DC Comics Week: The top five villains of ‘Gotham’

Following on from the huge success of Smallville, is shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to hear that Warner Bros were actively exploring the idea of a Batman prequel series. A deal was then struck with Fox, which allowed Warner’s to finally release the original Adam West adventures on Blu-ray, in exchange for the television rights to each and every character within the Batman universe. Not a bad arrangement, considering that Fox’s previous contractual hold over the original series had been a been a big headache for both fans and studio executives for many years.

This resulted in the birth of Gotham, a dark combination of gothic horror and crime noir. As you might have assumed, the series chronicles the events that lead to the downfall of Gotham city and the rise of the Dark Knight. However, rather than focusing solely on a young Bruce Wayne, the show tells the story of multiple characters simultaneously from the perspective of James Gordon.

Gotham has definitely courted controversy on more than one occasion for its unique take on some of Batman’s most famous adversaries. While creative liberties have certainly been taken on the series, it has also undoubtedly given us some of the most unique and interesting interpretations we have ever had on screen. From an early version of Bane’s ‘venom’ drug, to a terrifying glimpse of the Joker’s origin, Gotham is wasting no time in establishing the future caped crusaders world.

Now, as part of THN’s DC Comics week we have examined the many, many villains of Gotham and ranked them in order of which has been the most effective, deadly and memorable. Check out THN’s top five Gotham villains below!

Beware of major spoilers!

5. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze

This is a character that has been infamously been dragged through the mud as a result of a little film called Batman and Robin. After his appearance in the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, he was drastically reinvented as a sympathetic villain with heart wrenching motivations for his actions. His introductory episode ‘Heart of Ice’ was so universally applauded by fans critics alike, that it went on to win an Emmy for outstanding writing in an animated program. This instantly secured Freeze as one of the most beloved antagonists of Batman’s entire rogue’s gallery.

Warner Bros then decided to capitalise on the popularity of the character by selecting him as the prime antagonist for the fourth live action film in the franchise. As you all know, it was Arnold Schwarzenegger who went on to play the titular role in Batman and Robin. After the astoundingly awful sequel flopped at the box office, it sent both the Batman film series and Mr. Freeze into cryogenic sleep for quite some time.

But, now the frosty villain has been awoken for a brand new interpretation on Gotham. While the characters origin story is actually remarkably faithful to the source material, it does feel like a slightly missed opportunity to tell this story around ten years before Bruce dons the cape and cowl. Regardless of this, the origin is executed brilliantly. Fries’ desperation to cure his wife Nora is appropriately heartbreaking and astoundingly written. On top of that, Mr. Freeze is perfectly realized in terms of visuals. The costume may look ever-so-slightly reminiscent of The Flash‘ Captain Cold, but it is every bit the Mr. Freeze that comic fans were expecting.

4. Jerome Valeska/The Joker?

From the moment it was first announced that Gotham would be delving into the backstory of Batman’s most famous villains, there was only one question on the lips of every fan…when will The Joker appear? This is a question that we have still not had an official answer to. However, the closest that we have come so far is with a character named Jerome. Jerome was introduced as the son of a travelling circus performer, before being revealed as the man who murdered his own mother.

Jerome quickly displayed psychotic tendencies including an incredibly Jokeresque laugh that will send chill down the spine of any viewer. After his short (but chaotic) stint as the leader of the Maniax, he was stabbed in the neck by Theo Galavan in a heroic effort to save Bruce Wayne (only to try and murder him later as part of a sacrificial revenge scheme). Jerome dies with a horribly disturbing smile on his face, as his impact is felt through a chilling reminder of his late fathers prediction “you will be a curse on Gotham. Children will wake from sleep screaming at the thought of you. Your legacy will be death and madness”.

This has left viewers with the impression that the real Joker will eventually reveal himself as a deranged individual inspired by Jerome and his maniax. However, further doubt has been cast over the true identity of Batman’s greatest enemy, due to the fact that it was recently hinted that Hugo Strange had resurrected the character. As of right now, it’s strongly assumed that Jerome will make a return appearance in season three. Although, even if the character doesn’t end up being the real deal, Cameron Monaghan’s maniacal performance alone deserves a place among some of the greatest screen incarnations of the Joker. Besides, with the mixed reaction to Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad, it certainly would not be surprising to hear that viewers preferred this version of the character anyway.

3. Theo Galavan/Azreal 

Theo Galavan is a villain that is unique among the other entrants on this list for one very special reason…he is not a character that originates in the pages of any DC Comics title. Although the character is supplemented with elements of Batman mythology in the final quarter of season two, James Frain’s conniving evildoer is predominantly an original creation.

Galavan met his untimely demise in the first half of Gotham’s second season, before being resurrected for a short time in the form of Batman villain/vigilante Azreal. However, in the time that he did spend among the world of the living, he managed to not only unleash some of Gotham’s most dangerous criminals, but he become mayor, manipulated the entire city and also very nearly killed Brice Wayne in a twisted revenge ritual. Not bad for a villain that didn’t even make it through an entire season of the gothic comic book show.

Frain’s portrayal of the secretive antagonist was both convincing and menacing. Although it was made clear from the outset that Galavan had anything but noble intentions, Frain gave him a charming charisma that made Galavan likeable and captivating on screen. While it’s a shame that Galavan was transformed into little more than a mindless zombie upon his return as Azreal, it was a huge treat for comic book fans to finally see that iconic costume in live action. Frain eventually exited the series for a second time after being blown up with a bazooka, so it’s looking incredibly unlikely that will he be making another reprisal (unfortunately). But, this is Gotham after all…

2. Edward Nygma/The Riddler

Edward Nygma’s inclusion on Gotham was always a decision that received a mixed response from fans and critics. The Riddler may not be the most well-known Batman villain to casual audience members, but he certainly has a wider awareness than the show’s writers gave him credit for. As a result, Gotham felt the need to overtly foreshadow his eventual transformation in a ludicrously silly manner. This included frequent camera shots focussing on the Nygma’s question mark mug, as well as constant riddles and puzzles at the expense of other characters’ patience and narrative relevance.

However, this soon changed when season two rolled around and Nygma was transformed from an awkwardly irritating side character, to one of the show’s most dangerous and calculating villains. After the future Riddler spent the majority of season one pining for the affection of his co-worker Kristin Kringle, things took an extremely dark turn when he murdered her abusive boyfriend and subsequently strangled ‘Miss Kringle’ upon discovering his crime. This lead to the long-awaited unravelling of Nygma’s mental state, which resulted in a horrifying split-personality and schizophrenia.

After accepting his destiny as a criminal mastermind, things got very interesting. By utilising his immense intelligence as a forensic scientist to conceal his multiple murder spree, Nygma was able to frame Jim Gordon and send him to prison for a crime he did not commit. This storyline was one of the most effectively executed elements of Gotham’s second season. Cory Michael Smith is a phenomenally talented actor and the decision to take advantage of that was a brilliant decision from the writers. His performance thus far has offered a fantastic alternative to Jim Carey’s more theatrical performance in 1995’s Batman Forever (the previous live action incarnation of the character). Nygma may be spending his time behind bars in Arkham now, but the character still has plenty more madness to offer in season three and beyond.

1. Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin

Few would disagree that Robin Lord Taylor’s devious and manipulative Penguin has been a highlight of Gotham from day one. After appearing in a guest role on AMC’s The Walking Dead, Taylor’s casting as a young Oswald Cobblepot was applauded from fans of all ages. Thankfully, the brilliant star has more than lived up to expectations. Taylor has delivered an interpretation that has both modernized and updated the character for 21^st century audiences. With Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy leaving the majority of Batman’s mainstream villains on the shelf (predominantly in favour of Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul and Bane), the Penguin’s last live action appearance was all the way back in 1992.

Danny DeVito portrayed the character in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns and received a positive response for his performance. However, some may argue that the gothic, monster-esque portrayal of the character was somewhat distant from his comic book origins as one of the richest and most heavily feared gangster’s in Gotham city. Fortunately, Gotham has restored Cobblepot in a more accurate interpretation of (arguably) Batman’s most despicable antagonist. Although, audiences have now had the pleasure of witnessing the Penguin at the beginning of his journey (with the show being a prequel and all), before working his way up the organised crime ladder to become the ‘king of Gotham’.

Taylor’s version of the character is considerably skinnier than fans are used to seeing him, but his repulsive and sleazy demeanour has made it easy to imagine him becoming the Penguin we are all familiar with. Although, the brilliantly unsettling thing about Cobblepot is that despite his long journey of betrayal, deceit and murder, he is strangely likeable. His ambition as a deprived individual eager to achieve success, is oddly relatable and has created a character that viewers actually want to root for. The fact that Gotham’s Penguin is such a wonderfully layered and complicated character, is just a testament to the amazing acting abilities of Taylor. We can only hope that his dastardly deeds continue throughout season three and beyond.

Gotham Season three is currently airing on Fox in the US and will premiere on Channel 5 in the UK later this year.