Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - 10 Ways It Could Save DC's Animated Films

4. Jack The Ripper As The Main Villain

Gotham By Gaslight Jack the Ripper
Warner Bros.

Serial killers are uniquely terrifying, so it's no surprise that the world harbours an equally unique fascination with them.

No murderer, in this regard, has managed to fascinate more than Jack the Ripper. The killer infamously stalked the streets of Whitechapel during the winter months of 1888, and the fact that he was never apprehended (owed more in part to police incompetence than it was any cunning on the killer's behalf), has only added to his notoriety. The 'Dear Boss' letter probably didn't help things either.

Anyway, the fact that Jack isn't a Batman villain in the traditional sense helps a great deal, not least for variety's sake, when you consider how many animated features have starred the same old characters again and again. Add to that a creepy aesthetic and an even creepier demeanour, and you have a foe as formidable as any other Batman adversary.

Advertisement
Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.