10 Most Evil Batman Villains

1. Joker

Could it honestly have been anyone else?

The Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime himself, is Batman's greatest adversary. He's also the most evil villain in the character's rogues gallery, with Joker having engaged in the worst crimes known to man at various points over the years. His terror doesn't discriminate and neither does his evil; anyone could be a target - either the Dark Knight's closest allies, or even just an unfortunate passerby.

Joker may have once been portrayed as a comedic foil to Batman during the Silver Age, but his particular brand of evil was made apparent right from the start. He's a cold blooded murderer who's taken the lives of thousands, and yet he's somehow entertaining and terrifying at the same time.

Whether he's sparring with the Caped Crusader or taking his cruelty to whole new heights, there's a reason why the Joker is considered so scary. Both visually speaking and in terms of what he's gotten up to in the decades since his first appearance, no Batman villain could possibly compare in terms of just how much he exudes evil.

The lack of motive, alias or origin only compounds the Clown Prince's terror further, and Bat-fans wouldn't have it any other way.