10 Best Batman Villains You Totally Forgot Existed

One day, a conman called Joseph Blackfire discovered a blood ritual that allowed him to cheat death. Craving further power, Blackfire decided to form an army to help him take over America. Impersonating a deacon, he welcomed hundreds of homeless Gothamites into his so-called commune. Using demagoguery and drugs, Blackfire transformed his followers into brainwashed soldiers.

Blackfire's sway was so powerful, he even managed to break Batman, turning him into one of his disciples. By the time the Dark Knight broke free from the deacon's control, Blackfire had assembled hundreds of converts and compelled them to kill Gotham's mayor and city council. With the city on the verge of collapse, Batman fled, believing his home was a lost cause.

What makes Blackfire so dangerous is how he can turn vulnerable people into psychopaths with little effort. Even though they murder in Blackfire's name, they are still victims. This made it very difficult for Batman since he was forced to battle hundreds of Blackfire's men, knowing full well they were not responsible for their actions.

He may have had a brief appearance in the comics but rarely has anyone made such an impression or left Batman so broken as Deacon Blackfire.