SUMMER OF SUPERMAN: TOP TEN VILLAINS

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Summer of Superman: The Top Ten Villains

By: Nick Costanzo, Jon Hancock, Jordan T. Maxwell
Editor: Jordan T. Maxwell

70 years ago, in the summer of 1938, two kids from Cleveland, Ohio changed the world forever. From their collaborative imagination sprang a hero who has endured for seven decades, transcending his home in comic books to conquer almost every other medium of art and entertainment and catalyzing the creation of an entire genre. He is more than just a fictional superhero. He is an icon (not a bird). He is an ideal (not a plane). He is...SUPERMAN!

To celebrate the Man of Steel's 70th anniversary, Comixfan is proud to bring you a series of features over the course of this summer. For the next seven weeks, we'll be bringing you a unique Top Ten list focusing on different facets of Superman's mythology, history and influence, showcasing 70 reasons why we love the Man of Tomorrow so much.

This week, we kick off the event with a look at Superman's villains. It's said that a hero is defined by their enemies and the threats they face. And over the course of 70 years, Superman has certainly had to face his share of threats. Some have faded. Some have endured. Some have changed and evolved. What makes a great Superman villain? And what do his villains say about him? Here now are our picks for the cream of the criminal element, the pinnacles of perfidy, the superstars of sinister schemes...the Top Ten Superman Villains!

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#10 Superman Prime

First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #87
Created by: Elliot S! Maggin/Curt Swan

A bit of an odd choice for this list, having only really battled Superman (or, rather, men) once. But he does have the dubious honor of being the only villain who IS Superman. Born on an alternate Earth much like our own where superheroes are merely the work of fiction, young Clark Kent soon finds he shares the same powers as his fictional namesake. Soon after, he finds himself battling alongside the heroes he'd once read about during the first Crisis as Superboy Prime...but for all the powers of Superman, he still has the petulance and impatience of an adolescent and his feelings of jealousy and entitlement helped bring about the second Crisis, where he murdered handfuls of "unworthy" heroes, including the one he saw as the pretender to his throne, Kon-El. Now assuming the role of of Superman Prime because of...um...his sudden wealth of maturity (what? What lawsuit?), the Brat of Steel highlights our own Superman's greatest and most enduring ability through his complete and utter lack of it: an innate yet highly developed sense of right and wrong. Prime is what many of us in our immaturity and insecurity would do with Superman's powers while the one true Superman stands illuminated as the ideal of both might and morality.

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#9 Parasite

First Appearance: Action Comics #340
Created by: Jim Shooter

Many have borne the mantle of the Parasite over the years (and Ages). They come with different names, different personalities and different appearances, but they all share one thing in common: an unquenchable thirst for power. And who better than a living solar battery to feed off of? The persistence of this character as an almost "legacy" villain is plain to see when you consider not only the direct threat they pose to Superman, but also their symbolic relationship with him. Where he has power, they seek it. Where he empowers others, they drain it. Where he does nothing but give, they do nothing but take. Despite his alien nature, he is utterly human in his spirit. And because of their human failings of greed, each Parasite in kind has fallen to something far lower than humanity. Bottom feeders. Blood suckers. Leeches. Parasites.

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#8 Metallo

First Appearance: Action Comics #252
Created by: Robert Bernstein/Al Plastino

There have been many Kryptonite themed and powered villains in Superman's 70 years of adventures (though perhaps not quite as many as seen on Smallville). Yet none has proven to have the staying power of Metallo, a cyborg with a heart of Kryptonite. Beneath his falsified flesh, he has literally become a man of steel. And the item that gives him life is that one rare element that can take Superman's. Even moreso than the roguish arrogance John Corben possessed as a man, as Metallo he seems to bask in the almost godlike power he has over the more figurative Man of Steel. If his robotic body were powered by some other element, something more mundane and Earth bound, would he still be so driven to take down Superman? Or is it the mere fact that he CAN that makes him think that he SHOULD? He also provides a human face to the long standing threat of Kryptonite, the one thing left of Superman's destroyed homeworld, the one artifact remaining of the life that might have been and the family he'll never know...and he can never touch it while it continues to give power to those who would threaten him and all he loves. So while it may serve as Metallo's heart, it surely must break Superman's.

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#7 Doomsday

First appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #17
Created by: Dan Jurgens

Doomsday was originally created as little more than a plot device. Superman had to die and something new had to kill him. And so the ultimate killing machine was born. Originally appearing in a strange suit, tied up by cables, Doomsday was a sinister omen of the unknown. After literally cutting a direct route to Metropolis and nearly destroying the Justice League, Doomsday's true form was revealed: a hulking and unstoppable monster of grey skin and bony protrusions. What followed was one of Superman's most iconic moments as he drew the line and took a final stand against this monstrous opponent. it was later discovered that Doomsday had been a product of Kryptonian scientists who were aiming to evolve the perfect killing machine through extreme torture. The reason he was so tuned to killing Superman was to atone for the sins of Superman's race. The previously aloof Kryptonians were shown to have a much darker past which their last son would have to cope with. But despite these revelations and the more resonant emotional context they give the struggle between hero and monster, Doomsday will always be remembered as the only villain who did the unthinkable and killed Superman.

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#6 Mr. Mxyzptlk

First appearance: Superman #30
Created by: Jerry Siegel/Joe Shuster

A tiny man in a purple bowler hat with an incomprehensible name and penchant for stogies and mischief may not seem like much of a threat...until you also consider his reality warping powers as an imp from the 5th dimension. And with that, Superman's creators gave him a threat that hearkened back to tales of myth and legend, of fairies, hobgoblins and genies. Like Shakespeare's Puck, he comes to wreak merry havoc in Superman's life, not only to test his own wits and ease his godlike boredom...but also to subvert and mock Superman's own self image, thus reminding him what is truly important in his life. In this way, he sometimes proves to be one of Superman's greatest allies as well (depending on his fickle moods). While his magical powers may provide a direct threat to our hero, he also tests one of Superman's lesser acknowledged traits: his great wit and intellect, as he must come up with a new way of tricking Mxy into saying his name backwards in order to get rid of him each time he pops up. If you're still not convinced of Mxy's power and the threat it poses to Superman...well, don't take my word for it. Take Alan Moore's and read his (and Curt Swan's) classic Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Maybe then you'll learn to take purple bowlers a bit more seriously.

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#5 Bizarro

First appearance: Superboy #68
Created by: Otto Binder/George Papp

Bizarro am worst of all Superman friends. He am not clone of Superman. He am vulnerable to Kryptonite not like Superman. No...I'm sorry. I can't keep it up. Bizarro is a special kind of villain. The concept of a doppelganger with identical powers isn't a new one but Bizarro is unique in his, well, bizarreness. There have been countless incarnations of Bizarro over time as various cloned bodies have died or been burnt out but, as shown in Alex Ross' Justice series, Bizarro is always a threat and Superman knows it. Perhaps only Mxyzptlk proves as much of a headache for the Man of Steel, as with Bizarro he is facing someone who can barely be defeated by brute strength but is often susceptible to suggestion and appeals to his childish nature. In recent years Bizarro has had a couple of his own mini series that have established him as a character with bags of surrealist potential. Superman has more famous and more deadly foes but nobody quite like Bizarro. And certainly not as many who've entered the popular culture and lexicon as readily as Bizarro am...er, has.

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#4 General Zod

First appearance: Adventure Comics #283
Created by: Jerry Siegel/George Papp

Zod is actually something of a puzzle when it comes to Superman's history and mythos. Hailing from Krypton and at one time allies (in some versions, even friends) with Superman's father before being exiled into the Phantom Zone, he is a direct link to Superman's past and one of his most direct threats as he not only shares Superman's yellow sun enhanced abilities but also has more combat experience and tends to command the loyalty of those who inevitably accompany him. Yet in modern times, despite multiple efforts, he's rarely gotten a strong foothold in the comic book world. There have been a handful of Zods since the Crisis, from pocket universes, alternate realities...even Russia (which I suppose could count as either). It is thanks to the Richard Donner film's and Terrence Stamp's memorable performance that not only comic book fandom but more mainstream audiences have become so taken with the character. And that "Kneel before Zod" has become a part of our culture. With the recent reintroduction of a more classic and traditional Zod, a former Kryptonian general exiled in the Phantom Zone, we'll surely see more of him threatening the son of Jor-El in years to come (and perhaps he may even finally learn how to properly pronounce Houston).

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#3 Darkseid

First appearance: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134
Created by: Jack Kirby

It always makes me giggle a little bit that the embodiment of pure evil in the DCU, the dark god of Apokolips and his never ending search for the Anti-Life Equation, the stone faced tyrant with a desire to stamp out all free will and hope in the universe...was first introduced in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen. It's kind of like Satan making his first appearance in an Archie comic. But despite any giggles the title of his genesis may produce, the threat he poses to Superman and, indeed, all life is no joke. As powerful as he is ruthless, he stands as a counterpoint to Superman's own power and more importantly his symbolic nature of hope, justice and goodness. As one of Kirby's most enduring creations and greatest villains, he could surely eliminate Superman with ease. But it is more important to crush him, to grind him under foot, to humiliate him and douse the ideals he represents. Darkseid is a god and represents every base human cruelty, every casual unkindness and active brutality, every repression and submission that Superman wages his never ending battle against. And just as the battle is never ending...so, too, is the evil of Darkseid.

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#2 Brainiac

First appearance: Action Comics #242
Created by: Otto Binder

Brainiac is perhaps the most adaptable member of Superman's gallery of rogues. He has taken on many different appearances and origins. At times a green skinned alien, at others a fully metal robot. In some versions he is from Colu...in others, he was of Kryptonian design. His name is Vril Dox...unless it is Milton Fine. However he appears and by whatever name he calls himself, he is always an alien threat to our world that only our greatest alien hero can thwart. Brainiac's adaptability ensures that Superman is never fully certain of how to defeat him, requiring all of his power and even more importantly (and fittingly) his brain. Along with Luthor, who he's often teamed up with, he has proven to be one of Superman's most constant threats...yet never represents the same threat twice. In many ways, Brainiac with his cold, implacable logic and mechanical nature symbolizes our own fears of the perceived threat of science and technology (heck, with his penchant for shrinking cities, he could almost be seen as a precursor for or more megalomaniacal version of Steve Jobs...or would that just be Bill Gates?). Yet it is often Superman, in all his mythic Apollo-esque sun god glory, who masters and utilizes technology in order to defeat Brainiac...proving there's nothing to fear so long as technology remains our tool and not our master. I'd write more, but my computer says it's going to sleep, my iPod needs recharging and I've got several shows waiting for me on my DVR...

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#1 Lex Luthor

First appearance: Action Comics #23
Created by: Jerry Siegel/Joe Shuster

It's an absolute no-brainer to find Lex Luthor at the top of this list. The beauty of his story is that in almost any other context, Luthor would be considered an underdog. Though a brilliant corporate executive and scientist, and certainly strong for a human, he's just that: human. An otherwise ordinary human going up against the immeasurable might of Superman. The reasons vary in different incarnations. Sometimes, Luthor sees a threat to his less-than legitimate control over the entire city of Metropolis. At others, he is portrayed as once being Superman's best friend, only to have that affection perverted into hatred and envy. But one of the more profound motivations you'll see across all interpretations is indignation. Luthor is a self-made man, the pinnacle of human perfection in both intellect and physique. He worked himself raw to get to where he is, only to see an alien relying on nothing but natural skill get all the attention. And so, he schemes, he plots, he orchestrates events to make the Man of Steel suffer. He does it so masterfully that only rarely will he meet Superman face-to-face, instead relying on others to dirty their hands and almost always ending up completely free of prosecution, smirking as Superman is unable to take any action against his transgressions. He's one of the few villains to make Superman look powerless. In the end, you almost find yourself rooting for him.

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And there you have it. We hope you've enjoyed this walk down the avenue of avarice and have learned something about these characters and Superman. Of course, with only ten spots to fill and seven decades worth of villains to choose from, plenty of amazing characters fell to the wayside. Did your favorite make the cut? Or perhaps rank higher than you thought they would? Discuss your thoughts alongside our crack staff below! And remember that all of these characters and their adventures can be found at your local comic book shop!

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Lex Luthor: Nick Costanzo
Bizarro, Doomsday: Jon Hancock
Brainiac, Darkseid, General Zod, Metallo, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Parasite, Superman Prime: Jordan T. Maxwell


Contributors: Anthony Devlin, Chris Eight, James Groves, Stephanie Kay, Marty P, Greg Reeves, Michael Regan, Kevin Sutton, Eric Travis
Image Assistance: Anthony Devlin

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The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.

[jannepie]

Of these ten, I've only heard of Lex Luthor and Darkseid...

By the way, only one of these ten seems to be female. Does Superman have only a few female foes or are they so lame?

[gnosis]

Nice list (although I kind of knew who the top three had to be.) Very interesting analysis of Metallo too. Not sure I would have included Prime though. I just cannot seem to take the character seriously (Maybe Legion of Three Worlds will change that.) Even though he is more Hal Jordan's headache these days, I think Hank Henshaw might have been a better choice or possibly Lobo (depending on how we are defining Superman Villains.)

By the way, only one of these ten seems to be female. Does Superman have only a few female foes or are they so lame?

Little bit of both really.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally Posted by Janne Pietikainen

Of these ten, I've only heard of Lex Luthor and Darkseid...

then it's time to get to readin', son.

Originally Posted by Janne Pietikainen

By the way, only one of these ten seems to be female. Does Superman have only a few female foes or are they so lame?

even the Parasite isn't strictly female. as noted in the article, there have been a few Parasites, only one of whom was female (along with her brother). i just figured the column could use what gender balance i could give it (and showing my love of Rucka's run on the book. ).

the only actual female Superman villains who come to mind are Insect Queen (who, yes, is kind of lame at times) and Maxima, who became a hero. oh, and Livewire. who is also lame. i guess people just don't like Supes hitting a woman.

Originally Posted by gnosis

Nice list (although I kind of knew who the top three had to be.) Very interesting analysis of Metallo too. Not sure I would have included Prime though. I just cannot seem to take the character seriously (Maybe Legion of Three Worlds will change that.) Even though he is more Hal Jordan's headache these days, I think Hank Henshaw might have been a better choice or possibly Lobo (depending on how we are defining Superman Villains.)

i like Prime when Johns is writing him. Henshaw was definitely in contention (i know i voted for him). but it's hard to only give nods to ten Superman villains without slighting some other really great characters as well.

and glad you liked the Metallo entry. i'm personally a huge fan of the writer.

[Radiate]

I love how well written this article was. Especially the Brainiac one. Keep up the good job guys!

RADIATE!

[jannepie]

Originally Posted by Jordan T. Maxwell

then it's time to get to readin', son.

Send me your collection.

Originally Posted by Jordan T. Maxwell

i guess people just don't like Supes hitting a woman.

Is Lois Lane such a headache instead?

[Michael Regan]

Originally Posted by Radiate

I love how well written this article was. Especially the Brainiac one. Keep up the good job guys!

Don't inflate Jordan's ego any more than it needs to be

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally Posted by Michael Regan

Don't inflate Jordan's ego any more than it needs to be

hey, don't stifle his clearly excellent taste!

[Radiate]

Oh dear, i've started something!

Was the writing not a joint collaboration?

RADIATE!

[Greg Reeves]

Originally Posted by Radiate

Was the writing not a joint collaboration?

While the ranking is a joint work, the entries themselves are done by individuals. Unfortunately, Jordan wound up doing most due to a lack of volunteers familiar with the characters' long histories.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

if you'd like to know who wrote each individual entry, that information is given at the bottom of the article. thanks to Nick and Jon for helping out with the entries they did!

[Jen0608]

Is there any Hank Henshaw here? I just remembered how doomsday in the Death of Superman saga

[Michael Regan]

Originally Posted by Jen0608

Is there any Hank Henshaw here? I just remembered how doomsday in the Death of Superman saga

It appears the Hank "Cyborg Superman" Henshaw did not mae the final cut, unfortunately. Too bad considering his involvement in the recent Green Lantern war with Sinestro.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

i believe he was up for nomination, but suffered perhaps due to the perception that he's more of a GL villain these days.

[Jim Learning]

Wait, no Maxima? But she's hot!