The Riddler’s Motivation for Terrorism in The Batman : Domestic Terrorism in an Age of Disillusionment

Abstract

The interplay of domestic terrorism and disillusionment is the key focus of this project, particularly the radicalization of lone wolf terrorists via the various subcultures of the internet. To illustrate this relationship, we argue that the Riddler’s motivations in The Batman epitomize this intersection because we witness a distressed and often misunderstood individual who has turned to extremism to fight what he perceives to be the injustices and corruption of the modern judicial, political, and societal system. Using film hermeneutics, we illustrate how the actions, beliefs, and characteristics of the Riddler represent the intersection of three ongoing violent threats in the United States: aggrieved violent incels, militant lone wolves, and politically and violently motivated domestic terrorists.