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The main antagonist ofThe Batman , the Riddler has always been treated as C - list baddie . However , he ’s actually one of Batman ’s most iconic foes , which is why fans are happy to see him as the main threat . In the comics , the Riddler has perish through many different incarnations and styles over the decades .
Since his debut in 1948 , Riddler has been portrayed as a puzzling juvenile delinquent to a vehement sequential killer to even a reform anti - hero . With so many comic , it can be scare off for newcomers to the character to foot , but here is a selection of the Riddler ’s most iconic topic and stories of the past .
Detective Comics #140
It ’s as good of a place to start as any . The Riddler debuted inDetective Comics # 140and was created by Bill Finger , the creator of Batman himself . It show the rootage of Edward Nigma as he germinate his Riddler persona to take on Batman , losing sake in swindling intermediate citizen .
It ’s one of the rare time where a villain ’s quest commence and ends with Batman . Though he causes hassle for all of Gotham , his fixation is with Batman in the end . It all began with this comedian and anyone concerned in the Riddler should check it out and see whereone of Batman ’s first villains began .
Secret Origins Special #1
This one - shot secernate well - crafted tale for multiple of Batman ’s rogues . One of the account is about the Riddler telling his lifespan tarradiddle to reporters ; give a more self-examining tale rather than a spectacle against the Caped Crusader .
It reveals that his real name is Edward Nashton , and it is one of the first comics to have Riddler wearing a green wooing rather than a skin - tight unitard . A standardized design was first introduced by Frank Gorshin ’s Riddler in the 1966Batmanseries .
Batman: Run, Riddler, Run
When a private security measures force aptly titled Perfect Security arrives to make job for Edward Nigma , the villain end up having no choice but to partner up with Batman . That alone is one of the big appeals to the comedian , as it is always quite a survey to see Batman teamed up with one of his foes .
While the artwork in this issue has much to be want , the overall concept is executed well with a nice portmanteau word of action , suspense , and comedy . The comraderie between Batman and Riddler is unique and it help showcase that Riddler is more than just a one - trick villain .
The Riddler: Year Of The Villain
Superman ’s iconic challenger Lex Luthor has given endowment to the well of the dear supervillains of the DC universe as part of " The Year Of The Villain " case . One scoundrel was not on that list of recipients : Edward Nigma . Of course , the Riddler does n’t take this well and becomes determined to find out why .
This comic plays with expectation , making the reader think it ’s expire to go one way but goes in a far dissimilar direction . It lead to another character study of the Riddler as he delves more into his past , peculiarly his childhood . It also ends on a very unexpected greenback that shows some character growth .
Gotham City Sirens #9
Paul Dini is look at one of Batman ’s best writersand he is one of the wizardry behindBatman : The Animated Series . So it makes sensory faculty that when the Riddler is allied with the Gotham City Sirens , Dini ’s style skin as if it was a comic base on the animated show .
Mixing dingy bodily fluid with a police detective thriller , the Gotham City Sirens hire Edward Nigma to help them reset the case of a numb body crash into their office . Edward has to consider with the wildness of all three anti - heroes ' personality while attempt to uncover the whodunit , which makes for an enjoyable floor from his linear perspective .
Batman: The Long Halloween #7
There are a lot of suspect as to who the murderer known as Holiday is . So much so that the Riddler is institute in to peradventure figure out the mystery behind this unusual sequential killer . He presents many dissimilar suspect but he does not give a unequivocal answer .
This part of the famous chronicle , The Long Halloween , depict Riddler less as a mastermind and more akin to a swindler . However , it is a creepier take on the character which is meet for this more detective noir thrillerthat help enliven Matt Reeves’The Batman .
Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City
Those look for a much darker take on the Riddler akin to Paul Dano ’s version should foot upBatman : Dark Knight , Dark City . Riddler makes Batman take part in a supernatural rite that helps pave the way for other supernatural story such asJustice League Dark , which was also write by Peter Milligan .
Not only is it a different story for the Riddler , but it ’s a different narration for Batman , dealing with rather grisly murders as well as a hellish cult that colligate back to a story in the past . Dark Knight , Dark Cityhas the Riddler at likely his most depraved , especially with how he manipulates Batman .
Batman: Zero Year
With the New 52’sZero class , buff get to see revamps for many dissimilar villains as it search a newer take on Batman ’s first twelvemonth . One of them was the Riddler , who was less of a amaze trickster and presented more as a serious domesticated terrorist and egomaniac .
Zero Yearis the staring take on the Riddler for those wanting to see the character taken in a unlike direction;it almost ferment the Riddler into Batman ’s greatest foe . It ’s also one of the few times Riddler ’s story lease place over multiple consequence rather than a one - off .
Legends Of The Dark Knight 100-Page Super Spectacular #2
Why would the Riddler turn himself into the GCPD ? That ’s the conundrum of the story . This write up that can also be witness inBatman : Arkham - The Riddlerfocuses on Batman trying to visualize out why Riddler is in lockup . It all starts with a riddle : " What have I got in my pouch ? " In reference to the noted Bilbo Baggins and Gollum sequence inThe Hobbit .
This leads Batman on a short but sweet lilliputian prank ( with stunning art by Dennis Calero ) with a wrench that very few might expect . It also portray Batman and Riddler on more respectable terms , where they seem to think of each other less as mortal enemies and more as friendly rivals
Detective Comics #822
It might seem impossible , but there was a time that Riddler did go straight , or at least straight than usual . This is when he became E. Nigma , Consulting Detective who used his huge intelligence to serve people rather than engage his obsession .
Detective Comics # 822had the Dark Knight teaming up with his x - villain on a case . It ’s one of many representative that demonstrates that many of Batman ’s villain could have become dear heroes , just as he is . Riddler makes for a play investigator to stick with in Gotham City , and it is a pity that it did n’t last forever .
NEXT:5 Times Villains Made Great Heroes ( & 5 Times They die )
