DC's New Fan-Created Batman Villain Officially Debuts Today, All Details

Published Sep 16, 2026, 11:26 AM EDT

TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. 

DC gave fans the rare opportunity to create the comic publisher’s next official Batman villain, adding a brand-new threat to the Dark Knight’s already massive rogues’ gallery. Now, that fan-created villain has officially made his debut, and he’s every bit as badass as fans could have hoped.

Several months ago, DC Comics, in partnership with LEGO Batman, launched the “Building Bad” sweepstakes. The sweepstakes gave fans the opportunity to help create and name the newest member of Batman’s Rogue Gallery. DC announced the winner of the Create-A-Villain contest in July, revealing the first images and the villain's name: Rhetoric.

However, Rhetoric has now officially locked in his in-narrative design, making his debut in the bonus story of Detective Comics #1113. Serving as Rhetoric’s official introduction into DC continuity, the bonus story was brought to fans by legendary writer Dan Watters and the iconic artistic duo of artist Scott Hepburn and colorist Ian Herring. The story is available to read alongside Tom Taylor’s main story in Detective Comics #1113, which is available for $4.99.

Meet RHETORIC: Batman's New Fan-Created Villain, Explained

Comic Page Comes from Dan Watters' Detective Comics #1113 (2026) Side Story - Art by Scott Hepburn & Ian Herring

Batman has one of the, if not the biggest, Rogue Galleries among DC’s heroes. Hence, it can sometimes feel repetitive when yet another villain is introduced into his ongoing narratives. However, Rhetoric stands out among the Dark Knight’s baddies, and not just because the villain is fan-created.

Rhetoric also possesses limited telekinesis connected to the character's weapons.

Rhetoric isn’t just coming at Batman as another costumed criminal with bizarre weapons or powers, but is instead attacking the very heart of Batman’s crusade by confronting the Dark Knight with one pressing question: whether Batman is actually changing Gotham for the better or is just another cog in the machine protecting Gotham’s broken systems, which lead to a perpetual cycle of crime and corruption. This is one of the biggest and most enduring fan debates surrounding the hero, and now Rhetoric is giving it a voice in DC’s narratives.

Rhetoric’s debut monologue is a powerful one and truly makes him feel more like an anti-hero than a true villain, further helping him stand out among Batman’s rogues: “I do it for all of them. Those people buffeted by the storms of their bureaucracy. Being told it's for their own good as they're systematically crushed. Sometimes I wonder if the city itself made me for this purpose. If it feels the same frustration. Perhaps Gotham itself is sick of the same old lies repeated ad infinitum. Perhaps Gotham's ready for some new rhetoric. Yes. I like that. That's what I'll call myself. Rhetoric.”

The character comes off as exceptionally morally grey, which makes him far more sympathetic and likely to draw fans in. In a way, Rhetoric also feels like the new Red Hood, referring to the Red Hood of the Judd Winick days, who was a true anti-hero and thus wasn’t just doing evil for evil’s sake, but had a philosophy most could empathize with. Hence, this is a great start for a new Batman villain, and we can’t wait to see him take off in Dark Knight’s narratives.

Detective Comics #1113 from DC Comics is now available to read!