The Riddlerhas been a worthy adversary to Batman’s mind sinceDetective Comicsissue #140 in 1948. He’s filled with brain teasers, puzzles, traps, and an ego the size of Gotham City itself. The character has been anestablished villainin DC Comics for well over 70 years, so it was bound to happen that The Riddler would commit some heroic acts.
RELATED:The Batman: Every Live-Action Version Of The Riddler
The frequent enemy ofBatmanhas undergone a few changes, both mentally and physically. His outfits have ranged from green leotards to snazzy suits, and inThe Batman, toa military ski mask. His mental changes have also been quite the trip, and his heroic endeavors are wild.
8Kept Batman’s Identity A Secret
From Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams comesBatman: Hush. Riddler plays quite the role in this graphic novel, and he confirms to Batman he was dying of a brain tumor. As it turns out, The Riddler used The Lazarus Pit without Ra’s al-Ghul’s permission to cure himself.
Instead of being driven insane by the pit, he was invigorated with clarity thatBruce Wayne is Batman. It may not be entirely heroic, but Riddler kept this secret to himself. Not out of heroism for Batman, but because then everyone would know, and thus his biggest riddle would be worthless.
7Tracking Down Clayface With Mary Marvel
Countdownissue #42 has the famed Mary Marvel patrolling the Gotham City streets until she stumbles upon the ever recognizable, green suit-wearing Riddler. She scoops him up into the air, but Riddler protests that he is reformed, and as such, Mary Marvel reluctantly takes him with her to follow a muddy trail.
This trail leads the duo to Clayface, where Mary Marvel makes short work of the monster with her newfound powers. It’s a nice moment between Mary Marvel and Riddler, where he tells her she should seek a mentor for her anger issues.
6E. Nigma, Consulting Detective
The character Shining Knight hit The Riddler in the skull with his mace and gave Riddler quite the brain injury in Infinite Crisis issue #7. The result of this injury wasn’t seen until a year later inDetective Comicsissue #822, but Riddler appears, and it is entirely reformed as a consulting detective.
RELATED:The Batman: The Riddler Is A Perfect Blend Of Old And New
Riddler’s newfound love of detective work makes his brilliance in solving crimes a fun one. His loud, egotistical personality shines through as a detective, as he seeks to prove to everyone, including the media, just how great he is, and how he will solveGotham’s true villain: itself.
5Saving Batman With A Flaming Arrow
Issue #828 ofDetective Comicssees one of Bruce Wayne’s oldest friends dead in Gotham Bay. The man was ripped apart by sea monsters. A bizarre death, so close to home, Batman investigates, with Riddler one step ahead due to his talents as a private detective.
Batman is ambushed, and hangs off a building’s gargoyle statue, with a villain ready to stab him and make him plummet to his death. Luckily, Riddler is there. He leaves behind thegreat riddlesand with a flaming arrow from a bow, he shoots the villain and watches him burn whilst taunting him. Batman puts out the fire, and it shows a moment where Riddler could have easily let his former adversary die.
4Riddler’s War On Drugs
A reformed and investigative Riddler embarks on a mission from none other than Bruce Wayne in issue #837 ofDetective Comics. Not only does Riddler feature in a heroic moment, but it is assisted by none other than the other reformed Gotham Rogue,Harley Quinn.
Riddler seeks Harley’s help in the search of a woman named Lisa Newman, who Riddler suspects of stealing new regenerative drugs from Wayne Industries.
3Helping Batman End The War Of Jokes And Riddles
In Tom King’s 2016 run ofBatman, one arc, in particular, putsJoker and Riddlerin the center of Gotham’s latest carnage.The War of Jokes and Riddleshas The Riddler and The Joker in a long and bloody war in the deciding factor of who gets to kill Batman. Their feud starts after Joker shoots Riddler, just to see if it would make him laugh.
RELATED:The Best Villains In The Batman Arkham Series, Ranked
After inviting them both to dinner, Bruce Wayne decides to judge which side is worse, meaning that the easier side to take down must win. Batman assists Riddler, and together, they take down Joker and his villainous forces. Although, Batman does apprehend Riddler and his crew immediately afterward.
2Deducing The Conundrum
InGotham City Sirensissue #3, Riddler takes the centre stage as the private detective. After consulting with Batman, he is informed of a string of faux suicides. The latest victim is a woman called Alison Gulbraith, and Batman tasks The Riddler with looking after her twin sister, Angela.
Riddler saves the girl from an explosion, and while he is at it, manages to deduce the identity of those responsible for these fake suicides. He boasts to Conundrum her name and occupation, all a distraction as he waits for Batman to arrive on the scene.
1Saving Nightwing
InGotham Underground, Riddler commits his most heroic act yet. He saves Nightwing’s life. The act of saving his former adversary’s ward is a noble one. Riddler dragged Nightwing out of the alley where he was bleeding and dying and brought him to a medical clinic that saved his life.
Not only did Riddler save Nightwing, but he also figured out his disguise as Freddie Dinardo. This, of course, was a fake identity that Nightwing had used, but Riddler deduced it nonetheless. He also made Nightwing aware of the fact, that his secret is still safe since he can’t put a name to his face. This is a big secret many villains of Gotham and Blüdhaven would adore, yet it’s Riddler’s one to keep.
