The Riddler is a classic villain from Batman’s rogues’ gallery who has been adapted into live-action a handful of times, most recently by Paul Dano in The Batman. The antagonist is known for his garish costumes, often choosing a more outlandish look compared to some of the other criminals the Caped Crusader has had to defeat.
Of course, each iteration of Edward Nygma has brought something different to the table, with the costume reflecting the tone the adaptation is looking for. There hasn’t been a bad live-action costume for the character, considering they all manage to link into the whimsicality and erratic nature of the puzzling nemesis.
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Batman Forever — Glitter Look (1995)
It’s still pretty incredible to see an iteration of The Riddler that tries to play into the wackiness of the character’s comic book roots, as is the case with Jim Carrey’s variation in Batman Forever. The final costume of the piece turned it up a notch though.
While it boasted no lack of question marks across the entirety of the suit, it was also blasted with glitter, playing into the showmanship of Riddler. This was a character that lived for the performance and even the formerly green mask was replaced with something a little more sparkly. It might not be what every fan wanted, but there’s no denying it’s a unique and memorable take, complete with the iconic staff.
Batman — Original (1966-1968)
The Batman TV show saw two actors portray The Riddler. The majority of the series and indeed the spin-off film saw Frank Gorshin take on the part. However, there was a brief interlude where John Astin took over. Both of these actors used the same costume for the villain.
It feels a lot like the early source material, with the garish colors playing into the cartoonish aesthetic of the series as a whole. The classic bowler hat might have been missing, but the purple gloves and belt complemented the green suit very well. It looks quite dated now and a bit low budget, but it’s certainly faithful to the character, once again accompanied by a question mark walking stick.
Gotham – First Look (2014-2019)
Gotham was designed to show the origin stories of many of Batman’s most violent thugs. Cory Michael Smith put in arguably one of the best portrayals of Riddler on screen yet and his costume evolves throughout the series. The look he largely settled on was a stripped-back version of a modern incarnation of the character.
The bowler hat is very much present and the showmanship of the criminal has been boosted with a variety of question mark canes. While his notable symbols are absent at this stage, the Riddler is dressed well in a green suit that’s accented with black details. The leather gloves in particular give the look a certain edge; he’s not the gentlemen many would assume him to be at first look.
Batman — Modernized (1966-1968)
Frank Gorshin’s return to the role of Riddler allowed for an impressive costume upgrade. The show went a long way away from the tight attire that fans would have previously seen the puzzle-maker battle Batman in. Instead, he’s been given a fitted suit, tailor-made for the villain’s lifestyle.
The suit is largely green and comes complete with a bowler hat and no shortage of question marks. The cane is still very much present to complete the look, although even that is a more detailed version compared to what originally accompanied his wardrobe. It still looks a little on the cheap side compared to something like Gotham though.
Batman Forever — Classic (1995)
If audiences are looking for a completely out-there performance for the character complete with quippy quotes and garments that match that portrayal, then Jim Carrey’s take on Riddler has to be up there with the greats. The costume worked in his favor, as the physicality of the actor was emboldened by the simplicity of the design.
It’s completely wacky but works well; there’s no doubting that this is The Riddler, with the red hair, green mask, and question mark covering. It’s a lot more comic book accurate than his glitter suit and fits in with the grungy world quite well. It’s as if he’s designed this terrible suit in a basement somewhere as he plots his next scheme.
The Batman (2022)
The Batman put together a kind of Riddler that audiences hadn’t seen on screen previously. While there are comic book narratives that play into the serial killer tone that Paul Dano’s iteration went for, none were quite as terrifying as what was brought up against the Dark Knight here. The costume’s aesthetic very much married into that sadistic edge.
The greens of Riddler are present, but the slicker suit has been replaced with weighty and clumsy coats and layers that remain consistent with the man beneath the mask. Indeed, the mask and gloves, accompanied by the use of tape, all add to the scary notion that this is a monster hiding in plain view of Gotham.
Gotham – Final Look (2014-2019)
When looking at what has been achieved on the page with the character and trying to search for a costume that sums that up, Gotham’s final version of Riddler has to be the strongest. While Jim Carrey wore a suit somewhat similar to this, the TV version is a notch above that.
It’s whimsical and wacky, but still somehow slick and smart, as the performer within the character somehow combines with the intelligent gentleman he wants to show the world he is. There are greens and blacks like the earlier Riddler suits, but the question marks are in full force here, complete with every needed detail from the hat to the cane. Some glittery trousers even pay homage to past looks, while the overall feel manages to perfectly fit the endgame Gotham was looking for. This is the quintessential Riddler attire.