Cover: Carmine Infantino & Murphy Anderson

Batman #171

May 1965 · DC · 0.12 USD

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“Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler!”

About this Issue

Batman #171 marks the Silver Age resurrection of the Riddler — a character who had appeared in only two Golden Age issues back in 1948 before vanishing entirely from comics for roughly seventeen years. Editor Julius Schwartz brought Edward Nigma back as the very first villain of his 'New Look' Batman era, signaling a deliberate editorial pivot away from the sci-fi absurdity that had plagued the title toward the rogue's-gallery storytelling that would define the character for decades. The timing proved transformational: ABC executive producer William Dozier directly cited this issue while developing the 1966 Batman television series, and the story's plot mechanics were adapted into the show's premiere two-parter, 'Hi Diddle Riddle,' with Frank Gorshin's maniacal portrayal instantly cementing the Riddler as one of Batman's most recognizable adversaries across all media. Without this single issue, the Riddler might have remained a forgotten footnote rather than a pillar of the Batman mythology.

In "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler!", the Riddler’s sudden release from prison sets off a mystery even he can’t quite solve—his claim of reformation comes with a twist, as he leads Batman and Robin to the Molehill Mob’s hideout, only to bombard them with riddles that blur the line between truth and trickery. Written by Gardner Fox and illustrated with crisp precision by Sheldon Moldoff, with inks by Joe Giella and lettering by Gaspar Saladino, this 1965 classic sees the Dynamic Duo navigating a puzzle of deception, while Carmine Infantino’s cover art captures the Riddler’s enigmatic grin in bold, dynamic lines.

writer Gardner Fox · artist Sheldon Moldoff · inker Joe Giella · letterer Gaspar Saladino · cover Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson

ComicBooks.com Value

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Raw (VG) $263

CGC 9.6 · 5 in census $35,286

CGC 9.4 · 12 in census $11,557

CGC 9.2 · 16 in census $5,072

CGC 9.0 · 36 in census $3,246

CGC 8.5 · 53 in census $2,454

CGC 8.0 · 67 in census $1,732*

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CGC 7.5 · 115 in census $1,114

CGC 7.0 · 117 in census $935

CGC 6.5 · 127 in census $756*

CGC 6.0 · 152 in census $599

CGC 5.5 · 178 in census $532

CGC 5.0 · 192 in census $532

CGC 4.5 · 206 in census $468

CGC 4.0 · 230 in census $398

CGC 3.5 · 164 in census $361

CGC 3.0 · 98 in census $256*

CGC 2.5 · 87 in census $256

CGC 2.0 · 48 in census $256*

CGC 1.5 · 14 in census $197

CGC 1.0 · 12 in census $147*

CGC 0.5 · 22 in census $127*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

More listings for this title

CGC 0.5 $199.99 CGC 1.8 $292.5 GD $330 FR $330 VG $339 VG $339 CBCS 3 $400 CGC 1.8 $400

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History

By 1964, Batman's sales had deteriorated so badly that cancellation was a genuine possibility; DC responded by assigning Julius Schwartz as editor, tasking him with a full creative overhaul. Schwartz launched his 'New Look' Batman in Detective Comics #327 (May 1964), stripping out gimmick characters like Bat-Mite and Ace the Bat-Hound and restoring Gotham City's villain-driven storytelling. Batman #171 arrived roughly a year into that effort, with Schwartz pairing veteran writer Gardner Fox and penciler Sheldon Moldoff — who was ghosting work credited on the splash page to Bob Kane under DC's long-standing arrangement with Kane. The Grand Comics Database confirms via Schwartz's own editorial records that while DC's payroll listed Bob Kane for pencils, the actual artwork was Moldoff's, a practice common throughout the era. The cover was a separate assignment, drawn by Carmine Infantino (pencils) and Murphy Anderson (inks), making this issue a showcase of the two distinct artistic voices of the Schwartz-era Batman books.

Trivia · 8 facts

First Silver Age appearance of the Riddler (Edward Nigma), ending a roughly seventeen-year absence from comics since his final Golden Age appearance in Detective Comics #142 (December 1948).
Story title: 'Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler!' — written by Gardner Fox, penciled by Sheldon Moldoff (credited on the splash page to Bob Kane per DC's standing arrangement), inked by Joe Giella, lettered by Gaspar Saladino, and edited by Julius Schwartz.
Cover art by Carmine Infantino (pencils) and Murphy Anderson (inks); cover colorist Jack Adler — a different creative team from the interior, which was standard practice under Schwartz.
The issue was published on March 4, 1965, with a cover date of May 1965.
Executive producer William Dozier directly referenced this issue during development of the 1966 Batman TV series; the premiere episode, 'Hi Diddle Riddle' (aired January 12, 1966), adapts the story's core structure and specific beats — including the fake-gun-lighter misdirection used by the Riddler.
The story marks the first appearance of the Molehill Mob (also rendered 'Mole-Hill Gang' in some sources) within the issue, as well as minor characters Smiles Dawson and Roger Peale.
The issue includes a five-page in-story history of the Riddler recapping his Golden Age appearances, firmly tying the Silver Age incarnation to his 1948 roots.
The story was reprinted in the DC collected edition Batman Arkham: The Riddler (2015), bringing it to a modern audience in a dedicated villain-spotlight volume.