Religion: indeterminate
Name: Uncle Edward
Other Names: Edward Nigma?
Classification:
supporting character
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Batman (vol. 1) #171 (May 1965): "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler"
Creators: Gardner F. Fox, Sheldon Moldoff, Joe Giella
Number of Appearances: 1
Occupation: millionaire
Gender: male
Note: Riddler's late uncle
In panel 6 on page 13 of "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler" in Batman #171 (May 1965), the Riddler has just explained that what looked to Batman like a robbery was really a legitimate purchase. Batman thought millionaire "Smiles" Dawson was the victim of a theft by the Riddler, but Dawson says otherwise, explaining, "Yes, it's true, Batman! The Riddler did buy the Black Pearl from me -- for $30,000!"
The Riddler further explains to the dynamic duo, "The money was part of my inheritance from my late uncle Edward! That's what I meant when I told you I didn't need to rob again! I'm a rich man!"
The Riddler's story and his "late Uncle Edward" may all be real. But it might also be part of a lie on the Riddler's part. The Riddler is, after all, a notorious trickster. In this story he was having fun at Batman's expense by staging repeated scenes of apparent thefts which were infact legitimate business transactions.
Did the Riddler really have an Uncle Edward who left him a fortune? Perhaps this is true. In this story, the Riddler really did have a large sum of money at his expense once he was released from jail. On the other hand, as a brilliant criminal, the Riddler may have simply had money hidden away during all the years he was incarcerated.
What was the full name of the Riddler's late uncle? At the time he is released from prison, the Riddler's given name is said to be "E. Nigma" (panel 1 on page 2). It is possible that, if such a person really exists, his name was "Edward Nigma" or "Edward Nygma." But Uncle Edward's full name really isn't known. The uncle could have been the Riddler's maternal uncle, in which case he would not share the Riddler's last name. Also, the Riddler's first name is known to be "Edward," so if his uncle's name is also Edward and they share the same last name, it would mean that there are two men in this story named "Edward Nigma": the Riddler and his uncle.
Batman (vol. 1) #171 (May 1965): "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler" (mentioned)
Suggested links for further research about this character:
- https://www.comics.org/issue/19136/
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=68594