During a party for Batman's crime-fighting anniversary, the Riddler appears and nabs a golden calf filled with money for charity. His next target is the Gotham City Bank, which he floods for an underwater robbery. Although Batman and Robin try to stop him, the villain makes a clean getaway, leaving only a final riddle that stumps the Caped Crusaders. They discover all too late that his next move is an attempt to destroy them, this time with deadly quicksand disguised as strawberry icing atop a giant cake.

After two more robberies, the Riddler has enough money to purchase Professor Charm's Demolecularizer. He demonstrates his weapon on a park statue, then issues an ultimatum - if all criminal statutes are not rescinded within two hours, he will begin dissolving every building in Gotham City. He rigs his device to automatically fire on police headquarters if his demands are not met. The city's only hope is Batman, who believes he has a plan to counteract the device.