The Riddler is one of the most enigmatic villains in Matt Reeves' The Batman, and his costume is full of subtle details that give insight into his character. Far from a typical interpretation of Gotham City's diabolical mastermind, The Riddler's costume trades in a well-tailored green suit covered in question marks for a utilitarian aesthetic that looks like it was pulled from the racks of a military surplus store.
It might not be what most fans of The Riddler are used to, but the costume is perfect for a villain gathering an army to crush Gotham City's corrupt elite. Actor Paul Dano and costume designer Jacqueline Durran offer clues about how this version of The Riddler came to be, from clothing choices to drawing inspiration from serial killers, giving fans of Reeves' vision a deeper understanding of Edward Nashton, the man behind the mask.
The Riddler's Costume Was Inspired By The Zodiac Killer
With his oversized jacket, mask, and glasses, The Riddler resembles early sketches of the Zodiac Killer, taken from the descriptions recounted by victims who managed to live through encountering him. Beginning in the '60s, the Zodiac Killer terrorized San Francisco and surrounding Northern California cities for decades, taunting the local authorities with chilling correspondence.
In a YouTube clip of his appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Dano confirmed the Zodiac Killer was used as an inspiration for his character. The "real to life reference" was thought to make The Riddler seem more frightening and authentic.
He Wears The Same Glasses As Edward Nigma From Batman Forever
There are a few signature items to The Riddler's costume that instantly draw attention, one of them being the unique glasses he wears. If they look familiar, that might be for two reasons; the transparent eyewear is actually a designer brand from Gotham (New York City) itself, and they were also an homage to the ones worn by Jim Carrey portraying Edward Nigma in Batman Forever.
Identified by Gear Patrol, the glasses are made by Moscot, a family-owned company known for its specific "diamond-shaped rivets on the front of the frames, as well as the gold running through the clear Italian acetate." Not only are the glasses a nice shout-out to a Gotham brand, but also Carrey's fan-favorite performance.
The Riddler Uses Cling Wrap To Prevent Leaving Evidence Behind
What The Riddler lacks in Wayne family funding he more than makes up for with innovation. In order for his carefully crafted plans to come to fruition, he must be meticulous about every stage of his planning, including avoiding being identified at crime scenes. To accomplish this, his head is covered in cling wrap, ensuring that not a single fiber of hair will be left behind.
On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Dano explained that he nearly passed out on the first day of filming The Batman due to how constricting the cling wrap was, but poking small holes to vent air let him get back to murdering the mayor of Gotham City without incident. His commitment to his performance has made Dano one of the best Riddlers yet.
The Riddler's Costume Is Heavily Militarized
Previous actors who have played The Riddler, such as Jim Carrey in Batman Forever, or Cory Michael Smith in Gotham have worn bright green spandex or tailored suits covered in question marks, but Dano's Riddler goes for a look grounded in components found at a military surplus store.
In The Art of the Batman, a book detailing the process of crafting the costumes featured in the movie, Jacqueline Durran explained how The Riddler's costume was finally assembled using things he "could have found in a surplus store near his house, like the German jacket, American trousers, and American boots." This ensemble is perfect for a villain who feels like he's fighting a "war" against the corruption in Gotham City.
The Riddler's Mask Is Based On A US Army Design From The '60s
With material covering his nose, mouth, and everything except his eyes, The Riddler's mask completely obscures his face, preventing him from being identified and creating a truly iconic look. According to The Focus, it was Dano's idea to select the "US Army winter combat mask", used to protect soldiers from wind and other thermal elements in conjunction with the M-65 cold weather uniform, both developed by the US Army in the '60s.
The era was a time of civil unrest, both domestic and abroad when the M-65 was used in the Vietnam War by troops serving in South Vietnam's central highlands. By using something from the US military, the mask becomes an effective tool of terror, inspiring fear with something that should instill patriotism, making it part of one of the best live-action Riddler costumes to date.
The Riddler Has A Distinct DIY Aesthetic
The Batman and The Riddler are both vigilantes molded by traumatic childhood memories, but whereas the former could focus all of his family money on fighting crime with elite tools, the latter had to improvise, creating an aesthetic that was much more organic and thrown together. The difference in their appearance highlights the disparity of privilege afforded each one.
In the same interview with Jimmy Fallon, Dano mentioned a "homegrown" and "DIY" look to The Riddler's costume that was done on purpose to simulate the uniforms worn by certain rogue militia groups in the United States. It's particularly frightening given how close these threats are to home, and how chaotic they can become when their ideologies are left unchecked.
The Riddler's Costume Is Designed To Be Easily Duplicated By His Followers
By the end of The Batman, The Riddler has put his final plan into motion to submerge Gotham in water from the port. When the Caped Crusader goes to confront him, he comes across dozens of The Riddler's followers, all wearing similar outfits to him.
By wearing an outfit that's easy to duplicate from items found at military surplus stores, The Riddler makes it easy for his followers to copy his look, not only gaining an army of clones but an added layer of protection against Batman.
The Riddler's Logo Is A Scope
The Riddler's costume features his signature question mark on his field jacket, framed in what looks like a scope. Given how much the Zodiac Killer influenced his appearance, it's not surprising that the logo is reminiscent of the symbol utilized by the Zodiac Killer to sign all of his correspondence.
Batman concept art reveals a different Riddler logo, one that more closely resembles a bullseye. Jacqueline Durran was the costume designer responsible for deciding which logo should be used and chose one based on Reeves' more grounded take on the villain.
The Riddler's Costume Makes Him Easy To Identify With
Next to Batman, Catwoman, or The Penguin, The Riddler's costume in The Batman is the least like his comic book counterpart. With shapeless clothing, everyday materials, and a less defined silhouette, his outfit can not only be commonly recreated but also makes him accessible to the citizens of Gotham City.
One of the things The Batman got right about The Riddler was his intelligence; by giving himself a costume that doesn't appear part of an elitist cohort in Gotham, he knows his followers will believe in his goals to actually clean up the streets from the profiteers and corrupt politicians feeding off of its graft.
The Riddler's Tape Placement Might Have Had Other Implications
In one of the most harrowing scenes in The Batman, The Riddler attacks the mayor of Gotham City. After bludgeoning him, he retrieves a roll of duct tape from somewhere around his hips to tie him up. This motion was puzzling to fans, inspiring Redditors like beanieway to wonder if anyone noticed "the Riddler playing with his pants before he killed the mayor?"
The area where The Riddler carries his tape and the manner in which he retrieves it, coupled with the precise camera placement when he's restraining the mayor and the noises he makes while doing so, seems to imply he achieves some kind of gratification from the power he's exerting over Gotham City's most important public figure. It proves how effective attention to detail can be, and how essential costuming and props can be for truly provocative storytelling.