As befitting his status as the World’s Greatest Detective, it makes sense that two of Batman’s iconic villains are obsessed with intelligence, yet Joker has made it clear that his motivations are not to be confused with Riddler’s. Though both jokes and riddles are exercises of wit, the intent of these exercises is key to a more complete understanding of this prominent pair from Batman’s Rogues Gallery. What may seem like subtle differences grow in importance with further consideration of how their urges to battle the caped crusader manifest.
Joker is known for crimes that fit his clown persona, ranging from comedy to tragedy. For example, he is responsible for Barbara Gordon’s paralysis, shooting her in The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland and using her pictures after this heinous act to torture Jim Gordon. Joker also cut off his own face as a joke. This same Clown Prince of Crime has also hatched a slapstick plot to turn fish into smiling versions of himself, revealing a sense of humor that swings wildly, seamlessly switching from savage to silly. Riddler, on the other hand, is known for developing elaborate scenarios to test Batman’s status as a problem solver. He has done everything from trapping the Caped Crusader in a well with electrified sides to seeing if Bruce Wayne could see through the ruse of Clayface imitating a dead Jason Todd.
Though each villain has shown a burning desire to prove the depth of their wit, Joker makes it clear in The Joker Presents: A Puzzlebox #5 that they do not share modus operandi. In this issue by Matthew Rosenberg, with art by Dominike Stanton, Jesus Merino, and Juni Ba He, he takes a stab at explaining the key difference. It all boils down to Joker’s overwhelming need for an audience. “You must have me confused. I’m not the one who plays games. I’m the one who tells jokes.” In saying this, he highlights that Riddler’s best laid plans are games that engage Batman in a personal battle of wits, whereas Joker cares only about humor and entertaining an audience.
Though some may casually dismiss this difference between a joke and a riddle, as Catwoman does when she bluntly says that she doesn’t care in Tom King’s “War of Jokes and Riddles,” the difference is fascinating. Riddler’s obsession with riddles means that Batman will always be an active participant, creating opportunities for Edward Nigma to actually best his adversary. Batman also has the chance to bend the rules of the game in unpredictable ways, so that even a masterstroke like Riddler figuring out Batman’s identity lost its fun. Joker’s penchant for jokes means he only wants to get to the punchline. Batman’s reaction can add to the Clown Prince of Crime’s satisfaction, but telling the joke is often satisfaction enough.
Fundamentally, this makes Riddler one of Batman’s more relatable villains, as many aspects of society are competitive in nature, resulting in clear winners and losers. With Joker’s diabolical acts being filtered through the lens of his own twisted sense of humor, it is far easier to view him as an agent of chaos and the more unpredictable villain. He is not restricted by the bounds of gamesmanship and can do whatever he finds funny at the time. Though Joker’s crafting of elaborate plans to deliver jokes is similar to Riddler’s need to draft sophisticated riddles, each man’s compulsion couldn’t be more different. To truly appreciate the dynamic personalities of these two iconic Batman villains and the nuances of the larger Bat-Verse, it is important to consider something as simple as why Joker tells jokes whereas Riddler sticks to riddles.
