Out of the many Batman villains that have plagued Gotham City over the years, few have put as much effort into their costumes asThe Riddler(and even fewer have as potent a trademark or symbol). Introduced in 1948, Edward Nigma has had decades to tweak his appearances, both evolving with the times and taking some daring risks.
The costume typically relies on a few staple features: his green and purple color coordination, a bowler hat, and his signature question mark symbol. While most comic versions of The Riddler showcase these components, the more interesting ones do not. Some versions of the puzzle-themed villain are far less flamboyant (closer to Paul Dano’s portrayal of the character in Matt Reeves’The Batman), while other versions take even more creative liberties. Let’s take a trip through history as we examinethe best Riddler costumes ever featured in comic books.
10The Riddler Merges Two of His Classic Designs
Appearing alongside his question-mark-cladded daughter, Enigma, inBatman #711,the Riddler combines two of his most well-known costumes. Donning his signature bowler hat and trench coat combo, this rendition of the trickster also features his green and black spandex that reminisces of the character’s earliest appearances, which began in the late ’40s. One keen difference, though, is thatEdward Nigma traded his purple eye mask for a pair of slick, cat-eye sunglasses, but still manages to don his purple gloves and cane with its question mark ornament.
It’s an outfit that’s complemented well by Enigma, who wears her own riddle-themed costume that contrasts itself with shades of green, purple, and yellow. It’s a short-lived look for Nigma, but it’s the only instance where he meshes together his two most iconic guises.
9Batman: Zero YearRiddler Gives Riddler a Bandit Vibe
Wearing a hat and eye mask reminiscent of Quick Draw McGraw’s alter ego, El Kabong, The Riddler ditches his question mark symbol for an appearance that is both sleek yet minimalistic. In Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s multi-issueZero Year, which explains how Bruce Wayne became Batman in the New 52, Nigma ditches his signature bowler cap for a fedora and bandana over his eyes, perfectly complimenting his all-green suit and purple gloves.
10 Best DC Comics by Scott Snyder to Read Before Absolute Batman
Scott Snyder returns to DC for “Absolute Batman,” giving fans & new readers alike the perfect reason to revisit his legendary Caped Crusader stories.
His question mark cane is an accessory kept constant in almost all designs of The Riddler,as an overall much more subtle look for a villain with a history of not-so-subtle behavior, but it’s a costume that’s certainly fitting for Snyder’s Riddler. InZero Year,the trickster is far less of a petty thief and much more so a maniacal extremist bent on controlling Gotham.
8The Riddler Gets a Hipster Design Adjustment
Illustrated by legendary comic artist Ivan Reis, this modern depiction of The Riddler debuts at the start of a fresh story arc inDetective Comics #1059,which sees Edward Nygma at the helm of his own underground radio show and, in turn, becomes Gotham’s biggest media personality. Using his fame and influence to harm the reputation of Batman as he tries to protect Gotham, The Riddler hints at crimes that are plotted to happen around the city through the screens of its residents' cell phones.
This look of The Riddler screams 2000s hipster, complete with his distinctively orange handlebar mustache, black neck tie, dark sunglasses, and signature bowler cap. It’s one of the character’s more subtle appearances, as the outfit lacks any purple coloring and features only two question marks on his hat and tie. The black fingerless gloves do give Nygma an edgy vibe when paired with his sleek trench coat, creating a tone that is darker and more rugged than most of his other versions.
7The Long Halloween’s Riddler Keeps it Classy
Appearing in one of the Caped Crusader’s most well-known storylines, 1997’sThe Long Halloween,which was written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale, The Riddler manages to showcase his eccentric style while still managing to incorporate dark, somber elements.Considering the nature of his appearance inThe Long Halloween,where The Riddler is less like the typical antagonist of Batman and rather more in a detective-like role,the muted suit and bowler hat combination successfully captivates a persona more similar to Sherlock Holmes.
6The Riddler Ditches Green For Red
Batman#133 from artists Mike Hawthorne and Adriano Di Benedetto offers perhaps one of The Riddler’s most unique costumes in the character’s comic history, solely based on the fact that there is not a drop of green on his entire outfit. Instead,that color is replaced with a bright orange hue that offers an even greater contrast to Nygma’s purple undertones, and the look is completed with an orange question mark tattoo that curls around his eyes and stripes down through his mouth. The tattoo features the only question mark in the entire appearance, but its placement still makes for a striking focal point that emphasizes The Riddler’s enigmatic nature.
5Earth One’s Riddler Isn’t Afraid to Show Some Skin
Debuting in the first chapter of theBatman: Earth Onestoryline written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank, this Riddler gives readers perhaps the most real-world rendition of the character’s appearance. Lacking any sort of bowler hat, cane, or even any dashes of purple color, this is a much more muted scheme for the puzzle-obsessed villain. Aside from his olive trench coat, this incarnation of The Riddler only sports a question mark necklace, green pants and black shoes, making fora guise that deviates far from the character’s norm.
DC Comics Needs To Promote Its Earth One Universe
Only Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Teen Titans have been reimagined, but the rest of DC deserves the Earth One treatment too.
Penciled, inked, and colored by Mitch Gerads in the one-shot comic,Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler,Edward Tierney of DC’s Prime Earth wears a classy, forest green suit, with matching green gloves and green eye paint. While he also wears his iconic bowler hat in some panels of the comic, he’s mostly without it in this issue from August 2022, which portrays The Riddler in a far more darker and violent matter.
This version of the character is far less concerned about developing clever riddles and more bent on murdering Gotham City’s civilians in a seemingly random fashion. Like other darker versions of The Riddler on this list, the lack of question marks and color contrast do an excellent job of portraying a villain that has become “bored” by riddles and more interested in causing harm to the people of Gotham.
3The Riddler’s Classic Look is Still Timeless
The Riddler’s green and purple spandex costume is one that is often the first that people think of, as it’s a look that’s been mimicked in so many of the character’s most well-known appearances in television and cinema. Wearing the question-mark-covered suit when he first debuted in 1948, The Riddler is a far more fun and dynamic villain when he isn’t afraid to sport the skin-tight uniform.
While the green suit jacket or trench coat would be given to the trickster in comics of the late 60s and early 70s, the spandex outfit would develop more first,eventually adding purple gloves, more question marks, and his iconic bowler hat. It may be a look that’s somewhat dated in today’s day and age, but even Batman and Robin’s tight, colorful uniforms have continued to stand the test of time and remain as the characters' most legendary costumes.
2From Villain to Hero, Edward Nashton is Enigma
Dwelling in DC Comics' Antimatter Universe from the 2008-09Trinityminiseries, where all good characters are turned bad and all bad characters are turned good, this version of the Riddler is a crime fighting genius bent on preventing evil deeds carried out by Owlman, also known as Thomas Wayne Jr..
After a battle with Ultraman left half of his face burned and resulted in the deaths of most of his family members,Nashton sported a metal mask over the damaged portion of his face. Aside from that, the only Riddler-esque components to his costume are his signature green trench coat and elongated question mark staff, which in this universe is imbued with energy that can be used against his enemies.
1The Bowler Hat and Suit Combo Can’t Be Topped
While it’s undoubtedly Nygma’s most famous attire, it’s not even one that was birthed in the pages of a comic book, as actorFrank Gorshin was the first to portray The Riddler this way in the 1966 televsion series,Batman,which starred Adam West as the Caped Crusader. This look has everything that The Riddler is supposed to have: an abundance of question marks, the right mixture of colors, and even a purple eye mask to make the character all the more menacing. There’s no doubt that the criminal’s costumes will continue to evolve over time, but with each new rendition, this look will always be paid homage to in some form.
