DC Comics’ de facto flagship superhero, Batman, has dominated the company’s sales for decades, especially when he clashes with his arch-nemesis, The Joker. For many readers, there is some debate as to whether this villain is even the best choice for the Caped Crusader’s true match, with characters like Bane and Ra’s al Ghul challenging him more directly. All the best opponents of the hero have their own gimmicks, and these only serve to enrich the comic book history of Bruce Wayne.
With the Joker stealing the limelight from other villains so often, even in their own stories, it’s worth highlighting some stories where the Clown Prince of Crime doesn’t appear. Ranging from the epic introductions of new villains to character-defining stories of established rogues, some of Batman’s greatest adventures simply don’t feature his cunning nemesis. For all the classic Dark Knight stories that showcase the killer clown, other villains deserve some attention—and these stories show just how great the rest of the rogues gallery is.
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Batman vs. Bigby: A Wolf in Gotham
Bill Willingham, Brian Level and Jay Leisten
Created for his Fables universe, Bill Willingham’s signature hero, Bigby, is best known as the sheriff of Fabletown. in Batman vs. BigbyThe former Big Bad Wolf is forced to make his way to Gotham to retrieve a stolen magic book from a villain known as Bookworm. However, when his arrival coincides with a spate of grizzly murders, Batman mistakenly charges the wolf, leading to a fight.
Batman vs. Bigby Offers readers a fun blend of the gritty world of Gotham and the fairytale world of FablesBring together two brilliant heroes for a grudge match. The six-issue mini-series can work as a great entry point for readers into Fabletown, or a fun Dark Knight team-up adventure — one that doesn’t rely on Joker one bit.
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Dark Knight, Dark City
Peter Milligan, Kieron Dwyer and Dennis Janke
Batman is no stranger to horror and the supernatural, something that has been a running theme under writers like Ram V and Alan Grant. One of the hero’s best forays into dark horror came in “Dark Knight, Dark City,” a story that follows Batman’s pursuit of the Riddler, who manipulates the hero into participating in a ritual to summon a terrifying Bat-Demon, Barbatos.
“Dark Knight, Dark City” blends mystery with supernatural horror, ultimately paving the way for one of DC’s best “big bad” villains of recent years, Barbatos. With an air of Lovecraftian horror to it, the story hints at Gotham’s status as a city haunted by the lingering effects of a demonic ritual – something that leaves Batman reeling from the experience.
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8
Cold dark world
Peter J. Tomasi, Doug Mahnke, Jose Luis, Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, Keith Champagne, Tyler Kirkham and Matt Santorelli
During Peter J. Tomasi’s Detective ComicsMr. Fries got an Apex Lex upgrade, as part of the Year of the Villain event: The Revival of Nora Fries. While the pair initially rekindle their love by heading on a crime spree, Victor is horrified when his beloved wife refuses to escalate, declaring that he doesn’t want to be a villain. In response, she attacks the villain, driving him into Batman’s arms for help.
“Cold Dark World” shows reader Victor Fries’ dream turned into a nightmare, exploring the psychological shock of Nora when she finally enters a world in which her husband is a villain. The story also reminds readers that Batman’s most tragic villain is not evil at heart, and also finds a way to simultaneously ensure that he remains a criminal for the future. The story gives Mr. Freeze fans both closure and continuity all in one, standing as one of the villain’s best stories.
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Darkest Night of the Man-Bat
Doug Moench and Kelly Jones
Since his debut, Man-Bat has served as one of Batman’s most terrifying villains, especially as his stories cast him as an increasingly savage, vicious creature. One of the best stories to explore this decline is “Darkest Night of the Man-Bat,” a three-part arc that follows Kirk Langstrom in his monstrous form as he preys on humans for food. When hired guns hunt the creature, Batman pursues him to the Arctic Circle, where he fights for the life of his enemy, and also saves innocent lives from his attacks.
“Darkest Night of the Man-Bat” shows the full tragedy of Kirk Langstrom’s condition, highlighting how the man fights the urge to feed on humans, but his monstrous nature gets the better of him. The story also shows Batman’s commitment to preserving life, no matter how terrifying or broken the person is.
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Ten nights of the beast
Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo
In “Ten Nights of the Beast,” Batman is forced to hunt down a rogue Soviet super soldier, KGBeast, who has set his sights on Ronald Reagan for termination. Working in concert with the GCPD, Russians and Secret Service, the Caped Crusader attempts to set a trap for the rogue killer, only to realize just how tough he is. From skyscrapers to sewers, the hero hunts the president’s would-be assassin, requiring all his might to bring his enemy’s reign of terror to an end.
“Ten Nights of the Beast” immediately establishes KGBeast as one of the most unrelenting villains in Gotham, someone so tough Batman almost has to compromise his no-kill rule to bring him down. The comic reads like an 80s action movie taken to the next level, blending a political thriller with the world of The Dark Knight.
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5
Batman One Bad Day: Bone
Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter
DC S One bad day Line of comics brought readers a lot of done-in-one graphic novels, which focus on Batman’s core villains in the vein of The Killing Joke. Where many of these stories pit the hero against his enemies, the Bone story casts its subject as an unlikely hero. After briefly teaming up with the Bat to stop a group of villains from producing their own Venom serum, the villain is forced to complete his mission alone after Bruce Wayne is seemingly killed in battle.
One bad day: bone Features a great adventure for its protagonist, exploring the villain’s sense of honor as he tries to lead an honest life. With Howard Porter turning in some brilliant art for the villain, this story stands out as the best of its kind, showing just how similar Batman and Bone are.
4
Gotham by Gaslight
Brian Augustine, Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight Takes place in turn-of-the-century Gotham, where Bruce Wayne spends his nights as Batman keeping the city safe. When a string of murders are committed that mirror those of England’s serial killer, Jack the Ripper, Wayne himself is framed for the crime, as impeding evidence points to the wealthy Gothamite. Determined to clear his own name and prevent more macabre, the caped crusader comes face-to-face with one of the most infamous killers in history.
Gotham By Gaslight has become the de facto face of DC’s Elseworlds imprint, mastering the formula of placing DC characters in alternate history and literature. Here, Bruce Wayne plays the role of a steampunk Sherlock Holmes, pursuing Jack the Ripper at all costs.
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Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul
Neal Adams
Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul Marks the official conclusion of Neal Adams’ tenure on Batman in a story that brings the hero face-to-face with one of his greatest enemies. The story begins with the Dark Knight trying to save Gotham from a series of terrorist attacks, during which Ra’s al Ghul appears. Climbing to help, the Demon’s Head uses the orchestrated chaos to infiltrate Gotham’s system from within, just as an imposter Batman sets out to destroy the hero’s reputation.
Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul Demonstrate the cunning, strategic mind of his villain, and explore his ultimate plan to try to rip Gotham from the inside out. The miniseries has one of the more unique tones in modern DC, with an almost psychedelic feel to its story and art – offering a great send-off for a comic book legend.
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Year one
Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
In Batman “Year One,” Frank Miller tackles the beginnings and early career of Bruce Wayne as Batman, from the murder of his parents to his first night of vigilantism. At the same time, the arc explores Jim Gordon’s move to Gotham, where he deals with corruption on the GCPD, and first meets the Dark Knight. With both men wanting to bring down the city’s criminal underworld in their own way, the two clash before realizing they have a shared cause.
“Year One” is notable for its lack of Batman’s standard rogues gallery, instead focusing on issues like organized crime and police corruption, both of which were rife during his early days. The story is key in exploring the relationship between Gordon and the Caped Crusader, as well as showing how corrupt and broken a city Gotham was before its protector.
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Batman: The Cult
Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson
Batman: The Cult Follows the Dark Knight as he looks into a string of murders committed by a religious cult, led by the terrifying Deacon Blackfire. However, when his investigation leads to his captivity, the deacon breaks his mind, brainwashing him to become a member of his deadly cult. By a stroke of luck, Wayne is able to break free and regain his senses, but is haunted by his experience. With Robin by his side, he returns to confront the killers one last time.
Batman: The Cult is understandably viewed by many as the hero’s greatest story, one that proves he doesn’t need to be compelling his classic rogues gallery. In fact, the absence of his colorful and eccentric enemies helps raise the stakes considerably, ensuring the story takes on an unpredictable, dark tone. The four-issue mini-series reminds readers that Bruce Wayne is only human, and explores the theme of trauma as the Caped Crusader commits unthinkable crimes.