Adaptations of Riddler in other media
A cosplayer dressed as the Riddler
Created byBill Finger
Dick Sprang
Original sourceComics published by DC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #140 (October 1948)
Films and television
Film(s)Batman (1966)
Batman Forever (1995)
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
The Batman (2022)
Television
show(s)		Batman (1966)
The New Adventures of Batman (1977)
Challenge of the Super Friends (1978)
Legends of the Superheroes (1979)
Super Friends (1980)
Batman: The Animated Series (1994)
The New Batman Adventures (1997)
Superman: The Animated Series (1998)
Batman Beyond (1999)
The Batman (2004)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)
Young Justice (2010)
DC Nation Shorts (2011)
Gotham (2014)
DC Super Hero Girls (2015)
Justice League Action (2016)
Harley Quinn (2019)
Batwheels (2022)

The Riddler, a supervillain in DC Comics and an adversary of the superhero Batman, has been adapted into numerous forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games. The character has been portrayed in live-action by Frank Gorshin and John Astin in the 1960s television series Batman, Jim Carrey in the 1995 film Batman Forever, Cory Michael Smith in the 2014 Fox series Gotham, and Paul Dano in the 2022 film The Batman. Actors who have voiced the Riddler include John Glover in the DC Animated Universe, Robert Englund in The Batman, and Wally Wingert in the Batman: Arkham video games.

Television

Live-action

The Riddler, portrayed by Frank Gorshin in the 1960s Batman TV series (left) and Cory Michael Smith on the TV series Gotham (right).

Animation

DC Animated Universe

The Riddler as he appeared in Batman: The Animated Series (left) and The New Batman Adventures (right)

Edward Nygma / The Riddler appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by John Glover.[4] To avoid confusion with the Joker, the producers of Batman: The Animated Series chose not to portray this version as Frank Gorshin's cackling trickster from Batman (1966); instead portraying Riddler as a smooth intellectual who presents genuinely challenging puzzles and dresses in a sedated version of Gorshin's preferred costume for the character. The series creators also admit they did not use him often because his character often made story plots too long, complex, or bizarre and they found it difficult to devise the villain's riddles.[5]

  • The Riddler first appears in Batman: The Animated Series (1992), with his design consisting of a green suit, purple mask, and a staff that lacks the usual question mark-shaped design. Introduced in the episode "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?", Nygma was once a video game developer before being unjustly fired by his greedy boss, Daniel Mockridge, who stole his ideas. Following a failed attempt to kill Mockridge, the Riddler flees Gotham temporarily. He resurfaces in "What Is Reality?" and sends a virtual reality machine to the GCPD in order to stall them while his henchmen break into the DMV to steal the physical copies of his criminal records for him to destroy. Batman and Robin face the Riddler inside the virtual world after Commissioner Gordon gets trapped inside, and overcome him by tricking him into dividing his consciousness to the point that he loses control over the virtual world and ends up trapped inside before Batman and Robin can reach him. In "Riddler's Reform", Riddler is released from Arkham Asylum on parole and finds a job with a toy company owner to market his Riddler persona for a new toy line, but Batman and Robin remain unconvinced that Riddler has changed and deduce that he is still committing robberies. Riddler becomes aware that he cannot outrun Batman forever and tries to kill him by setting an inescapable trap for him inside a toy museum, which Batman still survives. Obsessed with knowing how Batman escaped, Riddler promises to confess to everything if Batman tells him, but Batman secretly records the conversation and Riddler is subsequently arrested and sent back to Arkham for violating his parole.
  • The Riddler makes minor appearances in The New Batman Adventures, now sporting a unitard with a large question mark and no hair or mask.
  • The Riddler makes a minor appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Knight Time".
  • An android drone of the Riddler makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Batman Beyond episode "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot". When asked about the Riddler's fate, series creator Paul Dini jokingly stated that he retired and started running a men's clothing store with the Mad Hatter.[6]
  • The Riddler was originally planned to appear in the third season of Justice League Unlimited as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society as a tribute to his appearance in Challenge of the Superfriends (see below). However, due to rights issues caused by the "Bat-embargo", this was not possible.

Other shows

The Riddler as he appears in Challenge of the Superfriends
The Riddler as he appears in The Batman (2004)
  • The Riddler appears in The Batman/Superman Hour, voiced by Ted Knight.
  • The Riddler appears in the opening of The New Adventures of Batman, sporting a red costume instead of the traditional green.
  • The Riddler appears in Challenge of the Superfriends, voiced by Michael Bell. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
  • The Riddler appears in Super Friends, voiced again by Michael Bell.
  • The Riddler appears in The Batman (2004), voiced by Robert Englund.[4] This version sports a Gothic appearance and is served by henchmen called Riddlemen. In the past, he and his partner Julie (voiced by Brooke Shields) worked on a device capable of enhancing the human brain when he was approached by a man named Gorman (voiced by Bob Gunton), who wanted to purchase the rights to the device, though Nygma refused. When the device malfunctioned at a demonstration, Nygma accused Gorman of sabotaging it and attempted to kill him, only to be foiled by Batman. In the present, Nygma becomes the Riddler to make another attempt on Gorman's life, only to learn Julie was the one who sabotaged their device out of greed, breaking Nygma's heart.
  • The Riddler appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by John Michael Higgins.[7] In his most notable appearance in the episode "The Criss Cross Conspiracy!", he is targeted by Katrina Moldoff / Batwoman, whom he had publicly unmasked and humiliated ten years prior.
  • The Riddler appears in Young Justice, voiced by Dave Franco.[4] This version is a member of the Light.
  • The Riddler appears in the DC Nation Shorts segment "Riddle Me This!", voiced by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
  • The Riddler makes cameo appearances in Teen Titans Go! (2013).
  • The Riddler appears in DC Super Friends, voiced by Steve Saley.[4]
  • The Riddler appears in the Justice League Action episode "E. Nygma, Consulting Detective", voiced by Brent Spiner.[8] This version is a detective and reformed criminal who is a rival of the Joker and has a shaved head.
  • The Riddler appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2019), voiced by David Hornsby.
  • The Riddler appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Jim Rash.[9] This version is a member of the Legion of Doom in the first season and a founding member of the Injustice League in the second season. Additionally, he takes on a muscular physique after being captured by Harley Quinn's crew and being forced to power their mall lair in the latter season. As of the third season, he has returned to his slim physique and entered a relationship with the Clock King. In "Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special", the Riddler proposes to Clock King and the pair get engaged.
  • The Riddler appears in Batwheels, voiced by SungWon Cho.[10]

Film

Live-action

Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma / The Riddler in Batman Forever (1995)
Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / The Riddler in The Batman (2022)
  • The Batman (1966) incarnation of the Riddler appears in the film of the same name, portrayed again by Frank Gorshin.
  • Edward Nygma / The Riddler appears in Batman Forever, portrayed by Jim Carrey. This version is an eccentric, amoral inventor at Wayne Enterprises who designs "The Box", a device seemingly capable of projecting images into a person's mind while transferring neural energy into others to enhance their intellects. After Bruce Wayne rejects his invention due to ethical concerns, Nygma becomes the Riddler to prove his superiority to him by obsessively sending him puzzles to solve. Riddler later allies with Two-Face and goes on a crime spree to fund his own company, NygmaTech, mass-produce the Box's technology, and market it as a means of enhancing how viewers watch television; allowing him to absorb all of Gotham City's citizens' intelligence and deduce that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Ultimately, Batman shatters the master box, which reverses the information flow into Riddler's brain, driving the latter insane before he is incarcerated at Arkham Asylum.
  • Edward Nashton / The Riddler appears in The Batman (2022), portrayed by Paul Dano.[11][12][13] This version is a masked serial killer, partly inspired by the real-life Zodiac Killer, who seeks to "unmask the truth" about Gotham City by targeting its upper class while taunting Batman and law enforcement with ciphers and riddles.[14][15][16][17] Additionally, Nashton is an orphan with a grudge against Thomas Wayne for not keeping his promise to fund the former's orphanage before his murder, is envious of Bruce Wayne for being an orphan who grew up rich, and ironically idolizes Batman, who served as inspiration for Nashton becoming the Riddler. After throwing Gotham City into disarray by leaking its leadership's corruption and killing the mayor, the police commissioner, the district attorney, and crime boss Carmine Falcone, Nashton allows himself to be captured and imprisoned at Arkham Asylum. Batman then discovers Nashton's true plan is to use explosives around Gotham's breakwaters to flood the city and have his followers assassinate newly elected mayor Bella Reál. After Batman saves Reál, Nashton laments his failure, but befriends the Joker.

Animation

Video games

Batman: Arkham

Concept artwork of the Riddler for Batman: Arkham City

Edward Nashton / Enigma / The Riddler appears in the Batman: Arkham video game series, voiced by Wally Wingert.[4] This version had an abusive father who accused him of cheating in a riddle solving contest before beating him. This resulted in Nashton becoming obsessed with riddles and proving his intellectual superiority. He would later go on to become a police consultant and the apparent head of the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD)'s Cybercrime unit, during which he operated as Enigma before eventually becoming the Riddler.

  • While the Riddler does not physically appear in Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009), he hacks into Batman's communication system and persistently challenges him to solve various riddles located throughout Arkham Island and its various facilities. Upon completing all of the Riddler's challenges, Batman triangulates the former's location in Gotham City and has him arrested by the GCPD.
  • The Riddler makes his first physical appearance in the sequel Batman: Arkham City (2011). He, along with many of Gotham City's criminals and supervillains, was captured and sent to Professor Hugo Strange's Arkham City, a lawless, walled city whose inhabitants are free to wreak havoc. The Riddler kidnaps former Arkham guard Aaron Cash's medical protection team, places them in death traps, and threatens to murder them to force Batman to solve his riddles and challenges, which he has scattered throughout Arkham City. Additionally, the Riddler employs moles embedded in the Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face's gangs. After Batman eventually outwits the death traps and rescues some of the hostages, Oracle discerns the location of the Riddler's hideout, where Batman rescues the remaining hostages and subdues the Riddler.[22]
  • A young Nashton, as Enigma, appears in the prequel Batman: Arkham Origins (2013). He establishes a series of signal jammers throughout Gotham City to disrupt Batman's Batwing and hacking transmitter as part of a plot to blackmail Gotham's most prominent citizens and make the city a better place by ridding it of the corrupt despite putting innocent lives at risk. To further his plot, Nashton also has informants and pieces of extortion recordings scattered throughout Gotham. After uncovering and decoding the recordings and destroying the jammers, Batman finds Enigma's hideout, but the latter has gone into hiding by then.
  • In Batman: Arkham Knight (2015), the Riddler joined forces with the Scarecrow and Arkham Knight to kill Batman, built robots to assist him, established more challenges for Batman throughout all of Gotham, and coerces him into completing them by taking Catwoman hostage via an explosive collar. As he completes the challenges, Batman locates the keys needed to remove her collar before the pair confront the Riddler in a "Riddler Mech" and his army of robots. After defeating him, Batman takes the Riddler to GCPD headquarters. In the "Catwoman's Revenge" DLC, set after the events of the main game, Catwoman infiltrates the Riddler's lair while he is incarcerated and transfers his money from his account to hers before leaving his robot factory to self-destruct.
  • The Riddler appears as an unlockable playable character in the mobile game Batman: Arkham Underworld. In the game, he wields a sawed-off shotgun along with his cane, which he can use to electrocute enemies, create holograms, and sabotage electronic devices. He can also summon two of his robotic minions for assistance.
  • The Riddler appears in Batman: Arkham VR.

Lego Batman

Other games

The Riddler as he appears in Batman: The Enemy Within
  • The Riddler appears as a boss in Batman: The Animated Series (1993).
  • The Riddler appears as a boss in The Adventures of Batman & Robin, voiced again by John Glover.
  • The Riddler, based on Jim Carrey's portrayal, appears as a boss in the Batman Forever film tie-in game.
  • The Riddler appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Shannon McCormick.[4] This version is a detective.
  • The Riddler appears in Minecraft via the "Batman" DLC.
  • The Riddler appears as a non-player character (NPC) in Injustice: Gods Among Us via the Arkham Asylum stage.
  • The Riddler appears as a boss in Young Justice: Legacy, voiced by Jason Spisak.[4]
  • The Riddler appears in Batman: The Enemy Within, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.[25] This version is 60 years old, known as "Gotham's original costumed criminal", having operated years prior while the city was controlled by Thomas Wayne and Carmine Falcone; a former employee of the Agency's scientific division SANCTUS; and a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and practitioner of Bartitsu, which he uses in conjunction with his cane. Additionally, he was a test subject in the Agency's experiments with the "LOTUS virus", a bioweapon that allowed him to maintain his youth, but drove him insane. After disappearing for several years, he resurfaces as the leader of a criminal group called the Pact to steal the LOTUS virus as well as pursue personal revenge against the Agency and target Batman. In the midst of his attacks, Lucius Fox is inadvertently killed by a missile strike on Wayne Enterprises. Batman eventually defeats the Riddler, who is assassinated by Lucius' daughter Tiffany. The Pact and Amanda Waller use the Riddler's body to create their own versions of the LOTUS virus, but their samples are destroyed by Agent Iman Avesta.

Spoofs and parodies

Action figures

Riddler action figure, part of the "Super Amigos Collection"
  • Riddler has made several appearances as an action figure as part of Kenner's Batman: The Animated Series, Legends of Batman, and Batman: Knight Force Ninjas lines; Mattel's The Batman line; and Art Asylum's minimates line. He has also been produced as a HeroClix. Five different Riddler figures were produced for the 1995 Batman Forever line, including a Target exclusive and one that says phrases from the film.
  • The Riddler is one of the rarest of Pacipa's Super Amigos line, the Argentinian version of Kenner's Super Powers Collection. He is a repainted Green Lantern figure that was only released in South America. He was also part of the line of action figures called the DC Comics SuperHeroes from Toy Biz.
  • Three versions of the Riddler have appeared in the DC Direct line, two based on his first appearance and one based on his look in the "Hush" storyline. The Japanese toy company Yamato has also produced a figure of him.
  • Mattel has included two versions of the character in its DC Universe toyline; one in his classic costume, and another in his current costume.
  • In 1974, the Mego company released two Riddler figures; one was 8" tall with a cloth outfit for the World's Greatest Superheroes line of toys (this figure was in production until 1979), the other was a smaller figure which was molded rubber over the wire for the Bend 'n Flex line. In 1975 and 1976, Mego also released the 8" tall Fist Fighting Riddler which was basically the same as the 1974 figure except it had a mechanism which allowed a child move a lever on the figure's back to make the arms swing.[26]
  • Bearbrick released a DC Superpowers Riddler which was released at 2013 San Diego ComicCon (July 18–21) by Medicom Toy which was limited to only 1500.
  • DC Direct has released a Riddler figure in the Batman: Arkham City line.

Music

  • During his time on the 1960s television series, Frank Gorshin recorded an album with a song titled "The Riddler", in which he sings of his obsession with puzzles. He performed a musical parody of the character on Dean Martin's variety show in 1966.[27]
  • A 1966 album by The Marketts titled The Batman Theme featured a Dick Glasser instrumental song titled "The Riddler".
  • A song based on the character titled "The Riddler" was performed by rapper Method Man, and was featured on the Batman Forever soundtrack.
  • The Riddler makes an appearance in the video of the Nik Kershaw 1984 song "The Riddle".
  • The symphonic metal band Nightwish recorded a song called "The Riddler" on their album Oceanborn.
  • Composer Mohammed Fairouz wrote a piano suite based on Batman's rogues gallery. The final movement is titled "The Riddler".[28]

Attractions

Other appearances

References

  1. ↑ Bricken, Rob (February 25, 2014). "What We Learned from the Script for Gotham's First Episode". io9. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Inside TV Fox's 'Gotham' scoop: The Riddler cast". Entertainment Weekly. April 1, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 12, 2014). "Fox's 'Gotham' Promotes Three to Series Regular". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Riddler Voices (Batman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 14, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  5. ↑ Comics Scene #43, published by Starlog
  6. ↑ ToyFare issue, 1999
  7. ↑ "TV Tonight Schedule for October 30th, 2010" (PDF). Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  8. ↑ Chris Arrant (March 15, 2016). "STAR TREK Actor Joins JUSTICE LEAGUE ACTION as THE RIDDLER". Newsarma. Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Brent Spiner has revealed that he's voicing the Riddler in Cartoon Network's upcoming Justice League Action animated series
  9. ↑ "Photos from Life After Community". E! Online.
  10. ↑ "'Batwheels' Adds Gina Rodriguez and Xolo Mariduena to Supervillain Lineup (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (October 17, 2019). "'The Batman' Casts Paul Dano as the Riddler". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  12. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 17, 2019). "'The Batman': Paul Dano to Play The Riddler". Variety.
  13. ↑ Travis, Ben (December 22, 2021). "The Batman: Paul Dano On His 'Very Intense, Powerful' Riddler Costume – Exclusive". Empire. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ Freeman, Molly (August 23, 2020). "The Batman Trailer Reveals Riddler Is The Main Villain & Catwoman's Costume". ScreenRant. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  15. ↑ Chuan, Lu (October 17, 2021). Chinese Filmmaker Lu Chuan Conversation with The Batman Cast. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via YouTube.
  16. ↑ Cecchini, Mike (August 24, 2020). "The Batman: Riddler Riddle in Trailer Cracked by Amateur Sleuth". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  17. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (August 22, 2020). "'The Batman': Matt Reeves Explains How Catwoman, Penguin and The Riddler Factor into the Plot". Collider. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Bruce Timm Talks 'Batman: Under The Red Hood,' Potential 'Green Arrow' Animated Feature". MTV. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  19. ↑ Burton, Jon (2013-05-21). "LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  20. ↑ "Warner Bros. Brings "Batman: Assault On Arkham" To DVD/Blu-Ray August 14". Comic Book Resources. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  21. ↑ Slead, Evan (August 17, 2016). "Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar return for animated Batman movie". Entertainment Weekly.
  22. ↑ "Batman: Arkham City Villain Preview #2 in High Definition". G4tv.com. October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  23. ↑ Game Informer features a two-page gallery of the many heroes and villains who appear in the game with a picture for each character and a descriptive paragraph. See "LEGO Batman: Character Gallery", Game Informer 186 (October 2008): 93.
  24. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (May 30, 2018). "New Lego game lets you team up with Joker, Harley Quinn and other DC bad guys". Polygon. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  25. ↑ Nunneley, Stephanny (July 19, 2017). "The Wolf Among Us 2, The Walking Dead: The Final Season coming in 2018, Batman: The Enemy Within out in August". VG247. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Riddler: WGSH Gallery: Mego Museum : Mego Riddler : Mego Corp". Mego Museum. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Frank Gorshin appearance on Dean Martin show". Retrieved October 15, 2014 – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ "Mohammed Fairouz's "The Rogues Gallery"".
  29. ↑ "La Venganza del ENIGMA". Parque Warner Madrid.
  30. ↑ The Batman Adventures #2. DC Comics.
  31. ↑ The Batman Adventures #11. DC Comics.
  32. ↑ The Batman Adventures #12. DC Comics.
  33. ↑ "Batman Adventures: Tribute - The Comic - Ty Templeton". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  34. ↑ Teen Titans Go! #15. DC Comics.
  35. ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us #15. DC Comics.
  36. ↑ Injustice: Gods Among Us #16. DC Comics.
  37. ↑ "Batman Unburied". Spotify. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  38. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2023-03-08). "Hasan Minhaj to Reprise Role as The Riddler in New DC Podcast Series for Spotify". Variety. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
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