Batman #23.2 Riddler

Riddle me this.

What's green and purple and in Batman this week?


Yup, the Riddler gets the spotlight this week in Batman. For people reading the main series, he is the one of the antagonists of Snyder's Zero Year arc. And so, it helps that this book was written under Snyder's guidance.

How was it? Well, the overall story was very good as was the Riddler's characterization. But some particular dress choices were really puzzling and that brought the book down a little.

We first start with Riddler in his cell four years ago. He is playing cards and gets caught by the security guard. Fast forward to the present day, and Forever Evil appears to be in full flow with Riddler instigating a riot to get into the Wayne Enterprises building (and this particular scenario reminded me of the one in Young Justice. No Commissioner Gordon though.)

His preparation brings forth a great scene of five riddles and it's great to see the answers correspond to every step of his break-in.

But the dress code problems have already come in. First, why was the Riddler given a green question mark prison dress? Then, when he was infiltrating the Wayne building, why was he wearing his green and purple dress? If you think that it's because he's a very obscure figure, you're proven wrong when one of the hostages punches him and addresses him as a 'celebrity criminal'.

If you can ignore the above problems, you get a great story about a man and his obsession with everything - his riddles, his enemies and his no-hands policy!

If anything, the New 52 has made the Riddler relevant again and that's always a plus.

So, I give this 8.5 out of 10.