List of The Batman characters
The following is a list of characters that have appeared in the television series The Batman, which ran from September 11, 2004 to March 22, 2008.
Main character
| Character | Actor | Description | Appearances |
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| Batman / Bruce Wayne |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name and follows the same premise and origin, in which his parents are murdered in front of him at a young age and swears vengeance on criminals. The show follows Batman having recently started his career as a masked vigilante. |
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Supporting characters
| Character | Actor | Description | Appearances |
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| Batgirl / Barbara Gordon |
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The character is based on the Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl from the comic books. Her origin in the two-part "Batgirl Begins" deviates slightly from the comics in her acting as Batman's sidekick prior to the introduction of Robin and being younger when starting than in the comics. "Artifacts" included sections set in the year 2027 with the character appearing as "Oracle" based on the current role Barbara Gordon fills in the comics. | Majority of the episode from season three through five. |
| Detective Ethan Bennett / Clayface |
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Bennett was created specifically for the series as one of three recurring police officers to interact with Batman. He is a supporter of the Batman and is Bruce Wayne's old friend within the Gotham City Police Department. At the end of the first season, fumes from the Joker's "Joker Putty" gives him the ability to reshape himself like clay. Taking the name Clayface, he becomes an outlaw. He remains Clayface until Season Four when he is cured.
While Bennett is not based on any of the comic-book Clayface characters, the ability he gains is that of the Silver Age version, Matt Hagen. |
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| Commissioner James Gordon |
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Based on the comic book character of the same name, he serves a similar function here as Batman's contact within the Gotham City Police Department. Unlike in the comics, the character is a later cast addition rather than a character from the beginning. According to producer Jeff Matsuda, Gordon is the young officer seen in the flashback in the episode "Traction". |
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| Robin / Nightwing / Dick Grayson |
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Based on the Dick Grayson version of Robin from the comic books, he also borrows elements from the Tim Drake version, such as costume design and computer aptitude. His origin in "A Matter of Family" follows Grayson's from the comic books with the exception of his being Batman's second sidekick but his first official sidekick. "Artifacts" included sections set in the year 2027 with the character appearing as Nightwing, based on the superhero the comic-book character as an adult. | Majority of the episode from season four and five. |
| Chief Angel Rojas |
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Rojas was created specifically for the show as one of three recurring police officers to interact with Batman. He is the head of the precinct where Yin and Bennett work and most of the episodes are set. He believes the Batman is the worst aspect of the criminal element and makes capturing him a priority. | Majority of the episode from season one and two. |
| Alfred Pennyworth |
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Based on the comic book character of the same name, he serves the same function as Wayne's butler, aide-de-camp, and surrogate parent. |
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| Detective Ellen Yin |
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Yin was created specifically for the show as one of three recurring police officers to interact with Batman. She is a new transfer to the Gotham City Police Department who does things by the book. She initially had oppositions about the Batman and aspires to capture and unmask him. Despite Batman saving her life a few times, she remains antagonistic. However over the course of the show, she begins to have a grudging respect for Batman and eventually becomes his ally. | Majority of the episodes from season one and two. Her character design is based on Elisa Maza from Gargoyles. |
Antagonists
Various villains who have appeared on The Batman. From left to right are: Riddler, Bane, Poison Ivy, a Riddleman, Black Mask, Man-Bat, Mister Freeze, Temblor, Spellbinder, Firefly, Ragdoll, Killer Croc, Joker, Harley Quinn (visible behind the Joker), Henchman, Penguin, Kabuki Twins, and Cluemaster as seen in Rumors.
| Character | Actor | Description | Appearances | |
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| Bane |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name but a definitive origin is not given within the series. "Traction" introduces him as a "problem solver" who uses a South American poison to enhance his strength to super-human levels. |
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| Black Mask | James Remar | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name though an exact origin or alter ego is not given in the series. He is presented as the meticulous and ruthless head of a criminal organization which he runs through a lieutenant known as "Number One". |
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| Blaze | Rachael MacFarlane | The character of Doctor Jane Blazedale was created for a one episode story in the series. She is a nuclear physicist who is fired conducting unsafe experiments. She partners with Firefly and takes the name "Blaze". | "White Heat" | |
| Catwoman / Selina Kyle | Gina Gershon | The character is based on the comic book character the same name but no origin is provided within the series. She is presented as an experienced professional cat-burglar when first introduced in the series. |
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| Clayface / Ethan Bennett | This character is covered under "Recurring supporting characters". | |||
| Clayface II / Basil Karlo |
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The character is based in part on the Golden Age Clayface as an actor seeking vengeance on his critics. Within the series, he steals a Waynetech "Clayface-formula", created in an attempt to cure Ethan Bennett in an effort to gain "the right look" to get work. |
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| Cluemaster |
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The character borrows some elements of the comic book character of the same name including the alter ego of Arthur Brown and the rough costume design. But where the source character is a failed game show host turned criminal, within the context of this series he is a former contestant of the children's game show Think, Thank, Thunk who seeks revenge on those he believes rigged the show and cost him his title as champion. | "Q&A" | |
| Count Vertigo | Greg Ellis | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. In the show, Werner Vertigo is a former employee of Queen Industries who uses an eyepiece to induce vertigo. He is also responsible for stranding Oliver Queen on a deserted island prior to Queen becoming Green Arrow. | "Vertigo" | |
| D.A.V.E. | Jeff Bennett | The character of D.A.V.E, standing for Digitally Advanced Villain Emulator, was created specifically for the show. It is an A.I. created by Hugo Strange and programed with the personalities of several of the Batman's adversaries. Due to this combination of insane intellects, D.A.V.E. believed himself to be a human criminal whose brain was trapped in a digital prison, which he escaped. He then accessed a technology company computer and created a robotic body for himself, stealing a lab coat from one of the scientists working there. By stealing financial data he was able to determine Batman's secret identity and invaded the Batcave, but was defeated when Batman revealed to him that he was an artificial lifeform. | "Gotham's Ultimate Criminal Mastermind" | |
| Dracula | Peter Stormare | The character is based on the traditional character of the same name. Adapted only for the direct-to-DVD animated movie, the staked remains of Dracula is released after having been moved to Gotham City. | The Batman vs. Dracula | |
| Everywhere Man |
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The character of John Marlowe was created specifically for the show. He is presented as a peer and friend of Bruce Wayne, an art collector, and a scientist specializing in quantum physics. He creates a device called the "Quantex" which can duplicate matter. Using the device he creates a duplicate of himself. The duplicate has a slightly darker personality and eventually locks the original up, take his place, and begins using other duplicates to stage a series of art thefts. | "The Everywhere Man" | |
| Firefly |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name, specifically the version used after 1986. Garfield Lynns is presented as an arsonist-for-hire without a back story or origin for his equipment. The last appearance of the character in the series, "White Heat", has him attempting to steal an isotope of phosphorus to power his flight pack. When accidentally exposed to the isotope, he is converted in to living phosphorus. |
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| Gearhead |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name though no actual origin or alter ego is given for the character in the show. Gearhead is presented as a simple crook who can hijack and control vehicles through cybernetic implants in his arms. | "RPM" | |
| Mercy Graves |
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The character is based on the character of the same name from Superman: The Animated Series and serves the same role as Lex Luthor's bodyguard. | "The Batman/Superman Story" | |
| Francis Grey |
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The character of Francis Grey was created specifically for the show. He is presented as failed clock maker and thief. While in prison he develops the ability to rewind time. |
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| Harley Quinn |
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The character is based on the character of the same name from Batman: The Animated Series. Harleen Quinzel is presented as a talk-show psychiatrist who is initially looking to secure her television talk show. |
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| The Joining | The Joining was created specifically for the show. It is presented as an extraterrestrial technology based collective entity intent on absorbing Earth. |
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| Joker |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name but no full origin is provided within the series. However, his origin was alluded to three times. The first was in "The Rubber Face of Comedy" where when his conversation with Det. Bennett, he remember falling into the chemical bath. The second, in "Strange Mind", Dr. Strange and Batman travel into the mind of the Joker to find the Joker before his accident as a low-level office worker who once dreamed of "making people laugh". And finally in "The Apprentice", where he was planning to make his sidekick into Joker by pushing him into the chemical bath. Joker is shown as a chronic resident of Arkham Asylum who commits elaborate crimes when free. He views these as "jokes" at the expense of Batman, the police, or the city in general. |
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| Joker 2.0 | Kevin Michael Richardson | Joker 2.0 is a variation of Joker created for a single episode of the series. The character is an artificial intelligence based on Joker's personality. | "The Metal Face of Comedy" | |
| Kabuki Twins | None, the characters are silent. | The Kabuki Twins were created specifically for the series as recurring henchwomen for Penguin. They are presented as silent followers Penguin had acquired on a trip to Asia but an exact origin or alter egos is never given in the show. |
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| Hideto Katsu | Keone Young | The character of Hideto Katsu was created specifically for the show as the head of an Oriental criminal organization and a former victim of Catwoman. | "The Cat and the Bat" | |
| Killer Croc |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name, but an origin is never provided for him in the series. |
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| Killer Moth |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. No initial origin is provided for him and he is presented as Penguin's gofer. Within the episode he is transformed from a villain "wannabe" to a monstrous moth creature. | "Team Penguin" | |
| Lex Luthor |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name and is presented as a business magnate with immense wealth. Within the episodes, he attempts to gain permanent control over Superman using spores from Poison Ivy laced with kryptonite. | "The Batman/Superman Story" | |
| Man-Bat |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. Obsessed with The Batman, Doctor Kirk Langstrom creates a serum that turns him into a giant bat. |
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| Marty | Patton Oswalt | Marty was created specifically for the series as Joker's computer tech henchmen. He is also indirectly responsible for the creation of Joker 2.0 | "The Metal Face of Comedy" | |
| Metallo |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. While what is mentioned of his origin is similar to the comics, he is presented as muscle-for-hire on Luthor's payroll. | "The Batman/Superman Story, Part One" | |
| Mirror Master |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name, sharing the rough origin, alter ego of Samuel Scudder, and long standing conflict with Flash. |
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| Mister Freeze |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. Though he shares the alter ego of Victor Fries, his origin and background are unique to the series. He is presented as a professional diamond thief when he first encounters Batman, who accidentally becomes trapped in a cryonic freezer. Instead of being killed, the accident drastically lowers his body temperature and grants him the ability to freeze things at a touch. |
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| Number One |
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Number One was created specifically for the series as the head henchmen for Black Mask. The role has rotated during Black Mask's appearances. |
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| Penguin |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. Oswald Cobblepot is presented as a peer of Bruce Wayne, the last of one of Gotham City's wealthiest families. He is also the epitome of his family: arrogant, rude, selfish, decedent, and pretentious with the Cobblepot fortunes having been squandered away years ago. |
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| Poison Ivy |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. Pamela Isley is introduced as a school friend of the teenage Barbara Gordon and a passionate eco-rights activist. When her plan to use the freelance criminal Temblor goes bad, she is exposed to a powerful plant growth accelerator compound. This changes her, giving her the ability to produce mind controlling spores and to rapidly grow and control plants. |
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| Prank |
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Prank was created specifically for the show as a "sidekick" for Joker. | "The Apprentice" | |
| Punch and Judy | None, the characters are silent. | Punch and Judy were created specifically for the series as Joker's oversized henchmen. |
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| Ragdoll |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name though with a very different costume. |
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| Rhino and Mugsy | John DiMaggio | The characters are based on the characters of the same names from Batman: The Animated Series and fil the same role as Ventriloquist's henchmen. |
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| Riddlemen | The Riddlemen were created specifically for the series as a group of henchmen for Riddler. |
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| Riddler |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. Within the series, Edward Nigma is a university scientist working on methods to enhance human memory. When his breakthrough prototype is sabotaged on its demonstration for investors, he is fired from the university and seeks revenge on the person he believes responsible for the sabotage. Thwarted by Batman, he creates the identity of Riddler and starts a life of crime. |
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| Rumor |
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Rumor was created specifically for the series. Real name, Mario. Mario is the bodyguard of a scientist and businessman, Paul Karon, who was crippled by the Joker. In order to remove his failure, he decides to kill all of Gotham City's costumed criminals. | "Rumors" | |
| Scorn | Daryl Sabara | Scorn was created specifically for the series to provide Wrath with a sidekick counterpart to Robin. Andy Mallory is the younger son of a pair of jewel thieves who were arrested and jailed around the same time Bruce Wayne's parents were killed. | "The End of the Batman" | |
| Shadow Thief |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. | "What Goes Up..." | |
| Sinestro |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. | "Ring Toss" | |
| Smoke | Amanda Anka | Smoke was created specifically for the series as a henchman for Mirror Master. | "A Mirror Darkly" | |
| Solomon Grundy | Kevin Grevioux | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name including his origin which is presented as an "urban legend" in the series. | "Grundy's Night" | |
| Spellbinder |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name using the name and the basic motif of using visual illusions. In the series, he is a mystic who has achieved the power of the "third eye". this allows him to project viaual and auditory illusion as well as imbedding posthypnotic commands. | "The Butler Did It" | |
| Hugo Strange |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. Hugo Strange is presented as the head psychiatrist of Arkham Asylum who is more interested in discovering how the criminal mind works than in actually helping to cure the inmates. |
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| Temblor |
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Temblor was created specifically for the series as a mercenary Pamela Isley hired to destroy a chemical processing plant. He uses specifically designed armored gauntlets to generate shock-waves. | "Batgirl Begins, Part One" | |
| Terrible Trio |
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The Trio consists of Fox, Shark, and Vulture, characters that are based on the comic book characters of the same name, but retain only the names in common. The trio are presented as university students named David, Justin, and Amber who have gained access to Kirk Langstrom's formula. They use it to take on aspects of their namesakes to terrorize the university. | "Attack of the Terrible Trio" | |
| Rupert Thorne | Victor Brandt | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. | "The Bat in the Belfry" | |
| Toymaker | Patton Oswalt | Toymaker was created specifically for the series. Cosmo Krank is the C.E.O. of Krank Co., a company that produces incredibly futuristic but dangerous toys. When Bruce Wayne leads a campaign for safe toys and eventually closes Krank Co. down, Krank creates the identity of Toymaker to get revenge using toys of his own design. | "Cash for Toys" | |
| Toyman | Richard Green | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. | "Lost Heroes, Part One" | |
| Ventriloquist | Dan Castellaneta | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. |
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| Wrath | Christopher Gorham | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. William Mallory is the older son of a pair of jewel thieves who were arrested and jailed around the same time Bruce Wayne's parents were killed. | "The End of the Batman" | |
| Maxie Zeus |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. He is presented as an eccentric billionaire taking revenge on Gotham City for not electing him mayor. | "Thunder" | |
| Tony Zucco |
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The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. | "A Matter of Family" | |
Additional characters
| Character | Actor | Description | Appearances |
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| Flash | Charlie Schlatter | The character is based on the Silver Age and later versions of the character form the comic books but no origin or clear identification of which version is provided in the episodes. In an interview, Alan Burnett said that he sees the character as the Barry Allen version, though scripts left it up to the viewer. |
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| Mayor Marion Grange | Adam West | Mayor Marion Grange borrows the name of one of the mayors of Gotham City from the comic books, but was created specifically for the series. Adam West played Batman in the live-action 1960s TV series. |
" Majority of the episodes from season one to four |
| Green Arrow | Chris Hardwick | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. What is related of his origin in the show is close to the one from the comic books, varying only by including Count Vertigo as the person who causes him to be stranded on a deserted island. |
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| Green Lantern | Dermot Mulroney | The character is based on the Hal Jordan version of Green Lantern from the comic books. Within the show, his origin is mentioned and parallels the one from the comic books, including the existence of the Green Lantern Corps. |
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| Hawkman | Robert Patrick | The character is based on the Katar Hol version of Hawkman from the comic books. What is mentioned of his origins, a police officer from the planet Thanagar, matches the Silver Age origin of the character. |
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| Martian Manhunter | Dorian Harewood | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. His origin differs from the one presented in the comics. In the show he comes to Earth voluntarily to warn against the coming of the Joining. |
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| Superman | George Newbern | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. While no origin is provided in the episodes, he is presented in the same characterization as the comic book character. This includes the alter ego of Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily Planet. |
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| Detective Cash Tankinson | Patrick Warburton | Cash Tankinson was created for the series as a co-worker of Ellen Yin. |
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| Vicki Vale | Tara Strong | The character is based on the comic book character of the same name. | The Batman vs. Dracula |