Batman Villains Who Would Thrive in a More Realistic World Like THE PENGUIN

by

In my humble opinion as a lifelong Batman fanatic who has seen the Caped Crusader soar through various iterations, I wholeheartedly agree that these villains would not only fit perfectly into Matt Reeves’ gritty and realistic Gotham City but also add an exciting layer of complexity to the narrative.

In the series “The Penguin” on HBO, similar to how its origin film “The Batman” did, it demonstrates to viewers that classic villains can flourish in a realistic crime drama setting. While some iconic Batman villains and aspects wouldn’t fit this narrative (yet would be exciting additions to James Gunn’s DCU), there are numerous Bat-villains from the DC Comics that could shine in Matt Reeves’ dark and grimy portrayal of Gotham City. Here are our top seven picks for these characters:

Mr. Zsasz

Unlike many other Batman antagonists, Victor Zsasz doesn’t don a flamboyant disguise or go by a memorable moniker. Instead, he’s simply a ruthless murderer, and his unique aspect is the tattoos he inscribes on himself for each victim he claims, leaving him marked with numerous scars. Despite this grisly practice, he does possess an intriguing backstory, typical of Batman villains. Zsasz fell into financial ruin gambling at the Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge and contemplated suicide. However, when a homeless person attacked him, he snapped and took the life of his attacker, discovering a twisted sense of liberation in taking others from existence. The character has made appearances in “Batman Begins,” the “Arkham” series, “Gotham,” and “Birds of Prey.” However, these roles have generally been minor. The Batman universe presents an ideal environment for Zsasz to flourish.

Hush

As a dedicated DC Comics fan, one of the most captivating additions to the Batman universe in the 2000s was the enigmatic villain Hush. Penned by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee in the eponymous storyline, Hush remained shrouded in mystery, both in terms of his identity and motives, for a significant portion of his debut tale. He adorned his face with bandages, giving off an eerie Invisible Man vibe. For an entire year, Hush orchestrated the assaults on Batman by his rogue’s gallery, leaving me on the edge of my seat until his true identity was eventually unveiled.

It was revealed that the enigmatic character known as Hush is actually Thomas “Tommy” Elliot, a childhood companion of Bruce Wayne’s. Unlike Bruce, Tommy harbored resentment towards his wealthy parents, plotting to murder them for their fortune. However, Dr. Thomas Wayne saved Tommy’s mother’s life, sparking a lifelong animosity towards the Wayne family. Despite not appearing in The Batman as initially expected, it’s possible that we might see Tommy Elliot in the world of The Batman at some point. Given his connections to Bruce, he seems to be a perfect fit.

Professor Hugo Strange

One of Batman’s first antagonists, appearing before the Joker and Penguin, is the character Professor Hugo Strange. Initially portrayed as a common mad scientist villain who manufactured zombie-like minions, he resurfaced in the ’70s as a psychiatrist who uncovered Batman’s hidden identity. Using this knowledge against him, Hugo Strange even attempted to sell Batman’s identity to the highest bidder at one point. For many years, Strange worked within Arkham Asylum, until he was himself committed due to his criminal activities. With no distinctive costume or special abilities, Professor Hugo Strange seems ideally suited for Matt Reeves’ interpretation of the Batman universe, given that Arkham Asylum is a prominent feature in this adaptation of Gotham, as shown in both “The Batman” and now “The Penguin.

The Court of Owls

Among Batman’s many infamous adversaries, the Court of Owls, introduced by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo in 2011, has gained significant popularity. This secretive society, as established by Snyder, has been operating for over a century, exerting almost complete control over Gotham City. The wealthiest and most influential figures in the city conceal their identities behind owl masks that lack expression. The Court of Owls’ debut storyline is often hailed as one of the best Batman tales ever, and filmmaker Matt Reeves has suggested incorporating them into his universe. While certain aspects of the mythology, such as the Talons (the undead agents), may not fit seamlessly into Reeves’ world, the fundamental idea of the Court of Owls appears to be a logical addition to his universe.

Black Mask

In the gritty underworld of Gotham City, I’d be right at home as the ruthless Roman Sionis – a crime lord with a dark past and an even darker heart. Born into wealth, I was part of the Sionis family that owned the thriving cosmetics empire, Janus Cosmetics. My old man never saw eye to eye with my girlfriend, believing her below my station. So, in a fit of rage, I ended their lives. With their deaths, I inherited the company, but my lackluster business acumen quickly turned it into a money pit.

Eventually, Roman Sionis sold his company to Wayne Enterprises, which created a lasting resentment towards Bruce Wayne. With the loss of his business, he also lost his sanity and crafted a mask from his father’s ebony casket, transforming into the criminal mastermind known as Black Mask. He has appeared in several live-action projects, including “Gotham,” and Ewan McGregor portrayed a dramatic interpretation of this character in “Birds of Prey.” A more somber, understated performance for Black Mask could easily be achieved.

Professor Pyg

Originating from the pen of writer Grant Morrison, Professor Pyg serves as a menacing antagonist in the traditional style of Batman’s rogue gallery. Marked by criminal insanity and an attention-grabbing appearance, this character is hard to forget. In the comics, Lazlo Valentin dons a grotesque pig mask reminiscent of horror films like “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Due to his unusual fascination with the Pygmalion myth and its ideals about physical perfection, he abducts individuals to subject them to gruesome and unnecessary surgeries, turning them into living automatons. Although we find the “living automatons” aspect too far-fetched for Matt Reeves’ universe, an insane physician in a bizarre mask is no less unsettling than the Riddler in “The Batman.” Professor Pyg treads a fine line between fantasy and reality, but he could potentially fit within a more grounded context.

The Scarecrow

Among the Batman villains on this list, Scarecrow is arguably the most well-known and flamboyant. However, how does he fit into a more realistic universe? Interestingly, a version of Dr. Jonathan Crane, a sociopathic doctor who conducts fear experiments on unsuspecting subjects, was introduced in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins by Cillian Murphy. The Nolan films managed to make his mask believable in a less fantastical setting. He made appearances, albeit brief, in Nolan’s subsequent films. However, his portrayal of Scarecrow was not the main antagonist, despite being worthy of that role. Given Scarecrow’s over-the-top villainy in comics and cartoons, one might expect Matt Reeves to follow a similar path. Yet, we suspect that Reeves’ version would be even more chilling than Nolan’s.

Read More

2024-10-02 22:33