EVERY Version of the RIddler Ranked / The Batman 2022 Riddler SPEED-ART
Hey Jack, I'm back! And with me another Speed-Art. This time I’m illustrating the Riddler, and I will be ranking every notable onscreen version of him. I just released his evolution on my main channel, which you should check out, and for that video, I watched every bit of Riddler media released since 1966, so I got a lot to say about him. But with that said, let’s get into the Riddler ranking!
15. DC Super Hero Girls – (2015) Online Shorts
And coming in last place by a mile is his young dapper DC Super Hero Girls version. This is just an all-around lame take on the character. Turning him into a love-sick teenager pining after Bat-Girl is just laughable. But this is meant for children, so I’m not gonna step on it for too long, so let’s move on.
14. Young Justice (2010) Animated Series
Coming in fourteenth is his portrayal in Young Justice. While I don’t hate his look here, although the gap tooth is an odd choice and the sideburns are strange looking, I just find him to be the most annoying adult Riddler, and he barely gets any time to flesh out his character, so I can't really put him any higher.
13. DCAU – (1996) Superman The Animated Series / The New Batman Adventures
Unlucky number thirteen is going to be his second portrayal in the DCAU, namely how he’s portrayed in Superman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. For some reason, they changed him from an actually intelligent, well-dressed character in Batman: The Animated Series, and instead, they have him come off as a flamboyant, body suit-wearing weirdo. Plus, I’m not a huge fan of the bald Riddler look, and this is the first onscreen portrayal of that, so it comes in at number thirteen.
12. Assault on Arkham (2014) DCAMU
And some people may be annoyed at my next placement, but remember, I’m only judging him on this movie appearance, not on his video game appearances. Coming in twelfth place is his Assault On Arkham version. He’s just kind of bland and boring, and while he’s a big part of the middle act of this movie, his portrayal and voice work are just pretty run-of-the-mill. I know that in the games, he ends up looking quite a bit different, and people really like that portrayal, but the movie version here just doesn't do it for me.
11. Batman Hush (2019)
Eleventh place is gonna be his radical departure in Batman: Hush. Now I have no problem with them changing the comic storylines. I never read the comics, so that doesn’t bother me. But they spent the whole movie building up Hush as this big bad villain, only for the character to act really dumb once revealed as the Riddler. It’s like a switch flipped all of a sudden, and he’s a whole new character. But I do appreciate that they changed up the Riddler so much for this outing.
10. DC Super Hero Girls – (2019) TV Series
Coming into the top ten is gonna be his portrayal in the TV series version of DC Super Hero Girls. This is mostly a throwback to his 1966 look, and I think it works really well in this snappy animation style. It’s a show young people can enjoy but I think adults can appreciate it too, at least more than the online shorts version. That Riddler sucks.
9. Justice League Action – (2016)
Coming in ninth is his portrayal in Justice League Action. While his look is pretty simple here, I think the voice work and his rivalry with the Joker make for a unique take on the character. And the episode that he appears in works pretty well. Plus, this is one of the few versions where he is sort of reformed and not actually a villain, so that makes the portrayal a little more interesting.
8. John Astin – (1967) Batman Series (Season 2)
And the first live-action version to appear on this list is his portrayal by John Astin in the 1966 Batman Series. He only got to appear in one episode, and he had big shoes to fill left over by Frank Gorshin. And while his portrayal isn’t awful, it just doesn't quite have the maniacal oomph that Gorshin’s version had. Although, it is pretty cool seeing The Addams Family star in the Batman series.
7. The Harley Quinn Show (2019)
Lucky number seven is gonna go to his appearances in the Harley Quinn Animated Show. While his initial portrayal is pretty typical for the Riddler, I really think this version starts to shine when he gets beefier and teams up with Doctor Psycho. Their banter makes for a lot of good moments. Plus, he’s voiced by the Dean from Community, so you can’t go wrong here.
6. Jim Carrey – (1995) Batman Forever
Coming in sixth place is gonna be Jim Carrey’s portrayal from Batman Forever. Now, I know a lot of people are mixed on how Jim Carrey acted as the Riddler, but I think he does a pretty great job here. He steals almost every scene he’s in, and if you’re a fan of Jim Carrey in The Mask or The Cable Guy, you’ll probably get a kick out of his appearance as the Riddler. Sure, it’s a little goofy, but the whole movie is goofy, and he’s the best part of it, so that’s why he comes in at number six.
5. Corey Michael Smith – Gotham (2014)
And sliding into the Top five is Corey Michael Smith’s portrayal in the live-action Gotham TV Series. This is the Riddler we get to spend the most time with, and I think Corey Michael Smith does a great job playing both of his personalities. The shy Nygma and the more evil and devilish Riddler. The split personality aspect adds to his allure and allows for some great moments. The only issue I have with him is how he was played in the final episode, both the costuming and his acting seemed way over the top and too goofy for the TV series. But in his 80 or so episodes before that, I find him quite riveting most of the time.
4. The Batman (2004) Animated Series
In fourth place is gonna be his portrayal in 2004’s The Batman series. Now, I actually hate his look here. They modeled him after Marilyn Manson for some reason, and it’s way too goth for the Riddler. But with that said, his story arc and voice work by the amazing Robert Englund is terrific. Englund is best known for portraying Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and his voice work here is top-notch. It really is a testament to the writing of the character that even though I hate his look, I still really like this portrayal of the Riddler.
3. DCAU – (1992) Batman The Animated Series
Third place goes to his more subdued portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series. They turned him from the maniacal, jumpsuit-wearing psycho that most cartoons and live-action shows portrayed him as. They made him more sinister and a villain that used his brains instead of his brawn. The voice work is also great here, and the few episodes we get where he’s a main character are really well done, so that’s why he rounds out the top three.
2. Frank Gorshin – (1966) Batman Series/Movie
Coming in second place is Frank Gorshin’s portrayal in the 1966 Batman Series. Frank Gorshin is credited with turning the Riddler from a C-Lister in the comics to the A-Lister he deserved to be. Frank Gorshin won an Emmy Award for this series, and it’s well deserved. His laugh is iconic, and his over-the-top mannerisms and costuming inspired so many animated versions after him. The suit and bowler hat inspired future suit looks in the comics. His portrayal is an absolute classic and deserves to be recognized for decades to come.
1. Paul Dano – The Batman (2022)
But coming in at first place is gonna be Paul Dano’s portrayal in The Batman movie. Much like how the DCAU turned him from a maniacal cackling villain to the more subdued thought provoking villain, The Batman instead reimagines him as a more Zodiac and Se7en inspired serial killer, and this change-up is pretty awesome. Paul Dano gives an amazing performance as the Riddler, and his costume is still identifiable as the character but brings something completely new to the table. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the comics or future animated versions to become inspired by this look. Plus, Paul Dano briefly gets to become more maniacal near the end when he talks to Batman, but more in a mentally unstable way, less super villain-y. So, for how much they took risks with this version of the Riddler, the 2022 version comes in first!
And that’s my ranking of the ol’ Riddley Diddly! Check out his evolution on my animation channel, Tell It Animated, and feel free to leave your rankings in the comments for this video. And until next time, I’ve been Aaron, and I’ll tell you something later!