Favorite Batman Villain

boywithshoes · 07-18-2008, 04:07 AM

Clayface all the way.

Jeffrey · 07-24-2008, 04:05 PM

The Joker, when done right. He's one of those characters who suffers from overexposure - every writer who gets a Bat-related gig in DC Comics wants to use the Joker.

Really, I love all of Batman's Rogues Gallery and know them better than my extended family.

As for lesser-known villains, I love both the comic book and animated Clock King. The two characters are very different (right down to different origins and names) and I enjoy both. The first was a Green Arrow villain who was delightfully pathetic, and I don't just mean in a "Haha, I'm Seanbaby, let's make fun of comics" edge. He was a guy convinced he had only a short span left to live, and so he went on a gaudy crime caper so his invalid sister would have a comfortable living. Then he found out that the doctor's diagnosis was wrong. One of those villains with great plans but not enough ingenuity to pull it off, yet his underworld connections kept him in a decent sphere of influence.

Out of Bat-villains, Mr. Freeze evolved well over the years. After Mike Mignola and Bruce Timm reenvisioned him, his characterization in the comics lived up to his tragic origin. In recent years, his wife was revived and driven mad as Lazara, bearing both the heat and regenerative powers of R'as al-Ghul's infamous Lazarus Pits, and it added even more grief and romantic charm to his story.

Superhero stories are best when they're gaudily-dressed morality plays, I think.

Harley Quinn, introduced to the DCU via the cartoon, was one of the best character finds of the 90's, which despite the whiners was a great era for comics.

**Skeeter** · 07-24-2008, 05:22 PM

I enjoy stories involving Catwoman in some way, as she is one of the few characters that can cause doubt in Batman's mind. I prefer her original, criminal appearances, rather than her more anti-hero persona of recent years, however.

I also enjoy Mr. Freeze; the animated version was especially well done (which made the Ah-nold version in "Batman and Robin" especially excruciating). The Penguin is great when he's being a criminal businessman rather than a pudgy bankrobber. The Calculator as an information broker in "Identity Crisis" was a great idea and I like him in that role.

Jeffrey · 07-25-2008, 04:01 PM

Yeah, that was one of the few good things to come of Identity Crisis. Shame that DC's writers haven't utilized him more. He's really the supervillain equivalent of Oracle, and they have used him to that end, but if I wrote Birds of Prey or even Justice League (Oracle needs to be part of the Justice League, it just makes sense), I'd use him.

Obviously two desk-bound characters isn't too exciting, but the idea of them sending agents against each other makes for great stories. Eventually, I think, we'd see that Calculator has been taking technology in lieu of cash and has a few tricks up his sleeve once a superhero breaks into his office.

And then the old cheesy supervillain death trap would make sense, because he'd want the hero alive to sell to the highest bidder.

**Sean** · 07-25-2008, 04:27 PM

I've always had a special place in my heart for Vincent Price's Egghead.

Jeffrey · 07-25-2008, 04:33 PM

When I was 12 I designed a new Egghead (much less campy) for the actual DC Comics universe. Another dozen years later, I still like the idea and intend to one day pitch it.

JerRocks2day · 07-25-2008, 05:10 PM

+1 for Joker. Since the movie made him darker since he was played by Heath Ledger. Plus, I like him in the 90s cartoon since he was voiced by Mark Hamil.

Jeffrey · 07-25-2008, 05:11 PM

Nothing in the new movie hasn't been done by the comics already. It only made him darker in the public's eye. The Joker of the comics is much more threatening, and has been portrayed in both canon and non-canon stories as much, much darker.

**Skeeter** · 07-25-2008, 05:54 PM

"The Killing Joke" is an example of how dark the Joker can get, shooting Barbara Gordon through the spine and torturing Commissioner Gordon in an attempt to drive him insane...

And I would love to see the Calculator used more often; I can definitely see a fantastic climax as a few heroes decide to take him down and end up being overwhelmed by his defenses. He's now the most connected supervillain in the DC universe and probably has plenty of favours to call in.

The Piano · 08-04-2008, 02:44 PM

On a scale of 1-10 i give the Riddler an 1,000,000,000,000! The Riddler always has and always will be my all-time favorite Batman villain, now the whole Jim Carrey thing was good, but it needs a little more serious i mean, this guys not only supposed to be smart and devious, but also serious! I had a dream once after i saw the dark night, the movie was called "The Dynamic Duo" and Robin was played by Shia Lebough (idk how to spell his last name), and the Riddler played by Johnny Depp. It was the best dream EVER! (This has nothing to do with the fact that i was at the premiere and met the stars) Oh, and i think there was a short apperence of Batwoman played by Jessica Alba, but anyway... ITS TIME TO MATCH WITS WITH THE RIDDLER!!!

**Sean** · 08-04-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

When I was 12 I designed a new Egghead (much less campy) for the actual DC Comics universe. Another dozen years later, I still like the idea and intend to one day pitch it.

Just wait 1o or 15 years until the WB wants to reboot the film franchise again, and you can be waiting with a stack of scripts and a unique set of villains previously unseen in the films.

**Fandrew** · 08-05-2008, 04:02 PM

Oh, where to begin...

Rha's Al Ghul has always intrigued me, especially from my time in the Comic Books and Batman: The Animated Series. It's just fun to see a Villain who can match up to Batman and Bruce Wayne, yet at the same time doesn't reveal to everyone that he knows the secret identity of Batman.

The Riddler from the Animated Series was a great character, but my perception of the Riddler has been permanently scarred between the Riddler of the 60s and Jim Carey.

Oh, I loved Red Claw in the Animated Series too.

Bane was another great matchup for Batman, especially the comic book Bane who was as intelligent as he was muscular.

I've never been a big fan of the Penguin. Joker will probably always represent the ultimate Batman villain to me.

However, I think the Best Batman Villain ever written would have to be Jean-Paul Valley

JerRocks2day · 08-05-2008, 04:09 PM

I also enjoyed Jim Carrey's role of The Riddler because he made the role more like an authentic villian.

I thought Two-Faces character portrayed by Aaron Eckhart in the Dark Knight was definitely more realistic and had me on the edge of my seat.

Jeffrey · 08-05-2008, 04:24 PM

You mean Two-Face?

**Sean** · 08-05-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerRocks2day

I also enjoyed Jim Carrey's role of The Riddler because he made the role more like an authentic villian.

Honestly, I don't know what you mean by that. His portrayal was completely over-the-top. It was very reminiscent of his work in Ace Ventura and the Mask. What did you think was authentic about the portrayal?