Batman Symbolism: What 15 Most Famous Villains Really Mean

7. Ra's Al Ghul - Same Quest, Different Methods

Ra's al Ghul is someone who is on a quest quite similar to that of Batman's - one that aims to eradicate crime - but he takes his to a more ideological extreme. Born 700 years ago in a tribe of nomads in one of the Arabian deserts, Ra's gained life longevity from the Lazarus Pit and has spent his life studying to increase both his physical and mental capabilities. As a result, he is both a genius and an incredible fighter, and he has earned himself the position of leader of the League of Assassins. He seeks to purge humanity of crime and corruption via the method of mass genocide - a completely opposing method to Batman - and yet he wants to recruit the hero as his successor (which, of course, Batman opposes). He matches Batman intellectually and matches or even surpasses him in terms of his combat skills, so there are comparisons to be made on both those fronts. And, while their aims in life are similar, the way they go about it couldn't be more different and Ra's represents the opposite side of the crime-fighting spectrum.