DC Comics has one of the richest ensembles of characters in comics, especially villains. Each major DC hero has an impressive and iconic roster of villains in their rogues galleries, some as well known as their heroes. The villains are aided by strengths and powers that rival and, at times, overpower those of the heroes to give them a true challenge.
These villains are often strong enough to hold their own solo comic titles, which several of them have. DC's evil characters have made such an impact on fans and pop culture that many are widely known even by those who don't read comics. Some of the villains' names, like Darkseid and the Joker, are even synonymous with evil itself. Decades of stories have established these villains as staples of comic books in their own right, earning them the love of fans.
10 Zod's Name Is Practically Synonymous With Superman
Although Zod has been around since 1961, he's best known for his on-screen appearances in Superman II and Man of Steel. In the comics, Zod is one of Superman's best foes, owing to the fact he matches the hero's Kryptonian powers and strength.
Zod is a staple of Superman's rogue's gallery and one of the go-to enemies to demonstrate things like Superman's strength and attachment to Krypton. The villain is one of Superman's most frequent foes and serves as one of DC's premier villains across their projects.
9 Mister Freeze Owes His Love From Fans To His Sympathetic Story
It wasn't until his stories in the DCAU that Mister Freeze truly became a hit with fans. In Batman: The Animated Series, the villain was given his now infamous tragic backstory, that of a scientist driven to crime so that he can fund his research to save his wife.
Freeze is generally seen as DC's most sympathetic villains but also one of its coolest, aided by his cryogenic technology that can plunge a city into cold. In 2022, Freeze's popularity was shown by the popular fan demand for him to serve as the main villain in the sequel to Matt Reeves's The Batman.
8 Sinestro Is Green Lantern's Greatest Foe
The Napoleonic tyrant of space, Sinestro is the best known member of Green Lantern's rogue's gallery. What makes Sinestro appealing to many DC fans is that rather than being a malevolent force of chaos, he is motivated by a desire for order similar to Doctor Doom.
Sinestro, once a Green Lantern, has proven himself one of few DC villains who can carry his own ongoing title thanks to his role in the universe. He possesses the same willpower and resolve of any DC hero but has channeled it into his own personal desires for what he calls order and peace.
7 Black Adam Has Skyrocketed In Fan Popularity
Although he had always been a name in DC Comics, Black Adam saw a surge in popularity when DC Entertainment revealed the Dwayne Johnson movie. DC Comics was quick to cash in on this hype, and Black Adam began appearing across the DCU almost immediately.
Black Adam has been known to DC fans for years, and has played a vital role in both Shazam and JSA stories. However, his recent ascension to A-list villain in time for his movie has left him one of DC's most prominent and well-known villains, with a bright future in print.
6 Deathstroke Has Made His Way Into Numerous DC Projects
Easily one of DC's coolest villains, Slade Wilson Deathstroke is a mercenary and arch-nemesis of the Teen Titans and Nightwing. The villain has appeared across DC projects and has headlined his own book numerous times, the best of which was Christopher Priest's Rebirth run.
Deathstroke, although primarily a Teen Titans enemy, can go toe-to-toe with the majority of DC's heroes and is even a frequent foe for Batman. He is one of DC's go-to villains for their live-action and gaming adaptations, being one of several popular mercenaries in DC.
5 Bane Has Some Of The Best Villain Arcs In Comics
Since debuting in Vengeance of Bane, Bane has become a strong hit with readers, owing to his status as an "anti-Batman" type figure. The villain shares many of The Dark Knight's ambitions, drive, and tenacity. However, his goals are more sinister and self-centered.
Bane broke out into mainstream appeal in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, where he served as the film's main antagonist. The villain's intelligence, imposing stature, and sheer resolve have made him one of the biggest hits with fans, especially considering how relatively new he is.
4 Brainiac Will Always Be Cool And Menacing
Brainiac has seen several varying interpretations and origin stories over the years. However, the one best known and loved by fans is that of the ultimate android intelligence who travels the stars collecting cities and knowledge. The villain is an unstoppable force of nature style threat.
Brainiac is one of few villains who has seen consistently great treatment across projects and mediums, always coming off as the threat he is. He has proven himself one of Superman's - and the Justice League's - enemies, one who calls for both brain and brawn to defeat.
3 Darkseid Is Basically DC's Thanos And Galactus Rolled Into One Ultimate Evil
As much as many fans like to compare Darkseid to Thanos, that alone doesn't suffice. The New God villain is closer to a combination of Galactus and Thanos rolled into one. He is one of the most powerful entities in the DCU and is almost unbeatable.
Darkseid is a villainous New God who searches for the Anti-Life Equation, a power that will allow Darkseid to free will throughout the universe. When he finally made his live-action debut in Zack Snyder's Justice League, fans were incensed and have eagerly awaited the villain's return ever since.
2 Lex Luthor Is Superman's Greatest Villain
With more live-action appearances than any DC villain, Lex Luthor is synonymous, even outside of pop culture, with the evil genius trope. The villain has been responsible for some of the most significant moments in Superman's history and fans can't help but respect and enjoy his appearances.
Lex Luthor has had mixed depiction and reception in film, he has been well served by comics and animation. In both of these mediums, he has been established as one of the greatest and most intelligent supervillains in comics, one many fans expect to see in DC projects.
1 Joker's Popularity Can Be Seen In His Oversaturation
Joker started out in comics, like most Batman villains did: a gangster with a gimmick. However, his reintroduction in the Silver Age saw him steadily grow into the single most recognizable villain in comics. Now, he's so popular it can be tiresome for many Batman fans when he shows up.
To this day, Joker is the only comic book villain whose popularity was so strong it allowed him to carry his own solo movie. Regardless of how tired some comic book fans may be of the villain, he is a proven hit with fans the world over due to his mysterious and chaotic nature.