When it comes to villains, the ones presented in the 1966 Batman series were more funny than fiendish. With such brilliant character performers as Cesar Romero and Frank Gorshin in the cast, it was loaded with a healthy serving of comedic talent. While it was undoubtedly tamer than some of the later Batman adaptations, the show did have its moments where Batman and Robin were gripped in severe peril.
Surprisingly, the likes of the Joker and the Penguin weren't nearly as dastardly as they would be in future renditions, but the show did have a handful of villains that did come dangerously close to victory over the Dynamic Duo. In theory and practice, these sinister forces of the '60s nearly had Gotham in the palm of their hands.
False Face
Although False Face's main crime was stealing Gotham's Crown jewels, he had the potential to be one of the most formidable foes in Batman's Rogues Gallery. A blending of the comic book gangster Two-Face and the shapeshifting Clayface, this master of disguise could take on the face and appearance of anyone he desired, including Commissioner Gordon.
It's more about what False Face was capable of that truly makes him a deadly force. Imagine what he could have done had he assumed the guise of Bruce Wayne or any other influential figure from Gotham. Unfortunately, False Face's mask was deemed too scary for younger viewers, and he was nixed from the series.
The Siren
The Siren's gimmick was exactly what her name implies. Her hypnotic song could force her listeners to do anything she commanded, including having Bruce Wayne sign over his massive fortune to her before jumping off of a building. Whether she knew it or not, she was one of the few villains who came inches away from killing off the Caped Crusader.
Although she played opposite the Riddler in her two-episode appearances on the show, The Siren was truly a deadly ace in his deck. Had she been given her own starring episode, all of Gotham City might have fallen victim to the wail of the Siren.
The Riddler
The Riddler is easily one of the most over-the-top personalities on the show, and Frank Gorshin did a marvelous job bringing him to life. That being said, the green-suited prankster did have a few dangerous plots and schemes that nearly spelled curtains for Batman and Robin. From attacking foreign dignitaries and ambassadors to chaining Batman and Robin to whirling deathtraps, the Riddler is much more dangerous than he appears.
His arguably deadliest scheme was the one featured in the episode "A Riddle a Day Keeps The Riddler Away," in which he not only disrupted the ceremonies with King Boris and the Miss Gotham Beauty Pageant, but lured the Dynamic Duo into a trap that had them strapped to giant turbines. Had it not been for one well-aimed Batarang, it would have been the end of Batman and Robin.
Mr. Freeze (George Sanders Version)
Although he got goofier with the later portrayals in the series, the original Mr. Freeze portrayed by George Sanders was a force to be reckoned with as he sent an icy chill throughout the streets of Gotham. What makes him such a deadly foe for Batman and Robin is his technological prowess and wicked, wintry lair that nearly killed off the two crimefighters in his first episode.
Not only did his freeze ray put Batman and Robin on ice, it nearly cost them their lives before the concluding episode. Seeing the two in need of delicate in the hospital must have been a shock to viewers in the '60s, but it doesn't end there. Mr. Freeze also trapped the duo in his sub-zero lair in the mountains, nearly causing them to freeze to death. Fortunately, Batman got the upper hand and Freeze was defeated before permanent damage could be done.
The Mad Hatter
It wasn't quite a jump-the-shark moment, but the Mad Hatter easily had the advantage over Batman in his premiere episode. Not only was the Hatter insanely driven by vengeance, but he also created a vicious Saw-esque trap out of hat-making equipment with which to shove the Caped Crusader through. However, it was drowning Batman in a deluge of liquid plaster that should have done him in.
Batman was submerged in hardening plaster for who knows how long, even by TV standards he should have been suffocated if a sculptor had to chisel him out. Conveniently, Batman held his breath at just the right time to survive. This feels far too forced to be believable, even for something in this over-the-top universe.
Egghead
Brought to life by the deliciously evil and eggcellent Vincent Price, Egghead is possibly the villain that came the closest to uncovering Batman's secret identity. That factor alone immediately bumps him higher on the threat list. Not only is he perhaps Gotham's most dangerous evil genius, but his powers of deduction rival that of the so-called "World's Greatest Detective."
Not only does Egghead go to extreme measures to achieve his villainous goals, but his pure and giddy delight at the evil he does is as infectious as only Vincent Price could portray. While he was foiled by mere compartmentalized thought, he would try again in both seasons two and three of the series.
The Villain Team-Up
Individually, The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, and Catwoman might be regularly thwarted by Batman on a regular basis, but their team-up in the 1996 feature film inspired by the show proved just how dangerous they all could be when they work together. Not only do they make serious trouble for Batman and Robin, but they nearly take the entire world hostage.
The movie has the villains going for bigger fish than just the territory of Gotham City, as they aim to dehydrate of the United World Organization's Security Council. For a feature-length Batman production, the stakes had to be considerably higher, and these fearsome four definitely delivered.
