Hugo Strange

[Chad]

Something which has struck me recently is the fact that there are really no bad stories involving Hugo Strange. Granted, there are probably no more than a dozen storylines involving the character all together, but I'd have to say that the majortity of his appearances are masterpieces. I'm choosing the word 'masterpieces' very carefully as well - The Marshal Rogers run which re-introduced him; the Gerry Conway sequel of the early 80's; Alan Brennert's Brave and the Bold 182 in which our Batman faces off against the decrepit Strange of Earth 2.

I'm not a big fan of Doug Moench and yet he wrote the best arc Legends of the Dark Knight had to offer with Prey.

Similarily, Batman: Gotham Knights had an incredible four part storyline involving Strange which has to be that series best storyline (Bruce Wayne protecting himself against Strange by using self-hypnosis to forget he was Batman was genius).

Hugo Strange was Batman's number one enemy for about six months until he was supplanted by the Joker. He was the first enemy of Batman to really move beyond the role he was designed to play when introduced. Presented as a conscienceless Mad-Scientist he was later allowed to discover Batman's identity and involve himself in the life of Bruce Wayne. After Crisis he was dramatically changed into a Psychiatrist and the transition worked well.

I didn't like Moench's follow-up to Prey, but other than that one mis-step, if you were to recommend a Batman story featuring Hugo Strange to someone, there's a very good chance that that tale would be one of the greatest Batman stories out there.

Still, I don't know where Hugo Strange lands on a list of Greatest Batman Villians polls or if he's even thought of at all by readers.

Thoughts?

[Crimson Knightman]

I think Dr. Hugo Strange tends to get overlapped by the more colorful Batman rogues like the Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow and etc. I think the audience tend to favor the writers playing with the more colorful Batman villains because they tend to have a longer lasting impression, which may explain why Hugo lost the top Batman villain spot to the Joker. Hugo is a demented doctor but that particular role has been played a lot in comics, so I think it's much harder for him to get over consistently as it is with the villains that has the outrageous gimmicks. I personally think Hugo is definitely a diamond in the rough in the Batman rogue's gallery but because there are so many other diamonds in there as well, he doesn't really be in demand as far as villains go. I would love to see Dini or Morrison do something with Hugo.

[Captain Jim]

Something which has struck me recently is the fact that there are really no bad stories involving Hugo Strange. Granted, there are probably no more than a dozen storylines involving the character all together, but I'd have to say that the majortity of his appearances are masterpieces. I'm choosing the word 'masterpieces' very carefully as well - The Marshal Rogers run which re-introduced him; the Gerry Conway sequel of the early 80's; Alan Brennert's Brave and the Bold 182 in which our Batman faces off against the decrepit Strange of Earth 2.

I'm not a big fan of Doug Moench and yet he wrote the best arc Legends of the Dark Knight had to offer with Prey.

Similarily, Batman: Gotham Knights had an incredible four part storyline involving Strange which has to be that series best storyline (Bruce Wayne protecting himself against Strange by using self-hypnosis to forget he was Batman was genius).


I agree to with your proposition in general, and also the part about Gotham Knights. I didn't care for a lot of Devin Grayson's work on this title, but this storyline was great.

[dancj]

I'm not a big fan of Doug Moench and yet he wrote the best arc Legends of the Dark Knight had to offer with Prey.
Yeah - I normally hate Moench's work, but that is a great story.

I'm not so fond of the Englhart/Rogers one though

[thor25]

Something which has struck me recently is the fact that there are really no bad stories involving Hugo Strange. Granted, there are probably no more than a dozen storylines involving the character all together, but I'd have to say that the majortity of his appearances are masterpieces. I'm choosing the word 'masterpieces' very carefully as well - The Marshal Rogers run which re-introduced him; the Gerry Conway sequel of the early 80's; Alan Brennert's Brave and the Bold 182 in which our Batman faces off against the decrepit Strange of Earth 2.

I'm not a big fan of Doug Moench and yet he wrote the best arc Legends of the Dark Knight had to offer with Prey.

Similarily, Batman: Gotham Knights had an incredible four part storyline involving Strange which has to be that series best storyline (Bruce Wayne protecting himself against Strange by using self-hypnosis to forget he was Batman was genius).

Hugo Strange was Batman's number one enemy for about six months until he was supplanted by the Joker. He was the first enemy of Batman to really move beyond the role he was designed to play when introduced. Presented as a conscienceless Mad-Scientist he was later allowed to discover Batman's identity and involve himself in the life of Bruce Wayne. After Crisis he was dramatically changed into a Psychiatrist and the transition worked well.

I didn't like Moench's follow-up to Prey, but other than that one mis-step, if you were to recommend a Batman story featuring Hugo Strange to someone, there's a very good chance that that tale would be one of the greatest Batman stories out there.

Still, I don't know where Hugo Strange lands on a list of Greatest Batman Villians polls or if he's even thought of at all by readers.

Thoughts?

I agree with you whole psot, except Iliked pre very much, Hugo strange is such fascinating villan, sadly very obscure charecter, and I like him being a Psychiatris I HOPE he appears in the Nolan films..

[Kirigi]

I like Strange too. They need to put him in a Batman movie already. (Ideas for actors to play him anyone?) Or at least in the comics. When was the last time we saw him? Maybe I need catching up. I hope so.

[Chad]

Does anyone know what Hugo Strange is currently a part of Batman's back story?

The psychiatrist introduced by Moench and the one most frequently used since Prey, or the Mad Scientist? Morrison has refered to Strange's "monster serum" and Wagner's recent storyline leans more towards the deragned scientist than psychiatrist - are we to assume that when he returns he'll have returned to his Golden Age roots or be a combination of the two?

By the way, Doug Moench also wrote a Batman Annual in which Batman had to turn Strange over the police knowing full well that he intended to reveal his identity. His solution? "He discovered my secret identity so I took an extra precaution before you arrived Commissioner. I hypnotized him into believing that I was Bruce Wayne". "But he is Bruce Wayne!!" "Yeah, yeah".

[Kirigi]

Does anyone know what Hugo Strange is currently a part of Batman's back story?

The psychiatrist introduced by Moench and the one most frequently used since Prey, or the Mad Scientist? Morrison has refered to Strange's "monster serum" and Wagner's recent storyline leans more towards the deragned scientist than psychiatrist - are we to assume that when he returns he'll have returned to his Golden Age roots or be a combination of the two?

By the way, Doug Moench also wrote a Batman Annual in which Batman had to turn Strange over the police knowing full well that he intended to reveal his identity. His solution? "He discovered my secret identity so I took an extra precaution before you arrived Commissioner. I hypnotized him into believing that I was Bruce Wayne". "But he is Bruce Wayne!!" "Yeah, yeah".

"But if Batman wants me to think he's Bruce Wayne, then he can't be Bruce Wayne. Unless...unless it's a double whammy...or...or what?"

[Inverted]

I agree with you whole psot, except Iliked pre very much, Hugo strange is such fascinating villan, sadly very obscure charecter, and I like him being a Psychiatris I HOPE he appears in the Nolan films..

Sean Connery = Hugo Strange.

[Kirigi]

Sean Connery = Hugo Strange.

Not a bad choice.

[syzygy89]

Did anyone here read Batman and the Monster Men? That was my introduction to Hugo Strange and I thought it was awesome.
Also, are any of the stories mentioned above collected in trades or anything like that? Definitely wouldn't mind reading some more Strange stories.

[MartianBlonde]

Not a bad choice.

It's a terrible choice. Strange must be puny and vile.

[Kirigi]

It's a terrible choice. Strange must be puny and vile.

It doesn't even matter since Connery's retired anyway. :P

[dancj]

It's a terrible choice. Strange must be puny and vile.
Yeah - I was thinking more along the lines of Robin Williams

[thor25]

Sean Connery = Hugo Strange.


Jhon Malcovich is strange..

[Paul McEnery]

It's a terrible choice. Strange must be puny and vile.

Brad Dourif.

Or, better yet, that French guy from City of Lost Children.

And Jeunet and Caro get to do a Batman movie with him.

With Jean Reno as The Batman.

[earl]

I like Strange too. They need to put him in a Batman movie already. (Ideas for actors to play him anyone?)


I think Ben Kingsley would make a wicked Hugo Strange. Kingsley's body type is like Strange and if you have seen the movie 'Sexy Beast' you could see the kind of intensity he could put into such a character. Put the civil war facial hair on him and he would be ready to go.

[mattx110]

By the way, Doug Moench also wrote a Batman Annual in which Batman had to turn Strange over the police knowing full well that he intended to reveal his identity. His solution? "He discovered my secret identity so I took an extra precaution before you arrived Commissioner. I hypnotized him into believing that I was Bruce Wayne". "But he is Bruce Wayne!!" "Yeah, yeah".
That's maybe the "cutest" thing Moench's Batman has done.

[david_icke]

I think Ben Kingsley would make a wicked Hugo Strange. Kingsley's body type is like Strange and if you have seen the movie 'Sexy Beast' you could see the kind of intensity he could put into such a character. Put the civil war facial hair on him and he would be ready to go.


Have to say that is the perfect choice for a Nolan Hugo Strange, really really want to see him in that role now in Batman3. Having him portrayed like in 'Prey', psychiatrist helping the police force track Bats down would be ideal.

Yeah, the Engleheart/Rodgers story is brilliant, read that run in a UK Batman pocketbook that read as a complete work, still have it very, treasured wee book.

Surprisingly the Doeg Moench return story measured up, I say that meaning I had liked how I'd took the story originally, that he really died and that was a real ghost tormenting Thorne, but I liked the explanations fine and it was great seeing him turn up to disrupt Bruce's private life. Great image of him standing at the door to Wayne Manor in a Batman costume in the rain.

Yeah, huge potential for a movie adaption into Nolan's world, get Kingsley in there, can't stop thinking about how good he would be now.

[Killsocket]

Did anyone here read Batman and the Monster Men? That was my introduction to Hugo Strange and I thought it was awesome.
Also, are any of the stories mentioned above collected in trades or anything like that? Definitely wouldn't mind reading some more Strange stories.

I just got it and read it this last weekend. I agree it is a really good read. If you like Strange, check out Monster Men if you haven't.
Am I wrong, or does he appear in The Mad Monk?

[syzygy89]

He shows up in the first issue. Unfortunatly that is all I have of Mad Monk, so I don't know if he is part of the main story or not. If I remember correctly, Strange starts going on TV as a Batman expert saying that Batman is crazy and potentially turning the public against him. Damn, I need to get the rest of this.

[Killsocket]

I have Mad Monk (the TPB) coming from ebay so I can let you know if he is throughout the whole story.
You are right about Strange, at the end of Monster Men, he is on TV doing interviews claiming he is an expert on Batman and calling him insane.

[Augusto]

Jhon Malcovich is strange..

Or Paul Giamatti

http://www.baldiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/Paul%20Giamatti.jpg

http://brooklynheightsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/tn2_paul_giamatti_3.jpg

[Global Honored]

talk about evil....

http://www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/E3/Jason-alexander-green-md.jpg
Castanza is a criminal mastermind...mwa hahhahahhaha...Serenity now Batman! Serenity now!!!

[Lew Moxon]

Old thread I know, but if were talking dream casting here.

How about Ben Kingsley?
http://www.superiorpics.com/wenn_album/Sir_Ben_Kingsley_-_lead_love_scenes/Sir_Ben_Kingsley_001_280708.jpg

[Killsocket]

Patrick Stewart, but he may be a little old now?

[paulski]

Yeah - I normally hate Moench's work, but that is a great story.

I'm not so fond of the Engelhart/Rogers one though

Really? That's just about my favourite Batman arc of all time. Course, the gorgeous artwork had a lot to do with it. :wink: