Batman's Rogues Gallery - Who qualifies?
 

I'm watching Batman: Year One right now, and I was just thinking, who are the official members of his Rogues Gallery? It's an unofficial list of course, but who makes the cut?

Well, Batsy has a *lot* of rogues... probably hundreds. And most of them probably forgotten about and haven't been seen since the silver age.
There are also quite a few who've quite frankly outgrown Batman, like Deadshot and Catman.
Without listing the obvious (Joker, Harley, Hatter, ect), you pose a really hard question!

That is an interesting point, and I'd like to expand on that if possible.

I guess what I am referring to is something like this:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17857818/bat...%20gallery.jpg

Obviously even the "classic" roster has expanded a bit, with additions like Bane, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn (she originated in the Batman Animated Series but had a profound effect), Scarecrow, and many others, but I'm trying to narrow down that list to the real scoundrels terrorizing Gotham.

I cant believe Killer Moth is up on Batman's wall- surely only for comedy's sake.

He's a deadly moth, how dare you.

Well, the obvious ones:
Joker
Twoface
Poison Ivy
Harley
Catwoman
Mr Freeze
Bane
Penguin
Riddler
Scarface/Ventriloquist
Mad Hatter
Scarecrow
Ras Al Ghoul
Clayface
Manbat (Added)
Killer Croc (added)

Not-so-obvious/Often forgotten:
Hush
Killer Moth
Firefly
Roxy Rocket (Is that her name?)
Talia Al Ghoul
Tony Falcone
Zsasz
Clock King
Calculator
Batzarro
Cassandra Cain
Jason Todd
Black Mask
Red Claw
Phantasm
Gentleman Ghost
Royal Flush Gang (added)

Future Rogues:
Inque
Maxwell Powers
Spellbinder
Mad Stan

Rogues who once belonged to the Bat, but outgrew it:
Solomon Grundy
Catman
Deadshot

Ones I'm not sure about... I think they belong to the bat, but I don't know for certain:
Shade

Seriously a nice list, thank you for digging into this a bit further. I'm confident that Gentleman Ghost originated as an enemy of the Justice League, but I'm not sure if he was Batman's problem or not (that would be cool though). I think Killer Moth and Firefly are often assumed to be one character, which explains a lot. Hush I feel is more popular than people acknowledge lately, and is a consistent character based on the quality/popularity of Hush (TPB). Jason Todd.... well, obviously he is a big deal right now. Black Mask, I'm a fan of this ridiculously over-the-top character, but he still plays a back role (I'd buy a decent DCUC figure of him though).
You mentioned Batzarro, and I'm intrigued. I don't know much about that character to be honest.

I just pulled those straight out of my head. There's a lot more that I've forgotten about, or never even knew to begin with.
And I don't know anything about Batzarro. I just know he exists, and is often (rightfully) forgotten about.

Oh! I forgot Manbat, and Killer Croc!

How could you!?!?!

Man-Bat is rad, and Killer Croc is an honorary villain for sure.

I KNOW! Shame on me!
I added them, and the royal Flush gang to my list.

I thought Jason was an anti hero again, romping around with other hero villian heroes, and dressed as Redhood.

Aw, hell if I know. He flipflops more than a pair of flipflops. Last I'd heard anything about him, he was dressed as Batman, and shooting people, trying to kill the "dead" Bruce's rep, and in general, just being a dick. The only thing I actually read with him in it, he beat the snot outta Tim Drake.

Though Batzarro is usually forgotten definitely worth mentioning since one of the few things I like done by Jeph Loeb.

Plus can Cassandra Cain really be considered a villain even if minor? I mean she became Batgirl then agent of the Bat.

Well, like I said, I'm going entirely by memory. Anyone's welcome to correct me if they find fault. Just that the last time I saw Cain, she was working for Red Claw, and trying to kill Tim Drake.
If that's changed sense, my appologies, I'm unaware of it.

Shouldn't it be listed Scarface/Ventriloquist, since Scarface is the dominant personality? And Gentleman Ghost is definitely a Batman villain.

If anyone wants a full list of Batman villains, the DC wiki has a nice one:

Batman Villains - DC Comics Database

But I think Jetty has the "main" villains pretty much covered.

I'm definitely going to add Gentleman Ghost to my DCUC arsenal, he is just too f'n cool.
Speaking of which, if you were putting together a figure representation of Batman's Rogues Gallery, who would you buy (based on actual figures that are released and available). This is a question for everyone of course.

Whatever Mattel is planning on releasing, because it's just too damned expensive to backtrack, lol.

I *really* wanted that Superman/Batman/Villains fivepack, for Twoface and Catwoman, but there wasn't a single store in my area that ever marked them down. All others they did, but not that one. (However, had I bought it full price, they'd have knocked them down to like, $20 the next day.)

I have the Wave 10 Joker, the twopack Gentleman Ghost, the tights Riddler, C&C Bane, Catman, Deadshot, and Original Harley Quinn.
I think those are the only bat-rogues I have.
Had I picked up Killer Moth, Penguin, Catwoman, Twoface, and Clayface, I *think* I would have had them all.

Most of the bat-rogues were released before I really started collecting (Hense why I have Harley, but not Penguin, and why I have the rediculous tights Riddler, instead of the suit riddler)
The Batman/Claface twopack reissue came out just as I was starting to amp up. By the time I'd decided to go all in, they vanished from the stores.

When I saw his DCU figure I laughed at the impossible lameness of it- Pipi Longstockings with a Brak mask for only $17.99 at Target.
That you had to buy him for the BAF piece was a crime against the collecting community.

This I think would be my list but as far as 'must buys/owns' it is subjective to the buyer. I don't think I could invest in all of those but like others have said I'd buy a Black Mask figure for sure

Black Mask is pretty awesome. I'm personally trying to tailor my own collection to characters I think are crucial, and branching out here and there. Some characters might be minor league but their figures are sick and therefore that plays a role in my decision making too.

Would it be to early to add Talon?

The main rogues have always been Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman. They've been the reused and parodied villains that have appeared in pretty much every incarnation (even Tiny Toons' Batduck). Ask any generic person who isn't a comic book fan to name their top 4 Batman villains and I'll bet that these 4 will make that list. Anyone else you get above and beyond these four is just gravy. In short, you must have these four. Everyone else is open to personal choice.

I would very much have to agree with this. I think that's very well put.

Yes, and no. You forgot Mr. Freeze!

kiteman!!!