The following contains spoilers for Batman Incorporated #6, now on sale from DC Comics.
Batman's best villains tend to be straightforward characters who invite exploration and invention. While Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and the Riddler can all be explained with a single sentence, they have gone through enough character development to warrant their own personal stories. However, a villain can also fall into an ideal role within the greater context of the DC Universe -- and it's exactly where they belong.
Professor Pyg's role in Batman Incorporated #6 (by Ed Brisson, Michele Bandini, Rex Lokus, and Clayton Cowles) is a great reminder of how effective the villain works as a horror character stuck in a superhero story. Highlighting how this sets him apart from most of Batman's enemies gives the story another important purpose. It shows why Pyg should be Gotham's primary "scary" villain instead of the Joker, who's been defined by being the scariest Batman foe for years. This, in turn, would give the Clown Prince of Crime the kind of reinvention he so desperately needs.
Batman's Professor Pyg is an Effective Horror Villain
Batman Incorporated #6 displays Pyg's sheer potential as a horror villain, especially in contrast to the rest of Batman's rogues' gallery. The brunt of the issue focuses on Ghost-Maker and his allies arriving in Gotham City to assist in the search for Professor Pyg. Someone apparently stole from him and set him on a rampage across the city. Seeking information, Pyg quickly proves how dangerous he can be by unleashing his Dollotrons (his broken victims, brainwashed into being his servants) on a violent quest. They capture the Riddler, Mister Freeze, Killer Croc, and other villains so Pyg can threaten them with a chainsaw. When he discovers it was two young men looking for a big score, he hunts them and becomes the closest thing DC has to the horror icon, Leatherface.
It's a terrifying reminder that Pyg is one of Gotham's go-to scary villains. While other characters like Flamingo might make for more frightening occasional appearances, Professor Pyg is a more consistent and grounded foe. His twisted persona and commitment, as opposed to the more complex characterization afforded to characters like Killer Croc or Mister Freeze, allows him to be utilized as a pure scare tactic. The presence of Professor Pyg immediately sets the tone of any story in a very effective way, making him one-note in the best way possible. His potential new role could also free another villain and give him room to transform into something better.
Professor Pyg is More Horrific Than the Joker
One of the things that makes Joker so compelling as a character is his flexibility. As an engine of chaos, he can jump from dark comedy to tense drama in a single story. However, he's also an inherently frightening character, a murder clown who targets children with knives and poison. It makes sense to use him in Batman's scariest stories but only focusing on that element of him diminishes his flexibility as a character and weakens his unpredictability. The Joker can be used for a lot of storytelling beats and fits just as easily into a dark comedy about escaping Los Angeles as he does torturing Batman and his allies. Mainly focusing on what makes him scary inadvertently makes him more boring.
Professor Pyg is the perfect character to take on the Joker's current role -- the villain that other villains are worried about. This leaves the Joker open to be more chaotic in other ways. Pyg's gimmick is consistent and straightforward while the Joker can be funny, strange, compelling, and even strangely sympathetic. This shift benefits both characters, it gives Professor Pyg a more prominent place in the world of Batman, and it will push the Clown Prince of Crime to reach his full potential.