10 Darkest Batman: The Animated Series Episodes
7. Mad As A Hatter
The Mad Hatter was always physically the least threatening villain in Batman's Rogues Gallery, but he really sets a more disturbing psychological tone in his debut episode in the first season.
Jervis Tetch's obsession with Alice In Wonderland is already enough to make audiences weary, but what unfolds is his worrying romantic entitlement for a coworker at Wayne Enterprises.
Children might see Jervis as a hopeless romantic, but through adult eyes and ears, we're seeing the rise of a misogynistic stalker, whose own mental machinations allow him to justify kidnapping and entrapping poor Alice.
The threats Batman face every night tend to vary between Joker's poisonous gases, and a puzzle-diffused bomb set by Riddler. And while he does follow that same thread in this episode, fighting mind-controlled minions in giant theater costumes - the underlining motivations of the villain are what creeps us out.
Jervis is obsessed with his co-worker Alice because of her name and appearance - giving us a once-over glimpse into The Mad Hatter's psychology and the legitimate fears some women face when they encounter 'nice guys'.
The Mad Hatter stalking and entrapping women is terrifying enough, but the suggestion of him acquiring mind control as well makes him all the more sinister.