2. The Riddler – The Batman (2022)
What’s this? Two Batman entries in one list? Surely not…
Well, yeah. Sorry about that, but The Batman‘s Riddler was just too clever to leave off. He’s one of those movie villains with a truly genius plan that no one sees until it’s too late. However, unlike Ozymandias, he doesn’t have superpowers. He’s just a disgruntled orphan out to upset the status quo. Who doesn’t love an underdog story?
After committing a few high-profile murders of corrupt officials, the Riddler gradually reveals that he’s trying to work with Batman. Despite having followed the vigilante as he attempts to catch and stop the killer, it turns out that The Batman was following a man inspired by the Dark Knight all along. His plan was so brilliant that not only did it fool Batman, but the hero didn’t even realize he was playing exactly the part planned for him.
In the end, the Riddler’s plan almost comes off without a hitch. It’s only earning Batman’s ire that upsets him, and in the end, his final target survives. Other than that, Riddler’s scheme was so genius that even the world’s greatest detective couldn’t stop it.