Top 20 Greatest Batman Villains
#20: Hugo Strange
Before the Joker, Batman had to deal with another demented egomaniac. Professor Hugo Strange first appeared in Detective Comics #36 in 1940. Although he has a loose grasp on sanity, he’s also a genius. The criminal scientist was the first to discover Batman’s true identity as Bruce Wayne. In the animated series, Strange even attempted to auction off the mask reveal to the highest bidder. The villain first appeared in live action on Gotham” thanks to B.D. Wong. Strange serves as the Chief of Psychiatry at Arkham Asylum while overseeing where he conducts experiments on superhumans. In every continuity, his mask of genius allows him to get away with intellectual and complex crimes that constantly give Batman a headache.
#19: Mad Hatter
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Jervis Tetch is known for his affinity for mind control and Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” In one world, he’s a shy scientist at Wayne Industries. After becoming obsessed with his secretary Alice, he uses mind control chipped cards to turn her and his enemies into mindless robots. There’s also a live-action version of the character who used his background as a professional hypnotist to control the minds of unlucky Gothamites. He also employs the Terrible Tweeds as muscle that Batman often has to deal with. If you think a guy who’s a little too into Alice in wonderland isn’t a threat, just talk to one of his many mentally scarred victims.
#18: Deadshot
The deadly marksman who never misses first appeared in 1950’s “Batman” #59. Deadshot, oddly dressed in a tuxedo and top hat, arrived in Gotham City as a new vigilante crime fighter. But his true aim was to become a new kingpin of crime. After the Dynamic Duo locked him up, he became more known as a hired assassin with a much better outfit. Deadshot’s incredible skill with weapons and off the charts accuracy has the dark knight wary of stepping into his crosshairs. Fortunately, the villain is often drafted onto Task Force X to solve problems for Amanda Waller. But whenever he crosses paths with Batman on a mission, you can bet that the bullets will fly.
#17: Killer Croc
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Killer Croc aka Waylon Jones suffered from a rare genetic condition that gave him rougher than normal skin. Over time, he becomes more animalistic in nature. Batman has unfortunately been on the wrong end of Killer Croc’s teeth more than once. Thanks to his inhuman strength and endurance, overpowering him is no easy feat. Batman usually has to rely on his wits to come up with ways to stop him before the villain can find more prey. But Killer Croc has also been seen through a sympathetic lens as a desperate man rejected by society. Whether he’s portrayed as a lonely man or an all out beast, the caped crusader generally tries to avoid going for a swim with this villain.
#16: Black Mask
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Just like Bruce, Roman Sionis came from a wealthy Gotham family. But thanks to awful and self-absorbed parents and bad business decisions, the villain dove off the deep end. Sionis slayed his parents and used pieces of his dad’s casket to create his iconic black mask. The villain and his False Face Society quickly grew into a huge problem for Gotham. And since Sionis has severe anger issues, standing near him feels like hanging around a bomb that can explode at any time. Black Mask’s intimidating look and personality are a constant reminder of what Batman would have become if circumstances were darker. While Bruce used his money to better Gotham, Sionis used his wealth to bring Gotham down to his twisted level.
#15: Deathstroke
Slade Wilson was a high-ranking member of the US Army before he underwent experiments that turned him into a super-soldier. He eventually began a secret career as a mercenary called Deathstroke. Since Wilson has incredible intelligence, enhanced physical abilities and mastery of a wide range of weapons, he’s an absolute nightmare for the Bat and his allies. Deathstroke has a long history of targeting Robins specifically. HIs cold and calculating nature allows him to come up with long term plans that whittle his enemies down physically and mentally. By the time Deathstroke comes to finish off most targets, they’ve often already lost. Fortunately, Batman and his allies have the courage and strength to keep this mercenary from collecting his latest bounty.
#14: Hush
Before Tommy Elliot became a brilliant surgeon, he was a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne. But the two couldn’t have been more different underneath the surface. After Bruce got in his way several times, Tommy grew obsessed with bringing down the dark knight. In several realities, Elliot wrapped bandages around his head and operated as the villain Hush. Since the antagonist often knows his old friend is Batman, he can mess with both of Wayne’s identities. There are versions of the character who have even surgically modified their face to take Bruce’s place in public. Hush’s obsessive nature, willingness to do anything to hurt the hero and knowledge of the caped crusader’s identity have made him a villain who’s very capable of silencing the bat.
#13: The Court of Owls & the Talons
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The Court of Owls mainly consists of members of Gotham’s wealthiest and oldest families. They often use violent means to keep the city under their powerful influence. While Bruce avoids being recruited by this sinister society, Batman has to deal with the Court’s chosen Talons. These lethal assassins excel at bringing down anyone that offends the owls. What makes the court and their Talons so impressive as Batman foes is how important they’ve become in a short time. After first appearing in 2011, the court has played vital parts in everything from animated movies to live-action storylines. Unfortunately for Bruce, it doesn’t look like the owls will fly away anytime soon.
#12: Clayface
This role of this mud monster has been played by many people who have a variety of powerful abilities. However, the version of the character most fans are familiar with was an actor who encounters a special substance that allows him to shapeshift at will. But his transformation often leaves him stuck in a mud like base form. Clayface’s ability to become virtually whoever and whatever he wants makes it extremely easy for him to hide from the world’s greatest detective. If that wasn’t bad enough, he can alter his size and shrug off blows that would easily take down most foes. While Clayface is capable of playing many roles, his most famous job is being one of Batman’s most difficult enemies.
#11: Victor Zsasz
One of Batman’s most deranged foes is unquestionably Victor Zsasz. This supervillain likes to keep count of how many people he’s slain by making new scars. And if you glance at Zsasz’s body for more than a few seconds, you might be horrified about how many he has. Unlike other Batman adversaries, this villain doesn’t wear a colorful costume or plan many theatrical schemes. Zsasz is quite simply a man who loves increasing his body and scar counts for money and pleasure. This villain has been hired hitman for many of Gotham’s worst criminals over the years. Every time Zsasz shows up in the city, Batman and his allies unfortunately know just how the villain got all of his scars.
#10: Joe Chill
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We’ve seen it time and time again — the pearls, the bullets, the fleeing gunman. But the man behind the gun that typically ends Thomas and Martha Wayne’s lives is often overlooked. Depending on the adaptation, Joe Chill is anything from a common crook to a hitman. Whatever his formal profession or backstory may be, he’s ultimately the one who fires on the Waynes. The criminal’s brutal actions inspire Bruce to don the cape and cowl as Gotham’s hero. While Chill initially gets away, he often pays a terrible price for his crimes later on. No matter how the villain’s life ends, he’s commonly the one there when Batman begins.
#9: The Penguin
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To the surprise of many Gothamites, Oswald Cobblepot became one of Gotham City’s most prolific gangsters. Whether he has bird-like features or just wears black and white, enemies typically underestimate him and think calling him Penguin was funny. But Cobblepot’s actually a master manipulator who knows the value of information. He can easily blackmail others or use gossip to set enemies against each other. While Penguin isn’t a physical match for Batman, the villain has plenty of tricks up his suit sleeves. Cobblepot can utilize trick umbrellas, hire thugs to fight the dark knight, or concoct a long term plan that puts him on top. While people still might assume Penguin is harmless at first glance, Batman will never make that mistake.
#8: Scarecrow
Jonathan Crane’s childhood trauma made him obsessed with fear and the idea that he could control it one day. While he was ruining his reputation by experimenting on people, he developed a fear toxin. This hallucinogenic drug makes even Batman’s worst nightmares feel extremely real. Since the dark knight also uses fear as a weapon, Scarecrow is his perfect psychological match. Crane is a big enough threat when he just has his fear toxin and creepy mask. But there are some versions that choose to become even more dangerous by wielding themed weapons like scythes. Each and every time an armed or unarmed Scarecrow shows up in Gotham, Batman is tasked with overcoming fear itself.
#7: The Riddler
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One of Batman’s best-known villains is Edward Nygma. He’s the man with all the answers…and the questions…well, more specifically riddles. But don’t let his seemingly silly love for brain teasers fool you. While the Riddler isn’t the most intimidating rogue to look at, a few of his twisted schemes have left Batman puzzled. The narcissistic megalomaniac Nygma likes to use his genius to come up with puzzles that put others in great peril. He doesn’t care who gets hurt in his pursuit to prove that he’s one of the smartest people in Gotham. In some iterations, Riddler becomes smart enough to figure out who Batman really is. There’s really no question as to why Nygma is such a problem for the world’s greatest detective.
#6: Two-Face
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Harvey Dent was once a successful District Attorney that was close to Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon. While the legal-minded man’s noble efforts earned him public adoration, he secretly had a dark side. In many versions of his story, the suppressed anger Dent kept contained for years boils to the surface when half his face is scarred. He soon becomes a dichotomous villain named Two-Face who leaves both mundane and brutal decisions up to the flip of a coin. What makes this villain stand out in Batman’s rogues gallery is his truly tragic journey. Although he wanted to save the city, his suffering turned him into one of Gotham’s biggest threats. Batman’s reminded of the dear ally he lost whenever he looks at Dent’s face.
#5: Poison Ivy
While the alluring Poison Ivy insists that she only wants to save the environment, Batman knows that she’s one of his deadliest foes. She often sees humanity as an obstacle in her goal to save nature. When Poison Ivy isn’t using her masterful ability to command plant life, she’s utilizing her powerful pheromones to control people’s behavior. She can ensure that everyone from the Dark Knight to the Man of Steel does what she wants. And Poison Ivy’s incredible powerset makes it very difficult for Batman to fight her. And although she absolutely does not need help, she has a habit of teaming up with fellow villains and anti-heroes. Poison Ivy has definitely blossomed into a supervillain that we can’t take our eyes off of.
#4: Mr. Freeze
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Mr. Freeze has one of the saddest origins of any Batman adversary. In many continuities, cryogenics scientist Victor Fries is completely focused on finding a cure for his terminally ill wife Nora. After cryogenically freezing her to preserve her life, he has an accident with icy chemicals that requires him to wear a special suit to survive. Mr. Freeze’s desperate need for money and quests for revenge against old enemies caused him to run into Batman countless times. However, the dark knight frequently wants to help instead of hurt the doctor. Although Freeze has occasionally worked with Batman, the doctor’s desire to do anything for Nora always wins out. This tragic antagonist will embrace the darkness if it means saving his wife.
#3: Ra’s Al Ghul
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Serving as the mystical leader of the League of Assassins, Ra’s Al Ghul seeks to eradicate humanity’s evil. Unfortunately, he believes fixing the world is worth destroying institutions, cities and people. Variants of Ra’s tend to have centuries added to their lives after bathing in Lazarus Pits. This act has given the villain plenty of time to master martial arts that worry Batman. Despite constantly clashing with the bat, Ra’s al Ghul respects the hero. The League of Assassins leader even wanted Batman as his successor. But the closest Ra’s got was seeing his daughter Talia and Bruce have a son named Damian. Unsurprisingly, the boy’s birth didn’t fix everything. As long as Ra’s evil plots put innocent lives in danger, Batman will stop him.
#2: Bane
The man famous for breaking the Bat is often the Bane of Batman’s existence. This villain’s path to evil started when he was forced to grow up in a brutal prison to pay for his father’s crimes. After spending years sharpening his body and mind, he took part in experiments for a drug known as venom. This substance improved his physical strength so much that he became a gigantic problem for most heroes. Although Batman can get around Bane’s massive muscles, that’s only half the equation. Since the villain’s brain is as big as his biceps, the dark knight always has to be careful to avoid falling into a psychological trap. We don’t think this villain will be satisfied until he permanently breaks the bat.
#1: The Joker
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Was there ever any doubt that the Clown Prince of Crime would stand at the top? Batman’s greatest enemy has presented himself as a campy prankster, a crime kingpin, a trigger happy maniac and more over time. But Joker’s one constant in every adaptation is that he is highly unpredictable. As Joker commits unspeakable crimes, Batman is always unsure whether the clown wants to torment Bruce, decimate Gotham, or just have fun. The fact that the supervillain’s true origins are usually unknown makes him even scarier. Throughout the years, everyone from Mark Hamill to Heath Ledger has given us iconic takes on the character. The Joker’s wild nature and fascinating relationship with Batman make him into a supervillain that always puts a smile on our faces.
