Best tellings of Batman villains' tragic backstories?

[Goth Ham]

Hello all. I'm on the hunt for some good Batman villain tragic origin stories, and specifically the best versions of them in whatever medium if there are a few different variants around. Was wondering if anybody had some favourites they would be happy to recommend? Thanks. (The 'definitive story for each character' thread probably has some good ones, but it's not always clear which of the mentioned stories cover backstory per se.)

A few that I like, to get things started:

- Two-Face Parts 1 and 2 (Batman: The Animated Series episodes) (also, The Dark Knight film for Two-Face)
- Mad Love (for Harley Quinn) (B:TAS episode or comic)
- Batman Returns (for Catwoman and the Penguin) (film)
- Mad as a Hatter (for the Mad Hatter) (B:TAS episode)
- Heart of Ice (for Mr Freeze) (B:TAS episode)
- Batman (for the Joker) (film) - well, it's not that great, but the "Mirror!" scene is good

And just for the sake of completeness, 'The Killing Joke' (Joker) could be counted, though personally I found the backstory part the least interesting aspect of an otherwise worthwhile story. Maybe the Joker was being meta and intended it as a parody tragic backstory.


(Disclaimer: I'm new around here and haven't read or seen a lot of Batman stuff by non-casual fan standards, so please excuse the inevitable naive comments here or elsewhere!)

[batnbreakfast]

Welcome onboard!

Penguin Pain and Prejudice (trade, Gregg Hurwitz)

Scarecrow Year One (2 oneshots)

[Aahz]

- Two-Face Parts 1 and 2 (Batman: The Animated Series episodes) (also, The Dark Knight film for Two-Face)

Batman Annual 14 is also quite good imo.

- Batman Returns (for Catwoman and the Penguin) (film)

Not really these characters have hardly anything to do with the Comic versions. For Catwoman I would suggest either "Her Sisters Keeper" or "Catwoman: Year One".

Appart from this i would Add:
Bane: Vengeance of Bane

For most other Characters the B:TAS Version is usually the best.

[brainticket]

- Batman Returns (for Catwoman and the Penguin) (film)

Not really these characters have hardly anything to do with the Comic versions.

What OP was presicely looking for:

I'm on the hunt for some good Batman villain tragic origin stories, and specifically best versions of them in whatever medium if there are a few different variants around.

For different media, it's natural to tell different stories.

[Metamorphosis]

Batman Annual 14 is also quite good imo.

For most other Characters the B:TAS Version is usually the best.

I came in here to recommend this annual. Super-gritty retelling of Dent's transformation into Two Face that is pretty much my preferred take on the character.

Of course, The Dark Knight did Dent / Two Face extremely well too, and so did B:TAS.

[Batman#22]

Read Batman: The Dark Knight: Vol. 3 Mad. I dare you to read that story and not come out as a Mad Hatter fan.

[batnbreakfast]

Read Batman: The Dark Knight: Vol. 3 Mad. I dare you to read that story and not come out as a Mad Hatter fan.

Too dark and violent for me (and I'm a True Detective fan) for a good Battale.