riddler

The Riddler is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe, best known as an adversary of Batman. The character, commonly identified as Edward Nygma (also spelled Nygma or Nygma), first appeared in Detective Comics #140 in 1948. He was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Dick Sprang. Across comics and other media, the Riddler is defined by a relentless fascination with puzzles, wordplay, and intellectual posing, often framing his crimes as challenges designed to outwit Batman and the police.

In most depictions, the Riddler has no superhuman powers and relies on extreme intellect, strategic planning, and engineering skill. His schemes typically involve intricate clues, riddles, and traps that demand deduction, with the perpetrator leaving a signature motif of question marks. The character frequently dresses in a green suit with a bowler hat and carries a cane topped with a question mark, embodying his obsession with puzzles and public vanity.

The Riddler has appeared in numerous Batman storylines across comics, television, and film. Notable portrayals include Frank Gorshin in the 1960s Batman TV series, Jim Carrey in Batman Forever (1995), Cory Michael Smith in the TV series Gotham, and Paul Dano in The Batman (2022). In some adaptations, the character’s name is presented as Edward Nashton, while comics typically use Edward Nygma. The Riddler remains one of Batman’s most enduring foes, emblematic of the archetypal mastermind whose battles are framed as intellectual duels.