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During the 1980s many iconic supervillains joined the DC Comics’ vast rogues’ gallery and became instant fan favorites. Additionally, some supervillain mantles were taken over by characters who are far more menacing and three-dimensional than their predecessors. The types of villains who emerged during this decade show just how much DC Comics and its universe has evolved.
10) Mongul
The ruthless ruler of Warworld, Mongul, is one of the most feared tyrants in the DC Universe. Debuting in 1980, Mongul is a sadistic dictator who forces his subjects to participate in brutal gladiatorial death games for his own amusement. And of course, Mongul is always seeking to expand his empire across the cosmos. On top of his incredible strength, Mongul possesses menacing weapons, including his planet-destroying Warworld and his mind-altering Black Mercy plants. A longtime enemy of Superman, Mongul’s cunning and cruel mind has made him the villain in some of the Man of Steel’s most critically acclaimed stories, including “For the Man Who Has Everything” and the “Warworld Saga.” Where Superman stands for truth and justice; Mongul stands for fear and oppression.
9) Maxwell Lord
When the wealthy businessman Maxwell Lord first appeared in 1987, he seemed like a genuine ally of the superhero community, having founded Justice League International. However, in reality, Lord wanted nothing less than to destroy what he perceived as humanity’s ultimate threat: superhumans. Ironically, Lord himself is one of DC’s most powerful telepaths. He wiped the entire planet’s memory of him and brainwashed Superman into attacking the Justice League. His most evil deeds occurred during the events of Infinite Crisis, when he murdered Blue Beetle, corrupted Batman’s Brother Eye satellite, and unleashed an army of killer robots on the world’s heroes. One of the greatest masterminds on Earth, Lord has a contingency plan for everything and won’t rest until every superhuman is dead.
8) Parasite
Although the first Parasite, Raymond Jensen, appeared in 1966, it wouldn’t be until 1987 that the most iconic version of the villain, Rudy Jones, made his debut. Jones was a janitor when a lab accident mutated him into a creature that could absorb energy with a touch. Like a vampire, Parasite drains the life force from his victims, which reduces them to lifeless husks. With his boundless hunger, Parasite sees Superman as an endless buffet. Parasite is one of the few villains capable of turning the Man of Steel’s strength against him, as he can absorb the hero’s abilities. This version of Parasite is an incredibly sympathetic character, as his insatiable hunger is analogous to an addiction, and he wants to be cured of his monstrous form.
7) Circe
Wonder Woman’s character is intrinsically tied to Greek legends; so in 1988, DC introduced one of the most infamous witches in mythology: Circe. Like her ancient mythical counterpart, Circe is a cunning and powerful sorceress who enjoys turning people into animals. Circe views Wonder Woman as a threat to her power and she has conjured numerous schemes against the Amazon that are so intricate that they take years to unravel. Her most famous plans include manipulating the Greek Gods of Olympus into a civil war and tricking the Amazons into invading the United States. With her centuries of experience, mastery of arcane magic, methodical mind and extraordinary patience, Circe is one of Wonder Woman’s most persistent and devious foes.
6) Superboy-Prime
Of all the Supermen in the multiverse, Clark Kent, aka Superboy-Prime of Earth-Prime, is the most dangerous. Debuting in 1985 and hailing from a world where heroes only exist in comics, Kent was an average boy until the Crisis on Infinite Earths unlocked his latent Kryptonian abilities. Although initially a hero, Superboy-Prime went insane after his home universe was destroyed and he felt the DC universe had changed for the worse. With reality-shattering strength and trillions of deaths on his hands, Superboy-Prime is a major villain in hit storylines including Infinite Crisis, The Sinestro Corps War, and Final Crisis. Additionally, his insanity and fourth wall-breaking make him a brilliant satire of toxic comic fans. Even with his many atrocities, Superboy-Prime has recently begun an emotional path towards redemption.
