The Top 100 Comic Book Villains - IGN

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Top
100
ComicBookVillains
StartOver
1
100MODOK
99FinFangFoom
98Mastermind(JasonWyngarde)
97Violator(Spawn)
96Despero
95OmegaRed
94Annihilus
93OmniMan
92Parallax
91TheAdversary
90Carnage
89Shade
88HunterRose
87Electro
86TheGovenor
85Mysterio
84DoctorLight
83GrigoriRasputin
82SoctorSivana
81Mandarin
80Prometheus
79MirrorMaster
78LadyDeathstrike
77Proteus
76MisterMxyzptlk
75Magog
74SaintofKillers
73Clayface
72Sandman
71ThunderboltRose
70WilliamStryker
69Cheetah
68Lucifer
67Mr.Freeze
66HerrStarr
65KangtheConqueror
64PoisonIvy
63TheLeader
62Lizard
61Parasite
60AmandaWaller
59Riddler
58Scarecrow
57Hobgoblin
56Dormammu
55SebastianShaw
54Abomination
53KraventheHunter
52Metallo
51Penguin
50CassandraNova
49AntiMonitor
48Mephisto
47Thanos
46Doomsday
45HarleyQuinn
44Sabretooth
43Deadshot
42TaliaAlGhul
41Mongul
40BaronZemoII
39Shredder
38Sentinel
37Zoom
36VandalSavage
35GorillaGrodd
34Bane
33CyborgSuperman
32Deathstroke
31ProfessorZoom
30GeneralZod
29Sinister
28DoctorOctopus
27CaptainCold
26KidMiracleman
25Bizarro
24Apocalypse
23Ultron
22Venom
21Ozymandias
20Bullseye
19Juggernaut
18Mystique
17Brainiac
16BlackAdam
15Sinestro
14RedSkull
13NormanOsborn
12TwoFace
11Catwoman
10Kingpin
09DarkPhoenix
08Loki
07Ra'sAlGhul
06Darkseid
05Galactus
04LexLuthor
03DoctorDoom
02Joker
01Magneto
#100
#80
#60
#40
#20
Top
100
TopComicBookVillains
Itbegins...
1
Startat#100Getstarted!
Asof2009,comicbookshavebeenwithusfor75years.Inthatspan,countlessheroeshavearisenand
captivatedgenerationsofreaderswiththeircourageousexploits.Butaheroisnothingwithoutagoodvillain.
What'sthepointofbeingabletoleaptallbuildingsinasingleboundunlessthere'ssomeonetotestyour
mettle?
We'vecombedthroughtheGoldenAge,SilverAge,BronzeAge,andModernAgetogatherthebestofthe
worstforourTop100ComicBookVillainsofAllTime.Whowillreignsupreme?Readon...
Ver mais Ver mais
Ver mais Ver mais
MODOK
100
HowcanyounotloveavillainwhosenameisanacronymforMentalOrganismDesignedOnlyforKilling?
OneofthemorebizarrelookingcharactersintheMarvelUniverse(andthat'ssayingsomething),AIM
technicianGeorgeTarletonfoundhimselftransformedintoalivingcomputerbythegroupheworkedfor
withagiant,mutatedhead,andtheneedtobefittedintoahoverchairinordertostaymobile.
Withmentalabilities,comprehensionandmemoryskillsfarbeyondnormalmen,MODOKquicklyprovedto
beapowerfulpresence,whoseowngoalscausedhimtokillhisAIMmastersandtakecontrolhimself.Inthe
process,hebecameanotablesupervillainthreat,thoughonenotasstrictlytiedtoasingleheroorteamas
most.Indeed,MODOKhasfoughteveryonefromCaptainAmericatoIronMantoHulkandevenNamor
andDr.Doomalongtheway.
MODOKhasreturnedfromthedeadmorethanonceandrebelledagainstsubsequentattemptsbyAIMto
oncemoregaincontrolofhim.Whilehisphysicalnaturemakeshimeasytomock,hismentalpowershave
proventobedeadlyformanywhohavedaredcrosshim.Recentlyhe'sbeenmoreproactivethanever,
gathering"MODOK's11"inaschemethatultimatelygavehimanewbaseofoperationsandfollowers.
FinFangFoom
99
FinFangFoom,byallsuperficialaccounts,isadragon.Hecametoearthfromhisalienworldof
Kakaranathara,akaMakluIVintheMaklusystemoftheGreaterMagellanicCloud,whateverthatmeans,to
conquerplanetswiththehelpofothermembersofhisrace.Sowhere'sthebestplacetogotostrikefearin
theheartsofpeopleifyou'readragonthat'sthesizeofahouse?HowaboutChina!IsthatGodzilla?No,it's
FinFangFoom.
Somepeoplewouldarguethathatredistheworstcharacteristicofthehumanrace,butothersswearthatit's
lazinessorapathy.FinFangFoomthough,hasitallwrappedinone.Withthehelpofamysticalherb,Foom
cangointohibernationquickerthanhecandestroyasmallvillage,whichisprettyfast,actually.
Butdon'tlethisidleexteriorfoolyouhecanbeeviltoo.Inoneparticularstoryafterhisbodywas
destroyed,hisspiritflewintoastatuetoreside.Throughhispoweroftelepathy,hethenwilledasmallchild
intobondingwiththousandsoflizardsinaNewYorksewertocreateanewbodyforhim.It'swhatfairytales
aremadeoutof.
Besideshispowersoftelepathy,heisstrongerthantheaveragelizard,canfly,regenerateandhasaccessto
advancedalientechnology.Oh,andhecanprojectanacidicmistfromhismouth.Healsocancookamean
GeneralTso'sChickensinceafterbecomingafollowerofBuddhism,hetookupajobasheadchefata
ChineserestaurantintheBaxterBuilding.FinFangFoomfirstappearedinStrangeTales#89(Oct.1961).
Mastermind(JasonWyngarde)
98
JasonWyngarde,betterknownasMastermind,wasoneofthemoreimportantmembersofMagneto's
BrotherhoodofEvilMutants.Theonlythingknownabouthispast,though,isthathewasamentalistat
carnivals.Carniesareprettyscrewedup,right?
Mastermind'spowersincludecastingillusionscausingpeopletopsionicallysee,hearandeventouchthings
thatdon'treallyexist.Hecanmakepeoplebelievethatheisanotherpersonoreveninvisibleforthatmatter.
HecanevendothistomutantsasstrongasProfessorXavierandJeanGrey.Beingsomewhatolderwith
grayinghair,heusesthesepowerstoappearyoungerandbetterlooking.
MastermindoncehelpedtheBrotherhoodtakeoverawholeSouthAmericancountry,bycreatingtheillusion
ofthousandsofsoldiers.HewaspartoftheHellfireClubduringthe"DarkPhoenixSaga,"andisbasically
themainpersonresponsibleforturningPhoenixintoDarkPhoenix.Hemanipulatedherintobelievingshe
wasaVictorianaristocrat,marriedtoJasonWyngarde,andthatshewasBlackQueenoftheHellfireClub.
HethenbasicallykilledCyclopsinbattle.ThispissedheroffandgotheroutofMastermind'scontrol.She
thenturnedhimcatatonic.Whenhecamebacktohissenses,hemanipulatedRogueintoleavingherfoster
motherMystiquewhilegivingMystiquehorriblenightmares.HemadetheXMenthinkCyclops'fianc
MadelynePryorwastheDarkPhoenixandalsocompelledMarikoYashidatorejectWolverineontheir
weddingday.
AlthoughMastermindisdead,hispowersliveonthroughhisdaughtersMartiniqueJasonandRegan
Wyngardewhoareapparentlystrongerthanheeverwas.Beafraid.
Violator(Spawn)
97
Thenumberonecauseofcoulrophobia(theabnormalorexaggeratedfearofclowns)isnot,asyoumight
initiallythink,abadchildhoodexperienceatabirthdaypartyorthecircus.Mentalhealthexpertsbelieveit
mayhavemoretodowithchildrenseeingsinisterportrayalsofclownsinthemedia.Iftrue,Spawncreator
ToddMcFarlanemayhavepsychologicallydamagedanentiregenerationwiththeViolator.
AHellborndemonwhosepurposeistogroomHellspawn'sintheserviceofevil,thegruesomeViolator's
mosticonicphysicalformistheClown,adisgustinglyoverweight,short,baldingmanwhowearsblueface
paint.Hisdemonicpowersincludesuperstrength,shapeshifting,healing,teleportation,andtheabilityto
breathefire...justtonameafew.Andifbeingarealbastardwasasuperpower,we'dhavelistedthat,too.
SenttoEarthbyMalebolgia,thepowerfulruleroftheEighthCircleofHell,Violatoristaskedwith
monitoringAlSimmons.ButthefoulmouthedClownharassesandtauntsSimmons,feelingthatheisfar
superiortothisnewestSpawn.AndwhilehecannotkillanySpawnwithoutanorderfromhissuperiors,that
hasn'tstoppedhimfrommakingSimmonslifea(literal)livingHell.Hehasbeenkillednumeroustimes,only
tobesentbacktoHellandrestoredtolifebyhismaster.
ViolatorfirstappearedSpawn#1(May1992),hewasprominentlyfeaturedinthepopularHBOminiseries,
andwasmainantagonistintheoftmaligned1997liveactionmovie(playedbyJohnLeguizamo).The
ViolatorhasalsomadeanappearanceineverySpawnvideogameeverreleased.
Despero
96
HebathedhimselfintheFlameofPy'tarandisfueledbyanallconsuminghatredfortheJusticeLeague.
What'snottolovetohate?
Desperohasundergoneasmanyvariationsastheverygrouphewishestoinflictfatalinjuryupon,which
accountssomewhatforhislowerstatusonthetotempole.Hisambitionhishigh,butonenotekillthe
JusticeLeague.
Initiallyconceivedasaweaktyrant,pronetopsychologicallyplayingwiththefatesofhisenemies,Despero
evolvedintomoreofaphysicallythreateningpresenceathugwithdelusionsofgrandeurandwithsome
potentmuscletobackitup.HisruninJusticeLeagueAmerica,leadingtoashowdownbrawlattheUnited
Nations,isafunreadonehastoadmireabaddiewhodecidestoweartheUN'sflagasacape.But
ultimately,Despero'sgoalsarehinderedbyhisonetrackapproachtoachievingthem.Consistencyisgood,
buthe'llneedmorethangreatphysicalstrengthandmyopicvisiontojointheranksofrealDCthreats.
OmegaRed
95
Itdependsonwhoyouask,butOmegaRed,akaArkadyRossovich,wasjustyouraverageRussian
soldier/serialkiller/childrapist.OnestorysayshewascapturedbyInterpolagentandXManBanshee.
Anothertellsthathisfellowsoldiersexecutedhimforhischildrelatedtransgressionsandhesomehow
survived.Eitherway,theKGBgetsRossovichandtriestomakeasupersoldieroutofhim.ThinkCaptain
Americabuttheopposite.
ScientistshadthebrightideaofgivingRossovichretractablecarbonadium(amoremalleableformof
adamantium)tentaclesinsteadofhislessusefularms.Althoughquitepracticalforkillingandprobablynot
shakinghands,thecarbonadiumendedupbeingpoisonousandhehadtodrainthelifeoutofpeoplejustto
survive.Besidesthatgreatqualitywhichsurelymakesmakingnewfriendsabreeze,OmegaRed'sbodycan
alsoproducepheromonescalledDeathSpores,whichkillnormalhumansinseconds.Hehassuperhuman
everythingnormalthatyouhavelikestrengthandspeedandreflexesandetc.andhisbodytissueisalso
harderthanyours.
OneflawofOmegaRed'sistheneedfortheCarbonadiumSynthesizer,whichstabilizeshisweaknessforthe
alloy.Wolverine,withthehelpofSabretoothandMaverickoncestolethisdevice,justtomakehislifealittle
harder.
DuetoOmegaRed'sunpredictability,theSovietgovernment(whomadehim)oncefrozehimincryogenic
animation.He'sworkedalongsideTheHand,Neocommunists,RussiangangsterIvanPushkin,druglords
liketheGeneralandhasbeentheheadoftheRedMafiaposingasabusinessman.Heisstilllookingforthe
CarbonadiumSynthesizer.Soifyouknowofitswhereabouts,pleasecontacthim.He'llprobablykillinstead
ofprovidearansom,though.
Annihilus
94
Onceuponatime,anadvancedhumanoidspecieswasplantingseedswithlifespores.Ameteorhitoneof
theirshipsandhurleditintotheplanetArthros.Generationslater,oneofthesporesevolvedintoaninsect
likecreature,whichsomehowwasextremelyintelligentandfoundaknowledgetransferencehelmettoget
evensmarter.ThusisthestorybehindAnnihilus.Thissameoldstoryagain?
Sincehecamefromhumblebeginningsbeingaseedsporeandall,Annihilusturnedouttobesomewhat
paranoidabouthissurvivalandsetouttodestroyanythinghesawasathreatakaeveryone.Withhelpof
thepowerofflight,aninsectoidexoskeletonwitharmorthatcanwithstandblastsfromevenGalactus,super
strengthandaguardof100aliensbyhissideitwasn'tsohard.
Annihilus'mostimportanttoolthoughandtheonewhichleadstomuchstrife,sincehewon'tshare,ishis
CosmicControlRod.Withithecanmanipulatecosmicenergytochangethemolecularstructureofmatter
andprojectgiganticamountsofdestructiveenergy.
Annihiluswouldn'tlettheFantasticFourborrowtheRodwhenSueStormhadcosmicrayrelatedpregnancy
complications.Theyjuststoleit.AnnihilusevenabductedtheRichards'sonFranklintotapintohispowers
tofurtherhisown.ReedRichardshadtoshutdownhisownson'sbrainforawhilejusttoprotecttheEarth's
SolarSystem.Oh,andhewouldhavekilledThoronceifOdinhadn'tintervened.
OmniMan
93
It'sallaboutthe'stache.OmniMan,theformerpremiersuperheroturnedvillaininImageComics'
Invincibleuniverse,isnotablenotonlyforhissuperhumanabilities(strength,speed,andinvulnerability),but
alsoforhissweetmoustache.Moustaches,asitturnsout,arecustomaryamongmalesoftheViltrumiterace,
analiencivilizationfromwhenOmniMan(AKANolanGrayson)comes.
ArrivingonEarthundertheguiseofhelpingourplanet,OmniMantookonthesecretidentityofabest
sellingauthornamedNolanGrayson.Hemarriedawomanwhoselifehehadsaved,andhadason,Mark
GraysonMarkwouldbecomeInvincible,theseries'protagonist.
FatherandsoncametocataclysmicblowswhenOmniManrevealedhistrueintentionstohissonhewas
sentasaconquerorbytheViltrumiteEmpire.OmniManfleeswhenherealizesheisunabletokillhisson,
andtakesrefugeonanotherplanet.
AsaresultofhisfailureonEarth,OmniManiscapturedbyhisownpeopleandsentencedtodeath.Butheis
rescuedjustbeforeexecutionbyformerfoeAllentheAlien,towhomherevealsthattheViltrumiteraceis
actuallynearextinction.ThepairthensetoutonacrusadetodestroytheViltrumiteEmpire,moustachesand
all.
Parallax
92
Nevermindthathelookslikeareallypissedoffcockroach,thissentientorganismmadeoffearisresponsible
forturningoneofDC'smostbelovedheroesintoanintergalacticmassmurderer.
TheoriginalstorylinetopositionGreenLanternHalJordanasavillainwassocontroversial(inagoodway),
thatitwasrepurposedbywriterGeoffJohnsasmeanstoreinventJordan'sbriefbutbloodyreignas
Parallax.
Originallydesignedasacreaturetobemoremonsterthansymbioticthreat,thethingevolvedintoamajor
player,especiallyintheeventsmakinguptheSinestroCorp'soffensive.Theevilfearmonger'snewlicense
onlifehascontinuedtoengagefansbycontributingconsistentlysatisfyingdramatotheepicuniversethat
belongstotheGreenLanternCorps.
TheAdversary
91
Fables,theVertigo/DCcomiccreatedandwrittenbyBillWillingham,fascinatinglytellswhathappenswhen
alloftheFables,charactersfromfairytalesandfolklore,areforcedoutoftheirhomelandsbyamysterious,
tyrannicalvillainknownastheAdversary.HelaunchedthefirstattackontheMundyworldwithhisarmyof
woodensoldiers.TheAdversary'sforcesareunderhistotalcontrolastheyrollacrossthehomelands
conqueringeverythingintheirpath.
WhatisTheAdversary'strueidentity?ThoseunfamiliarwithFablesmightbesurprisedtolearnthatheis
noneotherthanGeppettoyes,fromthetaleofPinocchio.Buthe'snolongerakindoldwoodcarver.His
mindtwisted,Geppettoisnowtheruthless,magicwieldingrulerofanEmpireseekingcompleteconquestof
Fablekind.
TheAdversaryisrarelyglimpsedinthecomic,butheisthedrivingforcebehindtheentirenarrative.By
overtakingthecharacters'homelands,heforcesthemoutintothe"real"mundaneworldwheretheymigrate
toNewYorkandgounderground.
Carnage
90
AlsoknownasCletusKasady,Carnagewasbornkilling.Asachildhepushedhisgrandmotherdownthe
stairs,torturedhisdogandburntdownhisorphanage.Aftergettingputinprisonforbeingoh,aserialkiller,
hiscellmateendsupbeingaoneEddieBrock(Venom).Brock'sVenomsymbiotehasababy,sincetheycan
produceasexuallyandall,andbondswithKasadythroughacut.KasadybecomesCarnage,Carnageescapes
andthentherealfunbegins.
TheCarnagesymbioteendsupbeingstrongerthanSpiderManandVenomcombined.Hecanshapeshift,
createweaponslikeknivesandaxeswithitswebsubstanceandplantideasinpeople'sheads.Hecancrawl
likeSpiderMan,regenerateandisimmunetoinfectionanddisease.ThiscomesinhandysinceKasady,
withoutthesymbiote,hasaformofcancer.Hefeedsonhisvictimsbyjusttouchingthemandcanseefrom
anypartofhisbody.Carnageevenatonepointdevelopsimmunitytothesonicboomssymbiotesusuallyare
vulnerableto.Foreverymurder,Kasadywrites"CarnageRules"onthewallswithhisownblood.
CarnageissopowerfulthatSpiderManhastomakeatrucewithhisarchnemesisVenomjusttofighthim.
EvenwhenVenomreabsorbshischild'ssymbiote,Kasadyjustcan'tstopkilling.Hepaintshimselfredand
goestotownasaregularhumanmurderer.Carnageevenhasapsychologicalstreak,believingthat
everybodywantstokill,hejusthasthegutstodoit.Hedoesn'twantmoneyorpower,hejustlikeskilling.
FirstintroducedinAmazingSpiderMan#344CarnagewasmodeledafterTheJokertobeadarkerversionof
Venom.
Shade
89
Therearen'tverymanypeoplewhocanrockatophatandnotcomeofflookinglikeacompleteidiot.Infact,
unlessyou'reFredAstaire,Slash,orJohnnyDepp,wewouldabsolutelyadviseagainstit.Justdon'ttellThe
Shade,oneofDCComics'oldestsupervillains,thatwebaggedonhisheadwearofchoice.
TheShade,createdbyE.E.HibbardandfirstappearinginFlashComics#33,wasintroducedasathiefwith
thepowertomanipulateshadowsusingamagicalcane.Heisnotableforbattlingtwogenerationsof
superheroescrossingpathswiththeoriginalFlash,andlaterwiththeBarryAllenincarnation.
ThecharacterwassignificantlyretooledafterZeroHour,intoamorallyambiguousVictorianeraimmortal
bythenameofRichardSwiftwhoacquiredhisabilitytomanipulateshadowsandhisimmortalityfroman
unexplainedmysticalaccident.Theunexplainedcatastrophekilledovera100people,butleftSwiftwith
onlyalossofallmemorybeforetheevent.Intheaftermath,Swiftwascaughtupinaschemebymembersof
thecriminalLudlowfamilywhotriedtokillhim.ItwasthenthatSwift'sdeadlyshadowswerefirst
unleashed.
WhilehisfeudwithsurvivingmembersoftheLudlowfamilycontinued,SwiftsettledinOpalCity,wherehe
workedasapaidassassin.HerelocatedforatimetoKeystoneCitywherehefirstencounteredtheFlash(Jay
Garrick),toyingwithhimundertheguiseofagimmickyvillainasasmokescreenforhistrulyimportant
crimes.
HunterRose
88
OnehastoadmireGrendel'stenacity.Forbeingsuchaminorplayerandnumber88onourlist,hisegois
biggerthanmost.Caseinpoint:HunterRosecametoGothamCitytolookingforcrime,butmostlywanting
tochallengeBatmantoamatchofwitsjusttoseeifhecould.
AcorruptyouthnamedEddieturnedassassinHunterRose,Grendeloperatesbestwhenpushingthelimitsof
whathecanandcannotdo.WhichmakeshischallengetoBatmanevenmorefitting,givenhowarguably
similartheyare.
Hunterisamanofcultureandlearning,muchlikeBruceWayne,whodoesn'thesitatetostrikedownthose
whoopposehimmuchlikeBatman.ButunlikeBatman,Grendelisadebonairmonster,amurdererwho
wearsamaskbecauseit'seasiertoexactjusticewhennoonecanseewhotheirexecutionerreallyis.That
power,thechoicetouseitinsuchaway,combinedwithhiselectricfork(thinkautilitybeltintheformofa
twinbladedspear)makeGrendelawelcomeadditiontothelist.Ifonlyhewouldgetmoreplayopposite
Batman,andinthemainstreamingeneral.
Electro
87
MaxDillon'sfatherleftwhenhewaseightyearsold.Hismotherbecameoverprotective,whichledtoan
inferioritycomplex.Butwe'llgettothatlater.Hetookajobasalinemanforanelectriccompanytosomeday
becomeanelectricalengineer.Oneday,whilehewasrepairingapowerlineandholdingawire,lightning
struckandmutatedhisnervoussystemmakinghimalivingelectricalcapacitor.ThusElectrowasborn.
Electro'spowersincludeshootinguptoonemillionvoltsofelectricityfromhisfingertips.Whenhisbodyis
charged,heissuperhumanlystrongandfast,canglideoverpowerlinesandcanevenridelightningbolts.
DoctorOctopusoncegothimtoionizemetalsforascienceexperiment.Hecanalsoabsorbelectrical
equipmentandmanipulatethosedeviceswithhismind.Butdonotgethimclosetowater.Well,unlessyou
wanttostophim.
HealmostkilledSpiderManintheirfirstmeeting,justbybeingtouched.Hehasbeeninbasicallyevery
incarnationoftheDoctorOctopusclubstheSinisterSix,SinisterSevenandGreenGoblin'sSinisterTwelve.
He'sbeenpartoftheChameleon'sExterminatorsandtheHood.AspartoftheFrightfulFour,heusedSpider
ManasbaittotraptheFantasticFour.HeattackedSueStormandReedRichardsattheirweddingofall
places.Heblewupcarswithchildreninthem,triedtotakeoverNewYork'spowersupplyandwaseven
hiredbyJ.JonahJamesontobeatupSpiderManonTV.
TheGovenor
86
Howwouldhumankindadapttolifeintheaftermathofazombieapocalypse?Wouldsurvivorsbantogether
tofightfortheirlives,orwouldtheyturnoneachother,takingadvantageofthedownfallofcivilizationto
accomplishtheirownselfishends?ThesearesomeofthequestionsposedbyRobertKirkman'sTheWalking
Dead,questionswhoseanswersmanifestinTheGovernor,asadisticevilthatTheRoadWarriorforgot,a
monsterofamanwhopitshimselfagainstprotagonistRickGrimesandhisbandofsurvivors.
Uponrealizingthedeadwerebeginningtorise,TheGovernorfortifiedandsecuredafourblockareaand
calleditWoodbury,wherehegatheredwithagroupofnearly40survivors.Hedeclaredhimselfthe
"Governor"ofthesettlement.Andwhileheinitiallyappearedtobeadecentleader,Philip'struenaturewas
soonrevealedhehelpedpeopleinsituationsthatwouldonlybenefithim,andonlywhentheywouldfully
submitthemselvestohiscommands.TorunafoulofPhilipwasadeathsentencethosewhodispleasedhim
weredismemberedandfedtothezombiedaughterwhomhekeptinchains.
WhenRickandagroupofsurvivorsenterWoodbury,Philipiswelcomingbutlaterturnsonthem.
Particularlybrutaltreatmentisreservedforthefemaleofthegroup,Michonne,whomhestripsand
repeatedlyrapes.ButwhenMichonnefinallymanagestoescape,thetablesareturned.ShetiesPhilipdown,
andtortureshimbycuttingoffhisarm,removinganear,gougingouthiseye,and,gulp,castratinghim.The
Governorsurvives,however,andlaterleadshis"army"inanattackonRickandhisgroup'sprisonbase.In
theaftermathofthebattle,however,Philip'speopleturnonhimandkillhim.Heisshotintheheadbefore
havinghiscorpserippedapartandconsumedbyahordeofzombies.
Mysterio
85
Mysterio,whofirstcameonthesceneinAmazingSpiderMan#13,hasmadeithislifegoaltopissoff
SpiderMan,andhe'sdoneagoodjobofit.AlsoknownasQuentinBeckhefakedAuntMay'sdeath,scared
herintothinkingshewasbeingattackedbyaliens,convincedSpiderManhewas6inchestallusing
hypnosisandtrickedSpideyintobelievinghekilledaguy.
AfterbelievingSpiderManwasaclone,heturnedhisinterestsovertoDaredevil.LikeSpiderMan,
Mysterio'sgoalwastoturnhiminsane.Healmostgothimtokillababyhefalselybelievedwasthe
Antichrist,convincedMattMurdock'ssecretary/loveinterestKarenPagethatshehadcontractedHIVfrom
hertimeasapornstarandmanipulatedMurdoch'slawpartnerFoggyNelsonintohavinganaffair,andthen
frameshimforkillingthegirl.Likeanygoodmagicianthough,hedoesn'tliketobecalledacopycat.After
DaredevilexposedMysterioandtoldhimKingpinhadalreadydoneallthatstuff,heshothimself.There
weretwootherMysteriosbuttheyaren'tallthatinteresting.Astuntmanandguruofspecialeffects,hewas
onthefasttracktobecomingamajorplayerinHollywoodbutsawitasadeadendcareer.Throughhis
magicandhypnotismpastandwiththehelpofageneralknowledgeofchemistryandrobotics,ontopofthe
combattechniqueshelearnedasastuntman,theseabilitiestogethermaketheotherwiseregularhuman
QuentinBeckaqualifiedopponentofSpiderMan.Hecreatedagasthatcouldcancelouthisspidersense
andhissuithadthatwellknownhelmetwithaholographicprojectorandglovesarmedwithhallucinogenic
gas.YoucancallhimFishBowlHeadGuy,though.
DoctorLight
84
Dr.LightstartedoutasalarkajokeofavillainbutthankstoIdentityCrisis,heearnedhisdayofinfamy
andcausedarippleeffectthroughoutthecoreofDCheroes.Heforcedtheirhandtodosomethingtheyhad
neverdonebefore,toprotectthegreatergood,andtoprotecttheiridentitiesfrombeingexposed,bywiping
Dr.Light'smemoryandthusleadingthegooddoctortohavesuchanotsogoodcareerasavillain.
Dr.LightrapingElongatedMan'swifeisaveryrealthreat,averyrealcrime,forDC'sheroestodealwith.
Thatevent,andthepolarizingpunishmentthatfollowed,madeDr.Lightarelevantevil,andremindedthe
JusticeLeaguethatsomeevilsneedtobemetwithnecessaryones.
Thefanreactiontoboththecrimeandthepunishmentisstillthetopicofmuchdebateyearslater,sowe'll
giveLightcredit.ButwipingLight'smemoryonlytohavehimlaterregainit,whileaninteresting
developmentonpaper,wasovershadowedbytheincidentthatcausedittobeginwith.Atnumber84,Dr.
LightisaninsignificantplayerwhodeliveredaverysignificantblowtoDC.
GrigoriRasputin
83
BasedontheRussianmysticofthesamename,RasputinisaprinciplevillaininMikeMignola'sHellboy
series.
Afterbeingassassinatedin1916,RasputinisrevivedbytheOgdruJahadthebiblicalDragonof
Revelationwhointendtousehimtohelpbringabouttheirreleasefromcaptivityandtheendoftheworld.
HesoonbeganworkingwiththeNazisonProjectRagnaRok,andopenedadoorwaytothevoidfrom
whenceHellboyenteredourdimension.
WhentheNazisweredefeated,RasputinmadehiswaytotheArcticandtookrefugeinatemplededicatedto
theOgdruJahad.There,heremainedforfiftyyearsuntilsettingoutonamissiontofreetheDragon,which
canonlybereleasedusingHellboy'sstonerighthand.Rasputin'sschemewasfoiled,however,byLiz
ShermanandAbeSapienoftheBPRD.Andthevillainwaskilled(again).
Deathdidn'tstophimthefirsttime,sowhyshoulditasecond?Rasputinreappearsinspiritformanddelivers
HellboyintothehandsofthegoddessHecate,wholaterrevealstoRasputinthathehasbeenmanipulated
andusedasapawn.Uponhearingthis,RasputinturnsonHecateandattacksher.Thegoddessvirtually
destroyshim,placingwhat'sleftofhissoulinatinyacorn.
SoctorSivana
82
DoctorThaddeusBodogSivanafirstappearedintheFebruary1940WhizComics#2.He'sbeenthebaneof
CaptainMarvel'sexistenceeversince,evenaffectionatelycallinghim"BigRedCheese".Thequintessential
madscientist,histrademarkphrase"Curses!Foiledagain!"islegendary.He'sshort,he'sbald,hehasanevil
laughandhe'spissed.
Becomingadoctorwiththebestintentions(asalways),hisideaswerepannedbythemedicalcommunity
SohetookhisfamilytoVenusofallplaces.Whilethere,heslowlyturnedbitterandcreatedaradiosilencer
todisableallcommunicationspermanently.CaptainMarveldidn'tlikethis,seeingasheisradiobroadcaster
BillyBatsonbytrade,sohestoppedSilvana.Thusbegantheiryearsofstruggle.OnceSivanawasawarded
theNobelPrizeforPhysics,duetoCaptainMarvelrevealingtheseinventions.ButSivanaconsidereditan
insultandwouldonlycareifhewereawardedthetitleofRuleroftheUniverse.
DoctorSivana'scharactertranscendedthecomicpagesonceasbeingtheexcuseforCaptainMarvel's20
yearabsenceandrelaunchoftheShazam!character.Inthecomics,hetrappedtheMarvelsinsuspended
animationthroughasphereofSuspendium.SivanareorganizedthesupervillaingrouptheFearsomeFive,
appointinghimselfleader.Thereweresix,buthekilledGizmowhenhechallengedhimaboutbeinga
genius.HewasalsotheAttorneyGeneraloftheUnitedStatessomehow.Onaplatformofstompingout
terrorism,hesecretlyhasmoreofaninterestingettingtechnologyfromMr.Mindtodevelopweapons.Heis
onlystoppedbecausehe'scaughtontelevisionthrowingMaryMarveloffoneofMr.Mind'swarmachines.
Mandarin
81
TheMandarin'sfatherdiedwhenhewasveryyoung.InChina,hewasextremelywealthy,aswellasa
descendantofGenghisKhan.Raisedbyaresentfulaunt,shetaughthimtohatetheworld.Withhis
inheritance,hestudiedhardandbecameahighgovernmentofficial.ButwhentheCommunistrevolution
cameabout,helosteverything.
Dueinparttohislovefortechnology,TheMandarinhadanaxetogrindwithTonyStark.Hetriedto
discredithimnumeroustimes,almostdiscoveredIronMan'sidentityandtriedtokillhisgirlfriendJanice
Cord.OnceStarkattemptedtosetupaStarkEnterprisesbranchinHongKong,andMandarinpretendedto
beZhangTong,afinancialleader.Heprettymuchthwartedthosebusinesseffortsafterthat.Inoneironic
twistthough,TheMandarinlosthismemoryandbecameajanitoratStarkEnterprises.Karma?
TheMandarinhasalsotriedtocontroltheHulk,evenallyinghimselfwithSandmantodoso.He'sinfiltrated
theU.S.governmentandalmostreleasedasprayintotheairstreamthatwouldhavehada97.5%fatality
rate.
Hispowersincludeahighlyadvancedteleportationdevice,anelevatedskillsetofmartialartsandamastery
ofchi.Healsocallusedhisentirebodytopreventweaknessifattacked.Hismostimportanttoolsthoughare
histenrings.Theyallhaveonespecificduty,suchasemittingintensecold,amplifyingmentalenergies,
emittingelectricity,emittinginfraredradiation,rearrangingmolecules,projectingneutrons,causingtheairto
becomeavortexandsoonandsoforth.Noonecanweartheringsbuthim,unlessheletsthem.Andifhe
letsyou,heisdefinitelywatchingyou.
Prometheus
80
Prometheus(realnameunknown)wasthesonofapairofhippiecriminalsBonnieandClydetypeswho
wentonarobberyandkillingspreebeforebeinggunneddownbythepolice.Hishairturnedwhitefromthe
shockoftheevent.Itwasthenandtherethathevowedtodestroyallforcesofjustice.
Leavinghomeattheageof16,PrometheushonedhisskillsstudyingwiththeevilmonksintheHimalayan
cityofShamballa.Itwastherethathewastransportedto"TheGhostZone"(AKAThePhantomZone).
There,hewasfreetobuilduparesistancetotheJusticeLeague,whomhewouldlatertakeonandnearly
singlehandedlydefeat.
PrometheuspenetratedtheWatchtower,shotMartianManhunter,disabledSteel,hypnotizedHuntress,
neutralizedGreenLantern,trappedZauriel,trickedtheFlash,laidthesmackdownonBatman,andmayhave
broughttheManofSteeltoanendwereitnotforCatwomanunexpectedlycrackingherwhipathisbathing
suitarea.
Throughhispossessionofthe"GhostZone"key,hehastheabilitytoteleport.Andhe'sequippedwithsome
sweettechnologythatgreatlyenhanceshisabilities.Hecarriesatonfa(abatonlikeweapon)thatallowshim
todeliversuperhumanblows.ThegreatestweaponinPrometheus'arsenal,however,isahelmetheinvented
thatallowshimtodownloadtheknowledgeofothersdirectlyintohisbrain.Thishasallowedhimtoaccess
andcombinethefightingskillsofthebestfightersintheworld.
MirrorMaster
79
Thisisoneguythatyoudon'twanttorunintointhatfunhouseatthefair.MirrorMaster,arecurringenemy
oftheFlash.Therehaveactuallybeentwoincarnationsofthevillain:SamScudderandEvanMcColluch
becauseheisjustthatcool.
Scudder'sMirrorMasterhasthepowerof(youguessedit!)controllingmirrorstocreateeffectslike
hypnotism,invisibility,holograms,physicaltransformations,communications,andeventraveltoother
dimensions.And,getthis,heevenusedamirrorthatallowedhimtoswitchlegswiththeFlash.Mirror
MasterII,anIrishmercenarynamedEvanMcCulloch,tookontheidentityafterScudder'sdeathinthe
Crisis.He,too,usedmirrorsinfantasticwaystowreakhavoc.Healsopossessedamirrorpack,whichgave
himthepowerofflight,andtheabilitytosee20secondsintothefuture.Hisweaponofchoice?Amirror
poweredlaserblaster.Andan8ball...Weforgottomentionthatthisvillainisacokehead.Yes,theironyof
"Mirror"Masterbeingacokeheadislostonnoone.
Randomtrivialnotes:DavidCassidyplayedMirrorMasterinthe'90sFlashTVseries.Andtheincarnation
ofthecharacteronTheBatmananimatedserieswasvoicedbyandmodeledafteractorJohnLarroquette
somethingweshouldallaspireto.
LadyDeathstrike
78
Shecouldhavejustbeenaoneoffcharacter,havingbeenintroducedinanissueofDaredevilandseemingly
forgottenafterward.Insteadthough,YurikoOyamawouldgoontobecomeoneofthemostformidable
threatstheXMenandWolverinewouldface.
Thedaughterofthemanwhoinventedtheprocessofbondingadamantiumtohumanbones,Lady
DeathstriketargetedWolverine,perceivinghimassomeonewhohadstolenherfather'sworkandmustpay
forhisactions.Afterherfirstdefeat,shewillinglyallowedherbodytobehorriblytransformed,becominga
powerfulcyborgintheprocess,andgainingherownadamantiumlacedskeletonandclawstobattle
Wolverinewith.
LadyDeathstrike'sloyaltieshaveshiftedthroughtheyears,asshe'sworkedwithgroupsliketheReavers,the
SisterhoodofMutantsandevenabriefstintwiththeThunderboltsduringthesuperhumanCivilWaralong
withhookingupwithReverendWilliamStrykerinaromanticpairingofthetwisted.Thekindofenemywho
hasthewillandabilitytosliceyourlegsoffinbattle(aspoorSunfirelearned),Deathstrikecontinuesto
plaguetheXMenandtheiralliestimeandagain.
Proteus
77
KevinMacTaggert,sonofDr.MoiraMacTaggertandherpoliticianhusbandJoseph,isbetterknownas
ProteusorevenMutantX.Kevinwasbornoutofsomeratherdirecircumstances.Hisfatherrapedhis
motherandthenforcedhertomarryhim.ThisledtoKevin'sbirthandMoiraranawaybeforeJohncouldget
tohim.
Forcedtoliveinseclusioninhismother'sMuirIslandresearchfacility,duetohisuncontrollablehungerfor
energy,shelockedhiminacellsustainedbyisotericenergyfieldstokeepherselfandotherssafe.Thisalso
kepthisbodyfromburningitselfoutaswell.AtonepointheescapedthecellaftertheXMenandMagneto
hadabattledamagingthefacility.HetookoverthebodyofAngusMacWhirthertodisappearunnoticed.
Speakingoftakingoverbodies,Kevinoncetookoverhisfather'sjustsohecouldkillhim.AfterProteus
cameintocontactwithColossusinabattle,duetohisweaknesstometal,hisenergywasdispersedallover
theworldthuslykillinghim.YearslateramutantbythenameofPiecemealtriedtoabsorballofProteus'
dispersedenergy.Piecemealwassounhappyinthisstatethathedecidedtocommitsuicide.
Proteus,whonamedhimselfafteraGreekgod,canalterreality,hastelepathicabilitiesandcanbendthelaws
ofphysics.Hecanalsochangetheweather,takemutant'spowers,turnanythingintoliquidandpossessother
humans.Onlycreatureswithmetalintheirbodiesareimmune.
MisterMxyzptlk
76
Wecan'treallypronouncehisnameeither,butthislittletransdimensionalcircuscarniepestisjustastrying
onourpatienceasheisonSuperman's.MxyzptlkisnotoneofSuperman'smostinterestingordynamic
rogues,butheisoneofthemostconsistentandannoyingonestheManofSteelfaces.
Arguably,hisappearanceintheAlanMoorestory"WhateverHappenedtotheManofTomorrow?"ishis
best,allowingthecharactertobecomemorethanjustatricksterandprovidesomemajortormentfor
Supermanduringhislastdays.
Thisfifthdimensionalsorcerer,madeupof"otherthings"thanjustafunnyderbyhat,wasawelcomed
additionto"Tomorrow"'sinventive"whatif"storyline,andmostfansconsiderthattobehisbiggestglory.
That,andafewextendedappearanceshereandthere,areallthatpreventusfromsayinghisnamebackwards
andmakinghimgoaway.
Magog
75
FirstappearingintheElseworldsminiseriesKingdomCome,Magogisakindofsemivillainwhoworksfor
thecauseofgood,butwithfewboundaries.
InKingdomCome,Magog'sriseasapostmodern"hero"iscontrastedwithSuperman'sfall.HekillstheJoker
(whoisincustodyforthekillingofLoisLane),andissubsequentlyacquitted.Unabletodeal,Supesgoes
intohiding.It'sthenthatMagogbecomestheleaderofanewgroupofmoreruthlessheroescalledtheJustice
Battalion.
WhenacatastrophicbattlebetweentheBattalionandthevillainousParasitedecimatesAmerican'sheartland,
SupermanandhisnewJusticeLeaguehaveaviolentconfrontationwithMagog.
HeiscapturedbytheLeagueandultimatelyhasachangeofheart,savingasmanylivesashecaninthe
subsequentbattlebeforeretiringtoParadiseIsland.
ThecharacterhassincebeenintroducedintotheDCUmainstream.Inthisiteration,Magogisaformer
MarinewhobecomesmetahumanafterinteractingwithamysticalartifactwhileonamissioninIraq.Heis
thenrecruitedbytheJusticeSocietyofAmerica,butislaterkilledinanattackledbytheJSAandGog.
GogreanimatesReid,dubbinghim"Magog,"andempowershimbyreplacinghisshatteredarmandeyewith
goldenversions.MagogthenleadshalfofthefracturedJusticeSocietyinsupportofGog,beforerealizing
theerrorofways.InfuriatedbyGog'shorrifictreatmentofhisfellowheroes,Magogjoinswiththerestofthe
JSAtodefeatGogandcutsoffhishead.
SaintofKillers
74
Once,theSaintofKillerswasjustaman.AfterservingintheConfederateArmyhewasfearedforhis
mercilessnessonthebattlefieldthegrizzledmanbecameabountyhunterintheWest.Itwastherethathe
metawomanwhocrackedhisharshexterior.Thetwomadealifetogetherandhadachild.
Butthisisn'tastorywithahappyending.Thewomanandchildfallillandhisattemptstosavethemare
foiledbyagangofoutlaws.Driventoragebythedeathofhisfamily,themanslaughterstheoutlaws,kills
aninnocentbystander,butrunsoutofbulletsasheconfrontsthegang'sleader.Theleaderkillshimandthe
manissenttoHell,whereheisultimatelybanishedbytheDevilhishatecausesHelltoliterallyfreeze
over.TheAngelofDeathallowshimtoreturntoEarthontheconditionthatheundertakesthedutyof
collectingthesoulsofthosewhodiebyviolence.
Nowhe'sthenewfaceofDeath,andwoebeittoanyonewhocrosseshispath.
Thisangelofdeathisstraightoutofanoldspaghettiwestern.Hewieldstwoenormousrevolversthatnever
misstheirmarkandneverfailtokilltheirtarget.
Clayface
73
ThevillainousClayfaceisoneofBatman'soldestfoes.Thefirstiterationofthecharacter,BasilKarlo,first
appearedinDetectiveComics#40(1940).
PerhapstheCapedCrusaderhasbeenunabletoridGothamofthisthreatbecausehedoesn'tknowwhereto
start.TherehavebeenmoreversionsofClayfacethandrummersforSpinalTaptherehavebeensix,
actually.
Theoriginal,reemergent,andultimateincarnation,isafailedactornamedBasilKarlo.Hewasthestarofa
classichorrorfilmthatwasscheduledforaremake.Whileremakesofhorrormoviesarerarelygoodnews,
Karlotookitespeciallyhard.HedonnedthemaskofClayface,thevillainheplayedinthemovie,andbegan
killingthenewcastandcrew.Beforelong,hewasapprehendedbythedynamicduoandlefttorotin
ArkhamAsylum.
Othercriminalsadoptedhispersona,butwithastrangetwist.SondraFuller'sclaylikebodywasableto
changeshapes,andPrestonPayne'scorrosivebodycouldmeltotherswithatouch.Thisduoeventuallybroke
Karlooutofprison.Throughabloodtransfusion,Karlogainedtheirpowersandsuddenlybecameaveryreal
threattoGotham.BatmanhasfacednoshortageofClayfacesovertheyears,butKarlocouldbethemost
dangerous.
Sandman
72
BornWilliamBaker,FlintMarkoisoneofSpiderMan'sbiggestfoes:Sandman.Ashisnamewouldimply,
Sandman'sbodyisformedwithsand,allowinghimtomanipulatehisbodyintoanyshape.
Victimofapoorenvironment,Markogrewupintheslumsandquicklyfoundhiswayintoorganizedcrime.
Longbeforehehadhisincrediblepowers,hewasanogoodthug.Duringastintinprison,Marko's
girlfriend,MarcyConroy,lefthimforanothermemberofgang.ThisinfuriatedMarko,who,uponrelease
fromprison,killedConroy'snewloverandthenwentonacrimespree.
Itwasn'tlongbeforeMarkofoundhimselfbackinjail.Hemanagedtoescape,anactwhichwouldchange
hislifeforever.Markotookrefugeonabeachnearanucleartestsite.Onereactormalfunctionlaterand
Markowasbathedinradiation,fusinghismoleculeswiththesand.Inreallife,thiseventwouldhavelooksa
bitmoreliketheendingofRaidersoftheLostArk,butintheworldofcomics,itmeantMarkowasnowa
supervillain.
Wheninsandform,Sandmancantakeanyshapehewishesandincreasehisdensityandstrengthtoliftupto
85tons.Markocanformhishandsintoweapons,suchasahammerormace,formanearimpenetrablewall
ofsandorcreateaduststorm.HehaslongbeenafanfavoritefoeofSpiderMan.
ThunderboltRose
71
Lotsofpeopledon'tgetalongwiththeirfatherinlaws.Butwhenthatfatherinlawispartlyresponsiblefor
turningyouintoagiantgreenmonsterwhereeverytimeyoustubyourtoeorsomeonecutsyouoffintraffic
andyougetreallymad,thingscouldbecomealittlestrainedatThanksgiving.
GeneralThaddeusE."Thunderbolt"RossisbestknownasthefatherinlawofDr.BruceBanner,who
sometimesgoesbyTheIncredibleHulk.RosswastheheadoftheGammaBombProject,whichturned
Bannerintotheherothatheistoday.Hetakesituponhimselftotryandkillthemonsterwiththeaidofhis
Armybattalionthe"Hulkbusters,"andatonepointMODOK.HehascommittedtreasonchasingtheHulk
andhasevenbeendischargedfromthemilitary.
Atonepoint,S.H.I.E.L.D.agentClayQuartermainrecruitedRosstomergewithalesserknownHulkvillain
Zzzax.Intheaftermath,theformerGeneralwasfatallywounded.Herealizedhislongtimefoewasactuallya
forceforgood,andgavehisblessingtoBruceandBetsyonhisdeathbed.
Overthelastseveralyears,Thunderbolthasbeenresurrectedandisonceagainleadingthecrusadeagainst
theHulk.HispopularityhasledtohisinclusioninbothHulkfilmsandheiscurrentlyinvolved(somehow)
intheRedHulkcaseinmonthlycomicbooks.
WilliamStryker
70
FewvillainsarescarierthanthosewhotrulybelievetheyaredoingGod'swork.Suchisthecasewith
WilliamStryker,atelevangelistwhouseshispositionofinfluencetoturnasmanyashecanagainstMutants,
aspecieshebelievesisanabominationthatshouldbewipedoffthefaceoftheEarth.
For20years,Strykerwasknownonlyforasingleappearance,intheXMengraphicnovel"GodLoves,Man
Kills."HoweverthestorylinewassopowerfulitdirectlyinfluencedtheexcellentX2:XMenUnited.The
filmtookthegeneralframeworkfromthatgraphicnovelinwhichStrykerkidnapsProfessorXand
attemptstousehimtounwittinglyhelpsetoffamachinethatcankillallmutantsonEarth.Thefilmrevised
StrykertobeacorruptUnitedStatesArmyGeneral.
ThankstoX2'shypeandsuccess,StrykerhasplayedamajorpartinmodernXMencomics,wherehe's
provedtobejustasdedicatedtohiscauseasever,targetingeverylastmutantonEarthashis"holycrusade"
continues.
Cheetah
69
AsisthecasewithsomanylongtimeDCcharacters,theCheetahhasundergonemanyrevisionsthroughout
hersevendecadesofexistence.ThisclassicWonderWomanvillainhasseennolessthanfourincarnations,
includingonewherethefurrybombshellbabewasreplacedbyaman.
Thethird,andcurrent,CheetahisBritishanthropologistDr.BarbaraAnnMinerva.Heiresstoavastfortune,
Minervawasselfishandraisedbyherparents'servants.Throughoutherchildhoodshegrewtobevery
neurotic.Atseventeenherparentswerekilledinacaraccident,whichpermanentlydisabledAnnaswell.
ShedecidedtovisitAfricatosearchforthepowersofthecheetahtohealherself.Ingestingacombinationof
humanbloodandberriesoftheplantgodUrzkartaga,shebecameCheetah,butnotwithoutacatch.The
Cheetahhostwassupposedtobeavirgin,andMinervawasn't.Hertransformationwaspartcurseandpart
blessing,assheexperiencedseverepaininherhumanformandbloodthirstyelationinhercatform.
AsoneofthemosticonicandoldestWonderWomanvillains,Cheetahwasanabsolutemustforourvillains
list.
Lucifer
68
NeilGaimanisresponsibleforcreatingoneofthemorecomplexand,darewesay,sympatheticportrayalsof
thedevilisquitesometime.Lucifer'sadventuresonEarthfollowinghisexitfromHellaremethodicaland
patient,poeticintheirsimplicityandalwaysunderlinedwithasenseofmenace.
PartofLucifer'sappealasavillainisthathedoesn'tbrowbeatreadersovertheheadwithhisvillainy.His
intellectismatchedbyhisabilitytomanipulatecreationintowhatheimagines.Anybeingthatcanmarshal
demonstobattleangelsandstillfindtimetostirhumanityfromindifferenceisathreatnoonecanignore.
Yetsomehow,Lucifer'sabilitytostaybelowtheradarandsimultaneouslyimpactmankindisbothagiftand
acurse.
BeingmostlyconfinedtotheSandmanuniversehasnotstoppedthischaracterfrommakinganimpact,butit
haspreventedLuciferMorningstarfrommakingtheepiconehedeserves.Butwelikehislessismore
approach.Luciferdoesn'thavetolietomakeyoudowhathewants.Worse,hetellsthetruthandallows
peopletofindtheirownwaytoHell.
Mr.Freeze
67
VictorFrieshadanobsessionwithfreezingthingsevenasasmallchild,whichledhimintothefieldof
cryogenics.WhenhiswifeNorafellseriouslyill,hediscoveredawaytocryogenicallyfreezeherbodyuntil
acurecouldbefound.
Fries'colleagueattemptedtostoptheprocess,andtheensuingstruggledousedFrieswithhazardous
chemicals.Thesechemicalsinducedstrangephysicalchangesinhisbody:hisskingrewpale,hecouldonly
surviveinsubzerotemperaturesandhismindbecamefractured.Friescreatedacontainmentsuitthatserved
toprotecthisbodyandaugmenthisstrength,aswellasaguncapableofflashfreezinganythinginitssights.
Withhiswifegoneandhisgriponhumanityshattered,thenewlydubbedMr.Freezebeganterrorizingthe
citizensofGothamCity.Hisgunbecameawayofinflictingonothersthepainhefeelsinhisownheart.
Thoughhiscrimestypicallyservelittlepurpose,Mr.FreezeisstillcoldlyruthlessandoneofBatman'smost
deadlyfoes.
Pathosisakeyingredientinanygreatvillain,andFreezehastonsofit.Thismandedicatedhislife'sworkto
curinghiscryogenicallyfrozenwife'scancer,andjusthappenedtofallvictimtooneofthoseunfortunate
accidentsthatseemstoalwaysbefallcomicbookcharacters.Whocan'trelatetothat?
Moreimportantly,VictorFries'lossisasdeepasBruceWayne's,whichmakeshimsuchadynamic
antagonist.Toupthestakesevenfurther,thecomicshaveprogressedMr.Freezeintoatrulyderanged
lunatic,onewhohasgivenupallhopeofrevivinghisdeadwifeandacceptedacareerofunadulterated
murder.Goodstuff.
HerrStarr
66
WriterGarthEnniscreatedoneofthemostcolorfulcomicbookvillainsofalltimewhenheconjuredupHerr
Starr,foeofPreacherprotagonistJesseCuster.AformerGermanspecialforcessolider,Starrisrecruitedby
theGrailandtaskedwithrecoveringCusterbuthehasplansofhisown.HeintendstouseCusterinhis
ownschemetooverthrowtheleadershipoftheGrail.
Starr'scountenanceismarredbyaseriesofscarsaroundhisrighteyethatformstarshapetheywereput
therebybulliesinhisyouthwhomhehaslongsincedispatchedwith.Heisaskilledmarksman,despitenot
havingsightinoneeye,butisnotespeciallyadeptatunarmedcombathisjustificationforthisisthathehas
"nointentionofbeingunarmed."
ThroughabizarrestringofpunishmentthatismetedouttoStarr,arunninggagintheseries,thecharacter
becomesevenmoredisfigured.Helosesalegafterbeingattackedbythreehillbillies,hehashisrightear
shotoff,andJessecutsapenisshapedgashinhisforehead.Oh,andtoaddinsulttoinjuryaRottweilerbites
offhisgenitals.Aftereachhumiliatingincident,Starrmerelyuttersaglib,"S***."That'shisfinalword,in
fact,ashe'skilledbyTulipwhoshootsabulletthroughhischinandblowsoffthetopofhishead.
KangtheConqueror
65
Althoughhehasnosuperpowers,Kangisagenius,historyscholar,physicistandengineer.Duetohis
expertiseintimetravel,heistrainedin40thcenturycombatandhasbattlearmorthathassweethologram
andforcefieldcapabilities.Withthehelpofhistimeship,healsohasaccesstotechnologyofanycentury.
BornNathanielRichards,KangisanancestortotheFantasticFour'sReedRichards.Boredwithhistime,he
travelsbacktoancientEgyptandbecomesPharaohRamaTut.Luckily,theFantasticFourandDoctor
Strangejustsohappenedtobetimetravelingaswell,andstoppedhim.
CallinghimselftheScarletCenturion,hesomehowmanagestomanipulatetheoriginalAvengersinto
fightingtheAvengersoftheactualtime.Afterheisthwarted,hegoesbacktohishomecenturyandbecomes
KangtheConquerorandstartshisownempire.Mostofhisproblemsseemtostemfromwomenthough,as
hetriestoimpressPrincessRavonnabydefeatingtheAvengers.HealsotriestowooCelestialMadonna,
whichleadstothedeathofAvengertheSwordman.
KanglaterbattlesHawkeyeandThorintheOldWest.Heendsupdrawingtoomuchenergy,anddestroys
himself.ButKangsomehowreturns.Eventhoughtheoriginalwasdead,anumberofflawedKangswere
createdduetohisconstanttimetravel,ThemorestableKangsformacounciltostopthestupiderones.
PoisonIvy
64
PoisonIvy,AKAPamelaIsley,firstappearedinBatman#181.Herbloodisquiteliterallytoxic,buther
pheromonescentisabsolutelyintoxicating.
Ittakestruesexappealtohaveanamereminiscentofuncomfortableitchingbuttostillhavemenfallingall
overyou.SomevillainsstrikeatBatman'slovedones,someathispartner,butPoisonIvygoesstraightfor
theBat.Coy,sexyandverydeadly,wecanseewhysomanymenfallunderherspell.
AllofBatman'sfoeswieldacertainadvantageovertheDarkKnightthatmakesthemaformidableopponent.
FortheScarecrow,thatadvantageisfear.ForTwoFace,it'sthefeelingsofguiltheinspiress.PamelaIsley
landsonthislistbecausesheemploystwodeadlyweaponsthatareasoldandprimitiveastimeitself:Sex
andmindcontrol(oraretheythesamething?Wecanneverbesure).
IvyaddssomemuchneededestrogentoBatman'srogues'gallery,provingthatterrorizingBatmanand
GothamCityisn'tajobformenalone.Withherhypnoticpowersandherabilitytocontrolplantlife,she's
alsooneofBats'fewsuperpoweredfoes.Whethershe'sturningGotham'sversionofCentralParkintoher
owntwistedjungleplayground,tearingupthetownwithHarleyQuinn,orterrorizingGotham'selite
industrialistsorbrainwashingSupermantokillBatman,Ivyalwaysprovesaworthyadversary.Thepointis
thatarelatable,sympatheticpersonexistsdeepwithinthePoisonIvycharacter,andthat'sthemostessential
ingredientforanygreatantagonist.Plus,she'sdeadly,ruthlessandsexyasallhell.
TheLeader
63
OnceknownasSamuelSterns,achemicalplantemployeeofBoise,Idaho,hewasmovingradioactive
materialsoneday.SomehowtheyexplodedandSternswassubjectedtogammaradiation.Afterrecovering,
hebecameagreenskinnedgiantbrainedgeniuswhocalledhimselfTheLeader,dueapparentlytohis
subconsciousdesiretobeassmartashisphysicistbrotherPhilip.
Aftertheradiation,TheLeadercouldpredictoutcomesofthingsinadvance,hadaperfectmemory,
superhumanintelligenceandcouldcontrolnormalhumansbyonlytouchingthem.Heissophisticatedin
weaponry,computers,humanoidsphysicsandgenetics.HealsohasanarmyofplasticHumanoids,whichhe
usedtotryandrewriteEarth'shistory,overthrowtheUSgovernmentandcapturetheHulktostudyhimand
stealBruceBanner'sAbsorbatrontoabsorbtheenergyofanuclearexplosion.
Atonepoint,TheLeaderrescuestheHulkfromabattleandoperatedonhimtosavehislife.Indebted,The
HulkgoestothehomeworldofTheWatcherandraidshis"UltimateMachine,whichcontainsallthe
knowledgeintheuniverse.ThisendsupbeingtoomuchknowledgeforTheLeaderandhecollapses.The
LeaderthenjoinsforceswithGeneralRosstofightTheHulk.Hehascreatedandroidduplicatesofthe
PresidentandVicePresidentwhiletryingtokidnapthemandheevengammaradiatedManhattan'swater
supplytomutatethehumanraceintobeinglikehim.HeevenbombedMiddletown,Arizona,killing
thousandsandbuilthisownsocietycalledFreeholdintheArcticwhichwaspopulatedonlywithpeople
dyingfromradiationpoisoning.
Lizard
62
Dr.CurtConnorswasonceaskilledsurgeonwhoenlistedinthearmytohelpwoundedGIs.Afterablast
injuredhisarm,ithadtobeamputated.Whenhegotbacktothestatesasaresearchtechnologist,hebecame
obsessedwiththesecretsofreptilesandtheirlimbregeneratingabilities.Connorscreatedanexperimental
serumfromreptileDNAandmadehimselftheguineapig.Hisarmdidgrowbackbutnotwithoutside
effectsthemainonebeingturningintoagianthumanlizard.
AsLizard,Dr.Connorshassuperhumanstrength,speedandagility.Hecanscalewalls,regeneratelimbsand
whiphistailathighspeeds.TheLizardcanalsomentallycommandallreptileswithinaonemileradius.
WhatmakesLizardsohardtodealwithisthemaninsidethemonster.PeterParkercontinuallyuseshisown
scientificprowesstochangehimbackintohisfriendCurtConnors.Butwithstressorchemicalreactions,he
alwaysseemstogobackintoremission.Eventhoughheshowsnoloveforhumans,youcanalsostilltell
thatDr.Connorsisinsidetheresomewhere,asheneverseemstoharmhiswifeMarthaortheirsonBilly.
Aww.
AsConnors,he'ssacrificedturningbackintoLizardtohelpSpiderManmanyatime.He'ssavedAuntMay's
life,developingaformulatodissolvetheRhino'scostumeandetc.alltolaterbecometheLizardagainsince
hehadtodealwithchemicals.HealsoletParkerbehisteachingassistantatEmpireStateUniversityfora
time,andyouknowhowunreliableParkercanbe.
Parasite
61
ParasitehastakenseveralformsintheSupermancomics.ThisDCsupervillain,ashisnamesuggests,hasthe
abilityabsorbenergy,knowledge,andsuperpowerssimplybytouchinganotherbeing.Asyoucanimagine,
thatmakeshimaformidableadversarytotheManofSteel.
Thecharacter'soriginalSilverAgeoriginintroducedhimasasimpleplantworkerwhobecameexposedto
hazardousmaterialjunkthatwasbroughtbackfromspacebySupermanthattransformedhimintoa
purplehuedparasiticentity(whorockssweetgreenbriefs).
Parasite'sModernAgerevampintroducedthecharacterinasimilarmanner,butanepiclunarbattlewith
SupermanresultedinthenewParasitebeingmutatedintoagrotesquemonsterwithagapingleechlikemaw.
Helaterabsorbedashapeshiftingbeing,grantinghimtheabilitytomimicanyofhisvictims.Superman
defeatedParasiteonceandforallafterhekidnappedLoisLane.IntheKingdomComegraphicnovel,itis
ParasitewhoisresponsibleforthecataclysmiceventsthatdestroymuchoftheAmericanMidwest.Ina
battlewithMagogandhisJusticeBattalion,ParasiteripsapartCaptainAtom,unleashingadevastating
nuclearexplosion.
AmandaWaller
60
ShemaynotpossessthedangerousfemininecharmsorimpressivesuperpowersofavillainlikePoisonIvy,
butAmanda"TheWall"WallerisasdeadlyafoeasanyintheDCpantheon.
Waller,whofirstappearedinLegends#1,isawidowfromChicagowhousedherbrightmindtoescapea
hardlifeintheCabriniGreenhousingprojectsherdaughtersandherhusbandweremurderedthere.She
studiedpoliticalscience,andbecameacongressionalaide.Earlyinhercareer,shediscoveredtheexistence
oftheTaskForceX/theSuicideSquad,anundercovergroupofsupervillainswhoarecontractedoutbythe
governmentinreturnforamnesty.Wallersawanopportunitytoimprovetheprogram,madeapitchtothe
WhiteHouse,andwasplacedinchargeoftheSquad.
PresidentLexLuthorpromotedWallertoSecretaryofMetahumanAffairs,butWallerwasjailedwhenhis
administrationcollapsed.Sheissoonreleased,however,andbecomesinvolvedinthecovertopsCheckmate
organizationfirstasBlackKing,andthenasWhiteQueen.Sheislaterimplantedwithnanotechnology
whichallowshertocontrolChemoduringmissions.
Riddler
59
Somecomicbookvillainsaremotivatedbygreed,ortheneedforrevenge,orpureandsimpleinsanity.The
Riddlerisalittledifferentyoumightsayheembarkedonacareerincrimeforthefunofit,atleastina
veryspecificway.Obsessedwithpuzzles,mindgames,andelaboratedeathtraps,he'scompelledtocommit
crimesthatinvolvesomeformofcomplexmentalchallenge.(Whatcompelshimtodressinbrightgreen,
though,isanybody'sguess.)
Inhisearlydays,EdwardNygmawasabrightyoungboywhoenjoyedshowingoffhismentalacuity.This
ledhimtoacareerasacarnivalconman,wherehecouldeasilydupefairgoersoutoftheirmoneywithhis
schemes.Eventually,thisprovedfartooeasytosatisfyhisboundlessego.Heembarkedonanescalating
seriesofcrimesinsearchofamoreworthyopponentofcourse,hefoundexactlythatinBatman.
TheRiddlerisaclassicexampleofthe"talkingkiller."Hecan'tsimplycommitacrimehehastocreatean
elaborateschemewithwhichtopulloffthejob.Provingtheworthofhissuperiorbrainpowerishisrealgoal,
whichiswhyhe'soccasionallytakenonlesslegallyquestionablechallengesaswell.Forinstance,heoffered
hisservicesasaconsultanttoCarmineFalcone,whenthemobbosssoughttodeterminetheidentityofthe
Holidaykiller.Whilehisstockasavillainmayhavedroppedinrecenttimes,Riddlerhashadmorethanhis
fairshareofgreatesthitsovertheyearsthemostnoteworthybeinghisdeductionofBatman'ssecretidentity
(whichhehassinceforgottenafteraheadinjury).Whenitcomesdowntoit,theRiddlerisoneofthefew
roguescapableofrivalingBatman'sknackfordetectionanddeduction.Ifonlyhe'ddropthewholelegit
lifestyleandgetbacktowreakinghavoconGothamCity.
Scarecrow
58
Fewvillainshavedonemorewithless.ThepencilthinCranehasoneofthemosteffectiveattacksofDC's
RoguesGallery.HowmanyothervillainshaveroutinelymadeBatmanafraid?Crane'sdownfallishisown
shortsightedness.Butasthecreepyfigureinthenight,hehelpsopenupinterestingavenuesintotheDark
Knight'spsyche.That'struepower.
Dr.JonathanCraneisoneofthemostformidableandthematicallyintriguingBatmanvillainsofalltime.As
achild,hewasbulliedandtormented,sohedecidedtoresearchthehumanpsycheandhowpeopledealtwith
fear.Afterbeingfiredfromateachingposition,Cranedecidedtousehisknowledgetoliterallyscarepeople
todeathforthesupposedtraumahesufferedinhislife.Scarecrowwantsnothinglessthaneveryonein
Gothamtobeasafraidasheoncewas.
TheDarkKnight'ssinglegreatestweaponinhiswaroncrimeisfear,andtheScarecrowistheonlyvillain
trulycapableoftakingthatadvantageawayfromhim.ThesolefactthattheScarecrowisoftencapableof
bringingtheDarkKnighttohiskneesbyinducinghallucinationsofhisgreatesttragedieshisparents'
murder,JasonTodd'sdeathatthehandsoftheJoker,etc.makeshimanobrainerforthislist.Thathealso
happenedtoplaysuchahugeroleinrevitalizingtheBatmanfilmfranchisemakeshimrankevenhigheron
ourevaluationofbestcomicbaddies.
Hobgoblin
57
CreatedbecausetheywantedtheGreenGoblinbackbutdidn'twantNormanOsbornorBartHamilton
involved,orhaveHarryOsbornbecomehimagain,creatorsinsteaddecidedtomakeanewcharacterinthe
Goblinheritage.Withasecretidentityasconvolutedbehindthescenesasitwasonthecomicpages,
RoderickKingsleyendedupbeingthefirstincarnationofHobgoblin.Abillionairefashiondesignerwith
underworldconnections,hecameintohisrichesratherunethically.
AfterKingsleywasalmostmurderedbyfashionrivalNardaRavannaakaBelladonna,hedecidedtoprotect
himselfalittlebetter.Luckily,oneofhisthugsstumbledacrossNormanOsborn'sGreenGoblinlair.
Kingsleythenkilledhimsohewouldn'ttellanyone.
HeperfectedOsborn'sstrengthpotionsincehewasawhizatchemistryandbiology.Noneofthosepesky
sideeffectsOsbornhadlikeblackingoutforlongperiodsoftime.AndheupdatedGreeny'sgadgets,likethe
gliderandtheJackO'Lanternbombs.Hewasalsoahugenarcissist.Kingsleyendedupwantingtoleavethe
Hobgoblinbehind,sohedecidedtoframeSpiderManadvocateFlashThompson.ButJasonPhilip
MacendaleJr.,alsoknownasJackO'Lantern,gotinthewaybytryingtobreakhimoutofjailfortheframed
crimes.KingsleythenpretendedthatDailyBuglereporterNedLeedswastheHobgoblinbybrainwashing
him.MacendalepaidForeignertotakehimout.PeoplebelievedhewastheHobgoblinforyearsafterhis
murder.
Dormammu
56
Youcouldn'tmissDormammuifyousawhim.Flamescomingoutofhishead,heandhissisterUmarwere
partoftheenergybasedextradimensionalFaltinerace.Theirgreedgotthebestofthem,though,andthey
beganbondingmattertothemselvestofurthergainpower.
Dormammuiscomposedofpureenergyandhisrawmagicalpowerasasorcererisbasicallyunmatched.He
canreplenishthesepowersbyworshipindifferentdimensions.Hecanalsotransmutatematter,teleport
throughthosedimensions,timetravel,andheissaidtobeevenmorepowerfulthanMephisto.He'sagenius
tooandalsohasmysticalstrengthandspeed.HealsolookslikeGhostRiderifGhostRiderwouldbecaught
deadinsomethingpurpleandred.
BeingarepresentativeofLordChaos,hebattledOdinincosmicchesstoadraw.Odinwantedthedraw,
mindyou.Dormammuwouldhavekeptplaying.HeevenoncebeatEternityinchess.Eternity,likethetime
andspaceeternity.Yeah.
HisbiggestnemesisisDr.Strange,andhehasalliedhimselfwithBaronMordoagainstthegooddoctor.
StrangeistheloveinterestofDormammu'ssister'sdaughter,Clea,somaybethathassomethingtodowithit.
He'sjustbeingagooduncle!DormammuhasalsoalliedwithLokiinawarwiththeAvengers.He'staken
possessionofDoctorStrange'sbody,healongwithhissisteroncebeatEternityandremadetheuniverseand
healsoisthedemonbehindthepowersofTheHood.
SebastianShaw
55
SebastianHiramShawistheleaderoftheNewYorkbranchoftheHellfireClub,anexclusivesecretsociety
bentonworlddomination.Althoughtothepublic,heisalegitimatebusinessmanandordinaryhuman.Shaw
createdShawIndustriesandwasabillionaireby40,afterbeingasuccessfulengineeringstudentatCarnegie
MellonUniversity.HeusedsomeofhisbillionstofundthemutanthuntingSentinelprogram.Hisfianc
LourdesChantelwaskilledbyaSentinelbutlet'snotbeconspiracytheorists.
Sheissoevilthathisownson,ShinobiShaw,whocanalterhisbody'sdensity,phasedhishandintohis
father'schesttotryandinduceacoronary.Nothappywiththatoutcome,Shinobithensetoffabombin
Shaw'smountainchalet.
ShawisalsopartlyresponsibleforPhoenixbecomingDarkPhoenix.AfterProfessorXwas"outed"asa
mutant,ShawapparentlyreturnedtohiscapitalistrootsandconvertedtheNewYorkbranchoftheHellfire
Clubintoastripclub.Saidtobeasafehavenformutants,heusedtelepathicstripperstogainsecretsfrom
hispatrons.
Shaw'smutantpowersincludetheabilitytoabsorbkineticenergy,whichthuslyincreaseshisstrength.Soif
youhithim,hegetsmorepowerful.Youcanevenshoothimorstabhimandhestillgetsmorepowerful.
Shawalsodoesn'tneedtosleepifhegetspunchedenough.Justdon'ttouchhim,howaboutthat?
Abomination
54
Whenyouhaveacharacterbuiltuptobeasincredibly(forgivetheterm)strongastheHulk,itbecomes
nearlyimpossibletogivehimacrediblethreat.EntertheAbominationcreated,forallintentsandpurposes,
astheevilversionoftheHulk.
EmilBlonskymighthavebegunasaColdWareraRussianspy,butafterhewasexposedtoGammaRays,he
becamethesamekindofhuge,green,impossiblystrongcreatureastheHulk,givingtheHulkhisfirsttrue
equalinbattle.Moreso,BlonskyhadacoupleofnotableapparentadvantagestheHulkdidn'thave,
includingkeepinghisownintelligenceandpersonalitywhiletransformed,anda"normal"strengthlevelthat
wasevengreaterthantheHulk.
Still,thankstotheold"maddertheHulkgets,thestrongertheHulkgets"rule,Abominationwasonthe
losingsideofmostfights.Butinrecentyears,hisapproachbecamemorepsychologicalandcunning.Inone
ofthemoredirectandscarringattacksacomicbookarchenemyhasachievedincomics,Abominationkilled
BruceBanner'swife,BettyandframedBruceintheprocess.WhileBruce'sinnocencewouldeventuallybe
revealed,Abomination'sactionswouldhavelongtimerepercussions.
KraventheHunter
53
AlsoknownasSergeiKravinoff,KravenwasabiggamehunterwhosethiseyesonSpiderMantoproveto
theworldthathewasthebesthunteraround.
Insteadofusingguns,hechosetotakehispreydownwithhisbarehands.Thatsoundslikeanevenfightand
al,lbuthedefinitelyhadpreparationandamagicjunglepotionforstrength,speedandgametrackingonhis
side.Healsohasagreatknowledgeofpressurepointsandknowshowtocreatepoisonsandtranquilizers
betterthantheaveragebear.Andsweetleopardpants.Despitebeingover70yearsofage,hehasthe
physicalappearanceofa30yearoldman.It'sprobablythesweetleopardpants.
Atonepoint,KravenactuallydoesendupdefeatingSpiderMan.Heshootsthewallcrawlerwitha
tranquilizerdartandthenburieshimalive,eventhoughhethinkshe'sdead.Kraven,whothenputsonan
outfitsimilartoSpiderMan'scostume,venturesintoNewYorkto,ironically,attackcriminals.Hethen
capturesVermin,whoSpiderManneededtodefeatwiththehelpofCaptainAmerica.SpiderManrevives
himself,digsoutofthegraveandattacksKraven.Onceconfronted,Kravendoesn'tfightbacksincehe
alreadyaccomplishedwhathesetouttodo.KravenreleasesVermin,whodefeatsaweakSpiderMantothe
pointofdeathbeforeKravenintervenesandseparatesthetwo.
KraventhentellsSpiderManhishuntingdaysareover,retirestohishomefinallyatpeacewithhiswork
andcommitssuicidebyaselfinducedshotgunwound.Hopefullyhedidn'tgetanybloodonhissweet
leopardpants.
Metallo
52
Supermancouldripacyborgintotinypiecesanduseitsfingersasatoothpick,unlessthatcyborgispowered
bykryptonite.EnterMetallo.
Ahumanbrainwithacyborgbodyandakryptoniteheart,hehassuperstrengthandagilityandcanabsorb
anymechanicalormetalobjectandmakeitanextensionofhisexoskeleton.
ThefirstincarnationwasGeorgeGrant.ThencamejournalistJohnCorben,whodoubledasathiefand
murderer.Hesufferedanaccidentwhilerunningfromthesceneofacrimeandhisbodywasmangled
becauseofit.AprofessorbythenameofValetookCorben'sbrainandputitintoaroboticbodywith
fleshlikeskin.Terminatormuch?
Corben,or"Corben'sbraininarobotwithfakeskinonit,"gotajobattheDailyPlanet,triedto"get"with
LoisLaneandthendecidedtotryandkillSupermanasahobby.HecreatedakryptonitetrapforSuperman
butaccidentallyputthewrongmetalinhispowersupply.Hediedbecauseofthat.Supermanescaped.
Corben'sbrotherRogerthendecidedtoavengehisbrother'sdeathbygoingthroughthesameprocess,since
itworkedoutsowellthefirsttime.
Penguin
51
A"gentlemanofcrime,"ThePenguinisoneofthefewBatmanvillainsthatisactuallyincompletecontrolof
hisactionshe'smostlysane,butwethinkhe'dstilldobetteronsomemeds.
OswaldChesterfieldCobblepotwasbornintoawealthyfamilyandtormentedthroughouthischildhooddue
tohisfreakishappearancehispaunchybelly,shortstature,andelongatednoseearnedhimthePenguin
nickname.Andhisoverbearingwidowedmotherforcedhimtoalwayscarryanumbrellaconvincedhe
woulddieofpneumonialikehisfatherwerehecaughtinanunexpecteddownpour.
Cobblepot'soddballnaturecausedhimtoberejectedbyhisuppercrustfamily,anexperiencewhichturned
himtoalifeofcrimeonethatsuitshimjustfine.Amasterstrategist,Penguinuseshisconsiderable
intellect,wit,andwealthtomanipulateeverysituationtohisadvantage.Andheexecutesitwithahoitytoity
styleallhisown.
ThePenguinisnotuniversallyappreciatedbyBatfans,buthisplaceinthepantheonofgreatcomicvillains
issecuredbypopculturalimpactalone.
CassandraNova
50
CassandraNovawasbornwithoutabody.Sotofixthisproblem,shedecidedtocopyCharlesXavier'sDNA,
effectivelybecominghistwinsister.TheygrewtogetherallhappylikeinthewombuntilXsensedherevil
thoughts.Hetriedtokillher,butshesurvivedascellmatterandclungtoasewerwallforyears,rebuilding
herselfphysicallyandimitatinghumans.Outofthisbrothersisterlove,shedecidedtodestroyProfessorX's
XMenandhisloveLilandra.
CassandraNovabasicallyhasthepowersofProfessorXliketelekinesisandtelepathy.Anothermore
importanttoolinherarsenalisherabilitytoblockhisthoughtsfromenteringhermind.Shecanmimicthe
voiceandDNAofothers,whichcomesinhandywhenshepretendstobeDonaldTraskandgetsthe
Sentinelstokill16millionmutantsonGenosha.SheissopowerfulthatsheoncetookoverProfessorX's
bodythroughthehelpofCerebra(anupdatedversionofCerebro).Thensheshothim.
StillinProfessorX'sbody,sheforcedXavierInstitutestudentBeaktobeatBeastintoacoma.Shewasso
powerful,JeanGreyhadtosplitX'sconscienceintopiecesandstorethemintoeverymutant'smind.
AntiMonitor
49
Villainscomeinallshapesandsizes,AntiMonitorcomesinone:Epic.Beforeplayingakeyroleinthe
threatposedbySinestro'sCorps,hisuniquebrandofevilmadeapermanentmarkontheDCUduringthe
CrisisonInfiniteEarths,astorylineconsideredtobeaclassic.Here,AntiMonitorbecametheMultiverse's
mostsignificantthreat,earningapermanentspotontheGreenLanternCorps'MostWantedlist.
ThescienceofAntiMonitor'svillainymakesevendiehardcomicsfansgocrosseyedweaponized
antimatterwaves,absorbingtheenergiesofpositivematteruniversesbuttheconsequencesofhisactions
leaveusunderstandablyinaweofhiseffectonthebraveheroeswhosetouttostophim.Someofwhich,like
BarryAllenFlashandSupergirl,gavetheirlivestosavethisworldfromhismenace.
Unfortunately,AntiMonitorhasonlyappearedintwomajorstorylines.Butwhenhedoesshowup,itisan
Event.Hechangesthings,forever.Whichmayexplainwhy,unfortunately(orfortunately),heisusedso
sparingly.
Mephisto
48
BesidesmoonlightingasaMarvelvillain,MephistoisalsotherulerofHellandthecomicbookversionof
Satan.Spooky.Hecanshapeshift,changetimeandhassuperhumanstrength.Youcantrytokillhim,buthe
willregenerate,sodon'twasteyourtime.Hisstrongestabilitythoughishispowerofmanipulation.
HeisalsobuddieswithDeath.ThetwomadeapactwhereMephistowouldbeallowedtokeepthesoulsof
thedead.Hecanalsokeepthesoulsofthelivingbutonlywiththeirpermission.Heisnotbuddiesthough
withSilverSurferorThor,seeingasthey'resortofopposingexamplesofwhatmankindcouldbecomeif
positivityandgoodcheergotitsway.
HepissedoffDoctorDoombyholdingthesoulofhismother,CynthiavonDoom,captive.Hetookthesoul
andbrainsofMisterFantastic,hiswifeInvisibleWomanandeventheirsonFranklinRichardswhenthey
screwedupanexorcism.
That'snoteventhegoodstuff.WhentheScarletWitchtriedtousemagictohavebabieswithherhusband
Vision,sheaccidentallysummonstwoshardsofMephisto'ssoul,whichthenbecameherinfanttwins.When
shefindstheirtrueorigin,Mephistosucksthembackintohisbody.ScarletWitchthengoesnutsbecauseof
it.Clearly,Mephistoisnotonewithwhomtomesswith.
Thanos
47
Thanos,whomadehisdebutonIronMan#55(Feb.1973),hasonlyonegoal,andthatgoalistoconquerthe
galaxy.BuildingabaseonEarth,hehasanarmyofalienmercenarieswithaquesttofindtheCosmicCube,
whichhasthepowertograntanywish.
Thanosalsohasathingfor"badgirls"sincehefellinlovewiththe"mistress"Death.Andtoprovehislove,
insteadofrosesorwritingherapoem,hewasgoingtodestroyallthelifeintheuniverse.Howromantic.
Atonepoint,ThanosfindstheCosmicCubeandwishestobeincontrolofeverything.Obviously,Captain
MarveltakessomeissuewiththisanddestroystheCube,thustakingawayhisnewfoundpower.Then,since
heisn'tpowerfulanymore,Deathdumpshim.
BornonTitan,amoonofSaturn,ThanoscomesfromtheraceoftheEternals.ButhehadaDeviantgenein
himsomewhereandstartedtoresemblethemmore.Likemanyoddlookingyoungsters,Thanosdistances
himselffromhissocietyandbecomesarecluse.He'ssomuchofanoutsider,thathestartshisownnuclear
attackandkillsmillionsofhisrace.Ohandheoncekidnappedhismotheranddissectedher.Healsoeven
trainedhisdaughtertobecomeanassassin.
Hehasthepoweroftelekinesisandmattermanipulation,hassuperhumanintellect,canmasterany
technology,timetravelandeventeleport.Healsolookslikeagorilla.
Doomsday
46
OnehastoadmirehowDoomsdayrolls.Ifweweregeneticallyengineeredtobemurderedrepeatedly,inan
attempttobecomeimmunetodeathanddestruction,justsowecouldkillSuperman,thenwewouldphoneit
infortherestofourdays,too.
It'snotlikehehasanythinglefttoprove,it'snotlikeLexLuthorandcompanycangivehimawholelotof
static.Allhehastodoisasktheroomtoraisetheirhandsifyou'vekilledasuperheroandcounthisasthe
onlyoneshowing.
Thecharacterarguablypeakedwaytooearlyinhisvillainouscareer,andhasn'tdoneanythingasepicsince,
hencehisrankinghereatnumber46.HedeliveredadevastatingblowtoDC'smosticonichero,inoneofthe
mostwellknowncomicsofalltime.Butthepowersatbehaveyettodrophiminastoryasmemorableor
worthwhileastheDeathofSupermanarc.
Despitehiscrowningachievementcomingatthebeginningofhisinfamouscareer,attentionmustbepaidto
thismiracleofevolution.Hecanadapttoanythingthatcomesathiminthefield,fromsoundgunstoplasma
swords.Themoreotherstrytostophimthemoreunstoppablehebecomes(DarkseidandhisOmegaBeams
learnedthatonethehardway).Hedoesnoteatorsleepandhisbodyismadeoutofboneprotrusionshecan
useasweapons.Onthesurface,hemayseemlikeaonetrickpony.Butwewouldn'trecommendsayingthat
tothefaceofthethingthatmurderedtheLastSonofKrypton.
HarleyQuinn
45
DespitebeingacharacterbornfromtheclassicBatman:TheAnimatedSeries,youwouldthinkshehasbeen
aroundsinceminuteoneofJoker'sdtentewiththeBatman.AtestamenttoHarley'svillainyandappealis
thefactthatsheturnedwhatwasasolidsupportingroleonaTVseriesintoacanonworthyDCmainstay.
HerupcomingroleinGothamCitySirens,alongsidePoisonIvy,isfurtherproofofourwelcomedinvestment
inHarley.
Sabretooth
44
SheisnotthestrongestofroguesinBatman'sgallery,andsheisnotnecessarilythemostmalevolent.Butshe
isquicktoturnonthecrazy,andevenquickertopleaseherMr.J.Thatcombinationalonemakeshera
constantthreat,andanintegralpartofBatman'sseries,whichmorethananyotheroriginalcharacterfrom
TAScansay.
Deadshot
43
HarleyQuinnisunpredictableyetmostcomfortableintheroleofJoker'smisunderstoodnumbertwo,despite
certainstorylinestryingtoputmoreresponsibilityuponthecharacter.Harleyworksbestinsmallto
moderateamounts,yetwenevertireofheranticsandconflict.That'ssayingalotforacharacterwhodidn't
startoutasaBatmanstaple,butwillforeverbeonegoingforward.
TaliaAlGhul
42
Talia'soriginhasneverbeenalltooimportantinregardstohervitalroleintheBatmanmythos.What's
importantisthatshe'sRa'sAlGhul'sdaughter,andshe'smadlyinlovewiththeDarkKnight.Shemaybethe
headoftheinfamousLeagueofAssassins,butTaliaalGhulisalittlemorecomplicatedthanyouraverage
villain.Hermotivesareusuallypure,evenwhenhermethodsarenot,andshe'sbeenofgreathelptoBatman
andotherheroesfromtimetotime.
HermotherhavingdiedwhenshewasveryyoungandTaliawasraisedbyherfather,whotrainedherto
becomehisassistantintherunningofhisvastoperation.She'satalentedmartialartist,capableofdefending
herselfwithorwithoutaweapon,andlikeherfathershecanberesurrectedinhisnetworkofhiddenLazarus
Pits.
TaliafirstencounteredBatmanwhenherfathersoughttodeterminewhetherBruceWaynewouldprovea
fittingmatchforhisdaughter,andthusinherithisempire.Batmanrefusedtohaveanypartofthedeal,but
notbeforeTaliafellinlovewithhim.
Sincethen,thetwohavehadseveralrunins,bothdirectandindirect.Inparticular,itwasTaliawhouseda
LazarusPittoreviveJasonTodd,thesecondRobin,andhelpedhimembarkonacampaignofvengeanceas
theRedHood.Moretohercredit,Taliahappenstobeoneofthefewpeoplewho'vesuccessfullydouble
crossedLexLuthorinstalledastheheadofLexCorpafterLuthorwaselectedpresidentoftheUnited
States,sheusedtheopportunitytorevealLuthor'scrimestotheworld.
Mongul
41
Question:WhomanagedtonotonlycomeclosetodefeatingSuperman(inKalEl'sownhome,noless),but
Batman,RobinandWonderWomanaswell?Answer:Mongul.Don'tletthepurpleandawkwardyellow
attirefoolyou,Mongulissomeonetotreadverylightlyaround.Heisalsoonewhosebrutestrengthisonly
rivaledbyhisbroodingego.
Alwaystryingtogethishandsonasuperweaponofsorts,whetheritbeWarworldoraplanetdestroying
deathray,MongulhasfoughtwithSupermanandmurderedhiswaytodetenteratherthanabsolutevictory.
Inhiseffortstobestthosehedeemsbeneathhim,Supermanhasroutinelybecomeafrequentopponent.
Arguably,Mongul'sclosestthingtotruevictorycameinAlanMoore's"FortheManWhoHasEverything".
There,hedecidedtoendKalEl'slifeonironicallyhisbirthday,usingaplantlikedevicetoputSupermanin
apermanentdreamstateonewherethevictim'svisionoftheiridealdesirestrapstheminaprisonof
illusion.Hisplanwouldhaveworked,wereitnotforBatman&RobinandWonderWoman'sefforts.Butthe
factthatheeventriedit,letalonecamethisclosetosucceeding,iswhytheDCUshouldalwaysfearhim
evenrankingat41.
BaronZemoII
40
HelmutJ.Zemo,thesonofBaronHeinrichZemo,followedinhisfather'sfootstepstobecomeasupervillain.
Howproudhemustbe.Beginninghiscareerasanengineer,hewaslividwhenheheardthenewsthat
CaptainAmericawascomingoutofretirement.Whywashesomad?Oh,Mr.Americasortofkilledhis
father.
HestartedoutunderthemonikerThePhoenix,nottobeconfusedwithJeanGrey,andquicklycaptured
CaptainAmerica.HethenaccidentallyfellintoavatofboilingAdhesiveX(themostpowerfulbonding
agentinvented)andwasthoughttobedead.Hewasn't.Hejustlookedlikeawaxfigure.ThinkJoanRivers.
Yearslater,heappearedagain,alliedwithPrimus,andkidnappedCaptainAmerica'sfriendArnoldRothto
luretheherointoatrap.Itdidn'twork.Later,ZemowastrainedunderthetutelageofRedSkullandhis
daughterMotherSuperior.ApparentlyhehasathingforkidnappingCaptainAmerica'sfriendssincehis
buddyDavidCoxwasnext.Thistime,hebrainwashedCoxandgothimtobattletheCaptain.
ZemoevenonceformedanupdatedversionofthegroupMastersofEvil.TheyinvadedtheAvengers
Mansion,capturingCaptainAmericaandtheBlackKnightandbrutallybeatingHerculesandJarvis,inone
oftheAvengersdarkesthours.Hethensubsequentlyfellofftheroof.Healsofellintoavolcanoonce.
Excludingallthefalling,Zemoisknownforbeingagenius,skilledincombatandisanexcellentmarksman.
TheMoonstonesevengrantedHelmutsuperhumanpowersincludingbutnotlimitedtolightandgravity
manipulation,molecularphasing,flightandtheabilitytocreatespatialwarps.Inrecentyears,hisplansgrew
morediabolical,includinghisformationoftheThunderboltsinactualityallmembersoftheMastersof
Evil,whomZemohadposeassuperheroesinordertoconquerfromwithinthesystem.Whilethatplan
ultimatelyfailed,theThunderboltshavecontinuedon,invariousincarnationssomeseeminglynoble,others
extremelydangerous.
Shredder
39
Shredder,AKAOrokuSaki,isthearchnemesisoftheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesandtheirratmaster
Splinter.AmasterintheartofNinjutsu,ShredderistheleaderoftheFootClan,afearsomegroupof
warriorsandassassinsinvolvedinorganizedcrime.
IntheoriginalMirageComics,reveredninjaHamatoYoshi,onceownerofSplinter(premutation),playeda
keyroleinShredder'scorruptionwhenhekilledhisbrotherinafeudoverawoman.Hellbentonrevenge,
ShredderroseupthroughtheranksoftheFootClanandultimatelytravelledtoNewYorkwherehe
destroyedthepowerfulYoshi.
WhatShredderdidn'tcounton(wedon'treallyblamehim),isthatYoshi'spetratwouldmutateinto
anthropomorphicformandbecomeSenseitoagroupofhighlyskilledturtleninjas(alsoanthropomorphic)
andseektoavengehisdeath.
TheTurtles'actuallydefeatedShredderduringtheirfirstencounterwithhim,butaFootClanmysticbrought
thevillainbacktolifeusingthewormsthatfedonhisbody.Andlestyouforget,thereanimatedworm
Shredder'sdefeatwasonlyshortlived,ashewasbroughtbacktolifeyetagainasaSharklikemonster.
Shredder'sclassiclookissamuraiinspiredarmor,withmetalplaquesonhisshoulders,forearms,hands,and
shins.Thearmor,creatorKevinEastmansays,wasinspiredbycheesegraters.Hesportsacape.And
Shredder'sface,exceptforhiseyes,isobscuredbyametalmask.
TheArchieComicsversionofShredder,whommostchildrenofthe'80swouldhavecometoknowbefore
discoveringEastmanandPeterLaird'searlywork,ismoreofagoofballbadguy.
TheseissueswereinitiallybasedontheanimatedserieswhichsawShreddertakeonseveraldifferentwacky
incarnations,includingtheCh'rellUtromversion(agooeystomachbraincreaturewholivedinsideafighting
robot),intheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesanimatedseries.
ShredderhasappearedinalloftheoriginalTMNTvideogames,oftenasthe"boss"ofthefinallevel.
Sentinel
38
TheXMenhavefacedalotofenemieswhofearthemsimplyforbeingdifferent,butmostofthesefoes
havesomesortofhumanitythatcanbeappealedtoorreasonedwith.NotsofortheSentinels.Giant,
powerfulrobots,theSentinelsareperhapsthemostfrighteningsymbolofhatredagainstMutantsmachines
createdtohuntdownthoseborndifferent.
Intheirveryfirstappearance,theSentinelsdecidedthatthebestwaytoprotecthumanitywastoruleoverit
andthatinclinationwastakentoitslimitintheclassic"DaysofFuturePast"story.There,wesawafuture
wheretheSentinelsareessentiallythemastersofhumansandthescourgeofMutants,keepingthemlocked
upininternmentcampsorsimplymurderingthemoutright.WhocanforgetthevisualofaSentinel
disintegratingWolverinehimself?
Thoughthey'remostlyknownfortheiruniformityandlackofindividuality,therehavebeenacoupleof
notableSentinels,includingtheirleaderMasterMoldandoneparticularlynastyversionfromthe"Daysof
FuturePast"timeline,Nimrod,whofollowedRachelSummersbackthroughtime.Eventually,MasterMold
andNimrodwouldbizarrelybefusedintoanothergreatXMenthreat,Bastian,whoseseeminglyhuman
guiseallowedhimtospearheadOperation:ZeroTolerance,oneofthemostviciousgovernmentprograms
aimedagainstMutants.
TheXMenversionoftheTerminators,theSentinelsarehighlysymbolicofthefearandhateMutantsmust
face.
Zoom
37
HunterZolomon'sturnfromtroubledyouth,tofriendandcolleagueofWallyWest,toZoomisbothtragic
andinevitable.Withhispridegettinghisway,andthedeskhesatbehind,itonlytookaveryviolent,very
breaking,pushfromGorillaGroddtohelphimbecomeZoom.
Paralyzedfromthewastedown,anaccidentwith(ahem)thecosmictreadmillgaveHuntertheabilitytodefy
hisphysicallimitsandmakeuphisown.HecelebratedhisnewfoundpowersbyextractingrevengeonWally
WestforrefusingtohelphimwhenheneededWallymost.Rather,hetookhisangeroutonWally'swifeand
triedtomurderher.
WallyWestsavedLinda'slife,butZoom'sattackcausedLindatomiscarry.Thiseventforeverpavedtheway
ofwhatourheroescouldexpectfromZoom,asdidhisabilitytowieldPersonalTimeManipulation,whichis
justafancywayofsayingdoevilthings,fasterthantheFlashcanmaybemovetostopthem.Hisspeedis
fueledbyanabilitytobendtimeitself,somethingonlythefastestofScarletSpeedsterscandoishopethat
theycankeepup.
VandalSavage
36
WithanamelikeVandalSavage,thisguyisn'tcutoutforbeinganythingelsebutavillain.Orinhiscase,a
supervillainwhosecrimesdateback,well,beforeweevenwrotedatesdown.
Anequalopportunityoffendertoarangeofsuperheroes(Flash,theJSAandMartianManhuntertonamea
few),Savage'simmortalityhasallowedhimtobecomequitethefoeintheDCUniverse.Hisviolenceisonly
matchedbyhisbrillianceatacticianwhocomesclosetomatchingLuthor'ssuperiorintellect.Inbetween
becomingafoundingmemberoftheInjusticeSocietyandtheeventsofFinalCrisis,Savagefoundtimeto
travelthroughtime,andtargetthelegaciesandbloodtiesofseveralGoldenAgesuperheroes.
VandalSavage'sgeniusisaproductofamillenniaofcombatandwarfarealifespentdefyingboundaries
andredefiningwhatathreatreallyis.Inshort,heisaverybadmanwhoseonlylimitisthathehasnone.
GorillaGrodd
35
HemightnotbeastallasKingKong,orastalentedastageperformerasMightyJoeYoung,butFlashcomic
villainGorillaGroddhasoneoveronhisbigscreencousins.Thiswouldbeworldconqueringapewas
grantedextraordinaryintellectandpowerfulpsionicabilitiesafterheandhistribewereexposedtoaspace
rock(analienspacecraftinthecharacter'sretconnedorigin)thatcrashedintotheAfricanjungle.
Grodd'slustforpowerpitshimagainstSolovar,apeleaderoftheutopianGorillaCity.WhenSolovaris
capturedbyhumans,GroddtrackshimtoCentralCity(withsinisterintentions,ofcourse)whereheruns
afoulofTheFlash.
SincefirstappearinginTheFlash#106(May1959),GroddhasassumedadominateroleintheDC
Universe.HewasoncealeaderintheshortlivedSecretSocietyofSuperVillains,andisoneofthefew
baddiestohavenearlyincapacitatedSuperman.
MuchofGrodd'sexistencehasbeenspentimprisonedinGorillaCity,buthe'shadlittletroublebreakingout
atwillseekingfreedomeachtimeheformulatesanothersinisterplantodestroyhumankindandtakeover
theworld.Onnumerousoccasions,Groddhassoughtouthisoldfoe,TheFlash,inhopesofkillinghim
beforehecouldfoilhisplans.
Overtheyears,Groddhasbecomemoreandmoresavage.Inanespeciallygruesomeincident,heravagesthe
AfricancityofKinshasa(seeJLAClassified#103)andeatsmanyoftheinhabitants.
Outsideofthecomicsrealm,GorillaGroddisarecurringvillainintheDCAnimatedUniverse,andwas
featuredintheJusticeLeagueHeroesvideogame.
Bane
34
HebroketheBatman'sback.That'swhyheishere,butlikeDoomsday,healsoachievedtruevillainyvery
earlyinhiscareer.BanehasyettomatchhisKnightfallefforts,whichleadtoshatteringBruceWayne.But
DCstillcontinuestoviewhimasavaluableplayer,acharactertheyseemtobequiteinterestedinexpanding
upon,ifhisreportedroleinSinisterSixisanyindication.
AhulkingfigurefueledbyVenom,adrugpumpeddirectlytohisbrainforallhishulking,superstrength
needs,Baneseemslikeafecklessthugonthesurface.However,unlikeDoomsday,Baneemergedasoneof
Batman'smostintelligentfoes.
HisplantobreaktheBatwasmethodical,andworstofall,patient.Banerealizedsomethinghisfellow
Roguesdidnot:AfullfrontalassaultagainstBatmanisfutile.Instead,Banetakesthelongwayaroundto
weakeningtheBat,bybreakingdownArkham'swalls,lettingitsprisonersinfectGothamnonceagainand
leaveBatmanonanexhaustingthreemonthmissiontolockthembackup.Duringthattimeandhere's
where"beingpatient"comesinBanemanagestofindtheBatcaveandwaittheretoadministerthefinal
blow,whoseimpactstillechoestoday.
CyborgSuperman
33
Goodol'HankHenshaw,managingtogetintobothSupermanandGreenLantern'sRogues'Galleryisno
smallfeat.SufferingfromacosmicaccidentthatleftHankcursedwithimmortality,anddrovehiswifeto
madness,TheCyborgisatragicfigurewhoelicitsoursympathiestoapoint.Andthenwerealizejusthow
evilhetrulyis.
HankmadehisfirstappearanceinReignoftheSupermen,soonafterKalEl'sdeathbyDoomsday'shands.If
HankwantedpeopletoreallybelievehewasSupesresurrectedish,thenheshouldhavecameupwitha
betterlookthanhalfLastSonandhalfT800.Butintheend,convincingthePresidentthathewasSupes'
heirwasjustonesteptowardhisendgame,whichclimaxedwithhisroleinthedestructionofCoastCity,
HalJordan'shometown.
DownloadinghisconsciousnessintoadeviceplantedonDoomsdayisjustoneofthereasonswhyHankis
stillaliveandplaguingSupermanhemaynothaveAntiMonitorepicconsequencesforhisvillainy,buthe
isconsistent.Whichmeanshe'smostlikelynotgoinganywhere.LikehesaidhimselfduringtheSinestro
CorpscampaignagainsttheGLcorps:"Overtheyears,Ihavebeendetonated,burnedanddisintegrated.Yet
Icontinuetosurvive."
Deathstroke
32
AssassinandmercenarySladeWilson,bornofhumbleNewTeenTitansbeginnings,hasproventobeaforce
toreckonwith.Ranking32onourlist,DeathstroketheTerminatorisaproductofsecretarmyexperiments
thatmanagedtosurvivewithoutsufferingfrombeingaonenoteclichofavillain.
Familymanandassassinbyday,theTeenTitans'threatandsometimesantiherofightingonthesideof
quasigoodprovestobeafascinatingcharacteronemadeofdarkerpartsfansofDCdon'tusuallygetsuch
generoushelpingsof.
Deathstroke'sappearancesinbothIdentityCrisisandInfiniteCrisisarequickandtothepoint,providing
furtherevidencethathispopularitycanonlygetbetterwithage.Anyguywhocangohandtohandwith
Batman,andleavetheDarkKnightwithastalemateandnotavictory,isclearlynotaforcetotakelightly.
Thecharacter'sappealstretchesintotheanimatedseriesrealmaswell,andoneday,wehope,ontothebig
screen.
ProfessorZoom
31
SuperspeedforReverseFlashEobardThawnemaybehisonlysuperpower,butZoomhasnotletthatslow
himdown.Obsessiondrovehimquicklytodevelopingaplotto"become"andreplaceBarryAllen.Hewas
socommittedtotakingoverAllen'sdutiesasFlash,hedecidedtoplayhousewithAllen'swife,Iris.When
shedidn'ttaketoit,Zoomdidwhatanymaninhissituationwouldhavedone:Vibratehishandintoher
head,killingher.
SubtletyisnotoneofZoom'sstrongsuits(heisamemberoftheSecretSocietyofSuperVillains,afterall),
buthedoesgetresults.Also,histimetravelingwayshelphimgetaroundcertainthingslikeschemesnot
goingaccordingtoplan,orevenhisowndeath.
Zoommaybeavillaintoolocalizedforhisowngood,buthismurderingofIrisisaneventpeoplestilltalk
about.WecanseehimgettinganarcjustasgoodashisturnasBarryAllen'snemesis,andwehopeit
happenssoonerratherthanlater.
GeneralZod
30
Let'sgetthisoutoftheway:TerranceStampisZod.HisinterpretationofthePhantomZone'smostrepeat
offenderinSupermanIIisanunderliningforceforfolksgivingadamnabouttheGeneral.Butoutsideofthe
DonnerdirectedsequelandaninspiredrebirthofsortsinLastSon,Zodremainsacharacterwithsome
potentialstillleftuntapped.
Whateveryourthoughtsonhisnewlook(thegogglesandsuch),thereisnodenyingthatZod'soffensive
uponMetropolisanditsherowasoneforthebooks.ItgaveSupermansomethingtodootherthan,well,
whateveritishedoeswhennotengaginginyellowsunfueledCQCwithZod,UrsaandNon.Zodevenused
hisownsonasapawninhiscampaigntoturnEarthintoNewKryptonwe'renotevensureStampycould
pullthatoneoff.
Luthor,ZodandBizarroarewhatitboilsdowntowhentryingtofigureoutaserioustriplethreatfor
Superman,andZod'scontributionisonethatseemsontargettoreceiveitsdue.Zod'sarcinthe"New
Krypton"bookscontinueswhere"LastSon"leftoff,furtheringthenotionthatthisZodiswelcomedthornin
Superman'sside.KneelbeforeZod,indeed.
Sinister
29
LikeApocalypse,whomadehimintothesuperpoweredmenaceheis,Mr.Sinisterisobsessedwiththe
Darwinianideaofsurvivalofthefittestbutthisgeneticmanipulatorgoestosomeextremelydarkandcruel
placestofurtherhisbeliefsandexperiments,sometimesoutdoingApocalypsehimselfwhenitcomestotruly
evilacts.
Onceuponatimehewasa19thcenturyscientistnamedNathanielEssex,whohadnoquibbles
experimentingonthehomelessandthosehesawassocieties(andhumanities)refuse.Transformedby
ApocalypseandnowknownasSinister,he'snowliveddecadespastwhatshouldhavebeentheendofhis
life,continuingtomanipulateanddestroymutantsandhumansasheseesfit.
Whilehewouldn'tphysicallyappearforanotheryear,thefirsttimehisnamewasmentionedwasduringone
ofthedarkesttimesinXMenhistorytheMutantMassacre,inwhichhesenthisteam,theMarauders,ona
mercilessmissiontokilltheMorlocks,whichalsoresultedinsevereinjuriesforKittyPryde,Colossus,
NightcrawlerandAngel.Later,we'dlearnofSinister'sobsessionwithScottSummersandtheSummers
geneticline,whichledtohimcreatingacloneofJeanGreyMadelynePryorwiththesolepurposeof
breedingwithScott.TheresultofthatsuccessfulquestledtothebirthofNathanSummers,AKACable.
Havingsurvivedseemingdeathmultipletimes,Sinisterhasmostrecentlybeenreborninafemalebody,Miss
Sinister.Butregardlessofhis/herexactnameorgeneticmakeup,thisisatwistedindividualyoudon'twant
toturnyourbackon.
DoctorOctopus
28
Itbeganwithaslaptotheface.SpiderManwasfeelingprettyconfidentearlyinhiscareer,whenhefirst
encounteredOttoOctavius,ascientistwhoseinventionofroboticarmshadbecomefusedtohisbodyinan
accidentthatalsotookhissanity.Veryquickly,SpiderManlearnedthattheheavysetmanwithpooreyesight
wasnottobeunderestimated,andinamemorablemoment,Dr.OctopusgrabbedSpiderManwithhis
mechanicallimbsandeffortlesslysubduedtheyoungsuperheroandthenslappedhimhardinthefacewith
hisveryhumanhand.TossingSpiderManaside(andoutawindow)likehewasabsolutelynothingtohim,
Dr.OctopusinstantlyhadaphysicalandmentalimpactonhisfoeandthisencounterledtoSpiderMan's
firstrealoccasionofselfdoubtandfear,soshakenwasPeterParkerbythisencounterwithavillainwho
trulywashismatch.
AlongwithGreenGoblinandVenom,DoctorOctopushassecuredhisplaceasoneofSpiderMan'sgreatest
andmostdangerousfoes.FromorganizingtheSinisterSix,tocausingthedeathofGeorgeStacy,tohis
vicious(andnearlyfatal)assaultonBlackCat,DoctorOctopushasalonglegacyinSpiderManstories,
whichPeterParkerwouldliketoforget.Thoughhowcanheforgetthemanwhoverynearlymarriedhis
AuntMay?!
Whetherhisplansinvolvehisbrilliantknowledgeofscienceorhisdesiretobecomeagangleader,"Doc
Ock"hasproventoberemarkablyversatileinhistalents,whichhasbeenbadnewsforSpiderManoverand
overagain.LikemanygreatSpiderMancharacters,there'stragedytothisvillaintoo,aswe,andPeter
Parker,sometimesgetaglimpseatthegoodintentionedmanheoncewas,onlyforhisdarksidetotakeover
oncemore.
CaptainCold
27
LeonardStartbeganhiscriminalcareerlikemostdo:Comeupwithanevilweaponofevil,aimita
superhero,andseewhathappens.Well,whathappenedwassaidweapon,originallydesignedtocripplethe
Flash'ssuperspeed,accidentallywoundupfreezingairmoleculesinstead.
Thepoorman'sMr.FreezeCaptainColdisnot,althoughweunderstandwhysomewouldanddowritehim
offassuch.Getpastthestylizedparkaofdoom,andyouwillseeacoldhearted,murdermotivatedbaddie.
Heevenmanagedtosurvivethe1990sTheFlashTVseriesrelativelyunscathed,sothathastosay
something.
ButwhatmayspeaklouderthanthatresumefillerarehiscontributionstoplaguingtheBarryAllenFlashand
helpingkilltheBartAllenFlash.OnceheassumedtheroleofleaderforFlash'sRogue'sGallery,Lenny
foundhisthirstforpower,money,womenandmorepowerbecomingallencompassing,andabittoomuch
forevenhisbiggestfanstohandle.Butthat'salsowhywelovetohatethisvillainhekeepsthingssimple
andmaintainsthepolepositionastheprimarycauseofdoomforguysnamedScarletSpeedster.Notbadfor
aguyinaparka,huh?
KidMiracleman
26
Despitebeingacharactersurroundedbyprotractedlegalbattlesoutsidethepanelsweread,Miraclemanis
anotherDCcharactermadeallthemoreinterestingwiththehelpofAlanMooreandothers.
AKAMarvelman,AKAMickyMoran,AKAJohnnyBates,number26onourlisthadquitetherisetohis
villainousranks.Startingoffasaheroofsorts,KidMiraclemanturnedadarkercornerwiththehelpofAlan
Mooretakingthecharacterwaypastthepointofnoreturn.
WhetherthecharacterispennedbyMooreorlaterbyNeilGaiman,KidMiracleman'sviolentstreakremains
intact,andmoreover,somethingtofear.Ifonlywecouldfindhisbookstohelpothersseeourpoint
Bizarro
25
ThelivingantithesisofSupermanismorethanjustbackwardstalkandaninverted"S"shieldonhischest.
Bizarroandthereversedworldhehailsfromhavebecomevernacularforanythingflippedornothowit
shouldbefornovicecomicsfans.
Fansknowthatatthecoreofhisbruteisatragedy,mostrecentlyexploredtoentertaininganddramatically
satisfyingeffectinLastSon.Abriefappearance,yes,butanearperfectencapsulationofwhothecharacter
is,constantlyfightingthatwhichhewillneverbe.
Bizarroisaverypopularvillain,intermsofthosethatregularlychallengeSuperman.HeisnotLexLuthor,
andhedoesn'thavetobe.Hisrangemightbelimited,andhisfightfirst,thinklaterapproachtothingsmight
gettiresome,buthisstoryneverceasestoprovideconflictforKalEl.Aslongashedelivers,wehopeDC
willkeepthebluekryptoniteaway.
Apocalypse
24
Whowouldhavethoughtthattheshadowyfigurepullingthestringsofamostlyforgottengroupcalledthe
AllianceofEvilwouldturnouttobesuchapersistentandpowerfulfoefortheXMen?Apocalypse'sfirst
appearancesintheoriginalXFactorseriesmightnothaveinitiallyseemedlikesuchabigdeal,butitwasnot
longbeforethisvillainturnedouttobesomeoneverymemorableindeed.
Obsessedwiththeideaofsurvivalofthefittest,Apocalypse'smotivescansometimesbemurky(anddon't
getusstartedondefiningwhatexactlyhispowersare),butthere'snoquestionheisamajorplayerbehind
thescenesinXMenhistory.Shortlyafterhisdebut,ApocalypsewouldtransformWarrenWorthingtonfrom
AngeltoArchangel,foreveralteringthatcharacter'spathsomethingApocalypsewoulddoseveraltimes
againinthefuturewithothernotablecharacters.
Hisotherrecruits,bothvolunteersandthoseheforcedtodohisbidding,haveincludedWolverine,Hulk,
CalibanandSunfire,allofwhomservedasoneofhisHorsemenatonepointoranother.Meanwhile,hisever
moreelaboratebackstoryrevealedhewasbornthousandsofyearsago,inAncientEgypt,andinfactwas
theoldestandearlierMutantonearth,havingsurvivedencounterslonginthepastwitheveryonefromKang
theConqueror(inhisRamaTutguise)toDraculahimself.
Apocalypseisalsoresponsibleforan19thcenturyscientistbecominganothermajorXMenthreat,Mr.
Sinister,anditwasApocalypse'sactionsthatledtoScottSummers'babysonbeinginfectedwiththetechno
organicvirusthusbeginningNathan'spathtowardsbecomingthefuturisticheroCable,whowouldgoonto
beoneofApocalypse'sgreatestfoes.
Ultron
23
OneofthebiggestregretsinHankPym'slifeandtheman,sadly,hasseveralnotableonestochoosefrom
UltronexistsbecauseofPym'sexperimentswithartificiallife.TherobotPymfirstcreatedcouldinitiallybe
calledasuccess,sinceitdidindeedachieveintelligentandsentiencetoaverydangerousdegree,causingit
tostrikeoutatitscreatorandsetouttobecomeoneoftheAvengersgreatestthreats.
FromhisearlydaysposingastheCrimsonCowlandleadingoneofthemanyincarnationsoftheMastersof
Evil,Ultronhasprovedtobecruel,cleverandresourceful.Constantlyupgradinghimself,hisfrequentname
changes(Ultron5,Ultron6,etc.)predictedthemodernera'Version2.0'ideaoftheeverimprovingand
streamlinedpieceoftechnology,hererepresentedinthescariestwaypossible.Theearlyupgradethatturned
hisentiremetalbodyintoadamantiumonlyincreasedUltron'sstrengthandmadeitmoredifficulttostop
him.
TheAvengershavefoundthattheycanonlytemporarilystopUltron.Abletoexistwithincomputersand
othertechnology,Ultronalwayscomesbackmoredifficulttodefeatthanthelasttime.Hislackofhumanity
anddisrespectforlifemakeshimallthemoreintimidatingUltronisthekindoffoewhocanrarelybe
reasonedwithandtryingtofindhissympatheticorcompassionatesideisafool'serrand(Ultron12aside).
Ultron'scoldviewofhumansledtooneofhismostbrutalanddespicableacts,asheslaughteredanentire
EasternEuropeancountry,Slorenia,showingnomercyandcertainlynoregretoverhisactions.More
recently,Ultron'sthreathasbecomeacosmicone,ashetooktothestarsandledthePhalanxquestfor
conquest.
Venom
22
Superherobooksareoftenaboutexploringalteregos,anditdoesn'tgetmuchmoredirectinthatregardfor
SpiderManthanwhenhefacesVenom.SpiderMan'sdark,violentandmurderouscounterpart,Venomcame
tobewhenEddieBrock,areporterwithavendettaagainstSpiderMan,foundthealiensymbiotecostume
SpiderManhadpickedupduringSecretWars,onlytodiscarditwhenhediscovereditstruenature.
Withhishulkingphysiqueandmonstrous,alienlikemouth(completewithfangsandadroolingtongue),
Venom,whohasallofPeterParker'spowers,islikeadistortedandscaryfunhousemirrorversionofthe
blackcostumedSpiderMan,andhisknowledgeofPeter'ssecretidentityallowedhimtotargethisenemyin
particularlycruelanddangerousways.
Venom'spopularityrightoutofthegatewashugehewaseasilythemosttalkedaboutnewSpiderMan
villaininyears,whichwenthandinhandwiththesensationcausedbytheevocativeworkoftheincredibly
buzzedaboutyoungartistwhofirstdrewVenominTheAmazingSpiderMan,ToddMacFarlane.The
characterwassopopularthathesufferedfromoverexposureforatime,poppingupsoofteninSpiderMan
booksandvariousminiseriesthathisimpactwasdiluted.Thatoverexposurethankfullyeventuallystopped,
andwhatremainsisstilloneofthemostnotableandiconicSpiderManvillainsever.
EddieBrockhasgonethroughmanychangesandidentityshiftsthroughtheyears,andtheVenompersona
hasnotalwaysbeenhis.ButwhileEddiehimselfhasgonebackandforthbetweenfightingforwhathe
perceivestoberightthe"LethalProtector"andoutrightvillainy,it'sinevitablethatheeventually
succumbstohisdarkside,andfansaretreatedtoanotherSpiderManVs.Venombattle.
Ozymandias
21
"Ididit35minutesago."Withthatsimpleline,Ozymandiascementedhisplaceasacomicbookvillainto
remember.Thefactthathehimself,andperhapsmanyreadingthis,wouldarguehe'snotevenavillaininthe
firstplacemakeshimallthemorefascinating.TheSmartestManintheWorld,AdrianVeidtfeltthatthe
normalkindofphysicalsuperheroicshe'dengagedinforyearswerenotenoughtotrulychangetheworld.
No,heplottedtodosomethingmuchgrander.
Thefactthatthisgrandplaninvolvedkillingmillionsofpeopleisofcoursewhatmakeshimsuchachilling
character.Fromhisperspective,whathedidfakinganalienattackinNewYorkthatkilledallinthepathof
itspsychicshockwavewastheultimateexampleofdoingsomethingforthegreatergood.Veidtfeltthatthis
kindofhorrificattackfromaperceivedoutsidethreatwastheonlythingthatcoulduniteaworldonthe
brinkofnuclearwar.Andnotably,Veidtappearedtobecorrect,andwouldarguethatthisactofforced
sacrificestoppedbillionsmorefromdyinginthelongrun.
Brilliantandabletodealwithalmosteverycurveballthrownhisway,Veidtsucceedsinhisplanattheend
ofWatchmen,onlyexplainingthedetailstoRorschachandNiteOwlafterhe'ssureit'sgoneoffwithouta
hitch.ButasnobleasVeidtmaysayheis,thefactisthathehasthebloodofmillionsonhishands
Bullseye
20
Bullseyehasneverbeenaboutsubtlety,nuanceoremotion.He'sakiller,throughandthrough,witha
disputedhistorythatmayormaynotbetruegivensomestoriesbeingnarratedbyBullseyehimself.Theonly
clearinformationfanshaveatthispointisthattheman'sfirstnameisLester.Therestit'shardtosay.Did
hehaveanabusivefatherandamotherwhowasaprostituteanddidhekillthem?Didhehaveabrother?
WasheabaseballplayerandinvolvedinopswhereheranacrossFrankCastle?Nothingisentirelyclear.
Enigmaticcharactersareoftenhitswithreaders,andBullseyeisnoexception.Throughhisinvolvementwith
theKingpin,Bullseyegainednotoriety,killingElektrainaninfamousandbrutalscene.Theassassinquickly
becameoneofDaredevil'sarchenemies,andhasevenreturnedinrecentyearstokillanotheroneofMatt
Murdock'slovers,KarenPage.BullseyehasmovedawayfromDaredevil'scorneroftheworldinrecent
years,mostnotablybecomingpartofNormanOsborn'sgrandplans,firstasapartoftheThunderboltsand
laterasamemberoftheDarkAvengers.
EvenmoreremarkableisthatBullseyehasnosuperpowers.That'snoteworthyasthehitmanconfrontshis
powerfulopponentsphysicallyandofteninclosequarters.Thoughhismarksmanshipbordersonbeing
powerbased,Marvelhasneverprovidedanexplanationforhisabilities.Regardless,histiestotheKingpin,
majormomentsinDaredevilhistoryandcurrenthighprofilestorylinemakethisonesuccessfulassassin.The
skyisthelimitforthisrelentlesspsychopath.
Juggernaut
19
CainMarkoisarelativelystraightforwardvillain,butaniconicandimportantonenonetheless.Thoughhis
recenthistoryhasbeenfilledwithafailedattempttobeheroic,mostIGNreadersandtheeditorsatIGNfor
thatmatterseehimasaclassicXMenfoe.
MarkoservedintheKoreanWaralongsidehisstepbrother,CharlesXavier.Whenthetworanacrossan
enchantedcave,MarkomanagedtoacquiretheCrimsonGemofCyttorakandbecametheJuggernaut.Years
later,MarkowouldarriveatthedoorsofXavier'smansion,seekingrevenge.OvertheyearstheJuggernaut's
historywasdevelopedtoportraythevillaininamoresympatheticlight.Hewasn'tsimplyevilhehada
darkchildhoodandhatedhisstepbrotherfortheadvantagesheperceivedXavierhad.
Throughouthiscareer,JuggernauthasclashedwiththeXMen,Hulk,Thorand,insomewaysmostnotably,
SpiderManinaclassictwopartarc.Hismotivationsmightbeabitsimple,butit'shardtoargueagainstthe
character'spopularity,designandimpactontheXMenandtheirfounder.
Mystique
18
Noteverygreatvillainhastobeaworldconquering,warmongering,superpoweredbadass.Someofthem
aresimplygreatatmanipulatingeventstotheirliking,bendingtheworldtotheirdesireandgettingaway
withit.Mystiqueisoneofthosevillains,andisabsolutelyoneofthegreatestfemalevillainsevercreated.
RavenDarkholme'shistoryisabitconvoluted,particularlyassherelatestothecomplexXMenhistory,but
that'snotnecessarilywhatmakesherimportant.Thekeypointswouldbethesesheisthemotherof
Sabretooth'sson,themotherofNightcrawlerandafostermomforRogue.Herhistorywiththesevarious
charactershasgivenheraprominentseatinthefutureofthemutantrace,andsheevenplayedacriticalrole
(despitebeingrevealedasatraitor)inthe2006storylineMessiahComplex,whichkickedoffamajornew
erainthehistoryoftheXMenfranchise.
Duetoherage(whichisestimatedatoveracentury),Ravenhasplayedaroleonmanyteams,involving
herselfinmanycausesincludingtheXMen,BrotherhoodofEvilMutants,XFactor,Maraudersandmore.
MostrecentlyshewasinvolvedinclasheswithWolverine(whosoughtrevengeforherbetrayalinMessiah
Complex)andIceman,wheresheapparentlydied.Giventhenumberoftimesshe'sallegedlybeenkilled,it's
hardtoimaginethisespionagemasterwillremainmissinginactionforlong.
Inessence,overtheyearsXfanshavebeentreatedtoakickassfemmefatalewhohasfoundherselfat
severalkeyturningpointsinthehistoryofthemutantrace.Oh,andyouhavetoloveherdesign,bothinfilm
andprint.'NuffSaid.
Brainiac
17
Tobequitehonest,theManofSteeldoesn'thavethebestgalleryofrogues.Supermanmightbealegendary
herobuthisvillainsnotsomuch.Butthroughitsrepeatedappearancesoverthedecadesculminatingin
oneincredible,historyalteringstorylinelastyear,oneparticularcitycollectingcyborghasbecomeoneof
ouralltimefavorites.
Brainiachashadmultipleincarnationsovertheyears,someconsistentandsomedivergingradicallyfrom
previousstories.GeoffJohnsstreamlinedallofthatlastyear,puttingforththeideathateveryiterationinfact
originatedfromonemasterthathadneverbeenseenbyfans.ThisoriginalBrainiac'spurposewastocapture
citiesandassimilateknowledgeinordertogainpower.Partofitsoperatingprocedurewastodestroyplanets
andgalaxiesinitswaketopreventthatknowledgefromspreading.
Aspartofthisreimagining,JohnsalsorevealedthatGeneralZodwasafiercedefenderofKryptonwhen
BrainiacarrivedtoacquirethecityofKandor,addinglayerstoacharacterthatpriortoJohns'involvement
wasastereotypicalmegalomaniac.Beyondhisimplicationsforothervillainsandhislegacywithin
Superman'srogues,Brainiac'smostimportanttraitsaretheseithasaverypersonalconnectiontoKalEl
andcandirectlychallengehimbothphysicallyandmentally.Thereareveryfewthathavethatdistinction,
allowingBrainiactorankuptherewiththebestofthem.
BlackAdam
16
TethAdamisyetanothermajorDCvillainthathasskyrocketedinpopularity,powerandcomplexityin
recentyears.Thoughthecharacterhasbeenaroundforover60years,it'sonlybeenthroughtheeffortsof
GeoffJohns,DavidGoyerandothermodernwritersthathe'sdeservedaplaceonourlist.
Inmodernstorylines,AdamisamagicallypoweredcitizenofKahndaq,onewhobrutallyremovesadictator
frompowerandseizescontrolofhiscountry.Adam'sdedicationtohishomeandfamilyiswhathashelped
redefinethecharacter,makinghimsomeonewhodoesreprehensiblethingsbutwithinstrictmoral
boundaries.OvertimeAdam'sfamilygrew,andhiswife,Isis,begantoreformamanmanyconsidertobean
antihero.SadlyrivalinginterestssoughttocrushKahndaq'sinfluenceintheworld.Theseactionsledtothe
deathofIsisandherbrother,Osiris.Adam,inhisrage,managedtosinglehandedlyinstigateathirdWorld
War,clashingwithmanyoftheworld'sheroes.
Despitetheseactions,Adamwillstandupforthegreatergoodwhenitserveshisinterests.DuringtheFinal
Crisis,TethstooduptoDarkseid'sforces,nearlydyingintheprocess.Despitehisviciousinstincts,Adam's
peoplestillworshiphim,asheisoneofthefewwhohavestoodupforthem.Evensomeofthegreatest
villainshavebenevolentinterestsandcausesatheart,andfewexemplifythisbetterthanBlackAdam.
Sinestro
15
Thisisonevillainwhoseclouthasreallyriseninthepastcoupleyears.OriginallyoneofthegreatestGreen
Lanterns,Sinestrohasalwayshadadarksideandaoverwhelminglustforpowerandcontrol.Afterhis
actionswerediscoveredbyhismasters,hewasexiledforpunishment.UnfortunatelytheGuardiansonly
managedtoemboldentheirformerstudent,andhebecametheirgreatestnemesis.
DespitebeingsentencedtodeathonseveraloccasionsandevensufferingabrokenneckatthehandsofHal
Jordan'sParallaxentity,Sinestrohasalwaysfoundawaytocrawlbacktothesurface.Withthecreationof
hisownCorps,SinestronowhaspowertorivaltheGuardians,andisaconstantthreattotheorderofthe
universe.Whatwasoncearathersimplisticcharacterhasevolvedintoatrueforceofevilandinsomeways
mightbecomparedtoanintergalacticAdolfHitler.
Sinestro'sinterferenceintheaffairsofDC'sheroesisabouttoreachcriticalmass.Thoughheiscurrentlyon
hishomeplanetofKorugar,theBlackLanternsarecoming.Sinestroisunlikelytocareabouttheplightof
innocents,makinghisroleintheBlackestNighteventunpredictableand,inalllikelihood,badforthe
GuardiansandremainingmembersoftheGreenLanternCorps.
RedSkull
14
TherearetwobigcomponentstowhatmakestheRedSkullsuchaclassicvillainasfaraswe'reconcerned
andoneofthemjusthappenedacoupleyearsago.FirstthingisfirsttheSkullisaNaziand,justlikein
gaming,it'stoughtofindabettervillainousgroupoutsideofzombiesandperhapsvampires.It'sasimple
waytocategorizeandcreateavillain,butit'seffective,particularlysetinoppositiontoCaptainAmerica.
TossinanincrediblevisualandyouhaveacharacterthatisarguablythegreatestfictionalNaziever.
Thesecondpointisabsolutelythemostimportant.Whenyouthinkaboutit,archnemesesrarelysucceed.
TheJokerneverkilledBatman.LexLuthorhasyettobeatSuperman.ButtheSkullmanagedtooutwitand
outplayCap,andintheend,hewatchedfromafarashismasterplancametofruition.SteveRogerswas
assassinatedandtheMarvelUniverselostitsonlytruebeaconofhope.
TheSkullmightseemaclichfigurenow,buthewasoneoftheoriginalusesofvillainousNazisincomic
books.Combinethatwithhissuccessfultrackrecordandgreatdesignandyouhaveonelegendarycharacter.
NormanOsborn
13
EvenbeforeDarkReign,theGreenGoblinhadbeenterrorizingthelivesofSpiderManandmanyMarvel
superheroes.ThoughheoriginallydiedafterslayingGwenStacyinoneofthemostinfamousSpideystories
ofalltime,Osbornreturnedinthelate'90sandwasrevealedtobeaninstigatorinmanydarkmomentsof
PeterParker'slife,includingthe"death"ofAuntMay.Osborn'scorruptionhasevenreachedhisson,Harry,
whoisoneofParker'sbestfriends.
ThoughOsbornwasoncemerelyagreatfoeinhisGreenGoblinguise,he'sevolvedbeyondthat.Withthe
endofSecretInvasion,NormanhasseizedcontrolofmanyUnitedStatesresources,includingwhat'sleftof
TonyStark'sSHIELDandAvengersteams.Andunlikemanyofhiswickedpeers,Osbornhasdonethis
withouttheuseofhisGreenGoblinpersona.What'sfascinatingaboutthisturnofevents,andwhathas
drasticallyaddedtotheappealofthischaracter,isthatOsborn'spowerdependsonhisabilitytokeephis
sanitytogether,somethingthatappearsmoreandmoreunlikelyastimegoeson.Bygivinginandlettingthe
Goblintakeover,Osbornmightfailinretainingthepowerhehascravedforsolong.
OnethingisforsureOsborn'sstarisontherise.BythetimeDarkReignisfinishedevolving,wemightbe
readytoreconsiderwherethisfoedeservestobeplacedonourlist.
TwoFace
12
InmanywaysTheDarkKnightarticulatedanddemonstratedtheimportanceofHarveyDentbetterthanwe
evercould.Dentis,insomanyways,thebiggestfailureofBatman'scareer,andisaconstantreminderofthe
pricethatcanbepaidinthebattleagainstevil.TwoFaceisacharacterthathasbeenbestservedbytime,
evolvingthroughouttheyearsfromarelativelysimplegimmick(similartomanyofBatman'sfoes)tooneof
themostlayered,tragicfiguresinsuperherofiction.
Despitehavingadarkpast,DentrosethroughtheranksofGothamtobearespectedDistrictAttorney,
workingwithJimGordonandtheCapedCrusadertowageawaroncrime.Dentfallstoaplotorganizedby
thecriminalshehadbeenbreakingdown,andthuswasbornanewcrimefigure,onewhocan'tdistinguish
betweenrightandwrongwithoutthehelpofhisluckycoin.
Likemanyonthislist,TwoFaceisn'talwaysacriminal.SeveralstorylineshavehealedDent'smadness,and
scarring,onlytohavehimpulledbackintothedarkness.Thesestrugglesbetween"Dent"and"TwoFace"
onlyservetodemonstratethelossGothamhassuffered.Thefirstmajorvictoryoforganizedcrimemayhave
beentheonlyoneiteverneeded.WithoutDentconsistentlyonthesideoflight,Gothammightnotstanda
chanceBatmanornot.
Catwoman
11
YetanothervillainthathasstoodthetestoftimeasamirrortotheDarkKnight,Catwomanhasabitofa
uniqueanglewhencomparedtoherrivals.OutsideofTaliaAlGhul,SelinaKyleislikelytheclosestthingto
lovethatBruceWaynehaseverexperienced.InfactKyleisoneofthefewdistinguishedcharacterstoknow
WayneisinfactBatman.
ThatconnectionaloneisenoughtopropelCatwomanhighuponourlist,butit'salsoworthrecognizingher
fantastic,layeredcharacterization.Infactherconductovertheyearshasallowedhertostraddlethelineof
heroandvillain,andinrecentyearsshe'sbeenmoreofanantiheroofsorts,despiteconstantlybreakingthe
lawanddefyingauthorities.(ShemakesthelistbecauseofherdecadesofvillainymixedwithDC's
dedicationtokeepingherjustonthedarkersideofthemoralityline.)
It'sherwillingnesstoplayanysidetoheradvantagethatmakesCatwomansuchacompellingcharacter.She
servesherselfandnoothercauseormaster.She'llclashwithBatmanifshe'sexecutingherlatestheist,but
isn'tafraidtoexactherrevengeonHush,stealinghisgreatwealthandleavingaviciousenemyofBatman
withnothingbutwhateverisinhispockets.Herunpredictablenaturecombinedwithherunwillingnessto
playwithintherules(whichshecouldeasilydogivenhermanysuperherocontactsandpseudoallies),
makeshercertainlyoneofthemostentertainingbaddiesinthebusinessandoneofthestrongestfemale
leadsintheindustry.
Kingpin
10
WilsonFiskhasnopowers.Hehasnoimmenseglobalinfluencewhencomparedtosomeofhisrivalsonthis
list.Hebarelyranksasablipontheradarofsomeofthemostpowerfulheroes.ButtheKingpinofCrimeis
inmanywaysindicativeofwhatmakesMarvelcharacterssoappealing.He'sgrounded.He'srealistic.Most
ofall,insomeways,youcanunderstandwhatmadethismanandwhatdriveshimtothisday.
Fiskgrewuppoorandpickedon.Heneverseemedthetypetorisethroughtheranksofanyorganizationlet
alongthecriminalunderworld.Yetrisehedid,eventuallylordingoverNewYorkCitywithanironfist,
usingassassinslikeElektraandBullseyewithruthlessefficiency.OvertheyearsFiskhasattemptedtoback
outofhisdarkroleintheworld,butiscontinuouslydraggedback.He'slostmultiplefamiliesduetohis
connectionsandpoordealingsovertheyears,andthesetragiceventsonlyseektoremindreadersthat
underneathhismuscularexterioristheheartofamanwhomighthavebeengoodwereitnotforthebrutal
eventsinhislife.
Andnow,despitefirstappearinginaSpiderMancomicbook,FiskisthedarknesstoDaredevil'slight.In
factifhe'snotsomehowinvolvedinMattMurdock'slifeorsuperheroantics,wefeellikesomethingis
missingfromhisseries.You'llseeussayitagainlateron,butthat'sthetruestsignofabrilliantvillain,one
thathasbenefitedfromyearsandyearsofexcellentstorytelling.
DarkPhoenix
09
Quitehonestly,thecombinedeffortsofahalfdozenvillainsonthislistaren'tlikelytosurpasswhattheDark
Phoenixaccomplishedinabriefmoment.Whilemostevildoersschemeandcontemplatethedestructionof
theworld,thePhoenixForce,throughJeanGreyandinitsmostsavagestate,hassimplyactedanddestroyed
billionsoflives.
Asoneofthemostpowerfulentitiesonthislist,theDarkPhoenixhasimmensetelepathyandtelekinetic
abilities,butmoreimportantlycontrolovermatteritself.Thispowerlevel,combinedwiththeclassicnature
oftheoriginal"PhoenixSaga"storyline,haslargelypreventedMarvelfromrevisitingtheconcept,despite
teasingitinalimitedcapacityonnumerousoccasionsthroughJeanGrey'sresurrectionorvariousminiseries
thatexploredthenatureofthePhoenixForceitself.
Despitehavinglimitedexposurewhencomparedtomanyoftheothervillainsintheupperranksofourlist,
theDarkPhoenixisstilloneofthemostaccomplishedandlegendary.Tothisday,thePhoenixSagais
regardedasoneofthebestXMenstoriesevercreated.Thataccomplishmentalonewasahugefactorinour
rankings.
Loki
08
TheGodofMischiefhasbeenaroundfarlongerthanMarvelComics,butwecan'thelpbutlovethe
incarnationthatStanLeeandJackKirbyconjuredupseveraldecadesago.Sincethattime,Thor'shalf
brotherhasbecomeapivotalcharacterincomicbooks,andisactuallythevillainthatcausedthecreationof
theAvengers.Ifthatisn'tanimportantevent,we'renotsurewhatis.
Importantmomentsaside,Lokiisacharacterthatwritersmustsimplylovetowriteashe'sbeeninvolvedin
somefantasticstories,thecurrentrunofThorjustbeingthelatestofthose.HishatredandjealousyofThor
runssodeepthatLokiwillstopatnothing,includingthecorruptionanddestructionofAsgarditself.Loki
hasevenrecentlyinhabitedthebodyofSifinordertodenytheGodofThunderhislove.
Lokihasneverbeenmoreimportantthanheisnow.AsamemberofNormanOsborn'svillainouscabal,the
Asgardiangodisnowinapositionofinfluence,onethatheisexploitinginnumerousways.Osborn'sown
agreementwithLokiistoreturnAsgardtotheheavens.AnalliancewithfellowCabalmemberVictorVon
DoomisyieldingnewcontroloverAsgard.ManipulationofasectofAvengersisevenprovingusefulasa
waytokeepOsborn'spersonalinterestsunderwatchandinfluence.
Therearemanymastermanipulators,butthisgodhasprovenhehasnoequal.Marvel'sDarkReignmay
proveintheendtobethereignofonewickedNorsegod.
Ra'sAlGhul
07
You'dexpectanimmortal,internationalterroristtowantmanythings,butperfectingtheEarthisn'toneof
them.Andyetthat'sbeenRa'sAlGhul'sgoalduringhismanylifetimes.Hetearsdownsocietiestohave
themrebuiltinamoreidealfashion,bentoncraftinghisversionofautopia."TheDemon'sHead"hasspent
centuriesslavingawayatthisvision,andevenhehaslosttrackofhisexactage.Fueledbythelifegiving
LazarusPits,whichhavethesideeffectofdrivingapersonmad,Ra'swilllikelyhaunttheDCUniversefor
centuriestocome.
ThoughRa'shastakenontheentireJusticeLeagueofAmericainthepastandbeatenthemhisprinciple
opponentthroughouthisdecadesoftaleshasbeenBatman.Ra'sconsiderstheDarkKnighttobehisonly
worthyopponent,andinanironictwistisactuallythegrandfatherofBruceWayne'sson,Damien.Bestofall
isthattheDemonHead'sultimategoal,thebettermentoftheworld,isonethatspeakstoBatmanandstrikes
abitclosetohome.
Ra'sAlGhuliseasilyoneofthemostuniquevillainsevercrafted.Bytakingadesirethatallofushaveand
warpingit,heistrulyacharacterwelovetohate.
Darkseid
06
TheDCUniverseispackedwithpowerfulentitiesthatcoulddestroyworldsatatime,butnoneareasfeared
orbrilliantlyexecutedasDarkseid,LordofthewarplanetApokolips.Theevilgodhashadquitealegacy
craftedforhimselfsincebeingcreatedbyJackKirby.Nottooshabbyforacharacterthatfirstappearedina
JimmyOlsenbook,eh?
Darkseid'smotivationsarerathersimpleconquerandcontrolalllifebyunlockingandsolvingtheAntiLife
Equation,somethingDCfanssawhimachieveinlastsummer'sFinalCrisisevent.Thoughthestoryline
technicallytooktheNewGod'slife,it'shardtoimaginetheheroesofDCwon'tfindthemselvesfacetoface
withtheultimateembodimentofevilatsomepointdowntheroad.
PerhapsthemostappealingtraitofDarkseidishislackofinterestindirect,physicalconfrontation.The
beingformerlyknownasPrinceUxashasimmensestrength,enduranceandeyebeamsthatcandisintegrate,
teleportortortureopponents,yethechoosestomanipulateeventsfromtheshadows,allowinghisminionsto
actonhisbehalf.Darkseid'sinvolvementwiththeNewGods,includinghisrivalrywiththeHighfather,the
planetNewGenesisandthediplomaticexchangesofsonsOrionandMisterMiracleaddmultiplelayerstoa
beingthatmightotherwisebeyetanothergenericworldwidethreat.We'recertainlygladDCwouldn'tallow
Kirbytokilloffthisfantasticvillainasheoriginallyplanned.Decadesofspectaculartaleswouldhavebeen
leftonthetableotherwise.
Galactus
05
Death.Eternity.Theoriginsoftheuniverse.Theseconceptsandbeingsarefundamentaltotheexistenceof
theMarvelUniverse.Equaltothese,however,isthenextmemberofourTopVillainslistGalactus.Despite
hisrathergarishappearance,thebeingformerlyknownasGalanlivedbeforethebirthofthemodern
cosmos,andisasfundamentallyimportanttoitasentitiesresponsibleforthecreationandeliminationoflife.
Galactus,inhisdestructionofplanets,bringsbalancetotheuniverse,justaslifeisgivenandtakeneveryday
onEarth.
It'sthislargerthanlifepresencewhichmakesGalactusoneofthemoreimportantvillainsevercreated,but
it'shistiestoEarthanditsheroesthatmakehimoneofthegreats.Throughthecreationofhisheralds,
destructionoftheSkrullEmpireandattemptstodevourtheEarth,thisbeingisoneofthegreatestthreats
everknowntoourbelovedheroes.Mostothervillainspaleincomparison.
Lastly,thoughitseemslikesomethingsmall,wecan'toverlookit.Galactusisoneofthefewvillainsonour
listtoreallydefythedefinitionofanevildoer.He'scompelledtodestroyworldsbecauseofonesimplefact
he'shungry.Can'tblameaguyforwantingalittlesnackcanyou?
LexLuthor
04
Supermanisarguablythegreatestsuperheroevercreated.Heisthepersonificationofallthatisgoodinour
world,theonebeaconoflightwhenallelseisdark.Heistheoneherothatcannotfalterinthefaceofevil.
Suchanentityofpeaceandjusticeneedsanequivalentresponse.InLexLuthor,theManofSteelhasthat
perfectmatch,andbestofall,Luthorisn'tjustasimplecreatureofdarkness(hello,Doomsday!).What
makesLexsuchafantasticcharacterbecomesevidentwhenyoulookattheworldfromhispointofview.
He'snotnecessarilytryingtoruletheworldinhiseyeshe'ssavingit.ThinkaboutthatforasecondLuthor
istryingtosavetheworldfromtheunwieldy,crushingruleofanalienfromKrypton.Thismancravestobe
theworld'ssavior,yearnstohave"his"peopleworshipthegroundhewalksonandrefusestoseethat
birthrightseizedbyanother.
Likemanyvillainsonourroster,Luthorisamanphysicallyoutmatchedbyhisfoe.Ratherhemustconjure
upwaystooutsmarthisopponent,relyingonhisresourcestoattempttoreshapetheworldtohissatisfaction.
OnecanonlywonderwhattheworldwouldbelikeifLexactuallyappliedhisknowledgetomakingthe
worldatrulybetterplaceratherthanobsessingoveroneman.Wouldhebethegreatsaviorheclaimstobe?
Themerefactthatweaskthatquestionisasignofawellwritten,deeplylayeredvillain.
DoctorDoom
03
VictorVonDoomis,aboveallodds,astarinhisownright.Wedon'tknowabouttherestofyou,butwe
considerhimtobethefifthmemberoftheFantasticFouramemberoftheseriessointegralthatwhenhe's
notinvolved,we'redecidedlylessinterested.
Doomboastsneitherpowersnorinherentabilitiesararityforanybeinginhisgenreofcomicbooks.Victim
ofatroubledpast,Victor'smotherwastakenfromhimearlyinlife.Seeminglysincethattime,Doomhas
soughttoprovehimselftohispeers.ChiefamongthoseisReedRichards,theonemanwhohasprovedequal
andbettertoVictor'sastonishingintellect.Doom'sirrationalobsessionandanimositytowardsMr.Fantastic
andhisfamilymightbehisonlyfault,theoneobstaclekeepinghisfromtrulyachievinghislargerdesires
theconquestofallhissurveys.TheLatverianmonarch'sambitionmightbekeptincheckbytheFantastic
Fourandtheirfriends,butifanything,hislustforpowergrowseveryday,becomingmoreandmorebrazen.
Ifhisdepth,characterizationandlegacyintheMarvelUniverseweren'tenough,Doomhasoneother
accomplishmentthatfewintheindustryhavemanagedhe'soneoftheinspirationsforoneofthemost
infamouscharactersinpopcultureDarthVader.
Joker
02
Therewasneveranydoubtinourmindstheenigmatic,psychopathicClownPrinceofCrimewouldyieldthe
topspotamongstDCComics'villains.TheJokeristhedefinitionofascenestealing,deliciouslywicked
character,onethatisquitepossiblymoreinterestingthanhissuperherocounterpart.
AyearagowearguedJokerwasn'tnecessarilyBatman'sgreatestenemy,afactwhichwouldclearlymakehis
highrankhereabitofamystery.Overthepastyear,however,threehighprofileprojectsremindeduswhy
thischaracterisabsolutelyoneofthebestevercreatedanddevelopedthroughoutthehistoryofsuperhero
comicbooks.TheDarkKnight,JokerandBatmanR.I.P.arenotonlythreeofthegreatestBatmanstories
evercreated,butperfectexamplesofwhytheJokeristhequintessentialcomicbookvillain.Heexists
becauseofhisenemy,andwithoutcreaturesliketheJoker,therewouldbenoBatman.Moreimportantly,this
villainiscapableofreinventinghimselfinvariousiterations,whetherit'sthesavage,sadisticoneinR.I.P.,
thechaosagentinKnightoreventhelightheartedcomedianfromtheanimatedseriessome15yearsago.
Agreatvillainisn'tjustcapableofwickeddeedsormurder.Depthandlayermatter.Heroesandvillainsare
inextricablylinked,andjustasthesignofagreatheroisagreatvillain,theoppositeistrue.TheJokermust
standuptoandalongsidetheCapedCrusader.Thisisoneoftherarevillainstopossiblydoevenmorethan
that.Ashismovierolelastsummerproved,hecanevensurpassoneofthegreatestheroesofalltime.That
takesaspecialsomething.
Magneto
01
Likemanycharactersofhisera,Magnetodidnotimmediatelystandoutassomeonewhowouldendurethe
testoftime.Hispowerswererelativelyunimpressive,hismotivationsanddepthwereweakandhiscostume
designlet'sfaceittheguywearsabucketonhishead.ButthearchenemyofCharlesXavierhasproven
overthedecadesthathe'snotonlyworthyofhisinfamousstatus,butworthyofamuchgreateraccolade
beingthegreatestvillainevercreated.TheMasterofMagnetismdoesn'tjustoperatewellalongstereotypical
badguyparameters,butcanactuallysustainengaging,masterfulstorylinesofhisown.
AsaJewishchildinGermanyduringtheheightofAdolfHitler'sreign,MaxEisenhardtdiscoveredhumanity
wascapableoftheworstcrimesandactions.What'sremarkableisdespiteseeinggenocidefirsthandand
enduringtheterrorofconcentrationcamps,Maxhasmaturedintoexactlywhattookhisfamilyandloved
onesfromhim.ToprotecthiskindfromthefateofasimilarHolocaust,Eisenhardtpersecutesanyandall
humanswhodarecrosshispath.
Magnetohasbecomebiggerthanhispeersandvirtuallyallofhisenemies.It'sthesignofagreatcharacter
whenhispresencedominatesastoryandhisabsencecreatesavacuumthatcannotbefilledbyanyother.
ThroughhislegendaryroleinMarvelComicsovertheyearsaswellasfantasticportrayalsinfilmand
animation,it'shardtoarguethattherehaseverbeenavillainmorecomplex,nuanced,sympatheticandyet
irrevocablyevil.
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