There is no Batman: Villains

I have been on vacation is California for a week which was great. While there I was able to plug away and get a few pieces done. The first one I wanted to get is the first set of Batman villains redone as if Batman had really been permanently dead. I deliberately am choosing villains who have a history of attempting to reform. The death of Batman is inspiring. To some villains it is their only purpose being removed. With less reason to be bad, and no challenge in the form of Batman, they get pointed in the opposite direction. The first two I picked are Bane and the Riddler.

I wanted to use characters who go against the stereotype of brains being an equivalent to weakness. Bane is obviously a physical character as well as very intense, but his fame from breaking the bat for those who remember the story, is in his strategy. Not inherently evil, and inspired by Batmans death, he uses intimidation to his advantage. The carving of the symbol in his chest heals daily, so every time he goes out, he carves it again and again. For Riddler, I always felt he was depicted as too weak, despite him being one of my favorites from the animated series and from Arkham City. Even in Hush where they reveal him as partly masterminding the entire plan, he complains about not getting respect. As his greatest challenge is dead, he rededicates himself to crime fighting and detective work, a profession he dabbled in before the new 52 relaunch. Only this time, like Batman, he opts for a dramatic, and more physical appearance. No longer content to simply outwit his opponents, he wants to get a bit more physical this time around.