EDWARD: Anonymous asks: Hi Riddler! I was wondering if you could give us your point of view on what would happen if someone was to mix Doctor Crane's Fear Gas with the Joker's Laugh Gas. It's been a topic at work a lot as of late. And by point of view I mean, the effects. Not that it would be bad. That's an obvious one. Or do you think the gasses would negate each other?

Not being a chemist myself, I feel this question should have been tossed in the direction of our good Dr. Crane. However, since it has come across my desk first, I suppose I could hypothetically surmise how the combination might manifest. I don't have anecdotal experience with Joker's gas, but I certainly do with Crane's fear toxin - in the old days when it was still in the testing stage Jonathan used his colleagues, including my good self, as unwilling subjects. I mean really... you're about to win an argument and then POW, right in the jugular vein. He's a real Georgia peach, isn't he? He tells me the formula of today produces much the same results as the toxin of old, though I believe it is more - sophisticated, now. He also has a better conception of how large a dose he should be using, at last. As far as I know, his toxin attacks only the nervous system. It is a rare thing to see Jonathan kill someone with toxin, these days; it's more used as a defensive tactic than a deadly weapon. Which brings me to the Joker Gas. Smilex, if you like. If I'm not mistaken - and I so rarely am - his gas attacks the nervous system also. Joker uses it more as branded handcuffs these days - gets his victims into fits of laughter but doesn't overdo it so as to kill anyone. It is still a toxic substance, make no mistake - and if Joker really loves the sound of your laughter, he will sit on your chest and dose you again, and again - until the coins run out and he needs new distraction. Did I mention that he is basically a cat in human form?

Now let's see if I can collate some kind of sense out of all this blather. Both toxins attack the nervous system, one with intense fear and the other with laughter. So yes, it would be bad. You would be rendered supine, terrified, hysterical; most undignified, to be sure. But fear not - it would not be for long. The combination of Fear Toxin and a chemical stimulant like Laugh Gas will result in death, sooner or later. And people think I don't pay attention! Methinks your heart should burst right out of your chest; almost poetic. Cheer within fear leads to the dearth of mirth.

Hm. With that in mind, the guards here should be keeping a closer eye on that piccolo idiota Tetch. I've heard him routinely oscillating between terror and hysteria since his admission. You're all fortunate that my recording suite is away from my cell, or you'd hear his pathetic bleating as I speak. Leland had to sedate him earlier just to stop all the racket and let us all get some sleep. Good thing, too - he was getting on my nerves. Lucky for him he's not one of Jonathan's patients or I don't doubt he would give Tetch something to fear. Watching him with his notebook and pen poised... now that I come to think it, why would you ask me this question? Crane listens to all my audio output, you know - checking up on my progress, if you can fathom such debasement - and now you're giving him fresh ideas. If he develops a new, incomprehensibly awful toxin because of this damn question that wasn't even about me, on your own heads be it. I won't be his lab rat, this time.