5 Obscure Batman Villains We Want To Make a Comeback

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Batman already has a huge collection of villains, so you’d assume we’ve seen the last of some of them. While many are best left in the past, a few actually have interesting ideas that could be explored further. They might have cool costumes or powers, but haven’t quite lived up to their potential. No one’s necessarily clamoring for their return, but they could still be developed into stronger, more compelling characters in the future.

It might look like I’m just listing characters I’d like to see return, but that’s not quite right. I truly believe a character can be successful even if their first appearance wasn’t strong. While some of these characters weren’t necessarily groundbreaking or villainous, they had potential, and that’s what matters most.

5) The Mime

Camilla Ortin, known as The Mime, was a small-time thief who used mime as a disguise – a fitting gimmick given her name. She briefly appeared in 1987 and was killed in 2003. Despite her short career, her character and costume are memorable enough that she could potentially return as a villain.

Instead of the typical ‘serial killer’ backstory for revamped characters, let’s consider making her a master thief. Perhaps she could be a rival to Catwoman, known for quiet, profitable heists. And does anyone else think she bears a resemblance to Punchline, the Joker’s recent follower?

4) Cornelius Stirk

Cornelius Stirk is a truly disturbing villain – a cannibalistic serial killer who also happens to have telepathy and the ability to create illusions. It’s odd he hasn’t used his powers to change his appearance! He’s only appeared once after the New 52 reboot and hasn’t been seen since. Instead of reinventing him, just bring him back as the same terrifying killer, but amplify his abilities with his powers.

The X-Men villain Mastermind immediately springs to mind – he often appeared as a more attractive man to try and impress Jean Grey. Making Stirk a similar character to Mastermind, but for Batman, would be a great way to reimagine him. Giving him a new first name and modernizing the character could also work well.

3) Abattoir

Abattoir was a serial killer famously killed by Azrael while Batman was in that role. Like many others, he targeted his own family, believing he could extend his life by taking theirs. While the character is well-conceived, bringing him back to life presents a challenge. However, since some of his family members still live, resurrection seems like the most sensible path forward.

Bringing back a new relative of Arnold Etchison, the man known as Abattoir, could work. This new killer might even believe they are the original Arnold, reborn to stop their family’s deadly legacy. While Abattoir is one of Gotham’s simpler serial killers with a limited run, you could create a compelling mystery by having Bruce Wayne initially believe the original Abattoir has somehow returned to life.

2) Tally Man

The Tally Man is a unique villain – a hitman, not an assassin – who works for the Gotham Mob. He uses two pistols to collect debts. His unusual appearance, with a shifting size and distinctive colors, makes him a great candidate to return as a secondary villain, working under a bigger threat. Instead of being a major villain himself, he’d be a perfect enforcer for someone like Two-Face or the Mad Hatter.

We previously had another character working with The Great White Shark, but they didn’t last long. Let’s have the original character take on a similar role and team them up with someone new. This would be a fresh take on the concept, satisfy longtime fans, and create a more powerful group of villains for Batman to face.

1) Lock-Up

Everyone often criticizes Batman, calling him a controlling, authoritarian figure, but that description actually fits Lock-Up much better. He embodies the idea of arbitrarily policing and imprisoning people, and the character could really benefit from a modern update. While not necessarily needing a complete overhaul, as a character who transitioned from Batman: The Animated Series into the broader DC universe, Lock-Up deserves a more prominent role.

Lock-Up is a surprisingly versatile character – he could be great whether he’s actively fighting crime or working as a high-ranking guard in Arkham. Alternatively, putting him on a task force led by Commissioner Vandal Savage could open up some really compelling story possibilities. There’s a lot of potential with this intense and unhinged villain.

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2025-10-24 00:14