In Batman’s world, the villains are by far the most compelling draw of the bunch. Some say that the only way to judge a hero’s strength is to see the villains he has to face. These villainous vixens of Gotham aren’t usually in the spotlight when people are ranking Batman’s threat list, but they’re as dangerous and deadly as any old crazy clown. Don’t ever make the mistake of underestimating them. It might be the last one you’ll ever make. Check out our list of the wicked women in the Batman canon!
Harley Quinn
Don’t you start thinking that Harley’s just ‘Mister J’s sidekick! She was created for Batman: The Animated Series by Paul Dini and is one of the very few characters who have successfully made the jump from TV to comics. Though some think of her as nothing but a minion for her puddin’, she works very independently. Sure, she does most everything to win Joker’s favor (*wink*), but that doesn’t take away from her deadliness.
Must Read: “Mad Love” by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm
Sofia Gigante
‘The Long Halloween’ was the first Batman trade paperback I bought and it’ll always have a special spot on my shelf and in my heart. As a big fan of The Godfather movies, reading ‘The Long Halloween’ convinced me jump into the world of comics, and the rest is history. Sofia Gigante may not have any powers, but as the daughter of mob boss Carmine Falcone and the leader of the Falcone crime family, who needs powers?
Must Read: “Batman: The Long Halloween” and “Batman: Dark Victory” by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
Catwoman
Selina Kyle aka Catwoman may be known for her on-again, off-again ‘relationship’ with the Dark Knight, but don’t let that take away from her image as a skilled cat burglar. Highly independent and very conflicted about her past, Catwoman is more than just a meowing minx.
Must Read: “Catwoman: When In Rome” by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, and the whole of Ed Brubaker’s fantastic run
Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva’s one of the deadliest assassins in the world of DC Comics and she’s one of the select few who trained Batman herself. She also trained Tim Drake, the third Robin, and her connection to Cassandra Cain, the second Batgirl, makes for very interesting stories. If Batman says that you “may well be the best fighter alive”, where else do you go from there?
Must Read: “Birds of Prey” by Gail Simone
Disclaimer: When Googling ‘Birds of Prey’ and ‘Lady Shiva’, any trauma you might receive by seeing the disaster of a TV show is no fault of ours.
Talia al Ghul
Talia is more than just the heir to a powerful criminal empire that spans across the globe. Whatever it is she shares between Batman is the very definition of a ‘love-hate relationship’. For every good deed she does for her ‘beloved’, she goes around and strikes twice as hard at him. With zero qualms about killing, it’s no surprise that no one in the Bat-Family trusts her.
Must Read: “Batman, Incorporated” by Grant Morrison
Poison Ivy
Dr. Pamela Isley, a very passionate Botanical Biochemist, turned into Poison Ivy, one of Batman’s most famous foes. Sadly, the canon is lacking in great Poison Ivy stories. This is really confusing because with her fantastic abilities to control flora and men using plant pheromones, she could be one of Batman’s greatest enemies. Still, the dangerous mother of nature is not to be messed with.
Must Watch: Batman and Robin
Must Read: The ‘Fruits of the Earth’ arc in “No Man’s Land”
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