Crime doesn't pay, but in the case of some of DC's greatest supervillains, it at least looks pretty cool. With rap sheets ranging from burglaries to attempts at world domination, the supervillains of DC Comics swagger through their worlds with a sense of panache that can't be found elsewhere.
As the home of epic heroes like Batman and Green Lantern, it makes sense that DC has some quality villains. Some control entire apocalyptic dimensions, while others prove themselves as mercenaries or assassins. Regardless of their place in the cosmic hierarchy, these DC villains are the epitome of awesome.
10 The Joker Is A Menacing Showman When Done Right
The Joker is undeniably the most iconic of Batman's villains. As such, he has followed the Dark Knight into nearly every one of his adaptations, continually mirroring the Caped Crusader's evolutions from genre to genre. One of the character's best portrayals was Heath Ledger's version in The Dark Knight.
Ledger's Joker takes the character's unpredictability and adds an urgent sense of menace. However, Ledger also maintains the Joker's theatricality, ensuring that Joker isn't just someone who wants to watch the world burn. Instead, Joker wants to give directions to the inferno.
9 Harley Quinn Makes Crime Fun
Like the Joker, Harley Quinn is another break-out character from Batman's rogues gallery. Unlike the Joker, however, Harley Quinn's appeal isn't in her edginess. Instead, Harley Quinn's appeal lies in her ability to make it through the world and never lose her cheery attitude.
Of course, Quinn's happy-go-lucky nature is balanced by her compulsion to commit violent crime. DC's answer to Deadpool, Harley Quinn is a wisecracking, fun-loving supervillain equally as likely to rob a bank as she is to blanket Gotham in confetti.
8 Mister Nobody Is An Artistic Movement
The avant garde supervillain, Mister Nobody, is a classic Grant Morrison creation. A minor Silver Age villain who was thought dead, Mister Nobody would become obsessed with dada, an early-twentieth century artistic art movement that emphasized surrealism and nonsense.
Mister Nobody has immense, reality-affecting powers like omniscience and reality-warping. The villain is cool because of how he uses this power. Mister Nobody doesn't seek power for the sake of power, nor does he commit evil for the sake of evil. Mister Nobody does it for a vague sense of artistry that always makes for visually interesting and narratively rich stories.
7 Deadshot Makes For Flashy Visuals
After beginning his career as a Batman antagonist, gun-for-hire Deadshot found a place in John Ostrander's initial Suicide Squad run. The red-clad assassin proved a major asset to the team, using his professionalism, complex moral code, and ability to hit any target to help the team achieve a variety of objectives.
Like many other supervillains, Deadshot's look is a critical part of his appeal. Besides a cybernetic targeting system mounted on his helmet, Floyd Lawton also wears wrist guns he uses to take down his targets. This allows for artists to depict Deadshot shooting in any pose, making him incredibly dynamic to look at.
6 Bane Can Beat The Bat
Villains have been coming at Batman for years, but Bane became the one who finally broke The Dark Knight. Where many of Batman's villains had historically leaned a little sillier in the costume department, Bane burst onto the scene with a luchador's mask and an intimidating, hulking form.
Bane put his money where his mouth was and snapped Bruce Wayne's back during Knightfall. Later, Bane would go on to act as a member of the Secret Six and rule his homeland of Santa Prisca. Because of his victory over the Dark Knight, Bane stands out not only as a Batman villain, but as a supervillain in general.
5 Darkseid Carries A Fiercely Intimidating Presence
The stone-faced warlord of Apokolips, Darkseid looks like an Easter Island head by way of an exploding sun. However, this grim and efficient alien god seeks nothing more than the eradication of free will. In his quest for complete oppression, Darkseid strides through the cosmos with style.
Darkseid rarely shows much emotion, remaining a mysterious, malevolent presence. Besides cool, reality-erasing abilities, Darkseid's Omega Beams are one of the most visually appealing powers in comics, as they create geometric laser mazes across entire pages.
4 Ra's al Ghul Is Ruthless and Driven
The Demon's Head is far different from the average costumed crook in the DC Universe. Ra's Al Ghul is the leader of the League of Assassins, a high-level genius, and a devoted idealist. Al Ghul seeks to bring about a certain kind of ecological balance through the eradication of much of humanity.
Ra's Al Ghul has a nobility to him not present in many eco-themed villains like Poison Ivy and an honor not found in other ancient world conquerors like Vandal Savage. The Demon is a formidable adversary who respects his foes, but will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
3 Catwoman Has A Complex Honor Code
DC's premier thief is a complex, fascinating character. Capable as the Batman but not at all interested in leaving her life of crime, Catwoman has nevertheless teamed with the Caped Crusader as often as she has clashed with him.
Like many of the best antagonists, Catwoman is bound by her own fascinating code of honor. She seeks largely to advance her own interest, but is also prone to acts of altruism like protecting those frequently exploited by the world. Catwoman understands the purpose of laws, but sees them more as guidelines.
2 Deathstroke Is As Cool As He Is A Jerk
Since his initial appearances in Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's The New Teen Titans, Deathstroke has been a hit. In addition to starring in acclaimed series like Christopher Priest's Deathstroke run, the character has also been the inspiration for best-selling characters like Deadpool.
The first thing a reader notices when they see Deathstroke is his costume. Bearing a sword, a half-mask, and a variety of textured materials, Deathstroke's costume is incredibly cool. Combined with his martial skill and no-nonsense personality, Deathstroke is a villain fans love to root both for and against.
1 Black Adam Has Confidence to Match His Power
It's no surprise that action superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wanted to play Shazam's greatest enemy in Black Adam. After all, Black Adam is the coolest supervillain in DC Comics. The ruler of fictional nation-state Kahndaq was the first to be blessed with the power of the gods.
Black Adam has a lot of things in his favor, ranging from an awesome, lightning bolt-emblazoned costume to a connection with multiple mythic deities. However, what makes Adam succeed where other, lesser villains might fail is his confidence. Black Adam knows that he's got a good thing going, and that ego only makes him better.