DC Comics has a wide range of animated content across films, TV shows, and web series, which star a vast range of characters. As one of the premiere comic book companies in the world, DC Comics have a huge number of immensely popular superheroes - and many are in animated form.
But, they say a hero is only as good as their villain. If that is the case, the DC heroes must be very good indeed. Counted amongst the ranks of the most popular characters are a motley crew of villains and anti-villains who have all connected with audiences. In many cases, the villains outshine the heroes.
10 Mr. Freeze Is Poignant In Every Episode
Batman is one of the most popular DC heroes, and the star of the beloved Batman: The Animated Series. The Animated Series is often considered to have the best Rogues' Gallery in all of DC, and of any superhero ever.
One of the most notable and popular villains is Mr. Freeze, particularly in his incarnation from The Animated Series. As a disabled scientist whose primary motivation is to save the life of his wife, Freeze is considered to be more tragic than monstrous. Fans appreciate the emotion behind his storylines.
9 Red-X Has Immense Popularity From Few Appearances
A villain created out of wholecloth for Teen Titans, Red-X is an anonymous cat burglar who proves himself to be morally ambiguous and immensely talented. He outwits and defeats the entire Titans team without seriously harming any, before teaming up with Robin and accepting his defeat.
His only other appearance saw him every bit as competent and honorable, leaving it unclear just how villainous he really was. His sheer skill and cunning would see him become a fan-favorite, with many hoping to see him in the DC Universe full-time.
8 Darkseid Is As Powerful As Ever
Darkseid is one of the arch-nemeses of the entire Justice League. A cruel despot who makes no bones about his evil and seeks to subjugate all life, Darkseid is a recurring threat to Earth and the wider universe. Darkseid has appeared in several DC animated continuities, and has continued his habit of impressing fans across each of them. Darkseid is typically one of the most impressive villains, with all of his storylines being memorable spectaculars.
7 Baby Doll Cements Batman's Gentleness
Batman: The Animated Series was so popular as it explored the genuine psychological problems Batman's villains suffered from. Most of these villains need support and care, rather than a firm hand and a cell. While Batman would stop them hurting people, he would try and emphasize their welfare afterwards.
Mary Dahl, better-known as the Batman villain 'Baby Doll', exemplifies this approach. An actress afflicted with a condition that prevents her from aging physically but allows her to develop mentally, she is tormented by her inability to maintain a job or a form a relationship. In Babydoll, Batman arrests her in a hall of mirrors and is considered one of the saddest episodes in all of the DCAU.
6 Eobard Thawne Is Refreshingly Unpleasant
There is always a place for nuanced, sympathetic villains who fans can't help but want the best for. Bit there is also a place for unapologetically evil monsters who do what they do for no good reason. There is no better example of that than Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash.
One of the arch-nemeses of The Flash, Thawne has appeared several times to torment his hated foe, usually with a level of sadism and vicious thoroughness rarely seen.
5 Poison Ivy Has Only Grown More Popular
Some of Batman's Rogues Gallery have broken out of a strict association with him, and become known for their associations with other characters. Although Pamela Isley will always be a Batman villain, her most recent animated outings have seen her paired with Harley Quinn.
Pamela Isley is a popular and somewhat-villainous antagonist. Fans enjoy her design, her genuinely idealistic - if villainous - beliefs, and for her close friendship and romance with Harley Quinn.
4 The Joker Remains A Pinnacle Of Villainy
Of all of Batman's villains, the Joker is the most famous and evil. The Joker is the Clown Prince of Crime, sees everything as a joke, and wants nothing more than to break Batman's morals. One of the few villains who is considered irredeemable in DC, the Joker has been associated with some of the cruelest acts across a range of continuities.
His animated counterpart, best known from Batman: The Animated Series, remains one of the most popular portrayals of villains in all of DC. Mark Hamill's vocal work became, for many, the definitive example of the character.
3 Lex Luthor Stands Against Giants
One of Superman's definitive enemies, Lex Luthor sees himself as a benevolent force, fighting to protect Earth from an alien menace who could reveal his true colors at any time. In actuality Lex is a corrupt, self-serving villain with an unfounded vendetta.
Nonetheless, his sheer self-belief sees him stand up time and time again. Any reasonable person or hero would have given up - since he's a human fighting an alien demigod. Fans enjoy his ingenuity and steadfastness, allowing him to be the final villain of Justice League Unlimited.
2 Slade Wilson Was The Villain Of A Beloved Show
Teen Titans was one of the definitive pieces of superhero fiction of the early 2000s. Teen Titans is fondly remembered by an entire generation, and so iconic as to color its titular team even years later. As a show that avoided holding the hands of its audience, Teen Titans is especially notable for the threat of its primary villain, Slade Wilson.
Deathstroke proves to be a near-insurmountable threat, a versatile and tactical genius who shows himself to be the match of the entire team. More than just his competence, however, it is his strange conflicting mentor-like relationship with Robin that endears him to fans.
1 Harley Quinn Is One Of DC's Most Popular Characters
There are few success stories as meteoric as Harley Quinn's. Quinn was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series as a henchman of Joker's with her own unique design and personality. She eventually gets into an abusive relationship with Joker and instantly captured audiences attention, becoming one of Batman's most sympathetic villains.
Years of development would see Harley enter the DC universe mainstream, and leave the Joker across all continuities. She becomes a villain/anti-villain standing on her own, and nearly always sympathetic despite her less-than-moral aims. Her popularity has propelled her to the spotlight in her own Harley Quinn animated show, and even in live-action continuities.