Joseph Nathan Edison was born into a well known family of geniuses -- because well everyone knows the Edison name. While he was raised around scientists, mathematicians, and professors, Joseph took his little pleasures in puzzles. He'd try to find a way to make everything a game as much as possible, and the more he hung around his family, the more he became more interested in the intricacies that came with being an Edison. Almost all of the family were closed off from others, but Joseph didn't want to be like that. He wanted a social life, he wanted friends, he wanted to be known for who he was and not just his name. Of course, this was hurt by the fact that his parents wanted him home schooled, but Joseph did his best to rebel. It was odd to be the type of kid that snuck out of the house to go to public school and make friends, but that was exactly what Joseph did. Teachers and fellow students alike thought it was amusing that he was so desperate to make friends and learn from other people that somehow, he managed to get a small group of friends. So for a long time, Joseph would sneak out, go to school, come home before his parents did, and then just keep on learning with them. It worked for a while, until it came time to apply for colleges, and while his parents didn't think he was ready to do so at age 16, Joseph presented them with his high school diploma that he got after skipping a few grades from a high test level.
Other than be amused and proud of their son for looking to further his education, his parents were pissed, and grounded him for six months while they figured out what to do. And when Joseph was cut off from all ways of the world, he started to create his own games, his own riddles to keep himself occupied while essentially being held prisoner. He started to manipulate anything he could to try to get himself a fresh outlook on things, and when he finally was allowed out for one day because of his 'good behavior', he had already gotten a backup plan set in place enough that he could escape the house and never look back. With help from a friend, Joseph packed everything he needed into a little duffel bag, tossed it out the back window to his friend, and while Joseph kept his parents occupied in telling them where he'd go and when he'd be home, his friend threw all of Joseph's things into a car. Joseph walked down the street, got into his friend's car, and never looked back.
After a few months, Joseph was able to get himself legally separated from his parents, and was given access to his vast wealth of trust fund money and other bonds given to him since he was a child. Now completely on his own, he did what any now 17 year old kid would do with all that money and no parents to hold him back...he applied to ivy league colleges. Okay, so he wasn't the typical kid, but he never really wanted to be. He learned the hard way that his desire to try to be accepted as normal wasn't always going to work out for him, and so he wasn't going to keep trying. So Joseph applied to Yale University and got in, and at first entered the University as an undecided student. What he ended up with was a Bachelors of Science in Political Science and a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. Because what better way to find a way to combine his love of mysteries and puzzles than to go into political science and computer science? He could learn to see what made criminals tick, and then learn about what made technology tick. It was, to him, the perfect combination.
It proved to work out pretty well, and the socially awkward Joseph was able to find some solace in a group of friends that seemed to be just as socially awkward as he was. He had found friends to call his own, and he had started to grow passionate about his own cases and the like as well. As soon as Joseph graduated, he decided to go into law, because that seemed to be the ultimate puzzle of all, and so that was just the way he went. A Juris Doctor from New York University later, Joseph found himself looking for jobs he could do. While he could go and be a lawyer, that wasn't particularly interesting to him -- it was more that he had found it to be a challenge and wanted to prove that he could do it, and then he did. But being in New York was growing old, and with his family every now and then trying to contact him or take money from him, he decided it was time to move. So with applications out and accepted with Harvard Law, Joseph packed up his things and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston and Harvard proved to be good for Joseph, and he found a new life and a fresh outlook there. As he finished school in 2003, he immediately applied for Boston University, but this time in a different capacity: he wanted to be a College Professor. Because what better way to give back than mold the future minds of America? So Joseph Edison became Professor Edison, and entered the Criminal Justice department as one of their faculty members. Ever since 2004, Joseph has been a part of the Boston University campus and staff and he hasn't wanted to change his career at all since he started there. He's making the most of what he has here in Boston, and he's got it pretty good so far. He's hopeful that things will keep looking up.
Other than be amused and proud of their son for looking to further his education, his parents were pissed, and grounded him for six months while they figured out what to do. And when Joseph was cut off from all ways of the world, he started to create his own games, his own riddles to keep himself occupied while essentially being held prisoner. He started to manipulate anything he could to try to get himself a fresh outlook on things, and when he finally was allowed out for one day because of his 'good behavior', he had already gotten a backup plan set in place enough that he could escape the house and never look back. With help from a friend, Joseph packed everything he needed into a little duffel bag, tossed it out the back window to his friend, and while Joseph kept his parents occupied in telling them where he'd go and when he'd be home, his friend threw all of Joseph's things into a car. Joseph walked down the street, got into his friend's car, and never looked back.
After a few months, Joseph was able to get himself legally separated from his parents, and was given access to his vast wealth of trust fund money and other bonds given to him since he was a child. Now completely on his own, he did what any now 17 year old kid would do with all that money and no parents to hold him back...he applied to ivy league colleges. Okay, so he wasn't the typical kid, but he never really wanted to be. He learned the hard way that his desire to try to be accepted as normal wasn't always going to work out for him, and so he wasn't going to keep trying. So Joseph applied to Yale University and got in, and at first entered the University as an undecided student. What he ended up with was a Bachelors of Science in Political Science and a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. Because what better way to find a way to combine his love of mysteries and puzzles than to go into political science and computer science? He could learn to see what made criminals tick, and then learn about what made technology tick. It was, to him, the perfect combination.
It proved to work out pretty well, and the socially awkward Joseph was able to find some solace in a group of friends that seemed to be just as socially awkward as he was. He had found friends to call his own, and he had started to grow passionate about his own cases and the like as well. As soon as Joseph graduated, he decided to go into law, because that seemed to be the ultimate puzzle of all, and so that was just the way he went. A Juris Doctor from New York University later, Joseph found himself looking for jobs he could do. While he could go and be a lawyer, that wasn't particularly interesting to him -- it was more that he had found it to be a challenge and wanted to prove that he could do it, and then he did. But being in New York was growing old, and with his family every now and then trying to contact him or take money from him, he decided it was time to move. So with applications out and accepted with Harvard Law, Joseph packed up his things and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston and Harvard proved to be good for Joseph, and he found a new life and a fresh outlook there. As he finished school in 2003, he immediately applied for Boston University, but this time in a different capacity: he wanted to be a College Professor. Because what better way to give back than mold the future minds of America? So Joseph Edison became Professor Edison, and entered the Criminal Justice department as one of their faculty members. Ever since 2004, Joseph has been a part of the Boston University campus and staff and he hasn't wanted to change his career at all since he started there. He's making the most of what he has here in Boston, and he's got it pretty good so far. He's hopeful that things will keep looking up.
Yale University (1993-1997) Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics Yale University (1993-1997) Juris Doctor New York University (1997-2000) Masters of Laws Harvard University (2000-2003) MET CJ 625 Victimology MET CJ 520 Violence and Trauma MET CJ 610 Cybercrime MET CJ 684 IT Security Polices and Procedures MET UA 507 Law and Justice in the City MET CJ 656 Forensic Criminal Investigation M/W, 3:00 to 4:45 PM MET CJ 625 Victimology M/W/F, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM MET CJ 520 Violence and Trauma T/TH, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM MET CJ 610 Cybercrime T, 6:00 PM to 9 PM MET CJ 684 IT Security Polices and Procedures W/F, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM MET UA 507 Law and Justice in the City F, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM MET CJ 656 Forensic Criminal Investigation TH, 6pm - 9:00 pm Full Class Schedule | Takes his job very seriously, and as such he does not date students or faculty members. Has he flirted here and there? Of course he has, but he never takes the next step and the second that anyone tries to do that to him, he immediately backs away. His job is too important for him to jeopardize and he's not interested in losing it, as he worked too hard to get it. Has a core group of professors that he's close friends with, and they go out for drinks every Friday after classes to catch up and tell the crazy stories of the week. The winner has to pick someone to buy the drinks for the week. Joseph doesn't win often. Has dated more people in Boston than he ever did when he was in New York. He attributes this to how he grew up, and how sheltered his genius parents were determined to keep him. Plays video games in his free time (what free time?!?) and prefers the large scope games, and more of the fantasy games than anything else. Has way too many puzzle games on his iPad and iPhone, and he doesn't care what people think. Is a bit socially awkward, especially around women he's attracted to. Plays poker with some guys every Saturday at a non-descriptive club in Boston. High stakes, might not be a completely legal game, and Joseph might have taken a lot of money from people at these games. He loves it. |
 Edward Nashton, who later changed his name to Edward Nygma, is the super-villain known as the Riddler. His signature gimmick is committing high-profile crimes, and giving clues or hints to law enforcement. This has made him an enemy of the Batman in Gotham City. The riddles are a compulsive obsession to prove he is smarter than others, and this has made him an occasional patient in Arkham Asylum. Edward Nashton was born into a broken home. His mother was absent and his father was abusive. When Edward was a young boy, he became excited at the idea of winning a puzzle contest at school. To increase his likelihood of winning, Edward sneaked into school during the night and practiced the puzzle until he could solve it with ease. He ended up winning, and was awarded a riddle book as a prize. Since that time, he has mastered puzzles, mind games, and riddles. Edward was profoundly intelligent and would pass tests with apparent ease, something his father, out of jealousy, couldn't or wouldn't believe; he therefore attributed his success to cheating (supposedly catching him once) and started beating on him to keep him 'out of trouble,' or to stop him from lying. Out of the abuse, Edward developed a compulsion he has became known for, he constantly endeavors to tell the truth to prove his innocence. This is where his obsession with riddles comes from. Unfortunately, the abuse is also a main factor that drove him mad and to a life of crime. (More at the Source) | Investigation Escapology Riddler's Staff Computer Hacking Tactical Analysis Memories of Hush Memories of Arkham Asylum Memories of Secret Six Memories of Batman Rogues Highly intellegent and takes his job seriously. Connection to Batman Rogues. Prefers the color green. |
