Anonymous asks: "Does it bother you that Batman seems so adapt at mastering every labyrinth, conundrum, and quandary your brilliant mind devises? If you ask me, he must be cheating somehow." I believe in the past I have referred to Batman as a cheater, but I feel that I have grown as an intellectual and this is no longer my opinion. Whining that your opponent has cheated you is truly the imbecile's reaction to defeat. As frustrating as the Bat may be when he is the continual victor, I give credit where it is due to an intellectual contender, if not equal. It would be far more maddening if he were a lucky idiot, or a muscle-bound buffoon who simply smashed rather than solved. I cede to the winner, even under the crippling weight of my pride. Truly, it tends to be failure of my own devising, given my well-documented compulsion of leaving riddles at my otherwise flawless crime scenes. Alas, 'tis my burden. Hmm. Upon further reflection, I believe that this question was bumped to the top of my list by Arkham's doctors, since it addresses my particular psychoses in two parts. At last we see a result of the puppets pulling the strings. But dear shrinks, you cannot fool me. Do you not realise that my personal credo is temet nosce? There are none who know me better than myself, massive flaws notwithstanding. I shall not be instantly healed by one introspective answer, I assure you. What epiphany did you intend me to have? Was I supposed to dig out some respect for the Batman? He already has my grudging respect for the aforementioned reasoning. I do not covet his brain, but I tip my hat to it. Ahh, and the special addition of claiming that any kind of intellectual feat must be cheating - that is simply tacky. Have I not spoken on the subject of my father enough already? He was an abusive, jealous louse with no more use in this life than a festering abscess.

The only worthwhile thing he did for this world was to bring me into it, and he tried damn hard to take that one thing back. But this is hardly news to any of you, and least of all to me. There are no revelations to be had here. I am an intellectually brilliant, unbalanced bastard borne from another unbalanced bastard. So it goes. To take the straight route to the end of this question - yes, it bothers me. But does it stop me from bouncing back and trying again? No it does not. I will defeat him one day. As for the cheating, I know that he does not. He is nowhere near exciting enough to consider cheating a viable option, like his issue with murder. That is the problem with heroes - too much integrity. At last, an affliction I do not possess. Next time you want to analyse me, doctors, book an appointment like everyone else.