The Batman family enemies are a collection of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. These characters are depicted as adversaries of the superhero Batman and his allies.
Since Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), his supporting cast has expanded to include other superheroes, and has become what is now called the "Bat-family". As with most superheroes, a cast of recurring enemies to the Batman family have been introduced throughout the years, collectively referred to as Batman's "rogues gallery". Many characters from Batman's rogues gallery who are criminally insane become patients at Arkham Asylum after they are apprehended.
Supervillains and themed criminals The following fictional characters are listed in alphabetical order by the name of their supervillain persona. Each character's first appearance and brief biographies of each fictional character are also listed, staying to their fictional histories and characteristics in the DC Universe. Sometimes more than one fictional character will share a supervillain persona. In those cases, the name of the character most associated with said supervillain identity will have their name in bold in their biography.
Classic rogues gallery Listed below are the Batman family's most enduring and iconic enemies.
Villain Creators First appearance Fictional biography Bane Chuck DixonDoug MoenchGraham Nolan Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1(January 1993) The international masked criminal known as Bane has immense strength derived from a super-steroid called Venom. Bane's raw power, coupled with his genius level intellect, makes him a considerable threat to Batman, having once succeeded in breaking Batman's back.Batman #497 (July 1993) Black Mask Doug MoenchTom Mandrake Batman #386(August 1985) Roman Sionis is a corrupt businessman and crime lord who has a fixation with masks. He wears a black skull-like mask that gives him limited mind control abilities.Detective Comics (vol. 2) #9(May 2012) Catwoman Bob KaneBill Finger Batman #1(Spring 1940) Selina Kyle is an accomplished jewel thief. Although traditionally considered a villain, she is often portrayed as an antihero and is occasionally romantically involved with Batman. Clayface Bill FingerBob Kane Detective Comics #40(June 1940) Actor Basil Karlo went mad when he learned that there would be a remake of one of his films with another actor in the lead role. Adopting the alias of the film's villain, "Clayface", he attacked several of the remake's cast and crew at the points in filming when they were supposed to die before being stopped by Batman and Robin.Detective Comics #40 (June 1940) Later, he gained shapeshifting powers and became the Ultimate Clayface.Secret Origins (vol. 2) #44 (September 1989) and Detective Comics #604–607 (September–December 1989) Deadshot Bob KaneDavid Vern ReedLew Schwartz Batman #59(June 1950) Floyd Lawton is an excellent sniper assassin who, when wielding a gun or projectile, never misses a shot. Firefly France HerronDick Sprang Detective Comics #184(June 1952) Garfield Lynns is an orphan who became a pyromaniac, having developed a fireproof suit with a flamethrower to further pursue his "hobby". He invents numerous weapons that involve light to commit crimes with. Harley Quinn Paul DiniBruce Timm Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor"(September 1992) Dr. Harleen Quinzel was the Joker's psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum until she fell in love with him and subsequently reinvented herself as his madcap sidekick, Harley Quinn. She is often mistreated by the Joker, but that rarely changes how she feels about him. Hugo Strange Bob KaneBill Finger Detective Comics #36(February 1940) Hugo Strange is an insane psychologist who uses his mastery of chemistry to create a serum that turns his victims into mindless monsters who obey his every command. He has succeeded in deducing that Batman is Bruce Wayne.Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #11–15 (September 1990 – February 1991) Hush Jeph LoebJim Lee Batman #609(January 2003) Dr. Thomas Elliot is a brilliant surgeon who targets both Bruce Wayne, his childhood friend, and Batman. Joker Bob KaneBill FingerJerry Robinson Batman #1(spring 1940) The Joker (real name unknown) is a homicidal maniac with a clown-like appearance, bent on creating havoc in Gotham City and fighting a never-ending battle against Batman. His arsenal of weapons includes razor-sharp edged playing cards, acid-squirting trick flowers, joy buzzers with a lethal electrical charge and a fatal toxin called Joker venom. He is Batman's archenemy, as well as the most famous and recurring Batman villain. Killer Croc Gerry ConwayDon NewtonGene Colan Batman #357(March 1983) Waylon Jones has a medical condition that warped his body into a massive crocodile-like form. As Killer Croc descended into madness, he sharpened his teeth to razor points and began murdering innocent victims. He possesses super-strength and is immune to toxins. Mad Hatter Bob KaneBill Finger Batman #49(October 1948) Jervis Tetch is inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to commit crimes. He uses his mind control technology to bend people to his will. Man-Bat Frank RobbinsNeal Adams Detective Comics #400(June 1970) Dr. Kirk Langstrom invented a serum to give him echolocation in an attempt to cure his deafness. The serum had an unforeseen side effect, transforming him into the monstrous human-bat hybrid creature known as the Man-Bat. Mr. Freeze(originally known as Mr. Zero) Bob KaneSheldon MoldoffDavid Wood Batman #121(February 1959) Dr. Victor Fries is a scientist who accidentally spilled cryogenic chemicals on himself while inventing a freeze-gun. Now requiring subzero temperatures to survive, he uses a special containment suit and cold-themed weaponry to commit crimes.Batman #121 (February 1959) The character was later reinvented as a tragic villain, specifically a brilliant cryogenicist whose beloved wife Nora fell terminally ill. He obsessively searched for a way to cure her, until an industrial accident caused by a greedy business executive turned him into a mutant.Batman: Mr. Freeze (May 1997) Penguin Bob KaneBill Finger Detective Comics #58(December 1941) Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot is a devious, short-statured, penguin-themed crime boss who is seldom seen without at least one of his trick umbrellas. The Penguin uses his nightclub, the Iceberg Lounge, as a front for his criminal activities. He is one of Batman's few adversaries who is sane and in full control of his actions. Riddler is one of his partnerships. Poison Ivy Robert KanigherSheldon Moldoff Batman #181(June 1966) Pamela Lillian Isley, a former student of advanced botanical biochemistry, employs plants of all varieties and their derivatives in her crimes. She has the ability to control all plant life and can create new henchmen with her mutated seeds. She is immune to all plant-based poisons. Ra's al Ghul Dennis O'NeilNeal Adams Batman #232(June 1971) Ra's al Ghul ("the Demon's Head" in Arabic) is a centuries-old international radical environmentalist who believes that his actions help "bring balance" to the world. Ra's al Ghul is the founder of the League of Assassins and is fully aware of Batman's secret identity. Impressed by Batman's skills and intellect, he wants the Dark Knight to take his place as his heir. Riddler Bill FingerDick Sprang Detective Comics #140(October 1948) Edward Nashton, a.k.a. Edward Nygma (or "E. Nygma"), is a criminal mastermind who has a compulsion to challenge Batman by leaving clues to his crimes in the form of riddles, puzzles, and word games. Nygma's intelligence rivals that of Batman. Nygma often carries a question mark-tipped cane around with him, as well as many other trick puzzle gimmicks. Penguin is one of his partnerships. Scarecrow Bob KaneBill Finger World's Finest Comics #3(September 1941) Professor Jonathan Crane was an outcast in childhood due to constant bullying, until he grew up to face his fears as a psychologist and biochemist specializing in fear. Kicked out of a university for his unorthodox teaching methods, he now dresses symbolically as a scarecrow and employs a toxin that causes its victims to hallucinate seeing what they fear the most. Talia al Ghul Dennis O'NeilBob BrownDick Giordano Detective Comics #411(May 1971) Talia al Ghul is a daughter of Ra's al Ghul, the granddaughter of the Sensei, the sister of Dusan al Ghul, the mother of Damian Wayne and a high-ranking member of both the League of Assassins and Leviathan. She has been known to have several on again-off again romantic relationships with Batman. Two-Face Bob KaneBill Finger Detective Comics #66(August 1942) Harvey Dent was a Gotham City district attorney until half of his face was disfigured by acid after being assaulted by mob boss Sal Maroni. Having developed dissociative identity disorder, Dent is obsessed with the number two and the concept of duality and must make most of his decisions with the flip of his signature two-headed coin. As Two-Face, Dent commits crimes themed around the number two and the concept of duality. Ventriloquist /Scarface Alan GrantJohn WagnerNorm Breyfogle Detective Comics #583(February 1988) Arnold Wesker is a small, mild-mannered ventriloquist with dissociative identity disorder. He projects a criminal personality through his gangster-themed dummy, Scarface. Victor Zsasz Alan GrantNorm Breyfogle Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1(June 1992) Victor Zsasz, a.k.a. Mister Zsasz, is a serial killer whose modus operandi involves slitting the throats of his victims, then arranging the bodies in lifelike poses. He cuts a tally mark onto his own body for each of his victims.
Other recurring enemies