Riddler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riddler |
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Riddler as he appeared on the cover of Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler #1 (October 2022).
Art by Brian Bolland. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #140 (October 1948) |
| Created by |
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| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Edward Nigma (later Nygma or Nashton) |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations |
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| Partnerships | Oswald Cobblepot (Penguin) |
| Notable aliases |
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| Abilities |
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The Riddler (whose real name is Edward Nigma, later known as Edward Nygma or Edward Nashton) is a famous supervillain from American comic books published by DC Comics. He was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. The Riddler first appeared in Detective Comics #140 in October 1948.
He is one of the most well-known enemies of the superhero Batman. The Riddler is part of a group of villains who often challenge Batman in Gotham City.
The Riddler is known for being a very smart criminal. He loves to use riddles, puzzles, and tricky traps in his plans. He does this to show everyone, especially Batman and the police, how much smarter he is. His original name, Edward Nigma, sounds like "enigma," which means something mysterious or hard to understand. This fits his character perfectly!
His crimes are often like a big show because he loves attention. The Riddler usually wears a small mask over his eyes and a green suit. This suit is often covered with question marks, or he might wear a green suit with a bowler hat. A black, green, or purple question mark is his special symbol.
Many actors have played the Riddler in movies and TV shows. These include Frank Gorshin and John Astin in the 1960s Batman TV series. Jim Carrey played him in the 1995 movie Batman Forever. Later, Cory Michael Smith was the Riddler in the 2014 TV series Gotham. Most recently, Paul Dano played him in the 2022 film The Batman. Many voice actors have also brought the character to life in cartoons and video games.
The Riddler's Story
Edward Nigma loved puzzles from a young age. One day, his teacher announced a puzzle contest. Edward wanted to win more than anything. He snuck into the school at night to practice the puzzle. He kept practicing until he could solve it super fast.
Because of his cheating, Edward won the contest. His prize was a book full of riddles. This made him love puzzles even more. He later worked at a carnival, where he tricked people with his clever puzzles. But he soon wanted bigger challenges.
So, he became the "Riddler" to challenge Batman. He thought Batman was smart enough to be a worthy opponent. In his first fight with Batman and Robin, the Riddler used tricky clues. He also tried to trap them in a glass maze that was set to explode. Batman and Robin escaped, and the Riddler seemed to disappear. Only his famous question mark was left floating in the water.
Riddler's Special Skills
How the Riddler Thinks
The Riddler is a very smart criminal. He is amazing at solving and creating all kinds of puzzles. He can think in very unusual ways to figure things out. When he worked as a detective for a while, he showed skills almost as good as Batman's.
He is very proud of his intelligence. He loves to show off how smart he is.
Powers and Gadgets
Like most of Batman's enemies, the Riddler does not have superpowers. But he is incredibly clever and plans his crimes carefully. He isn't a great fighter, but he uses special weapons. These include exploding jigsaw pieces or pistols shaped like question marks.
His most famous weapon is his question-mark staff. This staff can hide many different high-tech devices and weapons. The Riddler's crimes always involve riddles or puzzles. He needs to be able to describe his plans with a riddle.
He once tried to commit crimes without leaving any clues. He used self-hypnosis to try and forget his usual habits. But even while asleep, his mind left riddles! This helped Batman and Robin catch him.
The Riddler is also very good with engineering and technology. He has built complex and dangerous traps for Batman and Robin. Many people see him as Batman's smartest enemy. He even has a grudging respect for Batman. This is because he believes Batman is the only one who can match his amazing mind.
Sometimes, the Riddler is shown as a huge threat. Other times, he seems less dangerous. But he is always known for his intelligence and cleverness. He uses his mind to challenge Batman in ways other villains can't.
See also
In Spanish: Riddler para niños
- List of Batman family enemies
- Enigma (DC Comics)
