When one thinks of insidious and terrifying villains that perfectly encapsulate the Halloween spirit, one tends to think of someone from Batman’s rogues gallery. There are many dark villains that the Dark Knight has had to contend with ever since he debuted in comics in 1939. And with many looking to see what DC’s response to Marvel’s Werewolf By Night (2022) Halloween special is, speculation begins to run rampant.
Here, we will look into different characters from the history of Batman, giving brief glimpses into their fictional biographies. We will also provide ideas for what a special surrounding these characters may entail and how dark a focus on these horrifyingly captivating characters could outshine the rest of the DC Universe this spooky season.
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6 Man-Bat
DC Comics
Riffing on the theme of a man transformed into a monster, we turn to Dr. Kirk Langstrom. Langstorm is a scientist that had been conducting research on vampire bats in hopes that he could create a serum that would allow human beings to replicate the bat’s sonar, effectively helping the deaf community’s way of life. Using himself as a human test subject, the serum would have horrible side effects, turning Langstrom into a half-man/half-bat hybrid.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
A special could see Kirk’s devolution, with him waking up to find himself feeling exponentially different than he did before. Over time, he would discover news of animal attacks leaving people mauled to death. And then, upon finding evidence of someone entering and exiting his home overnight, Kirk could set up equipment and learn that he is transforming overnight and endangering the lives of anyone that comes near him.
5 Clayface
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
While many have taken on the moniker of Clayface, we will be focusing on Basil Karlo for this entry. Basil was set to see his name in the lights in the tragic tale of an actor who appeared to have it all. But a tragic accident would leave his face horribly disfigured, potentially ruining his movie career before it could really begin. Using recalled clay to help mold his face back into a proper state, the toxic chemicals would alter Basil’s genetic structure, giving him the ability to transform into anyone he pleased.
A special focused on Basil could go a couple of different routes. We could focus on the criminal aspects of Basil’s abilities, seeing him cause mayhem and inducing paranoia into regular civilians as no one knows who to trust in this mystery thriller. Or we could go the route of a psycho-thriller, with Basil beginning to lose his grip on his identity, eventually succumbing to madness as he realizes he can’t remember what he initially looked like.
4 Killer Croc
Warner Bros. Animation
Waylon Jones was born with a condition that progressively changed his appearance over time, making him appear reptilian. Over the years, different writers have increased and decreased Waylon’s intelligence and level of humanity. Some have detailed him as a crime boss, capable of leading grunts into battle. Others depict him as a humanoid beast, savagely murdering anyone who wanders into his sewers before eating them.
This special could easily follow a group of teens as they decide to sneak through the sewers and explore the dark underbelly of Gotham, biting off more than they can chew. With Killer Croc being just an urban legend, perhaps one of these teens is cautious of the monster, but the rest remain oblivious to the creature stalking them throughout the night.
3 Professor Pyg
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
One of the most terrifying yet underutilized villains from Batman’s gallery is Professor Pyg. An insane individual who revels in butchering his victims and performing barbaric surgeries to alter their appearance, Pyg is a twisted individual indeed. With his appearances usually including opera singing, butcher knives, and gleeful snorting, Professor Pyg certainly leaves an impression.
Seeing a special on Professor Pyg would be a callback to classic slasher films. A man in a creepy mask, carrying a weapon, murdering hapless citizens at his pleasure. There could be low-budget takes as Pyg murders his victims, with most of the screen time devoted to the anticipation of the kill, before we finally get to hear Pyg’s nightmarish squeal of laughter.
2 Scarecrow
It would’ve been a crime to make this list without including one of the most iconic Halloween-themed villains that Batman has ever faced. Jonathon Crane is a man obsessed with fear. Creating a gas that would cause anyone to witness their worst fears before their eyes, Jonathon would generally unleash this chaos at will, fascinated by the results of his work.
This special could feature a slow reveal of Crane’s reasons, instead focusing on his victims who have been lured into an experimental room, either under false pretenses or being forced against their will. It could see multiple scenes of people having to confront their fears and the different responses each person takes as well as their ultimate fate. However, all will not be well when Scarecrow makes his presence known.
1 The Batman Who Laughs
One of the sickest and most twisted individuals that Bruce Wayne has ever faced is the darkest reflection of himself. In an alternate timeline, Batman is forced to kill the Joker to save innocent lives. The last joke that Joker ever plays is infecting Batman with an incurable strain of the Joker serum, causing Bruce to slowly lose his mind and take on the personage of the Joker.
A focus could be an adaptation of the Batman Who Laughs’ origin story, seeing his slow descent into madness. Dark scenes such as Bruce bursting into laughter at the wrong time and realizing just how little time he has left. And the scene where he calls his family together, seemingly to say goodbye, only for him to slaughter all of them after giving into madness. This would not be for the faint of heart, but it would live in viewers’ nightmares for a long time.
