dc time travel villains

DC Comics: 10 Villains Who Can Time Travel

From Epoch to Reverse-Flash, here are 10 DCcomics villains with the power to travel through time.

One of the most powerful forces in the world of comics is time travel. The ability to see haunted pasts, harrowing futures or change the course of history, is a major story device in the world of DC Comics . Often the heroes of the multiverse have to stop universe-shattering events by going into the past or future.

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A large part of this is because of villains with the ability to travel through time. From world conquerors to thieves and arch-nemesis galore, let’s take some time to look at the ten most powerful villains who can travel through time.

The first villain who has mastered time travel as part of their evil arsenal is Epoch. Otherwise known as the Lord of Time, Epoch was a powerful entity from the year 3786, gathering a massive army from the past and future to battle the JLA for his own nefarious purposes.

Using his chrono-cube to peel back the veil of the fourth dimension and travel through time, Epoch was driven to master time and space and become it’s ultimate ruler, and even was capable of eliminating the JLA by destroying their ancestors and erasing them from existence and changing events to give himself even more power.

9 Per Degaton

While not as notorious as other villains, this classic time travel villain is known for his obsession with time travel and his ruthlessness. That villain is Per Degaton, a man obsessed with using time travel to further his own goals. After working with the Time Trust for a while, he sabotaged the JSA’s mission to obtain a bomb-proof shield by messing with the formula.

Later he takes out a scientist he had been working with who develops a time machine, but his attempts at using the machine for himself prove fruitless. However, over time he gains the power to see a short while into the future, giving him an advantage in battle.

This next villain began her career as a henchman to the Time Trapper during the 1960’s run of Legion of Super-Heroes comics, but evolved into a much larger threat after the continuity of comics was affected by the removal of Superboy after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths .

That villain is Glorith, who went from a henchman to the primary threat rather than the Time Trapper during the Five Years Later storyline of comics. After a complex continuity plot involving the Time Trapper, Mon-El and Superboy was retconned, Glorith became the central villain who messed up the Legion’s timeline and created the Glorith-verse.

7 Lady Chronos

The next villain is the third in a long line of villains who have taken on a time travel mantle. A young woman named Jia took on the mantle of the villain Chronos, taking on the name Lady Chronos. Jia was once the young love interest of Ryan Choi , a young man who would take on the mantle of The Atom from his mentor Ray Palmer.

However, Jia would prove to be more ruthless than Ryan knew. After years apart, he learned after she had reentered his life that her husband, recently returned from the dead, had been taken out by Jia herself. She discovered Chronos’s blueprints and became a villain.

6 Abra Kadabra

This next villain is a well-known foe of the Flash, using technology to make himself appear as a magician and sorcerer who is able to traverse time itself. That villain is Abra Kadabra, aka Citizen Abra. Hailing from the 64th century, he desired to be a stage magician but lived in a time when technology had made magic obsolete.

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Traveling to the modern era of time, he used a time machine to allow him to commit crimes and ended up on the Flash’s radar. This led to the two becoming bitter enemies, and later coming into conflict with the Teen Titans and other heroes.

One of the more obsessed and ruthless time-traveling villains in the DC Universe is David Clinton, the most popular and well-known villain to take on the name of Chronos. He is the sworn arch-enemy of The Atom, aka Ray Palmer. The villain began life as a petty thief who dedicated himself to studying synchronization and time itself, attributing it to his lack of success thus far.

After his sentence, he adopted the costume of Chronos and labeled himself the Time Thief. While he battled other heroes like Blue Beetle and Green Lantern, he became obsessed with Ray Palmer instead.

4 Time Trapper

A truly mysterious and ultimately powerful foe who can traverse time itself is none other than the Time Trapper. While not much is known of the Time Trapper’s past, he was at one point confirmed to be a renegade member of the Controllers. However, his primary role has been a consistent foe of the Legion of Super-Heroes .

After he aroused suspicions amongst the Legion by constructing his Iron Curtain of Time, which allowed him to prevent the Legion from traveling more than 30 days into the future, he became a major enemy of the team, even helping bring Superboy-Prime back years later.

3 Timothy Drake

One powerful force of nature who has traveled through time and alternate dimensions is Timothy Drake, the future Tim Drake of the Titans Tomorrow timeline. Met by the DC Universe’s mainstream Tim Drake after being captured by Mr. Oz during the DC Rebirth era, Timothy Drake reveals in his timeline he has become Batman.

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However, things go from bad to worse when Tim learns this version of himself became a ruthless vigilante, taking out villains and allies alike who crossed his path. He blamed Batwoman for his path in life and traveled back in time to take her life and prevent his future.

The second most powerful foe of the DC Universe with the ability to travel through time is Monarch, the futuristic leader of a dystopian Earth who was once a hero in the modern era of DC Comics. After a scientist who studies temporal science determines a hero is the one who becomes Monarch, he finds a way to travel back in time to stop Monarch.

However, Monarch monitored the scientist’s movements and traveled back in time to stop him, taking on the Justice League in the process. Monarch proved to be a futuristic Hank Hall, who after beating his future self maintains the balance by sacrificing himself to become the villain.

1 Reverse-Flash

The most powerful villain to wield power over the use of time travel is Eobard Thawne, aka the Reverse-Flash. The Flash’s most bitter enemy, Eobard started out as a criminal from the future who found the Flash suit and reversed its coloring, using the tachyon device to become the Reverse-Flash.

However, he went on to become one of the Flash’s most devious villains, revealing himself as the man responsible for every horrendous moment in Barry Allen’s life, including the passing of his own mother Nora Allen. This led to a bitter rivalry that started events like Flashpoint and more.

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The most dangerous DC Universe villains

There are great supervillains - and then there are the most dangerous supervillains to the DC Universe

If you walk into any comic book shop where superhero books are sold, you might hear customers hanging out in the store talking about how DC has the best superheroes, but Marvel Comics has the best supervillains…

Or wait a minute … is that the other way around?

Whichever way the old adage goes, DC is well represented when talking about the best supervillains in comics - including icons like Lex Luthor, the Joker, and the Penguin whose fame transcends the comic book page.  

But among DC supervillains, who are the most dangerous ? The most significant threats to the universe?

That's an altogether different equation. And it's one that may soon have to be reckoned with again in the wake of the current Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event. The JLA are missing in action and presumed dead by the rest of the DC Universe at the hands of the villainous Pariah and his Dark Army.

For now, though, these are the most dangerous DC villains of all time.

10. Eclipso

Eclipso is one of the darkest figures in the DCU, coming straight out of biblical lore as God's right-hand man when it comes to vengeance. But when this supervillain went too far, he was cast out of God's good graces and left to cause even more harm. But he didn't start that way.

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When he was introduced back in 1963, Eclipso was little more than a Jekyll-and-Hyde-type villain inhabiting the body of a scientist named Bruce Gordon. But in 1992, writers Robert Loren Fleming and Kieth Giffen transformed Eclipso into his modern demonic persona in the story Eclipso: The Darkness Within . Now as the spirit of vengeance for God (yeah, that one), Eclipso took on all the big players and almost triumphed if not for his old host Gordon stepping in to stop him.

In the intervening years, Eclipso has been proven responsible for everything from Noah's Flood from the Bible, injuring an actual angel, possessing Superman and Jean Loring, and even planning to kill God in the Justice League of America book.

Though the character often changes forms - as is the nature of the entity known as Eclipso - the Black Diamond and its powers have remained a fairly steady presence in the DC Universe, even through the 'New 52' and 'Rebirth' eras.

9. Time Trapper

Known as one of the biggest of the big bads in the DCU, the Time Trapper is – as his name suggests – a time traveler and someone who uses that control of time for his own sinister purposes. Created back in 1964's Adventure Comics #317 , the Time Trapper has been a major force in the DCU through events like Zero Hour , Final Crisis , and face-offs with Wonder Woman, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and more.

Based in a secret lair at the end of time itself, the Time Trapper's power is essentially mastery over time. He can stop, speed up, alter or even split time. In the past, he has even created his own pocket dimensions. 

His true origins have been retconned numerous times, and the Time Trapper has had multiple backstories and identities (somewhat similar to Marvel's Kang the Conqueror ). Over the years, the Time Trapper has been 'revealed' as the future self of Superboy-Prime, a version of Legionnaire Cosmic Boy, and even a sentient timeline.

You think Eclipso as God's agent of Vengeance is a big deal? Wait until you meet Nekron, the living embodiment of Death. 

Created back in 1981's Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 by Mike Barr, Len Wein, and Joe Staton, Nekron was introduced as the ruler of an underworld dimension similar to Hell called the Dead Zone that acts as a purgatory for the recently departed before they reach their final destination.

Nekron reached his pinnacle in 2009, when he was revealed as the mastermind behind the Black Lanterns and the instigator of the Blackest Night event series. During that series, he took over the bodies of Superman, Wonder Woman, and a host of other heroes, and even resurrected a menagerie of dead heroes to fight in his army. Narrowly defeated, he arose once more in the final issues of Geoff Johns' Green Lantern comic when Hal Jordan briefly becomes a Black Lantern.

As far as powers go, Nekron can resurrect any deceased person and kill with a simple touch, and has far-reaching reality-warping powers. Writer Geoff Johns once described Nekron as "the most powerful dark force in the DC Universe," which is big given the others we have left to go on our list here.

Black Lanterns have recently played roles in Dark Nights: Death Metal and the Infinite Frontier event limited series. 

7. Batman Who Laughs

In what will not be the only occurrence of this phenomenon on this list, our next entry is actually an alternate version of one of DC's greatest heroes - in this case, a terrifyingly twisted take on Batman.

Dubbed the Batman Who Laughs (thanks to his Jokerized demeanor), the villain was originally the Bruce Wayne/Batman of Earth-22 of the Dark Multiverse, itself a horrific reflection of the mainstream DC Multiverse. When he became 'Jokerized' after killing his world's Joker, the Batman Who Laughs went mad enough to rampage across the entirety of DC's existence seeking ultimate power.

And obtain it he did, in 2020's Dark Knights: Death Metal event, when merged with the body of an alternate Earth Bruce Wayne that became Watchmen's Doctor Manhatten, he almost destroyed all of reality as the omnipotent Darkest Knight. 

The storyline once again rewrote the DC Multiverse - but thankfully, not in the image of the Batman Who Laughs/Darkest Knight, who was fortunately defeated.

Instead, DC's Multiverse has been reborn as an omniverse, encompassing all possible DC characters, worlds, universes, and timelines.

The original Batman Who Laughs recently resurfaced in the latest Batman/Fortnite crossover Foundation , and its ending promised the DC Omniverse will be contending with his evil for years to come. 

6. Superboy-Prime

It's bad enough to be a dyed-in-the-wool villain, but it's even worse when you see one of your greatest heroes go to the dark side. But Superboy-Prime did just that.

Born to the name 'Clark Kent' on a parallel Earth that looks indistinguishable from our own mundane real world - down to Superman being a comic book character who inspired his parent's name choice - the events of 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths revealed that he did indeed have powers akin to Superman's.

As it turns out, it wasn't just a clever name choice on his parents' part - Superboy-Prime was, in fact, a Kryptonian, something he discovered just as the Anti-Monitor erased his timeline.

Though the boy known as 'Clark Kent' became a version of Superboy down to his costume, he was embittered by the loss of everything he knew and resented his fate at the end of Crisis, being relegated to a pocket dimension alongside an elder version of Superman and Lois Lane, watching the DCU change around him.

This sent Superboy-Prime on a downward spiral of mayhem, murder, and even the re-writing of reality before his reign of terror came to an end.

In his last appearance in 2020's Dark Knights: Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1 , he received something of a meta-redemption arc as part of the DC Universe reset Omniverse, but Superboy-Prime is only one writer's whim away from menacing the DC heroes again. 

5. Prometheus

You might think a supervillain with no powers can't be that big of a threat - but obviously, you haven't met Prometheus.

Prometheus first appeared in 1998's New Year's Evil: Prometheus as a wide-eyed superhero fanboy who won a chance to be a member of the JLA for a day. But as the issue unfolds he reveals himself to be one of the most hellbent, determined, and deadly villains to be introduced in modern comics history. 

His origin reads like a twisted version of Batman's, as the son of two small-time criminals whose death at the hands of law enforcement leads the young boy to grow up swearing vengeance against all forms of justice.

Though the most well-known Prometheus (whose real identity has not yet been revealed) was killed by the Green Arrow, another villain later took up his name and his place as one of DC's deadliest bad guys.

4. Parallax

Who can turn one of DC's brightest heroes into one of the baddest villains ever? Who can be the secret ingredient to the success of one of the great superhero teams of all time? This guy.

Originally thought to be just the dark side of Hal Jordan's mind when he turned evil, 2004's Green Lantern: Rebirth revealed that Parallax was a parasitic entity that took over Jordan's body and drove him down that murderous path. Even more, it was revealed that the yellow-colored Parallax entity was also the source for the Green Lantern rings' long-time weakness to the color yellow due to Parallax's imprisonment in the Central Power Battery on Oa.

Parallax's powers are far-ranging and sometimes nebulous, including intense mind-control abilities that can bend even heavyweights like the Spectre, Batman, and Superman. He can also create constructs of yellow light akin to those of the Green Lanterns - supplying his power and mastery over fear to the Yellow Lantern Sinestro Corps.

3. Anti-Monitor

Some villains come and go as they please in comics, appearing in conflicts big and small. But when characters like Anti-Monitor show up you know it's going to be a big deal.

Created back in 1985 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, the Anti-Monitor was the primary antagonist for the revelatory limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths , the first event to reshape DC's multiverse and kill off numerous characters, worlds, and timelines in the process. 

The death toll Anti-Monitor has established during his decades-long run in the DC Universe, in which he has often shown up to rewrite and revamp the Multiverse, is positively frightening - with everyone from Supergirl, to Flash, down to the Crime Syndicate of America, Starman, Green Arrow, Robin, and even the Losers falling under his attacks. 

Much like Thanos or Galactus over at Marvel, the Anti-Monitor can't be quantified as a villain for any one single hero or hero team; when he shows up, it's all hands on deck and then some. 

2. Crime Syndicate

Originally introduced in 1964's Justice League of America #29 , the Crime Syndicate of America marks one of DC's earliest experimentations with stories of its Multiverse, introducing the Crime Syndicate as the most powerful beings of Earth-3.

However, unlike their counterparts the Justice League, the Crime Syndicate comes from a world where everything is totally inverted - with the Syndicate acting as the villains and dictators of Earth-3.

As stated, all the members of the Crime Syndicate (whose roster has grown over the years) are dark, twisted takes on alternate versions of the Justice League, with similar powers and themes, but much more sinister motivations and origins.

The Crime Syndicate has been integral in many DC events over the years, with the core team of Ultraman, Power Ring, Johnny Quick, Owl-Man, and Superwoman remaining favorites of both fans and creators thanks to the way they turn classic DC archetypes on their heads.

In fact, the Crime Syndicate headlined their own 2021 title as part of DC's current 'Infinite Frontier' era.

1. Darkseid

Despite his seemingly small beginnings in 1970's Superman's Pal: Jimmy Olsen #134 , Darkseid is far and above the biggest badass in the DC Universe - and he'll tell you so himself.

Created by Jack Kirby as part of his far-reaching ' Fourth World ' mythos, Darkseid has grown from his humble beginnings to being one of the most recognizable faces of evil in all of superhero comics. One of the most powerful of the New Gods (the stars of the 'Fourth World Saga'), Darkseid is the unquestioned and unmerciful dictator of the planet Apokolips.

Though he was originally mostly confined to the stories of the 'Fourth World Saga,' in the late '70s and early '80s, Darkseid began branching out into the larger DC Universe, eventually becoming one of the publisher's top villains into TV and even movies, with his appearance in Zack Snyder 's Justice League.

Darkseid recently leveled up into an amalgamation of all his versions over DC's various reboots and retcons, and he considers himself the best Darkseid ever - though he's recently been under the thrall of the malevolent cosmic force known as the Great Darkness.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons . He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)

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Time Travel

Concept » Time Travel appears in 5283 issues .

Time travel in comics involves jumping or returning in time to change an event and therefore, altering history (alternately sometimes time travel is used simply as a means of exploration). Heroes generally protect the time stream, villains seek to profit from its manipulation.

Summary short summary describing this concept..

Amy Pond is a companion of The Doctor. She is more carefree than past companions and is more likely to question his intent. Meeting the Doctor at a young age she developed a fascination with him that later led to her joining him. She is married to Rory Williams.

When Ash went to a cabin in the woods with his girlfriend, he had no idea what he was be getting himself into. He unwittingly played a recorded evil incantation that unleashed demonic spirits, which possessed his girlfriend and his right hand. A reluctant savior, Ash is humanities' last hope.

Astro Boy was created by Osamu Tezuka, the "Father of Manga". As the story goes, Astro Boy is a child robot made by Dr. Tenma to replace his dead son. Instead, he becomes the greatest superhero.

Barry Allen

Having discovered his mother murdered and his father blamed for the act, forensic scientist Barry Allen sought to clear his father's name and find the real killer. After being doused in chemicals and struck by lightning, Barry was granted the gift of super-speed. Now he protects his hometown of Central City as The Flash, the fastest man alive and founding member of the Justice League.

Hailing from the 30th century, Bart Allen is the grandson of the Flash, Barry Allen and Iris Allen. Originally using the name Impulse and trained by Max Mercury, Bart utilizes the same powers of super-speed possessed by his grandfather and fights crime alongside the Teen Titans, known as Kid Flash and Wally West's sidekick.

Benjamin Sisko

Deep Space 9 Commanding officer.

From Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book.

Lucas Bishop is a mutant from the 22nd century that traveled into the past, becoming a member of the X-Men, and later, the Uncanny X-Force. He has the mutant ability to absorb and redirect any kinetic energy that is used against him or that is released in his general vicinity. He is the first black male team member within the X-Men Universe.

A malevolent entity bearing the appearance of Earth's Hero, Goku Black appeared in the timeline of Future Trunk's with the intent of eradicating humanity in the name of "justice". He was revealed to be none other than Zamasu, a rogue Kai from Universe 10, who had used the Super Dragon Balls to switch bodies with Goku.

Booster Gold

Humiliated in his own time-period, the 25th century, Michael Jon Carter stole future technology and a security robot named Skeets and traveled back into the 20th century to become the greatest hero you've never heard of: Booster Gold!

Leader of the Borg.

Bulldozer Smith

Bulldozer Smith is a ex-convict and strongman but now is a tunnel expert for Cave Carson's team.

Bulma Briefs

Bulma's family runs the Capsule Corporation. Bulma is the friend of Goku and Krillin. She is a scientist like her father. She is married to Vegeta. They have two children.

The once-mysterious Cable (a.k.a. Nathan Summers) is Cyclops' time-traveling son who was infected with the deadly techno-organic virus during his infancy, which he keeps at bay using his advanced psionic powers. At one time a founding member and leader of the militant team called X-Force, previously known as the New Mutants, Cable takes the aimless youths under his wing and whips them into fighting shape in order to prepare them for future threats.

Callisto blames Xena for the death of her family after her and her troops torched her village and has gone mad with rage.

Captain Braxton

Braxton is a temporal agent and a Starfleet from the 29th century. He encounters Captain Janeway and her crew twice, and is the cause for the alternate timeline in TNG; The Last Generation.

Cassandra is an Ultra Sapien time traveler that came from the future to stop the end of the world.

Cassandra Locke

A time-traveller from the future, involved with many events of the First Line.

Cave Carson

Cave Carson is a science-hero who, with his crews, has adventures in the worlds below.

Chakotay is the first officer of the U.S.S Voyager and former Maquis.

Christie Madison

Christie Madison is a renowned geologist for Cave Carson.

A time traveling darkwing duck Villain

David Clinton discovered the secrets of time travel. As the criminal Chronos, he became a time thief. An enemy of the Atom, Blue Beetle, and the Justice League of America.

Clara Brown

A woman from 1885 and Doc Brown's wife.

The most advanced Humanoid-Android in the universe.

Deanna Troi

Commander Troi is the counselor aboard the USS Enterprise under command of Captain Picard.

Director Burger

Dirk the Daring

The main protagonist of the Dragon's Lair video game series

Dabbling in forbiden sorcery destroyed Tuoni's body, leaving only the vengeance-seeking phantasm known as Dominus.

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Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter on DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

When time itself is in danger, it takes a master to save it. Enter Rip Hunter. He’s part of the legion of Time Masters that patrol and protect the timestream from those who would warp or change history to their benefit, while also guarding the secrets of the Multiverse.

Little is known about the origins of Rip Hunter, a time traveler from the distant future who appears during major events and works behind the scenes to ensure the safety of the space-time continuum. Throughout time, this enigmatic hero has teamed up with numerous members of the DC Universe—including the Justice League—in order to fix and maintain critical points in history.

The creator of the Time Sphere, which allows its user to travel to and from any point in time, Hunter possesses a genius-level intellect and fighting skills from every era of history. However, Hunter's greatest asset remains his knowledge of historical events and their importance. He also keeps his real name and origin a mystery: the less known about him, the less likely another, more malevolent time traveler can go back in time and kill Hunter as a baby. As such, Hunter works just as hard to keep his true identity a secret as he does preserving time, our most precious resource.

Character Facts

time travel, genius-level intellect, combat skill

First Appearance:

SHOWCASE #20 (1959)

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The Strongest Time-Traveling Superheroes, Ranked

Superheroes have all sorts of powers, from flight to being bulletproof, but there's one superpower many would argue to be the very best of them all: the ability to travel through time. Throughout the years, there have been a ton of superheroes who have this ability. Some acquired it naturally, while others learned how to manipulate the space-time continuum through the use of some insane technology.

Let's face it: it's not easy to break out of one time and enter into another, but there are some who have done it. Leaving the obvious villains like Doctor Doom aside, the superheroes of Marvel, DC, Image, and other comic book universes have figured out time travel and have used it to help achieve their goals. Not everyone who jumps about in time ends up mucking it up and creating events like the Flash, but there are those who travel through time without creating much of a fuss.

Here is a list of popular superheroes that can control time, but it's up to you to determine who is the best! Whether you prefer Marvel's time travel stories or prefer the ones form DC, make your voice heard. Vote up your favorites and see which superhero jumps to the top as the greatest time-traveling superhero of them all!

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Chronokinesis

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Time Trapper using his temporal powers to wreak havoc upon the Timestream .

Sometimes called "time manipulation" or "stasis control", Chronokinesis is the ability to manipulate the time stream. This power includes the ability to perceive events outside the confines of the normal Space/Time continuum, the ability to travel forward or backwards through the time stream, or the ability to manipulate the time stream from a remote location. When applied as stasis, such as the case with Kid Quantum , characters with this ability can control time within a person, place, thing or a specific sphere of influence creating a sort of "time bubble".

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Screen Rant

Darkseid-mite, joker-mite, bane-mite: dc's most adorable supervillain team gathers in chaotic cover.

The DC Universe is coming under fire by the most powerful and most adorable versions of the Justice League’s worst enemies, the Legion of Doom.

• Batman and Superman must face a legion of adorable but dangerous Fifth-Dimensional imps inspired by DC villains with godlike powers.
• The duo teams up with Fifth-Dimensional residents Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite to battle the Legion of Doom-Mites and prevent a destructive weapon.
• While facing their toughest challenge yet, Batman and Superman may have a shot with the help of Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite. Prepare for an epic showdown.

The greatest villains in the DC Universe are getting an adorable and extremely dangerous makeover. The magical Fifth Dimension has just suffered heavy losses, forcing two of its most infamous residents to seek help. But will they be able to survive an attack by a coterie of villains with godlike power?

DC Comics has given fans a preview of what they can expect in the publisher's May batch of solicitations. Chaos continues in the latest Batman / Superman: World's Finest arc, which sees the duo teaming up with Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite .

But those aren't the only mites that the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel are encountering. Dan Mora's cover for Batman / Superman: World's Finest #27 reveals the Legion of Doom-Mites, a collection of Fifth-Dimensional imps all modeled after DC villains . It's up to Batman and Superman to stop the Legion from triggering a powerful and destructive weapon.

DC's Greatest Villains Get an Adorable Makeover in New Cover Art

The Fifth Dimension is a magical place filled with imps who love nothing more than idolizing their favorite heroes of the Third Dimension. But in a meeting of the Just-Us League, the Fifth Dimension was attacked by a swarm of enemies, all inspired by some of the worst villains in the DC Universe like Joker or Sinestro. Only Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite survived the onslaught, hightailing it to the Third Dimension to look for Batman and Superman . Meanwhile, the mysterious figure leading the Legion of Doom-Mites promised to follow them to Earth and truly challenge the DCU's heroes.

While fans got a good look at the destructive potential of the Legion of Doom-Mites in Batman / Superman: World's Finest 2024 Annual , this is the first look at just how big the Legion's ranks really are. Imps modeled after Joker, Darkseid, Bane, and more are all assembled waiting to unleash their powers on Batman and Superman here. Sure, they might look cute, but fans know that Fifth-Dimensional beings are pretty much gods in the Third Dimension. While Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite have been pests, they've never been as big of a threat as the Legion of Doom-Mites looks to be .

Do Batman and Superman Have a Shot Against the Legion of Doom-Mites?

While Superman and Batman have faced impossible odds before, this may be their greatest challenge yet. Even with Bruce's prep time and Superman's array of powers, they're facing an entire squad of villains inspired by their greatest enemies with the powers of gods. That's a tall order, even for accomplished heroes like them. Fortunately, fans know that they'll have Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite on their side during this adventure, which could be all the firepower they need. Batman and Superman had better prepare because even with Fifth-Dimensional assistance, these cutesy DC Universe villains are a lot more powerful than they seem.

Batman / Superman: World's Finest #27 is available on May 21st from DC Comics.

10 Weirdest Superman Villains in DC Comics History

• Superman has faced bizarre and sometimes forgettable villains like the Hobby Robber and Mummer, who quickly faded into obscurity.
• Characters like Amazing Grace and Microwave Man, while interesting, were ultimately short-lived and largely forgotten.
• Sand Superman, Metallo, The Adversary, Titano the Super Ape, and Mother Goose are examples of strange villains Superman has encountered.

Superman has existed for almost a hundred years, and over time, he's gathered some absolutely fantastic villains. But the Man of Steel has also gathered some truly weird rogues over those same decades. While Superman fans will always recount Superman's battles against Doomsday and Lex Luthor, not as many are familiar with once Superman's arch-foe, the Hobby Robber.

While Superman has had some iconic villains, he also has a long list of completely forgettable villains, especially from the Golden and Silver Ages of comics. From a woman who commits crimes based on nursery rhymes to a man who steals people's hobbies, Superman's villains have changed wildly since his 1938 debut in Action Comics #1. Some of these characters were truly bizarre and quickly forgotten in history — but perhaps even these super-strange characters deserve a contemporary comeback.

10 Best Superman Moments That Prove He's DC's Strongest Character (& It's Not Close)

The hobby robber hit superman where it hurt, action comics #73 by jerry siegel, sam citron, and george roussos.

Having a hobby is great for relaxation and for refining skills, and everyone needs one. Superman's Fortress of Solitude has a lot of interesting artifacts from around the DC Multiverse, but it's not where Superman keeps his hobby. Superman's hobby is actually collecting clocks, as revealed in Action Comics #73, which made him a target for the Hobby Robber: a thief who specifically targeted people's hobbies so he could ransom them back , which proved to be surprisingly effective, as no one wanted to lose their hobby.

After nearly disrupting one of their heists, the Hobby Robber turns his attention to Clark Kent and tries to steal his prized clock collection. Thankfully, with the help of Lois Lane, Superman was able to keep his clock collection safe, and the Hobby Robber was sent to prison, where he presumably stayed, since he has since disappeared from Superman's rogues gallery.

The Mummer Was an Ex-Performer Who Used Dolls of Himself

Action comics #146 by don c. cameron and john sikela.

Strangely, Mummer seems like a lesser version of the Superman villain Toyman, despite the fact that Toyman appeared seven years prior.

As revealed in Action Comics #146, the Mummer was an ex-vaudevillian performer who used increasingly small doll versions of himself to commit crimes. He also had a dummy of Superboy — then the alter ego of a young Clark Kent — that he'd use to frame Superboy for crimes or to just distract people. He once had a bank hold the Superboy dummy for him, and then had the dummy steal all the money once it was accepted into the vault.

Due to the Mummer mostly acting remotely, it was fairly difficult for Superboy to track Mummer down, but when he finally did, Mummer really didn't put up much of a fight. Strangely, Mummer seems like a lesser version of the Superman villain Toyman , despite the fact that Toyman appeared seven years prior. This timeline likely explains why Toyman is still around and absolutely no one remembers the Mummer.

The Superboy name has been used by two other characters after Clark Kent — his clone, Conner Kent, and his biological son, Jon Kent.

Amazing Grace Was a Quickly-Forgotten Darkseid Crony

Superman #3 by john byrne, terry austin, tom ziuko, and john costanza.

Darkseid's family has some pretty powerful members, and his army has tons of members as well. While characters like DeSaad or G. Gordon Godfrey aren't Darkseid's family, they still serve him loyally and are formidable enemies. This isn't really the case for Amazing Grace, though. A mazing Grace is the brother of G. Gordon Godfrey, and she has mind-control abilities like her brother. Amazing Grace's role on Apokolips is to preach against Darkseid and inspire rebellion, so the resistance can be quickly put down, further breaking the hopes of the people — which is the greatest way to continue Darkseid's tyranny.

Having 100% control of the population is good, but being able to crush the rebellion and destroy hope over and over is even better, and Darkseid uses Amazing Grace specifically for this purpose, which is why she wasn't used much outside of that, though she still has a great deal of potential in Superman and New Gods lore.

Microwave Man Was a Bizarre Villain Who Defeated Superman

Action comics #487 by cary bates, curt swan, milt snapinn, gene d'angelo and francisco chiaramonte.

Lewis Padgett was a man who spent a great deal of his life in outer space, as explored in Action Comics #487. He was also a former super-criminal known as the Microwave Man. After being back in Metropolis from his space adventures, Lewis, for some reason, wanted to fight Superman. He begged his alien friends to return him to his youth, and they did, and he then went after Superman.

With the right kind of perspective, Microwave Man's defeat of Superman puts him on par with the likes of Darkseid himself.

What followed was a surprisingly even fight, since, despite Superman's absurd strength , Microwave Man was able to counter all of the Man of Steel's moves . Eventually, Superman allowed Microwave Man to win, as he realized it was Lewis' dying wish. With the right kind of perspective, Microwave Man's defeat of Superman puts him on par with the likes of Darkseid himself.

Sand Superman Was Superman — But Made Entirely of Sand

Superman #233 by dennis o'neil, curt swan, murphy anderson, and ben oda.

Superman is no stranger to dealing with copies of himself. Bizarro Superman is an iconic example of this infamous Superman trope, and there have been plenty of versions of Superman from the Dark Multiverse as well. But by far, the strangest Superman clone has to be Sand Superman: a version of Superman that came about due to a portal between Earth and the planet Quarrm who appears in Superman #233. Some sand ended up infused with psychic energy and took on the likeness of Superman.

This Sand Superman was originally a villain, seeking out Superman to drain his power and knowledge, but eventually tried to live up to Superman's example — much like Bizarro and a number of other Superman clones and copies.

The Evil Scientist Metalo Was Replaced by a Far Better Villain

World's finest #6 by jerry siegel and john sikela.

One of Superman's most iconic villains is Metallo , an android with a heart of kryptonite. This naturally makes him a major danger to Superman, which is why he's continued showing up in comics for decades. Unfortunately, Metalo — note the change in spelling — isn't as impressive. Metalo was a scientist who used a giant suit of armor to become the Man of Metal. Combining this suit with a serum for super strength, he tried to run Superman out of Metropolis.

Surprising no one, a suit of metal and some extra strength wasn't enough to beat Superman, and Metalo was quickly defeated. Outside of one more appearance, the Man of Metal was never seen again. Metalo really has no place in Superman's history, considering Metallo is a very similar idea with better execution — to the point that Metallo is a regular villain for Superman even today.

The Adversary Was Superman's Next Door Neighbor — and a Supervillain

Adventures of superman #579 by j.m. dematteis, mike mckone, mario alquiza, glenn whitmore, wildstorm fx, and bill oakley.

The Adversary was an immensely physically powerful villain capable of knocking Superman clear into the river with a single punch. Every time the Adversary showed up, he served as a major physical threat to Superman, but eventually, the truth behind the Adversary was revealed: instead of being some ploy from Lex Luthor to kill Superman, or even some alien from space, the Adversary was actually a mental generation by Clark Kent and Lois Lane's neighbor, Cary Richard.

Cary was a powerful meta-human with split personality disorder. While he normally appeared as a sweet old man, his Adversary persona was cruel and brutal — as Superman found out. After Superman and Lois realized the Adversary's true identity, Cary was able to get help, and the Adversary was finally defeated.

Titano the Super Ape Was Superman's Very Own King Kong

Superman #127 by otto binder, wayne boring, and stan kaye.

If there's one thing that comic book fans absolutely love — especially fans of the Silver Age — it's apes and gorillas. There are a number of DC villains based on this monkey-loving fact, such as Gorilla Grodd or the Ultra-Humanite. In fact, any number of Justice League heroes have faced off against a gorilla or two — or worked with any of DC's monkey-based heroes.

One of the first examples of this trend was way back in Superman #127, in which Lois Lane befriended an ape named Toto, who was then sent into space and exposed to radiation. When Toto returned, he had grown gigantic due to the radiation — and he had gained kryptonite vision, becoming the massive "villain" Titano.

Fans of the DC Animated Universe will remember that Lois Lane also met Titano in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Monkey Fun."

Mother Goose Ran a Gang of Fairy Tale Criminals

Action comics #110 by ira yarbrough.

While Batman is usually the one who deals with fairy tale-themed enemies, such as the villain Mad Hatter , Superman has fought similar villains. One of these villains was Mother Goose and his strange gang, who appear in Action Comics #110. Mother Goose was a criminal who dressed up like Mother Goose with the intent of robbing people who came to the theater. His gang was made up of other nursery rhyme-based characters, such as Humpty Dumpty, King Coal, and a few others. Naturally, this might have made for a great gimmick — as proved by Batman's rogues gallery — but Superman took down Mother Goose with ease.

Funnyface Was One of Superman's Earliest Villains

Superman #19 by jerry siegel, ed dobrotka, and john sikela.

The weirdest villain Superman has ever faced is also one of his earliest: Funnyface. In 1942's Superman #19, Superman went up against Funnyface. While Superman has become used to fighting enemies like Mr. Mxyzptlk , he originally wasn't used to fighting reality-altering enemies. One of the first examples of this phenomenon was Funnyface, a failed comic artist who used science to bring villains from comic strips to life .

This villain was a surprising threat for Superman — until Lois Lane discovered the machine Funnyface was using and used it to bring forth heroes from the comics to help Superman . Overall, Funnyface was a very short-lived villain, but also an extremely bizarre one who certainly deserves to make a self-referential return.

10 Strongest DC Villains Who Haven't Shown Up in Movies Yet

DC Comics' gallery of rogues is so vast that not every villain has earned their big screen debut yet. Here are 10 such strong and evil DC villains.

For lifelong fans of the DC multiverse , the range of epic adventures that the movies and television series have produced is endless. And while every little piece of content has done a remarkable job bringing Batman, Superman, and other beloved heroes to life in the same scope as the comics, no adaptation is complete with an utterly despicable way to challenge them.

From the meticulous machines of Lex Luthor to the disastrous chaos of the Joker, we have seen the best DC Comics villains champion against the superheroes over and over again. But the source material’s gallery of rogues is so vast that not every villain has earned their big screen debut yet.

Still, with every new planned installment, hopes that yet another terrifying and most seasoned super soldier will unleash their fury upon longtime winners only grows stronger. Fans constantly keep theorizing how a new enemy’s unique brand of evil would send a potentially indestructible hero scrambling for survival. In this list, we shine the spotlight on some wicked and beyond powerful DC villains who haven’t been given their cinematic dues. So, let’s get started.

10 Solomon Grundy

Born in the 19th century, Cyrus Gold was once murdered. His body was disposed of in Slaughter Swamp, near Gotham City, where his corpse lay for 50 years before being resurrected as the undead Solomon Grundy . With no memory of his former life, Grundy was driven by a primal rage and desire for destruction. His hulking zombie-like body made him nearly impervious to any harm. Moreover, with his monstrous strength, he challenged superheroes like Green Lantern, Batman, Superman, and many others.

A Great Villain Origin Story

Underneath the mindless murder, however, is a sad story of a man robbed of his life. A tragic figure like Solomon Grundy could offer a fresh take on villain origin stories within the DCEU. Rather than just being a one-dimensional hero. Grundy could be used effectively to display strength, stamina, anger, power and pathos at the same time.

9 Anti-Monitor

Hailing from the antimatter universe, Anti-Monitor is a supervillain who first appears during the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline in the 1985 DC Comics miniseries. Known as the destroyer of universes, he wields control over the antilight and feeds off the energy of several destroyed worlds as well as Earth's.

He once nearly succeeded in destroying all existence through his meticulous plans that were executed across the multiverse. Twin brother of the Monitor, he was so strong and murderous that Superman had to team up with his own counterparts to defeat him.

A Stakes-Raising Villain

However, as DC’s most formidable existential threat, Anti-Monitor returned to the Green Lantern Corps in 2007’s Sinestro Corps War arc as the Sinestro Corps' ‘Guardian of Fear.’ The supervillain would raise the stakes for a movie franchise looking for blockbuster success. Where other DC villains seek power, Anti-Monitor simply wants to obliterate life itself. Such a conceptual threat could make for an unforgettable sci-fi epic.

8 Mr. Mxyzptlk

Mr. Mxyzptlk rises from the Fifth Dimension. He is no mere man, but an impish prankster who has brains enough to cause real damage to our strongest superheroes. Through his reality warping tricks and mischievous mind games, he has found enjoyment in tormenting Superman and making his life difficult. There is only one way to defeat Mr. Mxyzptlk, and it is to trick him into saying his name backwards. But Mr. Mxyzptlk always manages to hold an unpredictable wild card to keep his enemies in check.

Entertaining, but a Bender of Reality, Which Could be Challenging

Adding Mr. Mxyzptlk to the franchise would mean the movie had to feature a reality-bending spectacle, which honestly would be entertaining. His presence would bring a whimsical and perilous tone to any movie. As Superman’s rival or as a villain hellbent on unleashing chaos upon the world, he would pull the viewers into a whole new world. Mr. Mxyzptlk has made cameos in several live action TV series over the years and was considered to appear in Superman III , but the idea was scrapped.

Related: 10 Things That DC's Live-Action Movies Can Learn from its Animated Films

Originally a prototype android, Amazo possesses the ability to mimic and utilize the superpowers of any individual in its vicinity. He eventually transforms into a near-perfect autonomous being in DC Comics, representing the dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence as it evolves beyond any restraints. The more Amazo battles, the more it improves. Able to copy even the Justice League’s powers, it offers a complex and disastrous villain.

A Villainous AI

Amazo has the potential to feature the franchise’s most thrilling showdowns ever. By constantly changing its abilities and adapting its powers as it engages with more heroes, it can outgrow any limitations and even use all those powers at the same time. Amazo’s arc is more relevant to today’s technologies than it ever was before, which is also why it is an ideal supervillain for any live-action DC movie.

Many DC villains took on the title of Clayface , but Batman’s greatest enemy in the DC Comics of this name was Basil Karlo. A tortured actor who was chemically mutated into a monstrous figure, Karlo was filled with despair but has a talent for theatrics.

As Clayface, he was a shape-shifting creature made of mud and debris, a virtually unstoppable force with the ability to recreate any form or copy any voice. He poses massive and unique threats to Dark Knight because he can even manipulate situations from the shadows.

Clayface Would be Great in Matt Reeves' Batman Universe

Through the imaginative use of his signature abilities, Clayface would steal the spotlight in any live-action movie. His mysterious past and current transformation could infuse an air of dread and paranoia into the narrative. Batman movies span multiple franchises already, and so far, a good number of villains have showcased their criminal schemes. With Clayface into the mix, the movies would have a versatile villain taking center stage, surprising the heroes and viewers alike.

5 Gorilla Grodd

Evolved from being man’s closest primate relative to a hyper-intelligent sentient being after being hit by a space-rock that landed in the African jungles, Gorilla Grodd has the same level of skills as Flash. He leads other apes by forming a twisted societal structure and holds a special vendetta against humans. His powers extend beyond his brutal physicality. Grodd is also a cunning thinker and persistently angry.

A Well-Rounded and Fun Foe

Grodd has appeared in a bunch of DC animated series and has remained a prominent villain in the Super Friends franchise as well as The Flash series. He offers a unique and visually appealing story that’s never seen before in a superhero film. As one of the most notorious bosses, he also possesses the ability to out think the fastest superhero. In a live-action movie, Gorilla Grodd’s physical might and strategic mind could become Flash’s greatest challenge yet.

Circe is a powerful sorceress from Greek mythology. First appearing in 1949’s Wonder Woman #37 , in the DC universe, she dwells as a mysterious force to be reckoned with. Circe has a deft mastery over dark magic and is one of Wonder Woman’s strongest foes. Her powers allow her to transfigure men into beasts and control them like puppets. Despite being utterly malevolent, Circe maintains a code of honor and her deep connection to her homeland is what motivates her.

Bringing Dark Magic to the Movies

If she were to make an appearance in the DC movies, Circe could challenge Diana in unexplored ways. So far, Wonder Woman has dealt with compelling villains. But none have had a backstory that hits so close to home. Circe’s sorcery will also offer fantastic visuals and much-needed lore. Additionally, she represents one of the few villains who might even outwit Diana in a showdown.

With strength to rival even Superman, Mongul holds dominion over the brutal slave-picking satellite called Warworld. He is obsessed over as the ‘god of war’ because of his ferocious and tyrannical actions. Mongul once destroyed the Coast City for mere amusement. Soulless and utterly brilliant, his greatest weapon lies not only in force but in the promise of psychologically manipulating his strongest opponent.

A Formidable Justice League Enemy

It is no surprise that fans of the superhero genres beg for a villain who can go toe-to-toe in visceral combat with the Justice League. Mongul is a villain who will surely deliver. He is twisted by power and guarantees a complex backstory. To watch his Warworld prison planet setup being translated to screen would raise DC movies’ standards. Paired with ensemble action sequences and gory character duels, Mongul’s addition to the DC live-action universe would be absolutely worth it.

Related: 10 MCU Characters Who Could Beat Superman in a Fight

Created by DC Comics writers and artists as a “mirror image” of Superman, Bizarro debuted in Superboy No. 68 back in 1958. An imperfect clone, he has all of Kal-El’s physical abilities, but his physiology is reversed on a molecular level, meaning his speech is twisted, and he uses phrases like ‘Bizarro world,’ and ‘Bizarro logic.’ Even if that makes him vulnerable, Bizarro is nowhere near easy to defeat. His cunning nature paired with aping heroics make him destructive.

Would Make for a Great Superman Story

Imagining how Bizarro’s backwards image might jeopardize several important superhero missions while also showcasing his goofier side would promise a live-action movie’s most entertaining premise . As Superman’s imperfect equal, his clashes with the superhero will provide optimism. They will affirm how a tragic anti-hero can raise the stakes for a movie’s success.

Initially known as Vril Dox of the planet Colu, Brainiac has endured as one of Superman and the Justice League's greatest enemies . He is someone obsessed with the collection of knowledge in the form of a database. And in order to grow his collection, he uses several schemes and techniques to shrink and steal cities like Kandor for his personal twisted museums. With the psychic powers to match Superman and alien aesthetics to pose new risks, he can outsmart Superman quite easily.

A Must-Have for the New DCU

As an ever-evolving intergalactic villain, Brainiac allows for a brilliant space opera. The DC universe would finally have the scope to extend outside traditional genres and fashion a globe-trotting adventure like no other before. So far, Brainiac has made appearances in cartoons like Super Friends and Superman: The Animated Series, as well as live-action TV series like Smallville and Krypton .

If a big screen movie would adapt Brainiac, the intrigue and cerebral thrills would demonstrate not only an interesting villain character study, but also Man of Steel at his finest.