Batman Referenced On 'Riverdale'

Just two weeks after the internet caught fire when Oliver Queen name-dropped Bruce Wayne on Arrow, another comic book adaptation on The CW made a reference to Batman.

Riverdale, of course.

In tonight's episode, the Black Hood serial killer sent Betty Cooper a note, along with a key to translate it. According to the note, only she could figure it out -- but that did not stop her from recruiting help in the form of several friends she hoped could speed up the codebreaking process.

Jughead Jones and Toni Topaz teamed up to figure it out at Southside High, and as they were doing so, Jughead made a reference to the Black Hood's propensity for using Riverdale's newspaper to call attention to his crimes.

"You think he's narcissistic, or a Batman villain?" Jughead jokes.

The likely reference there is to The Riddler, one of Batman's best known villains (currently being portrayed by Cory Michael Smith on Gotham), whose calling card is creating elaborate riddles that allow Batman to predict and stop his crimes -- if he is smart enough.

(He always is.)

In season 1 of Riverdale, Archie had comics, posters, and more referencing Superman, Batman, and other DC Comics heroes. In season 2, he has largely taken an interest in the Red Circle superheroes of Archie Comics.

Here, Betty's hope is that cracking the code can provide some insight into not only the crimes -- thus protecting future victims -- but maybe the killer as well, pointing her in the direction of who the Black Hood might be when he's not hooded.

So far, all we know is that he is a middle-aged white man with green eyes who attended Betty's speech at the Jubilee at the end of Riverdale season 1...but who knew enough about the citizens of Riverdale to suss out Fred's perceived shortcomings and Miss Grundy's predatory behavior.

Riverdale airs on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.