of the world DC Comics has long been defined by the endless war between good and evil. Throughout the company’s nine-decade existence, Generations of Creators has added a long list of villains to the universe. These villains ranged in powers and motivations, from jokers to the embodiment of chaos and brutality.
DC’s villains are often created to represent themes and fears relevant to their heroes, with each bad guy having to have some edge over their heroic foe. While some characters have always been fairly campy and non-threatening, others have been defined by their ability to strike fear into the hearts of others. In fact, some of the best stories in the company’s history were written to focus on the concept of fear, including horrors that bring the best heroes to their knees.
10 the joker
Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
The Joker first appeared in the 1940s batman #1, where he immediately established himself as one of Batman’s most relentless foes in his battle against Gotham’s elite. In the years that followed, the villain proved himself to be one of the DC Universe’s most unpredictable, volatile and violent villains, with one of Gotham’s biggest death tolls.
Whether or not the Joker is often scary depends on who is writing him, with some creators preferring a campy version that relies on jokes and others exploring a more terrifying creature. For many readers, the mere sight of a killer clown is enough to make his stories terrifying, and his unbridled violence makes that fear worse.
9 Solomon Grundy
Created by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman
Based on the nursery rhyme of the same name, DC Solomon Grundy was once a criminal, Cyrus Gold, who was resurrected after being murdered and left for the slaughterhouse. Returned from the dead, the supernatural villain had super strength, invulnerability to traditional means of death, and a large, Hulk-like body.
As a hulking, irrational zombie, Grundy stands out among DC’s greatest monsters, although some stories have depicted a more intelligent version of the character. Despite having a sadistic side to the villain, as Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale allude to Batman: The Long HalloweenThe Pale Zombie is a character even Batman doesn’t want to get on the wrong side of.
8 timid
Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane
The Scarecrow, also known as Dr. Jonathan Crane, is a villain dedicated to spreading fear, so it only makes sense that he’s established himself as one of DC’s most formidable foes. Armed with his dangerous fear poison, his method is to induce terrifying nightmares and hallucinations in his victims, immobilizing them and allowing him to carry out his crimes. In some stories, he unleashes his gas on entire cities, plunging them into unbridled chaos.
The Scarecrow is a walking fear factory in Gotham City, and recent stories have shown how Shazam’s choices are vulnerable to his nightmares. Combined with a terrifying costume that evokes the scariest parts of Halloween, the villain spreads terror wherever he goes.
7 Parallax
Created in its current form by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Syver
Parallax is one of DC’s more interesting villains due to the complex backstory of his creation. Originally, Parallax was simply the identity that Hal Jordan assumed when he turned to evil after the destruction of Coast City. Later, the villain was the subject of a retcon by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Syver Green Lantern: RebirthExplains that Hal was under the influence of a parasitic fear-based entity the whole time.
Considering he’s the living embodiment of DC horror, it’s hard to be scarier than Parallax, literally. When all is said and done, both his powers and scope of influence combined with his presence as a giant, insectoid cosmic monster make Parallax one of the scariest monsters in the DCU.
6 Doctor Destiny
Created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowski
Doctor Destiny was originally introduced as a supervillain who used technology, such as an anti-gravity device he used against the Justice League. However, as time progressed, the villain was redefined as a supernatural enemy, who could enter people’s dreams and launch psychological attacks against them. In his subsequent battle with the League, he infiltrated their dreams, turning them into nightmares, effectively immobilizing them in the real world.
As terrifying as Dr. Destiny’s appearance is, it’s actually her powers that unleash true horror, giving her the ability to plunge her enemies into inescapable nightmares. With one of the most blood-curdling appearances in the DCU, the villain can scar a character for the rest of their lives.
5 Darkseid
Created by Jack Kirby
Darkseid was created by Jack Kirby to serve as the main villain in his Fourth World mythology, which explores the ongoing war between New Genesis and Apokolips. Driven by power and victory, Darkseid dedicated his life to finding the anti-life equation that, if found, would allow him to master the free will of sentient beings.
Darkseid does not possess the same demonic form or irrational mind as other villains. Instead, it’s his intelligence, relentless nature, and the ferocity of his Omega Beams that make him so terrifying that even Superman fears him. like a story The final crisis And “Rock of Ages” explores the grim future possessed by the villain, full of torture, monstrous versions of the heroes, and endless death.
4 The Upside-Down Man
Created by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno
Made for Justice League DarkThe Upside-Down Men are a race of nightmarish creatures, the Other Kind, from a terrifying plane of existence, from another place. Formed at the dawn of time when the universe was a place of darkness, the villain becomes the Justice League Dark’s greatest threat, driving them to darkness.
The Upside-Down Man reflects the dark horrors of James Tynion IV and Ram V’s tenures. Justice League DarkProvides readers with the most terrifying foes created in the past decade. From his terrifying appearance to his mastery of dark magic that allows him to unleash horror upon the world, the villain is one of DC’s biggest supernatural threats.
3 trigon
Created by Marv Wolfman and Jorge Perez
Trigon was created to serve as DC’s answer to Satan, a demonic lord from another dimension who has destroyed countless worlds in his universe. Imprisoned in gems that power his heroic daughter Raven, the demonic dictator possesses powers ranging from teleportation and super strength to energy blasts and reality manipulation.
Trigon isn’t just the most terrifying villain on Teen Titans; He is so powerful that it is unclear if even Darkseid can withstand his wrath. As one of the few characters in existence who can defy the likes of Mr. Mxyzeptalk, the Satan-inspired monster is one of the greatest threats to the known universe—and his existence is pure biblical horror.
2 M’Nagalah
Produced by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson
As he makes his perilous trek across the United States to his swamp, Swamp Thing encounters various villains and creatures. None were as terrifying as M’Nagalah, an ancient being of the universe who lived in caves beneath a small town that sacrificed him. After encountering Alec Holland’s new form, the townspeople try to lure him into the mine, leading to a confrontation with the monster.
M’Nagalah mixes elements of Lovecraftian horror with existential dread, a terror that is seemingly indestructible. Although the creature can be temporarily restrained, it returns, as shown when the atom stumbles across the entity. Able to manipulate the minds of ordinary people and create mishapen creatures to do his bidding, M’Nagalah is essentially DC’s answer to Cthulhu.
1 The Great Darkness
Created by Alan Moore and Stan Wach
The Great Darkness was created by Alan Moore during his Swamp Thing run, and serves as the embodiment of brutality and evil in the DCU. As a fundamental force in existence, the villain’s true form is rarely shown, instead being represented through his agents. Sleeping on another plane of existence, the ancient being brought the universe almost to its knees Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths By Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sumper when it possessed heroes and villains alike.
The Great Darkness is the perfect balance of presence light, embodying DC’s cannibalistic spirit. An omnipresent, inescapable, and indestructible being, ever-present in the Dark Universe, and driven by Pariah to threaten existence. Being is not usually depicted as a grand aspiration, but rather as an inescapable force acting upon the existence of the world. DC Comics.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the largest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics began in 1935 as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 ushered in the latest iteration of superheroes, Zack Snyder introduced Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC did a soft reboot led by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
- character(s)
- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam