Top 30 Greatest Supervillains of All Time

Hailing from the kingdom of Gorilla City, Grodd has been kicking the Flash’s butt since the late 50s. He’s not just a scary gorilla who can rip you apart limb from limb though. He also happens to be one of DC’s smartest villains. He’s pretty good at manipulating people and he hardly even needs his telepathy to do it. Grodd’s also willing to play nice with other supervillains, as he’s been a part of countless teams like the Injustice League and the Legion of Doom to name a few. The Flash might be a speedy hero, but when Grodd wants to cause trouble, then no one is safe. A psychotic gorilla with mind-control powers is a license to print money, and we won’t hear otherwise.

In comics, nobody is a better example of a one-man army than Prometheus. In many ways, he’s like Batman, only he doesn’t use his abilities for the greater good. This skilled strategist is able to adapt to virtually anything and anyone thanks to his cool toys. With his special helmet, he can learn any fighting style instantaneously, and with his “Ghost Zone” key, he can teleport. These kinds of gizmos have helped him single-handedly take down the Justice League. Yeah, that’s right, Prometheus has gotten a one-up on some of the greatest heroes of them all! If he can nearly defeat the Justice League all by himself, then he definitely deserves some respect on his name.

You can never trust what you see when Mysterio is around. The Spider-Man villain’s mastery over VFX makes him a dangerous threat who can twist reality on a whim. Okay, maybe he doesn’t actually twist it, but when his tricks look that real, it’s practically the next best thing. Besides his extreme knowledge of special effects, Quentin Beck has also dabbled a little bit in chemistry. That extracurricular activity has allowed him to make substances that can weaken Spider-Man’s webs and even his spider-sense. Besides the comics, he also pretty much ruined Peter’s life in the MCU when he outed his secret identity to the whole world. Sure, the fishbowl helmet might make him look silly, but ultimately he’s no laughing matter.

Slade Wilson is one of the most feared villains in the DC universe and for good reason. He’s easily one of the most skilled assassins around and that line of work isn’t easy - since superpowers exist. When he’s not hunting down people for money, he’s also battling heroes like Batman, Green Arrow, the Teen Titans and more. We really can’t understate just how wicked he is. Sure he’s cool, like, he once had a sword that could kill gods, but he’s also completely rotten to the core. He manipulated Terra in a truly heinous way, hijacked the Speed Force, and even battled his own kids. He’s sometimes toed the lines of morality, but when it comes down to it, Deathstroke’s a villain plain and simple.

Looks can be deceiving, and that’s never been more true than with Mystique. The mischievous mutant can fool anyone by changing her physical appearance. It’s a trick that proves useful on more than one occasion. That’s not all though. Mystique is also a highly-skilled combatant who’s unafraid to step into the heart of the battle. While she’s experienced a shift to good in recent years, it’s hard to ignore the villainous threat she’s been. Like, she was once the leader of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. No matter which way you look at it, that's some very specific branding and it’s pretty hard to distance yourself from something as extreme as that!

Psychologist Jonathan Crane uses his extensive knowledge of the human mind like it's a weapon, manipulating people however he sees fit. Though he can play people like a fiddle, he primarily relies on his fear toxin to do the trick. When exposed, the gas forces people to hallucinate their worst fears. If you think about it, this unique brand of villainy makes Scarecrow a perfect foil for Batman. Because if Batman’s persona is all about instilling fear in criminals, what happens when he faces a villain whose chemicals can terrify even him? He can turn even the toughest of men into weeping little children. Plus, if his toxin wasn’t haunting enough, his unsettling design will scare you too. This guy is the master of fear for a reason.

The looming threat of artificial intelligence and the dangers it can pose for the world are more relevant than ever before. And in the Marvel universe, the most powerful AI of them all is Ultron. Created by Hank Pym to be a force of good, he quickly went against his original programming. That’s hardly new ground for these types of evil robots, but remember, Ultron is an evil AI in a world filled with superheroes. Meaning that his beef isn’t just with humans, it’s with everyone, including the Avengers themselves. He’s become a vengeful maniac who has repeatedly slain countless innocent people in his bloodthirsty quest to extinguish humankind. So yeah, he’s far more than just a ticked off chatbot!

This might sound controversial, but we’re going to say it anyway: Reverse Flash might be the greatest hater in all of fiction! Eobard Thawne has manipulated all of time just so he can ruin Barry Allen’s life over and over. His most diabolical schemes include murdering Barry’s mother Nora, and his girlfriend Iris. Even Thawne’s own family isn’t safe considering he wiped his brother Robern out from existence too. He also broke into the Batcave and tore apart a letter from Batman’s father as an additional ‘F You’. His pettiness truly knows no limits and he’s too stubborn to die. Yes, you can kill him, but thanks to the Negative Speed Force, he’s always been able to come back! He’s vicious, psychotic, and easily the Flash’s greatest nemesis!

The once promising Harvey Dent’s facial disfigurement marked his fall from grace and cemented his role as a bad guy. There’s a real tragedy to Two-Face that makes him such a compelling Batman villain. He was once friends with Bruce Wayne, but everything changed for the worse. As Two-Face, he typically operates with a coin in one hand and a gun in the other. He’s always looking to enact his own twisted sense of justice and that puts him at odds with Batman. Harvey is a cunning, yet incredibly unstable foe. He’s constantly teetering on the edge of sanity and his unpredictability makes him someone you can never truly trust. Heck, with his fractured mental state, Two-Face can barely even trust himself!

The Devourer of Worlds, the Connoisseur of the Cosmos, the giant killer space dude, Galactus has gone by many names. But no matter what he’s called, his reputation precedes him. The planet-destroyer is literally and figuratively one of the biggest villains in the Marvel universe. But even though he’s tried to conquer Earth and consume countless planets, some could argue that he’s a necessary evil. That’s a loaded debate for another day, but what’s not up for debate is that Galactus possesses sheer power that we can’t comprehend. He’s a pure force of nature and we’re not just saying that. When it’s all said and done, Galactus will outlive us all.

The world of comics isn’t short on assassins, but even on a crowded playing field, this villain stands out. Not unlike the Joker, Bullseye’s origin story is shrouded in mystery - he loves to keep those interested in the dark with conflicting accounts of his early life. And that’s not all this Marvel villain shares in common with the Clown Prince of Crime; he’s also a violent psychopath with a sadistic streak a mile wide. The arch-nemesis of Daredevil, Bullseye really left his mark on the medium and cemented his status as an iconic supervillain when he savagely killed Elektra with one of her own sai, and then stuck around to watch Daredevil mourn. He lives to kill, but loves tormenting the Man Without Fear.

Many heroes have been manipulated, mind-controlled or possessed by dark entities to make them turn evil at some point or another in their career; but it’s usually short-lived. When Jean Grey was possessed by the Phoenix Force however, she became an unstable villain with awe-inspiring, earth-shattering and downright terrifying powers, and she remained that way for the duration of the landmark Phoenix Saga, forever changing the face of the X-Men. In this super-charged, volatile state, Jean Grey was responsible for the death of billions when she consumed a star. Of course, at the very heart of the character’s enduring appeal is the internal struggle between Jean Grey and the corrupting influence of the Phoenix Force. She’s a villain, sure, but underneath lies a beloved hero.

He’s the man pulling the strings in arguably the greatest graphic novel of all time. What makes Adrian Veidt such a great villain is that he truly believes that what he is doing, he does for the greater good. Blessed with extremely high levels of intelligence, Ozymandias is known as “the smartest man in the world" in his reality, and unfortunately, this one-time hero clearly allowed that title to go to his head. He orchestrates the death of millions in the name of bringing about peace on earth. There might be some utilitarian-minded philosophers out there who would defend his actions, but anyone with a shred of humanity would agree that this not only makes him a villain, but one of the greats.

When a hero is as powerful as the Man of Steel, their villains need to be similarly impressive. Thankfully, in Brainiac, Superman has found a foe worthy of decades’ worth of high stakes conflict. Not unlike the Watchmen anti-villain Mr. Veidt, Brainiac is cold and calculating, his hyper advanced intellect making him wholly detached from the wants and needs of the beings he sees as inferior to himself. He has a thirst for knowledge, and he satisfies it by collecting civilizations in the form of shrunken cities. And as for the rest of the planet… they usually get destroyed. Why? Because knowledge is power, and Brainiac isn’t interested in sharing his.

Once upon a time, Thaal Sinestro of Korugar was considered the greatest Green Lantern to wear a power ring. The lack of criminal activity in his sector made him a hero and model to many, which is why he was charged with training new lanterns, including rookie Hal Jordan. And then it was discovered that Sinestro used his remarkable willpower to keep the peace on Korugar by authoritarian means. A trial and imprisonment followed, but from his disgrace, Sinestro was reborn, going on to found the Yellow Lanterns, who, in the place of will, derive their power from fear. He still seeks order, and sees his actions as necessary for the greater good, but his methods are pure villainy.

The pages of Marvel and DC comics aren’t wanting for criminal masterminds. But looking back over the history of the medium, and even taking into account the likes of Black Mask and the Penguin, Kingpin stands out as the cream of the crop. He’s left his mark on not just Daredevil, but Spider-Man and the Punisher as well. If it’s crime and it’s happening in New York City, you can bet that Kingpin is getting his cut. And if he isn’t, well… his goons will be coming to collect anyways - plus interest. What he lacks in superpowers, this villain makes up for with his mastery of the criminal arts. Kingpin can outplay the best of them - and he knows how to take a punch.

Elaborate schemes and devious plots… who needs them when you’re an unstoppable killing machine? Just select your target and keep attacking until he finally lies down and dies! No one would ever call Doomsday a well-rounded or deep character; he’s just about the worst conversationalist in comics. But when this Kryptonian monster single-handedly trounced the Justice League, he demanded the attention of readers. And when he then proceeded to kill the Man of Steel? He cemented his place in comic book history. Doomsday is a simple creature designed to be the perfect hunter. Nigh indestructible, full of rage and existing purely to destroy, Doomsday is a monster through and through, and a villain without redemption.

People often say that the X-Men play in their very own corner of the Marvel universe. Sure, their adventures cross over with the more conventional caped crusaders, but they’re more insular than most. And in the X-Men sphere, there are few villains more formidable than the ancient mutant, Apocalypse. En Sabah Nur was born in Ancient Egypt, where the nomadic tribesmen who raised him instilled him to believe in the survival of the fittest. Flash forward thousands of years and numerous regenerations later, and Apocalypse is still being driven by the same values. In the modern age, he views mutants as the superior race, and he does not hesitate to cull those he deems inferior - ie. homo sapiens.

With his involvement in the MCU, there’s no denying that Loki has risen to great heights. And with his success, he’s experienced a renewed popularity in the comics, getting far more love from the editors. Is he overrated? Well, his cinematic success has certainly skewed the perception of the general public, but considering his long and colorful comic book history (not to mention his villainous greatest hits), we feel he’s earned his place here. The modern Marvel incarnation dates all the way back to 1962, and since then this magical, shapeshifting God of Mischief has more than done his title proud, even manipulating other villains to his own ends. In the comics, like in the movies, it was Loki’s villainy that forced the Avengers to assemble!

Few villains commit acts of evil for evil’s sake - most find a way to rationalize their actions. But few villains are more resolutely confident in the “good” of their own actions than Ra’s Al Ghul is. An environmental terrorist (and so much more), Ra’s Al Ghul is one of the few villains in Batman’s rogues gallery whom the Caped Crusader truly respects. In many ways, they are equals and two sides of the same coin, fighting for what they each believe to be right - just from very different perspectives. In fact, Ra’s has repeatedly tried to make Bruce his successor. With his deadly league of Assassins and the regenerative properties of the Lazarus Pit extending his life, this brilliant villain is as enduring as he is compelling.

Considering his recent success on the big screen, this character requires little introduction. And considering the massive space he currently occupies in the pop culture consciousness, some might be surprised that he didn’t land higher on our list. But… we’re talking all-time here, and so there’s a lot of history to consider. And looking just at the comics, Thanos has indeed earned his spot. In the Infinity Gauntlet comic book event, Thanos similarly wipes out half of all life, but he didn’t do it to save reality, he did it to impress the woman of his dreams - Mistress Death. Now if that isn’t villainy of epic proportions, we don’t know what is!

Some of you will surely point out that Venom has evolved into an antihero over the years, if not an outright hero depending on who’s wearing the symbiote. But when he first debuted, Venom was a thoroughly villainous force the likes of which Spider-Man had never faced before. He is physically formidable, shares some of Spidey’s powers and is absolutely terrifying to behold. And for anyone who feels that Venom lost his edge as an antiheroic “Lethal Protector”, the sheer brutality of Venom during Mac Gargan’s time wearing the symbiote more than solidifies his villain status.

A muscle-bound man who uses super steroids and wears a luchador mask? Taken at face value, Bane has “henchman” written all over him. But in his very first story arc, the character quickly established himself as arguably the single greatest threat that Batman had ever faced. A cunning strategist, brutal combatant and natural leader, Bane broke Batman - first psychologically, by overwhelming him with criminal activity after orchestrating a mass breakout from Arkham, and then physically when he broke Batman’s back. He also managed to figure out Batman’s secret identity with little effort, demonstrating deductive reasoning rivaling that of Bruce Wayne’s. Batman has mastered the fine art of beating the odds against overpowered villains, but Bane isn’t just overpowered, he feels tailor-made to beat the Caped Crusader.

A character with a name, color scheme, and haircut like this guy should have ZERO chance of cracking the top 10 on a list of the greatest supervillains of all time. But considering everything Doc Ock has working against him, that just makes his success and impact as a villain all the more impressive. The not-so-good doctor is a scientist blessed with staggering intellect and a deep knowledge of various fields. It was he who formed the Sinister Six, and he who beat Spider-Man so badly in their first encounter that our hero considered walking away from crimefighting. He once nearly killed Black Cat and also managed to take over Peter’s body. But for all his evil acts, like the best villains, he continues to captivate.

We haven’t seen much of him on the big screen, but Darkseid doesn’t need to raise his profile - this villain has already earned his place in the pantheon of legendary comic book villains. For the uninitiated however, the easiest way to describe Darkseid is as the DC equivalent of Thanos; and for the record, Darkseid debuted a full two years earlier. Darkseid’s thirst for power arguably outmatches all other villains in DC comics; he seeks to rule everything in existence. And unlike most characters with his caliber of powers and raw strength, he also has a mind to match. A godlike villain with an army at his back, Darkseid is the endgame for the Justice League.

It’s remarkable… Superman is a living god, and he has tangled with numerous similarly overpowered villains over the years, and yet his greatest foe remains a mortal man. Armed with nothing but his intelligence, business-sense, political clout (and yes, on occasion, a wicked awesome warsuit) Luthor proves that there’s nothing more dangerous than a human with a grudge. Lex is a self-made man, and it’s his personal mission to unmake Superman - which he’s come close to doing on many occasions. Though heroes know his villainous heart, his philanthropic ways have earned him the trust of the masses, and this makes him twice as dangerous.

This entry is made up of both this character’s civilian persona and their villain alter ego. The reason? Because while it was the Green Goblin who originally cemented himself as Spider-Man’s greatest foe - particularly after he killed Gwen Stacy - it’s Norman Osborn who has more often plagued heroes in the years since. It's this historical duality that makes the character such a formidable villain. As Green Goblin, he is wild, violent, unpredictable and more than a little unhinged. Norman Osborn, by contrast, is cold and calculating. In some ways, the two feel like the Joker and Lex Luthor wrapped into one. Over the years, wielding his fortune and business acumen, he’s also placed himself in various positions of power - with devastating results.

There are few villains who inspire fear and respect like Victor Von Doom. Though he is first and foremost the arch-nemesis of the Fantastic Four, the man in the iconic mask is a world-class villain. He rules Latveria with an iron fist, but his kingdom is allegedly free from not only crime, but poverty and illness as well. He’s a megalomaniac, sure, but he’s not without honor and has even been known to play the hero under the right circumstances. Doom might suffer from the same ego problems as many of his peers, but unlike most, this brilliant polymath actually lives up to his own lofty self-image. He also once reshaped reality as he saw fit.

There are those who will be sorely disappointed that the master of magnetism is second and not first, and for the record… it was an incredibly tight race. Max Eisenhardt, also known as Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, knows firsthand the atrocities that humankind is capable of when driven by hatred and fear; he is a survivor of the Holocaust. In his zealousness to protect mutantkind from those who would harm them, however, his methods have seen him commit horrible acts of his own. Magneto refuses to kneel. He is powerful, both in terms of mutant abilities and as leader, and we never tire of the moral dilemmas he’s presented over the decades.

According to co-creator Jerry Robinson, the Joker was designed to be an enduring arch-nemesis for the Caped Crusader - a larger-than-life Moriarty to their costumed Sherlock Holmes. Of course, the accounts of Joker’s creation are as conflicting as his in-universe origin; some claim he was supposed to die at the end of his introductory arc. Regardless, debuting in Batman #1, the Joker would grow and evolve into a massive pop culture icon. Unlike most villains, Joker’s worth can’t be measured in bodies (except maybe of Batman’s sidekicks); what makes him so compelling is his uniquely disturbed mind. He is chaos incarnate, an evildoer who defies convention by showing disinterest in power or money. He’s undoubtedly a monster, but one whose thoroughly human perversions never get old.