Detective Comics #140(1948): The First Appearance of the Riddler

[jlroberson]

And now, Dick Bloody Sprang, bitches: firing on all cylinders. Plus, ads.





I said elsewhere: he's what Reggie Mantle would be if he were a Batman villain. Here we really see it. Rock that widow's peak, Eddie!











The next day, that man in the foreground started a campaign against the undue influence and obvious flaunting of all safety regulations by the Gotham Oversize Advertising Company, run by the mysterious C. Oldenberg. The poor man was never seen again.



I find this ad interesting, as there's something more present-day accessible about these kids than you might think in, say, a 50s ad. These could be indie teens from the 80s or 90s. I find the late 40s interesting as it doesn't seem to have had its own "look" like other eras, and clothing seemed a lot looser. And girls seem more relaxed.

..."Crinkers?" Crinkers, she says.

You know...I think I can see why I've never heard of that last candy bar. A candy advertised by an old man offering you his luscious crunchy nuts.






...Is it just me that notices how these ads keep encouraging kids to do things involving these products that put them in deadly peril? Bit-O-Honey ad above most egregiously--a kid could never float with a gum bubble, but they sure can roller-skate in front of a truck. And wait a second, aren't YOU a motherfucking FIREMAN with a motherfucking huge ladder and maybe an air mattress? And you're wasting time reading the motherfucking COMIC STRIP with the GUM? The atom bubble is frying your brain. You've destroyed social cohesion, human compassion, and institutional competence, Bazooka. I'm glad Joe killed your ass in the ultimate fighting match in which he won the gig from you. It was worth an eye. And his best friend Mort's jaw, with which he beat you to death.


(PS if interested: This week's LULU.)

Comments

[irrelevant]

You know, I actually own a copy of this one.

It amuses me that the first The Batman episode with the Riddler was a sort of take-off on this plot. XD

[yaseen101]

I always thought the show got far too much criticism than it really should have. There were problems but it did have it's own fair share of good ideas.

[icon_uk]

Fantastic! Dick Sprang? We are not worthy... (Though it has to be said, "grown up face with ALREADY receding hairline" Edward in school is more than a little creepy looking and, as you say, tres Chester Gould...)

And it always reminds me just how uncanny Frank Gorshin's resemblance to the Riddler actually was, talk about inspired casting.

[jlroberson]

And in light of my recent statements regarding previous Bats incarnations--Dick Sprang is in fact the REASON I always disliked the stuff after him in that style, most notably Moldoff, because it was totally his style; he owns this Batman. With others it was just awkward and weak. Look at that sense of design. Moldoff never made it look so sharp. Jerry Robinson being another high point back then, more adventure-illustration oriented, his Batman less thick and more tall-looking.

[crinos]

Yeah, young Nygma looks like his face is melting. Like he's a refugee from a Dali painting.

[jlroberson]

And like he's leering at that boy across from him. This is crying out for a Seanbaby relettering.

[kamino_neko]

'S funny how sanguine Batman and Robin are about Eddie's apparent death.

It's like they don't care one way or the other.

'Oh, look, he drowned.' 'Maybe not, chum. Well, we'll see, I guess.'

[jlroberson]

That's pretty much how they always were about it. If you can't get worked up over the Joker, not much else will do it.

[geoffsebesta]

The Riddler is totally Bob Hope.

[jlroberson]

See, now you've got me thinking: Jack Lemmon would have made a great Riddler.

[mercia]

"I've lost... I've lost the game!"

So THAT'S where that meme got started!

[bradhanon]

"I ought to win, sure! After all, my name's Edward Nigma!"

"I think the fact that you're the only 37-year-old in eighth grade has more to do with it, Eddie. Seriously, aren't there laws against you still being here?"

[jlroberson]

"Well, how else am I going to find easy marks for my bent nail games?

"...That came out wrong."

[kamino_neko]

Seriously, man...you can only pass off a receding hairline as a widow's peak to a certain point...

[jlroberson]

"But I got my grooming tips from Harry Osborn!"

[crinos]

That isn't something to be proud of.

[jlroberson]

Nor is designing a costume with no fly.

[pictash.livejournal.com]

DAMMIT RIDDLER! Now I lost the game, too.

Anyway, the Riddler to me is a very special character. Not because of anything he ever really did, but because he's one of those Golden Age villains that could go one of three ways:

1. Become a villain so criminally ridiculous that he's retconned out of existence simply because the creators are so ashamed he even exists. Like This guy. Or this one. And especially this asshole.

2. Get such a badass revamp in recurring eras that people have no choice but to forget how badly he sucked before.

3. Insert him into so many platforms that he becomes such an integrated part of the continuity that you just put up with him.

If you chose 3, congratulations! You win 1 Riddler.

[jlroberson]

I actually used to OWN that Zodiac Master issue. Because if you see a classic Detective Comics in near mint for 5 bucks you don't ask questions.

[myhovercraftisfullofeels]

Oh no you fucking don't.

[psychopathicus_rex]

An auspicious debut, indeed - going by this one, they really should have called him 'the Puzzler' instead, though, as that's more his gimmick here (although, of course, the Puzzler was already a Superman villain at this point, so that was out). Still, good stuff.
I'm pretty certain 'Old Nick' is one of those old names for the devil, so, yeah, that might be another reason why it didn't stick around long. 'Eat Old Nick bars! They're infernally delicious! The cost is but a penny... AND YOUR SOUL!'
You just KNOW, don't you, that every kid reading that bubble gum ad immediately tore off to the nearest store for a pack of gum so they could fly - and burst into bitter tears when they realized it was all a bunch of hooey. Bazooka Bubble Gum, scarring innocent young minds since... since... well, for a very long time.

[jlroberson]

Have your own mouthful of disillusionment. Bazooka Gum: "What else you gonna do?"

[psychopathicus_rex]

I suppose I could NOT chew Bazooka Bubble Gum; they ever think of that?

[jlroberson]

"Or don't, what's it to us?"

Somehow I doubt that would be the hit of the promo meeting.

[psychopathicus_rex]

You are likely correct. Still, that'd teach 'em not to come up with such open-ended slogans.

[teamrodent]

I don't know if anything in that last ad makes me want to go to the moon...

[rordulum]

Is it just me, or does he look a bit like Jimmy Cagney (well, if Cagney had a huge chin implant, anyway)?

Oh, and I can't really get past the advert there, for "Nuts... thickly coated with luscious milk chocolate make Old Nick extra delicious!" Gah.

[jlroberson]

And that's exactly why I included it. Your nightmares are welcome. ;)