Which villain had the best "origin" episode(s)?

[TimTwoFace]

Batman has, hands down, the best rogue's gallery in all comics - maybe even pop culture, period. (That's right, Spiderman fans!) These villains are great for many reasons - they're well-developed, determined, original, have interesting gimmicks, great characterization, etc...

One thing that stands out with all Batman villains, however, is that nearly all of them have tragic beginnings. Some of these have been handled superbly on the animated series, some have not. Which villain do you think had the best origin episode (or just the best origin in the animated universe, period)? Who had the best "fall from grace"?

I've listed the villains which I believe have the best origins; so, it's up to you to pick the best of the best!

Enjoy!

-Tim

PS - I love all these episodes, but I had to go with my namesake on this one - who debuted in a two-parter, no less.

[TimTwoFace]

Just so you know, I left a bunch of people off this poll (due to limits on poll options) because...

1) The Joker, because his origin hasn't really been explained yet, only hinted at in BEWARE THE CREEPER and MASK OF THE PHANTASM.

2) The Penguin is the only villain in the animated Bat-universe that has yet to have an actual origin explained.

3) Bane, Killer Croc, the Ventriloquist, Talia, and Man-Bat were all left off the list, but it was a really tough call.

4) Roxy Rockett, Firefly, Baby-Doll, the Clock King, Lock-Up, Calendar Girl, Red Claw, Farmer Brown, and anyone else were left off just because...well...I don't think that many people care for these particular villains that much (as opposed to all the others I've listed) to begin with.

But feel free to vote for these guys if you want, anyway. Just do a write-in vote. :)

-Tim

[The Penguin]

Originally posted by TimTwoFace
The Penguin is the only villain in the animated Bat-universe that has yet to have an actual origin explained.

Oh the pain. :(
Anyway, I voted for Two-Face hands down. Both of the episodes were just fantastic in my view. Part 1 won the first Poll for a reason. Heart of Ice was close, but I gotta go with Harvey. :)

[Barb Gordon]

Harley all the way baby! Talk about an awesome origin. Although, I probably would have voted for Two-Face if not for ol Harl.

Barb^-^

[Naraht]

I dunno, I'm torn between the Riddler & the Mad Hatter...I loved both eps a whole bunch.

[Anubis C. Soundwave]

Tough choice.

Matt was an actor disfigured in an accident, screwed over by an industrialist. His own vanity and greed got the better of him, I'm afraid.

Harvey couldn't deal with his anger, so he repressed it; the mob took advantage of that fact.

Victor, OTOH, was merely trying to develop a new technology that would save lives. [including his wife.] My only beef with him is: why not apply for a federal grant dealing with these matters? That way, if a seedy boss cuts off your funding, you won't have security shutting down the machinery....

From these three, I select Victor, with Harvey in second. Victor was an honest man trying to do good. His story carried from Heart of Ice in B:TAS all the way to Meltdown in BatBeyond. He even got a movie, which gives us a glimpse into why Freeze cares so much for Nora.

Harley gets an honorable mention, poor deluded soul.... The Hatter also.

The rest of them...eh, forget it.

[quibble: in the animation, Poison Ivy tries to kill pre-Two-Face Harvey because of a coincidence. He didn't know about the extinct roses.... :rolleyes]

[Nightflower]

Dang it! I can't choose between Mr Freeze and Mad as a Hatter... :(

[Clayface]

Why, I had the best origin episode of course! ;)

There's nothing like the creepy force feeding/overdose of face cream scene. Or the awesome shape changing scene at the end, or any of the battles between Bats and Clayface. Who cares about a whiney old bald guy? The Clay man rules! :D

I also feel it was a masterful retelling/remaking of the character of Clayface. In the mainstream comics, the Clayface continuity had become so muddled with numerous offspring/spawn/alternaae versions of the character, and vague notions of their powers. The origin episode in the cartoon distilled all of that out, and kept the best of the best from the different Clayface incarnations of the comics, combined it with some new aspects, and made it all incredibly cool to boot.

[Sparvid]

Stop it! You're making me confused! ;)

It was a really tough choice between Riddler, Two-Face, Freeze, Clayface and Mad Hatter, but I went with Freeze. It's just perfect.

[BaTMaN-JL]

Yeah, it really was a tough choice but I choose Riddler because his episodes were great and there were so few of them. Probably cause the riddles are hard to come by. Am I the only one that likes his episode? Usually not many votes. Two-Face and Riddler deserves their own animated movie not just Joker everytime. :wakko:

[The Penguin]

"Anybody else want to go?" -The Joker, Almost Got 'Im

[Corran Horn]

I voted for 'Heart of Ice'.

[Harley Fan]

*Huggles Harley Quinn*

Guess which one I voted for?

[Maxie Zeus]

Depends upon what you mean by "best origin story."

Do you mean, best story that happened to deal with someone's origin? Then I would say "Heart of Ice," which I consider the best of the episodes you listed.

Do you mean, the best origin scenario, meaning the coolest scenario that introduced a villain? Then I would say "Feat of Clay," for the reasons Clayface (natch!) mentioned.

And if you mean "best exploration of the origin of a villain," then I would have to say "Two Face," which (though gothically overdone) gives us a harrowing psychological sketch of Harvey's transformation into Two Face.

Have I split enough hairs yet? :rolleyes: :D

[Joe Wagner]

"That's Mr. Freeze to you!"

This was the episode that I starred in awe at for the entire half hour. It clearly explained Victor's reasoning and the circumstances that caused him to become a super villain in the first place. Therefore Victor got my vote, hands down, no recount - nothing!

Altho the Clock King was pretty kewl to.

-Joe!

[The Mad Hatter]

Maxie brings up a great point. For various reasons, I can't decide between Freeze (story), Harley (ditto), Hatter (motive) and Two-Face (psychological exploration).

[Mattashell]

It was Jervis who had the best origin.