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{{short description|Comic book supervillain}}
{{Redirect|The Riddler|other uses}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = Riddler
| image      = Riddler.png
| image_size =
| converted  = y
| caption    = Riddler as he appeared on the cover of ''Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler'' #1 (October 2022).<br>Art by [[Brian Bolland]].
| real_name  = Edward Nigma (later Nygma or Nashton)
| publisher  = [[DC Comics]]
| debut      = ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #140 (October 1948)<ref name="DC Encyclopedia 1987">{{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |page=299}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael L. |title=The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman |date=1976 |publisher=Macmillan Publishing Co |isbn=0-02-538700-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco01flei/page/314/mode/2up |access-date=29 March 2020 |pages=315–317}}</ref>
| creators  = [[Bill Finger]] (writer)<br>[[Dick Sprang]] (artist)
| alliances = {{Plainlist|
* [[Legion of Doom]]
* [[Secret Society of Super Villains]]
* [[Secret Six (comics)|Secret Six]]
* [[Injustice League]]}}
| aliases = {{Plainlist|
* Enigma
* Eddie Nash
* Puzzle-Pirate
* Prince of Puzzles}}
| cat     = super
| subcat  = DC Comics
| hero    =
| villain = y
| sortkey = The Riddler
| powers  =
* Genius-level intellect
* Criminal mastermind
* Proficient scientist and engineer
* Uses complex riddles, puzzles, and lethal contraptions
}}

The '''Riddler''' ('''Edward Nigma''', later '''Edward Nygma''' or '''Edward Nashton''') is a <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; Villains (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[supervillain]] appearing in [[American comic books]] published by [[DC Comics]]. The character was created by [[Bill Finger]] and [[Dick Sprang]], and debuted in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #140 in October 1948. He has become one of the most enduring enemies of the superhero [[Batman]] and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his [[List of Batman family enemies|rogues gallery]].

In his comic book appearances, the Riddler is depicted as a criminal mastermind in [[Gotham City]]. He has an obsessive compulsion to incorporate [[riddle]]s, [[puzzle]]s, and death traps in his schemes to prove his intellectual superiority over Batman and the police. His real name—Edward Nigma—is a pun itself; an "enigma" is a person or thing that is difficult to understand. With this self-conscious use of an elaborate [[gimmick]], the Riddler's crimes are often theatrical and ostentatious. The character commonly wears a [[domino mask]] and either a green [[unitard]] decorated with question mark prints or a green suit and [[bowler hat]]. A black, green, or purple [[question mark]] serves as his visual motif. He commonly says "Riddle me this", before stating his iconic riddles.

The Riddler has been adapted into numerous forms of media, having been portrayed in live action by [[Frank Gorshin]] and [[John Astin]] on the 1960s television series ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'', [[Jim Carrey]] in the 1995 film ''[[Batman Forever]]'', [[Cory Michael Smith]] on the 2014 [[Fox Broadcasting Network|Fox]] series ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'', and [[Paul Dano]] in the 2022 film [[The Batman (film)|''The Batman'']]. [[John Glover (actor)|John Glover]], [[Robert Englund]], [[Wally Wingert]], and others have provided the character's voice ranging from animation to video games.

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Fictional character biography==
=== Golden Age ===
[[File:Detective140.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Cover of ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #140 (October 1948), the first appearance of the Riddler. Art by [[Win Mortimer]]. (note the Riddler Puzzle trap in this drawing was actually used in an episode of Batman when [[John Astin]] guest starred as the Riddler)]]
The character's origin story recounts Edward Nigma's fascination with puzzles from a young age.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6 |page=55}}</ref><ref>[http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/59.html Riddler is number 59] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511133147/http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/59.html |date=2009-05-11 }}, IGN.</ref> After a teacher announces that a contest will be held over who can solve a puzzle the fastest, Nigma sets his sights on winning this, craving the glory and satisfaction that will come with the victory. He breaks into the school at night to practice the puzzle until he is able to solve it in under a minute. Due to this he wins the contest and is given a book of riddles as a prize. His cheating rewarded, Edward embraced the mastery of puzzles of all kinds, eventually becoming a carnival employee who excelled at cheating his customers out of their money with his bizarre puzzles and mind games. He soon finds himself longing for greater challenges and thrills and dons the disguise of the "Riddler" to challenge [[Batman]], believing him to be a worthy adversary. In his first encounter with the Dynamic Duo, Riddler first tried to confound the crime-fighters with his infamous double-entry Riddle Clues and then tried to kill them both in a booby-trapped glass maze on a pier, sealing the door so they could not leave the structure before it exploded, only for Batman and Robin to escape and the Riddler "vanishing" after getting knocked into the sea by the explosion, leaving only his trademark "?" floating in the water.<ref>''Detective Comics'' #140. DC Comics.</ref>

=== Silver and Bronze Age ===
Riddler's origin is the same as his Golden Age counterpart. The first Silver Age appearance of the Riddler introduced the villain when he was released from prison. Upon release, the Riddler swore he would no longer leave clues to his crimes. However, during his first attempt at a robbery he discovers that leaving clues has become a compulsion.<ref>''Batman'' #171. DC Comics.</ref> The Riddler would go on to have more than a dozen appearances during the Silver and Bronze Age. Some notable appearances included a team-up with the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] and [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]], where the villains used an experimental gas on Batman to turn the hero into a Bat-Hulk.<ref>''The Brave and the Bold'' #68. DC Comics.</ref> The Riddler also faced [[Elongated Man]] in one story,<ref>''Detective Comics'' #373. DC Comics.</ref> and later the Riddler was lured into a team-up with Batman, where the unlikely pair investigated the kidnapping of a mystery writer.<ref>''The Brave and the Bold'' #183. DC Comics.</ref>

The Riddler was one of several villains who claimed to have killed Batman. These claims were debunked during a super-villain trial, during which the Riddler was cross-examined by Bruce Wayne, who was disguised as Lex Luthor at the time.<ref>''Batman'' #292. DC Comics.</ref>

In the later Bronze Age, Riddler was among the villains recruited by Joker to take down Killer Croc. They were defeated by Batman, Robin, [[Barbara Gordon|Batgirl]], [[Catwoman]], and [[Talia al Ghul]]<ref>''Detective Comics'' #586. DC Comics.</ref>

Near the end of the Bronze Age, the Riddler went into hiding, working in a winery. Eventually he is inspired to return to crime and lured Batman into a storybook theme park.<ref>''Batman'' #362. DC Comics.</ref>

During the Riddler's last pre-Crisis appearance, the villain was released from prison (along with most of Batman's other enemies) by [[Ra's al Ghul]]. Each villain is offered ten million dollars to kill Batman.<ref>''Batman'' #400. DC Comics.</ref>

===Post-Crisis===
In ''[[Batman: The Long Halloween]]'', the Riddler appears as an informant. The Riddler is hired by [[Carmine Falcone|Carmine "The Roman" Falcone]] to tell him the identity of the [[Holiday (comics)|Holiday Killer]]. Falcone eventually loses his patience with Riddler and has his daughter throw him out on the 1st of April. Outside Falcone's he is confronted by Holiday who fires several shots at him without harming him due to it being [[April Fools' Day|April Fool's]], the killer also leaves several items pertaining to their identity at the scene. This may be why Riddler was left alive, as matters are traditionally reversed on the holiday. He appeared again in the same chapter of the story in which Harvey Dent is disfigured when Batman comes to him for information about the attack.

He plays a slightly larger role in the story's sequel ''[[Batman: Dark Victory]]'', in which Batman turns to him to figure out the significance of the lost games of hangman that are left at the scenes of the [[Hangman (DC Comics)|Hangman]] killer's crimes. He later showed up as a member of [[Two-Face]]'s jury during the Hangman's trial.

In ''[[Catwoman: When in Rome]]'', he joins Selina Kyle on a trip to [[Italy]] in search of his fellow rogue's origins. It is there that he manipulates her into believing that some of Batman's most dangerous foes are after her. He has his henchmen employ several gimmicks and weapons used by the [[Scarecrow (DC Comics)|Scarecrow]], [[Mr. Freeze]] and the Joker to achieve this. He hopes to extract Batman's real identity from her, but to his dismay, she actually does not know or care.

The Riddler appears in ''[[Question (character)|The Question]]'' series, being convinced to become a "big-time villain" by a [[prostitution|prostitute]] he meets on a bus. He hijacks the bus and begins asking riddles, killing and robbing anyone that gets them wrong. The Question quickly subdues him by asking him [[Kōan|philosophical riddles]] in return. He is outwitted and has a [[mental breakdown]] before being set free as a reward for getting one last riddle right.<ref>''The Question'' #26. DC Comics.</ref>

In the one-shot "Riddler: The Riddle Factory", the Riddler becomes the host of an underground game show that focuses on digging up dirt on celebrities. Many of the famous people that he humiliates end up creating insincere apology videos shortly afterward, suggesting that perhaps Riddler did a good thing. In the end, his actions turn out to be a front for his attempts to find the hidden treasures of "Scarface" Scarpelli, a [[Gotham City]] gangster who lived long before Batman's reign of crimefighting.

In the three-part ''[[Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight]]'' storyline "The Primal Riddle", written by [[Steve Englehart]], the Riddler engineers one of his greatest deathtraps: Batman is thrown into a narrow pit that is slowly filling up with water. The walls are electrically wired, and a set of bumpers are the only thing that prevents the water from touching the walls and causing Batman to die by electrocution. The only options Batman appears to have are death by electrocution and death by drowning, but as always, Batman manages to tamper with the trap's design and develop a route of escape.<ref>''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' #109-#111. DC Comics.</ref> After [[Harley Quinn]] briefly breaks free of her devotion to the Joker, she attempts to hold up a large party at [[Wayne Manor]], only to find that the Riddler is targeting the building also. The two gangs engage in a firefight, but Harley gains the upper hand when [[Big Barda]] (who was secretly allied with her at the time) interrupts the conflict and captures the Riddler and his men. During the storyline, Riddler makes constant allusions to a "mystery" that is hidden within the mansion, and after his apprehension, damage done to the building causes the entrance to the Batcave to open. Riddler sees this, and then declares that he has "solved the riddle of Wayne Manor".<ref>''Harley Quinn'' #6-#7. DC Comics.</ref> During this period, he attacks [[Black Canary]] and [[Green Arrow]] in [[Star City (comics)|Star City]], and he is easily defeated. This event helps lay the foundations for Riddler's future confrontations with Green Arrow.

During a crisis caused when [[Wonder Woman]]'s [[Lasso of Truth]] was broken, resulting in the laws of truth breaking down and causing reality to be shaped by the perceptions of individuals, one of the symptoms was when Batman found himself unable to solve any of the Riddler's riddles, most likely reflecting the public idea of Riddler's puzzles being insoluble. Fortunately, Batman was still able to defeat the villain when even ''the Riddler'' couldn't figure out his own riddles, Batman claiming that he managed to "improvise" to defeat Riddler. The villain's low reputation among heroes and villains was reflected when the [[Wally West|Flash]] noted that Batman having trouble with Riddler was a clear sign that the world was ending.<ref>''JLA'' #64 (May 2002). DC Comics.</ref>

===''Batman: Hush''===
In the 12-part storyline ''[[Batman: Hush]]'', it is revealed that Riddler suffers from [[cancer]] (specifically a brain tumor), which also afflicted the mother of Dr. [[Hush (character)|Thomas Elliot]]. Riddler uses one of [[Ra's al Ghul]]'s Lazarus Pits to cure himself and offers Elliot the chance to cure his mother as well, provided he pays a large sum of money. However, Elliott is, in fact, eager for his mother to die to inherit her fortune. Elliott, who goes on to secretly become the masked criminal Hush, explains he wants to get revenge on his childhood friend Bruce Wayne. The two of them agree to work together and Riddler sets Killer Croc, [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]], [[Harley Quinn]], Joker, [[Clayface]], and Scarecrow out to destroy Batman, with Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, and [[Lady Shiva]] being temporarily drawn into the scheme as well.

During the [[psychosis|psychotic]] break that follows exposure to the Lazarus Pit, the Riddler deduces Batman's [[secret identity]]; he then reveals his knowledge to Hush. He has Clayface [[shapeshifting|shapeshift]] into the form of Batman's (presumed dead) protégé [[Jason Todd]] to torment Batman, who is haunted by the former Robin's death. Batman first thinks that Riddler had stolen Todd's corpse and hidden it, but it was [[Retcon|revealed]] in a later storyline, ''[[Batman: Under the Hood]]'', that Todd was alive the whole time and had personally played a role in Riddler and Hush's scheme. When the Riddler threatens to expose Batman's secret identity, Batman mockingly labels it an empty threat. He points out that if Riddler revealed the answer to the riddle "Who is Batman?", it would become worthless, something Riddler would not be able to stand. In addition, Batman warns him that if he reveals the secret, it would give Ra's al Ghul a vital clue that he used a Lazarus Pit without his permission, and the [[League of Assassins]] would subsequently retaliate against him.<ref>''Batman'' #619. DC Comics.</ref>

===Aftermath===
The fallout from the Riddler's failed scheme is played out in ''[[Batman: Gotham Knights]]'' #50-53. In the story "Pushback", Hush reappears and beats Riddler senseless across a rooftop. Seeking refuge, Riddler goes to the Joker and the Penguin. He offers to tell the Joker who had killed his [[pregnancy|pregnant]] wife Jeannie if the Clown Prince of Crime would protect him from Hush. Joker immediately agrees, but eventually, Hush, with the help of the impostor [[Prometheus (DC Comics)|Prometheus]], defeats him, forcing Riddler to flee for his life. In ''Detective Comics'' #797-799, the Riddler seeks shelter from Poison Ivy only to be humiliated when Ivy easily overwhelms and tortures him with her powers.

As revealed in ''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' #185-189, the Riddler is stripped of his deductive powers and left to rot as a member of [[Gotham City]]'s vast and invisible [[homelessness|homeless]] population. A chance encounter with an ex-[[National Security Agency|NSA]] codebreaker gives him a positive environment in which to recover his mind. During that stay, he experiences an induced [[flashback (psychological phenomenon)|flashback]] that leads him to realize that his father had abused him many years ago. Envious of his son's academic achievements in school, and unable to understand his brilliance, his father believed he had cheated on his accomplishments and beat him out of jealousy. Once Riddler discovers this, he is able to understand his lifelong obsession as born out of a traumatic compulsion to prove his intelligence. Having made this connection, the Riddler spends some of his vast fortunes, acquired over many years of crime, to get minor [[plastic surgery]] and extensive [[tattoo]]ing, covering most of his torso with his trademark question insignia. He returns and kills the codebreaker{{spaced ndash}}who had pieced together his identity but could not act on it{{spaced ndash}}then promptly steals a priceless scroll out from under Batman's nose. In the years that followed, he largely turned away from crime to instead focus on gaining wealth and social influence.

After orchestrating a brutal series of assaults on [[Green Arrow]], as revenge against his defeat at his hands during the "[[No Man's Land (comics)|No Man's Land]]" era, Riddler gravely injures and almost kills both Green Arrow and [[Roy Harper (character)|Arsenal]]. He once again escapes before the [[Outsiders (comics)|Outsiders]] arrive to save them.<ref>''Green Arrow'' (vol. 3) #50 (July 2005). DC Comics.</ref> Sometime between this incident and the events of Hush, Riddler was hired to steal artifacts imbued with mystical powers from one of Star City's museums, and then distract the authorities so that the related rituals could be commenced. He sends Team Arrow on a wild goose chase around the city and then reveals that he has an atomic bomb housed in the stadium where the Star City Rockets play. However, as a side effect of the ritual performed with the artifacts, the city is plunged into complete darkness, and Green Arrow uses this to his advantage, moving in and apprehending the Riddler.

Riddler later shows up in ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' #1, with a group of villains, which includes the [[Fisherman (comics)|Fisherman]] and [[Murmur (DC Comics)|Murmur]], attacking the [[Gotham City Police Department]].<ref>''Infinite Crisis'' #1. DC Comics.</ref> He is next seen escaping [[Arkham Asylum]] during the worldwide supervillain breakout engineered by [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]]'s [[Secret Society of Super Villains]] days after the prior supernatural disaster.<ref>''Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special'' #1. DC Comics.</ref> Riddler reappears as part of the Society's "Phase Three" attack on [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]. He is defeated by the [[Shining Knight]] and is struck in the head by the Knight's mace.

===Riddler reformed===
In ''Detective Comics'' #822, the first of a series of issues written by veteran ''Batman'' writer [[Paul Dini]], the Riddler returns, having spent much of the [[52 (comics)|previous year]] in a [[coma]] due to brain damage after being struck in the head by [[Shining Knight]]. When he awakes, he is cured of his [[insanity]] and of his obsession with riddles, while retaining both his [[genius]] intellect and his mammoth ego. He subsequently reinvents himself as a private detective, taking on the murder case of a wealthy socialite. Hired by the socialite's father, he proves that a photo of Bruce Wayne apparently implicating him in the crime depicts an impostor and briefly works with Batman to investigate the crime. He has suffered severe memory loss from the coma, and he barely remembers his own name. He does not appear to remember that Wayne and Batman are one and the same, although he does harbor some suspicions of once knowing something amazing about Wayne.<ref>''Detective Comics'' #822. DC Comics.</ref>

The Riddler is a guest along with Bruce Wayne on board a ship during a party. During the party, an old friend of Bruce's falls overboard and is mauled to death by sharks. Riddler appears to solve the case with the [[suicide]] of the apparent murderer, and quickly takes the credit. However, Batman finds evidence that suicide was a setup to divert attention away from the real killer. Bruce suspects foul play, and eventually tracks down the killer, whom Riddler is also close to catching before Nigma is bludgeoned over the head by a [[Leiomano|shark-tooth club]]. The killer pushes Batman out the window and is about to drop him to his death, when Nigma wraps his tie around an arrow, lights it on fire, and shoots it into the killer's back. As the assailant rolls around screaming, Nigma taunts him, refusing to douse the flames. Batman extinguishes the flame and responds to Nigma's assertion that they are now allies with hostile dismissal.<ref>''Detective Comics'' #828. DC Comics.</ref>

The Riddler is then hired by Bruce Wayne to track down an experimental drug developed by [[Wayne Enterprises]], currently being tested for muscle stamina and cellular regeneration, which has been stolen by corrupt lab assistant Lisa Newman. He discovers that Newman is staying at the same Athenian Women's Help Shelter as [[Harley Quinn]], falsely claiming to be an abuse victim. With Harley's help, he defeats Newman and returns the drug to Wayne Enterprises, earning Batman's trust for the time being.<ref>''Detective Comics'' #837. DC Comics.</ref>

In ''[[Countdown to Final Crisis|Countdown]]'' #42, Riddler claims to [[Mary Marvel]] that he has gone straight and is now a detective. The two join forces to defeat [[Clayface]], and after witnessing Mary's new malicious approach to crime-fighting, suggests that she consider finding a mentor to help her control her powers or at the very least get some [[anger management]] counseling. After a [[serial killer]] surfaces on the streets of Gotham City, the Riddler homes in on closing the case, only to find that the killer is actually one of his former victims out for revenge. The young man, whose girlfriend was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between Nigma's gang and security guards, captures Riddler and attempts to kill him, but Batman intervenes just in time and saves his former foe's life.<ref>''Countdown'' #42. DC Comics.</ref>

In the 2008 mini-series ''[[Gotham Underground]]'', Riddler investigates the Penguin's involvement with the events of ''[[Salvation Run]]''. He saves [[Dick Grayson]] working undercover during the Gotham Gang War between Penguin and [[Tobias Whale]] and deduces that Grayson is [[Nightwing]].
He appears in ''[[Batman: Battle for the Cowl|Battle for the Cowl: The Underground]]'', where he is hired by the Penguin to find [[Black Mask (character)|Black Mask]]. To that end, he tracks down Selina Kyle, meeting up with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in the process.

In the ''[[Gotham City Sirens]]'' storyline, Poison Ivy is controlling the Riddler, keeping him in a nearly vegetative state so she can move into his house. When a villain named Boneblaster decides to make a name for himself by killing [[Catwoman]], the fight ends up there. The house is severely damaged, but Riddler is freed from Ivy's control in the process. Seeing his house in shambles, he takes his question mark cane off the wall and begins to savagely beat the already downed Boneblaster.<ref>''Gotham City Sirens'' #1 (June 2009). DC Comics.</ref> In the third issue, Riddler attempts to solve a pair of unlikely suicides, the first being the second-best female tennis player in the world, the second an ace race car driver. During his re-enactment of one of the deaths, he is visited by both Catwoman and Poison Ivy, seeking his help in locating Harley after her abduction. Due to the events of the first issue, and Harley's mental state, he quickly declines and brushes off Poison Ivy's threats.<ref>''Gotham City Sirens'' #3. DC Comics.</ref>

In his efforts, he discovers that these deaths are in fact homicides orchestrated by a serial killer who leaves subtle clues to the next victim within the body and time of death of the current victim. While attempting to alert the media, he provokes Dick Grayson, who is now acting as Batman. Almost instantly, Riddler deduces that the Batman before him is a new one. Additionally, Riddler reveals that the next victim will be the sister of the second victim, a young romance writer, something that Dick needed [[Alfred Pennyworth]] and the [[Batcave]] computer to figure out. In the end, Dick goes off to confront the killer, while Riddler agrees to look after the intended victim. After a brief, but an expected misunderstanding about Riddler's intentions with the young woman, Dick phones in to announce that he has apprehended and questioned not one, but three killers about their intentions, but got no answers. Riddler almost leaves the woman to her life, when the lights go out unexpectedly. Riddler immediately concludes that Dick has not captured all of the killers, and pulls the woman out of harm's way when a bomb goes off in front of her bookstore.

While Riddler and the writer hide as the smoke clears, three costumed assailants, enter the wreckage, looking for their victim to mark with their next riddle. The two men are led by a woman going by the moniker Conundrum, and their costumes sport black and green color schemes along with disturbingly familiar question mark emblazoned on their outfits. As Riddler stealthily disposes of the two grunts with his cane, Conundrum takes the writer hostage at gunpoint. Riddler deduces that Conundrum and her men are all college students who specialize in police sciences. Due to his famous rehabilitation, Conundrum's group decided to fill the void with their debut murders. Conundrum admits that Riddler was her idol and that it would be a shame to kill him.

At this point, Riddler announces that Batman is ''en route'' to their very location, something both Conundrum and the writer have difficulty believing. Riddler claims that since his reform, he and Batman have become close and that his cane now has its own [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] that alerts Batman to his location whenever the question mark is twisted. Noting her disbelief, Riddler calmly asks Conundrum with a smirk, "Why is this man smiling?". Just as the Riddler finishes his question, Dick shows up and knocks Conundrum out. Riddler then admits that he is completely baffled that Batman is indeed there since he was only stalling for time until he thought of something, leading him to wonder if there truly is a Bat-signal in his cane (a panel during Riddler's "bluff" shows that there is indeed a Bat-signal in his cane, as a green question mark alongside a map shows up inside the [[Batmobile]]'s window). After the ordeal is over, the young writer hugs Riddler, thanking him for saving her life. Afterward, she and Riddler go out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, under Dick's covert surveillance. Dick admits that Riddler is indeed on a path of recovery, but must still be watched. After washing up in the men's room, Riddler sees a gossip show on closed-circuit television, showcasing a plainclothes Harley getting into a car with Hush disguised as Bruce Wayne. He then calls Selina and tells her to turn on her television. Sometime later, Riddler arrives at his office to find his secretary bound and gagged at her desk, with Harley, Ivy, and Selina waiting in his office. The women tell him that they are being framed for the murder of a young woman whose body was dropped into their pool, and they need his help to prove that they had no part in it. After examining the woman's body, he finds that the women were telling the truth, only to be attacked by Dr. Aesop.<ref>''Gotham City Sirens'' #9 (February 2010)</ref>

===Return to villainy===
In [[Tony Daniel]]'s "Life After Death", Riddler appears early in the story at a gala party attended by Arkham, Dick Grayson, [[Huntress (DC Comics)|Huntress]], and [[Barbara Gordon|Oracle]], hired by Penguin to find the Black Mask. As he chases [[Kitrina Falcone|Catgirl]] away from her robbery of the venue, the Riddler is rocked by a bomb detonation, the trauma re-awakening his psychosis. Cackling, rambling and insane, he terminates his contract with Cobblepot and disappears. In "Riddle Me This", the Riddler still "acts" as a private eye and teams with Batman to solve the murders of a mysterious sorcerer named Sebastian Rothschild (aka Sebastian Blackspell). Blackspell is apprehended, but only after Batman suspects Riddler went to great lengths to orchestrate the ordeal, including poisoning himself with a nearly lethal dose of Joker gas to skirt suspicion and act on a grudge between him and Blackspell.

Riddler's return to villainy is cemented in "Eye of the Beholder". Investigating the [[Sensei (DC Comics)|Sensei]]'s attack on the Jade Society, Batman (Dick Grayson) is ambushed by Riddler and a young woman introduced as [[Enigma (DC Comics)|Enigma]], Riddler's daughter. Riddler and Enigma escape, delivering the Jade Society member list to Gilda Dent. Riddler is paid but is more interested in another reward, which Gilda promises after one more job. This occurs in "Pieces", where Gilda reveals herself to her estranged husband Harvey, who is now the disfigured criminal [[Two-Face]]. She hires Riddler and Enigma to help Two-Face best [[Mario Falcone (DC Comics)|Mario Falcone]] and reclaim his coin. The plan works; Riddler and Enigma defeat Batman and reunite the Dents. The Riddler is rewarded with multiple dossiers of himself. When Enigma calls him a has-been, Riddler retorts with a new riddle: "What's green and purple and bleeds profusely?". Enigma's response is cut short by her scream, implying that the Riddler has murdered his own daughter.

===The New 52===
In 2011, "[[The New 52]]" rebooted the DC universe. Riddler appears as an inmate at Arkham Asylum in ''Batman'' (vol. 2) #1. Redesigned in the style of the new titles, he sports a green mohawk in the shape of a question mark. Riddler appears in more traditional form in the short that concludes ''Batman'' #15 "And Here's the Kicker", the third part of "[[Death of the Family]]". After it is revealed that Joker has secretly hijacked Arkham Asylum, Riddler is depicted as a current inmate, calmly biding his time and taunting guards. But when Joker appears and reveals his great respect for Riddler (as the villain whose dangerous intellect has kept Batman "sharp"), he uses Joker-gas to force Riddler to prove he could have escaped his cell anytime he wanted. To his chagrin, Riddler does and becomes quite alarmed when Joker shares a write-up of his plan to ambush Batman. Joker admits Riddler will have little part in his designs but should stick around for the "show" anyway.

The Riddler made an appearance in ''Batman'' (vol. 2) #21, the opening book of the "[[Batman: Zero Year|Zero Year]]" arc, where his surname is changed from Edward Nigma to Nashton or Nygma. The Riddler later appears in both the second and third chapters of the "Zero Year" storyline. In the canon, the Riddler is Batman's first masked supervillain and is not only able to best Batman twice, but also takes control of Gotham, causing it to become a flooded wasteland where only the intelligent are meant to survive. Although the Riddler continues to be steps ahead of the Dark Knight, he is eventually defeated by the combined efforts of Batman, [[Jim Gordon (character)|Commissioner James Gordon]] and [[Wayne Enterprises]] CEO [[Lucius Fox]]. He is later moved to Arkham Asylum.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Vaneta|last=Rogers|url=http://www.newsarama.com/21600-scott-snyder-reflects-on-zero-year-finale-its-spiritual-cousin-gotham.html|title=SCOTT SNYDER Reflects on ZERO YEAR Finale & Its Spiritual Cousin GOTHAM|publisher=Newsarama|date=July 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018043609/http://www.newsarama.com/21600-scott-snyder-reflects-on-zero-year-finale-its-spiritual-cousin-gotham.html|archive-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref>

Riddler appeared one more time in New 52 in the last three issues of ''The Flash''. Holding a presumed dead [[Heat Wave (character)|Heat Wave]] hostage, it is revealed that the Riddler designed a range of deadly drones around [[Central City (DC Comics)|Central City]], drones that he had out-sourced to the CCPD. Alongside the [[Trickster (DC Comics)|Trickster]] (whose arm Edward had placed a bomb in), Riddler begins ruthlessly punching and beating the [[Flash (Barry Allen)]] before the speedster is quickly rescued by the [[Pied Piper (DC Comics)|Pied Piper]]. Riddler then threatens to have his drones open fire on the citizens of Central City once more. However, he is eventually defeated and imprisoned by a uniformed effort between the Flash and the [[Rogues (comics)|Rogues]].<ref>''The Flash'' (vol. 4) #50-51 (2016). DC Comics.</ref>

===DC Rebirth===
In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth", which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". The Riddler makes his first true appearance in the new DC continuity relaunch in ''Batman'' (vol. 3) #19. An inmate of Arkham once again, he rather cooperatively assists [[Bane (DC Comics)|Bane]] in unlocking a high tech door, allowing Bane access to confront Batman.<ref>''Batman'' (vol. 3) #19 (3/15/2016). DC Comics.</ref>

In the eight-part story arc "The War of Jokes and Riddles", commencing with ''Batman'' (vol. 3) #25, flashbacks to a year after the events of "[[Batman: Zero Year|Zero Year]]" have Batman recounting the details of a war between Riddler and Joker. He is first seen in custody at the GCPD, assisting them in solving a variety of crimes, including locating Joker's whereabouts, before stabbing a police officer to death 26 times. Blackmailing the approaching guards with details of their children and families, Riddler walks out freely before intruding into Joker's office. Riddler seemingly offers the Joker a partnership, acknowledging that if either of the two men individually kills Batman, the other will be left forever unsatisfied. However the Joker shoots Riddler in the stomach and quickly departs, Batman appearing through the window and giving chase. Left in a pool of his own blood, Riddler rose to his feet and limped out of the office, seemingly unfazed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://insidepulse.com/2017/06/21/dc-comics-rebirth-spoilers-review-batman-25-teases-full-war-of-jokes-riddles-in-1-page-reveals-why-the-joker-the-riddler-are-at-war-plus-more-batman-catwoman-love/|title = DC Comics Rebirth Spoilers & Review: Batman #25 Teases Full War of Jokes & Riddles in 1 Page & Reveals Why the Joker & the Riddler Are at War! Plus More Batman & Catwoman Love! |date = 21 June 2017 |publisher=Inside Pulse}}</ref> Edward quickly healed from the wound, carving a question marked shaped scar over the wound, before murdering Dr. Jaime Knowles. Riddler is then seen meeting with Poison Ivy, discussing the Joker's need to rid anyone who could potentially kill Batman before him. The duo is then ambushed by gunmen working for [[Carmine Falcone]] under the orders of the Joker to kill Riddler within the hour. However, Poison Ivy attacks the gunmen with her vines, allowing Edward and herself to leave.<ref>''Batman'' (vol. 3) #26 (07/05/17). DC Comics.</ref>

Riddler eventually formed his team, consisting of himself, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, [[Deathstroke]], Clayface, Killer Croc, [[Two-Face]], [[Firefly (DC Comics)|Firefly]], and [[Victor Zsasz]].<ref>''Batman'' (vol. 3) #28 (8/2/2017). DC Comics.</ref> Waging war on Joker's team across Gotham, Riddler is responsible for poisoning Charles Brown's son, resulting in his transformation into [[Kite Man]] who joins up with Joker's team consisting of [[Cluemaster]], [[Deadshot]], [[Mad Hatter (DC Comics)|Mad Hatter]], [[Man-Bat]], [[Mr. Freeze]], Penguin, [[Solomon Grundy (character)|Solomon Grundy]], and [[Ventriloquist (character)|Ventriloquist]].<ref>''Batman'' (vol. 3) #27 (7/19/2017). DC Comics.</ref> The war continues, with Riddler and Joker claiming territories across Gotham, before Riddler, who had convinced Batman to side with him during the conflict, blackmails and interrogates Kite Man into giving up Joker's location. However Batman, after a brief fight between him, Riddler and Joker, becomes disgusted by Riddler's actions and quickly grabs a blade, breaking his one rule of no killing to stab Riddler. However, Joker, who finally begins to laugh again, prevents Batman from doing so.

The present-day Riddler shows up next as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains who have placed [[Deathstroke]] on trial for appearing to have reformed. Riddler, using [[Hector Hammond]]'s abilities, convinces the Society that Deathstroke is indeed evil by showcasing a simulation of Deathstroke killing them all right before Deathstroke himself is kidnapped.<ref>''Deathstroke'' (vol. 4) #25. DC Comics.</ref>

In the ''[[Watchmen]]'' sequel ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'', Riddler hosts an underground meeting with the other villains to discuss the Superman Theory. The meeting is crashed by [[Comedian (character)|Comedian]], who shoots Riddler in the leg.<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #6 (July 2018). DC Comics.</ref>

===Infinite Frontier===
Riddler features in the [[Infinite Frontier]] one-shot Batman - One Bad Day: The Riddler #1, wherein he is given a revised origin. Here he is named Edward Tierney, a child prodigy with a genius level intellect who attends a prestigious private college where his father is the headmaster. Edward is a socially awkward child seemingly without social contacts besides his father, who pushes him extremely harshly in his studies. He also regularly beats and humiliates Edward due to him being the shameful result of a short lived affair with a prostitute. When Edward fails to get a full score on a test that ends with an unrelated riddle, he is beaten and humiliated even more. Edward attempts suicide, though after surviving sneaks into the school archives and steals the test key for the upcoming course. The teacher finds out and is set to expel Edward from the school. He notes that getting expelled might actually be good for Edward, as he'll still be brilliant but will also have experienced failure and might become a bit more relaxed. Hearing this, Edward snaps and beats the teacher to death. This sets Edward on the way to adopting the "Nygma" surname and becoming the Riddler.<ref>''Batman - One Bad Day: The Riddler'' #1. DC Comics.</ref>

==Characterization==
===Skills and abilities===
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2016}}
The Riddler is a criminal genius capable of extraordinary [[lateral thinking]] in decoding and formulating puzzles of all kinds. As a private detective during the time he was reformed, he demonstrated investigative skills that rival those of the Dark Knight. However, Batman's observations note that "[Nigma] exhibits [[personality disorder]]s consistent with a fanatic [[narcissist]], [[egocentrism]], and [[Narcissistic personality disorder|megalomania]] crossed with [[Obsessive Compulsive Disorder|severe obsessive compulsion]]".

Like most of Batman's enemies (and Batman himself), the Riddler has no superhuman abilities but is a highly cunning criminal strategist. He is not especially talented in fisticuffs (although his endurance has grown from having to engage in it over the years), but sometimes employs weaponry that exploits his gimmick, such as exploding jigsaw pieces, question-mark-shaped pistols, and his infamous question-mark staff, known to house a wide variety of technological devices and weapons. Still, his theme is flexible to his crimes, compared to similar criminals: all the Riddler requires is to be able to describe his threatened crime with a riddle or puzzle. Riddler once tried to commit crimes without leaving any clues using self hypnosis; however, he learned too late that while he was asleep his unconscious mind left riddling clues, causing Batman and Robin to capture him.<ref><nowiki>''</nowiki>Batman<nowiki>''</nowiki> #179 (March 1966). DC Comics.</ref>
He is shown to be skilled with engineering and technology, having confronted Batman and Robin with unique and elaborate deathtraps. He is also well known for being Batman's most intelligent adversary and in turn, has a grudging respect for Batman, in that he is the only adversary that has an intellectual genius equal to the Riddler.

However, the threat that Riddler actually poses is somewhat inconsistent across his various stories. His most formidable depictions emphasize his intelligence and cunning, portraying him as one of few rogues capable of seriously taxing Batman's mental prowess, while also willing to take the precaution of obtaining firearms to deal with the superhero. Some recent depictions, however, have placed a derogatory focus on his flamboyant gimmickry and relative lack of major victories (even despite this applying to most of Batman's enemies), portraying him as petty, overconfident, relatively harmless, and held in low esteem. The latter approach has proved polarizing, with some fans finding it wasteful in light of the character's classic status and history of compelling stories, while others argue that most of his popularity has come from media other than his comic storylines and enjoy the notion of knowing that his "real" threat level is overrated. Since The New 52 reboot, Riddler has been consistently depicted as a serious threat, with notable successes.

===Relationships===
====Cluemaster====
The Riddler develops a working relationship with the [[Cluemaster]], although he initially resents the villain for seemingly copying his [[modus operandi]]. In their first encounter, he sets his fellow rogue up with a bomb and sends Batman off chasing riddles that would lead to its defusing, as well as away from his real plan: to steal a vast amount of priceless [[baseball]] merchandise.<ref>''Detective Comics'' #705-#707. DC Comics.</ref> The two team up on a few occasions afterward and work together on a big scheme shortly before Cluemaster's apparent death in the pages of ''[[Suicide Squad|The Suicide Squad]]''.<ref>''Detective Comics'' #810. DC Comics.</ref>

====Query and Echo====
The Riddler once had two henchwomen named Query and Echo (real names Diedre Vance and Nina Damfino respectively) who first appeared in Detective Comics Annual Issue #8, July 1995. Once employees of an underground club called Pandora's Box, became a duo biker gang robbing small convenience stores. One night, as they were attempting to rob another store, they forced a customer at gunpoint to surrender the goods, not knowing it was the Riddler who was about to start his criminal career. Seeing their potential, he hired the bikers and ultimately became Query and Echo (although some iterations include Quiz and Query).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casually Comics |title=The Riddler's Forgotten S&M Biker Sidekicks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwMVA_J1i9E |website=YouTube |date=10 July 2022 |access-date=10 October 2024}}</ref>

Aside from their matching outfits (mostly unitards with fishnet leggings) and non-distinctive personalities, they differ in hair color and skin tone. Query has lighter skin, long blonde hair, and often wears what looks like a police cap. Echo has darker skin and short black hair. They exhibit great agility and combat skills. After several issues, Query and Echo have since made little appearances and brief mentions in both the comics and other mediums.

==Other versions==
As one of [[Batman]]'s most famed and popular adversaries, a number of [[parallel universe (fiction)|alternate universes]] in DC Comics publications allow writers to introduce variations on the Riddler that are not part of the official DC continuity, variations in which the character's origins, behavior, and morality differ from the mainstream setting.

===''Joker''===
[[File:Hipster riddler.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Edward as he appears in ''[[Joker (graphic novel)|Joker]]''.]]
A radically different interpretation of the Riddler is featured in [[Brian Azzarello]] and [[Lee Bermejo]]'s ''[[Joker (graphic novel)|Joker]]''. In this version, he wears a solid green jacket with question marks on the very back of it and a circle of question mark tattoos around his abdomen. His cane serves the purpose of helping to prop him up, due to a disabled leg. In the story, he sells an unknown substance to the [[Joker (character)|Joker]], who identifies him as "Edward".<ref>''Joker''. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Thrillkiller''===
In the ''[[Elseworlds]]'' miniseries ''Thrillkiller'', Nygma is a [[psychiatrist]] who counsels [[Barbara Gordon]]. Doctor Edward Nygma, author of ''Riddle Me This — What Do We Really Mean?'', keeps Barbara dosed with increasing amounts of [[Diazepam|Valium]] and encourages her to mix with people that she actually loathes. Edward wears a green suit and the cushions of his couch bear the pattern of the Riddler's outfit. [[Alfred Pennyworth|Alfred]], Barbara's butler, takes the drugs away from her at the request of her father [[Jim Gordon (character)|Commissioner Gordon]], who considers Edward to be a quack.<ref>''Batman: Thrillkiller'' #1-3. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Batman: Earth One''===
The Riddler appears in the [[graphic novel]] series ''[[Batman: Earth One]]''.<ref>''Batman: Earth One'' Vol. 1 (July 2012). DC Comics.</ref> This version of the character is a nameless [[serial killer]] who puts people in life-threatening situations, all while questioning them in riddles, claiming that if they get it right, he will spare them; in fact, this is all a ruse, as he kills them regardless of whether they answer the riddles he proposes or not. Even though he is not obsessed with finding answers to most riddles, the Riddler does have an obsession with learning the Batman's identity, which he considers to be the "ultimate riddle".

In Volume Two, six months after the death of Mayor Oswald Cobblepot, the Riddler goes on a killing spree in Gotham City, hoping to get Batman's attention. After a bombing, Batman chases the Riddler, but falls off a roof in the process of attempting to catch him. Though Batman finds the Riddler's sewer-based hideout, he fails to stop him from bombing a [[rapid transit|rapid transit train]]. Using discovered clues, Batman deduces that these killings were not random; they were actually targeted, specifically that the Riddler is targeting the people who are trying to take over the remains of Cobblepot's criminal network. Bruce is later accused of being the Riddler after the real Riddler frames him in an attempt to divert James Gordon's investigation, but [[Two-Face#Batman: Earth One|Jessica Dent]] is able to provide Bruce an alibi so he is not arrested. In the middle of a riot at the police precinct caused by the Riddler, Batman pursues the villain in a [[car chase]] and eventually subdues him with [[Killer Croc|Waylon Jones]]' help. The Riddler is subsequently arrested by the [[Gotham City Police Department]] and brought up on 43 charges of murder.<ref>''Batman: Earth One'' Vol. 2 (May 2015). DC Comics.</ref>

===''Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle''===
In the Batman/[[Judge Dredd]] crossover ''Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle'', the Riddler uses a reality-manipulating wand-like device he acquired during [[Zero Hour: Crisis in Time|the ''Zero Hour'' crisis]] to pull Batman, Dredd, and six alien warriors together, intending to pit Batman against the other warriors and get him killed. However, Batman and Dredd are able to work together to overcome their opponents, culminating in Dredd shooting Riddler in the shoulder and Batman claiming the device, subsequently using it to return the survivors home.<ref>''Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle''. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Justice''===
The Riddler's appearance in [[Alex Ross]]' 12 issue series ''[[Justice (DC Comics)|Justice]]'' suggests a new motivation, that, as a child, he had been beaten by his father whenever he told a lie, to the extent that he was now psychologically incapable of telling a lie. His riddles are his method of subverting his condition so that he is still technically telling the truth, but always in as cryptic a manner as possible.<ref>''Justice'' #5. DC Comics.</ref>

===Antimatter Universe===
The Riddler has a heroic counterpart in the [[Qward|antimatter universe]] called the Quizmaster, who is a member of [[Lex Luthor]]'s [[Secret Society of Super Villains#Justice Underground|Justice Underground]] (that Earth's version of the Injustice Gang) which opposes the evil [[Crime Syndicate#Crime Syndicate of Amerika|Crime Syndicate of Amerika]]. He first appeared in ''JLA Secret Files 2004'' #1. He later has the right half of his face burned by [[Ultraman (DC Comics)|Ultraman]], leading him to don a half-face and temporarily take on the name "[[Enigma (DC Comics)|Enigma]]". He last appeared in the [[Trinity (comic book)|''Trinity'' series]]. As the New Earth Riddler slowly became a lighter, less criminal figure, Enigma became a darker figure in this series, attempting to join forces with [[Despero]] and Morgaine le Fay to perform a ritual that will allow them to 'supplant' the Trinity of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman and gain the power to manipulate the multiverse. In the course of the series, it is revealed that Enigma seeks this power to save his daughter after she was mortally injured, but the ritual fails when Despero is replaced by one of his henchmen in an attempted coup, creating an imbalance that destabilizes reality until Trinity's allies can regain enough of their own memories to help their loved ones come back to themselves. Similarly, on [[Earth-Three|Earth-3]], the Riddler's heroic counterpart (simply Riddler) is married to [[Two-Face#Earth-Three|Three-Face (Evelyn Dent)]] and is the stepfather to the [[Alternative versions of Joker#Earth-3|Jokester]]'s daughter [[Duela Dent]].<ref>''JLA Secret Files 2004'' #1. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Emperor Joker''===
In the "[[Joker (character)|Emperor Joker]]" storyline, the all-powerful Joker creates an alternate Riddler, known as "Enigma", to be a member of the Joker's League of Anarchy along with alternate versions of [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]] and [[Bizarro]]. After learning of the Joker's plans to destroy the universe, he leads the League in an uprising against him. The Joker's vast and amazing powers cause the plan to fail, and the entire League is destroyed as a result.<ref>''Emperor Joker'' #1. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again''===
The Riddler can be heard saying "ruh-riddle me this" in ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again]]''.<ref>''Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again'' #1-3. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Kingdom Come''===
The Riddler appears in the miniseries ''[[Kingdom Come (comics)|Kingdom Come]]'', having been invited to a meeting of the Mankind Liberation Front by Lex Luthor. In this alternate future, the Riddler has become an old, bald man wearing glasses with question mark-shaped rims. He still indulges in his habitual riddling, asking "Who is the Riddler?" when Luthor referred to him by his real name. He appears to have been invited to the meeting only upon the insistence of Selina Kyle, as Luthor does not appear enthused by his presence.<ref>''Kingdom Come'' #2. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Batman: Crimson Mist''===
In the third issue of the Batman vampire series ''[[Batman & Dracula: Red Rain|Batman: Crimson Mist]]'', the Riddler appears in a morgue where he shoots the mortician who was about to start an autopsy on a corpse, as the Riddler had stored a large number of drugs inside the body. The Riddler in that appearance has a big question mark-shaped scar on his face and another one on his chest with his navel being the dot. While shooting he cites what would be his final riddle: "When Genius becomes dope plus 'E' how does she redeem herself? Answer: By turning 'Heroine' which minus the E is 'Heroin', lots of it and redeemable for lots of cash," at which vampire Batman appears and scolds the Riddler for graduating from robbery and extortion to drug trafficking and murder. In a panic, the Riddler begins to fire at Batman only to find that his bullets have no effect on him. Stunned, the Riddler asks Batman what he is, to which Batman replies: "The answer to life's every riddle: death and hungry darkness." With that, Batman proceeds to drain the Riddler of his blood.<ref>''Batman: Crimson Mist''. DC Comics.</ref>

===''Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''===
In the ''[[Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' crossover, Riddler is turned into a mutant raccoon by the Shredder, along with other mutated inmates of Arkham Asylum. After Shredder is defeated by Batman and the Turtles, the police scientists have managed to turn him and the rest of inmates at Arkham back to normal and are currently in A.R.G.U.S. custody.

===''Batman: White Knight''===
The Riddler made a minor appearance in the 2017 series ''[[Batman: White Knight]]''. Riddler, along with several other Batman villains, is tricked by Jack Napier (who in this reality was a [[Joker (character)|Joker]] who had been force-fed an overdose of pills by Batman, which temporarily cured him of his insanity) into drinking liquids that had been laced with particles from [[Clayface|Clayface's]] body. This was done so that Napier, who was using [[Mad Hatter (DC Comics)|Mad Hatter]]'s technology to control Clayface, could control them by way of Clayface's ability to control parts of his body that had been separated from him. Riddler and the other villains are then used to attack a library that Napier himself was instrumental in building in one of [[Gotham City]]'s poorer districts. Later on in the story, the control hat is stolen by the Neo-Joker (the second [[Harley Quinn]], who felt that Jack Napier was a pathetic abnormality, while the Joker was the true, beautiful personality), in an effort to get Napier into releasing the Joker persona. Riddler also appears in the sequel storyline ''[[Batman: Curse of the White Knight]]'', being among the villains murdered by [[Azrael (DC Comics)|Azrael]].

===''Dark Knights of Steel''===

Riddler (Named Fiddler in this version) first appears as one of the boys believed to be captured from Arkham Orphanage by Man Bat. He is seen with younger versions of Mad Hatter, Killer Croc and Jimmy White when Batman, Superman and Supergirl fight Kirk Langstrom. Jimmy then reveals that the group are actually being rescued by Kirk to get away from Elizabeth Arkham's deadly experiments.

A grown up Fiddler then reappears as part of the King's Banes Secret Six alongside Ragdoll, Scandal Savage and Cheshire. This version sports a Robin Hood style outfit with embroidered question marks and a wooden fiddle with a question mark shaped handle.

==In other media==
{{Main|Riddler in other media}}

==See also==
* [[List of Batman family enemies]]
* [[Enigma (DC Comics)]]
* [[Batman rapist]] – An unidentified English serial rapist nicknamed "The Riddler"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Tony |title=Diplomat's son suspected of 'Riddler' rapes |work=The Observer (UK) |date=14 May 2000 |page=15}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Batman (comics)#The Riddler|The Riddler}}
{{commons cat}}
* {{official website}}
* {{DCdatabase|Riddler}}
* [http://riddler.batbad.com Edward Nygma's Puzzle Web Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707213653/http://riddler.batbad.com/ |date=2011-07-07 }} : puzzles, games and stories featuring the animated series Riddler.
{{Batman characters}}
{{Batgirl}}
{{Catwoman}}
{{Robin}}
{{Secret Six}}
{{Suicide Squad}}
{{Superfriends series}}

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