7 DC & Marvel Heroes Who Should Swap Villains

Everyone says great heroes need great villains, and it’s hard to argue with that – watching them clash is always exciting. The best hero-villain pairings really push each other to their limits, highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses, which makes for a compelling story. This is especially true in comic books, where villains like the Joker and Doctor Doom are often just as popular as the heroes themselves. These villains, with their wild schemes and relentless challenges, are central to almost every successful comic book series, constantly testing the heroes both physically and mentally.

While villains are usually connected to a specific hero, they aren’t limited to fighting just that one person – The Riddler has battled The Flash, and Loki has gone up against Doctor Strange. Introducing villains to heroes they’ve never faced before can create exciting new dynamics. So, let’s imagine what would happen if DC and Marvel heroes switched villains entirely. A hero is only as good as their villains, and we’re indulging our love for crossovers by picturing what it would look like if these villains traveled between universes.

7) Batman/Wolverine

These two characters are masters of their craft, even if that craft isn’t exactly heroic—it’s undeniably impressive. Batman’s villains are legendary, and they’d be fantastic challenges for Wolverine. What makes Batman’s enemies so memorable is their over-the-top personalities, which contrast with Batman’s quiet, serious nature. Wolverine would disrupt this balance; despite his striking costume, he’s often just as dark and brooding as Batman. Furthermore, while Batman is all about self-control, Wolverine can give in to his primal instincts, creating a fascinating shift from precise planning to raw, untamed fury.

This also works the other way around: Batman could easily defeat most of Wolverine’s enemies. Sabretooth is a great example – while he’s used to wild, clawing fights, Batman would take him down with calculated skill and accuracy. Both heroes are similarly skilled and operate in comparable worlds, meaning their villains sometimes overlap. However, if they switched enemies, the results would be surprisingly different.

6) Wonder Woman/Thor

As a huge comic book and movie fan, the idea of Wonder Woman and Thor swapping villains is seriously exciting. Diana often gets stuck fighting baddies who just don’t feel powerful enough for her, and bringing in some of Marvel’s Norse gods would instantly solve that. Imagine Wonder Woman going toe-to-toe with Gorr the God Butcher or Mangog – that would be epic! Even characters like Enchantress or Loki would be a fantastic fit for the kinds of threats she usually faces. It would really elevate her battles to the scale she deserves.

As a fan, I think it’d be amazing to see Thor face off against Wonder Woman’s villains! While she doesn’t have a huge roster of enemies, the ones she does have would really test him. A new battle with the Greek gods, especially Ares, feels perfect considering Thor’s fought similar beings in Marvel before. Then you have Cheetah – she’s a speedster unlike anything he’s dealt with. But honestly, the most interesting matchup for me would be Angle Man. His ability to mess with time and space could seriously push Thor’s limits. Plus, the thought of Angle Man altering the trajectory of Mjolnir so it hits Thor is just hilarious – and a big part of why I’d love to see that fight happen!

5) Green Arrow/Daredevil

Deadpool and Batman recently joined forces, proving they’re both capable of handling each other’s enemies. Interestingly, their villains have a lot in common – both heroes frequently battle ninja assassins and corrupt figures. It would be fascinating to see them face off against each other’s rogues. For example, if Daredevil fought Count Vertigo and Onomatopeia, it would be a unique challenge. These villains could exploit the weakness of Daredevil’s radar sense, forcing him to rely on his abilities in new ways, and that’s a storyline worth exploring.

Green Arrow would strongly dislike the Punisher, Bullseye, and Kingpin just as much as Daredevil does. A story about Oliver Queen battling Fisk, overcoming his wealth and power, would be a classic Green Arrow tale. Their conflict would immediately be intense, rivaling the animosity between Daredevil and Kingpin, and that dynamic is incredibly compelling. While Daredevil focuses on street-level crime, Green Arrow would publicly expose Fisk’s broader societal offenses while fighting him, offering a much-needed political critique.

4) Green Lantern/Fantastic Four

The heroes from DC and Marvel who patrol space – like the Green Lantern Corps and the Fantastic Four – could easily trade villains. It feels natural to imagine the Fantastic Four encountering villains like Sinestro or Krona during their space travels. Franklin Richards, with his ability to alter reality, would be a prime target for the power-hungry villains of the Green Lantern universe. And a fight between The Thing and Atrocitus is something fans would definitely enjoy!

Green Lanterns truly shine when facing huge, universe-level threats – things like interdimensional wars with Annihilus or even stopping Galactus. Seeing them battle alongside the Silver Surfer would fit right into a typical Green Lantern story. And if a Lantern ever fought Doctor Doom, you can bet Doom would find a way to take the power ring for himself – it would be amazing to see!

3) Superman/Hulk

While the Hulk is known as Marvel’s strongest hero, several of DC’s villains could seriously challenge him. Brainiac combines incredible intelligence with brute strength, posing a threat to all forms of the Hulk and potentially forcing Bruce Banner to unite with his different Hulk personas. Lex Luthor, driven by his ego and a desire to control, would inevitably clash with Banner and likely provoke him into transforming. And Doomsday, a being of pure destructive force, would deliver blows powerful enough to impact the entire multiverse in a fight with the Hulk.

Superman would face interesting challenges from the Hulk’s enemies. Red Hulk is similar to Sam Lane, but with powers, creating a potentially powerful and emotionally resonant story. The Leader’s intelligence would provide a threat comparable to Lex Luthor or Brainiac. A battle with a cosmic entity like the One Below All would truly test Superman and the very fabric of reality. Because many of the Hulk’s foes are incredibly durable, Superman would be able to unleash his full power in a way he rarely gets to.

2) Legion of Super-Heroes/X-Men

At first glance, comparing these two teams seems odd, but a closer look reveals surprisingly similar themes. The X-Men are always battling prejudice and the threat of being wiped out. However, facing off against the Legion’s enemies could lead them to a future that actually feels like a perfect world. Instead of struggling for acceptance, they’d be fighting to maintain peace in a world that already embraces them. The X-Men are used to fighting against bleak futures, but villains like Emerald Empress and Validus could give them a chance to fight for a hopeful future they’d truly want to protect – a refreshing change of pace.

The Legion of Super-Heroes is equipped to battle powerful villains from any era. They’ve faced threats like Apocalypse before and could likely manage even the immense power of the Phoenix Force. A conflict with the Brood could be fascinating, with the Legion trying to find a peaceful solution instead of fighting. Sentinels designed to target aliens, rather than just mutants, could also fit well into their adventures. However, the most compelling story would probably be the Legion facing off against Magneto in a battle not of strength, but of ideals, trying to sway public opinion for the better – a truly epic moral and psychological challenge.

1) Nightwing/Spider-Man

While swapping villains between the original Boy Wonder (Nightwing) and Spider-Man isn’t a fair comparison, it could be an interesting challenge for both. Nightwing is becoming increasingly important in the DC universe, but he lacks a strong roster of truly challenging villains. Spider-Man, however, is known for his compelling and iconic enemies. Because Nightwing and Spider-Man share similar personalities and fighting styles, pitting Nightwing against villains like Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus would feel both familiar and fresh. What Nightwing really needs to reach his full potential is a group of well-known, powerful villains to test his skills.

Spider-Man is well-suited to fight villains like Blockbuster and Deathstroke. He regularly deals with assassins and super-powered criminals, making them a natural fit for him. Plus, having Spider-Man face some of Nightwing’s lesser-known enemies, like the Judge, could help those villains become more dangerous. Spider-Man has a knack for pushing his opponents’ worst qualities to the surface, and Nightwing’s villains just need a little push to reach their full, monstrous potential.

Here are seven DC and Marvel characters I think could switch enemies, even if just temporarily. Are there any other hero-villain pairings from DC or Marvel that you’d be interested in seeing?

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2025-11-06 21:42