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Post by driver1980 on Aug 23, 2023 17:44:32 GMT -5
If the Library of Congress date is accurate, Detective Comics #140 went on sale 75 years ago today, featuring the debut of this character:  If I have it right, he made one further appearance in 1948, and then was absent until 1965. Seems odd to think he was absent for that long back then. I wonder, how many who’d read his appearances in 1948 were reading his return in 1965? (John Byrne used to go on about the turnover of comic readers, but can we really know for sure, anecdotal ‘evidence’ aside?) The Riddler is my favourite Batman villain. So, I can’t come up with a riddle, but I can come up with a question or two. 1) Which DC hero would you like to see the Riddler take on? 2) Which Marvel hero would you like to see the Riddler take on? I always craved a Superman/Riddler encounter. Yes, physically, it wouldn’t last long, but I wanted Superman to be out of his comfort zone a tad, being forced to use brain rather than brawn to crack the Riddler’s clues. As for Marvel, I guess Riddler/Spidey would be fun. I could imagine Spidey hanging from a flagpole, saying, “Come on, Riddler! These clues are tough; give me Doc Ock’s mechanical arms any day of the week.” Do you have a favourite Riddler story? I quite like this one:  |
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Post by zaku on Aug 23, 2023 18:10:18 GMT -5
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Post by tarkintino on Aug 23, 2023 18:20:44 GMT -5
If the Library of Congress date is accurate, Detective Comics #140 went on sale 75 years ago today, featuring the debut of this character: A landmark character debut, but the fact he vanished for nearly 20 years suggests no one knew what to do with him, even in the lighter, sillier tail end of the Golden Age. Everyone knows how the character returned during the "New Look" period of the Dynamic Duo, and was catapulted to wide recognition by the 1966-68 Batman TV series, with an assist from Filmation's 1968-70 Batman animated series, but I do wonder if the Riddler would've faded back into obscurity after that 1965 appearance without the boost from the TV series? I would have to say I found the Riddler most interesting in his 1970s appearances; no longer was he channeling his TV versions, and he was allowed to mature (as much as the Riddler could) like the other big name villains--and heroes during the Bronze Age. So, i'm not sure I have a favorite Riddler story, but I recall finding the characterization far more pleasing in the 70s than any earlier period. |
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Post by badwolf on Aug 23, 2023 18:36:27 GMT -5
Riddler is tied with Scarecrow as my favorite Bat-rogue.
Riddler/Superman would be interesting. It wouldn't be a physical confrontation obviously (any more than his encounter with Joker was) but he could certain put together some puzzles to thwart him. I love when Superman has to use his brain.
In Marvel I think he'd be good foil for one of the more grounded heroes, like Daredevil or Moon Knight (who have both fought the Jester!) Spidey would work too.
I'm not sure about a favorite story but I thought he was put to good use in Paul Dini's run as a reformed (?) private detective. Not surprising since Dini was probably at least partially responsible for the version of the character that appeared in Batman: The Animated Series, which I also loved.
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Post by Calidore on Aug 23, 2023 18:41:58 GMT -5
I think The Question is the obvious answer.
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Post by codystarbuck on Aug 23, 2023 20:10:05 GMT -5
I think The Question is the obvious answer.  |
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Post by Calidore on Aug 23, 2023 21:06:14 GMT -5
I think The Question is the obvious answer. Ha! Holy crap, I totally forgot about that. It's clearly been way too long since I read that series. |
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Post by foxley on Aug 24, 2023 1:04:31 GMT -5
This is one of my favourite Riddler stories, and my favourite Riddler cover. It is the Riddler chapter of "Where Were You On the Night Batman Was Killed?" in Batman #2921:  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Aug 24, 2023 1:23:06 GMT -5
Ha! Holy crap, I totally forgot about that. It's clearly been way too long since I read that series. Good story. It plays up the idea of the Riddler as a loser, as he is released from prison, on a technicality, after Commissioner Gordon tells him that the cops beat him, not Batman. It also reveals his surname is Nashton, not Nigma...he changed it to make it E Nigma. He meets a woman, named Sphinx, who is enamored of his gimmick, and psycho, and they hijack the bus they are on and tell people they have to solve the riddle of the Sphinx or die. Denny O'Neil's last really great work, in my opinion (The Question, that is). |
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Post by k7p5v on Aug 24, 2023 5:21:11 GMT -5
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Post by driver1980 on Aug 24, 2023 5:33:22 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this, I didn’t realise chronologies could be looked at on Mike’s site. In black and white, those appearances really do look small in number. |
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Post by driver1980 on Aug 24, 2023 5:39:38 GMT -5
I do like “cross-pollination” of heroes/villains, although I never believe it should be overdone. I’m not the biggest fan of Clark’s anchorman days, but I could imagine Riddler, anxious to prove he can outwit a super-powered hero, sending clues to WGBS. Or maybe he plots a crime in Metropolis, for a big payday, and assumes the Man of Steel won’t stop him due to Supes’ inexperience at solving riddles. |
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Post by Calidore on Aug 24, 2023 6:34:56 GMT -5
Post didn't work, will try again later.
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Post by driver1980 on Aug 24, 2023 7:22:08 GMT -5
Post didn't work, will try again later. I had a problem quoting Badwolf’s post. And now this. Is the Riddler hacking this topic? Or are you the Riddler, is this some sort of clue?  |
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Post by zaku on Aug 24, 2023 7:54:36 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this, I didn’t realise chronologies could be looked at on Mike’s site. In black and white, those appearances really do look small in number. If you count just the stories where he wasn't part of some assemble of villains, he appeared only 5 times during the Bronze Age. |
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