Summary
There have been many different iterations of Batman in film over the last century. From the iconic live-action television series starring Adam West to Michael Keaton’s take on the caped crusader and themore realism-driven takes on The Dark Knightfrom Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson. No matter what actor brought the role of Batman to life, very few ever explored the superpowered villains of his rogue’s gallery on the big screen (save for the ill-fated George Clooney film that saw Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy portrayed). With the hero set to appear alongside his son Damian Wayne, aka Robin, in theDCU, whoever plays the hero next should face a new type of villain on the big screen: someone a bit more monstrous.
While many films have explored Batman as a hero, detective, and fighter, many comic book stories over the years explore Batman’s world from a more monstrous, horror-driven, or metahuman perspective. From mutated villains with more animalistic appearances to shape-shifting foes and even cosmic villains, Batman’s role has expanded in the comics to become more integral to the fabric ofDC Comics, which is why he is part of the Trinity in the comic book world (Superman and Wonder Woman make up the other two of the Trinity). Batman has even faced gods and demons like Darkseid, the bat-god Barbatos, and The Batman Who Laughs,so theDCUmust take these lessonsand embrace Batman’s more monstrous villains.
Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery, EXPLAINED
It’s no secret that many of Batman’s most recognizable villains are more human and criminal-based, such as The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, the Penguin, and The Joker. Yet many Batman villains have taken on a more superpowered place in the hierarchy ofDC Comics. Some of these villains,such as Dr. Kirk Langstrom, aka Man-Bat, were born from misguided science experiments. Langstrom was a zoologist who attempted to create a serum that would allow humans to have a bat’s sonar sense, but the serum had an adverse reaction, turning him into a monstrous humanoid bat-creature he called Man-Bat. Although Batman would help reverse the serum, the experiment would rear its head time and time again until Langstrom accepted his transformation into the creature full-time.
Other villains, such as Clayface, underwent a massive change in the Post-Crisis era ofDC Comics. While many villains have donned that name, the one most commonly known in modern comics is Basil Karlo, whooriginally was an actor who took the lives of the castof a film he was meant to star in, donning a mask as the Clayface Killer. However, in the Post-Crisis era, he injected himself with the plasma of other Clayfaces with shapeshifting abilities, becoming what he dubbed the “Ultimate” Clayface, who could shapeshift and melt with a simple touch. Then there was Doctor Phosphorus, who gained the ability to build and release extreme levels of radiation but in the process also gained transparent, burning skin in the process after being exposed to a chemical plant leak.
Some villains are born to their “monstrous” appearances,such as Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc. The villain was born with a rare form of atavism, which gave him reptilian features and appearances. This led to a life with an abusive aunt who mocked his appearance throughout his childhood. Eventually, Jones ends his aunt’s life and turns to a life of crime in Gotham, eventually growing stronger and getting more and more of an animalistic appearance to become Killer Croc. These are but a few of the examples of villains who have taken on powers and appearances that have made them “monsters” in the public eye, but they are not the only villains in Batman’s history with abilities such as these, including DC villains like Solomon Grundy, The Reverse-Flash, new brother and sister metahumans Gotham and Gotham Girl, and so many others who have targeted Batman (or he has targeted in return).
Batman’s Future Big-Screen Villains
Not much is known about the upcoming Batman film,The Brave and the Bold. However, it is known that Batman’s sidekick in the movie will be his son, Damian, son of both Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul, aka the daughter of the Demon’s Head. While this could mean a story involving the League of Shadows is at work, considering the first chapter of theDCUis titledGods and Monsters, bringing more monstrous foes to the film may be more prudent at this time and would test The Dark Knight and Robin in new ways that have yet to be seen in the movie. With Bruce and Damian Wayne’s detective minds at work, throwing them into a cosmic investigation that has ramifications on theDCUgoing forward would allow more powerful villains to be drawn to Gotham, as when the Batman Who Laughs launched his attack on Batman’s allies after being left on Prime Earth.
Perhaps one way that both iconic villains and more monstrous ones could appear is a direct adaptation of theHushorLong Halloweenstorylines, both of which saw multiple villains, such as Poison Ivy, Joker, Two-Face, Killer Croc, and more, appear in the film using their powers and madness.While a Court of Owls storywould also allow other villains to appear, and the Talons working for the Court being undead soldiers would add a more supernatural twist, many speculate the court is reserved for Robert Pattinson’sThe Batman 2. Either way, the need to see Batman use all his skills to find ways of defeating these powerful foes is a new direction that the upcoming film needs to adapt to see Batman as he has become known in recent years, solidifying his place among the other heroes of theDCU.
