It’s one thing if you’ve read some comics or seen some movies, but there’s so much more to the villains of Gotham City. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of amazing features that help us dig into the lore of Arkham’s finest. Let’s check out some favorites!
The Psychology of The Joker:
One of the most iconic actors to take on The Joker was and is Heath Ledger, which is what lead to such a fascination to the character as he was reimagined for Christopher Nolan’s Batman series. Check out Warner Brothers and DC’s psychological view on the Joker from conception to present-day portrayals.
Variant’s History of Harley Quinn:
As of the nineties, you couldn’t have Joker without his Harley, so Variant Comics was kind enough to show the not-quite-so initiated just where this wildly frenetic character started and who she is. One of the most complex females within Batman’s life, you’re never quite sure where you stand with her. Is she a full on villain? Is she a brainwashed and madly in love doctor/genius? Who knows..
Supervillain Breakdown – The Penguin:
As silly as it may sound to discuss Mr. Cobblepot’s alias of The Penguin, his touch on Gotham can’t be denied. Channel Nerdgasm does a great job discussing just why this character is quite so devious and fear-inducing to not just Batman but the prisoners of Arkham as well. This one has a bit of spicier language but is the absolute best I’ve found to really dig in with regards to this diminutive but terrifying villain.
Comic Drake’s History of the Riddler:
While we haven’t seen anything really dealing with Edward Nigma in the more recent films, he was always featured in television, both live action and cartoons until Jim Carrey finally did the only true silver screentime we’ve had. Thanks to the Arkham video game series, we’re still well aware of his misdeeds and chaos through those damned puzzles. Comic Drake puts together a rather complex and interesting layout of Riddler’s story from it’s earliest form to origins in DC’s The New 52. Check this out and you’ll see why he’s my favorite Batman villain by far.
Now, the Rogues Gallery is an intense one and there are so many villains that deserve some playbill time, but these are just a handful of the most well-known by comic fans and non-die-hards alike. Don’t worry, we’ll get around to discussing the depth of why Catman exists and just if Joe Chill should be considered a Batman villain. We’ll get there!
