Batman: All 6 Scarecrow actors ranked from worst to best

3. Jeffery Combs

When Batman: The Animated Series was reinvented as The New Batman Adventures in 1997, almost every character got a makeover, including the Scarecrow.

Voiced by horror legendary actor Jeffrey Combs, this interpretation offered a different take to Dr. Crane than the one most fans may recognize. Instead of the iconic scarecrow outfit associated with most iterations of the villain, this variation appeared as a chilling, zombie-like character, lurking in the shadows, wearing a decrepit suit and a noose as a neck-tie.

Combs’ version of the villain appears several times throughout the series. What’s also interesting about this version is that he creates a new strain of his fear toxin that eliminates fear entirely – when he uses it on Batman, this results in an even darker, more reckless Caped Crusader.

Perhaps it’s because Combs is best known for horror films, but he delivers a much darker take, with a chilling voice, compared to the previous iterations – and, while it deviates considerably from the norm, it ultimately pays off, which is why he ranks considerably high on this list.

What’s also interesting to note in the various Batman iterations is that, in addition to portraying the Scarecrow in The New Batman Adventures, Combs also had supporting roles in the first season of Gotham, as well as another animated series, Batman: The Brave and The Bold.