Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City, reveals one of the most diabolical and admittedly uncharacteristic incarnations of the Riddler readers have ever seen. In this dark and unpredictable storyline by Peter Milligan and Kieron Dwyer, originally released in the 1990's Batman #452, the Dark Knight is tricked into performing a series of disturbing rituals in preparation for a sacrifice orchestrated by the Riddler. It is a side of Edward Nygma readers rarely get to see, as it is a bit of a departure from his usual methodical antics.
An obsession with the supernatural and the prospect of having complete control of an ancient demon sounds like something reminiscent of a Ra’s Al Ghul story arc, however, in this case, it is strangely the Riddler who is behind the occult scheme. While secret organizations running the daily happenings in Gotham is a familiar concept, Dark Knight, Dark City attempts to direct the responsibility towards one individual - the demon known as Barbatos. Just as Batman is the Dark Knight, Barbatos claims he is Gotham, the Dark City.
After escaping an initial confrontation with Batman, the Riddler kidnaps four newborn babies and leads Batman through a series of elaborate and twisted situations, using each baby who Bruce saves as messengers for clues to the next baby. One incident steers Batman towards a blood bank where the Riddler tosses a decoy baby in the air that explodes and covers the Caped Crusader in human blood as he catches it. In another event, vicious dogs attack Batman in a bar. While in the middle of fighting off the last dog he is suspiciously handed a silver knife to slay the dog, which also proves to be another one of the Riddler’s ploys.
It is later revealed that each of these encounters make up the “stages of preparation” for the ritual, summoning the ancient demon Barbatos. This is where the Riddler discloses his final intention of sacrificing Batman for presumed control of Barbatos. Although Barbatos turns the tables and reveals that he was manipulating the Riddler all along to get to Batman. An oversight by the Riddler, but a fine example of just how different this version of Edward Nygma is.
More often than not, readers see the Riddler as the one behind the master plan and seemingly manipulating everyone, but in this storyline we observe him oddly being “guided by a voice”. This almost vulnerable thought process, and the fact that he gives in to the voice, really illustrates the absence of Edward Nygma’s typically hyper-rational mind. Given his genius level intellect and usual method of challenging his victims in life-or-death situations, he is not really known for being a superstitious character, which is why this version of him is a little confusing albeit intriguingly entertaining.
In the end, Batman decides that regardless of the possibility that Barbatos is the hidden spirit of Gotham, the Dark Knight has a job to do and the journey that Bruce has gone through has made him who he is. Even though the Riddler was able to deceive Batman into acting out six disturbing and strange rituals, he manages to escape from both the Riddler and Barbatos. This incarnation of Edward Nygma is undoubtedly one of the most ruthless and chilling depictions of the riddle obsessed criminal mastermind (even if it is a little uncharacteristic for Nygma to become so consumed by a mystical prophecy). With more recent interpretations of Barbatos becoming increasingly popular and taking on a more physical form like in DC's Dark Multiverse, Dark Knight, Dark City provides readers with a frightening look into the origins of the character and his initial relationship with Batman.