The Riddler's Ridd-iculous Schemes!

The puzzling puzzler’s earliest crimes!

In Detective Comics #140 (October 1948), we finally got the debut of the man who would eventually become one of Batman’s most iconic foes of all time. Edward Nygma, aka Riddler! 

Eddie is a man who made his money by cheating at, then actually solving, puzzles. When he was younger, he managed to find an answer key to a seemingly near-impossible puzzle, and solved it to much acclaim. From there, he built his career on more of the same thing, fraud and fake-smarts, which led to an obsession with puzzles, riddles and a belief in his superiority at them. 

In the present day, he decides to match wits with Batman for seemingly no reason. Basically, just because he wants to. So, he dresses up in a goofy outfit and sets several riddles for Batman and Robin to find, and solve! 

In the modern day, particularly considering the movie, Riddler’s “real” intellect is emphasized. He’s smart, for real, and able to genuinely match wits with the Bat “family” frequently. But here, more than anything else, he’s an absolute hack. Total fraud, intellectually capable of continuing the con but not truly able to outsmart Batman long term, like it’s often implied he could do in later versions of the character. 

Beginning with a riddle created by hijacking a billboard, Riddler leads Batman and Robin on a merry chase of many clues of crimes, until they finally catch up to him, and catch him! 

This cycle continues, with Edward breaking out of jail, evading capture and leaving clues to his crimes for Batman to find. Not just word-based riddles, but puzzle traps, numbers-based things, crossword puzzles, et cetera. It’s all about things that force someone to think, however that might manifest. You might see him stopping Batman from getting his hands on him with a Japanese finger trap, or leading him into a maze-like hall of mirrors, or leaving clues by code in skywriting. 

However, after a few appearances as a star villain in quick succession, he drops off the face of comics for many years. He’s not the only one, though. Catwoman spends over a decade on ice after the Comics Code Authority snaps into place and forces her out, and even Penguin and Joker’s appearances dramatically recede for a time. With the expansion of some minor villains, increasing sci-fi influence and random aliens and creatures popping up constantly, even with villains being restricted with the Comics Code, the sheer number of options inevitably led to Riddler vanishing. 

Eventually, once the Silver Age is firmly in place, Riddler makes a return! In Batman #171, we see Eddie get released from prison, and rather than reforming and becoming an upstanding citizen, he gets right back to his riddling crimes. In the same costume, same obviously receding hairline, same self-importance, and more of the same crimes. 

First taking out the competition for Batman’s attention (crooks really wanted that around this time - Penguin in just the previous issue had tailored a crime to fit Batman’s abilities), Riddler assists in the taking down of the gang at the center of Batman’s current case. Then, he reveals his lack of true reformation, and leads them on a chase with short riddles and sly situations, where despite all the clues he initially appears reformed in any situation they find him in. Eventually, they corner him doing crimes, and despite him donning a specialized suit intended to keep him safe, they are able to take him down!

From a flash-in-the-pan of the 40s to a 60s superstar and beyond, Riddler’s criminal career is only beginning. Soon, he’d gain relevance via a foothold in the thing that would define Batman for decades to come: Television! 

Now, riddle me this: What riddle-based crime would you like to see Riddler pull off?

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