7 DC Heroes Who Stupidly Created Their Own Villains

It’s a common storyline in superhero stories, especially movies, where a villain emerges as a direct result of the hero’s actions. This could happen because the hero unintentionally harms someone, gives them powers, or through other circumstances, essentially creating their own enemy. This plot device is popular because it immediately establishes a strong connection and conflict between the hero and villain. While more frequently seen in films, it’s a trope that DC Comics has used with many of its villains.

Many supervillains came to be because of the actions of heroes – either the heroes directly caused their turn to evil, or simply being around a hero proved too destructive for them. We’re going to explore seven villains who became evil through some connection to the world’s greatest heroes. Whether it’s the heroes’ fault or not, these villains wouldn’t exist without them.

7) Azrael Batman/Clayface V

This isn’t the first time there’s been a Batman or a Clayface, but this particular situation is still a sad one caused by choices someone made. While Azrael was acting as Batman, as seen in *Batman: Shadow of the Bat* #27, he was attacked by two previous Clayfaces who were being forced to act against their will because their son was being threatened. Azrael ultimately arrested Lady Clayface and then Clayface III after returning the son. Despite knowing the boy had special needs and was likely to end up as a villain in the Gotham foster care system, Azrael arrested the father anyway, showing a lack of concern for the child’s future.

Okay, so this scene with Azrael… it really struck me as one of his most cold-hearted moments. It’s clear he doesn’t care about the people he’s supposedly protecting, only about his twisted idea of justice. It’s chilling because it sets up the entire tragic arc of Cassisu Payne, who we eventually see become Clayface V. And not just become him, but join up with Luthor’s Secret Society – a real villainous team! What really bothered me is how Azrael deliberately steered this kid toward a terrible fate. It’s one thing to put criminals away, but to *tell* a child he’s destined to be your enemy, and then offer zero support? Especially considering Azrael is the one who created the circumstances that led to this kid’s downfall? It feels less like justice and more like a calculated act of cruelty. It’s a truly bleak moment.

6) Star Sapphire/Sorrow Lantern

When Carol Ferris left Nathan Broome at the altar to help her ex-boyfriend, Hal Jordan, she unknowingly started him down a dark path, ultimately turning him into the Sorrow Lantern. The intense despair from being abandoned at his wedding infused his engagement ring with energy from the Emotional Spectrum, transforming him. While Carol had a valid reason to rush to Hal’s rescue, her failure to return and explain things to Nathan—or even apologize—was deeply hurtful. Though she isn’t responsible for him becoming a villain, leaving someone at the altar is a uniquely devastating act, arguably more upsetting than many typical villainous deeds.

5) Flash/Reverse-Flash

The conflict between the Flash and Reverse-Flash is one of the most damaging in comic book history. Eobard Thawne’s relentless desire to destroy Barry Allen’s life stems from surprisingly small or heartbreaking origins, depending on the story. Thawne became obsessed with Barry, even recreating the accident that gave Barry his powers so he could become *his* time’s Flash. They initially met when Barry traveled to the future and became friends, but Barry was forced to imprison Thawne after discovering he was committing crimes just to provoke a confrontation. Depending on the specific storyline, this event either solidified Thawne’s villainous path or was the beginning of it.

Originally, Eobard Thawne became the Reverse-Flash after traveling to the past and discovering he was fated to be killed by the Flash. This revelation shattered his mind, even leading him to believe he *was* Barry Allen. More recently, the story was changed: a seemingly reformed Thawne went back in time to apologize, but overheard Barry sharing a personal quote with Wally West – a moment Thawne thought was unique to him and Barry. This drove him insane. In both versions, Thawne’s descent into madness stemmed from deep emotional pain. While Barry never truly did anything to *deserve* Thawne’s lifelong obsession, he unintentionally created a powerful enemy.

4) Wonder Woman/Silver Swan

The Silver Swan’s story is a sad one. Vanessa Kapatelis used to be a good friend of Wonder Woman, but circumstances and outside influences caused them to grow apart. Originally, before the New 52 comics, Vanessa felt envious of Diana’s seemingly flawless life, and Doctor Psycho exploited those feelings, transforming her into a dangerous assassin. In more recent storylines (Rebirth continuity), Vanessa was the victim of a devastating accident and received a visit from Diana. However, after experiencing further hardships and discovering that Diana comforted everyone who was injured, she turned to a life of villainy.

This story sadly shows how even people connected to heroes can end up facing terrible outcomes. Vanessa became a villain due to loss and manipulation, but she unfairly blames Wonder Woman for simply being who she is. While Vanessa’s villainy wouldn’t exist without Wonder Woman, that only adds to the tragedy. Diana feels responsible, believing that if she had connected with Vanessa more, she might have been able to prevent her from turning to a life of villainy.

3) Superman/Lex Luthor

Over the years, Superman has inadvertently caused his greatest enemy, Lex Luthor, to become a villain not once, but twice. Their first encounter, depicted in *Adventure Comics* #271, involved Superboy meeting a young Lex who initially looked up to him and shared his desire to help the world. However, an attempt to create a cure for Kryptonite backfired, leaving Lex bald. Though Superboy rescued him, Lex wrongly blamed the hero, believing he was envious. Lex genuinely tried to continue being a hero, but Superboy constantly had to fix Lex’s errors, ultimately fueling the intense hatred we see today.

Lex had a particularly difficult time dealing with Clark’s lack of trust when Clark was Superman, ultimately leading to a mental breakdown and a return to villainy. While this second instance is more easily understood, both situations reveal a core trait of Lex’s personality: he consistently avoids taking responsibility for his own failures. Rather than learn from his mistakes, he blames Superman and would rather destroy the world than admit he was wrong.

2) Aquaman/Black Manta

As a movie fan, I always find the villain’s backstory fascinating, and Black Manta’s is particularly tragic. Basically, Aquaman, as the king of the ocean, feels responsible for everyone in or on the water, but he can’t be everywhere at once. Young Manta was captured and forced into hard labor on a ship, and he actually *saw* Aquaman once, desperately trying to get his attention. But Aquaman didn’t even notice him. That moment really stuck with Manta, fueling an intense, lifelong hatred – not just of the ocean itself, but specifically of Aquaman, who he sees as cold and uncaring. It’s not about world domination for Manta; it’s purely about making Aquaman suffer as much as he possibly can. It’s a really personal vendetta.

Black Manta’s villainy isn’t simply about the terrible things Aquaman has done to him – like the death of his son and the loss of his hand. At one point, Manta even stopped being a villain and tried to live a normal life when he believed Aquaman was gone. But he quickly returned to his old ways. He’s a man Aquaman tried, and failed, to save, and the resulting pain and trauma have become completely tied to his hatred for the king. It wasn’t Aquaman who *made* Manta evil; it was the trauma Manta experienced, which he then directed at Aquaman because he felt the king hadn’t noticed his suffering.

1) Batman/Joker

The story of Batman and the Joker is a classic example of unintended consequences. Before becoming the Joker, he was known as Red Hood. A confrontation with Batman led to Red Hood falling into a chemical vat, which disfigured him and drove him insane. The details of their fight vary – sometimes Red Hood is a seasoned criminal, other times just a small-time thief or someone manipulated into the situation. While the reason for the fight changes depending on the story, the core event remains the same: the Joker came to be because of a struggle between Batman and Red Hood near that chemical vat.

The one constant in the Joker’s backstory is that a specific, traumatic event turned him into the villain he became. While Batman’s existence certainly fuels his chaos, the Joker was likely destined for villainy regardless. Many stories show him committing crimes even before the accident that gave him his appearance, suggesting he would have become a dangerous figure even without the clown persona – perhaps continuing as a more traditional criminal with a different focus.

It’s interesting how seven heroes, whether intentionally or not, ended up being responsible for the creation of some of their biggest enemies. Some directly caused these villains to emerge, while others are unfairly blamed for things beyond their control. What are your thoughts? Share them in the ComicBook Forum and join the discussion!

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2025-10-11 18:27