With The Batman recently hitting theaters, many fans are discussing the movie’s main villain, The Riddler. Using parallels to real-life murder mystery cases like the Zodiac Killer, the film presents The Riddler in a way never done before on screen; a sadistic and seriously threatening sociopath. With this darker interpretation of The Riddler bringing new attention to the character, many viewers are undoubtedly wondering if the comic version of The Riddler has ever crossed the numerous lines he crosses in the film.
However, as many regular DC readers know, the comic version of The Riddler regularly does things in a threatening manner, just like the movie shows.
10 The Riddler Went To War With The Joker
Often considered a highlight of Tom King’s Batman run, The War of Jokes and Riddles is exactly what it sounds like, an all-out street war between Riddler and Joker. Running from Batman issues #25-32, The Riddler, shortly after breaking out of prison, approaches the Joker about a plan to kill Batman. Angry with Riddler’s idea to kill the one man who still gives him joy, Joker nearly kills the Riddler, which results in a war breaking out across the entire city. With the war occurring in Batman’s second year on the job, the whole conflict proved a massive challenge for Batman to overcome.
9 The Riddler Exposed Gotham’s Elite On The Riddle Factory
The comic titled Riddler, released alongside the 1995 film Batman Forever, features Nygma as a late-night talk show host. While hosting the show, The Riddler forces guests to solve elaborate riddles, which, in turn, reveal a deep secret about a famous Gotham celebrity or politician. This complicated act frustrated Batman because Riddler’s show, which he aptly titled “The Riddle Factory,” was not breaking any laws.
Still, it was causing Gotham’s elite citizens to commit suicide out of embarrassment. The new Batman film parallels this version of the Riddler in many ways.
8 The Riddler Planted A Nuclear Bomb In Star City
Over the years, The Riddler has established himself as one of Batman’s greatest villains. However, Batman is not the only hero to experience a gauntlet laid out by Riddler. Green Arrow and his partner, Arsenal, have dealt with The Riddler and his complicated schemes on more than one occasion. But none more dangerous than in Green Arrow Vol 3 #36, when Nygma planted a nuclear bomb in Tinder-Smith Garden, the home of Star City’s basketball team. With the potential blast radius far exceeding the city’s limits, The Riddler put millions of lives in danger, all for the sake of feeling powerful.
7 The Riddler Faked A Reform In Riddle Me This
After suffering a traumatic head injury, The Riddler became a private detective and even collaborated on a case with Batman. In Detective Comics #822, after Bruce Wayne is accused of murder, Riddler and Batman form a duo and attempt to track down the actual perpetrator. After a long night of intricate clues, Batman eventually realizes that the entire thing was staged by Riddler himself, who poisoned himself with Joker toxin to make it look natural.
At this point, readers recognize The Riddler was cured of the brain injury that caused his initial reform, and he had been faking it up to that point.
6 Dark Knight, Dark City Shows Riddler At His Darkest
Taking place in Batman issues #452-454, Dark Knight, Dark City depicts the darkest and most violent version of The Riddler readers had ever seen up to that point. Performing an ancient, supernatural ritual that leads back to the founding of Gotham City, The Riddler attacks a blood bank, kidnaps children, and hangs innocent people in public. Following the horrific trail of breadcrumbs left behind by Nygma, Batman is forced to undergo extreme psychological and physical challenges. This story will undoubtedly silence doubts that The Riddler is not a seriously threatening villain.
5 The Riddler Killed His Daughter
Going by the name Enigma, The Riddler had a daughter that was a member of Deathstroke’s Titans East. In Batman #712, The Riddler and Enigma are hired by Gilda Dent to acquire Two-Face’s coin from the mobster, Mario Falcone. Bursting into his mansion, The Riddler and Enigma kill Falcone’s guards and trash his estate.
Shortly after finding what he came for, The Riddler grows angry with Enigma and attacks her with his cane, killing her. This story proved that The Riddler is not only a dangerous and violent person, but he has no problem killing those closest to him.
4 The Riddler Tried To Drown Batman In The Primal Riddle
Taking place in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight issues #109-111, The Primal Riddle starts with The Riddler kicking Batman off a tower and into a powerline, causing Batman to have a near-death experience. Later in the storyline, The Riddler locks Batman in a death trap, a pit with walls lined with electricity quickly filling with water. Forced to find a way to escape without drowning or being electrocuted, Batman sabotages the traps as the final moment, freeing himself. Realizing that Batman escaped his ultimate death trap, The Riddler immediately ramped up the stakes.
3 The Riddler Nearly Killed Arsenal In Green Arrow Volume 3
After his attack on Star City was thwarted by Green Arrow in No Man’s Land, The Riddler returned for revenge in Green Arrow Vol 3 #50. In a savage attack, The Riddler beat Green Arrow with a baseball bat and cut Arsenal’s throat, nearly killing him. If it weren’t for a timely rescue by The Outsiders, The Riddler likely would’ve killed Green Arrow or his partner, Arsenal.
In this instance, The Riddler once again proved that his ambitious threats go far beyond the reach of Batman and Gotham City.
2 The Riddler Helped Hush Ruin Bruce Wayne
The Riddler played a significant role in a storyline that some consider one of Batman’s best; Batman: Hush. A twelve-part storyline from Batman issues #608-619, The Riddler is suffering from cancer and uses a Lazarus Pit to cure himself. While in the pit, The Riddler’s mind expands, making him more psychotic and helping him realize Batman’s true identity. Later in the storyline, The Riddler plots with Thomas Elliot to destroy Bruce Wayne’s life. Eventually, The Riddler convinces Clayface to appear before Batman as Jason Todd, forcing Batman to relive Robin’s death.
1 The Riddler Flooded Gotham In Zero Year
Perhaps The Riddler’s most significant modern comic storyline, Batman: Zero Year, was a year-long comic crossover event that began in June 2013 and ended in July 2014. Intended to redefine the origin of Batman in the New 52, Zero Year highlights Batman’s first days in Gotham. In the second arc of the storyline, The Riddler gets a stranglehold on Gotham City when he blows up the walls of the reservoir, flooding the entire city and killing thousands. During his complete control of Gotham City, The Riddler would make daily announcements about begging for a worthy opponent. Answering the call, Batman nearly kills himself in an attempt to restore power to the city and free the people from Riddler’s control.
About The Author