After 24 Years, One of Batman’s Most Underrated Villains Is Back and Deadlier Than Ever

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Batman is known for having some of the best villains in comic books. The Joker is incredibly famous, but characters like Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy are also truly memorable. Beyond these well-known foes – from the Penguin to Ra’s al Ghul – Batman constantly faces iconic villains. While the popular ones get all the attention, even lesser-known villains can be surprisingly effective. In fact, one villain who used to be a major threat to Batman is returning after nearly twenty-five years, and he’s more dangerous than ever before.

The Ventriloquist seems like a quiet, unassuming man, but he’s capable of being a brilliant criminal. This potential is expressed through Scarface, a tough gangster persona who communicates through a puppet. He was once a frequent opponent of Batman and a powerful figure in Gotham’s criminal world. Though often overshadowed by villains like the Penguin, he was a significant threat. However, he hasn’t been central to a major Batman story since 2001. Now, he’s returned, and the Ventriloquist is more dangerous than ever before.

Scars With An All-New Face

In the 2023 film Batman and Robin, a storyline called “The Quiet Man” begins with the release of Cyrus Mercer from prison. Driven by revenge, Mercer, a former elite soldier, had previously tried to sell a large quantity of silver to the crime boss Falcone. Several villains – Penguin, Two-Face, and the Ventriloquist – all tried to steal the silver. Penguin and Two-Face coordinated a precise operation, while the Ventriloquist launched a chaotic attack. Mercer ended up being blamed for the failed deal, and believing the criminals were responsible for his son’s death, he vowed to get his revenge.

Once Mercer was released from prison, he aggressively hunted down the Ventriloquist, targeting anyone connected to Penguin and Two-Face. However, Wesker, the Ventriloquist, had unexpectedly been released from Arkham Tower, seemingly recovered and with no memory of his past. To keep him safe from Mercer’s pursuit, Batman entrusted Wesker to his ally, Blair, and hid them both in Gotham. In issue #28, Mercer discovered their location, and Two-Face and Penguin cornered Wesker inside, hoping to prevent his escape. By the time Mercer arrived, Blair had encouraged Wesker to attempt a getaway.

It turned out it wasn’t Blair after all. When Batman checked on Wesker, he discovered Blair had been dead for over a week. This meant Wesker hadn’t seen the real Blair, but a new, false image created by his own mind. As Wesker ran through the city, the hallucination of Blair spoke with the voice and mannerisms of Scarface, hinting at a big, familiar plan – a return to his old ways.

Scarface Freed and Deadlier

Scareface always embodied Arnold Wesker’s most troubled and violent impulses. However, Scareface was also Wesker’s biggest vulnerability – without the puppet, Wesker was just a harmless, rambling man. He couldn’t execute his plans without the puppet to act as a front, but this new version of the character is different. Previously, Scareface needed a physical doll for Wesker to project onto. Now, the villainous persona has manifested as a woman Wesker trusts and can communicate with openly.

The Ventriloquist is now far more dangerous because his weakness, Scarface, has been moved entirely inside Wesker’s mind, making him impossible to target directly. Previously, a single special bullet could easily stop him, but now that vulnerability is gone. This means the Ventriloquist can act freely and pursue his evil plans without any immediate way to be neutralized. He’s completely unrestrained, and as a result, he’s become even more unpredictable and dangerous – potentially even more so than villains like Two-Face. He now needs to be stopped like any other criminal, making him a serious threat.

Batman and Robin #23 is on sale now!

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2025-12-17 03:11