DC Comics created the superhero, setting the parameters of what they could be. However, wherever there are superheroes, there are also supervillains. DC created the first major supervillains, characters like the Joker, Ultra-Humanite, Hugo Strange, and Lex Luthor, and then kept pumping out the greatest villains of all time. Villains in the DC Multiverse have changed a lot over the decades, but one thing hasn’t changed at all — their popularity. Much like DC created the most popular superheroes of all time, they also created villains that have become icons over the years. DC villains also benefited from the maturation of superheroes, becoming some of the most deadly villains in the history of comics.
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Over the years, DC has created villains that are much more popular than the vast majority of superheroes. These villains have become legends, some of them even becoming household names. These ten DC villains are just as popular as the most popular heroes, and have helped make DC Comics iconic.
10) Mister Freeze
Mister Freeze was a Z-list Batman villain for years, and then Batman: The Animated Series happened. This series shone a light on Mister Freeze and made him into one of the most beloved villains in DC history. Victor Fries found his way into crime in order to cure his wife’s disease, experimenting on himself and becoming a master of the cold. Mister Freeze has grown into one of Batman’s most well-known villains, and has become a legendary antagonist in the DC Universe. Mister Freeze is the kind of villain fans can get behind, and the new Absolute version of the character looks to be unique and awesome, a frightening new look at the villain.
9) Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd is one of the most unique Flash villains. Flash villains usually come in two different flavors — technology-powered gimmick villains and speedsters. Gorilla Grodd is neither of those, instead coming from Gorilla City. Gorilla City was a wonderful, peaceful place and Grodd hated it, so he often tried to take it over and use his mental powers to control the populace in order to use their muscle and technology to attack humanity. Gorillas were big business in Silver Age DC, and Grodd was the epicenter of that. Grodd has also appeared in numerous animated shows and movies, as well as the CW The Flash series. Gorilla Grodd is an unforgettable villain and he’s ridden that to the popularity bank.
8) Sinestro
Sinestro is the most storied Green Lantern villain and has become one of DC’s most popular villains. Sinestro was once a Green Lantern, becoming a fascist in his mission to ensure order for the people of Korugar and its surrounding Sector. Sinestro was kicked out of the Corps and forged a yellow ring of fear, setting out to destroy his friend turned foe Hal Jordan. Sinestro is one of the most powerful villains out there, and has been a member of every major villain team, as well as the leader of his own Lantern Corps, the Sinestro Corps. Sinestro has become the most well-known Green Lantern foe, and with his upcoming DCU debut in Lanterns, he’s about to get more popular than ever.
7) The Anti-Monitor
Crisis on Infinite Earths changed DC forever, and the impetus for that was the villain of the piece, the Anti-Monitor. The Anti-Monitor was the personification of anti-matter and decided to destroy the multiverse, with the heroes of five different Earths banding together to stop him. Since then, the Anti-Monitor has returned numerous times, and has became the most powerful villain in the DC Multiverse. The Anti-Monitor has appeared in the CW Arrowverse’s adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths, as well as the DCAU trilogy of movies. The Anti-Monitor is a legend and if he ever debuts in the DCU, he’s going to become even more popular than he already is.
6) The Penguin
The Penguin is a villain who has been both a joke and deadly serious over the years, becoming an icon in Batman’s rogues gallery. The Penguin is one of Gotham’s many colorful crimelords, starting his life as the disfigured scion of a privileged family. At first, in the sillier days of Batman, he committed bird/Antarctic-themed crimes, but has become more serious as the years have gone by. Batman Returns and Batman: The Animated Series made him more popular, and he became one of the premiere Batman villains, lording over the city from the Iceberg Lounge. Penguin has recently had a star turn in both The Batman and The Penguin series, and is more popular than ever.
5) Deathstroke
Deathstroke is the Teen Titans’ greatest foe, and has joined the ranks of DC’s most popular villains. Deathstroke became a star thanks to “The Judas Contract”, when New Teen Titans was at the height of his sales powers, and soon became one of the first villains to get his own ongoing series. Deathstroke has since grown beyond the Titans, battling every major hero of the DC Universe but especially Batman (there’s an idea that Deathstroke is somehow a Batman villain, but this isn’t true; if anything, he’s a Dick Grayson villain). Deathstroke has appeared outside of comics as well, getting animated and live-action adaptations over the decades. Deathstroke may not be a household name, but all it would take is a major DCU adaptation to make that a reality.
4) Two-Face
Two-Face is another Batman villain who prospered because of Batman: The Animated Series and soon after become one of the most well-known DC villains of them all, thanks to multiple adaptations, especially in live-action. Of course, even before that, Two-Face was one of Batman’s most popular villains, his unique look and peculiar MO setting him apart from other Batman foes. Two-Face is the definition of the word dichotomy, and his scarred coin is one of the most well-known villain accoutrements of all time. Two-Face has gotten his own series, starred in multiple Batman adaptations, and has more than earned his place as one of DC’s most popular villains.
3) Darkseid
Darkseid is often considered the Thanos of the DC Multiverse, which is ironic because Darkseid was around first. Darkseid was the main villain of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga, and in the post-Crisis DC Universe would become one the most powerful big bads out there. Darkseid has starred in blockbuster events comics like Final Crisis and amazing miniseries like Mister Miracle, and is responsible for the existence of the DC Absolute Universe. On top of that, his place as the main villain of the Snyderverse DCEU made him more well-known than ever. Darkseid’s popularity has grown in leaps and bounds and if you’ve heard of DC Comics, the chances are good you know who he is.
2) Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor didn’t start out as Superman’s greatest enemy, but fans loved him so much that he supplanted the Ultra-Humanite to become the Man of Steel’s archenemy, a position he’s kept for decades. Lex Luthor was easily one of the most popular comic characters for years, appearing in multiple Superman comics and following his enemy to every form of media. Lex Luthor is a twisted genius, an egocentric monster who wants the same kind of worship as Superman gets and will do anything to make people love him or rue the day they heard his name. Lex Luthor has starred in every major Superman project at least once, and is more popular than ever thanks to the DCU. Lex Luthor is a villainous icon, and pieces of his DNA can be found in villains across the comic industry.
1) The Joker
The Joker is definitely overrated, but that doesn’t change just how popular he is. The Clown Prince of Crime is one of the most mutable villains of all time. The Joker has been able to fit every single era of the Batman comics, going from a gimmick villain to a stone cold killer over the decades of his existence. The Joker is one of the most well-known comic characters of all time, and has earned two different actors Academy Awards for portraying him. An argument can be made that the Joker is the most popular supervillain of them all, and there are few out there who would argue against it.
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