DC Comics has produced some of the best villains in comic book history. These are the 10 best DC villains according to Ranker.
DC Comics has a long history of producing some of the greatest villains in comic book history. With a wide variety of different heroes, it was only logical that there would be an equally diverse group of rogues to oppose those heroes.
From notorious baddies such as the Joker to more cerebral villains such as Lex Luthor, there is a full roster of enemies from DC Comics. Despite the long list of bad guys to choose from, users on Ranker took to the site to upvote their favorites from DC's rogues gallery.
Harley Quinn is one of DC's most unique villains because she didn't actually make her debut in the comics. Being one of the best villains in Batman: The Animated Series, the TV series in which she debuted, Harley Quinn's clownish antics have become a constant headache for the Caped Crusader.
Though she is usually partnered with the Joker, Harley Quinn has established enough of a personality of her own to go it alone. Jumping from villain to antihero, Harley Quinn follows her own set of rules, and fans have fallen in love with her personality. Though she isn't always the most dastardly villain to threaten Gotham City, she never fails to be a part of compelling stories in the comics and beyond.
Batman has his fair share of famous villains and though Mr. Freeze seems quite goofy on the surface, he has a fascinating backstory. The chilly villain is as ruthless as he is cunning, and he acts out of love for his deceased wife.
Cursed by the same effect that made him a super-villain in the first place, Mr. Freeze's cold demeanor comes not only out of hate, but out of pain as well. Though most known for his pun-filled portrayal in Batman and Robin, Mr. Freeze has also headlined more thoughtful Batman storylines such as Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero.
Few villains embody fear quite like Batman's evil nemesis Scarecrow. Utilizing a fear toxin that makes the victim suffer their worst fears in the form of a hallucination, Scarecrow literally spreads fear wherever he goes.
Not only is Scarecrow one of the scariest villains in the Batman universe, but he is also one of the most purely evil forces that Batman has faced. While most villains are motivated by greed, or revenge, Scarecrow seems to act purely out of malice and with the intent to injure both mentally and physically.
Acting as a nearly constant force of evil in the Batman universe, Two-Face is one of the most interesting villains to ever go against the bat. Starting as the affable district attorney Harvey Dent, Two-Face found himself disfigured and turned to a life of crime.
While many of Batman's foes are uncontrollable monsters, Two-Face is a reserved and cerebral mobster who uses his superior mind power to get what he wants. What makes him so unique is his Jekyll and Hyde personality that is symbolized by his half scarred face. Though the dark aspects of his personality were escalated when he became Two-Face, it has been well established that the dualistic nature of Harvey Dent existed long before he went bad.
The world's greatest detective was in need of a more difficult puzzle to solve and The Riddler stepped in to torment the Batman. With his signature green outfit, adorned with question marks, The Riddler is one of the most instantly recognizable villains in comic book history throughout his many iterations.
The defining aspect of his personality is his many clever riddles that have kept Batman on his toes for decades. Though The Riddler isn't the most physically imposing baddie in Gotham, his penchant for puzzles has often put a lot of citizens in danger and pushed Batman to his mental limits.
While Batman is merely human, he uses his gadgetry to appear as something more than just a man in a bat costume. Bane was one of the only villains to remind fans that Batman was quite vulnerable when he was put up against a much more powerful foe.
With a chemically enhanced physique and a hatred for everyone and everything, Bane not only challenged Batman but also nearly ended him as well. By breaking Batman's back, Bane showed that he was the most dominant force in Gotham City. In the end, it took every bit of Batman's resourcefulness to best the masked brute.
It is seemingly unwise to go against Superman, and yet many villains have tried, and failed, to topple the Kryptonian hero. Lex Luthor however, is one of the few Superman villains to find consistent success against his blue and red nemesis in Metropolis.
Luthor his been with Superman since the early days of the comics and his role in the story has swollen to the point that he is a central figure in Superman's lore. Luthor does not possess superpowers, but is instead incredibly cunning and clever. Luthor's superior brain power and willingness to do anything to succeed has made him a formidable foe for the ultimate boy-scout that is Superman. In many ways, Superman and Luthor are opposite ends of the good and evil spectrum.
While most villains stick around to torment one particular good guy, Deathstroke has been a constant thorn in the sides of many DC heroes over the years. The ultimate assassin has taken jobs that have put him in direct conflict with the likes of Batman, Green Arrow, and even the entire Justice League, and yet he always evades capture.
Drawing on his skills as an assassin, Deathstroke always manages to stay one step ahead of his enemies, even if his plans don't always succeed. What makes him more than just a formidable assassin is his healing factor and decelerated aging which makes him very difficult to defeat. Aside from that, he also has enhanced intelligence which adds brains to his considerable braun.
The New Gods are a diverse species that has produced its fair share of heroes as well as villains. Darkseid is one such New God who has very specific designs for the multiverse, and they aren't particularly pleasant. Acting as the tyrannical leader of Apokolips, Darkseid's ultimate goal is to conquer the entire multiverse and he is willing to go through the Justice League to achieve his mission.
Not only are his plans diabolical, but his powers as a New God make him able to act on his designs. With superhuman strength, intelligence, and a factor of invulnerability, Darkseid is a seemingly unbeatable foe. Mixed with his willingness to do any number of evil acts, Darkseid is one of the most powerful villains in comic book history.
When the word villain is floated in regards to comic books, the first name that often comes to mind is the clown prince of crime himself, The Joker. With an almost unknowable backstory, The Joker has been tormenting Batman and others since his debut decades ago. The twisted clown, though not super powered, has almost no shame when it comes to committing diabolical acts.
Changing from silly to terrifying over the years, The Joker has seen many iterations and each one seems to ratchet up the frightening possibilities. What makes him so scary is his pure unpredictable nature. While most villains have very clear, and sometimes understandable goals, The Joker seems to act out whatever evil whim comes into his mind. No villain has tried Batman quite like The Joker, even going so far as to push him to violate his own moral code on several occasions.
