by Michael Dahl
“Ha! I think my riddles are keeping your young companion quite busy,” the villain continued.
“Robin will be solving puzzle after puzzle until the sun comes up,” said the Riddler. “But he’ll never realize that his biggest riddle has been shining overhead all night long! Right over his nose! Ha ha ha!”
The Riddler walked up to the darkened searchlight. He stuck his wicked grin into the sweating face of his archenemy.
“You make the perfect signal, Batman,” whispered the Riddler. “But no one would guess that it’s you who are in trouble this time. I’m amazed you’ve been able to last this long against the heat.”
The Riddler sniffed the air. “What’s that wonderful aroma? Could it be Baked Crusader? I like mine well done.”
A sharp metal object bounced against the rim of the searchlight.
The Riddler gasped. “What’s that?” he cried. The metal object had cut through one of the chains holding Batman’s left arm.
Another metal object swooshed through the air, missing Riddler’s nose by an inch. It smashed against the metal searchlight and shattered the glass lens.
The Riddler recognized the metal object as it fell to the ground. A Batarang.
“Robin!” he screamed. The villain turned and saw a masked, red figure standing behind him. “But how did you find me?” he cried.
“You leave too many clues, Riddler,” said Robin calmly. “That’s always been your weakness.”
The Riddler raised his question-mark cane. “Let’s see who’s really weak,” he said. He pushed a button and released a purple cloud of knockout gas.
“It won’t work this time, Riddler,” said Robin. “I was prepared for that trick, thanks to the video message you left behind.” The Boy Wonder placed a special gasmask against his mouth.
“Were you prepared for this?” asked the Riddler.
He flipped another switch on his cane. A bolt of electricity shot from the question mark’s tip.
Robin backflipped away from the bolt.
The Riddler laughed. “Don’t worry, kid,” he said. “Electrocution is a quick death. Much less painful than burning alive.”
Another bolt flashed toward the young hero. He crouched low, letting the blast shoot past his head.
“That was way too close,” said Robin.
He ran and ducked behind a metal air vent. A bolt from the Riddler hit the vent and sent it flying. Robin was hurled back and skidded along the surface of the roof.
“This game isn’t fun anymore,” said Robin. This time he ran straight toward the Riddler. The Boy Wonder pulled another weapon from his belt. Flash! The Batarang skimmed across the rooftop.
The Riddler fired. His deadly bolt hit the Batarang. But the metal weapon worked as a conductor of electricity. It sent the electric bolt back toward the Riddler’s cane. The question mark crackled with energy.
The villain screamed and dropped his weapon.
As the Riddler turned to run away, Robin pulled a bola rope from his belt and swung it through the air. It wrapped around the Riddler’s feet, knocking him to the ground. Robin ran over and quickly cuffed the Riddler’s hands behind his back.
Then Robin ran toward Batman. He used a small laser to cut through the remaining chains. Batman managed a weak smile.
“Robin,” Batman began to say, and then the hero dropped to his knees.
“Careful, big guy,” said Robin. “We’ll get you back to the Batcave, pronto. We need to treat those burns. Don’t worry. And I’ve already phoned Commissioner Gordon to come and pick up Riddler.”
Robin helped Batman to his feet. He put his shoulder under Batman’s right arm and guided him toward the building’s stairwell. Before they reached the doorway, Robin turned and looked at the trussed-up Riddler.
“I’ve got a riddle for you, Riddler,” said Robin. “When are you like a bottle of ink?”
The Riddler moaned. “Don’t tell me — when we’re both in the pen.”
Robin smiled. “And you’ll be in the pen for a long, long time,” he said. Then he and Batman turned and greeted the morning sun as it touched the tips of the skyscrapers of Gotham City.
Riddler, The
REAL NAME: Edward Nygma
OCCUPATION: Professional Criminal
BASE: Gotham City
HEIGHT:
6 feet 1 inch
WEIGHT:
183 pounds
EYES:
Blue
HAIR:
Black
Even as a little boy, Edward Nygma loved riddles and puzzles. When he grew up, Nygma turned his passion into a career. He became a video game designer and soon invented a popular game called Riddle of the Minotaur. The game sold millions of copies, but Nygma didn’t recieve a dime from the manufacturer. To get his revenge, Nygma became the Riddler, a cryptic criminal who leaves clues to his crimes.
G.C.P.D. GOTHAM CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
- The Riddler carries a cane shaped like a question mark. This weapon can deliver a shocking blast — the Riddler’s answer to his toughest problems.
- The Riddler doesn’t just want to break the law. He wants to outsmart Batman as well. Before every crime, the Riddler first sends a clue to Batman.
- The Riddler’s real name suits him perfectly. Edward Nygma, or E. Nygma for short, sounds like the word “enigma,” which means a mysterious person.
- Harry Houdini is one of the Riddler’s greatest heroes. This real-life magician is famous for his stunts, tricks, and great escapes.
Michael Dahl is the author of more than 200 books for children and young adults. He has won the AEP Distinguished Achievement Award three times for his non-fiction. His Finnegan Zwake mystery series was shortlisted twice by the Anthony and Agatha awards. He has also written the Library of Doom series and the Dragonblood books. He is a featured speaker at conferences around the country on graphic novels and high-interest books for boys.
Gregg Schigiel is originally from South Florida. He knew he wanted to be a cartoonist since he was 11 years old. He’s worked on projects featuring Batman, Spider-Man, SpongeBob SquarePants, and just about everything in between. Gregg currently lives and works in New York City.
Lee Loughridge has been working in comics for over 14 years. He currently lives in sunny California in a tent on the beach.
boasting (BOHST-ing)—talking proudly about yourself in order to impress other people
bola rope (BOH-lah ROPE)—a weapon that has two round balls attached to a piece of rope. The bola is thrown at an enemy’s feet, entangling him so that he can be captured.
clenched (KLENCHD)—held or squeezed something tightly
confronting (kuhn-FRUHNT-ing)—coming face to face with something
device (di-VISSE)—a piece of equipment that does a particular job
mentor (MEN-tawr)—a wise and trusted teacher
shattered (SHAT-erd)—broke into tiny pieces
silhouette (sil-oo-ET)—a faint outline or shadow of something
torment (tor-MENT)—to cause someone pain, worry, or frustration
trussed (TRUHSD)—tied or restrained
villain (VIL-uhn)—a wicked or evil person
1. In the story, Robin solves several riddles to save Batman. Which riddle did you find the most difficult and why? Were you able to solve any of the riddles before Robin?
2. Every super hero has special abilities or skills. Discuss some of Robin’s abilities. How did they help him solve the case?
3. Billionaire Bruce Wayne is secretly Batman. Why do you think he keeps his identity a secret? If you were a super hero, would you tell anyone?
1. Riddles are questions that seem to make no sense but have clever answers. Try to write your own riddle. Then ask a friend to solve your puzzle.
2. Write your own Batman and Robin story. Who will the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder capture next time? You decide.
3. Batman relies on Robin for help in solving crimes. Describe someone that you rely on. What tasks do they h
elp you with?
Published by Stone Arch Books in 2009
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Copyright © 2013 DC Comics.
BATMAN and all characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics 2013.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dahl, Michael.
Five Riddles for Robin / by Michael Dahl; illustrated by Gregg Schigiel.
p. cm. — (DC Super Heroes. Batman)
ISBN 978-1-4342-1151-4 (library binding)
ISBN 978-1-4342-1366-2 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-4342-6587-6 (ebook)
[1. Superheroes—Fiction.] I. Schigiel, Gregg, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.D15134Fi 2009
[Fic]—dc22
2008032402
Summary: Batman has been kidnapped by the Riddler! The crook has left behind one of his infamous riddles, addressed to Robin. If Robin can solve the puzzle, he will locate the Caped Crusader. But that first riddle leads to another. Then the Riddler turns off all the lights in Gotham City. What, Robin wonders, is the point? When will the riddles end? If the Boy Wonder cannot find his partner by the next sunrise, Batman will be gone forever.
Art Director: Bob Lentz
Designer: Brann Garvey
