Ryan McNeilLike what I’ve done with the place? Thanks…I’ll refer you to my decorator.
If there’s one thing I think we can all agree on, it’s the fact that BATMAN BEGINS did an amazing job of rebooting a franchise many thought had been left for dead. The story feels a bit more grounded, it’s reached even further into the darkness, and salvaged itself from the rubble that Joel Schumacher left it in back in 1997.
Now while I’m excited about what has been done with the Joker, I really think that for this series to continue, the filmmakers can’t keep coming back to the big four villains (Joker, Penguin, Riddler, & Catwoman). In fact, I believe one of the things that made BEGINS work so well, was the fact that it turned the dasterdly deeds over to some lesser knowns. This might actually come into play if Warner Brothers were to follow through with their idea of handing control of future DC Comics movies over to DC itself (to try and achieve what Marvel has managed with IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK).
So, with a thanks to my friend White who provided a reminder or two, here are some characters I’d like to see get their moment in the sun…
#5. The Mad Hatter… C’mon, tell me you’re surprised. Like The Joker, The Hatter is one seriously disturbed dude. In earlier comics he was even driven by strange delusions of Alice in Wonderland, but lately he’s been much more grounded – and vicious. Hatter is a neurotechnician, so his specialty is controlling people’s thoughts using tiny hidden chips that get unknowingly planted on the victim. Seriously, how messed up would it be if Batman couldn’t trust anyone since he wouldn’t know who was being controlled? This villain could get really nasty…he could even start writing a blog…
#4. Deadshot… He’s been around since the 50’s (I know – I was surprised too). He’s an assasin for hire with an amazing talent for accuracy. Making matters even more interesting is that he has a death wish, so no firestorm is too hot. An assasin could easily work into the fabric of a 21st century superhero movie. It’s a terror that many audiences could understand, and would make for some true tension in many a scene where the audience wonders if the bullet is on its way.
#3. Talia al Ghul… Yes, she’s related. She is in fact the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul (played by Liam Neeson in BATMAN BEGINS). In the comics she often shows up as a romantic interest for Batman, but often wanders over to a life of crime to remain loyal to her father. Talia could make for an interesting character by tying the series back to BEGINS. She could also give it some of the best sexual tension since Michelle Pfeiffer’s lick in BATMAN RETURNS. Batman’s conflicted feelings could make such a hero/villainess dynamic really interesting. Well, as long as they don’t cast Uma Thurman in the part.
#2. Azrael… Once again, not a clear cut “bad guy”…but a character that could make for an interesting film. Azrael is a man named Jean Paul Valley, and he is a friend of Bruce Wayne’s. He’s such a good friend, that when Batman gets horribly injured, Valley dons the suit and protects Gotham City while Batman is on the mend. Unfortunately, he goes a bit too far and beats several low level thugs to an inch of their life. That’s right folks – the institution of “Batman” gets handed over to someone too dark and violent. I think the question of how far across the line a vigalante can go would make for a great movie. Especially if it were to somehow incorperate…
#1. Bane*… Yes – I’m cheating a little. However, my reasoning is the fact that in BATMAN & ROBIN, Bane was only used as a goon henchman – so he could still be re-used. In the comic series “Knightfall” Bane’s first trick was to stage a jailbreak at Arkham Asylum – the institution that holds Joker, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, and a few dozen others. As Batman goes about recapturing them all, he grows steadily weaker – and more mentally unstable. Once the last one is accounted for, he returns to Wayne Manor – where Bane is waiting for him. Remember that horrible injury I mentioned with Azrael? Take a good look at that image above – what you’re seeing is Bane breaking Batman’s back over his knee. It could even tie into the use of Azrael for a two-movie arc. Sound like a baddie you’d like to see? Yeah – me too.
Wowo, BatBoy…you really went all out on the decoratin’! Nice!
Now…go watch Dr. Horrible… 😀
1) Love the page. Nice way to “theme-it-up”.
2) Wicked list. Really. I think that the lesser known baddies haven’t been given their time in the spotlight. As you’ve pointed out, some of them have done just as much, if not more, damage to Batman as any of his A-list enemies.
Sometimes being “bad” is too obvious. Having characters with a flawed sense of reason, or a duality that mirrors Bruce Wayne’s, makes for better stories than just the typical “bad guy does bad things and Batman inevitably stops him”.
Not saying that this bout with The Joker isn’t a simple black-and-white story. Joker has historically pushed Batman to breaking points, and when your morals are what stop you from doing what may be the right thing, well it makes for a great story.
A Bane/Azrael story arc would be really cool. However, from one review I’ve [stupidly] read, the third Batman movie will most probably involve one of those A-list villains that we’ve already seen. You probably know which one I’m referring to.
Cheshire…
I’ve been avoiding reveiws, except for a few lines of the NYC review that ripped it. However, I HAVE of course heard a few details over the last few months, including the clue to the next big bad.
I’ve even heard mention of who might play said villain.
*sigh* Spoilers….can’t live with ’em, pass the beernuts.
Excellent job with the theme.
This’ll tell you how much a fan I am of comics: I had no idea that there was a Batman character named The Mad Hatter. I thought you were just named after the Alice character.
Heh, rest easy Fletch – you aren’t that far out of the loop.
I do indeed take my handle from the Lewis Carrol character…comes from my tendency to wear hats, my appreciation for tea, and the fact that I’m a little on the nutty side sometimes (aren’t we all).
The first movie made excellent use of lesser known characters as villains. Clearly, Two-Face will be back for a third, but the key is finding another villain that fits into Nolan’s world, so no Killer Croc and probably no Riddler.
I’m starting an Internet rumor that casting for Catwoman in the third movie is between Scarlett Johannsen and Eva Mendes. But, it’s more of a personal fantasy.
I tend to disagree with the point that “filmmakers can’t keep coming back to the big four villians” – they certainly can – and I hope they do.
The first set of Batman movies wrote themselves into a stand still by killing off all the baddies – and Spider-Man is well on its way to doing the same.
They don’t always have to be the main villian every time – but don’t kill them off! They always come back in the comics and they grow as characters along with the hero. In Batman Begins they didn’t kill off Scarecrow – and he’ll be a small factor in The Dark Knight – which makes me giddy with excitement (just as much as Ledger’s Joker performance). It’s that idea that it’s a “real world” sprinkled with ‘the ones who got away’…
I do see your point and I do want to see more lesser villians – but butts won’t fill the seats for just for them so you’ve got to knead them into the dough…
Perhaps Charles Perhaps…
But at the same time, I’m reminded of the survey that was done recently, where audiences polled said they were very unlikely to see a movie called “The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull”, “The Order of The Phoenix”, and “Attack of The Clones”.
It was only after they were aware of the first part of the title that they bit.
Batman has a bit of a built in audience…I think you could bring back malcolm McDowell as The Bookworm and it’d still make $200M
Very nice, very nice getting into the spirit. You’ve enlightened me along with Fletch on your pen name!
Niceee
Oh man, that Bane picture TOOK ME BACK. That was one of the most iconic comic book images burned into my pre-teen brain.
I like what you wrote about the Batman villains in my blog. The old TV show had so many good ones. Egghead is one I remember really well. I think there was another one called Father Time…something like that. Good times.
You know way more about Batman than I do. What I know only stems from the Adam West show, the movies, and the cartoons. I never actually read any batman comics until lately when I’ve picked up various graphic novels. So…what I’m trying to say with all that unnecessary information about myself is that I think maybe I could find some new favorite villains since there are so many to choose from.
-Whitney
dearjesus.wordpress.com
All right – just noticed you commented back…
Doesn't that survey prove that people need to be informed on what they are going to watch?
Harry Potter, Indiana Jones & Star Wars all bring certain hardcore followers to the theaters no matter what – true. But you want to make the big bucks – you better sex it up for everyone else…
And if you throw in a Bookworm – you'll piss off even those hardcore fans who want to see the villians they love in the comics just as much as the Batman. And even if you make the $200 million that time – you probably won't the next… Just look at Hulk's box office compared to Incredible Hulk's – down big time b/c they pissed off everyone with a bad installment.
I like the smaller villians too – but I like them in the dough…
Like I said in my own list, Nolan can certainly use lesser-knowns, but after what he did with The Joker, he would certainly piss off and/or let down a LOT of people by following up The Joker with somebody lame. He can only do a big name now, which is why I figure Riddler and Catwoman.
Also, I *almost* listed Talia Al Ghul in my list… but as I’m not a Batman comic reader, everything I found online about her listed her mainly as a good guy.
Thanks for the link. Interesting article. I don’t mind reusing villains that where used previously as this is a new version and shares no continuity with Tim Burtons Batman. I don’t know much about Batman other than the movies. The Dark Knight Returns is the comic/graphic novel I have read so am not familiar with some of the characters who haven’t been in films. I do remember Christopher Nolan saying there was no place for characters like The Penguin in his Batman universe. This suggests a certain grounding keeping it more realistic. The end of The Dark Knight will have to point a way to the next film so I would suggest a story where things get so bad the need Batman. Not knowing the characters I looked up a list of villains. A mob boss will fit in with this and the previous two films so I would suggest Black Mask. A side story of an assassin trying to kill Batman would work so how about Deadshot. Alternatively to the assassin a serial killer the police can’t catch, there seem to be a few in the list one that caught my eye was Victor Zsasz. If they go beyond three films Harley Quinn could be an interesting character but not in a film directly after the Joker.