How many villains know Batman's true identity?

[Guyper1]

I'm especially talking about in the comics world.

1. Bane
2. Ra's Al Ghul
3. The Riddler
4. Hush

Who else?

 

[Bathead]

It's been hinted at that Joker may know, but that's not definite.

 

[Joker]

Riddler doesn't anymore. And Joker doesn't. He doesn't even care who he is under the mask, because that's not the part of him he's obsessed with.

 

[Fear of god]

I think the joker knows (Death in the family)

 

[Mee]

How does Riddler not know anymore? Was that part of Hush Returns or something?

 

[The Joker]

I think the joker knows (Death in the family)

Just because he looked at Bruce briefly?? I don't buy that. If Joker had the slightest notion of who Batman was, he would have done something or said something long ago.

How does Riddler not know anymore? Was that part of Hush Returns or something?

He was in a coma or something for like a year, and has forgotten that he knows.

 

[Mee]

Wow, that seems kind of...dumb.

 

[The Question]

I definately think The Joker knows. He just doesn't care.

 

[Fear of god]

Wow, that seems kind of...dumb.

Yes. Dumb but right.

 

[trustyside-kick]

I definately think The Joker knows. He just doesn't care.

When do you think he found out? I am curious because you are not the only one saying you think he knows.

I don't know if Joker knows his identity. I figured he never has.

 

[Qoèlet]

Who knows what the Joker knows? Sometimes I think he knows he's in a comic book. He definately knew who the Hangman murderer was. And it's uncertain if he's even certain who he himself is. But it doesn't matter either way, because even if he did know he doesn't care about Bruce Wayne.

 

[The Question]

When do you think he found out? I am curious because you are not the only one saying you think he knows.

I don't know if Joker knows his identity. I figured he never has.

I think he just figured it out. He's seen both Batman and Bruce Wayne in person. When you've spent so long fighting in "to the death" scenarios with a guy, hating him, obsessing over him, and maybe on some pyschotic level being in love with him, you're likely to recognise him, mask or no. The scene in "Death in the Family" where they stare at each other in the U.N. siggests this.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Well I still would not really say he knows Batman is Bruce Wayne. You would think he would do something sick and twisted that would personally hurt Bruce Wayne then.

 

[Nightwing 52]

It's actually an idea that's tossed around now and again by more imagative writers. Some writers suggest, as it was in Death in the Family and other stories, that in fact the Joker does know who Bruce Wayne is. Most writers, IMO, would say that if the Joker knew, he would lash out directly at Bruce Wayne, perhaps even killing someone like Alfred.

But if you try to put yourself in Joker's demented head, you can also see that question in a way that some other writers do. For The Joker, the mask IS the reality. Batman, in costume, on a rooftop, is the real man. Whoever he is underneath is a mere fiction. And Joker is only interested in defeating the real deal - Batman. Not who he pretends to be during the day.

As a result, the Joker honestly doesn't care who Batman is. Even if he did know, it wouldn't change anything. But if he does, in the warped logic through which he defines the world, he just wouldn't care.

 

[Fear of god]

Yes. The Joker knows but he doesn't exploit this fact.

 

[trustyside-kick]

I still do not think that there is any proof of him knowing Batman's identity. The answers some of you have given aren't clear enough.

 

[Guyper1]

I still do not think that there is any proof of him knowing Batman's identity. The answers some of you have given aren't clear enough.

I agree. Why would the Joker attack Jim Gordon's in his apartment? Because he knows that he's related to Batman. So if he did knew that he's Bruce Wayne, then he would have attacked Alfred just to tick Batman off.

 

[Drakon]

If I recall, he had a chance to find out, but never did. He knocked Bats out by a fluke, but didn't do anything about it, because there was nobody around to witness it. But don't quote me on that.

 

[Qoèlet]

Joker's Five Way Revenge: not a matter of witnesses so much as the fact that just killing him/demasking him due to something like that would be so damned anticlimactic. If he killed Batman, or defeated him, it would need to be a proper showdown between his brilliant madness and Batman's intellect and martial prowess.
During the whole Hugo Strange, Boss Thorne series of events before The Laughing Fish, on the other hand, Joker was trying to outbid Thorne (or kill him if need be) and the Penguin for Batman's secret identity, simply because he didn't want anyone to know it, himself included. Because the Joker deserves his greatest enemy in Batman: what sport would there be in humiliating mere policemen?

Incidentally, is Hugo Strange still dead/alive/ever existed?

 

[CConn]

I agree. Why would the Joker attack Jim Gordon's in his apartment? Because he knows that he's related to Batman. So if he did knew that he's Bruce Wayne, then he would have attacked Alfred just to tick Batman off.

That still fits with Batman's explaination; Gordon is connected to Batman, Alfred is connected to Bruce Wayne. If Joker didn't care about Bruce Wayne, he wouldn't care abvout Alfred either.

And no, there really isn't any proof. It's just a suspicion. One that I personally think holds at least a little weight.

 

[Spider-Kurt!]

I assume Deathstroke knows since he knows that Dick Grayson is Nightwing.

 

[Nirr]

doesn't catwoman knows?

 

[Drakon]

Jason Todd?

 

[Joker]

Catwoman isnt a villain anymore, and after that last nightwing arc I dont know what the hell to call Jason Todd anymore...

 

[trustyside-kick]

It is such a shock that Jones ruined that character when I loved his work on Batman: Year One Scarecrow so much.