Could somebody post some scans or explain why one of my favorite villains appears as a joke in some comics?

I personally like Killer Croc, but since you requested....

I am no Batman expert but I think his portrayal in the Batman animated show is what lingers in most comic fans minds. He was a viable threat on the show, but he was just kind of secondary to other like the Joker and the Penguin.

If he did more, then he'd have more fans, I think. But he doesn't really have any big arcs or events. People like Joker, Bane, or Mr. Freeze are popular because they've all been in famous and excellent comics/films, and have had popular scenes that fans love (Bane breaking Batman's back, Joker crippling Barbara, etc)

It's the way he's written I suppose

not the worst batman villain (penguin), but he is seen as a dumb brute most of the time

@mk111 said:

If he did more, then he'd have more fans, I think. But he doesn't really have any big arcs or events. People like Joker, Bane, or Mr. Freeze are popular because they've all been in famous and excellent comics/films, and have had popular scenes that fans love (Bane breaking Batman's back, Joker crippling Barbara, etc)

This.

Isnt his power set very unimpressive as well? He seems strong on paper, but he is always getting his ass kicked by other brawlers like Bane. Ive always seen him as a poor mans Lizard.

Oh and why is he often portrayed with a crocodile face? Isnt his mutation only granting him lizardy scaly skin or something? Not actually the proportional build of a croc? (ignoring his slight superpowers)

@Skunkstein said:

Isnt his power set very unimpressive as well? He seems strong on paper, but he is always getting his ass kicked by other brawlers like Bane. Ive always seen him as a poor mans Lizard.

I've always preferred him to the Lizard (Batman>Spider-Man bias). I think the Bane thing is really what gets most fans, because Croc used to be the ultimate brawler in Batman's rogues gallery, but then Bane came along as someone stronger, smarter, and with more skill, so he pretty much rendered Croc irrelevant. And he really was treated as a joke in B:TAS, especially with the unintimidating character model, the bad voice actor, and his role in the Baby Doll team-up and his non-role in "Almost Got'im." I've always liked the character though. But that might just be because he looks really cool post-Hush.

Killer Croc gets the "you're a stupid character treatment" for the same reason that most "reptile man" characters get it: they're cliched and tired. Also, let's take a look at Croc's origin story: he was a baby so hideous his own mother didn't want him and threw him into the sewer. That sewage somehow managed to mutate him and increase his tiny baby strength and vitality before the many, many toxic substances managed to kill him. He then (and keep in mind, as a tiny tiny baby) managed to go around and what? Strangle rats to survive? Spend a week and a half trying to eat them because he had no teeth (yet)?

He's a stupid character because he's not even plausible by comic book standards, and that's saying a lot.

@End_Boss said:

Killer Croc gets the "you're a stupid character treatment" for the same reason that most "reptile man" characters get it: they're cliched and tired. Also, let's take a look at Croc's origin story: he was a baby so hideous his own mother didn't want him and threw him into the sewer. That sewage somehow managed to mutate him and increase his tiny baby strength and vitality before the many, many toxic substances managed to kill him. He then (and keep in mind, as a tiny tiny baby) managed to go around and what? Strangle rats to survive? Spend a week and a half trying to eat them because he had no teeth (yet)?

He's a stupid character because he's not even plausible by comic book standards, and that's saying a lot.

That's... not Killer Croc's origin. That's his origin in Batman: Gotham Knight.

When Gerry Conway first created him in the early 80's, he was a viable force. Even the Joker had him as Gotham's biggest crime king. He even had the Batman afraid of him for a few issues. (Real good story line that ran in Batman 358-359, and Detective 526-527.) I think his main problem was he was kind of seen as a Lizard rip-off (and fairly so), and given their history NO ONE is allowed to usurp Joker as villain #1 for Batman. Temporarily, you can, but not permanently. Not Killer Croc, not Ra's Al-Ghul, not the KGBeast, not Bane, not Hush, not the Owl. All these folks, for anywhere from 3 issues to a year were #1 on Batman's villain list, but none were allowed to stay there. So, they all get taken down a notch later.

@SmashBrawler: Ah, I just assumed that was his standard line. Regardless, he's still a stupid character because of the whole "lizard man" thing. It's cliche and boring and lacks creativity.

@End_Boss: Yeah, his regular origin is kind of boring too:

• Kid with weird skin condition
• Gets bullied (no sh!t)
• Grows up and ends up killing someone
• Once he gets out of jail he starts to wrestle alligators in a carnival
• Gets interested in crime, travels to Gotham, and you know the rest of the story...

@cuddles666 said:

@Skunkstein said:

Isnt his power set very unimpressive as well? He seems strong on paper, but he is always getting his ass kicked by other brawlers like Bane. Ive always seen him as a poor mans Lizard.

I've always preferred him to the Lizard (Batman>Spider-Man bias). I think the Bane thing is really what gets most fans, because Croc used to be the ultimate brawler in Batman's rogues gallery, but then Bane came along as someone stronger, smarter, and with more skill, so he pretty much rendered Croc irrelevant. And he really was treated as a joke in B:TAS, especially with the unintimidating character model, the bad voice actor, and his role in the Baby Doll team-up and his non-role in "Almost Got'im." I've always liked the character though. But that might just be because he looks really cool post-Hush.

Makes sense, it seems like he is one of he unfortunate characters that actually have a lot of potential, but have been treated badly.

He was beaten by two face apparently? can anyone show me scans, sounds impossible.

@AmazingScrewOnHead said:

He was beaten by two face apparently? can anyone show me scans, sounds impossible.

@SmashBrawler: That is complete PIS wtf is wrong with people, killer croc seems far more legite than some other crappy villains in both DC and Marvel.

@AmazingScrewOnHead: It didn't make sense to me either; Croc has a large neck and scales that protect that large neck, how can you stop his blood from flowing to his brain without super-strength?

Then again, croc took a freakin broken bottle in his eye, and people say this is why croc sucks?? no wonder he lost, if there was no bottle Dent would have died. Im not convinced Croc sucks actually i just think its all a combo of lack of appearences,popularity on this site. PS. Can anyone recommend me some good Killer croc comics as well?

@AmazingScrewOnHead: My favorite Killer Croc story would be Batman #471, "Requiem for a Killer". And no, it's not because of the ending, I honestly thought this was the best written Killer Croc ever.

@AmazingScrewOnHead said:

Then again, croc took a freakin broken bottle in his eye, and people say this is why croc sucks?? no wonder he lost, if there was no bottle Dent would have died. Im not convinced Croc sucks actually i just think its all a combo of lack of appearences,popularity on this site. PS. Can anyone recommend me some good Killer croc comics as well?

Joker's Asylum II: Killer Croc.

It's also probably also worth noting that Killer Croc was treated as a viable threat in Arkham Asylum. I mean, he was probably the scariest part of that game.

@SupBatz: Yeah i completley agree, what they did in Arkham Aslyum with croc is how it should be, its anoying seeing such a tough character being used a footstool by less interesting villains.

?

I thought he was pretty terrifying in Batman: Hush

I like Croc.

But he is oten written so poorly...

@SupBatz: Scary? Nah. He created a bit of tension at first, before you figured out the trick of it, but then it was child's play. It also got really tedious--that section went on for far too long. A low point in one of my favorite games.

This thread has completely ignored one of Killer Croc's biggest problems, too... His friggin' name is absurd. At least folks like the Joker, Riddler, Bane and others have names that could inspire some fear (well okay, maybe not the Riddler, but he still has a better name than Croc) and trepidation. Killer Croc, on the other hand, just sounds like a relic from days of yore... Which, it could be argued, is exactly what that character is.

Harvey Dent beat Killer Croc?

Thats....actually pretty hardcore. For Dent, anyway.

@End_Boss said:

@SupBatz: Scary? Nah. He created a bit of tension at first, before you figured out the trick of it, but then it was child's play. It also got really tedious--that section went on for far too long. A low point in one of my favorite games.

I suppose it's just a difference of taste then. I thought he was one of the best parts of the game. From the moment during the openning credits when he threatened Batman to the scene when you're running away from him in he sewers I felt he was one of the creepiest parts of the game. Perhaps his section did go on a bit too long once you got the hang of it but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

@End_Boss said:

This thread has completely ignored one of Killer Croc's biggest problems, too... His friggin' name is absurd. At least folks like the Joker, Riddler, Bane and others have names that could inspire some fear (well okay, maybe not the Riddler, but he still has a better name than Croc) and trepidation. Killer Croc, on the other hand, just sounds like a relic from days of yore... Which, it could be argued, is exactly what that character is.

Once again, a difference of taste I suppose. I honestly don't see a problem with the name Killer Croc. It's not the best name out there but I don't think it's "absurd" or outdated. The character makes the name so far as I'm concerned. The Joker wouldn't have a theatening name if he was always depicted as a ridiculous villain. But his wealth of great and creepy stories has made a name out of him and brought respect to his title.

Croc is certainly not the best character out there but I think he definitely has some potential for interesting stories.

We know enough about Bane and the Joker, we need to hear and see more of croc in both comics and film!

Croc is comedy gold.

Take a look at Joker's Asylum: Killer Croc. He's decently vicious and well-done. I really enjoyed it.

Lost to Harvey Dent, lost to Aaron Cash, lost to Bane, lost to Harley Quinn, lost to your mom. He is a joke because he is ineffective, plain and simple.

Have you read Batwoman #14? He'll be quite a threat if they keep him the way he is at the moment. He's been part of a gang in Batwoman, so perhaps hasn't had much of a chance to shine, but he seems to have been quite intimidating.

He's pretty much on the same level of hatred for me as Batman & Robin Bane. Croc is a dumb brute and I hate those kinds of characters. WHich is partly why I love Bane; he's ferociously strong but fiercely intelligent.

Because no one is giving him a chance, in comics or any other media.

I really think he has potential if he was made the Arkham Asylum way.. And they shouldnt be afraid to make him stronger then Bane, he is still gonna loose due to Banes intelligence.

He's a champ in Batwoman #21, characterizes him pretty hard. Kinda nice for such a slighted character.

In The Batman he was given southern accent similar to Leatherhead from the 80s series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. People with soft hearts and tortured past are easy for him to manipulate.