For decades, stories about superheroes have captivated comic book audiences, young and old. But for every memorable hero, there has been an even more interesting villain, testing the protagonist’s mettle with their sinister ideas. From shining light on their origin stories to portraying the “gray” area in their lives, it is no surprise that these supervillains too have risen to fame, commanding just as much, if not more attention than the superheroes in popular comics.
1. Magneto
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Magneto is one of the most complicated “supervillains” in the Marvel multiverse. His first appearance was in The X-Men (no. 1) in 1963. Born as Max Eisenhardt, he had a rather traumatic childhood, growing up in a concentration camp. His powers first come alive after an attack from the locals that eventually causes his daughter’s demise.
Once his powers come to life, Magneto makes it his mission to save fellow mutants from this mindless persecution. In the process, he kills any human who dares to cross his path. While his relationship with Charles Xavier begins amicably, the two quickly part ways due to the differences in their ideologies. This fires the arch-rivalry between the duo and makes Magneto one of the most nuanced supervillains in comic-book history.
2. Lex Luthor
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Lex Luthor for the DC multiverse. The archnemesis of Superman, this envious, arrogant, and egotistical evil genius is just about as popular as the legendary superhero himself. He first appeared in Action Comics (no. 23) in April 1940 and has since been a part of most modern adaptations of the comic.
What sets Luthor apart from other villains is that he isn’t trying to end the world. In his eyes, he is desperately trying to act like the savior, saving the world from the clutches of the alien from Krypton.
3. Doctor Doom
Dr. Victor Von Doom is one of the most popular supervillains from Marvel’s Fantastic Four franchise. He suffers a tragic childhood, with his mother being taken from him early on in life. As he grows up, he becomes obsessed with the idea of rescuing his mother’s soul from evil. This becomes his origin story. The unemotional metal mask he wears (the result of an experiment gone wrong) further adds to his mysteriousness and helps him maintain his ruthless and formidable image throughout the comics.
4. Joker
Arguably one of the most popular supervillains in comic book history, the Joker has carved a real niche for himself. He first appears in Batman (no. 1) in April 1940, where he starts as an unnamed engineer who quits his job to become a standup comedian but fails miserably. The Joker then joins an armed robbery gang, where, after a botched plan, he accidentally falls into a tank filled with chemical waste. As he emerges from it, his skin has turned bleached white, his hair green, and his lips red, giving him his characteristic appearance. He makes Batman his life’s mission, with the sole goal of torturing the hero every chance he gets.
5. Norman Osborn (Green Goblin)
Green Goblin is one of the most frequently occurring villains in the Spiderman comic series. He becomes the hero’s archenemy after killing Spidey’s girlfriend, Gwen Stacey.
Osborn, too, has a tumultuous past that puts him on the path of greed, evil, and misery. Born to rich parents who lose it all, he faces abuse at the hands of his father. This makes him want to pursue power and wealth, which is why he decides to open OsCorp. A concoction his partner was working on explodes on Norman, giving him superhuman strength, healing powers, and intelligence, marking the start of his role as Spiderman’s biggest nemesis.
6. Darkseid
Darkseid, formerly Prince Uxas, was created as a villain for the DC multiverse. Rightly called the Dread Lord of the Apokolips, he has a clear mission – to control the world at his will and to solve the Anti-Life Equation.
According to some comic book enthusiasts, one of the most interesting aspects of this supervillain’s personality is his disinterest in physical confrontation. Even though the evil god holds the power to disintegrate, teleport, or even torture opponents just using eye beams (omega beams), he chooses to send in other militants to fight on his behalf, orchestrating the events from the shadows. Introduced first in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen (no. 134) in November 1970, he went on to become one of DC’s biggest villains, posing a constant threat to the Justice League.
7. Thanos
Thanks to the recent depictions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, Thanos has become a part of pop culture. First introduced in The Invincible Iron Man (no. 55) in February 1973, Thanos was born by two powerful Eternals, Mentor and Sui-San. Thanos was a powerful being and a force to be reckoned with right from his birth. Over time, he cultivates a relationship with Mistress Death, a cosmic entity. In an attempt to impress her, Thanos makes it his goal to destroy all life in the universe. To achieve this, he sets out on his pursuit to gather all the infinity gems (time, soul, space, power, reality, and mind), and assemble them on a gauntlet. He is eventually successful in this mission, wiping out half of the universe with a snap of his fingers.
Thanos’ twisted obsession is based on the belief that he is bringing balance to the universe, making him one of the most terrifying villains in comic book history.