Detective Comics #140 is an issue of the series Detective Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1948. It was published on August 23, 1948.
Synopsis for Batman: "The Riddler"
Edward Nigma, who would later become the Riddler, began his criminal career as a boy in school. His history teacher announced a jigsaw puzzle contest, and he broke into her desk so he could cheat and win. This is when he developed his love of puzzles. Nigma became known as a puzzle expert in school, but he would always cheat to appear smarter. Eventually he became a carnival huckster, swindling people who payed to challenge him. He realized that he was clever enough to baffle the police, and decided he could match wits with Batman. Every crime he designed would be a puzzle, fixed so that he would always win. He needed a costume and a name. He chose to become the Riddler, because he would be a "riddle" to Batman.
In his public debut, he took over a giant electric crossword puzzle that was used as a promotional device. The crossword puzzle was changed to become a clue for Batman and Robin. They mistakenly took "Basin Street Banquet" to mean the Mayor's charity dinner, but this was a misdirection. The Riddler had completely flooded a bank next door, making the "bank wet." Batman and Robin were unable to pursue without scuba gear.
The Riddler's next crime involved sending a giant jigsaw puzzle to police headquarters. The puzzle pieces required several trucks to move. Batman oversaw the puzzle's completion by directing police officers at a local football stadium. This puzzle claimed that the Riddler would rob the "Eagle's Nest."
Batman and Robin followed this clue to a nightclub called The Eyrie, but this was another misdirection. Batman tracked the Riddler to his real crime, robbing a millionaire named Harrison Eagle. The Riddler placed Harrison Eagle inside a metal puzzle that would slowly kill him unless Batman solved it. Batman was able to save Eagle, but the Riddler dropped a smoke bomb and escaped.
The Riddler stole a giant statue of corn to leave his next riddle, "Why is corn hard to escape from?" This is placed on a runaway truck, and Batman is barely able to stop the truck killing anybody. Batman and Robin track the Riddler to the Pleasure Pier amusement park, where there is a fun maze. They follow the Riddler into the maze, where he rigs it to explode and traps them inside. Batman is able to get out of the shatter-proof glass by heating the building's metal frame until it expands. The heroes are able to escape the death-trap. The Riddler is trapped on the pier when it explodes, and he is knocked into the water. There is no trace of his body except a floating question mark that came off his costume. Robin assumes that the Riddler drowned, but Batman believes he might have survived.
Appearing in Batman: "The Riddler"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Riddler (Edward Nigma) (First appearance) (Origin) (Apparent Death)
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Harrison Eagle (Single appearance)
- Mayor of Gotham City
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Basin Street
- Cross Cleaning Co.
- The Eyrie (nightclub)
- GCPD Headquarters
- Gotham First Bank
- Higgins Canned Corn (factory)
- Pleasure Pier
Items:
- Batrope
- Loudini Rope Tie (Single appearance)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Robotman: "Robotman's Double Trouble"
Appearing in Robotman: "Robotman's Double Trouble"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Henry Carter (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "Dog for a Day"
Appearing in Slam Bradley: "Dog for a Day"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Bull (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mrs. Gotrocks (Single appearance)
- Mrs. Lotsofdough (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Boy Commandos: "The Dictator from Alcatraz"
Appearing in Boy Commandos: "The Dictator from Alcatraz"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Jumbo Miller (Single appearance)
- Pete (Single appearance)
- Muggsy (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- President Miguel (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- The entire issue was reprinted in Facsimile Edition: Detective Comics #140.
- "The Riddler" was also reprinted in:
- The events depicted in "The Riddler" occurred in both Earth-Two and Earth-One realities.
- Detective Comics Annual #8 serves as a modernized retelling of "The Riddler", directly adapting elements such as Nygma's childhood puzzle-"solving" and the Basin Street robbery.
Trivia
- Referenced in the movie Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold as The Riddler's Arkham Asylum cell number is DC 140.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Batman Recommended Reading
- Batman (Volume 1)
- Batman (Volume 2)
- Batman (Volume 3)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 1)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 2)
- Batman and Robin (Volume 3)
- Batman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Batman: Gotham Knights (Volume 1)
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (Volume 1)
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat (Volume 1)
- Batman: Streets of Gotham (Volume 1)
- Batman Incorporated (Volume 1)
- Batman Incorporated (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 1)
- Batman: The Dark Knight (Volume 2)
- The Brave and the Bold (Volume 1)
- Detective Comics (Volume 1)
- Detective Comics (Volume 2)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.