Brainiac Maniac

There was a gathering at Times Square, a congregation of sorts. All there for some form of concert, but that's not what matters. No. No one cares about the flashing neon light, or the cheering crowds, or the ear damning strums of the outrageously and unnecessarily loud guitar, amplified irritatingly by screeching speakers. It was dark out, that night. Apart from the flashing neon colors from the crowd, and the stage. Most of the passerbyers, coming home from a late night at work, or exiting a bar or two, were either disgusted or irritated or both by the gathering. One drunk, stumbled out the side doorway of one-such bar.

"Damn-ugh... D-Damn kids! I-oh... I wish someone would kill 'em all!" He announced with a belch, before shambling off

It was quite obvious, that the concert was hated. Though none seemed to hate it more, then one Edward Nygma. The Riddler. He looked different then he usually did. His hair was exceedingly long, with a dark shade of black. His skin was a form of pale, and pasty never before seen. His general body, and facial features made him look very reminiscent to the musical sensation: Marilyn Manson. Black lipstick, and all. He wore a large green unitard, with a large black question mark in the center. It stretched down nearly the entirety of his, leaving its underside exposed. With him was a group, of around five goons. His "students", hackers, nerds, and just geniuses in general. Wearing varying forms of attire some with goggles or glasses, trenchcoats or lab jackets, boots or sneakers. With varying colors of green, purple, black and gold. They were doing some form of hacking or saboteuring. Tinkering with wires and computers behind the stage as their "teacher" looked over them



"Are you nitwits done yet?!"

"N-No, Mr. Nygma..."

"Well, hurry up!! I need everything to be perfect for this... And I don't need you insufferable morons- OH JUST HURRY UP!"

"We're done sir..."

"Its about time!" was the only compliment he was even physically capable of mustering

It was at that very moment, that he disappeared. Having not actually had been there in the first place, instead, it was a hologram of the original. At his actual location, he gave a hefty sigh, the only things visible were to eyes showing clear disgust

"Ugh... On to the show... I guess... Need to be a proper showman... Need to make thing s presentable for him... Heh... Heh heh heh... Hoohoohoohahahaaaaaaaa!! IT'SSSSSS SHOWTIME! HAHAHAAAAAAA!"

It was at this moment, that each and every electrical light in the general Times Square area, simply shut off. In fact, nearly everything electrical, or at the very least plugged into a wall, went off.

The people of the concert were confused, including the band, and the odd passerby. There was clamoring, and fright. They were all unsure of what was happening... Until finally... At long last! The lights were back on! But... No wait, they weren't... These were different lights... They were lime green, and much fewer in number... These were the only thing many could see, that is until the jumbotron switched on....



There was a mass gasping in the crowd, the large television displayed prominently, the Riddler's grinning, bowler cap clad face.



The large screen went crazy for a moment, twitching static and odd coding across it. Shifting from about four or five different looking Riddlers, including the two seen before (that being the hologram and the one after). The very first to quickly appear seemed to be wearing a unitard, similarly to the hologram, except of a lighter tint and tone, but that was all that could be made out the next came. A suit and tie, and then static... Then came the Marilyn Manson looking one, which quickly disappeared as well. The next three couldn't be made out, but the screen returned to the cackling, bowler hat clad, showman that had first appeared.

"Hoohoohahahaaaaaaaaa! Batman! Oh, Batmaaaaaan! Oh my darling, Batman: wherever, could you beeee?! Why woooon't, you come to play with me?! Fine. Damn rodent. If you're going to be like that, then maybe this will draw you out.... Riddle me this, dear viewers: Some try to hide, some try to cheat, but time will show, we always meet. Try as you might, to guess my name, I promise you'll know, when you I do[ /i] claim! What am I?! Isn't it obvious?! I'm death!! More specifically, your deaths!! Aaaaahahahahaaaaaaa!"


He danced jovially in place, cackling in hilarity as he pushed a simple button on his cane. Three explosions went off between the crowd... Riddler meant business

"NOW WILL YOU COME OUT?! I'VE KILLED ABOUT HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE! NOW COME ON! I WENT THROUGH ALL THE TROUBLE OF KIDNAPPING RANDOM PEOPLE, ORGANIZING A GAUNTLET OF MY PURE GENIUS FOR YOU TO FAIL MISERABLY AT, AND PUT ON THIS LIGHT SHOW FOR YOU!! ONLY TO FIND OUT YOU HAVEN'T SHOWED UP! WHERE ARE YOU DAMNIT?! COME OUT OR ILL PUT THE HOSTAGES THROUGH MY DEATH TRAP!!"

Wolverine (SURPRISE! Here's the Riddler thread I've been promising you! Probably shoulda PM'd ya to work stuff out... But where's the fun in that?!)