Ranking Batman’s 10 greatest comic book villains from worst to best

It’s almost universal that Batman has the best comic book villains. They vary from the superstrong to the incredibly intelligent and cunning. One thing they have in common is being flat-out dangerous. Beyond their skills, their personalities and gimmicks make them memorable. Being recognized allowed them to become profitable and household names.

Coming up are the Dark Knight’s ten best villains. This article will take accomplishments, toughness, and originality into account. Some of your favorites are recognizable but never hit the big time with their schemes.

You’ll notice names like Harley Quinn and Catwoman aren’t on this list. Recently, they’ve spent more time being heroes than villains. It felt wrong to add them to this list (plus they’ll be in a future article). Let’s start with Batman’s most skilled enemy.

10. Deathstroke

No one pushes Batman like Deathstroke. There’s rarely a time when their fights didn’t take everything out of them. It's not like Bane where Batman has to overcome his strength. Slade Wilson and Bruce are too evenly matched.

Their battles are a constant reminder that Deathstroke is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. If he set his focus on Batman more than making money he’d be higher on this list.

9. Two-Face

Initially, Two-Face wasn’t going to make this list. He’s been a recognizable villain but not on the level of other villains. Then I remembered All-Star Batman: My Own Worst Enemy.

In this series, Two-Face gave Gotham citizens an option. Stop Batman from “curing” him or he’d expose everyone's secrets. As a bonus, the person who killed Batman would be gifted the money of three prominent crime bosses. This leads to Batman being pushed to his physical limits and using every tool in his belt and helmet. He even used a chainsaw.

8. Court of Owls

The Court of Owls was a myth for generations. When they finally popped up on Batman’s radar they nearly killed him (Batman: The Court of Owls) by bringing him to a labyrinth. While there, he goes crazy from being alone in darkness and isolated for over a week and drinking poisoned water.

There are also their protectors, the Talons. They’re skilled, don’t feel pain, and are completely brainwashed into doing what the Court orders them to do. If Batman didn’t learn their weakness (extreme cold) they would’ve killed him (Batman: The City of Owls).

7. Scarecrow

Scarecrow has been a thorn in Batman’s butt for decades. No matter how many times he adjusts to his fear-toxins, Dr. Jonathan Crane changes the formula. This leaves Bruce to wonder and hope his antidotes and built-up immunity are enough.

Sometimes the fear-toxin's effects are so small that Bruce doesn’t notice until he does something irrational. Other times they leave him a shell of himself. It’s a shame Scarecrow never reached the potential of his counterpart in the Batman: Arkham Knight video game.

6. Penguin

The Penguin is far from the Dark Knight’s toughest villains. He may be one of his weakest. You’re probably wondering why he’s on this list and higher than The Court of Owls, Two-Face, or Deathstroke. It’s simply because he rarely spends time in prison or Arkham Asylum. Adding his physical weakness to this makes it more impressive. No one should have accomplished the things he has with so little.

In Penguin by Tom King, Amanda Waller goes to him to take out Batman. That says a lot. She could have gone to almost anyone, but she chose him. She knew his potential and trusted him to get the job done or at least weaken him.

5. Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy has been “good” since Heroes in Crisis. Notice good is in quotation. She’s been better, but not exactly a hero (read Poison Ivy by G. Willow Wilson for that story). She’s also been one of Batman’s most underrated villains for years.

During Long Halloween, she took control over Bruce Wayne for over a month and made him launder money for Carmine Falcone. In Batman 41-43 by Tom King she controlled everyone worldwide except Bruce Wayne. The latter is more than enough to put her on this list.

4. Ra’s al Ghul

Ra’s al Ghul is the perfect combination of deviousness, fighting prowess, and craziness. The latter is due to his continuous exposure to Lazarus Pit. Despite his unpredictable behavior, Ra’s al Ghul challenges Batman better than almost anyone. There are also aren’t villains whose plans are as thorough as his. Imagine what he'd accomplish if he weren't a lunatic.

3. Riddler

The Riddler is the most underappreciated Batman villain because he wasn’t always tough. I don’t mean physically. Sure, recent writers have stopped making him a pushover. Nevertheless, his mental toughness has improved over the last ten years. Batman: Zero Year, War of Jokes and Riddles, and Zero Year are all examples of how he’s become more than a guy who solves puzzles and riddles. He’s easily a top-three Dark Knight antagonist.

2. Bane

A debate can be made that Bane could be number 1 and I won’t say you’re wrong. Bane was one of the first people to break Batman. First, he did it with a devastating backbreaker (Batman: Knightfall). Like the Death of Superman, it was a moment that shocked the world.

Over two decades later he broke Bruce mentally during Tom King’s run of Batman. This run showed Bane's patience and brilliant mind. He was willing to get beaten, embarrassed, and imprisoned to see Bruce Wayne fall. He even got his father from Flashpoint involved. If that's not enough he took over Gotham City and killed Alfred (City of Bane).

1. Joker

You can call this a cop-out, but that would mean you’re not acknowledging everything Joker’s done. You could compile everything the other villains have done and they still wouldn’t equal Joker’s effect on Batman, his family, Gotham City, and the comic book genre.

For almost a century (debuting in 1940) the Clown Prince of Crime has seen an evolution that few characters have. He’s still the same villain who uses clown props to hurt and kill, but he’s become more devious. A lot of lists have him as the greatest comic book villain ever.

No one could have predicted that the greats like Superman and Woman Woman would consider him a threat. He’s not super strong or versed in martial arts. He’s a "normal" guy with a nearly genius intellect, a high threshold for pain, and a need to make Batman’s life Hell on Earth.

Joker’s accomplishments include killing Jason Todd (A Death in the Family), stealing Bruce Wayne’s billions (Joker War), resurrecting Alfred to torment Batman (and in Joker War), paralyzing and assaulting Barbara Gordon (The Killing Joke), and so much more. Yes, Bane broke him and Ivy took over the world. But those were temporary things that Batman had a plan for. There's no planning for Joker.

Who do you think are Batman's greatest villains? How would you rank them? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Instagram and Twitter.