The Riddler
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Real Identity: Edward Nashton
Appearances: Riddled, Night and the City, Riddler's Revenge, and Rumors
Powers/Skills: Intelligence, Problem Solving, Manipulation, Deduction, Technology, and Analysis
Voiced By: Robert Englund
Edward Nashton suffered a bad childhood from an absent mother and abusive father. While in school, Nashton became involved in a puzzle contest and spent extra time on campus to practice and master the puzzle. He won the contest and received a riddle book as first prize. Over time, Nashton's intelligence increased and he could solve any puzzle or riddle. Mr. Nashton was skeptical and suspected his son was cheating. Mr. Nashton beat his son to teach him not to lie ever again. After the trauma, Nashton became compulsive with telling the truth. As an adult, Nashton worked at a carnival and used his skills to cheat people. Nashton became quickly bored with his job and sought out a worthy challenge.
Nashton began working for Gotham University and helped create external bio hard drives for human brains. The years of abuse made him protective of his invention and spurred the offers by businessman, Chuck Gorman. Nashton's partner, Julie, was interested in the deal and secretly sabotaged the device during a demonstration for the President of Gotham University. He believed it was Gorman's doing and tried to kill him. The Batman picked up Gorman's phone call and saved him from death. Nashton escaped but was inspired by the Batman to take up his own costumed identity, the Riddler. Donning a question mark-covered skintight catsuit and armed with a cane with a question mark handle, the Riddler's compulsion is his greatest strength and weakness. Rather than kill his prey, Riddler often sets them up in an elaborate deathtrap that tests their intelligence.
Intrigued, the Riddler staged a battle of wits across Gotham City across Gotham City. While Gotham Police and the Batman tried to solve his riddles, the Riddler and his henchmen hacked and downloaded the City Hall database. However, the Riddler couldn't help but leave riddles within riddles. The Batman and Detective Yin were captured and subjected to a deadly lie detector. Rather that outright discover it, the Riddler planned to torture the secret of the Batman's real identity out. However, they tricked him and shocked Riddler into submission. He later escaped and in the face of a turf war with the Joker and Penguin, Riddler suggested a competition. The first to capture and unmask the Batman gets Gotham City. They were defeated by the Batman and Detective Yin. She hacked his technology and replaced question marks with the symbol of the bat all over Gotham.
He finally tried to exact revenge against Chuck Gorman when a delivery of his hard drives were being shipped from Gotham Harbor. The Batman arrived and he and the Riddler found themselves trapped in a cargo hold deep below the Harbor. There he revealed his origins to the Batman. However, the Batman convinced the Riddler it wasn't Gorman and to help shove the hold away from the debris pinning them down. Afterwards, the Riddler resurfaced at Gotham University and tried to kill Julie, his former partner and one time love. The Riddler was defeated and taken into custody only to be kidnapped by Rumor a short time later. After the ordeal, he was returned to police custody.