Fan Theory: ‘The Penguin’ Lays the Groundwork for the Riddler’s Next Move in ‘The Batman’ Sequel!

Batman may have defeated the Riddler in The Batman, but his sinister legacy continues to haunt Gotham. The catastrophic flood unleashed by the Riddler has left the city in disarray, with recovery efforts falling short. Hardest hit are Gotham’s lower-class neighborhoods, where people like Victor Aguilar mourn the loss of loved ones amidst the devastation.

Though confined to Arkham Asylum, the Riddler’s call to rise against Gotham’s corruption still echoes through the city. His words resonate with citizens fed up with the broken system, fueling their frustration and keeping his rebellion alive.

Meanwhile, The Penguin explores the shifting dynamics of Gotham’s underworld in the aftermath of Carmine Falcone’s death. With the kingpin gone, a power vacuum has emerged, sparking a fierce struggle among ambitious players eager to seize control of the city’s criminal empire.

By the end of The Penguin series, Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, better known as the Penguin, cements his position as the kingpin of Gotham’s criminal underworld. But his ambitions don’t stop there—he begins to infiltrate Gotham’s upper echelon, forging connections with influential politicians and powerful businessmen.

This potent mix of street-level dominance and political clout paves the way for deeper corruption, potentially amplifying the chaos the Riddler unleashed, as theorized by ScreenRant. It could set the stage for The Batman – Part II to dive even further into Gotham’s moral decay, as ScreenRant’s theory states.

Meanwhile, the Riddler’s devoted followers remain active, spreading his anti-elite message in his absence. Inspired by his rhetoric, they work independently to keep his rebellion alive. In The Penguin, graffiti bearing slogans like “No More Excuses” and cryptic flyers featuring QR codes with Riddler-style question marks appear throughout the city.

One flyer in the subway urges citizens to uncover “Gotham’s true face,” a direct callback to the Riddler’s ideology. Although his actions devastated Gotham’s lower-class communities, many still rally behind his cause, intensifying the divide between Gotham’s wealthy elite and its disenfranchised residents.

The Riddler’s influence extends far beyond Gotham’s streets. The show revisits rataalada.com, the interactive website featured during The Batman’s theatrical release. It delivered cryptic messages from the Riddler, signaling that his movement was far from over.

In The Penguin, the site is shown to have been seized by Gotham police, but not before dropping ominous hints that the chaos was only just beginning. As Oz ascends to power, his shady dealings—such as those with Councilman Hady—highlight his readiness to exploit Gotham’s entrenched political corruption.

Mayor Bella Reál remains committed to reforming the city’s institutions, but Oz’s growing grip on both the streets and the political arena threatens to deepen Gotham’s descent into disorder. The gulf between the wealthy elite and the struggling lower class continues to grow, setting the stage for potential upheaval.

If the Riddler’s rhetoric keeps resonating with Gotham’s disenfranchised and Oz’s machinations escalate tensions, the city could be headed toward a catastrophic conflict before Batman’s next chapter unfolds.

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