Batman has had many famous enemies over the years, many of whom have been best known for fighting against the Caped Crusader. In fact, fans have noted the individual members of the Bat-Family even have their own rogue galleries of recurring bad guys. Some of these bad guys have become popular in their own right, sometimes even being written as antiheroes and superheroes. However, these bad guys often play a larger role in the DC universe.
Many of these villains have also fought against one of DC Comics' other famous heroes,Superman. This doesn’t just happen in crossover comics, but in other media, too. A few of them, for example, have even appeared inSuperman: The Animated Series. Often, these bad guys form an alliance with some of Superman’s famous enemies, like Lex Luthor, to take down the hero. Luckily for Superman, these crossovers usually mean a few other heroes, especially Batman, are there to help him.
10Catwoman
Catwoman is famous for serving as both an adversary and love-interest to Batman, serving as one of the most famous love-hate relationships between a superhero and supervillain in comics. While originally a villainess, later stories would often cast her in a more sympathetic light, being more of an antiheroine. Many prominent actresses have played variations of the character over the years, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, and Eartha Kitt.
A Regular Cat and Mouse Game
One comic book story, “The Catwoman’s Black Magic," not only has Catwoman encounter Superman, but even saw Lois Lane get hypnotized into thinking she’s Catwoman’s double.
Gaining access to a magic wand, Catwoman was able to transform Superman into a cat and Lois Lane into a mouse. Batman and Robin were able to save Lois before being gobbled up by Super-Cat. Eventually, Lana Lang managed to break the spell on Superman with a magic cat’s paw.
Clayface is a villain known for his ability to change his appearance. The character originally appeared as Basil Karlo, an actor who was using the alias of a villain he once played. After more science-fiction elements were added to the series, Clayface and his successors would become beings made of clay who could shape-shift, becoming whoever he imagines. One such character to take on the role was Matt Hagen, a treasure hunter who gained temporary transformative abilities thanks to a radioactive pool found in a cave.
Superman vs. Superman
In one story, “The Clayface Superman,” Hagen’s shape-shifting abilities came in handy when fighting Superman, as he was able to assume his form, proving to be an even match. However, this transformation also came with Superman’s weaknesses, causing him to suffer exposure from Red Kryptonite. Using Superman’s powers even allowed him to deduce Batman’s identity, but Clayface’s powers wore off in time, causing him to forget this information.
8Hugo Strange
Professor Hugo Strange was one of Batman’s first recurring enemies. He’s been shown to be skilled with mutations, allowing him to create his own mutated minions. At times, his obsession with Batman, viewing him as a pinnacle of physical and mental strength, almost reaches the point where he wants to be Batman. Notably, something that makes Strange particularly dangerous is that some stories have seen him figure out Batman is Bruce Wayne.
Superman’s Creator-Turned-Captor
In theDC Comics Bombshellsuniverse, Strange and Superman are given a surprising connection. It’s revealed that Superman in this continuity is actually a clone created by Strange made from Supergirl’s D.N.A. Strange viewed him as a failure, in part because he didn’t want to fight, and so has kept him imprisoned with plans to have him purged.
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Jervis Tetch is a villain who styled his alter-ego, the Mad Hatter, after the classic Lewis Carroll character. Once finding solace in fantasy worlds to deal with his own loneliness, he grew up to become a neuroscientist and develop powerful mind control technology. In some stories, he’s proven to be a very powerful hypnotist, even managing to manipulate people from a distance.
Granted, Bane & Riddler Did Most of the Fighting…
Tetch notably appeared in an episode ofSuperman: The Animated Series, “Knight Time,” which saw Bruce Wayne fall under the control of nanites. Superman teams up with Batman’s ward Robin to figure out what happened,even disguising himself as Batman.
Suspicion initially falls on Tetch, but it turns out that he was innocent, with the true culprit being Brainiac, and even helped to identify the nanites. While in disguise, Superman not only encountered Tetch, but Bane and Riddler, who had teamed up with Tetch in an unrelated plan, who actually did most of the fighting.
6Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze, initially known as Mr. Zero, was an ice-themed supervillain known for using cryogenic technology. The character is probably best known, however, through his portrayal inBatman: The Animated Series. In this version, he was once a scientist known as Dr. Victor Fries, who suffered an accident while trying to save his terminally ill wife, Nora, who had been placed in a cryogenic stasis. This solidified the image of Mr. Freeze as asympathetic, tragic villain, with this backstory even being incorporated into the comics.
Knocking Superman Out Cold
Freeze encounters Superman in “The Batman / Superman Story,” an episode of the animated series,The Batman. This story revolves around Lex Luthor teaming up with Batman’s rogues gallery to take down Superman, only to be foiled when Batman and Robin get involved. Freeze teams up with Bane, Black Mask, and Clayface to fight the Man of Steel, even trapping Superman in a block of ice at one point.
5Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn is a characterwho originated as the Joker’s henchwoman inBatman: The Animated Series. Originally intended to be a one-shot character, her popularity not only kept her a recurring presence in the series, but caused her to be brought into other media, becoming one of DC’s most famous characters. Over the years, she’s been portrayed as a supervillain in her own right, as well as an antiheroine and a superheroine looking for redemption.
Over the years, Harley Quinn has encountered Superman. In one notable story, theInjustice: Gods Among Usvideo game’s prequel comic, she teams up with the Joker to turn Lois Lane into a living bomb.
Superman accidentally kills Lois, mistaking her for Doomsday, driving him to kill the Joker in grief. Green Arrow intervenes to protect Harley from Superman, only to be killed by the hero himself. These events also played out in the 2021Injusticeanimated film, though the story also deviates from the source material.
4The Penguin
The Penguin is a Gotham City mobster who usually, despite a life of crime, aims to style himself a gentleman, complete with his trademark formal wear. Of course, it’s his fine suits that bring to mind the image of a penguin. That said, birds have been important to incarnations of the character in other ways over the years, from him using exotic birds as his minions to him being raised by penguins.
Superman vs. Batman with a Little Mind Control
There have been various times when the Penguin has had to contend with Superman. In one story, “Showdown at Gotham City,” Penguin teamed up with Terra-Man,a time-traveling outlaw cowboy, to manipulate Superman into thinking he was the Sundance Kid, hoping to turn him against Batman. However, the Caped Crusader ultimately helped the Man of Steel break out of his trance.
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3Scarecrow
The supervillain Scarecrow is the alter-ego of Dr. Jonathan Crane. After a childhood of being bullied and mistreated, he developed an obsession with fear. he often employs a powerful “fear toxin” to torture his victims with horrifying hallucinations. In some stories, his concoctions can be used both offensively and defensively, such as manipulating birds with pheromones to attack his enemies.
Not Even Safe Inside a Super-Mind
The Scarecrow has even found ways to make Superman susceptible to his tricks by mixing kryptonite with his toxins. One story, “Torment (Part II of VI) - Crack-Up,” starts off with Superman already being plagued by a nightmare.
When he wakes up, he is plagued by intense feelings of paranoia even as Clark Kent. By the time the story reaches its end, the Scarecrow is tormenting Superman within his own mind with a pack of monstrous dogs.
2Ra’s al Ghul
Ra’s al Ghul is the villainous leader of the League of Assassins, who has prolonged his life through the use of the regenerative Lazarus Pits. His supernaturally enhanced lifetime has allowed him to train himself into a powerful and dangerous threat, honing his skills in martial arts and swordsmanship combined with a genius intellect. He is also especially known for being the father of Talia al Ghul and the grandfather of Damien Wayne, giving him a personal connection to Batman.
Ghul’s Got the Power
One of al Ghul’s most notable conflicts with Superman is in theSuperman: The Animated Seriesepisode “The Demon Reborn.” In this story, the Lazarus Pits are no longer able to sustain him. This causes him to plot to steal Superman’s energy and powers with a powerful Native American shamanic staff. After the Man of Steel is kidnapped, it falls to Batman to rescue him.
1The Joker
The Joker is arguably one of Batman’s most famous enemies, often seen as his archenemy. At times, the Joker has been everything from a comical character to a sinister, sadistic threat. The Joker is often a go-to villain when dealing with Batman’s most well-known stories, such as the murder of Jason Todd.
In addition to Superman killing the Joker inInjustice, the Joker also notably appears in theSuperman: The Animated Seriesthree-parter, “World’s Finest,” also released asThe Batman/Superman Movie,which sees him team up with Superman’s own archenemy, Lex Luthor. Superman’s first battle with the Joker becomes a battle of wits. Superman has the sense to wear a protective lead suit in case the Clown Prince of Crime had any kryptonite on him. However, he underestimated that the Joker would have lead-dissolving acid on him.
Interestingly, quite a few stories have had alternate universes where another pre-established character becomes the Joker. InSuperman: Speeding Bullets, for example, which sees Kal-El adopted and being raised as Bruce Wayne, has Lex Luthor become his Joker.
