11 Years Later, a DC Fan Film Still Features the Best Version of an Iconic Batman Villain (The DCU Should Take Notes)

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Batman’s enemies consistently receive a lot of focus. In comics, The Joker is always a central figure, as seen with the current popularity of the Absolute Universe version. This holds true in movies and TV shows too, where the Joker has starred in multiple films and made numerous other appearances. While not every version of these villains is perfect, most are well-received. Other classic Batman foes like The Riddler, Catwoman, and Bane have also been given ample opportunities to shine and develop their characters in live-action adaptations.

It’s tough to bring every villain to life on screen, and some really need the perfect conditions to work. Honestly, too often they just don’t get the treatment they deserve. It’s actually a Batman villain who had their best portrayal in a fan film – and it was made over eleven years ago! If DC really wants to get these characters right, they should seriously look at what that project did. It really nailed it.

Deathstroke: Arkham Assassin Lets the Terminator Loose

The criminals who run Gotham City are constantly trying to eliminate Batman, because without him, they could easily control the city and amass a fortune. In the story Deathstroke: Arkham Assassin, Black Mask decides to take action himself, sending his henchmen to defeat the hero. But, like all those who’ve tried before, they fail miserably and return to Black Mask defeated. Unhappy with their failure, Black Mask begins to punish them when Deathstroke arrives, offering to fight Batman for a $50 million reward.

Black Mask doesn’t want to risk a large payment on someone unproven, so he demands a demonstration of skill from potential hires. This leads to a brutal fight after Deathstroke disarms himself, and he fights with full force. The violence escalates quickly, with the Terminator even resorting to deadly force. Black Mask is impressed by the display, and ultimately doesn’t care that his men were killed – he’s simply pleased to have another powerful asset to use against Batman. The story, Deathstroke: Arkham Assassin, concludes there, without showing the showdown between Deathstroke and Batman, but it provides a solid foundation for future DC Universe stories.

The DCU Needs to Give Deathstroke the Deadpool Treatment

For a long time, many people didn’t believe Deadpool could succeed as a movie. The first attempt in X-Men Origins: Wolverine confirmed their concerns. The problem wasn’t Deadpool himself, but trying to make him fit into a movie meant for younger audiences. His adult language and violent tendencies needed a more mature setting. Eventually, he found the right platform, and things have been going well ever since. Even the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe knows better than to try and change who Deadpool is.

Deathstroke hasn’t had a truly compelling portrayal in live-action yet. While the version seen in the Arrowverse is good, it’s often limited. In the DC Extended Universe, Slade Wilson has only made a few short appearances that didn’t quite live up to expectations. The Titans series comes closest to capturing the character accurately, but the overall story arc he’s involved in isn’t very strong. Recently, Arkham Assassin seems to be the only project that truly understands what makes Deathstroke tick, and the DC Universe should take note. This will help ensure the character is portrayed effectively when they develop his next live-action version, avoiding any missteps.

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2025-12-23 19:15