Highlights

• Lady Clayface, Jinx, and Foara are iconic female villains in DC Comics with unique powers and abilities.
• Cheshire, Knockout, and Rose Wilson are formidable foes who use their seductive skills and enhanced strengths in their evil pursuits.
• Queen Bee, Blackfire, and Talia al Ghul are powerful and dominant villains who have clashed with superheroes like the Justice League and Batman.

“The hammer of justice is unisex.” This great quote is from none other than Batman, and something that couldn’t be more true when it comes to the DC Universe. No matter the gender, villainy is around every corner, in every multiverse. There are some great female villains in DC Comics, and the most iconic deserve the utmost recognition, not that it undermines the plethora of female characters in DC Comics.

These female villains are noted for their dedicated time on the comic pages and the turmoil that they put famous DC heroes in. It takes experience and guts to be an iconic female villain, and these characters are the best of the best for their feats and the legacy that expands with every year in the comics.

Updated on February 7, 2024 by Ben Painter: DC Comics has some iconic villains in its roster, big players like Lex Luthor, Doomsday and the Joker are some of the best. But female characters have as much of an impact as the male ones with several characters cementing their place as some of the most iconic. Harley Quinn has been shone to superstar status as a character and her latest mainstream appearances are in the latest DC video game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and her own animated series, Harley Quinn. But the Margot Robbie played character is not the only iconic female DC villain in the comics...

25 Lady Clayface

First Appearance: Outsiders #21 (July, 1987)

• Powers & Abilities: Metamorphosis, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Stamina, Power Replication.

Casual fans of DC may know the name of the Batman villain Clayface, but hardcore fans will know who Basil Karlo's female counterpart, Lady Clayface is.

Also known as Sondra Fuller or Lady Clay, she was transformed into a clay-like being by the Kobra Cult as a willing participant as she hated her own face and has become a valued foe to the vigilante group, the Outsiders. Along with the original Clayface and Preston Payne (Clayface III) to form the Mud Pack. She has earned her spot as an iconic DC villain in her own right due to her recent comic appearances.

24 Jinx

First Appearance: Tales of the Teen Titans #56 (August, 1985)

• Powers & Abilities: Magic, Energy Projection, Flight, Geokinesis, Pyrokinesis, Aerokinesis, Telekinesis

The Teen Titans are one of the most famous superhero teams in the DC Universe and Jinx is a regular combatant, so it makes sense that she is one of the more recognizable female DC Villains.

As a powerful sorcerer, Jinx is a member of the Fearsome FIVE along with Mammoth, Psimon, Doctor Light, and Gizmo, and she has battled many heroes throughout her run in the comics. The character has been featured in the popular animated series Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! and made her live-action bout in season 4 of Titans.

23 Foara

First Appearance: Action Comics #471 (May 1977)

• Powers & Abilities: Heat Vision, Super-Hearing, Enhanced Vision, Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision, Telescopic Vision, X-Ray Vision, Flight, Invulnerability, Enhanced Immunity, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Reflexes, Super-Breath, Longevity

A Kryptonian supervillain, Foara possesses all the powers of Superman, so, therefore, she is insanely dangerous. She was imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, thus surviving Krypton's destruction. A regular ally of General Zod, Faora shares his ideals of creating the perfect world for "pure Kryptonians" and will destroy anything or anyone that gets in her way.

In the mainstream, she was played by Antje Traue in the DCEU's Man of Steel and again in The Flash. The character also served as an inspiration for Ursa in 1978's Superman.

22 Cheshire

First Appearance: New Teen Titans Annual #2 (September, 1983)

• Abilities: Hand-to-hand Combat, Martial Arts, Acrobatics, Poison Specialist, Seduction.

Once stated by Black Canary as the second-deadliest female assassin (behind Lady Shiva), Cheshire is just that. And, she is also a master of poison, coating her nails with toxins to deliver deadly blows.

A regular enemy of the Titans, Jade Nguyen has routinely been romantically involved with Arsenal, Roy Harper. With an iconic mask and twin sai weaponry, Cheshire has become an iconic DC villain over the years. She was a big player in the Young Justice animated series as the sister of the main character Artemis. Cheshire cannot be trusted. Using the art of seduction, men fall to their knees, and she gets them right where she wants them.

21 Knockout

First Appearance: Superboy (vol. 4) #1 (February 1994)

• Powers & Abilities: Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Durability, Immortality, Accelerated Healing

Originally from the planet of Apokolips, she was one of Granny Goodness' Female Furies but was first encountered as an enemy of Superboy not long after he moved to Hawaii in the ‘90s.

She has used her powers of seduction and super strength to aid her in her quest for evil. She has been a member of the Suicide Squad but was killed in 2007 by Infinity-Man as he tracked down and killed New Gods. A short but iconic appearance in DC Comics, in other media she made an appearance in 2018's animated movie, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.

20 Rose Wilson

First Appearance: Deathstroke #15 (October 1992)

• Powers & abilities: Unique Physiology, Enhanced Mental Capabilities, Perfect Recall, Eidetic Kinesthesia, Accelerated Healing, Enhanced Strength, Enhanced Agility, Enhanced Speed, Enhanced Stamina, Enhanced Reflexes, Intuitive Precognition.

As the daughter of Deathstroke, Rose Wilson has big boots to fill, but this character draws the line between good and evil and has even joined the Teen Titans, the team that her father has sought to destroy.

Sometimes known as Ravager, Rose has had some play in the spotlight featuring in the TV show Titans, showcasing her set of skills. This includes the ability to replicate anything once she has seen it once, combining this with her enhanced speed, strength, and agility, she is a worthy foe of those who oppose her, whether that be the heroes or the villains.

19 Queen Bee

First Appearance: Justice League of America #23 (November 1963)

• Powers & abilities: Alien Physiology, Bee Control, Flight, Hypno Pollen, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed

Zazzala of the hive-world of Korll, is a villain that has tangled with the Justice League on multiple occasions over the years, and plots for the interstellar expansion of her species.

With a powerset that includes the control of bees, flight, and hypno pollen (which allows her to take command anyone to do as she pleases), she is a dominant foe and deserves to be the star villain of a movie. Queen Bee has featured in Young Justice, Justice League Unlimited, and Smallville but these have only been minor roles.

18 Blackfire

First Appearance: The New Teen Titans #22 (August 1982)

• Powers & abilities: Tamaranean Physiology, Linguistic Assimilation, Energy Absorption, Flight, Interstellar Travel, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Strength, Prehensile Tongue, Cold and Heat Immunity, Blackbolts.

It appears that most comic characters have some form of evil sibling and Starfire is no exception as her big sister Blackfire is her polar opposite.

Just like Starfire of the Teen Titans, Komand'r or Blackfire hails from Tamaran, and on the day of her birth the Citadel Empire attacked the Tamaranean city of Kyssar and took the lives of over 3,000 citizens despite her just being born she was blamed for this attack and stripped of her birthright as the ruler of Tamaran. This drove her to detest her people and her sister who was given the title instead of her.

17 Talia Al Ghul

First Appearance: Detective Comics #411 (May 1971)

• Powers & abilities: Longevity, Genius Level Intellect, Business Management, Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced), Marksmanship, Swordsmanship.

A true challenge for Batman is Talia al Ghul. Not only is she the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, head of the Demon and user of the Lazarus Pit, but she has all of his finances, skills, battle knowledge, deranged sense of morality, and more. Talia makes herself a great adversary of her fighting abilities and her love for Batman.

What makes Talia al Ghul a compelling villain is her loyalty and hatred to her father and the fact that she is the mother of Bruce Wayne’s child, Damian Wayne. Talia has cemented herself into the Wayne bloodline with Damian as the heir to Batman and the Demon.

16 Martha Wayne

First Appearance: Flashpoint Vol 2 #1 (July 2011)

The Joker is one of the most famous villains of all time. So what happens when The Flash creates an alternate timeline in Flashpoint that turns Martha Wayne into The Joker? What happens, is an iconic villain is born. There’s an immense tragedy in Martha Wayne’s villainy, as she became the Joker after watching Joe Chill murder her son, Bruce Wayne.

Martha Wayne took the Joker look a step further, by carving a permanent smile into her face by slicing at her cheeks. As the Joker, Martha Wayne became the arch-rival of her husband, Thomas Wayne, who became Batman. It’s an interesting look into the Flashpoint timeline and a fresh take on the Joker/Batman mythos.

15 Circe

First Appearance: Wonder Woman #37 (September/October 1949)

• Powers & abilities: Magic, Projective Animal Metamorphosis, Matter Transmogrification, Reality Alteration, Immortality, Alter Minds, Magic Blasts, Magical Shields, Clairvoyance, Illusion Castin, Teleportation.

Wonder Woman and the Amazons have their work cut out for them thanks to the sheer hatred and villainy of Circe. Circe is immortal and has been honing her skills in magical powers for centuries. With Circe unleashed, she wastes no time in transforming innocent people into animal hybrids called the Ani-Men, creating an army of humanoid animals.

Wonder Woman’s love and compassion mean that she one day believes that Circe can redeem herself, which makes her villainy a difficult task to manage without killing her. Perhaps one day, Diana will see Circe turn a new leaf, but that day has not yet come, despite cracks in the villainous appearance.

14 Enchantress

First Appearance: Strange Adventures #187 (April 1966)

• Powers & abilities: Magic, Bio-Fission, Energy Projection, Eldritch Blast, Energy Construct Creation, Force Field, Flight, Molecular Reconstruction, Necromancy, Possession, Psychokinesis, Atmokinesis, Elemental Control, Cryokinesis, Electrokinesis, Chronokinesis, Mechanokinesis, Telekinesis, Reality Alteration, Resurrection, Telepathy, Empathy, Illusion Casting, Teleportation.

Magic users are often underappreciated in DC Comics, but Enchantress will make people remember just how fearful they should be of magic. Enchantress is a magic-wielding super-villain, and what makes her most interesting is the fact that she is nigh immortal, and uses the innocent woman, June Moone, as a vessel for her great power.

As the host, June Moone is a lovely woman, but when Enchantress breaks out, Earth will pay with its blood for confining her. Enchantress has battled many and has recently seen a lot of fame alongside the Suicide Squad.

13 Amanda Waller

First Appearance: Legends #1 (November 1986)

As far as DC villains females go, Amanda Waller is perhaps the one with the most power and grit. Although her power is not physical, that does not stop some iterations of the character from having great combat abilities. Amanda Waller has ultimate government power.

Although Waller may not be strictly a villain, her morality certainly is gray enough to class her as such. Waller does not care which of her agents dies, as they are all assets to her. She even works with and gives plea deals to villains, showing how methodical she is.

12 Livewire

First Appearance: Superman: The Animated Series "Livewire"

• Powers & abilities: Electrokinesis, Electron Reconstruction, Energy Absorption, Electro-Blast, Intangibility, Phasing, Electromagnetism.

Electricity powers have always been iconic when it comes to the superhero format. However, Livewire is one of the few characters that puts that into villainy. Livewire is a powerful enemy that takes the fight to none other than Superman, a metahuman known as Leslie Willis with shocking potential.

With growing powers in Electrokinesis, there’s a lot of potential for Livewire as a villain. Her villain costume is great, and has the essence of an electric rebel. The fact that she can absorb energy also makes her a dangerous opponent, especially in a world completely dependent on electricity.

11 Punchline

First Appearance: Batman (vol. 3) #89 (April 2020)

With only two years of history, Punchline is quickly becoming an iconic villain. Not only in Gotham City but in the DC mythos. Alexis Kaye has had her past explored and continues to be a threat to the Bat Family in Gotham City, through her manipulation of the public, and her sharp mind.

When Harley Quinn broke free from the deranged relationship of Gotham’s iconic villainous coupling of The Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime went solo on his tirade against Batman. That was until the intelligent and obsessive Punchline became the Joker’s new right-hand woman, a new duo to plunge Gotham into chaos.

10 Cheetah

First Appearance: Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #7 (August 1987)

• Powers & abilities: Cheetah Physiology, Claws, Enhanced Senses, Enhanced Hearing, Enhanced Sense of Smell, Fangs, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Stamina, Accelerated Healing, Void Wind, Cosmic Awareness.

A villain who battles with Wonder Woman, and lives to tell the tale, is an iconic villain indeed. Dr. Barbara Minerva was a British archaeologist, empowered by the plant god Urzkartaga, or cursed, to turn her into a cannibalistic cheetah woman. With an intense speed, strength, and desire for Wonder Woman’s death, Cheetah is a true threat to the DC Universe.

Cheetah has a great intellect, which matches the other powers she has, like strength and durability. However, being a Cheetah comes with its disadvantages, as she certainly must not enjoy the furballs that may arise when she has to groom.

9 Granny Goodness

First Appearance: Mister Miracle #2 (May 1971)

• Powers & abilities: New God Physiology, Immortality, Invulnerability, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman, Stamina, Superhuman Reflexes, Toxic Immunity.

There have been many “big bad” for the DC Universe over the years. However, perhaps none is more famed than that Darkseid. Some characters live only to serve Darkseid and his army, and one of the most loyal beings in his command is Granny Goodness, a cruel lieutenant, and despot of Apokolips.

Granny Goodness’ might come from the years of devotion to Darkseid, and how she is a capable warrior, despite the deceiving appearance of her age and name. She trains those at the Orphanage and commands the Female Furies, which has seen members like Supergirl and Big Barda.

8 Lady Shiva

First Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #5 (December 1975)

• Powers & abilities: Martial Arts

Renowned in the DC Universe as the world’s greatest martial artist, and one of the deadliest women to exist, Lady Shiva has been shown as a ruthless villain. What makes Shiva so dangerous, is that she serves only herself, meaning that her interests alone could be a threat to both heroes and villains that get in her way.

One of the many reasons that Shiva is so iconic is not only because of her fighting ability but her daughter, Cassandra Cain. Cassandra Cain became Batgirl and is perhaps one of the few martial artists that could best Batman in a hand-to-hand fight, including her mother.

7 Catwoman

First Appearance: Batman #1 (April 1940)

• Powers & abilities: Nine Lives, Peak Human Condition, Acrobatics

In more modern times, Catwoman has become quite the anti-hero. She’s been the long-time love interest of Batman, and the two share a rather complicated, and convoluted future. However, what makes Catwoman so special is that she is not defined purely by her relationship with Batman, but by the villainous acts around the world.

Catwoman is in essence, a masterful thief. There isn’t anything she can’t get her hands on. She’s fought heroes and villains and usually comes out on top, richer than before. She’s one of the more complex characters in Batman’s Rogue Gallery.

6 Grail

First Appearance: Justice League Vol 2 #40 (June, 2015)

• Powers & abilities: Amazon/New God Hybrid Physiology, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Agility, Immortality, Enhanced Senses, Omega Beams, Will Corruption, Magic, Dimensional Travel, Resurrection, Summoning.

Few characters have such a terrible fate of being prophecized to cause ultimate destruction. Grail is the daughter of Darkseid, a title that would intimidate all that Grail comes across. However, Grail is more than just her father’s daughter. Grail even helped stir in motion the events of the Darkseid War, in which she helped the Anti-Monitor declare war on Darkseid.

Even after Darkseid’s death, she was not free from her father and decided to use the newborn Darkseid for her gain. Only Grail can be so cruel and sadistic as to raise her father into an even worse monster than he already was, and to seek the death of all gods.