Superman is the mightiest hero in all comics. Next to Batman and Spider-Man, he's also among the most iconic. This DC do-gooder hails from the planet Krypton, giving him godlike powers here on Earth. Despite this, he strives to fight for truth, justice, and the American way. Such an altruistic outlook makes Superman the hero that all other heroes look up to. In addition, it means that it's tough to create a worthy adversary for the guy.
Any villains who tackle Superman should ideally possess a couple of key qualities. First, they should have the skills to contend with his incredible power. It wouldn't be much of a battle otherwise. More importantly, though, they should also be entertaining and engaging as characters. Many would-be nemeses have come and gone over the years, but only a select few measure up.
Updated on June 29th, 2022 by Hodey Johns: As the premier superhero among superheroes, the threats to Superman need to be quite grave to even register on the Man of Steel's radar. Those who take him on either need to have mind-bending powers or mess with him psychologically. This original list has remained unchanged, but readers were wanting to know where they could actually read about these villains. A section has been added under each headline that guides fans to the most appropriate comics, newspapers, movies, shows, or books. After checking them out, there will be little doubt that these are the most fascinating foes.
10 Metallo
The folks at DC have turned several people into robots. Just look at Cyborg, Robotman, and even Cyborg Superman. Among the most prominent is a crook named John Corben. After a fatal accident mangles his body beyond repair, a scientist named Dr. Vale salvages what's left and puts it into a mechanized body. Vale was afraid of Superman and his potential for destruction, so he engineered Corben to combat the alien, complete with a Kryptonite power core.
Metallo doesn't think much of Vale's orders, but he inevitably comes up against Superman while pursuing his criminal activities. There's a beautiful irony in that his life force is Superman's death source. It's one of the more creative uses of Kryptonite.
Where To Find More Metallo Stories
Metallo first appeared in newspapers between 1958 and 1959 in a series called The Menace of Metallo. After five months of battling to the delight of readers, he finally got his own feature as a villain in Action Comics #252.
9 Mister Mxyzptlk
This interdimensional trickster can warp reality with a flick of the finger. When he pops over here, he has nothing better to do than pester Superman to no end. This predictably results in total chaos. Despite his powers, Mxy rarely poses any serious threat. Like the DC Games, he's underappreciated, but plain old fun.
He's essentially a joke villain, but that oddly works, thanks in no small part to his off-kilter comedic timing. More importantly, he brings out Superman's ingenuity. Fans can only take so many villains trying to top the hero through brute strength; Mxy provides a refreshing change as a foe whom Superman can't vanquish by physical means.
Where To Find More Mxyzptlk Stories
Mxyzptlk initially badges Superman in a lighthearted comic, Action Comics #30. Followers of the series will find it hard to not read about Mxyzptlk (though the spelling of his name has been known to change). Those who want to see him as more of a character and less of a comic relief should check out Alan Moore's Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? He's also a regular in The New 52 and DC Rebirth.
8 Bizarro
This terrifying version of the Man of Steel was created as a duplicate of Superman, but it obviously didn't go well. Much like Frankenstein's monster, he doesn't know the difference between right and wrong. He then rampages across Metropolis in a distorted attempt to emulate Superman's fight for justice.
Bizarro has great potential for tragedy. He doesn't know any better, so it's easy to pity him when his actions get him in trouble. On the flip side, he can also be funny when he occasionally stumbles into antihero territory. This type of screwball team-up injects some welcome energy into the longstanding storylines.
Where To Find More Bizarro Stories
Bizarro first appears in Superboy #68 as a teen. Not feeling like the idea was quite there yet, newspapers grabbed the idea in 1958, making Bizarro into a more fleshed-out adult in a series called The Battle With Bizarro. He finally hit comics in Action Comics #254 and was so popular that Action Comics #285-299 feature Bizarro as the primary antagonist.
7 Livewire
The DC Animated Universe gifted fans with some truly great original villains. Harley Quinn, of course, is the big one, but no less fun is Livewire. A relentless shock jock thumbing her nose at authority, Leslie Willis suffers an electrical accident that supercharges her in more ways than one.
She then abuses her powers for sick kicks, sporting a personality as wild and unpredictable as the bolts she shoots. Her endless energy (sorry) makes her a joy to watch whenever she shows up, and it's enough to put even Superman on the floor. That's what the Big Blue Boy Scout gets for trying to shut her down.
Where To Find More Livewire Stories
Livewire was an offshoot in the experimental Superman Adventure series, making her debut in book #5. Though the series didn't work out, her origin story is one of DC's best, so nearly a decade later, she made the big time in Action Comics #835. She was well-received and is now Livewire is most notable for her appearances in TV shows, specifically Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League.
6 Toyman
While a few people have taken the Toyman mantle over the years, the creepiest comes from a disgruntled inventor (or his son). Winslow Schott had a knack for advanced gadgets with a childish spin. This led to several silly scuffles with Superman.
As his failures accumulated, though, Schott grew more unstable. His mentality regressed to a child with no qualms about killing, leading to his inventions becoming more dangerous. After a while, Toyman more resembled the damaged villains of Batman, but that's no bad thing.
Where To Find More Toyman Stories
Everybody has a favorite Toyman, though fans are split over who deserves the title the most: Winslow Percival Schott, Jack Nimball, or Hiro Okamura. All three have different writers. Find Schott's version in Action Comics #64, Nimball's version in Action Comics #432, and Okamura's portrayal in Superman (Volume 2) #177. A featured role might not be in the cards, but the movies could use a separate storyline to get Toyman some screentime.
5 General Zod
One would think the few surviving Kryptonians would stick together, but most of them turn out to be evil and/or dangerous. Zod was a renowned military leader who attempted a coup, but he was defeated and imprisoned in the Phantom Zone. Escaping to Earth, he now strives for the same dictatorship on Superman's new home. He believes the world would be a better place if he ruled, and he readily uses his newfound strength to cement that rule. Revenge on the son of Jor-El is just a bonus.
In many ways, Zod is the dark side of Superman himself, as he also came to Earth for a second chance. The difference is that he makes up for his failures through conquest, making for an intensely fanatical enemy whose destructive skills more than back up his endless arrogance.
Where To Find More General Zod Stories
Although General Zod is in the comic books (Action Comics #283), the character's biggest appearances have all been in big-screen movies. He appears in both Superman and Superman II, then one more time for modern audiences in Man Of Steel, which was produced despite the myriad of other DC canceled films.
4 Brainiac
Whether he's a living supercomputer or just a wired-up alien, Brainiac possesses immense knowledge of the universe. He uses this knowledge to fuel his ever-increasing arsenal of technological weapons, turning them on unsuspecting planets with the goal of absorbing their data into his own.
In some continuities, Brainiac was the Kryptonian AI responsible for covering up the planet's impending destruction, effectively making him responsible for the extinction of Superman's people. This makes their rivalry more longstanding and personal than most foes. Moreover, it gives the Man of Steel even more reason to reduce him to scrap, twisting Superman into an undeserving antagonist.
Where To Find More Brainiac Stories
Brainiac might have the feeling of a lesser villain, but he's so popular that he gets introduced in several different forms of media. Find him in comic books (Action Comics #242), movies (Superman: Unbound), video games (Injustice 2), and TV Shows (Smallville and Krypton).
3 Doomsday
Emerging seemingly out of nowhere, this hulking monster immediately goes on a killing spree. It decimates everything in its path and even tears through the Justice League, stripped of all thought except the fight. When the Man of Steel finally engages the beast, the ensuing battle takes everything he has, ending in a draw as they both lie dead amidst the rubble.
Doomsday doesn't have the dynamic personality or colorful gimmicks of most supervillains. Nevertheless, he killed the unkillable Superman, and he did it without Kryptonite, weaponry, or even provocation. He's a force of nature that can't be understood and exists only to destroy. Somebody get this monster one of the DC's pets, maybe that will calm him down.
Where To Find More Doomsday Stories
Doomsday was first briefly introduced in Superman: The Man Of Steel #17 and was so immediately iconic that he gained a feature role in the very next release, Superman: The Man Of Steel #18. He gained even more notoriety for killing Superman in a fight during The Death Of Superman series and remains the only villain to kill Superman in a straight-up fight. Doomsday was portrayed in the movies during Batman V Superman: The Dawn Of Justice, though in a minor role.
2 Darkseid
Not many comic villains run their own planet, but Darkseid rules over Apokolips with an iron fist. This god wields tremendous might and lethal cunning, subjugating anyone in his way to bring order to a chaotic universe. Though he has legions of followers, he views Superman as his greatest potential vassal. He's even tricked the Man of Steel (and those close to him) into doing his will on more than one occasion.
This makes Superman hate him more than most enemies. Not only does Darkseid represent the ultimate abuse of his immense power, but he's caused the hero to become the very villain he fights against. If only the hero could learn from his past mistakes.
Where To Find More Darkseid Stories
The concept of Darkseid is mentioned in earlier comics, but he's completely reinvented and essentially debuts in 1971's The Forever People series. Though the protagonists of the series fell into obscurity, Darkseid was so wildly successful that he eventually tangled with Superman in The Justice League. In the DC Aminated Universe, Darkseid is a reoccurring character for both the films and the movies. Perhaps his most well-known role for the modern generation is in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
1 Lex Luthor
At first glance, Lex Luthor represents the best of humanity. He has brains, brawn, and riches, having built a vast corporate empire that practically runs Metropolis through technological innovation. Yet, Superman's presence renders it all meaningless to Lex. While the bald businessman had to make compromises and claw his way up through hardship, the Man of Steel has everything and more thanks to his alien biochemistry. He's seemingly incorruptible despite this power, which is an extra slap that Lex doesn't trust for a second.
From that perspective, Luthor's plight represents the ultimate failure of the human condition. To fight against Superman, Luthor can't break his body, but he can try to break Superman's heart.
Where To Find More Lex Luthor Stories
Lex Luthor has drastically evolved since his original incarnation for Action Comics #23. He's gone from mad scientist to politician to corporate leader and sometimes blends all three of those roles at once. A book all about him called Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography popped up in 1989 that defined Luthor as the villain he is known to be in the modern era. He even becomes president in Superman: Lex 2000.