Not Even Real DC Fans Could Name These Batman Characters. Can you?
- by Ioanna Micha
- – on
- in Movies and TV
There have been many Batman portrayals throughout the years, and for this reason, it's safe to assume that each generation has its own Batman. From the 1980s onward, we have actor Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), Val Kilmer in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995), George Clooney in Joel Schumacher's Batman and Robin (1997) Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005) The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Ben Affleck in Zack Snyder's Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017) and last but not least David Mazouz in Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019).
Of course, with every Batman adaptation, we have more villains, love interests, allies and enemies for each man that puts on that Batman suit. Why are there so many Batman movies though? Is there something about Batman that we just love seeing over and over again?
Perhaps it's his moral code. Perhaps it's his determination to see Gotham City safe even though no one gave him that difficult responsibility in the first place. Or perhaps it's all of these reasons combined! We can't really say.
So, let's see how many real Batman fans are out there! Let's start having fun by naming as many DC characters from Batman story-lines as we can!
Name this character
We've all seen her face with this character make-up these past 3 years (at least) even if we haven't watched David Ayer's Suicide Squad (2016). She is no other but Margot Robbie and we love every role she does including this one. So, it may not come as a surprise that, according to IMDb, "she did not need to submit a demo reel or audition for [this] role in Suicide Squad (2016) because this was offered to her" and we can totally understand why! She has everything that is needed! So, does the name of this particular character come to mind?
Name this character
Batman has got to be one of the most famous superheroes to be created to this day. We love Batman because unlike Superman, for instance, he doesn't have superpowers. He is a guy that has trained himself to be a hero. When Christian Bale was asked about the character of Batman he said: "'I've never felt like the Batman character in the films was given as much time as any of the villains. The villains were always the most interesting characters, too. Batman has always been this very bizarre, almost blind character running through the middle of the story'" and that is definitely a new way to see it! So do we remember Batman's real name?
Name this character
Who is Batman without his butler? Besides being an awesome father figure for Bruce, this character also helps him be the best version of Batman he can be. This guiding character is a signature character for Michael Caine in films by Christopher Nolan. Specifically, "in every film where Caine and Christopher Nolan make a collaboration, Caine's character either assists, guides, trains or educates the protagonist of each film [...]. For 'The Dark Knight trilogy', Caine plays a butler to the Wayne family, where he supports, nurtures and loves the main character Bruce Wayne" (IMDb). So, does the name of this loving and caring father figure come to mind?
Name this character
As any other superhero, Batman has many enemies. Gotham, after all, isn't the perfect city. It has a lot of issues and this is why Bruce Wayne assumed the identity of Batman: for the good of Gotham City. One of these villains is this character. In this rendition she is portrayed by Uma Thurman. Perhaps this wasn't one of her most famous roles but she has said, according to IMDb, that "I've been doing this [acting] for years and years and years, and people say things nice and they say things mean, and it's just like, whatever. You take the good with the bad" which is a great outlook in such a profession. So, do we remember the name of this character?
Name this character
This character is included in Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin (1997). She is Batman's other sidekick, besides Robin, and she helps him keep Gotham City safe (that's why her superhero name is Batgirl of course!). Interestingly enough, according to Wikipedia, "the Motion Picture Anthology incarnation of [this character] was Alfred Pennyworth's niece rather than being Commissioner Gordon's daughter like in the comics" (wow didn't see that one coming!). She is portrayed by Alicia Silverstone, the actress who 2 years prior was playing a spoiled girl from Beverly Hills (now that is range!). So does the name of this character come in mind?
Name this character
Let's go back to villains for a while! This character is included in David Ayer's Suicide Squad (2016) and he is portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. According to Wikipedia, "the character has a rare genetic condition giving him a crocodilian appearance. He is a sideshow wrestler who developed into a dangerous and animalistic criminal in Gotham City" and we couldn't have described him any better ourselves. He is a character that has his life turned around by a condition that was out of his hands the same as Firefly, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy. So, does the name of this character come to mind?
Name this character
This character is not one that is actually from Gotham City, but he is behind many of the city's problems as we've seen throughout the years. It is safe to say, therefore, that this character is yet another enemy of Batman. Before he was his enemy, this character trained Batman in combat because he wanted Bruce to join him and his League of Shadows. A fun fact about this character is that, according to Wikipedia, his name translates as "The Head of the Ghoul" or, in a rougher translation, "The Chief Demon." (wow didn't see that one coming!). So, remember his name?
Name this character
Another character from Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995) but this time we're focusing on Batman's sidekick Robin. He is portrayed by Chris O'Donnell, but it wasn't always going to be that way because it was between him and another actor. It turns out that, according to IMDb, "the final choice for the role of Robin in Batman Forever (1995) came down between him and Leonardo DiCaprio. Kids in the key demographic were polled as to which of the two would win in a fight. O'Donnell beat DiCaprio out" (wow didn't see that one coming!). So, remember the name of this character?
Name this character
This character is portrayed by Aaron Eckhart in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008). He is not one of Batman's enemies in the beginning since he is someone that works for the good of Gotham. After something happens, however, this character changes his outlook on life completely. As a result, he too becomes a threat to Gotham's well-being, and so the end he finds is not exactly idyllic if we might add. Further, Aaron Eckhart was very excited about being part of this film. According to IMDb, he said: "Yeah, I've done a lot of smaller stuff before, so it's nice to be in something that people actually see" (that's hilarious!). Remember his name?
Name this character
Would Batman be the same without the help of the Gotham City Police Department Commissioner? We don't think so! In Nolan's trilogy this character is portrayed by the awesome Gary Oldman. And it seems that someone else agrees! According to IMDb, "prominent film critic Mark Kermode, in reviewing The Dark Knight, wrote, 'the best performance in the film, by a mile, is Gary Oldman's ... it would be lovely to see him get a[n Academy Award] nomination because actually, he's the guy who gets kind of overlooked in all of this'." That nomination didn't happen even though we wished it did. So does the name of this character come to mind?
Name this character
This character has got to be one of the most memorable ones in the DC universe history. Both in the comics and in other media adaptations, this character is one of the biggest threats in Gotham City because of his chaotic behavior. Among every adaptation up to this point, Heath Ledger's performance in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008) is the best one. According to IMDb, Ledger "received more than thirty posthumous accolades for his critically acclaimed performance as [this character], the clown prince of crime, in the film, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor" being one of them. Remember his name?
Name this character
This character is part of Tim Burton's version of Gotham City. He is portrayed by Danny DeVito and he is one of Batman's enemies. An interesting piece of trivia about this production of Batman is that "of all actors from the Tim Burton / Joel Schumacher Batman films, DeVito (as actor, producer or director) has had the most affiliation with other actors from the films" (IMDb). Well seeing that he's a pretty funny guy, we can't say that we're surprised. Even though he was part of one film alone, we have to say that his performance is memorable to this day. So, remember his name?
Name this character
Let's go back to another villain from the Batman universe. This guy is included in Bruno Heller's TV Series Gotham (2014-2019). He started out as part of the human race and after an experiment went wrong he developed a sort of superpower. After that, Dr. Hugo Strange wanted to have him in his team of superhuman villains which eventually happened. We have to say that this character is quite impressive. After all, according to Wikipedia "IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time List ranked [this character] as #67." So, does the name of this particular character come to mind?
Name this character
We are introduced to this character in Christopher Nolan's first installation Batman Begins (2005) but she was portrayed by Katie Holmes. In the second film, the character is brought to life by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who, according to IMDb, "returned to work 6 months after giving birth to her daughter Ramona in order to begin filming The Dark Knight (2008)." One thing didn't change of course from one film to the next and that is Bruce Wayne's feelings about this character. She is essentially his love interest, but they don't end up together in the third and final film. So, does her name come to mind?
Name this character
This character helps Bruce Wayne in actualizing his identity as Batman. According to Wikipedia, he "was responsible for creating Bruce's first vigilante suit" and that is why he has such a prominent role in the franchise. Besides the suit, this character has provided Bruce Wayne with the batmobile and many other things that he uses as Batman to protect Gotham City. In the Nolan trilogy he is portrayed by Morgan Freeman. We have also seen him in the TV series Gotham (2014-2019) as a younger version of himself and he is portrayed by Chris Chalk. So, does the name of this character come to mind?
Name this character
This character is one of the most famous love interests of Bruce Wayne / Batman. Even though they are attracted to each other this character doesn't abide by society's laws. According to Wikipedia, this character "was ranked 11th on IGN's list of the 'Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time' and 51st on Wizard magazine's '100 Greatest Villains of All Time' list. Conversely, she was ranked 20th on IGN's 'Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time' list." All in all, she is one of the most famous characters in the Batman universe. Does the name of this particular character come in mind?
Name this character
This character was first introduced to us in Tim Burton's Batman (1989). She is a journalist and a love interest of Bruce Wayne. Considering that she is portrayed by Kim Basinger we can understand why she gets Bruce's attention. What may come as a surprise, however, is that according to IMDb, Kim Basinger "replaced Sean Young for [this] role of in Batman (1989)" (wow didn't see that one coming!). Well, it would have been interesting to see what Sean Young would have done with the role, but we are happy with what we got with Basinger's performance. Remember her name?
Name this character
This character is one of the main (if not the main) villains in Christopher Nolan's 3rd installment from his Batman Trilogy The Dark Knight Rises (2012). He is portrayed by Tom Hardy, which if we're being honest was an excellent casting choice. According to IMDb, "Hardy's menacing physique and his character's scrambled, hard-to-distinguish voice became a major discussion point as the film was released" and we can totally understand why! He may not be the most memorable villain in Nolan's trilogy (because Heath Ledger's Joker has that spot for eternity) but he definitely is the second one! Remember his name?
Name this character
This character is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul. According to Wikipedia, she "has been written to be an athlete at the peak of physical conditioning and has been trained in many forms of martial arts. She was educated in the arts and sciences, and she holds advanced degrees in biology, engineering, and business as an MBA. ... Often underestimated, [she] is also an excellent hand-to-hand fighter." So it makes sense that a character as such can fool and defeat Batman. She enticed him and in general wins him over without him realizing until it's too late. Remember her name?
Name this character
This character appears in the final installment of Christopher Nolan's trilogy The Dark Knight Rises (2012). He was "a detective working for the Gotham City Police Department who became a trusted ally to Batman during Bane's run of the city. After the presumed loss of Batman, he resigned from the GCPD and inherited the Batcave after receiving the coordinates from Batman" (Wikipedia). Even if he is around for one film alone he is a very likable character that embodies many wonderful ideas and emotions. We love him for his kind heartedness and his will to protect others. So remember the name of this character?
Name this character
What is Jim Carrey doing in a Batman film one might ask. Well, he is playing an awesome villain! To be more exact, he is included in Joel Schumacher's casting list, and we gotta say he was a great casting choice. What may come as a surprise is that Jim Carrey was not the initial casting choice. According to IMDb, "Carrey brought his manic antics onto the set of Batman Forever (1995), replacing Robin Williams as" the character portrayed in the image. Hilarious as ever, but with an unnerving twist, Carrey executed the role perfectly! So, does the name of this particular character come to mind?
Name this character
Let's continue with another villain from Batman's universe and specifically from Christopher Nolan's first installment Batman Begins (2005). He is as bad as it gets and he is a brilliant and intelligent mastermind. This combination is very dangerous and we can see that in Cillian Murphy's terrific performance. When he accepted this role, he said, according to IMDb, "I can have a bit of fun with it, too, because my only motivation really is being bad. I love doing proper dramatic character studies, but it's also good to have a bit of fun, dress up and stuff." So, remember his name?
Name this character
This character is included in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995). She is portrayed by Nicole Kidman, who, according to IMDb, "replaced Rene Russo as [this character] in Batman Forever (1995) when Val Kilmer replaced Michael Keaton" (wow didn't see that one coming!). She is the smart and beautiful woman that gets the attention of Bruce Wayne. In other words, she is yet another love interest for Batman (after all women are his weakness that's why a running joke is that he is unable to keep his secret identity secret when he is near them!). So, does the name of this character come to mind?
Name this character
For every fan out of the Caped Crusader out there of Bruno Heller's TV series Gotham (2014-2019) this character is an unforgettable presence. So, it may come as a surprise to find out that she is "a fictional character created by producer and screenwriter Bruno Heller exclusively for the television series Gotham, and played by actress Jada Pinkett Smith" (Wikipedia). A perfect fit for Gotham City in every way imaginable we thought that this character was also included in the comic books as well. Well, no worries at least we got to see Jada Pinkett Smith's awesome performance! Remember this character's name?
Name this character
This character has a very interesting character arc. Although he is a villain from start to finish, the ways in which he is changed throughout the episodes in Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019) is very intriguing. A fun observation about this character has been made by Wikipedia. Specifically, this character "acts as a villainous prototype to Batman, and shares several similarities with him: He is a billionaire and philanthropist who wants to help clean up Gotham City, although has a more sinister agenda unlike wanting to do it for good like Bruce Wayne. Has a background in training and martial arts similar to Batman's backstory." Come to think of it, this actually makes sense. So, remember his name?
Name this character
This is another character from Bruno Heller's TV series Gotham (2014-2019). According to Wikipedia, he "takes his job as a police captain very seriously, unlike most members of the Gotham City Police Department. [...]. He can be very stubborn and abides by the law at all times. He does not believe any suspect is innocent or guilty until official evidence has been given; despite this, [he] is not above apologizing or admitting when he is wrong." He is a character that we root for in the beginning, but unfortunately for him things don't go as planned and he ends up becoming another villain in Gotham City. Remember his name?
Name this character
This character is introduced to us early on in Bruno Heller's TV Series Gotham (2014-2019). He is working for Fish Mooney. One could even argue that he is her most trusted partner in crime. According to Wikipedia, although somewhat brutish, this character's tough exterior hides a sentimental and emotional side. This side is revealed when he breaks down in tears over Fish Mooney's loss and Tabitha Galavan's sustained medical issues and hospitalization. "[He] was deeply loyal to Fish, demonstrating more loyalty than usual for a mobster" and perhaps this is what makes him such a likable character. So, remember his name?
Name this character
Lastly, another character from Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019). As it is stated in Wikipedia, this character is "depicted as a remorseless assassin and hitman who [makes] a tally mark somewhere on his body for every person he [takes his life]. In addition, [he] is often accompanied by a group of leather-wearing female contract killers. He regularly serves as an enforcer of crime lord Carmine Falcone. When the latter eventually retires and leaves Gotham City, [his] allegiances shift to gangster Oswald Cobblepot" also known as the Penguin. Overall, we have to say that this character is very funny. So, remember his name?
Name this character
Let's focus on another villain from Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019). Appearing in the beginning as a magician, people around him don't see him as a threat, which is, as it turned out, a great mistake. This is because, as it is stated in Wikipedia, this character is "a highly trained tactician, having created an elaborate revenge plan on Gordon while at the same time, managed to avoid being caught by Gordon and the GCPD. To get his sister back while she was at the GCPD, he had the Terrible Tweeds attack the officers as a diversion to [take] her."Master plan indeed. Remember his name?
Name this character
This character is introduced to us in Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019). She is a friend of Selina Kyle and at some point due to an accident she gains a superpower that allows her to withstand the effects of fire. According to Wikipedia she has "fireproof physiology. As a result of being set on fire, her fireproof suit melted on [her] body, allowing her to survive high temperatures and even touching liquid metal without any harm." She then, teams up with villains like the Penguin becoming part of a team that does his bidding. So, does the name of this character come to mind?
Name this character
This character is Carmine Falcone's son. After he decided that his father's world wasn't going to be his own he changed his name so as not to be associated with the Falcone way of life. Also according to Wikipedia, this character "initially appeared to be kind, caring and charming, however, in truth, he was actually arrogant, hostile and rude towards individuals he disliked for no apparent reason" which is definitely an accurate description of his personality. These personality traits eventually lead to him losing his life on his wedding day. So, does the name of this character come to mind?
Name this character
This character is Edward Nygma's love interest in Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019). When Chelsea Spack, the actress portraying her, was asked her opinion on her character's feelings fro Nygma, she said according to IMDb, "the human heart is so complicated. If only things were black and white, it would be so much easier. All I have to say is Edward Nygma drives her crazy. He frustrates her, but there's something about him that she is intrigued by. I think that it's something she doesn't want to admit, and I think she doesn't quite understand it. There's something there that she can't put her finger on" and we couldn't agree more! Remember her name?
Name this character
This character is Carmine Falcone's daughter. We think in the beginning that she is unlike her father, but it turns out that it is even worse. According to Wikipedia, this character is "actually an arrogant, egotistic, hypocritical, dishonorable, manipulative, selfish, ruthless, and immoral to the point that she feels little to no guilt or remorse for her actions." We see all that in the way she treats Jim Gordon. She creates a master plan to take revenge against him. This plan is so elaborate that she even starts dating him in order to erase any possible suspicion he could have had against her. So, remember her name?
Name this character
This character is yet another love interest for Jim Gordon in Bruno Heller's TV Series Gotham (2014-2019). Interestingly enough according to Wikipedia "although [this character] is an original character from the show, in DC comics, Vicki Vale, whose surname [she] shares, is also a journalist. Producer Ken Woodruff confirmed that [this character] is the aunt of Vicki Vale in the series and that she was a big influence on Vicki. " She only appeared for a few episode's but she was a great addition to the show's story-line for Jim. Does the name of this particular character come in mind?
Name this character
This character is the medical examiner in the GCPD and Jim Gordon's love interest in the beginning of Bruno Heller's Gotham (2014-2019). That, however, was not her role in the Comic books. According to Wikipedia, she is "portrayed as having been a close friend of Thomas Wayne, Bruce's father. She takes it upon herself to look after Bruce after the boy's parents [lost their lives] , often acting with the family butler Alfred Pennyworth as a parental figure and guardians. [...] She disapproves of Bruce's vigilantism, and feels partly responsible for his transformation into Batman." Does everyone remember her name?
Name this character
This character is introduced to us as Theo Galavan's sister. Together they had to cleanse Gotham City. She eventually goes against her brother and teams up with Barbara Kean. With that in mind it seems that this character was created for the show. According to Wikipedia, "in DC Comics, Tigress is a legacy super-villain persona passed down through the original's bloodline. However, [this character] appears to be an original creation of the show, that only shares her alias with the previous versions." She goes on to form a relationship with Barbara and later on with Butch Gilzean. Remember her name?
Name this character
This character is James Gordon's partner at the Gotham City Police Department in Bruno Heller's TV series Gotham (2014-2019). When Jim first arrives, this character doesn't exactly play by the rules or do everything by the books. He has given up on Gotham until Jim becomes his partner and his faith in the City is renewed. An interesting fact about this character is that according to Wikipedia "whenever he leaves the employ of the GCPD, he tends to end up a bartender. As he puts it, it combines his two favorite things 'drinking and ignoring people'" (that's hilarious!). Remember his name?
Name this character
This character is from Bruno Heller's TV Series Gotham (2014-2019). According to Wikipedia "in the comics, [he] is a powerful Mafia chieftain nicknamed 'The Roman,' where his stranglehold over Gotham City's organized crime is referenced as 'The Roman Empire' at least once." In this TV adaptation the character is again King of the underworld in Gotham City, but it's not specified by a specific name. He just has the respect of everyone involved in this type of life. Although he leaves at some point, he eventually gets back for a bit which brings about the loss of his life. So, does his name come to mind?
Name this character
This character is mostly developed in Bruno Heller's TV Series Gotham (2014-2019). Although according to Wikipedia, "she is known to be the first wife of James Gordon and mother of his children" this is not exactly what happens in the series. She begins as James Gordon's serious girlfriend, but they eventually break up at some point in season 1. The character doesn't take it very well. As we've seen countless times she constantly tries to win him back, but that's not the case even if we see there are some leftover feelings there at times. Does the name of this particular character come to mind?
Name this character
Besides enemies like Poison Ivy that revel in the life of crime in Gotham City, there are other types of villains in Batman's universe. This character, for example, is a doctor who uses his scientific knowledge to conduct experiments on people. Some of them were very successful and others not so much (either because nothing happened or because the outcomes were unpredictable and impossible to control). A fun fact about this character is that, according to Wikipedia, he is "one of Batman's first recurring villains and is also one of the first Batman villains to discover the hero's secret identity." So, does his name come to mind?