7 DC Villains We Want to See Fleshed Out on ‘Gotham’

Adam Salandra
TV DC
TV DC

Batman’s enemies make up some of the best villains in all the comic book universe, which is why it’s been so great to see their origin stories on Gotham.

The Fox drama, which takes a look at life in Gotham City before Bruce Wayne becomes The Dark Knight, is already giving us the origin stories of Batman’s biggest baddies, including Penguin, The Riddler, and Catwoman. But with such a rich rogues gallery to pull from, there are still plenty of evil characters that either haven’t been introduced yet or still need to evolve into the iconic villains they’re destined to become.

Let’s take a look at seven Batman villains who should wreak havoc on the next season of Gotham.

Killer Croc

Suicide Squad Killer Croc

Waylon Jones started as a crocodile wrestler before turning to a life of crime as Killer Croc. Born with a birth defect that causes him to live with a scaly skin condition called Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, Waylon was raised by his abusive alcoholic aunt until he murdered her and set his sights on ruling Gotham’s Underworld. What the villain lacks in intelligence, he makes up for in strength, not to mention reptilian abilities like being able to hold his breath underwater for a long time.

Croc was first introduced in the comics in 1983 as a physical threat for Batman and then gained more popularity during the Batman: The Animated Series era. The character most recently popped up in Suicide Squadplayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in the DC film. And while Croc has never officially appeared on Gotham, there were actually shots of what appeared to be his “proto version” in Season 3. After Hugo Strange’s monsters escaped from Indian Hill at the end of Season 2, a giant creature with spikes popped up as one of the freaks taking over the city. The character only made a minor appearance, however, so it may be time to flesh out one of Batman’s most frightening foes.

Harley Quinn

Batman The Animated Series  Harley Quinn

When it comes to characters that Gotham fans are eagerly hoping for, Harley Quinn may be at the top of the list. Originating as Arkham Asylum employee Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the psychiatrist eventually meets the Joker and becomes infatuated with his psychotic tendencies, leading her to become his devoted sidekick. Harley Quinn first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series and became even more popular after being played by Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad.

The character’s arrival on Gotham has been teased in interviews for years but has never come to fruition, and according to showrunner John Stephens, it never will. At 2016’s Comic-Con International, Stephens declared that we’d never see the actual character on the show, instead suggesting that we’d only see a “Harley Quinn-esque character” appear in the drama. The showrunner is likely referring to Barbara Kean, who many fans assumed was going to eventually turn into Harley because of the similarities between the two characters. Stephens admitted that Barbara’s character took on Harley’s qualities so that they didn’t have to actually write her into the show, but we’re still holding out hope to have her officially introduced in Season 5.

Clayface

Batman the Animated Series Clayface

There have been many different versions of the shape-shifting monster Clayface throughout Batman history, but the most well known is likely Basil Karlo. The former actor developed the ability to change shapes after a chemical accident, turning him into a serial killer with the ability to transform into other people. The monster is also able to grow to extreme sizes and drown people inside his body, making him one of the hardest villains to stop.

Clayface has actually appeared on Gotham twice, after debuting as one of Hugo Strange’s patients. He was hired to impersonate Jim Gordon in Season 2 of the series and returned in Season 3 to shape-shift into Penguin’s father. Both times were just quick moments used to further other villains’ storylines. He could have easily gone unnoticed by fans who may be less familiar with the character. Clayface brings so much chaos and mystery to every story he appears in and we’d love to see him in a more mainstream storyline in future Gotham episodes.

Bane

The Dark Knight Rises Bane

As an escaped convict from a South American prison, Bane became known as “The Man Who Broke the Bat” after breaking Batman’s back during the comic’s “Knightfall” story arc. The character’s abnormal strength is the result of being a test subject for the drug Venom, which he now uses as a super-steroid to increase his power.

Since first appearing in the comics in 1993, Bane has popped up in Batman: The Animated Series, 1997’s Batman & Robin, and 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. Fans thought he had made his way onto Gotham when police captain Nathaniel Barnes started to gain superhuman strength due to being infected by the Alice Tetch virus. Barnes was actually transforming into The Executioner, though, which means Bane has yet to make his debut on the Fox drama.

Deadshot

Deadshot

Floyd Lawton, better known as Deadshot, is considered the world’s greatest marksman and the second most lethal assassin in all of the DC universe (with the first being Deathstroke). His origin story, in which he grows up in an abusive household and accidentally kills the brother he idolized, would make a great addition to the list of character backstories we get to see on Gotham.

The character hit the mainstream when he was portrayed by Will Smith in Suicide Squad, and he also recently appeared on the CW’s Arrow and The Flash. With his childhood years being the perfect way to include him in Gotham, will we soon see him pop up on the Fox hit?

Man-Bat

man-bat

Dr. Kirk Langstrom was a scientist specializing in the study of bats who eventually transformed into a monstrous one himself after testing an extract designed to give him sonar senses. It’s when Man-Bat attempts to steal the chemicals he needs to reverse his transformation that he first encounters Batman, who fights to stop him.

Despite already seeing characters come back to life on Gotham, a giant bat creature may still be too over-the-top for the TV series. But we could certainly see a younger version of Dr. Langstrom appear on the show in order to get part of his origin story before he eventually transforms.

The Ventriloquist and Scarface

Batman the Animated Series Ventriloquist and Scarface (Gotham)

Arnold Wesker is a meek man with multiple personalities who executes his crimes through a 1920s gangster-styled puppet named Scarface. The dummy gives Wesker the strength and confidence that he otherwise doesn’t possess, allowing him to become a ruthless criminal mastermind. (Although he actually just sees himself as a victim being forced to break the law for Scarface.)

Wesker was a shy orphan after being scarred by witnessing his mother’s death and his origin story would fit perfectly into the world that Gotham has created. He landed in prison after he finally lost control of his repressed emotions in a bar fight and it’s there that he first meets the Scarface puppet. After murdering the man who carved the ventriloquist dummy, the two became inseparable and took off on a life of crime.

Gotham currently airs on FOX, Thursdays at 8PM.

Adam Salandra
Adam Salandra is an Entertainment Editor for FANDOM. When he's not covering the latest in pop culture, you can find him playing with his French Bulldog pup or hovering over the table of food at any social gathering.