DC: 10 Funniest Quotes Of The Riddler | Screen Rant
Who said a riddle is not funny? Not The Riddler. The DC villain got new life through Paul Dano's version in The Batman, and though the tones of green change, The Riddler's consistency in being entertaining doesn't, from master plans to humorous comments.
The iconic flamboyant villain is famous for his mysterious enigmas, but he has a flair for comedy and doesn't waste time adding sassy remarks to any conversation.
In his fancy green suits, The Riddler doesn't lose an opportunity to be charmingly sarcastic. In Year Of The Villain, Nygma teams up with King Tut to set a trap for Batman. While the story focuses on Riddler's existential crisis, the bond between the two villains creates moments of comic relief in the narrative.
One of these moments is when Nygma meets Tut with recently-bought crocodiles, and the other villain explains he bought them with his late aunt's money. Riddler, then, remarks Tut spent "her life savings" on something as unconventional as crocodiles. His on-point comedy timing completes the narrative, adding a light tone to this heartfelt story.
Gotham gave DC fans a deeper look at the origin stories of classic villains, and the honest performance of Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma was one of the show's highlights. After becoming one of the best versions of The Riddler, Nygma already had a sharp sense of humor, as he demonstrated through numerous riddles.
While examining a cadaver, he asks this riddle to the corpse, who doesn't reply and gets the answer correct. Nygma enjoys the moment as he has fun during the autopsy, making this a funny moment for the audience.
Self-proclaimed as a "man reborn" in this comic, Riddler abandons his criminal past and starts his career as a consulting detective. Working side by side with the Caped Crusader, the unusual duo investigates a murder together, much to the frustration of Batman.
The premise of Paul Dini's story is interesting itself, but Riddler makes it funny. When Batman presumes the victim's handcuff marks had relation to the police, the foe calls him "naive," taking him to an establishment in Gotham's underground the victim used to visit for entertainment. The Riddler doesn't always get the last word when talking to the superhero. But when he does, he also gets the last laugh.
The Riddler had many wholesome moments in comics, even falling madly in love, which, eventually, led to disaster. In this story told by Joker, the foe is accused of stealing a painting by his beau, to which he quickly replies he's simply "acquiring" it.
He doesn't succeed in impressing the woman, but he doesn't fail in bringing a smirk to the reader's face. This quote accurately represents the character's sense of humor, which is often accompanied by his nonchalant manner.
The Riddler might be the bottom of the joke for his alter ego on many occasions, but his sharp sense of humor proves he cannot be taken for granted.
In Charles Soule's story, he casually tells Batman that Gotham City doesn't revolve around the Dark Knight and adds a hilarious comment about his reputation of having an "ego." Even behind bars, Edward Nygma doesn't miss a sarcastic beat.
1966's Batman: The Movie had to feature some gems. In the humorous film, Frank Gorshin's version has several funny comebacks, which is unsurprising given The Riddler is one of the goofiest villains in the '60s series and film.
Much like The Penguin has sassy remarks about him, Riddler calls Cobblepot a "waddling mountebank of a bird" when their plan fails. Gorshin's comedy timing contributed immensely to the development of Riddler's personality, becoming a classic adaptation of the iconic character.
The villain's dark humor mixes with his mischief, as it couldn't be different. In Solitaire, he walks through a crowd of protesters who are shouting "no more secrets," similar to the political uproar seen in The Batman.
In his elegant manner, the villain tells the reader he had suggested another chant, one that attacks the Wayne Corporation directly, but "viva chaos", Nygma celebrates. More of a subtle remark than a goofy joke, this quote represents the sophistication of Riddler's speech, which doesn't lack a sharp tone of humor.
Assertive and astute, The Riddler turned his catchphrase into a joke of its own in Gotham Underground. At a table in the Iceberg Lounge, he shouts "riddle me this..." at the innkeeper, ironically, asking for a "decent" drink.
Although Edward Nygma cares profoundly about his riddles, in this story, he uses his known fascination to critique the service at Cobblepot's establishment, making an ironic riddle out of a customer complaint.
Some of Riddler's best riddles are also his funniest quotes. In Gotham, Cory Michael Smith's Riddler applied the comedy timing typical to the character. Before murdering a man, Nygma asks him "what do you call a tavern of blackbirds?" and answers the riddle as he hits him with a crowbar tool.
The villain calls this riddle "kinda lame" but it's still an enjoyable pun given the dark humor the context offers, which is appropriate for the character.
It takes more than a beating to take Riddler's comedic timing away from him. In Gotham Underground's finale, the villain drinks wine with Oswald Cobblepot after he was beaten under orders of the owner of the Iceberg Lounge.
The Penguin apologizes in his way, but Nygma doesn't miss the opportunity to be sassy, saying it was the "best beating" he ever got. Cobblepot laughs intensely at the comment, proving that not even The Penguin is immune to The Riddler's sharp comedy timing. But the true question is: Is anyone?