Top 10 Greatest Batman Villains
Special thanks to WatchMojo user "MJdawg10" for submitting the idea on our Suggestions Page!
#10- Scarecrow
Kicking off our list is Dr. Jonathan Crane, a villain first introduced in 1941’s “World’s Finest Comics #3.” A former employee of Arkham Asylum, a rough upbringing instilled him with a desire to cause fear from an early age. As scarecrow, he sports a mask that both shields him from and enhances the effects of the hallucinogenic drugs he uses to terrorize his victims. Appearing in the Christopher Nolan trilogy, the only key pieces missing in that portrayal were his iconic scythe and his “violent dancing” fighting style.
#9- Poison Ivy
This sexy villainess is an eco-terrorist who wishes to see plant life replace humanity. First appearance in 1966’s “Batman #181”, she uses toxins from plants and her own altered bloodstream to conduct her crimes. She is best known for her love seductive style and for being the only woman to come between Batman and the boy wonder. Uma Thurman’s questionable portrayal aside, this intoxicating temptress is sure to grow on you.
#8- Dr. Hugo Strange
Top 20 Greatest Batman Villains
This is the one villain on our list that is sorely missing from the movie scene. A pain in batman’s side since 1940’s “Detective Comics #36”, Strange is a deranged psychologist that harbors an obsession with the caped crusader. While he is one of the few villains to learn Batman’s true identity, he’s even gone one step further by dawning the cowl and trying to replace the hero, Amish beard and all.
#7- The Penguin
Top 10 Greatest DC Supervillains
Oswald Cobblepot became a member of Batman’s rogue’s gallery with 1941’s “Detective Comics #58”. A criminal of genius level intelligence, this gangster that runs a number of semi-legitimate businesses that works as fronts for his dirty dealings. With the exception of Catwoman, he’s the one criminal that Batman has been known to tolerate in order to gain underground information. Most memorably played by the squawking Burgess Meredith in the 60s, his trick umbrellas and penguin style have made him a series staple for decades.
#6- The Riddler
Batman Villains vs Spiderman Villains
Introduced in 1948’s “Detective Comics #140”, Edward Nigma’s supervillain presents a unique challenge to Batman due to his obsession with brain teasing puzzles. A smooth talking and quirky villain, his character is driven by the obsessive narcissism that compels him to commit non-violent crimes in his attempts to assert his intellectual superiority over the Bat.
#5- Catwoman
This master thief has had love hate relationship with the hero since 1940’s “Batman #1”. Appearing more often than any other foe, she has been in in everything from the 1960s series to Tim Burton’s “Batman Returns”, to that go-awful spin-off and even in Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises”. Unlike any other villain, her flirtatious relationship with the Dark Knight as ensured that Batman’s otherwise clearly defined life is speckled with shades of grey.
#4- Two-Face
Top 10 Villains Created By The Hero
First appearing way back in 1942’s Detective Comics #66, this deformed criminal of two minds was once Gotham City district attorney Harvey Dent. Batman’s greatest failure, Dent was once the white knight to his own Dark Knight persona, cleaning up the streets from within the system. His tragic deformity caused a complete mental breakdown, leading him to become obsessed with duality, often deciding the fate of his victims with the flip of a coin.
#3- Bane
Top 10 Greatest Justice League Villains
Not just Batman’s most physically devastating foe, he is the mastermind who eventually broke the bat. Debuting in 1993’s “Batman: Vengeance of Bane”, this foe is only concerned with ruling Gotham’s underworld. Bane is powered by and addicted to a toxin called Venom, which serves as both the source of his strength and his greatest weakness. He was recently brought to life by actor Tom Hardy in “The Dark Knight Rises”, although the Venom aspect of his character had been completely removed.
#2- Ra’s Al Ghul
Top 10 Greatest Female Movie Villains of All Time
This immortal is the leader of the League of Assassins who has dedicated himself to eradicating the evils of man. However, the drastic and deadly means he uses to seek these ends often put him in direct conflict with the Dark Knight. Appearing in 1971’s “Batman #232”, he soon deduced Batman’s secret identity and sought to appoint him as his heir. In an effort to do so, he even sent his near irresistible daughter Talia to seduce Bruce Wayne in both mind and body.
#1- The Joker
Top 10 Times Batman Has Beaten Up The Joker
Was there any doubt? Rounding out our list is Batman’s white-faced and green haired archenemy who appeared way back in 1940’s “Batman #1”. While many of the aforementioned villains mirror certain aspects of Batman’s persona, the Joker is his complete polar opposite. Each version of the character has accentuated different aspects of his personality, ranging from crazy to crazier.
Agree with our list? Which Batman villain is your favorite? For the Supervillain Origins of each of these characters, and more entertaining top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
1
0
report