The Riddler

Edward Nygma is a compulsive puzzle-master and criminal genius whose obsession with riddles drives him to leave elaborate clues at crime scenes — an irresistible compulsion that repeatedly draws him into conflict with Batman, the one detective he considers a worthy opponent.

Few villains in comics history have made such a lasting impression through sheer wit and audacity as The Riddler, who first bedeviled readers in Detective Comics #142 back in 1948 — a Golden Age debut that launched one of DC's most enduring and recognizable antagonists. Created by Curt Swan, this compulsive puzzle-master has been challenging the World's Greatest Detective across an extraordinary span of nearly eight decades, turning up in titles from Detective Comics to Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight and Batman: Justice Buster. The company he keeps says it all — his pages are populated by the likes of Batman, Robin, and Bruce Wayne, placing him squarely at the heart of Gotham's mythology. With two key collector issues to his name and a presence stretching from the Golden Age to the present day, The Riddler is living proof that the cleverest threats never go out of style.