Top Ten Villains #5: The Riddler

"Riddle me this; Who is the man behind the cowl, Batman?"

Easily one of the most recognisable villains in the entire Batman mythos, Edward Nigma, better known as the Riddler, is a constant plague upon the Dark Knight, constantly coming up with ever more ingenious puzzles, riddles and death-traps to challenge his mental abilities. The Riddler is also one of the most long-standing members of the Rogue's Gallery, having been around for absolutely ages (his first appearance was in 1948) and having built up a considerable fanbase in that time. Whether a conniving crook or a murderous malignant narcissist, the Crown Prince of Puzzles is likely to remain a key player in Gotham for years to come.

First Appearance:

Detective Comics #140

Powers/Abilities:

Though not actually super-powered, despite being a super-villain, Riddler is still considered a threat by Batman when he does surface to begin another series of challenges. Nigma is known to be a genius in many senses of the word - he is able to create ingenious and complex death-traps and explosive devices, and is able to create near-unbreakable codes. His real strength, however, lies in his ability to generate riddles. Odd as it may sound, Nigma is able to solve any riddle within mere seconds, as well as craft a conundrum for whatever crime he wishes to commit. Though this is a great asset for him, it is also his biggest Achilles Heel; he is pathologically unable to commit a crime without leaving a clue beforehand. 

So why do I like Riddler that much? Easy, it's because he's brilliant. He's a genius-level villain who manages to remain sinister and mysterious whilst using what has to be the most unusual gimmick ever seen. That, and his suit is the coolest thing ever; I mean, really, there are only a few villain costumes I like more in terms of sheer interest and cool factor. To be honest, the character just appeals to me on almost every level, and it's only by the smallest of margins he isn't higher up in the list.

But who has cracked the Riddler's conundrum and won through to #4? Find out soon...