[Skeeter]

The Riddler was rescued in the comics by the "Hush" storyline. There were lots of things wrong with that storyline, but the Riddler was not one of them.

[Jeffrey]

Yeah, I agree. The Riddler, save for that brief plastic surgery phase, has been a great character in the past ten years. Well-used - especially his reform after One Year Later!

One of his best appearances in the past twenty years, in a comedic sense, was in Young Justice (or maybe it was the young Bart Allen's concurrent series) when Impulse asked him "Didn't you used to be a good guy?" The Riddler paused, confused, then shouted...

I am not The Question!

Speaking of which, the Riddler appeared in The Question's 80's series, since Hub City was loosely, loosely related to both Green Arrow's Seattle and Batman's Gotham (Bane's home island of Santa Prisca debuted in the pages of The Question).

The Riddler hadn't had a big role in the 80's comics, so in The Question O'Neil portrayed him as a lingering failure let free by the GCPD because he was harmless and no longer a person of interest. He took a bus toward Hub City, met a beautiful crazy woman, and ended up as part of a hostage situation. I won't give away the ending, but it has a great moment where The Question hits The Riddler with a number of philosophical questions during a session of inane riddles.

In the 90's, the Riddler began to evolve to where he is now: a mastermind, no longer really insane but a thinker to rival Batman, one inspired as much by playful ennui as criminal intent, though crime provides for his expensive hobby of matching wits with the best. By now, in my opinion, the Riddler has deduced the identities of a number of leading superheroes, but stays quiet because he savors being the only one to know the answer to those riddles. However, beware the day when that knowledge is the only thing that will get him out of a tight spot...

I love how the Penguin evolved. Burton's mutant was a travesty, but in the past couple decades the Penguin has become a slightly-respected nightclub owner who runs arms, fences goods, launders money, etc. He's the perfect mediator between the mob and the costumed crime set, being a bit of both. He's untouchable, forcing him and Batman into uneasy partnerships. Bringing Cobblepot down would put a dent in crime, but having him as a contact and respected adversary gives Bruce an edge and an inside look into Gotham's underbelly.

Also, Bruce can go to the Iceberg Lounge at night and hobnob with other celebrities and never raise an eyebrow. To the public, Cobblepot is a reformed hoodlum who runs the hottest nightspot on the eastern seaboard.

[JerRocks2day]

What did you think was authentic about the portrayal?

His acting in the film.