#btas the master

[borrowedtimeandspace]

Master of Her Fate

AU: Borrowed Time (and Space)

Note: This is my first shot at writing the Master! The last couple months have been stressful, and it all sort of came out in this. So have a little mild fearplay, as a treat

~~~

Zepheera’s stomach lurched its way up to her throat, choking off the startled shriek that tried to escape her as her world flipped on its head.

The motion didn't stop there, and she struggled to get her bearings. Looking down (or, was it up?) at her foot, she found blunt fingertips pinching at her ankle, holding her suspended in the air. Quite a number of feet in the air, too. The grip on her wasn't painful yet, but just barely firm enough to hold her. Like at any moment, it could give way and let her drop.

The world had just begun to settle when the two fingers around Zepheera’s ankle rolled around it, causing her to rotate in place until she met the gaze of cold, unfamiliar eyes. Her blood ran icy as a rather feral grin spread before her, far too close for comfort.

It wasn't her Time Lord.

“Aw, isn't this one adorable?” The Master’s voice rumbled through Zepheera’s entire being at such close proximity, and its tone sent chills through her spine. Patronizing, with a hint of a bite to it that only reinforced the danger the borrower was in. She needed to get out of this position immediately, but she couldn't even properly look around. His wrist rocked back and forth in the tiniest of movements,which translated to Zepheera swinging dizzyingly in his grasp.

The only things she could comprehend in all the motion were those eyes, which seemed to focus on something beyond her as the Master continued his taunts. “Your pets get cuter by the day, Doctor. Couldn't you just eat her up?”

“Don’t!”

The relief that bloomed in Zepheera’s chest to hear the Doctor's voice was fleeting. The fingers tightened their grip on her ankle, and she didn't even have time to react to the pain through the all too quick backwards movement she endured immediately after. She clutched her head through the rush of blood as she was dragged up into the air, left to swing again when it all came to a halt.

“ ‘Don’t?’ Like I actually would. No telling what the little vermin’s been crawling through, what sort of diseases she carries! Wouldn't make much of a snack, anyway.”

Zepheera managed to open her eyes again, finding a long view down the Master’s arm as he held her overhead. Like a child keeping a toy out of reach from another. She didn't have to look far to see that the Doctor was not out of reach, having closed much of the distance between himself and the other Time Lord. The look in his eyes told the borrower everything, however.

Though he was within an arm’s reach of his companion, making a grab for her would more than likely end up with her in the middle of both their grasps. The damage that could be inflicted on her in such a situation might be too quick and permanent for her to recover in her usual fashion. No healing factor could save her from being crushed, and Zepheera and the Doctor both knew that.

So Zepheera watched the Doctor’s usually warm, yet now dangerous gaze drop from hers to meet the Master’s as he growled, “Give her back to me.”

Zepheera couldn't wait around for the Master to comply reasonably. She hadn't known about him for long, but that seemed a less than likely outcome. Looking back at herself, she lamented going without her glass-headed pin for this trip. Still, she was far from unarmed. Hidden in the boot that happened to be dangling free of the Master’s grasp was a small knife. It wouldn't do lethal damage by a long shot, but might just sting long enough to cause a distraction.

It was worth a shot, but grabbing the knife was easier said then done. Still gloating, the Master continued to swing Zepheera back and forth ever so slightly. Just enough to throw off her trajectory every time she swung herself up and reached for her boot.

The Master chuckled dryly. “Y’know, this is low, even for you. And here I thought you were scraping the bottom of the barrel with all those humans you love running around with so much, but this?? Talk about fragile!”

His wrist twisted more broadly and less gently, and Zepheera couldn't contain a startled cry. When she settled this time, she was angled more toward the Master’s inverted, unbearably smug face. He looked over her tiny frame with a growing smirk.

“Though, I can see the appeal. You can bring whole civilizations to heel, but there's nothing quite like having one entire life in the palm of your hand.” Glancing back at the Doctor only made him grin wider, to see the way he bristled. “Even you have to admit it, Doctor. Feels good, doesn't it? Holding her survival in the balance. Why else would you carry around something so weak, pathetic, and– Augh!”

Without the incessant swinging, Zepheera was finally able to reach her knife and give it the hardest throw she could manage from the awkward angle. It hit its mark, embedding down to the handle under the Master’s fingernail. It startled him enough to let go of Zepheera's foot, and rather than attempt to control her fall, she curled in on herself. She knew what was coming.

The Doctor, true to form, was primed and ready. He had seen what Zepheera was doing, what the Master was too caught up in gloating to notice. The second he saw Zepheera drop, his hand thrust out to catch her. It curled around her quickly yet gently, cushioning both her fall and the rapid backwards motion as he snatched his hand back and away from the Master. 

“Stronger than she looks,” snapped the Doctor, though he knew the Master wasn't listening. The other Time Lord was plenty distracted, trying to extract the tiny implement from its target.

The fingers around Zepheera unfurled, and the Doctor quickly looked his companion over. His scrutiny was much more welcome to the borrower, more concerned than anything. 

“I'm okay,” she insisted, though her attempt to meet his gaze didn't go well. She was still quite a bit dizzy from all the time spent upside down and her ankle was a bit sore, but was otherwise unharmed. Squeezing her eyes shut helped the world stop spinning, and she forced a humorless chuckle through it. “The real torture was listening to him waffle on.”

[riddle-me-ri]

I apologize if I sent this already but I honestly can’t remember, if it’s alright could we please have the scarecrows when they get jealous??? 🙏🏼🥺

A/N: no worries, you're all good you haven't sent it in yet! And I have no doubt these wee boys can be quite envious lol.

Jealousy Scenarios w/ The Scarecrows

Arkhamverse Scarecrow: 

Jonathan thinks that, much like fear, he’s above jealousy.

Which is exactly why he’s not…jealous of you spending time with the Arkham Knight.

He’s mostly confused, you should be by his side…he’s the orchestrator of this whole night. 

Jonathan will likely think he’s hiding his displeasures, but he actually makes it painfully obvious. 

Jonathan insists…almost demands you stay with him. He finds tasks for you to do…he even begins being more physical with you.

You know you shouldn’t push it, but you enjoy the idea that he cares enough to be jealous in the first place. 

And you don’t miss the soft lool on his face when he notices you staying with him more often. 

Nolanverse/Murphy Scarecrow: 

Jonathan didn’t want too think much of the new psychologist at Arkham Asylum.

He didn’t…at first until they began openly flirting with you. 

Jonathan could barely swallow his resentment when he saw you smiling and laughing with them.

He’d grit his teeth and clench his fists. 

You were far too kind and welcoming for your own good. 

Jonathan makes an extra effort to be more present at Arkham. 

You’re surprised to see him more often, but you’re enjoying having him with you more. 

He sneaks kisses on your cheek and whispers compliments in your ear…

However, you can’t help but wonder where that new doctor went…who has been missing for almost a week now. 

Batman The Animated Series Scarecrow: 

Jonathan aways knew it would be a bad idea to allow you to meet his more…eccentric colleagues. 

But he didn’t think it would be because they were trying to charm you off your feet.

Jonathan is silently seething in the corner, steam about to burst out of his ears. 

Jervis made you giggle. Edward made you blush…

It took everything for Jonathan not to drag you away and keep you to himself again. 

But he didn’t want to take any chance to upset you, so he silently seethed.

Until you come over and hug him…showing appreciation in him trusting you to meet his friends.

Jonathan instantly melts when you kiss his cheek, instantly comforting him without you knowing. 

The New Batman Adventures Scarecrow: 

This Scarecrow…was always weary of someone better coming your way. 

You are so bright and joyous, you deserved better than him.

It was only a matter of time, until the proper partner for you came along. 

He’s unsure what to do when he sees you hanging out with a co-worker. 

Jonathan wants to snatch you away, make your co-worker undergo a terror they’ve never imagined…and just keep you to himself from now on. 

Just before he could dig himself deeper into his envy, you show up with your bright smile and a welcoming kiss. 

You love him openly, unconditionally every time…and this dissipates the gnawing jealousy in his heart.

Fear State Scarecrow: 

Like other Scarecrows, this Jonathan is incredibly observant. 

He’s aware of you being extra cheerful or distracted lately. 

It doesn’t take long for thoughts and assumptions to come up in his mind. 

Some childhood friend of yours has come back to town. Possibly some feelings being re-kindled as well. 

Ironically enough, he feeds himself into his own fear of losing you to someone else. 

He will come up with a plethora of excuses to get you to stay, or have you run errands to keep you busy. 

Anything to keep you near him, but not hinder his plans. 

It’s obvious to you what’s happening, and you can’t help but find it a tad bit amusing. 

Year One Scarecrow: 

Jonathan is extremely protective and defensive of you.

You’re the first bit of peace and happiness he’s found in anyone.

He sure as hell isn’t going to lose you to anyone.

Jonathan gets jealous easily, moreso than either of you like to admit. 

Actively drags you away from someone else and tries to take up your time.

He’s just really used to being abandoned or abused and…he’s not sure he can go through that again with you.

But every time you reassure him, you continue to stay by his side. 

Jonny grows more secure in the relationship and less jealous…eventually.

Masters of Fear Scarecrow: 

Like earlier Scarecrows, he tries to ignore it. 

He knows you’re faithful, he knows you love him and wouldn’t leave him…

But just so everyone knows you’re his…

Jonathan will always keep a hand on your person. 

Whether it’s your hand, your shoulder, or the small of your back. 

He will conveniently come up with plans so you couldn’t go out with someone he feels threatened by. 

It doesn’t take long for you to notice his jealousy. 

You’re quick to reassure him that he has nothing to worry about

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series Scarecrow: 

Definitely tries to hide his jealousy.

But masks it….terribly.

He can’t help it…he adores you, but he knows other people like you too!

How could they not want to spend time with you?

Jonathan tries not to show his discomfort, but you can tell from how fidgety he is. 

His fiddling with his hands, he’s shrugging, and is less sure of himself…more than usual. 

You try to includ ehim, if you can’t, you assure him that you two will spend some quality time together. 

Jonathan instantly perks right up and doesn’t learn why he got jealous in the first place…

Until he gets jealous again.

Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo Scarecrow: 

Likely believes he’s too old or mature to ever get jealous.

Unlike other Scarecrows, you’re likely to try and make him jealous than do it by accident.

Just to see what he’s like…and maybe prove a point out of spite.

Not much works, since he can tell you’re trying to get a rise out of him.

When he does get jealous, it's when you least expect it. 

Jonathan becomes clingy and more physical; holding you, pulling you closer to him.

His attention is now on you tenfold, but he also steals glances at whoever it was that set him off…

This is the closest you will get to seeing him jealous, and you’re absolutely enjoying it before you rub it in his face.

[pandadrake]

Someone commented that they thought my drawing of Harvey Dent was Bruce Wayne, so I tried drawing Bruce Wayne and he turned out so weird and creepy-looking that I'm uploading this instead.

[jonathan-cranes-mistress-of-fear]

Favorite "Hobby" of Each Scarecrow

Masters of Fear: reading

God of Fear: scaring pigeons

Year One: farming and cleaning

Salecrow: writing poetry

Yellow Lantern Scarecrow: going to concerts and listening to punk music

Arkham Asylum: reading psychology textbooks

Arkham Knight: being in pain (OTL)

Lego Scarecrow: Making new vehicles to ride like his fear-copter

Nolanverse: anything mean and manipulative

Fear State: BDSM (lmao have you SEEN the comics??)

Alex Ross: wine tasting

BTAS: scaring children in corn mazes

TNBA: above but it's at a haunted house

HHSD: mocking bill nye

[redflare777]

Mr Hyde, Blade, and Scarecrow. I feel they fit a similar design genre

[onedumblady]

Hfatjgretsfehetwh

(I saw this meme on tiktok)

[skye707]

I love the btas version of Scarecrow. There's just something about a bean-pole guy running around in hilariously baggy, disgusting clothes on an evil mission.

[oneshortlady]

imagine holding his face in your hands gently when he's upset or angry and he looks into you're eyes and his eyes soften AAAAA

[steal-this-idea]

Imagining some evil DJ spinning the latest hit record in some elite Gotham City nightclub shouting "It's time to raze the roof!" to a party crowd which has no idea what's about to happen to them as the DJ makes a stealthy exit

[im-totally-not-an-alien-2]

Danny died young. That wasn't what made him powerful. No, but it was part of it. His obsession was Protection due to that being one of the only forms of love he ever received. His parents swearing to protect him from monsters that they never found and his sister protecting him from his parents more...extreme actions.

He died at 6 and if there was one lesson he had learned from his short life, it was that to love was to protect and to be loved is to be protected.

So Danny, ever the explorer, had spent another 6 years after death wandering around the zone and saving people. One day he slipped out of the Infinite Realms and into a new reality but he didn't expect to see a kid around his own age dressed in black and red.

The kid jumped from rooftop to rooftop, doing flips and handsprings with a small smile on his face. Danny stared at him wide eyed while standing frozen on the ground like an idiot. Just like that, Danny developed his first crush.

Following behind the kid was a large man in a gray and black outfit. Supervillian? He watched as this guy jumped from rooftop to rooftop running after the kid.

Danny almost blasted the guy right then and there if it wasn't for the kid turning around and talking to him. Eavesdropping wasn't exactly polite but Danny needed to know if he needed to rescue his crush this kid. Luckly it didn't come to that as "Batman and Robin" discussed a case and left.

Later, back in the IR, Danny was caught by Kitty while he was picking flowers. Upon asking what he was doing he stated the obvious. This of course, led to Kitty following Danny back to Gotham and getting front roy seats to Phantom popping his head up from the rooftop while Robin was running and startling him.

Robin got into his battle stance alongside Batman, all the while Danny didn't ride up from the roof any farther than his shoulders. Danny was too nervous to say anything and just blushed before he chucked the bouquet at Robins feet and bolted.

Robin jumped back, fully expecting the object the kid threw to be a weapon or explosive of some kind. Even after realizing they were flowers and the other kid was gone they still suspected it might be a trap.

Eventually they brought the glowing flowers to the batcave where they were examined. Alfred took the liberty of putting the ones that weren't being examined in a vase.

"I don't get it. Was he trying to send a message? I don't even recognize any of these flowers, what was he trying to tell us?"

"If I may, Master Tim." Alfred interrupted the boy, "Is it possible he gave you flowers for another reason? One more...mundane?"

------

Aka Danny gets a big ole crush on BTAS Tim and the other ghosts coo at Danny for "baby's first crush"

The bats are never normal so they're absolutely convinced Phantom is up to no good

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Now I have to ask: What's Alfred's place in all this? Does Eddie move in with Bruce in this hypothetical pride issue? Does Alfred have to deal with him just riddling all over the manor?

Cause I'm thinking of the way Alfred and Eddie's interactions went in the podcasts, Alfred having to give him the shovel talk and all, but ofc in this case the situation would be different since this wouldn't cause an Egypt dinner situation and all

okay well first of all this isn't about the podcasts, this is an original piece that DC is hiring me to publish for them in a fantasy world where they're willing to let Batman suck a dick.

anyway in every universe Alfred is opposed to Bruce doing things that put him in danger, which is why Alfred is generally having a pretty terrible time and has to be a 24/7 megacunt to avoid spending all of his time screaming in to the void, so he clearly would not LOVE this! there has to be a better way, Master Bruce!! there was no actual reason you had to kiss the Riddler with tongue, Master Bruce!!!

also no there's no way in HELL he's living in Wayne Manor that's insane. I'm picturing this story being very like that episode of BTAS where the Riddler's like "no I'm normal now ;) I'm a legitimate businessman ;)" and he's just fucking around Gotham high society. he's probably genuinely making a lot of legitimate money; I've talked about this before but one of my favorite traits people give the Riddler is like. "man who is very brilliant and very able to make a ton of money completely legally but unfortunately he has Problems Disorder and keeps shooting himself in the dick." I think in the story I'm pitching here he's probably being really annoying and ostentatious with it (hello, flirting with Bruce Wayne) so he's staying in the penthouse of like. an extremely expensive and tacky Egyptian-themed hotel. you know, for the sphinx motif?

guys am I putting too much thought into this. does anyone know how to get an interview with DC.

[riddle-me-ri]

A little bit of an angst-comfort idea, but I want to see how the scarecrows would deal with their s/o accidentally being exposed to fear toxin. To top it all off, the toxins strong enough to cloud the readers vision so that they don’t see Jonathan but instead their worst fear, practically cowering from him. While the scarecrows do love them some fear, I would imagine they wouldn’t like to see their s/o in such a state (or maybe some of them would to an extent?)

If it’s no biggie, could you end it off with how the boys would try to make it up to their s/o after the fact?

A/N: ooooohhhhhh yeeesssssss this is the kind of angst I absolutely live for! Poor scare babies although I have no doubt some would be into it!

The Scarecrows React to Reader Being Exposed To Fear Toxin

Arkhamverse Scarecrow:

- Whether it's a great enemy or a great lover. This Scarecrow desires to know what terrifies you.

- However, he would like your consent at all times. 

- Unfortunately, your first encounter was without either his knowledge or your consent. 

- Jonathan felt some guilt, but it was overpowered by the sound of your gasps and cries. 

- He walked over to you, in an instinct maneuver to comfort you. 

- Yet you shied away in a corner. Screaming, digging your face in your hands. 

- It's almost like he can feel the erratic beating of your heart in his ears. You cry out for his name–to save you and make it stop. 

- And he will…he does but he takes his time. 

- He makes it up to you with a string of apologies, and suggestions to keep you from stumbling upon him during future experiments. 

- He spends practically a whole week with you, reading to you, holding you.

- It's the least he can do for the exhilarating results you provided. 

Nolanverse/Murphy Scarecrow:

- He longs to see you afraid, to see the terror in your eyes. 

- The idea absolutely thrills him to his core. 

- To know you in such a vulnerable state and what makes your skin crawl.

- The moment will happen sooner rather than later when you walk in on him testing a new toxin. 

- He tried to push you away, to get you out of the vicinity, but it was too late. 

- As you quivered and fell to your knees in cold terror. 

- You screamed for him to help you, explain what's happening. 

- Jonathan couldn't deny your sounds of fright were like music to his ears. 

- The way your pretty eyes were blown out. 

- Your voice shrieked his name and your heart was no doubt pounding and pounding. 

- Much like during…another activity. 

- He makes mental notes of what you say you see; what you fear. 

- He's not entirely cruel, he doesn't make the illusion last any longer than needed. 

- Jonathan will be with you for the rest of the day. 

- You have his undivided attention. He will cuddle you, rest with you, and prepare meals.

Batman the Animated Series Scarecrow:

- As curious as he is, he would never have you under his toxin.

- Not without your consent, and without laying down some ground rules. 

- He may be curious and almost dying to know such a deep emotional part of you…

- But his love for you is stronger than that.

- When it happens accidentally, its his worst nightmare has come to life. 

- Hearing you cry out for him while simultaneously pushing yourself away.

- You wanted him to protect you…but from himself.

- Jonathan regrets ever being curious, he absolutely despises seeing you like this.

- He’s quick to give you the antidote.

- Even through all the shoves and kicks to try to keep him away from you.

- When you come too, he's instantly more affectionate than usual. 

- Jon holds you and comforts you and isn't going to leave your side anytime soon.

- Until what you experienced is just a distant memory. 

The New Batman Adventures Scarecrow:

- Jonathan is somewhat torn. 

- He cares for you deeply and the last thing he'd want is to harm you in any way…physically or mentally. 

- However, he can't deny he'd be intrigued to know your fears and your instincts when facing it. 

- When the moment comes, unexpectedly he's frozen. 

- He realizes one of his own fears in fruition to your own fear. 

- He doesn't like to see you frightened, your screams make his ears ring in concern. 

- Jonathan unfortunately doesn't have an immediate antidote for this certain batch. 

- It's nearly impossible to work as he hears you scream for him to save you. 

- When he eventually finds the cure or the images subside he's by your side in an instant. 

- Jonathan is mute, unsure what to say to comfort you. 

- He is at your beck and call for the next few days. 

- Ensuring your mental state and to make up for the absolute hell he accidentally put you through.

Fear State Scarecrow: 

- This Scarecrow believes that everyone should face their fears and traumas in order to evolve.

- The same would be for his significant other. 

- However, unlike his experiment where he plans to push the city of Gotham through its Fear State. 

- The trial to get you through your Fear State is far more…personal…intimate if you will.

- It takes some convincing (and most definitely manipulation) to get you to concede. 

- He's doing it because he cares about you. He knows your potential to be an even stronger, more fearless version of yourself. 

- Don't you want that? You trust him right?

- You do, so you go through with it. 

- And it's absolute hell. 

- Even Jonathan has to admit, he's not a fan of your screams.

- Especially when you cry out for him. 

- When you finally surpass it, Jonathan promises to never put you through it again.

Year One Scarecrow:

- Jonathan has spent his adult years learning, testing, modifying, and mastering fear to torture and subdue those that have done it to him. 

- Its a tool of horror, pain, and torment. One he prays you will never have to experience.

- Surely if he can wield fear he can constrain it…

- Unfortunately, that's not the case. 

Jonahan never thought he’d know terror like the abuse he endured by his dear late great granny.

- But your howls and tears were just as, if not more, horrific. 

- Jon tries to not panic as he scurries quickly. 

- It hurts him when you defensively push him and try to run away.

- He knows you can’t help it, you don’t see him. 

- Just the concept of being your nightmare, breaks his heart. 

- Once the effects wear off, Jon is quick to comfort you in any way he can. 

- He whispers a mantra of apologies, hoping that you can find it in your heart to forgive him. 

Masters of Fear Scarecrow: 

- Much like Year One, Jon uses fear as a weapon against his adversaries. 

- You are the only glimmering light in his dark, lonely life. 

- He wouldn't dare make you endure the effects of his fear toxin. 

- Regardless, accidents are bound to happen. 

- Jonathan is panicking.

- Very few things can drop the Master of Fear to his knees; you being in danger was one of them. 

- Even when he subdues the effects and you’re no longer screaming for your fears to go away. 

- He’s almost certain he’s lost you. That you would leave him. 

- Why would you be with someone that can bring forth your worst fears? And even accidentally, have you endure them. 

- Jonathan is beyond shocked when you forgive him. 

- As if he didn’t already treat you like a precious jewel.

- He’ll be even more protective of you.

- When you ask him to go to bed with you, or to join you, he’ll go with no hesitation. 

- Anything to keep you happy, and to make you forget his horrible mistake. 

Harley Quinn The Animated Series Scarecrow:

- Absolutely not. It's a hard no for Jonny. 

- He doesn't even care if you seem curious. 

- Regardless, he got to find out your fears when you accidentally opened the door to his lab. 

- He's practically panicking. Probably the most erratic of the Scarecrows.

- In his panic he is likely to short circuit and seize up. 

- It isn’t until you shout out for his name he’d snap out of it. 

- When he finally manages to administer the antidote, he’s beyond relieved. 

- He practically clings to you, shushing your cries, assuring you that you’re okay.

- No matter how much you tell him it’s not his fault. He still feels miserable about it. 

- Expect him to be very clingy for a while. Clutching you tighter, making your favorite comfort foods, never not being by your side. 

Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo Scarecrow:

- Echoing earlier Scarecrows, he has his curiosity. But he doesn't press you if you're uncomfortable. 

- He wants the absolute best for you, always. 

- Jonathan has been experimenting and further progressing his toxins for years. 

- So sure there would be no accidental exposure. 

- Jon is wracked with concern and anger when you scream bloody murder one night. 

- He doesn’t take the time to figure out how you got exposed. 

- Though it does very little, more out of comfort for him almost than for you. He tries to comfort you through your fears. 

- He tells you they aren’t real, they’re visions. He’s so sorry. He has no idea how this could have happened, etc, etc. 

- His words fall on deaf ears as you keep crying his name for help. 

- When he finally gives you the antidote or the effects finally surpass, he is still in a panic. 

- Jonathan isn’t an overly affectionate man. He has his moments, but they’re few, far, and in between. 

- Yet, on this night, he isn’t hesitant at all. Kissing your head and cheeks, rubbing your arms and back in warmth and comfort. 

- Never again, never again will this happen. You have his word.

[rae-raewrites]

Btas dork squad with a kid who dresses up as them for Halloween?

I squealed when I got this one. So gosh darn cute!

BTAS dork squard with a kid who dresses up as them for Halloween

Riddler

Color him surprised!

Here he is on his way to enjoy his Halloween and this little gentleman is out here with the best costume

“Riddle me this dear boy,who has the best costume this side of the east coast?”

The kid actually looks happy to see him

The little domino mask is there as well!

Oh and the little cane!

I mean why wouldn’t one of Gotham ms youths pass off the opportunity to dress up as a genius

His night was officially made

Scarecrow

His favorite time of year on his favorite night of the year?

An already perfect time for the scarecrow himself

So lo and behold the one night Jonathan is about to throw a whole vial of fear toxin into a crowd he notices…..

A little him?

Takes him a bit to register the small child infont of him

He’s supposed the master of fear and yet this tiny child has decided that he’s a good Halloween costume?

It seems almost ridiculous yet here he is.

He can’t help but smile a bit

“Terror truly does come in all forms now doesn’t it?”

Mad hatter

Jervis doesn’t normally find himself out on all hallows Eve but this year is an exception

Absolutely stunned when he sees a little top hat and little 10/6 card sticking out of the brim

I-it’s a little him!

“Well hello there little rabbit,heading to a tea party?”

The little lad looks absolutely excited for someone to actually figure out who he is

Jervis can’t help but be a bit proud of himself for leaving such an impact to get a costume after him.

[jonathan-cranes-mistress-of-fear]

Can you name 31 different versions of the Scarecrow? I might make my own 31 days of drawing Scarecrow during October so I'd appreciate it!

A challenge, but not impossible

Year One

Salecrow

BTAS (two but let's count as one)

TNBA

Batman 89 Echos

Scarebeast

Superfriends

Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo

Super-Powers Team Galactic Guardians

Batman Terror

Absolute Terror

Arkham Shadow

Arkham Asylum

Arkham Knight

Injustice 2

Fear of Faith

Lego Scarecrow (could be many, but let's just call it one)

As the Crow Flies

Batgirl ver

Batwoman ver

Catwoman ver

That one plaid wearing design meant for Suicide Squad

Batman 523-524 ver

Jim Aparo Scarecrow

Nightmare in Gotham City Children's Book ver

Cycle of Violence aka New52

Rebirth Scarecrow

Fear State Scarecrow

Yellow Lantern

God of Fear

Justice Ver

HONORABLE MENTION

Joker's Asylum

Hush

Masters of Fear

Mistress of Fear ver

Goodnight Batcave (MAD Magazine ver)

Batman Unlimited (the green one)

Brave and the Bold

Batman TMNT Mutant ver

Batman Daredevil

Young Heroes in Love Ver

Feel free to mix and match!!

[maxwell-grant]

Thoughts on the master of fear, Scarecrow? Also, fave design, he has so many good ones (second BTAS, his trading card one, mistress of fear, Gaslight,, fear for sale, the Arkham Games etc)?

Hey so, do any of you remember Batman Live? It was this really fun, extravagant stage show that touched on a lot of Batman hallmarks and was generally a really fun time as far as I recall. I went to the São Paulo premiere with my family, and I was a little too young to really recall most of it now, but some things I definitely remember like the huge Joker hot air balloon made of performers in bodypaint, or the comedy sequences in the Iceberg Lounge. The one thing that stuck with me the most was when the Scarecrow showed up. Batman goes to Arkham Asylum and the entire comedy camp tone drops dead, as he walks in and finds all these bodies in straightjackets hanging from chains, and the doors open as The Scarecrow walks towards him in stilts, summoning loud smoke eruptions that are poisoning and weakening Batman as he leers over him. That part actually did scare me as a kid, and it was probably the first time I had any kind of feelings on Scarecrow imprinted in me.

I was introduced to The Scarecrow as this uniquely horrifying villain who could terrify through presentation alone. I didn't particularly understand what the fear gas was, I was too taken with that ungainly thing up there with the stilts and all those people turned into cadaverous decorations, lurking from the endless halls of the asylum, who towered over everyone and placed Batman into a writhing breakdown with a few gestures, and never appeared again until the cast roll, completely absent from the rogues gatherings after. Granted, of course that's because the stilts prevented him from joining the fight scenes, but that helped to reinforce his mystery. He wasn't someone Batman was going to punch back, no no, the Scarecrow simply vanished as soon as he was done with disarming Batman, and you'd just have to pray for that unfathomable creep to never show up again.

And I'd say this might be part of why I've never been too big on the fear gas, in part because I was first enraptured by a version of The Scarecrow who clearly didn't need it that much, or at least, could do much more besides it. The Scarecrow is, I'd say actually one of my top 10 DC characters, half of that on the basis of his designs, but he's a character who tends to really, really struggle under a lack of cohesion and being subordinate to his gimmick, much more so than the other rogues. The fear gas is a good gimmick, but it is just that, a gimmick, and one that's usually reliant on how far can the story push the horror and the visuals to at least make it effectively scary for us, otherwise it gets incredibly boring very fast, and it's not even a gimmick exclusive to him since so many other characters have similar mind control/illusion abilities/gadgetry at hand (and to say nothing of Hugo Strange, who first used fear gas and who quite frankly kicks the Scarecrow's ass in terms of quality storylines, although Hugo does that to most of the other Batman villains too)

The Scarecrow has become the go-to character for hallucination sequences / revisiting character traumas, which frequently makes him less of a character and more so a convenient plot device, a problem heightened by the larger issue here that is his inconsistent motivation, or lack thereof. He lacks the kind of "breakout" stories that his fellow major Batman villains have had that usually cement an ongoing characterization, and his most famous/celebrated appearences in mass media don't really do much to combat the assertion that he is shallow and weak and whose only asset is the gas (namely, his boss fights in Arkham Asylum, which are all about the fear gas hallucination scares, and his role in Nolan's Batman, which is very fun, but also purposefully plays him up for ridicule and lack of depth next to the other villains)

These days, the Scarecrow is a tedious pip-squeak. His schemes lack verve, his cruelties stir little in the way of frissons. Haunted by cliché to an even greater extent than the other rogues, he’s often brought low with a single sock to the jaw delivered by Batman, or by finding himself on the receiving end of his own fear-inducing concoctions. He often acts as a pawn in the hands of bigger, badder third parties. He’s ostensibly a stand-in for the figure of the reductive, smug and hypocritical psychologist, nicely bundled up for the audience to humiliate in effigy - TheMindlessOnes's rogue review for Scarecrow

In "Nothing to Fear" it is explained that Jonathan Crane has always had this "thing" for scaring people. (Just as Snidely Whiplash had his "thing" for tying women to railroad tracks, I suppose.) But this is a wan kind of motive. One senses sadly that the real motive for the Scarecrow's behavior lies in the writer's need for someone to do something reprehensible. At the root of the matter may be a difficulty in sorting out the Scarecrow's ends from his means, with a consequent confusion between the goals the Scarecrow intends to reach and the tactics he employs in reaching them.

As a psychologist specializing in phobic disorders, Crane knows how to induce fear and trembling in his victims. But this tells us nothing about what the Scarecrow wants to accomplish. And without a sense or statement of what those goals are, the writer will be tempted to substitute means for end and make the Scarecrow's goal simply the scaring of people. Usually his actions are woefully underexplained - Dreams in Darkness' review by Toonzone

You might think that I'd be advocating for the Scarecrow, then, to disregard a need for a motivation and become as unknowable and horrific as possible, to recapture the awe I felt at his Batman Live self, but no, not at all. For one, I don't think the best version of anything is necessarily the one that made the most impact on me as a kid. Two, there have been some attempts over the years to remove Scarecrow from the toxin or seriously amp him up as a threat, and frankly, most of those have only made the character dramatically worse and more boring (I don't remember the name, but there was a Batman story a while ago where he goes on a big scary killing spree with no toxin just to prove he can and it was fucking terrible). Three, and the big one here, is that this pretty much forces you to get rid of Dr. Jonathan Crane, and I think that does a disservice to the character's potential. I think that's giving up on trying to make him work as a character and I don't think you have to do that.

My preferred characterization for Crane is one that emphasizes his nature as a scholar turned supervillain. The cold and misanthropic and neurotic nerd professor who spent most of his salary on books and took to terrorizing the city as a costumed criminal in part because he wanted money to buy more books. Who takes off the costume mid-crime spree to school his henchmen on specifics of brain chemistry, who gets revenge on those that wrong his students or even employs them as henchmen, still the same guy who thinks there's nothing wrong with firing a loaded gun in a packed classroom as a demonstration. Far less interested in human connections than he is in human reactions, things that can surprise him or that he can catalogue or research or write about. Someone who's not a sadist for sadism's sake, but who doesn't really see you as a person so much as he sees a test subject. I like Crane as a snarky humorous heel who thinks of himself as amoral and mature while doing horribly immoral and childish things, the Herbert West or Rusty Venture of Batman villains (James Urbaniak is definitely the voice I'd pick for him).

My preferred kind of motivation for him is something along the lines of how he's portrayed in most of Kings of Fear, where he puts Batman through the wringer in part as an attempt to get to him and cure him once and for all, or issues #4-5 of The Batman Adventures where he induces city-wide illiteracy in part as a protest against the city's failing education. In Gothtopia he makes all of Gotham hallucinate their perfect ideal lives, eliminating the crime rate but causing the suicide rate to spike up in return, and yes it does turn out to be the set-up for a really generic "fear gas everyone with blimps and make everyone twice as scared" pay off when his involvement is revealed, but I always thought Scarecrow being able and willing to do that, to create these huge and even benevolent-seeming social experiments, as an idea with legs. Fear State was frustratingly halfway there, with the initial set-up of Scarecrow pursuing a theory for fear-based social upheaval, but on top of not being very good, it also wound up that he was just doing the same old thing again and had Batman call him out as someone who just wanted to gas the city and make everyone scared again and never changes and does anything different, which seemed like Tynion defeating his own purpose of trying to make a defining Scarecrow story and address his lack of one, completely failing to address the why the character has that kind of problem and upending itself for meta commentary before doing anything interesting.

Even Kings of Fear, easily the best Scarecrow story of the past decades if not outright ever, kinda ends in a bit of a cop-out where The Scarecrow has to be wrong ("Even when he's telling the truth, he's lying, and even when he's right, he's wrong", Gordon tells Batman to reassure him, to nullify the past 5 issues criticizing and tearing into Batman from every angle imaginable), and he has to be a sadist who just wanted to fuck with Batman and uncover his worst fears because it's what he does. Why does Scarecrow want to unravel people and wrench their worst fears into the surface? Because he's a sadist who gets off on it? I guess that's the canon answer most of the time, but it's such a boring, weak one. Because he wants revenge on the world / bullies? Still weak, done better by other villains even. Because of an unspeakably traumatic childhood that taught him the world was ruled by fear and therefore driving him to become it's master? Okay, but it still doesn't actually answer what he wants to get out of doing what he does.

We know that Jonathan Crane was a fragile youth routinely terrorized and abused by others and plainly traumatized by his experiences. We know that he is learned and brilliant and given to introspection and fantasy.

From this base it is not hard to imagine Crane turning into a man fiercely devoted to solitude and study and capable of a murderous rage when his privacy is violated. It is possible, in other words, to imagine him as a reactive force, in the mold of Freeze, systematically terrorizing and destroying anyone who crosses him but rarely wanting to start trouble himself.

Or we can imagine him as a mercenary, a specialist hired by others for nefarious purposes, but who is not himself strongly motivated by particular rages or desires.

But if the Scarecrow is going to remain a sadist and a sadist only—if he is going to be moved only by the psychotic desire to harm others—we ought to be made to feel the seductive power that sadism has over its practitioners; we should be made to feel and appreciate the hot and sour joy that comes from the purposeful humiliation of another - Dreams in Darkness review by Toonzone

It's kind of a frustrating pattern in a lot of his stories where he gives a reason for doing something, and it turns out to be a cover for yet another sadistic fear gas attack, but his cover reason was a more interesting motivation for him than what he actually was going for. A villain who mainly just gets a kick out of hurting people and concocts bullshit excuses and reasons to justify said hurting? The Joker does that already, but the Joker always clearly states what he wants and has all those ways to make cruelty for cruelty's sake entertaining. If that's all The Scarecrow is also, no wonder he's going to be so incredibly lacking most of the time (nevermind the fact that he's never going to be the guy most infamous for gassing Gotham City).

Yes, he may be sadistic and cruel, he may enjoy what he does too much, and maybe there really isn't any kind of realistic explanation as to why a man would dress up as a scarecrow to commit terrorism and spray innocent people with chemicals to make them terrified, but refer to the guy he's fighting. "Realistic" is the wrong term. The issue here is less "why" the Scarecrow does what he does, and more what is he hoping to get out of it. Granted, this is less of a concern if you're playing The Scarecrow as a figure of horror, someone who's not even really human underneath that outfit. But I think that locks away much of his versatility. The Scarecrow needs Jonathan Crane, and I think there's good stuff to like about that awful man.

I like Jonathan Crane the sardonic pragmatic scientist who still embraces his hopelessly ridiculous life, a guy who's not nearly as above it all as he'd like to be and has wants and needs moreso than he really likes to admit. I like him as a book lover, as a fan of horror, I like him as the kind of guy who'd send fan mail to Elvira and break out of Arkham just to catch a Halloween parade and guest star in a Scooby-Doo movie for a change. I like him as someone who'd have a decent working relationship with the other rogues and pal with the Legion of Doom and get into a physical spat with Riddler over a chess game. Someone who custom-makes his own outfits and equipment, who makes scythes out of animal bones to fight Batman with, who picked the scarecrow motif in part because it was a term of derision his colleagues used on him.

Who pours himself over his research as he records his theories in a tape recorder, the kind of guy who grouses at having to clean another cell because he's getting annoyed at his test subjects killing themselves, seriously guys the cleaning supplies for this batch were as fresh as they could be, and the iguana amygdalas I used should be stopping your neocortexes from overreacting this strongly. Subject #3 over there got over his fear of centipedes yesterday and he hasn't screamed all morning, I'm gonna need the rest of you to stop being such babies, okay?

It must be terribly liberating for Crane, to transcend mere ugliness and become inhuman. Of all the rogues, he’s easily the one who takes Batman’s “I need a disguise; I shall become a beast of the night” schtick and runs with it the farthest - TheMindlessOnes's rogue review for Scarecrow

And that's for Jonathan Crane, man of science. The Scarecrow, however, is not science, he is unreason incarnate, and to me what most makes The Scarecrow work as a Batman villain has nothing to do with "they both use fear as a weapon", I always thought that was a bit shallow of an angle to pursue (most, if not all, the villains rely on fear, it comes with the whole "crime" thing). The two have a stronger connection via the costume, the theatricality, the becoming a creature of the night angle. None of the other major Batman villains are going into their costumes the way The Scarecrow is. They have their personas and varying degrees of division between them and their "real selves", but few of them are wearing outright identity-separating Halloween Monster Costumes with separate names and personalities they can dip in and out of at their convenience.

And I'm gonna interrupt myself to answer your second question. I couldn't pick just one design, so counting the Batman Live one above, I picked 10. These are not in order and they're not necessarily how I'd design him, I'd say my actual favorite Scarecrow designs are fan-made, but if I was going to pick out of "official" material these are the ones I'd go for. It's time for:

(Left-to-right: George Pratt's Scarecrow pin-up, Phil Jimenez's Scarecrow design, Ed Natividad's concept art for Suicide Squad)

(Left-to-right: His TNBA design by Bruce Timm as drawn by Luciano Vecchio, Alex Ross's design for Justice, and Tim Sale's Scarecrow)

(Left-to-right: Kelley Jones' design for Kings of Fear, Jeremy Raapack's design for Legends of the Dark Knight #25, Scarecrow's design in Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!)

*cough*, anyway: Most of the other rogues with their signature suits or masks or body distortions don't tend to have closets full of different variant Batsuits and scarecrow costumes to choose and devote to their cause and ideal, that they sit at night tailoring on how to make scarier or more loaded with weapons, that they might even have conversations with, things that sit in their closets waiting because both of these brilliant men, men who have (or at least had) different civilian lives, men who could stop doing this at any time, who both decided that becoming a Halloween monster prowling the streets to inflict terror is a necessary, even productive use of their time.

And I think that's the key word I want to end here, productive. I think The Scarecrow needs to be more productive. Because even if he's not aware of it, he is achieving progress via his research, and there is one way he's proved his ideas: Batman walks out of every fight they have stronger. Every encounter they have is a test that Batman resists and walks out of more able to cope with his own traumas, or at least, better able to resist them being weaponized against him. I always wanted to explore the idea that Crane is genuinely convinced he's doing people a favor or at least achieving something via all these horrible Scarecrow campaigns, and one thing he has achieved is that Batman is never not prepared for chemical attacks or assaults on his mind, Batman resists ungodly trials of willpower and determination and courage, in part because he has to deal with the Scarecrow pumping terror juice in his brain semi-regularly.

The fact that Crane loses and gets beaten up and has to retry schemes again and again and kill people and join the costume parade just to lure Batman is fairly inconsequential to him, so long as it gets results. He's not interested in dissecting Batman's brain or being more like Batman, that's Hugo Strange's thing. Hugo Strange needs Batman to be fearless, allmighty and perfect, where as Jonathan Crane wants nothing more than to unearth and study the fears and kinks in the armor, the dead last thing he wants is a perfect man. Hugo Strange wants to crawl naked into the mask of the great and terrible fascist and never come out, where as The Scarecrow wants to crack open all the masks in the world and feast luridly on whatever seeps out.

Batman isn't just the ultimate trial against his fear-ruled worldview (or even affirmation), and he isn't just a breakthrough waiting to happen: he might be his greatest success as of yet. A case study on the success of exposure therapy, proof of potential medicinal applications for his formula, the greatest guinea pig of all time because he won't die no matter what you pump into him, you name it. So what if all those other people couldn't stomach the procedure, so what if those precious innocents are too weak and stupid and useless to not get in the way of research, it's clearly worked wonders for those who could take it.

And if the future belongs to men like Batman, if all of these superheroes and supervillains are the way things are going to be like forever, if the future is Bat-shaped and as vast and uncertain and horrible as the forces shaping it, the future needs to be prepared. The future needs to grapple with it's past and face it's greatest horrors and become stronger for it. There is no such thing as overcoming fear, there is only living with it, embracing it, bowing to the primordial instinct that knows the answer before you do. Mankind grew and developed it's intelligence and tools out of fear, fear of the bigger predators out there, fear of the other cavemen, fear of starvation and death and everything they couldn't understand and master until they learned to fear it. What better knowledge to pass along than fear? And who is better qualified to teach about fear?

Maybe Crane isn't just another monster with a grudge, maybe he isn't another costumed revenge killer, maybe he isn't just a power-tripping sadist bully out to torment others because he can, and maybe he isn't a hopeless traumatized madman who destroyed his professional and personal life in a monstrous quest to satisfy an obsession ruling his soul.

Maybe he is a sane response to an insane situation. Ever heard that one before?

[gothamitelove]

Could I request yandere BTAS scarecrow hcs?

oh yeah. you have come to the right place my friend for sure

yandere!btas!jonathan crane headcanons:

good luck!

no for real though. this man is lonely. he's been lonely a long time, and though he is self-aware enough to know that, he's not exactly going out of his way to change it.

until you come along. and you change everything.

he's the kind of guy to sneak into your place at night and go through your bathroom cupboards.

breaking and entering is this guy's JAM. he learns so much about you like this, and sometimes he just watches you sleep because you look so peaceful

he also does this because it doesn't involve talking to you. and as enamored as he is by you, he is also an anxious guy. fucking this up with you is not an option.

he's very gentle with you, very touchy. it's as much for him as it is for you- it reminds him that you're there, and it grounds him. he's also touch starved as fuck so that's there too

manipulative! really manipulative!

would manipulate you into leaving people he doesn't like. he'd go as far as to make you fear them, so you cling on to him even tighter

this man doesn't have a psych degree for nothing ladies germs and everybody else, he knows how people tick and how to change that tick ever so slightly over to a tock.

he is dangerous, and he will kill people on your behalf, and he will present it to you (if asked- he won't tell you straightaway) as completely justifiable

think about it this way. he's the master of fear, and you are his beloved consort. it's creepily poetic the way he explains it to you. and it almost makes perfect sense