Espantalho, also known as Scarecrow, appears in the Batman: Gotham Knight segment "In Darkness Dwells," continuing his criminal operations from live-action films by exploiting fear. Operating as Jonathan Crane under the Scarecrow alias, he gathers a cult of mentally ill derelicts in Gotham City's underground. There, he experiments with his signature fear toxin, a hallucinogenic drug inducing intense terror. Scarecrow doses Killer Croc with an enhanced version of this toxin, amplifying the villain's aggression and directing him to attack indiscriminately while specifically conditioning him to overcome any fear of bats to target Batman. Scarecrow orchestrates the abduction of Cardinal O'Fallon during a cathedral sermon, taking him to the crypts below. He stages a mock trial, sentences the Cardinal to death for perceived failures aiding Gotham's homeless, and prepares to execute him with his signature scythe. Batman intervenes, leading to a confrontation where Scarecrow deploys his fear toxin. Though Batman defeats Killer Croc, he sustains injuries including a toxin-transferring bite. Scarecrow attempts to injure Batman with his scythe but fails. Batman ignites methane gas in the environment, causing an explosion that floods the chamber. This allows Batman to escape with Cardinal O'Fallon while Scarecrow flees, evading capture; his fate remains unresolved, leaving criminal operations ongoing. Scarecrow's appearance features the burlap mask and fear-inducing chemicals, and his actions demonstrate a continued focus on manipulating others through terror and challenging authority figures, consistent with his characterization in this continuity.