The Riddler appears in Batman (1966), portrayed by
Frank Gorshin in the first and third seasons and
John Astin in the second season.[citation needed] This version was inspired by the Riddler's first
Silver Age appearance, with the premiere episode being an adaptation of Batman #171. Gorshin would be nominated for an
Emmy Award for his performance, which elevated the character's popularity and turned him into a major member of Batman's
rogues gallery.[citation needed]
A parody of the Riddler called the Question Mark appears in the Tiny Toon Adventures episode "Bat's All, Folks!", voiced by
Charlie Adler.[citation needed] Additionally, Gogo Dodo dresses as the Batman (1966) incarnation of the Riddler in the pilot episode "The Looney Beginning".
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.[citation needed] 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.
The Riddler appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by
John Michael Higgins.[5] In his most notable appearance in the episode "The Criss Cross Conspiracy!", he is targeted by
Batwoman, whom he had publicly unmasked and humiliated ten years prior.
The Riddler appears in the Justice League Action episode "E. Nygma, Consulting Detective", voiced by
Brent Spiner.[6] This version is a detective, reformed criminal, and rival of the Joker who sports a shaved head.
The Riddler appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by
Jim Rash.[7] This version is a member of the Legion of Doom in the first season and 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.
Edward Nygma / 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 the 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.[9]
The Riddler first appears in Batman: The Animated Series (1992),[citation needed] 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. Unlike most other villains in their debut episode in this series, The Riddler succeeds in his criminal scheme; although he fails to murder his former-employer, he does escape Batman and has the satisfaction of leaving his former-employer gripped in state of terrified paranoia of him striking again.
The Riddler makes minor appearances in The New Batman Adventures, now sporting a unitard with a large question mark and no hair and mask.
The Batman (1966) incarnation of the Riddler appears in the
self-titled film adaptation, portrayed again by Frank Gorshin.[10][11]
Edward Nygma / Riddler appears in Batman Forever, portrayed by
Jim Carrey.[12][13] This version is an eccentric, amoral
Wayne Enterprises inventor 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. Nygma 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 overloads the information flow into Riddler's brain, damaging the latter's mind and driving him insane before he is incarcerated at
Arkham Asylum, thinking he is Batman.
The Riddler appears in the Movie 43 segment "Super Hero Speed Dating", portrayed by Will Carlough.[citation needed]
Edward Nashton / Riddler appears in The Batman (2022), portrayed by
Paul Dano.[14][15][16] 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.[17][18][19][20] 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 chaos 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. The character is also depicted as going by the alias "Patrick Parker", found in April 2022 to have been a result of
citogenesis.[21]
The Batman: The Brave and the Bold incarnation of the Riddler appears in Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced again by John Michael Higgins.[4] It is revealed that he started his career as a lab assistant to
Professor Milo and seeks to revive a dimensional portal project he was involved in.
Edward Nygma appears in Batman: Hush, voiced by
Geoffrey Arend.[4] Similarly to the comics, this version deduces Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne while using a Lazarus Pit to cure his
brain tumor. However, Nygma goes on to use the alternate alter-ego Hush to manipulate other supervillains into destroying Batman on multiple fronts while using
Clayface to assume his Riddler identity to maintain appearances. Ultimately, Nygma's plans are foiled and he is killed by
Catwoman.
The Riddler appears in Batman: The Enemy Within, voiced by
Robin Atkin Downes.[26] 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.
Edward Nashton / Enigma / 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),[citation needed] 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).[citation needed] 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.[27]
A young Nashton, as Enigma, appears in the prequel Batman: Arkham Origins (2013).[citation needed] 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 rid 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),[citation needed] 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 lair to self-destruct.
The Riddler appears as an unlockable playable character in the mobile game Batman: Arkham Underworld.[citation needed] For this 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
DC Animated Universe (DCAU) incarnation of the Riddler appears in The Batman Adventures.[citation needed] He attempts to reform,[33] but struggles to do so. To help him, Batman recruits the Riddler to answer the riddle of how the Penguin became Gotham's mayor.[34] However, the
Clock King beats the Riddler into a coma.[35] While the comic was cancelled before the latter's fate could be resolved, the writers planned to have him come out of his coma with amnesia and attempt to uncover his identity.[36]
^
abcdefghijklm"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.
^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.