Batman: Caped Crusader villains Ranked from worst to best

Batman: Caped Crusader has everything you love about Batman: The Animated Series with two major changes. This series was adult. There were real stakes for villains and heroes. Seeing main characters die violently isn't something you'd expect from an animated Batman project.

The second are the villains. They were unlike the ones from Bruce Timm’s first Batman cartoon. Considering this is a different universe, changing them made sense. If they were too similar to the other show, viewers may see this as a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series instead of a separate entity.

Coming up are the ten best villains ranked from worst to best. With them are the actors who lent their voices to them and the episodes they appeared in.

10. Corrigan

• Episode: Moving Target
• Voice actor: Roger Craig Smith

As entertaining as Onomatopoeia was, he wasn’t the big villain. The real bad guy was the one who betrayed Barbara and James Gordon. That guy is a member of the Gotham City Police, Corrigan.

Corrigan knew what he was doing was wrong and even said as much. But, in his own words, “Look, I don’t want to, but it’s just so much money.” It may have been forgiven if his family was in danger. Instead, it was all about greed.

9. Natalia/Nocturna

• Episode: Nocturne
• Actor: Mckenna Grace

Placing Natalia on this list was difficult. It isn’t her fault that she needs to consume energy to survive. Plus, she was a kid. Any child with that much power without anyone to stop them wouldn’t have boundaries either. The one thing she did care about was her brother.

When Natalia learned her brother died, it broke her. This proves that there’s some good in her. Fans should expect to see Natalia in season 2 of Batman: Caped Crusader.

8. The Gentleman Rider

• Episode: Night Ride
• Voice actor: Toby Stephens

This episode aptly described The Gentleman Rider as a reverse Robin Hood. He only stole from the poor to give to himself. There was a scene when Harvey Dent offered to give up his wallet and The Gentleman Rider declined. However, he did take from someone less fortunate.

For someone claiming to be a gentleman, he wasn't. This spirit was clinging to the days when the rich could get over the poor. The funny thing is the people of his day didn't like him either.

7. Harvey Dent

• Episodes: Multiple
• Actor: Diedrich Bader

Before his accident, Harvey Dent was a jerk. He talked down to Barbara Gordon and cut deals with the mob. That’s a villain in itself. When his face was scarred, his rampage could be excused. He was going through trauma and needed help. In the end, at least he went out as a hero.

6. Catwoman

• Episode: Kiss of the Catwoman
• Actor: Christina Ricci

Catwoman was a villain, but she wasn’t evil. She wasn’t a hero either. Selina could have gotten a job instead of becoming a cat burglar. Instead, she chose the more glamorous lifestyle.

Catwoman is ranked higher on this list because she was entertaining. She was everything you’d want from Catwoman from her smooth moves to her relationship with Batman. There’s no way she won’t return in a future season. She was too good not to.

5. Basil Karlo

• Episode: …And Be a Villain
• Actor: Dan Donohue

This wasn’t Clayface we know from the comic books, cartoons, or video games. This Basil Karlo was something more sinister. Here, Basil Karlo was a jealous and petty murderer. He didn't care about the art of acting or the woman who cared for him. His reasoning made him less sympathetic than normal.

The interpretation was perfect for this universe. The key to most of the show’s success was keeping things simple. Having Basil become a giant spiked ball or turn his arms into weapons wouldn’t have worked. Instead, they showed how ugly evil can be.

4. Penguin

• Episode: In Treacherous Waters
• Actor: Minnie Driver

This is one of the moments where people should look past the gender change and focus on the character's greatness. This Penguin (Oswalda Cobblepot) was more ruthless than her male counterpart. She killed her favorite kid because she thought he betrayed her. There weren't moments of shame or regret. Oswalda moved on like it was just another day.

Oswald Cobblepot has moments of sympathy. Oswalda Cobblepot doesn't. She also completed her goal by blowing up a Gotham Police building. She probably spent a night in jail at most.

3. Harley Quinn

• Episode: The Stress of Her Regard
• Actor: Jamie Chung

In a moment of honesty, it was difficult putting Dr. Harleen Quinzel on this list. Sure, what she did wasn’t okay. No one should endure the things her victims went through. However, the guys she captured were awful men.

Other than Harley, no other people can say they beat Batman this season. If she hadn’t returned for Barbara Gordon, Batman may have died. Instead, Harley escaped with her patients/captives to fight another day. Getting away is still a win and she got to tell Renee Montoya that she didn't stand her up.

Look for this version of Harley Quinn to join the DC Comics universe. Not Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Whoever it is will mirror who Harley Quinn was during Batman: Caped Crusader, but the Harley we know won't change her character.

2. Bullock and Flass

• Episodes: Multiple
• Actors: John DiMaggio (Bullock), Gary Anthony Williams (Flass)

Bullock and Flass are deplorable, crooked detectives who did anything to get ahead. It’s one thing to take money and bribes. It’s another to put innocent lives in danger by letting a pyromaniac like Firebug loose (The Night of the Hunters). It added salt to the wound when Gotham newspapers praised Bullock and Flass as heroes for killing Firebug.

Hopefully, Bullock and Flass' true nature is revealed. Unfortunately, it’s not likely. They’ll continue to be crooked cops until Batman: Caped Crusader ends. At least the other villains believed in something or were self-aware. Bullock and Flass probably don't think they're evil.

1. Rupert Thorne

• Episodes: Multiple
• Actor: Cedric Yarbrough

Now we come to the person responsible for most of the crime in Gotham City, Rupert Thorne. Most of the corruption in the Gotham City Police Department and the judicial system can be traced back to him. He has lawyers, politicians, and more in his pocket. He was a second away from adding Harvey Dent to that list.

The last time we see Thorne, Batman throws a Baterang through his window and hits him across the face. It sent a message to Thorne but proved another point. Thorne is untouchable. Not even Batman can get to him.

Batman can attack him and make him bleed, but there's nothing the Caped Crusader can do to stop him. At least, for now. Stay tuned to Caped Crusades to see if Thorne gets what’s coming to him.

Who was your favorite villain in Batman: Caped Crusader? How would you rank the top ten?