Summary
- Dark creatures make the DC universe terrifying.
- DC has the strongest villains, like Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor.
- Villains like Perpetua and The Darkest Knight control the multiverse.
Being home to many dark creatures, the DC Universe is terrifying. In fact, when it comes to creating menacing supervillains, arguably, none do it better than DC. From maniacal clowns to cosmic entities trying to reshape the multiverse, DC Comics has it all.
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With so many villains existing altogether, being a member of the Justice League might not seem like such a fun job. However, not all of these antagonists are universe-level threats, but the ones who are can defeat even the mightiest of superheroes without breaking a sweat. That said, here are the strongest villains of all time throughout the DC Multiverse.
Updated On March 11, 2025, by C.M Edwards: DC Comics continues to retain one of the most vast comic book universes in history, comprised of dozens of heroes and villains. The constant pull of right and wrong, good and evil that holds the fate of multiple worlds has been an entertainment rollercoaster for nearly one hundred years. While the heroes shine the brightest in DC Comics, there would be no light without the darkness. Supervillains are synonymous with superheroes, as there will always be those who fight for justice and those who seek to destroy it. The villains of DC Comics are some of the greatest to ever debut in fiction, from misunderstood clowns to galactic-level omnipotent entities. The villains place heroes under pressure so that they come out the other side stronger, and DC has some of the strongest villains on the market. Hopefully, some will take the stage in the new direction of the DC Cinematic Universe. Here are more of the strongest villains in DC Comics.
14 Mongul
The Ruthless Conquerer Of Warworld
- First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #27 - The Key That Unlocked Chaos
In terms of cruelty, Mongul outweighs most villains on this list by a mile. Originating as a Superman villain, Mongul was elevated as the supreme commander of the Warworld. Roaming the galaxy as the conqueror of dozens of civilizations, Mongul would enslave entire planets and put them to work as his entertainment.
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Mongul is a capable fighter, with physiology capable of withstanding damage from Kryptonians, and a healing factor capable of keeping him at peak form. On top of his brawn, Mongul possesses a genius-level intellect and is well-versed in multiple fields, such as genealogy, xenoherbology, and strategy.
13 Mr. Mxyzptlk
Reality-Warping Imp
- First Appearance: Superman #30
The pint-sized master of reality is one of the most powerful villains in DC Comics. Hailing from the fifth dimension, Mr. Mxyzptlk was created by Jerry Siegel and Ira Yarbough, first appearing in Superman #30. Mr. Mxyzptlk has the ability to alter reality on a universal scale.
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He could make Superman a regular human being or make himself the strongest being in the universe. Unfortunately, Mr. Mxyzptlk is ruled by his fickle nature and curiosity. He could do anything he wanted, but he would rather do what's fun. Mr. Mxyzptlk's power is so great it allows the Joker to become the Emperor of the World.
12 Parallax
The Embodiment Of Fear
- First Appearance: Green Lantern #50 - Emerald Twilight
Known as the source of fear in the universe, Parallax is an emotional entity that was created before the universe had light. Used as the emotional power source for the yellow lantern rings, Parallax is a living being who can possess anyone with fear in their heart and instill fear in others.
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Created by Daryl Banks, Ron Marz, Ethan Van Sciver, and Geoff Johns, Parallax first appeared in Green Lantern #50 - Emerald Twilight. Parallax has sent shockwaves throughout the DC universe having possessed some of the mightiest heroes and villains, such as Hal Jordon, Kyle Rayner, and Sinestro. The entities of the emotional spectrum are said to be some of the most powerful in the universe, making Parallax an incredibly dangerous foe for any and all parties involved.
11 Brainiac
The All-Knowing Interactive Construct
- First Appearance: Action Comics #242 - The Super Duel
Braniac is one of the longest-standing villains in the DC Comics universe and has a history directly tied to Superman and Krypton. Brainiac was a robotic organism that originated on the planet Colun. He is a cosmic-level being who exists outside of time and space, sending out avatars of his consciousness to harvest civilizations as the Collector.
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Brainiac is a consumer of knowledge and has had multiple iterations over the years, from a single humanoid form to a monstrous planet. While there are many Brainiacs throughout history, not all of whom are villains, the name alone is enough to spark fear.
10 Superboy-Prime
Superman's Evil Counterpart From Another Dimension
- First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #87 (November 1985)
Hailing from Earth Prime, Superboy-Prime is one of the strongest alternate versions of Superman. Initially introduced as a superhero, this character later transitioned into villainy due to resentment towards his peers. As a dark reflection of the Man of Steel, Superboy-Prime acquires all the traditional Kryptonian abilities. However, his powers are greatly amplified in the comics, making him one of the most formidable villains in the DC Multiverse.
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Besides his enhanced abilities, Superboy-Prime can alter reality to his will, making him a multiversal threat. In the Infinite Crisis storyline, his brute strength is displayed as he kills multiple alternate versions of Superman. On top of that, this character has killed The Flash and many Green Lanterns, making him a truly lethal antagonist.
9 Helspont
An intergalactic Threat Of The Highest Order
- First Appearance: WildC.A.T.S - Covert Action Team #1
Helspont originated as a Daemonite, an engineered race created to serve, but it rebelled and became an intergalactic menace throughout the DC Universe. With the abilities of shapeshifting and possession, Helspont was able to acquire a powerful body and attain a new level of existence.
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This turned him into the remaining threat of the Wild Cats and Mister Majestic. With a myriad of powers such as telekinesis, telepathy, flight, and strength comparable to Superman, Helspont is a vicious combatant and an intelligent strategist who plagues the galaxy on a regular basis.
8 Nekron
The Embodiment Of Death And Destruction
- First Appearance: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (June 1981)
When a character is the literal embodiment of death, it’s bound to be terrifying. Popular for being an adversary to the Green Lantern Corps, Nekron serves as a powerful character representing the afterlife and darkness. As the ruler of The Land of the Unliving, a purgatory for dead souls, Nekron draws his power from the souls of the deceased.
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Being closely related to death, his abilities follow the thematics. Nekron can raise the dead and turn them into Black Lanterns. On top of restoring life to the deceased souls, he can also kill with a single touch. In his hunt to achieve universal death in the Blackest Night Storyline, Nekron raises an army of dead heroes and villains to wage war against the living.
7 Doomsday
Superman's Greatest Foe
- First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (1992)
Serving as one of the main antagonists of Superman and the Justice League, Doomsday is a monstrous creation. Primarily created on Krypton to be the greatest weapon in the universe, Doomsday acquires many powerful abilities. Besides the traditional Kryptonian powers, this monstrosity can manipulate toxins and use them for offense.
In the battle against Superman in The Death of Superman storyline, Doomsday was able to defeat Superman, creating one of the most iconic moments in DC. With his weird scales, super-human strength, and invulnerability, Doomsday has solidified himself as one of the strongest characters in the comic world.
6 Imperiex
Lord Of Entropy
- First Appearance: Superman: No Limits
Imperiex was created by Jeph Loeb and Mike McKone, first appearing in Superman: No Limits, which was a collected issue of various Superman stories. IMperiex is an unstoppable force that drives fear down the spines of even the strongest villains, one of which being Mongul. Possessing the power of the Big Bang, Impriex eradicated entire galaxies like sand castles without an inkling of remorse.
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Seeking to remake the universe in his image, he set his sights toward Earth and the Milky Way. Superman had to combine with another entity just to halt Imperiex's march on his home. Even then, he was only able to damage Imepriex's armor, which caused the immense energy swirling within him to leak out and threaten the entire universe with a cataclysmic explosion.
5 Trigon
Master Of Dark Magic
- First Appearance: New Teen Titans #2 (1980)
In a world where Nekron is the embodiment of death, Trigon is the embodiment of pure evil. Hailing from Azarath, Trigon is one of the darkest creatures in all of DC. As the father of Raven, this character serves as one of the key villains for the Teen Titans. Ruling over hundreds of worlds in his dimension, Trigon possesses cosmic-level power.
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From draining the soul out of his enemies to manipulating energy, Trigon’s list of abilities is pretty extensive. In fact, when in contrast with other cosmic-level beings, Trigon often surpasses their powers. On top of that, he possesses extensive knowledge of dark magic and the supernatural, making him a true creature of evil.