Gotham's Hilarious New Rogues Have the 2 Features Needed to Be the Perfect DC Villain

Summary Gotham's criminal element is expanding, with new villains Harmada and Vampire Squid showing potential as the next big Batman foes.

Harley Quinn is using her expertise to train newbie super-criminals with unique gimmicks and postgraduate degrees in crime.

While not on Poison Ivy or Mister Freeze's level yet, the new recruits have the right assets to potentially become great Batman villains.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Harley Quinn #40!Gotham City's criminal element has grown thanks to two new villains who have the two traits needed to be a Batman villain. Harley Quinn has taken her passion for teaching to help villains of all stripes become more efficient criminals. Now she's meeting two super-criminals who have exactly what's needed to hack it as a Batman villain.

In Harley Quinn #40 by Tini Howard and Natacha Bustos, Harley continues to work with villains in need of training and agrees to aid Mister Freeze's new recruits. After meeting with him in his new lair, Freeze introduces his new underlings, Harmada and Vampire Squid.

Harmada has a sea-faring gimmick and wears a hat in the shape of an old ship (with working cannons) while Vampire Squid is inspired by sea life. Both of Harley Quinn's new trainees are also well-studied and each has a master's degree in their respective fields. With Freeze's approval, Harley begins training her students.

Gotham's Newest Villains Have Gimmicks and Postgraduate Degrees

Harley Quinn has been on some epic adventures recently, but after running around the multiverse, Harley was content to return to Gotham. However, after spending a night committing crimes with her girlfriend Poison Ivy, Harley branched out into a new line of work. Harley decided to return to villainy, but only to help other villains commit crimes in healthy, productive ways. She’s already assisted the Body Doubles and Maxie Zeus, but unfortunately, Mister Freeze has been insistent on Harley Quinn helping train his new recruits.

Harmada and Vampire Squid are very green to the super-criminal business, but they have the two things that every big villain in Gotham has: a gimmick and higher education. Villains like Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Mister Freeze, and even Professor Pyg aren't just known for their unique and over-the-top personas. They all have postgraduate degrees in various fields. This collection doesn't even cover all the Batman foes who went the distance scholastically before breaking bad. While there's no guarantee these two are going to become permanent villains in the Gotham underworld, they've got the two greatest assets Batman villains need.

Harmada and Vampire Squid Could Be the Next Great Batman Villains

Sure, there are plenty of Batman villains who don't have a master's or doctorate and get along just fine such as Bane, Joker, or Riddler. But when trying to make it in the big leagues of Gotham's criminal element, it doesn't hurt to be well-educated on top of having a unique costume and name. Do Harmada and Vampire Squid have what it takes to get on Poison Ivy or Mister Freeze's level? Probably not. But for a couple of villains just starting out, these two have the advantages one needs to potentially make it as the next great Batman foe.

Harley Quinn #40 is available now from DC Comics.

Harley Quinn #40 (2024) Writer: Tini Howard

Artist: Natacha Bustos

Colorist: Nick Filardi

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Sweeney Boo