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"Batman: "The Riddler"": This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #140.

Facsimile Edition: Detective Comics #140 is a one-shot with a cover date of December, 2023. It was published on October 3, 2023.

Synopsis for Batman: "The Riddler"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #140.

Edward Nigma, who would later become the Riddler, began his criminal career as a boy in school. His history teacher announced a jigsaw puzzle contest, and he broke into her desk so he could cheat and win. This is when he developed his love of puzzles. Nigma became known as a puzzle expert in school, but he would always cheat to appear smarter. Eventually he became a carnival huckster, swindling people who payed to challenge him. He realized that he was clever enough to baffle the police, and decided he could match wits with Batman. Every crime he designed would be a puzzle, fixed so that he would always win. He needed a costume and a name. He chose to become the Riddler, because he would be a "riddle" to Batman.

In his public debut, he took over a giant electric crossword puzzle that was used as a promotional device. The crossword puzzle was changed to become a clue for Batman and Robin. They mistakenly took "Basin Street Banquet" to mean the Mayor's charity dinner, but this was a misdirection. The Riddler had completely flooded a bank next door, making the "bank wet." Batman and Robin were unable to pursue without scuba gear.

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Edward Nigma

The Riddler's next crime involved sending a giant jigsaw puzzle to police headquarters. The puzzle pieces required several trucks to move. Batman oversaw the puzzle's completion by directing police officers at a local football stadium. This puzzle claimed that the Riddler would rob the "Eagle's Nest."

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Nigma becomes the Riddler.

Batman and Robin followed this clue to a nightclub called The Eyrie, but this was another misdirection. Batman tracked the Riddler to his real crime, robbing a millionaire named Harrison Eagle. The Riddler placed Harrison Eagle inside a metal puzzle that would slowly kill him unless Batman solved it. Batman was able to save Eagle, but the Riddler dropped a smoke bomb and escaped.

The Riddler stole a giant statue of corn to leave his next riddle, "Why is corn hard to escape from?" This is placed on a runaway truck, and Batman is barely able to stop the truck killing anybody. Batman and Robin track the Riddler to the Pleasure Pier amusement park, where there is a fun maze. They follow the Riddler into the maze, where he rigs it to explode and traps them inside. Batman is able to get out of the shatter-proof glass by heating the building's metal frame until it expands. The heroes are able to escape the death-trap. The Riddler is trapped on the pier when it explodes, and he is knocked into the water. There is no trace of his body except a floating question mark that came off his costume. Robin assumes that the Riddler drowned, but Batman believes he might have survived.

Appearing in Batman: "The Riddler"

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Locations:

  • Gotham City
    • Basin Street
    • Cross Cleaning Co.
    • The Eyrie (nightclub)
    • GCPD Headquarters
    • Gotham First Bank
    • Higgins Canned Corn (factory)
    • Pleasure Pier

Items:

  • Batrope
  • Loudini Rope Tie (Single appearance)

Vehicles:


Synopsis for Robotman: "Robotman's Double Trouble"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #140.

A bank messenger carrying $10,000.00 in cash throws the briefcase into the river so holdup men can't take it from him. But he is then suspected of stealing the money himself.

Man/robot Paul Dennis puts the teller into hiding and takes a special house construction job to earn the $10,000.00 back; installing special tools on his robot body to finish the job in record time.

With the messenger cleared, Robotman eventually captures the robbers.

Appearing in Robotman: "Robotman's Double Trouble"

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  • Henry Carter (Single appearance)

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Synopsis for Slam Bradley: "Dog for a Day"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #140.

Jewel thieves have trained a dog to follow the owner of a rich house and memorize where the family jewels are kept.The robbers then break in and take the jewels and the dog with them. They then return the dog to the front window of their pet shop "front" and wait for the next rich victim to buy it.

Tough private eye Slam Bradley and his undersize partner Shorty catch wise to the racket when they spot a phony dog-catcher bringing in dogs that have liscenses; and trace him to the pet shop.

Slam convinces Shorty to don a dog costume and convince the criminals to "take him into the mob". Shorty manages to keep up the unusual masquerade until the gang is caught red-handed at their next robbery.

Appearing in Slam Bradley: "Dog for a Day"

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Antagonists:

  • Bull (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Mrs. Gotrocks (Single appearance)
  • Mrs. Lotsofdough (Single appearance)

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Synopsis for Boy Commandos: "The Dictator from Alcatraz"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #140.

An Alcatraz escapee launches a surprise attack on a small South AMERICAN nation and installs himself as dictator. Rick Carter and his Boy Commandos help the honest,deposed President regain control.

Appearing in Boy Commandos: "The Dictator from Alcatraz"

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Antagonists:

  • Jumbo Miller (Single appearance)
    • Pete (Single appearance)
    • Muggsy (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • President Miguel (Single appearance)

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Notes

  • This comic is part of DC's line of "Facsimile Editions", nearly-exact reprints of vintage comics including original ads and letter columns.
  • This issue reprints Detective Comics #140. For further notes, see the original comic.



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