Batman: What Is An 'Anti-Batman' Villain (And Which Is Strongest?)
Some Batman villains have modeled themselves in some way after the Dark Knight, but of all the "Anti-Batman" rogues, which one does the best job?
As Gotham's number one defender, Batman has had to take on a number of challenging foes, but perhaps none is more dangerous than an "Anti-Batman." From the deadly brainteasers of the Riddler to the utter chaos that is the Joker, Bruce Wayne's beloved city has had no short supply of villains ready to bend Gotham to their will. But among Batman's colorful rogues gallery exists a special type of antagonist: the Anti-Batman.
The Anti-Batman is a fandom term used in reference to villains who borrow some elements of Batman, whether it's in their costume, methods of operation, personal background or just general theme. While some villains like the Joker are seen as Batman's opposite, the Anti-Batman takes it a step further. Unlike most Batman baddies, Anti-Batmen serve as a mirror to Bruce Wayne and force him to confront dark truths about himself and his superhero career.
Over the decades, there have been quite a number of villains that have tried to crib Batman's style. At first glance some may not jump out as obvious Anti-Batmen, but deep down all these villains are in some way a dark mirror of the Caped Crusader. But the question has to be asked: Among all of the Anti-Batmen, which one is the best?
Two names that come up when fans discuss Anti-Batman villains are Prometheus and the Wrath. They may not be A-List antagonists, but more so than most of the Dark Knight's rogues, they were practically destined to be inverses of Batman. Both have beginnings that twist Batman's tragic origin, with each of their parents being criminals who were gunned down by police. They both took personal vows to destroy the law in the same way that Batman has vowed to uphold it. There's also something to be said for their choice of costumes that consist of padded armor, billowy capes, and helmets evocative of Batman's. As an added point in the Wrath's favor, he's the only Anti-Batman from this entire list to have an Anti-Robin on his side in the form of his partner, Scorn.
However, even though it seems the Wrath and Prometheus have everything that it takes to challenge Batman, they've never been able to eke out a place as recurring foes. In fact, the Wrath has almost completely disappeared in the past decade, with one of his last appearances being in 2014's Batman Eternal #4. Prometheus has fared better, reappearing in recent issues of Batman and Deathstroke Inc., but it's hard to consider him a good Anti-Batman if he has few, if any, notable attempts at destroying Batman. When it comes to Anti-Batmen, these two are sadly in the bottom tier.
There's something to be said for Batman villains who have taken the bat motif and corrupted it with their own animal imagery. But beyond being more obvious copycats (quite literally in Catman's case), these Anti-Batmen have proven themselves a bit more than Prometheus and the Wrath. Don't be fooled by the garish colors of Catman, he's one of the few villains of this list who has been able to fight Batman to a standstill, as seen in Secret Six #2. Killer Moth is no slouch either, being one of Batman's earliest recurring antagonists. In fact, Killer Moth was the forerunner for all other Anti-Batman rogues, with his reasoning that criminals need a protector of the night, too. More than any other villain here, Killer Moth has gone all-in on the "Bad Batman" schtick, having a Mothcave and a Mothmobile to boot.
Unfortunately, while the two have more solid reasons for being decent Anti-Batman villains, they aren't as committed as one would think an Anti-Batman should be. For example, after reinventing himself in Secret Six, Catman largely abandons traditional villainy and pivots towards mercenary work. As for Killer Moth, while he stays in the criminal life, he finds himself running up against other heroes such as Green Arrow and Batgirl rather than the Caped Crusader. Killer Moth and Catman are surprisingly good antagonists for the Dark Knight, but they don't have the fire in their bellies to truly challenge Batman.
The cream of the crop. The top of the mountain. The villains who have taken exactly the pages they need out of Batman's book and hurt him the most. When discussing the baddies who are most deserving of the Anti-Batman identifier, it comes down to two men alone: Bane and Hush. These two may not style themselves after Batman or rely on gadgetry, but their cold, calculating methods and commitment to destroying Bruce Wayne completely make them forces to be reckoned with.
What makes these two stand out compared to all the other villains listed is that they know how Bruce Wayne operates and have responded with elaborate plans of their own. Both of their most well-known storylines, Knightfall and Hush, involved schemes that incorporated Batman's greatest villains in a gambit to weaken Bruce before destroying him. Beyond their dramatic encounters with Batman, both villains have achieved a permanent place in the Dark Knight's rogues gallery and a notoriety with the fans that every other villain here has yet to garner. It's no doubt that the two contenders for the top Anti-Batman spot go to Hush and Bane.
But as the old saying goes, there can be only one. When it comes to a villain who knows how the Batman thinks, works and feels, Bane is the only one who has used every fiber of his being to hurt Bruce Wayne on a level other Anti-Batmen could only dream. Not only did he discover Batman's identity based on body language alone, he organized a breakout at Arkham Asylum and subsequently crippled the hero at his weakest, becoming one of the few villains to take Bruce out of the game. To make matters worse, Bane's torment doesn't just end with Bruce, it extends to the entire Bat-Family. In the City of Bane story arc, Bane kills the beloved Alfred Pennyworth right in front of Damian Wayne, showing that no one associated with Batman is safe from his wrath. His brute strength, keen mind and pure commitment puts him on a level far above any other Anti-Batman.
An Anti-Batman is a villain that borrows some key aspect of the Dark Knight to craft an antagonist that is Bruce's diametric opposite. A number of Batman villains certainly meet that qualification, but above all, Bane is the only one worthy of being known as the Anti-Batman.