects.

 

[ScarecrowMan666]

I've never been a big fan of The Riddler, though I do like the way the series The Batman handled his character.

 

[Double Down]

The Riddler is my favorite villain. He is a great foil for the world's greatest detective.

 

[CaptainClown]

Hush is a fun lil story using riddler.

 

[ronny]

The Riddler's danger comes from the fact that's he's a loser. He's willing to do almost anything to proove his superiority and when people like that are motivated they can become quite dangerous.

 

[margon]

get your hands on the Neil Gaiman 'origin' in the Secret Origins Special from around 1988. it's funny and stupid and the most memorable thought on the Riddler I know. it also hinted at his future direction 10 before Carrey did it and 20 years before Dini picked it up again

 

[BatmansWood]

Hush was a good riddler story. At first i had no idea riddler was apart of it. BUt by the end i was like, OH SNAPPP!