Edward Nigma, the Riddler, is a man who delights in the planning of a crime, and in forewarning the police (and Batman) of his upcoming capers. These warnings are always sent in the form of a riddle. The Riddler discovered how fun and challenging puzzles were when he was a young boy (he cheated on a puzzle in school to win a prize), and he gradually turned to crime as he matured. The Riddler often has two female assistants (whose names sometimes differ) that help him, Quiz and Query.
The only time that The Riddler proved to be a worthy opponent of Batman was when Bane injected him with Venom, the chemical toxin that enables humans to have super-strength and endurance.
In the 1960s Batman television series and spin-off movie, the Riddler was played by Frank Gorshin. In Batman: The Animated Series, the Riddler was played by John Glover. Jim Carrey portrayed the Riddler in the movie Batman Forever.