Batman & Riddler's Valentine Date is The Comic Story Every Fan Should Read
Spoilers ahead for DC's Strange Love Adventures #1!
This Valentine's Day, DC Comics has Batman intimately sit down and have dinner with one of his greatest foes: Edward Nygma, AKA Riddler. While it may seem uncharacteristic, in the final story of DC's Strange Love Adventures #1—Ram V and Phil Hester's "Dinner for Two"—the story brings Batman and Riddler together for a moment fans never knew they needed.
Batman and Riddler have a more complicated history than most fans realize. The concepts for Riddler's schemes never change much—as he always seeks to challenge Batman to a plethora of puzzles. However, during Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's Batman: Hush storyline, Riddler eventually discovers Batman's identity. While the New 52 comics rebooted much of DC's stories, a considerable amount of Batman's history remained intact, whether it was Joker paralyzing Barbara Gordon (although she eventually regained the use of her legs) or Riddler's knowledge of Bruce Wayne's dark secret.
"Dinner for Two" starts with Batman and Riddler's relationship as fans regularly know it; the World's Greatest Detective is on the chase again, following a strange trail of clues left by Riddler on Valentine's Day. Of course, he ends up discovering Riddler's location, but what's surprising is how he finds him—Edward Nygma is waiting for Batman with champagne, flowers, and a neatly arranged table with two seats. Batman indulges him, and Nygma opens up. Every day, Riddler walks by a crossword-loving woman sitting in the park named Jasmin Shroff. However, he never musters up enough courage to approach her. He tells his caped rival: "I fear some riddles are unsolvable, Batman." Batman then responds by stating: "There are no unsolvable riddles, Nygma."
Nygma appreciates the reassurance from his adversary and proves that Riddler and Batman don't entirely hate each other, at least not as much as Batman hates some of his other enemies. Riddler also comments that Batman could be anywhere else, but he chooses to be accompanying Riddler, "at a table for the two loneliest men in Gotham." Batman gives Riddler the ultimate "touché" by nonverbally clinking his date's glass. While Riddler is undoubtedly a criminal, his primary objective is to challenge Batman. In response, the Dark Knight almost always plays along with Nygma's game, just like he indulges Riddler by joining him for dinner. Their situations make Riddler and Batman a perfect non-romantic couple for Valentine's Day—a night when single people feel their loneliest.
While it might seem strange at first, Batman and Riddler's dinner date ends up being a surprising treat for DC Comics' biggest fans. Something about a quiet, cold, Valentine's Day evening in Gotham is the perfect environment for two enemies to set aside their differences. The story also ends ambiguously, like Batman: The Killing Joke. While Riddler robbed a florist, he didn't violently harm anyone to get Batman here. The story concludes with the flower vase tipped aside as some petals float away. This ending could imply Riddler gets away, Batman turns him in to the cops downstairs, or as a Valentine's Day gift Batman actually lets Nygma off the hook—for now.