Batman: LOTDK 188

Oh, how the tables have turned. In such a short time, the insignificant Edward Nigma has gone from a criminally inept has-been in a funny outfit, to the sinister and dangerous mastermind that he was meant to be. But most importantly, he no longer wears that lime-green bowler hat. Man that was lame. Let me sum up how this came about. Nigma’s talent for solving puzzles was discovered by a local professor who took him in and made him into a new man. With a shave, some new duds, and a haircut, ‘ol Edward was ready to cut up the town. And by town I of course mean the professor, who found out who Edward was just a little too late. What is more, he has made a fatal mistake. He was using Edward’s genius to impress his colleagues, and as you diehard fans out there already know, Edward Nigma hates nothing worse than cheating. Now the Riddler, equipped with a “brand new bag,” has made a comeback with a series of dangerous puzzles and traps that have left Batman one earpiece shy of the grave, but of course Bats is not about to give up his tenacious grip on justice, or his tenacious grip on insanity. (If you require further “filling in,” check out Peblee’s reviews on the previous issues of “Riddle me That”).

So the stage is set, enter Shane McCarthy (writer) who’s elaborate writing style has made this a truly amazing story arc. In this latest issue, “Riddle me That” 4 of 5, Batman has discovered that the Riddler is after an artifact which is supposed to be the oldest existing riddle. Though no one is really sure why this is, I can assure you that it is going to cause trouble. McCarthy’s Riddler has proven himself to be a worthy match for Batman this time around and seems more dangerous than ever, and I have the feeling that this story arc is going to have an ending worth checking out. And, speaking of checking stuff out, have yourself a peek at the way the cells are arranged in these comics. Tommy Castillo's (penciler) and Rodney Ramos’s (inker) framing is as cool as the pictures they surround, which have a superb heavily-lined style (which happens to be my favorite type).

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #188 begins with Batman speeding towards the museum which holds the scroll the Riddler is after. Sporting a nosey reporter and some serious injuries, things aren’t looking up for the Bruised Crusader. After some “Mission Impossible” style breaking and entering, the pair find themselves in front of the mysterious artifact, and Batman finds himself in the oldest trick in the book. Come on, Bats! The Riddler has used this one hundreds of times. But it seems that Batman once again underestimated the Riddler and thought he had the plan all figured out. So Batman, as usual, ended up doing all of the Riddler’s hard work. Yet it seems that there is one player that the new and improved Riddler has overlooked, or should I say under estimated. It seems that the professor’s son, a hulking petty criminal by the name of Marty, is out for revenge. So with his Wolverine haircut/chops combo, Marty goes a-looking for trouble.