50 Greatest Super Villains In Comic Book History

26. Scarecrow

(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow Editor)

If you’re looking for a villain who’s received a big boost in stature from mediums outside of comics, look no further than Dr. Jonathan Crane. Thanks to his star turn in Batman Begins and memorable roles in some of the Arkham video games, the Scarecrow has gone from just another member of Batman’s rogues gallery to a household name in the first part of the 21st Century.

It’s not like he doesn’t deserve it. Along with providing a great visual element no matter how artists change up his character design, the Scarecrow allows artists to cut loose thanks to the hallucinations caused by his fear toxins. Want to see nightmare fuel come to life? This is your guy.

Crane also has a yin-yang relationship with Batman unmatched by anyone else besides the Joker. He wants to find out what makes the Dark Knight afraid, no easy task considering the insanity that Bruce Wayne has seen. At the same time, the Scarecrow needs the rush that fear gives him, and the only thing that can provide it at this point is Batman himself.

A lot of people claim to enjoy being scared, but generally only when they have some say in when and how it will happen. Scarecrow lives for bringing that sensation to people on his own terms, and that makes him truly worthy of inclusion here even if it took methods other than comics to pull it off. His recent inclusion on Gotham means his legend should only continue to grow.

Next: No. 25: A physical match for the Man of Steel