“Batman: The Animated Series” is widely considered one of the best depictions of the Batman character and one of the greatest cartoon series of all-time. However, Batman is nothing without his rogue’s gallery so here is a collection of some of his best villains.
- Scarecrow
While his initial design in the series looked ridiculous, the creators improved upon Scarecrow’s look. This villain uses chemicals to force his victims to experience their greatest fears. This often leads to some nightmarish imagery.
- Baby-Doll
This is a villain created specifically for the series. Baby-Doll is a rather menacing character despite her appearance. A middle-aged actress with the look of a small child. She showcases some serious psychological issues and will stop at nothing to get her way.
- Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy is certainly a little on the cheesy side but there’s nothing wrong with that. Her use of killer plants and poison lipstick will be viewed as goofy by many but I think she’s still a good an addition.
- Harley Quinn
First introduced in this series, Harley Quinn has become an iconic DC character. She’s appeared in the comics, videogames and even live-action movies after becoming a fan favourite. Full of personality, this sidekick to the Joker is a joy to watch.
- Ventriloquist and Scarface
The Ventriloquist and Scarface are arguably Batman’s most psychologically intriguing opponents. The Ventriloquist seems almost innocent but the vicious mobster personality lurking within him is projected onto a dummy. I love the whole 1920s’ mobster style.
- Mad Hatter
One of the more underrated villains. The Mad Hatter is a fun addition to Batman’s rogue gallery. He obviously relies heavily on imagery from the “Alice In Wonderland” book but I always found that to be engaging.
- Two-Face
The fact that Two-Face used to be Harvey Dent, a dedicated district attorney and friend of Bruce Wayne makes things all the more difficult for the Caped Crusader as he battles Two-Face. The whole deciding things with a coin is definitely gimmicky yet it helps to make the character memorable. Also, I love his suit in this show.
- Riddler
If you love to see Batman use his brains as well as his muscles, no villain puts up an intellectual challenge quite like the Riddler. Always leaving creative clues for the Dark Knight, the Riddler is a fascinating villain and has that unforgettable green suit.
- Mr. Freeze
One of Batman’s more tragic adversaries. Mr. Freeze was a joke in the live-action “Batman & Robin” film with Arnold Schwarzenegger dishing out ice puns. However, this animated version is interesting by being both sympathetic yet menacing.
- Joker
There is nobody else that it could have been. The Joker represents everything that Batman is not because he’s colourful, joyful and pure evil. The Joker has transcended DC’s domain to become one of the most recognised villains in all of fiction. The voice acting by Mark Hamill (“Star Wars”) is simply brilliant here and makes for one of the best incarnations of the character to date.
Honourable mentions:
Ra’s al Ghul, Bane and Maxie Zeus