Superman has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity lately. While a new movie might be what many people associate with this comeback, comic book readers have been discovering fantastic Superman stories since 2021, starting with the “Warworld Saga.” Since then, the ongoing Action Comics and Superman series, along with miniseries like Superman: Space Age and special issues featuring the Superman family – like Kal-El-Fornia Love – have reminded everyone what makes Superman so beloved, and have introduced some truly compelling villains.
Superman has battled many powerful enemies, though some aren’t as well-known as his famous rivals. These seven villains are fantastic, but haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve.
7) Livewire
Livewire first appeared in the animated series Superman: The Animated Series, with Lori Petty providing the voice. She began as a provocative radio personality who disliked Superman, and later developed the ability to control electricity, leading to conflicts with him. She eventually made her way into the comic books, where she’s been a relatively minor villain, often featured in shorter story arcs.
Livewire isn’t one of Superman’s biggest threats, which is likely why she’s not featured often, but she’s consistently a fun character. She’s a great villain for lighter, less intense stories, and she’s perfect for the kind of narratives we’re seeing in podcasts right now. While she’s appeared in comics recently, there’s a lot of untapped potential with her character.
6) Kryptonite Man
Kryptonite is central to Superman’s story – it’s one of the few substances that can harm him. Because of this, many of his foes have used it against him, so it’s natural that villains called ‘Kryptonite Man’ have appeared over the years. In fact, Lex Luthor himself has even used that name while fighting Superman.
The characters known as Kryptonite Men predictably use Kryptonite radiation to harm Superman. This concept offers a simple way to introduce a compelling new major villain for Superman, and DC Comics should really create a new one.
5) Solaris the Tyrant Sun
Many fans consider All-Star Superman to be one of the greatest Superman stories of all time. It also brought back a largely unknown villain, Solaris the Tyrant Sun, who first appeared in DC One Million. Solaris was a powerful computer from the future with a deep-seated hatred for Superman and his family, determined to eliminate them. He felt like a classic, Silver Age villain updated for modern readers and perfectly suited the tone of a Superman comic, despite rarely appearing outside of stories written by Grant Morrison.
I’ve always been captivated by Solaris – to me, he’s the ultimate Superman foe. A supremely powerful being from the future, relentlessly focused on eliminating Superman? It’s brilliant! I honestly don’t get why more writers haven’t embraced him, because he truly should be among DC’s biggest villains. Like so many fans, I’m hoping we’ll eventually see Solaris get the recognition he deserves.
4) Toyman
Superman’s best foes are often incredibly intelligent, and that’s a winning combination for great stories. While Lex Luthor and Brainiac rely on their brains and advanced technology to challenge the Earth’s most powerful hero, another genius villain also gives Superman trouble: the Toyman.
Over the years, several different villains have taken on the identity of the Toyman, but Winslow Schott is the most well-known. Schott builds dangerous weapons out of toys and has even used robotic bodies in his fights with Superman. He’s a consistently compelling villain, adapting to different tones – early appearances were more lighthearted and comical, while later stories explored darker themes. Though often considered a minor villain, the Toyman has a lot of potential and deserves to be more popular.
3) Metallo
Metallo is a long-standing Superman foe who’s appeared in many stories, but hasn’t quite reached the level of the most iconic villains. While there have been different iterations of the character, most fans recognize John Corben as the definitive Metallo. Corben is often depicted as either a soldier or an ordinary person who suffers a devastating accident – sometimes even involving Superman – and is rebuilt with a body powered by Kryptonite. This gives Metallo incredible strength and a key advantage when fighting Superman.
Metallo often appears as a strong, mid-tier villain in comic books, and has been featured in some memorable stories by different writers and artists. While he’s often less famous than other Superman foes, he remains a compelling and effective antagonist for the Man of Steel.
2) Terra-Man
As a lifelong Superman fan, I’ve seen all sorts of villains try to take down the Man of Steel – from classic mad scientists to powerful aliens and everything in between. But one of the weirdest and most memorable has to be Terra-Man. He was a big part of the stories before the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, and the concept is just so out there: an evil cowboy who rides a pegasus! Seriously, a gunslinger on a winged horse fighting Superman? It’s a fantastic image, and I’ve always wondered why DC hasn’t really revisited that character and given him a modern update. It feels like there’s a lot of potential there.
Terra-Man is an odd villain, but he’s a perfect match for Superman. He’s evil, yet a little bit quirky – that’s the ideal balance for a truly effective Superman foe.
1) Ultra-Humanite
Lex Luthor is famous as Superman’s biggest enemy, but once upon a time, Ultra-Humanite held that title. This brilliant but insane scientist aimed to conquer the world and eliminate Superman. Ultra-Humanite developed a unique ability: transferring his mind into other bodies. He first moved into the body of actress Dolores Winters, and later into a strong, white gorilla, becoming a major threat to the Justice Society.
After the worlds were rejoined in Crisis on Infinite Earths, Ultra-Humanite and Superman clashed on several occasions. However, their rivalry hasn’t been a major focus in recent stories, even though many writers have attempted to revive it.
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-greatest-dc-stories-of-the-2020s/embed/#
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2025-10-23 01:44