The Batman: Who is The Riddler? Here Everything Explained From Movies To TV Series

As The Batman approaches, we are sure that many will be wondering who the character is played by Paul Dano who will be the main antagonist of the Dark Knight. It is the Riddler (The Riddler the name in the original language). Let’s retrace the history of the super-villain together and discover together the main characteristics. The Riddler whose real name is Edward Nigma (or Nygma, or more recently Edward Nashton) is an enemy supervillain of Batman. The peculiarity of this villain is that all of his crimes are characterized by riddles and riddles. The Riddler was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, first appearing in Detective Comics #140 (1948).

Who is The Riddler?

The Riddler is one of Batman’s most iconic enemies and, as previously mentioned, his story in the comics began in 1948. And with The Batman he will soon feature a new cinematic version of the character with a noticeably different look and attitude than the “Silver Age” of comics, the time has come to delve into the Riddler’s past to solve the mystery of the man known as “Edward Nygma”.

The question “Who is the Riddler?” It doesn’t really sound like a riddle to suit the character, but the super-villain’s story is far more complex than it seems. As with many DC characters, there have been many versions in his nearly 75 years in the DC Universe. At the same time, there are some constants in the Riddler’s story that define him as a character, even when his appearance or personality undergoes slight changes thanks to continuity changes.

Ever since his Golden Age debut, the Riddler has always been “obsessed” with outsmarting Batman, the world’s greatest detective, by compulsively using increasingly difficult to solve puzzles that offer clues. about his crimes. His mental psychosis stems from a deep inner need to prove that he is smarter and therefore better than others. This leads him to leave clues in crimes that might otherwise be called perfect. This psychological compulsion has led to him being repeatedly imprisoned in the Arkham Asylum (Arkham Asylum). Despite this “obvious flaw”, he is otherwise an extremely intelligent criminal mastermind.

Throughout the Silver Age (the comic book era from the late 1950s to early 1970s), when the Riddler became famous in pop culture thanks to the Batman TV show, he was one of the Batman’s greatest recurring opponents. Although his crimes and schemes, as with most villains of the time, were actually far more whimsical and insane than mysterious or menacing. Back then, the Riddler’s real name was Edward E. Nigma, and his origin story was a bit corny and contrived. It all comes from a competition that haunted him in the course of puzzles he faced in his childhood years. Obsession for puzzles that then followed him even as an adult.

In the 80s, after the maxi event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” which restarted DC continuity, the story changes. The Riddler, in fact, is transformed. Going from a deceitful crook in bright clothes to a dastardly genius-minded criminal and murderer. But it is with Batman: Hush (2002-2003) that the Riddler reaches its peak,

The most recent version of the Riddler’s evil origin, born in the era of the “New 52”, adds a new piece to the Riddler’s complex puzzle. Piece somewhat derived from the movie version of Jim Carrey seen in Batman Forever, with Edward Nygma coming into conflict with Batman not simply because of his desire to outwit the Caped Crusader, but as part of his work at Wayne Enterprises. , where he worked in the past.

This pattern is excellently told in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman: Year Zero story. Nygma at the center of it all, uses his puzzles and a host of advanced technologies to hold the entire city of Gotham hostage. This will lead Bruce Wayne (in his early years of service as the Dark Knight) to evolve and become the Batman we all know. This story, along with Batman: Hush, has certainly elevated the Riddler to the role of one of Batman’s earliest and most diabolical villains in the current version of the DC Comics continuity.

The Riddler in Movies and TV series

Many are familiar with Frank Gorshin’s iconic television portrait of the Riddler seen in the Batman TV series starring Adam West. The villain was characterized by his green clothes dressed in question marks. Not to mention the version seen in Batman: The Animated Series, where the Riddler was portrayed with a cold and calculating scientific genius always ready to set traps to trap Batman. But it is probably the last two incarnations of the character to have remained in the minds of “less passionate” viewers. That of Corey Michael Smith in Gotham and above all that of Jim Carrey in Batman Forever.

The former played Edward Nygma in Gotham, the FOX series that aired from 2014 to 2019. Over the course of the five seasons, the actor brought the character’s evolution to the stage. Who went from GCPD (Gotham City Police Department) forensic scientist to the criminal mind we all know. But it’s Jim Carrey’s version everyone will know, we’re sure. The actor created a bizarre yet disturbing version of the Riddler in Batman Forever, the 1995 film, directed by Joel Schumacher.

Edward Nygma is a former employee of Wayne Enterprises, fired due to his “quirks”. The villain uses virtual reality technology (invented by him during the years of working in the company owned by Bruce Wayne) and his obsession with puzzles to challenge Batman and Robin. Thanks to this technology he is able to “absorb” the secrets of all the citizens of Gotham making him “omniscient”. Unforgettable the gaudy costumes worn by Jim Carrey.

Carrey’s Riddler is much closer to the giggly, cheesy TV version of Gorshin than any comic book incarnation, with a quirky and incredibly expressive sense of humor and a glam-rock sequined jumpsuit set full of question marks.

The Batman Riddler – Paul Dano

Let’s face it. Considering the vibe we’ll see in The Batman, it’s no mystery why the upcoming film Paul Dano’s Riddler won’t be wearing flashy clothes. In the images released so far, the villain always wears a military green suit with a single question mark, with graphics that are very reminiscent of the symbols used by the serial killer Zodiac – real assassin, still today never captured and never identified.

The trailers for The Batman seem to show the Riddler as a genius mastermind involving Batman in his plans through a series of murders. The trailers also appear to show a plan to isolate and destroy Gotham, a plan similar to what we read in Batman: Year Zero.