DC's heroes are some of the greatest in pop culture, creating a legacy that stretches back to the Golden Age of comics. From the Trinity of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to teams like the Justice Society, Justice League, and Teen Titans to B-listers like Booster Gold, Green Arrow, and others, DC's heroes have made a huge impact on their universe.

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Often just as important as the heroes are the villains. The best of DC's villains have had wide-reaching effects on the DC Universe and some are just as famous as its heroes. They've made a mark that can't be denied and DC would be very different without them.

10 Ultra-Humanite Was Superman's First Arch Nemesis And Provided The Blueprint For DC Mad Scientists

Superman vs Ultra Humanite Solomon Grundy

Superman's Golden Age was a very different time for the Man of Steel. His powers weren't the same, his character was still being developed, and his weaknesses hadn't coalesced yet. Another big difference was that his arch-enemy wasn't the same. Lex Luthor wasn't a huge part of the Superman mythos yet; the Ultra-Humanite was his top foe.

The Ultra-Humanite, in a lot of ways, was the ur-Lex Luthor. He was a mad scientist, attacking Superman and the Justice Society, and formed the blueprint for all DC's mad scientists who came after him. Luthor would supplant him as Superman's greatest foe and the Ultra-Humanite became a JSA villain, although he's fought Superman several times in recent years.

9 Deathstroke Went From Teen Titans Villain To DC's Premiere Mercenary

Batman Deathstroke in the rain

Deathstroke's rise in popularity was meteoric, helped along by his place as the Teen Titans' greatest villain during the early '80s, the team's biggest boom period. Basically an evil Captain America with some differences, Deathstroke rode the anti-hero wave to solo stardom and since has been both good and bad.

Over the years, he's went from Titans villain to one of DC's toughest antagonists, battling the Justice League, Batman, and Green Arrow. He's still one of DC's most popular villains, a formidable opponent for any hero to fight.

8 Ra's al Ghul Has Battled Some Of DC's Greatest Heroes

Ra's al Ghul Stands Proud.

Ra's al Ghul is one of Batman's most challenging foes. His discovery of the Lazarus Pits in the distant past made him a force to reckoned with, rising to the head of the League of Shadows and becoming a player on the world stage. He's battled the Justice League in the present and the Legion of Superheroes in the far future, forging an indelible legacy of villainy.

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One of his biggest contributions to the DC mythos is his daughter Talia, whose lust for Batman resulted in Damian Wayne. Ra's al Ghul has had a massive effect on DC history, both directly and indirectly.

7 Reverse Flash Became One Of DC's Biggest Villains After The Return Of Barry Allen

Reverse Flash Stands Victorious.

The Reverse Flash is one of DC's greatest villains but it wasn't always that way. While the character was always important to the Flash's history and a member of some high-profile villain teams, he was never one of the big bads. All of that changed with Barry Allen's resurrection. Allen was positioned as a bigger part of the DC Universe than ever and Reverse Flash was revealed as the reason behind all of the ills of his life.

Reverse Flash's importance in things kept snowballing. While Allen's star has faded since Wally West has returned as the Flash, Reverse Flash is still the most important Flash villain of them all.

6 The Crime Syndicate Has Survived Multiple Continuity Reboots

Crime Syndicate Justice League Ultraman Owlman

DC is known for its continuity reboots, with its multiverse disappearing and appearing depending on editorial whim. An indelible part of the DC Universe has been the Crime Syndicate. There have been multiple versions of the team over the years, all of them battling the Justice League. They even were able to defeat the heroes of the Earth in Forever Evil.

As the twisted inverse of the Justice League, the Crime Syndicate has a big role in the DC Multiverse's mythos. Their threat is always great and they've proven to be one of the League's most iconic foes, showing up when they're least expected.

5 Psycho-Pirate Has Been A Huge Part Of DC's Biggest Events

The Psycho-Pirate wearing his Medusa Mask in DC Comics

Psycho-Pirate may not seem like an important villain but he's been a big part of DC's most important events. Starting out as a low-level Earth-2 villain, he became a servant of the Anti-Monitor in Crisis On Infinite Earths. This was his ticket to stardom; he'd be one of the few characters to remember the old Multiverse and play a part in Infinite Crisis, Tom King's Batman, Infinite Frontier, and Detective Comics.

Psycho-Pirate's role in DC history is undeniable. He's not a world-conquering titan, but he's played a big role in every event that has changed DC, becoming much more important than anyone would have imagined.

4 The Battle Against The Anti-Monitor Changed DC For Decades

Anti-Monitor at war Cropped

The Anti-Monitor is one of the most powerful villains the heroes of the DC Multiverse ever faced. Before readers ever saw him, he had ended countless universes, even destroying the Crime Syndicate like they were nothing. At that moment, fans knew just how dangerous he would be. Crisis On Infinite Earths changed the DC Universe forever.

Anti-Monitor changed everything. Even though more powerful villains have since shown up, none of them have had the impact on the DC Multiverse that the Anti-Monitor has. While his later appearances were never as big, his legacy can't be denied.

3 Darkseid Is The God Of Evil

Darkseid Is The End In Infinite Frontier

The cosmic foe Darkseid is DC's villainous icon. Created by writer/artist Jack Kirby as the ultimate expression of evil, Darkseid has become DC's premiere villain, the one that all of the heroes have to team up to stop. He's powerful, cunning, and an iconic monster, having starred in some of the best DC stories of all time like Final Crisis.

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Darkseid represents all the worst parts of humanity. He's the desire for control, the monster at the center of reality, the darkness of life. He's powerful enough to challenge the greatest heroes of all time and has become the biggest villain for the entire DC Universe.

2 The Joker Is Batman's Greatest Foe

joker

Batman is DC's biggest character, and his most well-known foe is the Joker. The Joker's attacks on Gotham are legendary and the villain has become one of pop culture's most important villains. His live-action portrayals hold an important distinction as well, as only actors playing the Joker have ever won acting Academy Awards for superhero movies.

The Joker has existed for over eighty years. He's world-famous, has starred in his own movie, and every time he shows up in any form of media, fans know exactly what they're in for. Few villains have ever had the impact he has.

1 Lex Luthor Is A Villainous Chameleon

Lex Luthor in a white and purple suit speaking to Batman about his investment in Batman Inc

Billionaire Lex Luthor is Superman's greatest foe. One can argue that Joker is more popular overall, but no other villain has had the impact on the DC Universe that Luthor has. Lex is the leader of DC's villains, the one villain that all of the others look up to and fear. However, the best part about Luthor isn't any of that, but the way he evolves.

Luthor has gone from Golden Age mad scientist to Silver Age supervillain to modern age evil businessman with a dash of the other two. He's the ever-evolving face of evil, changing with the times, and all the better for it.

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