Rogues Gallery Vol.1

What Am I

I am greater than God.

I am more evil than the devil

The poor have me, the rich don't need me and if either eat me, they'll die.

What am I?

It's a simple question, really. Something that even the dullest of children could solve.

And yet, the answer scares me more than anything.

Because the answer is what defines me.

It's what I, Edward Nygma, the riddler, truly am without the batman.

Without Bruce Wayne.

It's funny really. I've always been obsessed with riddles, ever since I was a little boy. It fascinated me, questions that can never be answered, a Mystery for one to solve. Perhaps the greatest riddle for me to solve.

What belongs to you but people use more than you?

Your name.

When he first came on the scene, when the Batman started out, I was just obsessed with wanting to outdo him. To answer the one question no one else could. The Batman's real

Name. Who was really beneath that mask and cowl.

I came close, many times. Almost got it once too, but was having so much fun with the Mystery of it all. So hellbent on trying to figure out who he was

So eager to solve one mystery that would put me on top of the worlds greatest detective, I didn't realize what I was really looking for.

What time is it when an elephant sits on a fence?

Time to get a new fence.

It's an easy riddle. A simple one. One that everyone knows.

And for all my intellect and work and obsessions, I never truly realized that when Batman's name was out there, the mystery would end.

For a riddle that everyone knows the answer to is worthless.

Perhaps that why I never solved it. Always distracted myself with bank robberies and hair brained schemes. Because if I ever did figure out who he was, I'd be done.

Or maybe that's just the booze talking. I have been quite drunk lately. But can you blame me?

After all, my life is done.

It happened a few weeks ago. It was a Tuesday, or maybe a wensday. Again, I can't really remember. What I do recall is someone broadcasting to the world evidence and a message that changed everything

Bruce Wayne is Batman.

I remember feeling many different emotions after seeing those words. Like an enigma with all it's different layers and codes, all unraveling at once.

It started with confusion

Then turned to joy

And went to anger

And ended with shock.

I was more than happy to see the end of the dark knight. More than confused as to who could be behind it.

Enraged that it hadn't been me to solve the mystery.

And shocked to realize that it hadn't been me.

That I hadn't solved the greatest mystery of my life.

As the weeks dragged on and the reality started to set in, all those complicated and intricate emotions gave way to one simple feeling: Depression.