Spoilers for Riddler: Year One #1 by DC ComicsDC Comics has just revealed where Paul Dano's Riddler from The Batman will get his name, E. Nigma, as a new tie-in comic written by the actor dives deeper into the character's origin. In Riddler: Year One #1, a website where Edward Nashton was radicalized and propped up as a genius is called Nigma,org, which implies the villain took his name from the once place he didn't need to hide in shame.
Paul Dano earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of the Riddler in The Batman, as his version of the villain was a serial killer who was hellbent on exposing corruption among elites in Gotham City, using puzzles and violence to make a statement. His origin includes being propped up by fellow message board s who saw his dark actions as saving Gotham, giving him the confidence to become a killer with his complex riddles. However, while he was still using the name Edward Nashton at the end of The Batman, a DC Comics tie-in just revealed how he will get his E. Nigma comic book name.
In Riddler: Year One #1 by Paul Dano, Stevan Subic, and Clayton Cowles by DC Comics, readers learn Edward Nashton's origin as he first began his transformation into the Riddler. The Batman's Nashton was a forensic ant who was constantly overlooked by his bosses, as he was never given credit for his work. Nashton, who doesn't feel a sense of belonging in the world, finds confront on a website, "Nigma.org," where he is hailed as brilliant for solving puzzles, riddles, and games. Edward calls his fellow s on the website his "only friends" and that it's the one place where he can "go and be myself."
The Nigma Website Is Where Paul Dano's Riddler Gets His Name
We spoke with Paul Dano about including the website as the reason Edward Nashton eventually becomes E. Nigma as the Riddler. The actor itted that initially, the website had a different name, but after it couldn't use the original URL due to legal reasons, they decided to change the name to Nigma.org, which fits in perfectly with the origin of The Batman character.
In fact, nigma.org was a really fun addition, once the art was there. It was a different name at first, and we couldn't legally call it that. I'm really happy that it worked out; it's really fun part of the process that keeps growing as you write it, see the art, and put the letters in, and do the final adjustments. There's other details like that; Stevan put something in there that's fun to find.
I'll be excited to see how those elements evolve as well, even just the archetypal feeling of Batman or the Riddler the question mark. Because he's obviously different than any other Riddler, so hopefully we're creating our own thing while still having some connections to everything else.
Part of what makes Paul Dano's Riddler so terrifying is that despite taking place in the world of superheroes and Batman, that his rise feels very much grounded in reality, as his radicalization on the incel message board feels ripped right from real life. Nigma.org is the only place Edward felt like himself, which eventually will lead him to assumedly take on the E. Nigma name in The Batman universe. Riddler: Year One #1 by DC Comics is in comic book stores now.
