It can be argued that Batman features the most iconic roster of villains in comic book history. Whether they are killers in fancy costumes or metahumans that can bring Gotham City down to its knees;Batman villainsare as important to his mythos as the Caped Crusader himself. So much so that they end up stealing the show from the hero that they are trying to fight or kill.
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In some cases, the villains end up being the stars of Batman comics or even their own. From the towering Bane to the sympathetic Mr. Freeze, these comics can help any comic book reader get to know the criminal element of theDC Multiverse’s Gotham City.
10Batman: Arkham - The Riddler
Edward “Nygma” Nashton AKA The Riddlerhasn’t had the chance to get his own groundbreaking story similar toThe Killing Joke. He mainly is treated as a quick threat for one or two issues, which is why his best antics were compiled into an omnibus simply titledBatman: Arkham - The Riddler.
It features his first appearance inDetective Comics #140and several others including a semi-modern story in which Riddler turns himself into the police. For anyone interested in getting to know the best of the Riddler, this omnibus is for them.
9City Of Bane
Overall, Tom King’s Batman can be a bit divisive due to his controversial choices. For example, fans were not happy with the results of the Batman and Catwoman marriage story. However, Tom King excelled in other stories such as theCity Of Bane.
From Bane taking over Gotham City to a much more personal war between him and Batman, this storyline helped turn the villain into a contender for Batman’s true nemesis, rivaling the Joker.
8Hush
When it comes to Batman’s villains, the rivalries are typically in the form of the vigilante side and a villain. InHush, the titular villain is a threat to both Batman and Bruce Wayne. It makesHushinto a more personal story for Batman.
The villain himself is cold and brutal, making for a refreshing new character at the time.Similar to theBatman: Arkhamseries, Hush is also a nice balance of a mystery thriller and an action-packed superhero story.
7Batman: The Long Halloween
Jeph Loeb brought Batman back to his roots by makingThe Long Halloweeninto a detective neo-noirwith Batman as the world’s greatest detective. A mysterious serial killer is conducting business on holidays, leading Batman to go on a year-long investigation.
It’s dark, gritty, and filled to the brim with twists and turns. Many stories and media would take inspiration fromThe Long Halloween, as it helped reestablish the darker Batman fans know today.
6Forever Evil: Arkham War
With no Batman around, an all-out war breaks out when prisoners of Arkham Asylum and Blackgate prison are released. The result is two criminal armies led by Bane and Scarecrow battling for control.
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There are so many villains to enjoy in Arkham War; Bane, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Clayface, Riddler, and so much more. It’s action-packed and dark, showcasing famous and obscure members of Batman’s rogue gallery perfectly.
5Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
Most of Harley Quinn’s comics embrace a wild and quirky style butHarley Quinn: Breaking Glassis very different. It showsHarleen Quinzel, AKA Harley Quinn,as a fifteen-year-old trying to survive on her own in Gotham City, telling a more grounded version of her origin story.
Breaking Glassdelves more into the personal struggle of Harley as she tackles her mental health. Like many of Mariko Tamaki’s work, it gives a new perspective on a character while developing them as a person.
4Batman: Snow
One of the more underrated villain comics, this one tells the tragic origins of Mr. Freeze in comic book form. It borrows from theMr. Freeze origin ofBatman: The Animated Seriesand for good reason.
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Batman: The Animated Serieshelped to forever turn Mr. Freeze into one of DC’s most sympathetic villains. The influence works in the end with a strong story inBatman: Snow, in which he also faces off a young Batman.
3Batman: Under The Red Hood
One of the most quintessential Batman stories,Batman: Under The Red Hoodhas Batman facing off against the enigmatic Red Hood. With the likes of Black Mask and the Joker,Under The Red Hoodbrings Batman into a more grounded crime thriller with a mystery to back it up.
Batman has to figure out who the Red Hood is while trying to stop him from becoming Gotham’s most dangerous crime lord. There is a famous twist to the story that will not be told here; it leads to a rather emotional finale with Batman and the Red Hood.
2The Killing Joke
At this point,The Killing Jokehas been engrained into the history of the Joker. It tells a very personal story between the Joker and Batman but also gives a vague but engaging look into the villain’s backstory.
Rather than a typical caper for Batman, Alan Moore madeThe Killing Jokeinto more of a character study for both the hero and villain. It is considered one of Batman’s most famous comics, forever influencing the comics with events such as the Joker paralyzing Barbara Gordon. It would later beone of many comics referenced in theBatman: Arkhamseries.
1Penguin: Pain And Prejudice
This story is to the Penguin whatThe Killing Jokeis for the Joker. It tells a dark story featuring the Penguin in the present while also giving fans a new take on his origin story.
From the beautifully detailed artwork to the tragic and twisted story about Oswald Cobblepott,Pain And Prejudicedid the impossible. It took a character that many fans considered to be a joke and made him into a complex villain.
