Batman, more than any other superhero, is most well-known for his rogues' gallery of villains. Though Joker, Catwoman and Bane might be some of his most prominent, foes like the Penguin and the Riddler are close behind in how iconic they are in facing the Caped Crusader. The latter, perhaps more than any other opponent, is all about challenging Batman on a mental level, forcing him to prove that he is indeed the world's greatest detective. Though he hasn't had as much of a chance to shine as the Clown Prince of Crime, the Riddler did have one story where he scored one heck of a starring role.

The Riddle Factory had the emerald quizzer uncovering horrendous secrets about public figures before revealing them on an uproarious public access show. Full of color and aplomb, the story still gets to the heart of what makes the Riddler tick, showing why he's remained one of Batman's biggest enemies. It also foreshadowed a major element that will be present in The Batman, showing that in some ways, the Riddle Factory is still in business.

RELATED: Is Batman to Blame for DC's Next Big Hero's Painful Origins?

Batman: Riddler - The Riddle Factory

A one-shot by Matt Wagner and Dave Taylor, Batman: Riddler - The Riddle Factory featured the eponymous puzzler - as well as his two female sidekicks, Echo and Query - as they put on a public access TV show of horrific proportions. Using the inane platform as a bully pulpit to expose seedy information that he'd uncovered on various celebrities, the Riddler became a bit of a pop culture sensation. Unfortunately for the Gotham City Police Department and Batman himself, nothing he was doing is theoretically illegal, as the guests who are shamed on the show are all willing participants.

Eventually, wealthy Gothamite Bruce Wayne was made the guest of honor, with the Riddler trying and failing to uncover any sort of damning evidence on the rather boring playboy. After his pride was wounded, the Riddler was eventually taken in by the police after he seemingly unearthed some lost mob treasure, his attempts at prime time stardom having been canceled.

The idea of the Riddler being a sort of demented game show host/TMZ is a rather goofy one, and the whole affair feels right at home in a cartoon. The story itself was also adapted into an episode of Gotham, with the Riddler putting on the ritz in his lethal game show. The idea hasn't been used much since then, but for as campy as the affair may seem, it still ties into the Riddler's modus operandi.

RELATED: Batman's New Creative Team, Zdarsky and Jiménez, Will Introduce the Hero's Own Doomsday

What The Riddle Factory Revealed About the Riddler's Motivation

The Riddler in The Riddle Factory was something of a transitional characterization. He jumped back and forth in the story between the Silver Age jumpsuit and manic personality best portrayed by Frank Gorshin in the Adam West Batman TV Series and the suit of the more elegant and suave version first introduced in Batman: The Animated Series. This is reflected in his over-the-top gimmick in the story, making him seem rather cartoony and not unlike the maniacal Joker. Still, insights can be gained from his methods and madness in The Riddle Factory.

Even though his plot ultimately involved his cracking the code of lost mob treasure, this greed still ties into Riddler's ultimate motivation: mental arrogance. He wants to prove in some way or another that only he can outwit and outthink others and, in doing so, solves riddles or mysteries that no one else could. He also uses this intellectual elitism as a way of torturing those in the public eye, thus gaining notoriety in some way for his supposed "smarts." Thus, it can also be ascertained that he's after fame and fortune through being recognized for his brilliance, albeit not in a traditional way such as being a scientist or some other such pursuit. The fact that his targets are celebrities who he can then bully only highlights this further.

Targeting the elites of Gotham City, including Bruce Wayne, also mirrors Riddler's characterization in the upcoming film The Batman. Even though it's unlikely Paul Dano will be putting on a public access show during the movie, he's clearly using his intellect to hone in on those in Gotham's limelight. As a whole, it shows how the Joker isn't the only Batman foe seeking means of theatricality, and that in the Riddler's case, he wants to put on a show and look smart while doing it.

KEEP READING: Wonder Woman Gave Batman His Most Embarrassing Defeat