Total Nerd The Most Criminally Underrated Batman Villains
Batman has arguably the best rogues gallery in comics. The Joker, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, Catwoman, the list of villains who call Gotham City home is epic. Even the more obscure Batman villains are formidable in their own right and don't get nearly as much credit as they deserve.
Due to the sheer volume of supervillains Batman has faced over his 75 year history, some of his most dangerous and interesting foes have been lost in the shuffle. It's time to give some of these lost bad guys their dues. Because anybody with the nerve to take on Batman has earned our respect, even the Condiment King. No, you know what, especially the Condiment King.
Hugo Strange
Name: Professor Hugo Strange
Abilities: Genius-level intellect. Master of psychology, chemistry, and biology.
Menace Rating: 8 out of 10 Mad Scientist Clichés
Okay, you know the one villain that's an evil psychiatrist who manipulates people to do his bidding? Or the evil chemist who creates a potent fear-inducing powder? Or the mad scientist who uses injections to turn men into hulking monsters? Alright, so merge all three of those and you get Hugo Strange. Three Batman villains in one and to top it off he knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne! It's astounding that Strange hasn't been featured in the DC Cinematic Universe yet.
Also Ranked
#43 on The Greatest Villains in DC Comics, Ranked
#18 on The Best Batman Villains Ever
#28 on The Best Characters from Batman Comics
#68 on The Best Comic Book Villains
Professor Pyg
Name: Professor Pyg
Abilities: Chemistry expert, preternaturally skilled surgeon.
Menace Rating: 6 out of 10 "DEAR GOD, WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY FACE?!?"
Professor Pyg just wants to make you perfect, that's all. Totally harmless, admirable even. Oh, except by "perfect" he means "lobotomized to follow his will through brain surgery, genital mutilation, mind-altering drugs, and a creepy doll mask permanently attached to your face."
With his army of "perfected" Dollotrons and the rest of his "Circus of Strange," Pyg is a psychotic menace to the people of Gotham. Despite being a relatively new villain to Batman's rogues gallery, Pyg has cemented himself as one of the most disturbing villains in the Dark Knight's lore. Now that's really saying something. It's like being the most stoned person at a Phish concert.
Also Ranked
#35 on The Best Batman Villains Ever
Owlman
Name: Owlman
Abilities: You know what Batman can do? All of that but, like, EVIL.
Menace Rating: 10 out of 10 Doppelgängers
Owlman is the criminal genius version of Batman from Earth 3. He has the intellect, wealth, and martial arts abilities of Batman, but he is willing to kill and betray anyone or anything that stands in his way. If there is anything more dangerous than Batman, it's Batman without a moral compass. Or maybe Batman if he was also a shark, somehow. Get on it, DC writers.
Also Ranked
#63 on The Greatest Villains in DC Comics, Ranked
#74 on The Best Batman Villains Ever
#53 on The Best Characters from Batman Comics
Lady Shiva
Name: Lady Shiva
Abilities: Martial arts grandmaster, able to read body language and anticipate an opponent's next action.
Menace Rating: 7 out of 10 One-Punch Deathblows
Lady Shiva is widely regarded as one of the most deadly assassins in the DC Universe. And that's just with her bare hands. While she and Batman are enemies, Batman respects her expert hand-to-hand combat proficiency and her ruthless cunning. In fact, when Batman's spine was broken by Bane he sought training from Lady Shiva in order rebuild his spirit and fighting skills. This frenemy proves to be one of Batman's most difficult foes and an occasional valued ally. Mainly, she's kind of like the Hydrox to Catwoman's Oreo. Still basically just as good.
Also Ranked
#70 on The Greatest Villains in DC Comics, Ranked
#32 on The Best Batman Villains Ever
#88 on The Best Female Comic Book Characters
#59 on The Best Characters from Batman Comics
