Even Diehard Fans Can't Name All These Batman Villains. Wanna Try?
- by Ben Sherlock
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Of all the superhero characters out there, it could be argued that Batman has the widest array of villains in his rogues gallery. Thanks to the many movies based on his adventures and the string of animated series adapted from Batman comics and the prequel series Gotham and, most importantly, the campy Adam West show from the '60s, most of Batman's enemies have become pop culture icons.
Superman and Spider-Man have a couple of well known ones, while heroes like Captain America and Thor each have one primary arch nemesis, but Batman has dozens of villains who are iconic and beloved and memorable. He has taken on the Clown Prince of Crime and he has had his back broken by another famous villain. One of Batman's villains is even getting his own movie next year in which he will be played by Joaquin Phoenix in a cast that includes Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Marc Maron.
Only a true fan of the Caped Crusader will be able to name every big bad in his rogues gallery and ace this quiz. But the Bat Signal is shining up in the sky, so jump on in and give it a go!
Who uses logic problems to trick Batman?
This villainous character was played by Jim Carrey in the movie Batman Forever and there was a rumor that he would be played by Leonardo DiCaprio in one of the Batman movies that were directed by Christopher Nolan, although these rumors turned out to be unfounded when Tom Hardy took on the role of Bane in the movie instead. This character's alter ego is Edward Nigma, the pun being that a man named E. Nigma uses enigmas to trick his foes. Who is he?
Who flips a coin to decide people's fate?
The alter ego of this character is that of Harvey Dent, the District Attorney of Gotham City, and so it is a great tragedy when someone who was once a purveyor of justice turns into a super villain. Since he is a guy with two sides of his face and two sides of his personality, his recurring motif is that of the coin flip. He flips a coin to decide what the fate of people is going to be. Which Batman villain flips a coin to decide people's fate?
Who is this muddy shape shifter?
This character has not appeared as a villain in any of the Batman movies, but as far as the comic books go, he is an iconic foe of the Caped Crusader. He has appeared in the Arkham series of video games (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, Arkham Knight et al) and he is often the big boss at the end of a level, because he is very difficult to beat. He can shape shift and he is huge. Who is this muddy shape shifter?
Who is the Clown Prince of Crime?
This character is easily the most iconic villain in all of Batman's rogues gallery. This character has been played by Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto, Heath Ledger, and in an upcoming movie, he will be played by Joaquin Phoenix. He works as a villain because he is the flip side of the coin where Batman is a precise, organized, meticulous crusader of justice and this character is an agent of chaos. What is the name of the Clown Prince of Crime?
Who is Batman's feline foe?
This character jumps back and forth between being an ally of the Dark Knight and an enemy of him. Either way, she is one of the most iconic characters in the history of DC Comics. Halle Berry starred in a movie that was specifically about this character, while Anne Hathaway and Michelle Pfeiffer have played her in other Batman movies: The Dark Knight Rises and Batman Returns, respectively. She takes her style from cat burglars. Who is Batman's feline foe?
Who has poisonous kisses?
Uma Thurman played this character in one of the old Batman movies, when she was riding high on the fame she had found with roles in movies like Pulp Fiction and Gattaca. She would go on to star in Tarantino's kung-fu masterpiece as The Bride, aka Beatrix Kiddo and My Super Ex Girlfriend. She will appear in the upcoming DC Extended Universe movie Gotham City Sirens that is being produced by Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie. Which iconic Batman villain has poisonous kisses?
Who is this mysterious villain?
Christopher Nolan made a pretty strong impression on the Batman movie franchise when he swooped in over the streets of Gotham City with a dark and gloomy reboot named Batman Begins. That movie made this character its primary villain and he was played by Liam Neeson. At first, he trained Bruce Wayne to be the Caped Crusader before turning against him. Neeson returned in The Dark Knight Rises to return to the role. What is the name of this villain?
Who is this icy villain?
This villain, who can manipulate ice and cold temperatures in order to best his foes, is known for saying lame catchphrases like, "Freeze!" and "Ice to see you!" He uses his powers of ice to break into places and steal jewelry or money, but he also uses it when he is confronted by the Dark Knight. He was featured in the movie Batman and Robin where he found himself fighting against George Clooney as Batman. Who is this icy villain?
Who broke Batman's back?
The time when this character broke Batman's back is one of the most iconic and memorable moments in the history of comic books. This character has appeared in two of the Batman movies, but his most revered of those appearances was arguably in the Christopher Nolan movie The Dark Knight Rises in which he was played by Tom Hardy, who had the challenge of following up Heath Ledger's Oscar winning turn as the Joker. Who broke Batman's back in the comics?
Who is this mystical villain?
This character is one of the key members of Harley Quinn's ragtag group made up of super villains against Batman. This character was created by Bob Haney and Howard Purcell and she has been around in the comic books since 1966. In 2016, on the 50th anniversary of her first appearance in the comic books, she appeared in the blockbuster movie that followed the group. She was played by Cara Delevingne as she was making the transition from model to actress. Who is this mystical villain?
Who uses fear to his advantage?
This villain is known for his use of fear as a tool to manipulate and best his enemies. The only other person who does that in Gotham City is, of course, Batman. So, that's what makes this character a great addition to the Dark Knight's roster of villains. He was played by Cillian Murphy, the star of the TV show Peaky Blinders and the movies Inception and 28 Days Later, in the movie Batman Begins. Who uses is this clever villain?
Which Batman villain is actually a bat?
Batman may be a man who dresses up like a bat and then goes out and fights villains, but this villain is a man who literally turned into a bat and, as a bat, he dresses up like a person and goes out and fights Batman. When it is laid out like that, it makes sense that he is one of the most iconic Batman villains. All the best ones are Batman's opposite. Which Batman villain is actually a bat?
Who is this mob boss?
Mob bosses tend to be the bad guys in movies like The Godfather and Goodfellas and Scarface, but they are rarely the villains of superheroes. However, since Batman is a character who lives in a seedy city riddled with crime, it makes sense that a top dog from the criminal underworld would come after him at some point. This character was featured heavily in the movie Batman Begins and is on many lists of the best Batman villains. Who is this mob boss?
Which villain did Danny DeVito play in Batman Returns?
Danny DeVito played this villainous role in Batman Returns, and the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest actor turned out to be the perfect choice for the role. He has the physical appearance of the character as he appears in the comic books, and as DeVito would later show in his role as Frank Reynolds in the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, he can play truly depraved roles. Which villain did Danny DeVito play in Batman Returns?
Who is the Joker's girlfriend?
In the shared cinematic universe of movies based on the DC Comics characters, the DC Extended Universe, this character is played by The Wolf of Wall Street and I, Tonya star Margot Robbie. She is one of the most consistently acclaimed parts of the franchise, as critics have come to enjoy her East Coast interpretation of the character very much. The character has a long and complicated history with the Dark Knight in the comic books. Who is the Joker's girlfriend?
Which Flash villain is also a Batman villain?
At one point in the comic books, Batman actually took this character's life. But of course, with comic books being comic books and a bunch of different alternate realities existing and running all at once, the character did not stay out of the picture for long. Batman took his life using an Amazonian sword, so the mythologies of Batman and the Flash and Wonder Woman all came together at once. Which villain of the Flash is also a villain of Batman?
Which Batman villain was inspired by Alice in Wonderland?
This character is taken directly from the Lewis Carroll books set in the magical realm of Wonderland. He is the character that Johnny Depp played in the movies Alice in Wonderland and its sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass. Of course, he does not appear in the Batman comic books as he appears in the Carroll books. He has been Batman-ized for his appearance as a super villain in Gotham City. Which Batman villain was inspired by Alice in Wonderland?
Who is this diabolical genius?
As far as the history of the comic books go, this character is one of the oldest Batman villains ever. He has been a foe of the Dark Knight's for longer than most of them, so he has a longer history with him and therefore a deeper and more complex relationship with him. And not only that, he also has the distinction of being one of the few villains to have actually figured out that Batman is Bruce Wayne. Who is he?
Who is this mercenary?
This character will probably be the main villain in the first solo Batman movie to star the Ben Affleck rendition of the character. He was first teased in the post credits scene at the end of Justice League. He was the primary inspiration for Deadpool in the first instance. This guy has an orange and black suit, while the Merc with a Mouth has a red and black one. This guy is called Slade Wilson, and Marvel's version is called Wade Wilson etc. Who is he?
Who is this Reaper type?
When fans think about the movies that have been released in theaters that are about the Dark Knight, they only think about the live action ones, but there was an animated one, too. Much like Spider-Man and his various iterations from alternate realities are about to star in an animated movie that is being released in theaters, an animated Batman starred in his own movie. Batman: Mask of the ____ was based on Batman: The Animated Series. Who is this Reaper type?
Which villain is controlled by a puppet?
The irony of this villain is quite brilliant. Whereas puppets are generally controlled by somebody, this person is controlled by a puppet. The puppet has a psychological grasp on his mind and makes him do bad things. This character has not yet been portrayed in a movie, but in the comic books, he is one of the most famous and well known villains who are against Batman and his various allies. Which villain is controlled psychologically by a mad puppet?
Who is Ra's al Ghul's daughter?
Ra's al Ghul was one of the two main villains in the reboot movie Batman Begins, which was directed by Christopher Nolan and told a previously untold chapter of the Caped Crusader's origin story. It was only fitting for Nolan to round out his Batman trilogy by having Ra's al Ghul's daughter make an appearance. He cast Marion Cotillard in the role after he had built a working relationship with her following their work on Inception. Who is Ra's al Ghul's daughter?
Who is this skilful assassin?
The DC villain movie was a big hit back in the summer of 2016 when it was released. David Ayer's movie cast Will Smith in this role as an iconic, sharp shooting Batman villain. He didn't interact with the Dark Knight in the movie, although Ben Affleck's so called "Batfleck" did make an appearance. He has also been played by Christian Slater in a different project, but it is of course the Will Smith version that is best remembered. Who is this villain?
Whose activity is based on what day it is?
This character appeared in Batman: The Long Halloween and had a very important role in it. His role was comparable to that of Hannibal Lecter in the movie The Silence of the Lambs. In The Silence of the Lambs, Lecter helps an FBI agent to track down another criminal while he is behind bars. In The Long Halloween, this villain helps Batman to find another villain from behind bars in Arkham Asylum. Whose activities are based on what day it is?
Who mugged Batman's parents?
The origin story of the Batman character begins with his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, getting cornered in a dark alley after watching a play with their son Bruce. After a disagreement, the man ends up taking their lives which inspired Bruce Wayne to clean up Gotham. As the comic books went on and a bunch of writers went deeper into the mythology and the backstory of the character, the man was named. Who took Batman's parents at the beginning of the story?
Which villain has the same name as a sword?
This character flits between being a hero and being a villain. She has been a member of all kinds of super teams from DC Comics: from the Outsiders to the Justice League to the Birds of Prey. The best description of her is perhaps anti hero. In the 2016 hit movie featuring Harley Quinn and other of Batman's foes, she was played by an actress named Karen Fukuhara for the first time on the big screen. Which villain has the same name as a sword?
Which villain shares his name with a pulp fiction magazine?
The name of this villain is the same name as the pulp magazine that inspired Quentin Tarantino to write the screenplay for Pulp Fiction. The genre that the title of the movie came from, which was defined in the opening title card. The character has nothing to do with that, of course, and simply takes this name from what he wears and his obsession with masks. He will appear in the upcoming DC Extended Universe movie Birds of Prey. Who is he?
Who is this marksman and martial artist?
A bunch of different characters have taken on this name in the history of the Batman comic books. One of those people was Jason Todd, who has not only adopted the alter ego of this vicious villain, but has also been Robin. The guy who was once Batman's closest ally and sidekick was now also his sworn enemy. At one point, this was even one of the alter egos that the Joker took on. Who is this marksman and martial artist?
Which villain was brainwashed by the System?
This villain was brainwashed by the System, a serious psychological conditioning method that the bad guys of the DC Comics universe use on people to get them to do bad things. This guy would also, at some point, take on the role of Batman in a dark time when Bruce Wayne was not the Caped Crusader anymore and this guy had decided to be a good person again who did good things. Which Batman villain was brainwashed by the System?
Which bandage-wearing villain often quotes Aristotle?
This villain is one of the most sinister and mysterious villains in all of the Batman lore. He can craft a conspiracy out of almost anything, which makes him a difficult foe for the Caped Crusader, who is famed for his masterful detective skills. This villain is known for the fact that he is covered in bandages and he will often recite the quotes of the great philosopher Aristotle. He's yet to be featured in a movie. Which bandage wearing Batman villain often quotes Aristotle?
Who is this robotic villain?
This character shares his name with an Alien prequel movie directed by Ridley Scott that was released in 2012. It is also the name of a story that was the basis of the original Frankenstein novel written by Mary Shelley. Michael Dorn from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation has provided the voice of this character in a series of appearances on the show Arrow on The CW network. Who is this enemy of Batman, Green Arrow, and Midnighter?
Who is this owl-based villain?
This character is one of the sons of Thomas Wayne, which makes him the older brother of Bruce Wayne, who is of course Batman. The brother of the Caped Crusader makes for a terrific villain, because there is a clear conflict of interest. In the comic books, this character is not a part of the Injustice Syndicate, although in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, he was changed to be a member of the team in order to suit the story of the show better. Who is he?
Who is this big, mean fighting machine?
When a lot of people think about a comic book character who is big and mean and has problems with their anger and talks in improper grammar in the third person and has the power of super strength, they usually think of the Hulk from the Marvel Comics. But what a lot of people do not realize is that this Batman villain actually came first. He is named after a common nursery rhyme that goes through a week of days. Who is he?
Which Batman villain is a pyromaniac?
This character is a pyromaniac. He is obsessed with fire. He uses fire as a tool and became a villain when he struggled to get work as a special effects artist and tried to burn down a theater in some sort of ploy that was foiled by Batman and Robin. He made a brief appearance in the prequel tie in comic book based on the DC Extended Universe movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Which Batman villain is a crazy pyromaniac?
Which villain keeps a running tally on his body?
This guy keeps a running tally of his victims all over his body. He was featured heavily in the Arkham games and he is also one of the most iconic Batman villains of all time. This character is a relatively new one who made his first appearance as late as 1992, half a century after Batman was created. His first appearance in the comic books was in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1. Which Batman villain keeps a running tally on his body?
Which villain can magnetize things?
This Batman villain is able to magnetize pretty much anything, and that is his power. In all three incarnations of the character, the magnetizing ability remains the same. That is what he has always done. He takes his name (and his stripes) from a zoo animal. He is a somewhat obscure villain in the comic books, but he played a big part in the highly acclaimed animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Which Batman villain can magnetize things?
Which intellectual villain uses wordplay?
Kevin Smith is not primarily a comic book writer. He made his name as a director and writer of movies. He burst onto the scene with the indie comedy movie Clerks, which he has since made a sequel to and a spin off called Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. When Smith was given the chance to write a Green Arrow comic, he created this villain based on a word he liked. Which intellectual villain created by Kevin Smith uses wordplay against his enemies?