7 Overlooked DC Villains Who Don’t Get Enough Credit (Thanks to Darkseid)

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Darkseid is arguably the most feared villain in DC Comics, known for his immense power and cruelty. While his popularity is well-deserved, it’s also meant that other incredibly dangerous and powerful villains haven’t received the recognition they deserve. These overlooked antagonists pose just as much of a threat to the galaxy and universe, but are often overshadowed by Darkseid’s overwhelming presence.

Darkseid is a major villain in both the main DC Universe and the alternate reality of DC K.O., and his popularity sometimes overshadows other powerful DC villains. This has unfortunately led fans to underestimate some of these other threats as Darkseid takes center stage.

7) Doctor Destiny

Unlike most villains who rely on physical strength, Doctor Destiny – also known as John Dee – battles DC Comics heroes by invading their dreams. He uses a powerful gem called the Materioptikon, which he received from the god of dreams, Dream the Endless. With it, he can either kill people in their sleep, similar to Freddy Krueger, or turn their worst fears into real, monstrous creatures that serve him. Though Darkseid is better known for controlling minds, Doctor Destiny is a truly terrifying villain who deserves more attention in DC storylines.

6) Grail

Grail is the daughter of Darkseid and an Amazonian warrior, possessing powers from both sides of her family. She was raised by her mother to be a skilled fighter with the ultimate goal of killing Darkseid. After years of training, she teamed up with the incredibly powerful Anti-Monitor. During the Darkseid War, Grail brought the Anti-Monitor to Earth, anticipating that Darkseid would try to steal the Anti-Life Equation – a powerful force the Anti-Monitor held. The Anti-Monitor ultimately defeated and killed Darkseid. However, Grail’s true plan was revealed when she claimed the Anti-Life Equation for herself and used it to bring Darkseid back to life, but as a puppet under her control. While Darkseid has since regained his free will, Grail remains a dangerous enemy who deserves more attention.

5) Mongul

Darkseid isn’t the only powerful villain in the DC Universe. Mongul is a cruel ruler who controls Warworld, a massive space station he uses to force slaves to fight as gladiators for his entertainment. He’s known as one of Superman’s smartest and most dangerous enemies. Mongul is infamous for trapping Superman in a false reality where Krypton was never destroyed, as seen in the story “For the Man Who Has Everything.” Although he’s committed many terrible deeds, Mongul often gets less attention than Darkseid due to Darkseid’s greater strength and influence. However, Mongul remains a truly fearsome warrior and a significant threat to Earth’s heroes.

4) White Martians

Unlike the peaceful Green Martians like Martian Manhunter, White Martians are a cruel and monstrous race focused solely on domination and destruction. Long ago, they tried to conquer prehistoric Earth, but the Green Martians defeated them and imprisoned them in the Phantom Zone. Having recently escaped, the White Martians are once again attempting to invade and conquer Earth. They possess the same powers as Green Martians – including super strength, flight, shapeshifting, telepathy, heat vision, telekinesis, and the ability to become intangible – but combined with their overwhelming numbers and brutal nature, they represent an enormous threat to humankind.

3) Eclipso

Long before the Spectre embodied divine vengeance, there was Eclipso. This angel was banished from Heaven due to his brutal and cruel behavior. He then forged the Shadowlands, a dark realm he dominated for countless ages. Eclipso is infamous for causing the Great Flood, which nearly wiped out all life on Earth and submerged Atlantis. He enters our world by possessing people through dark crystals, often choosing Dr. Bruce Gordon as a host. Eclipso is a tremendously powerful and evil being within the DC Multiverse, rivaling even Darkseid in his capacity for cruelty and sheer power.

2) Imperiex

Though Darkseid is usually considered the greatest threat in the DC Universe, Imperiex is a surprisingly overlooked villain. He’s essentially the force of destruction itself, existing to tear down universes and build new ones. Imperiex contains the power of the Big Bang and uses it to destroy anyone who stands in his way. He’s incredibly powerful – it took a team-up of Darkseid, Mongul, and Superman just to stop him! He even managed to reduce the seemingly invincible Doomsday to a skeleton with a single attack. Despite all this, Imperiex hasn’t appeared often in comics and remains one of Superman’s most underestimated foes.

1) Despero

Before Darkseid became a major threat in 1970, Despero was one of the Justice League’s most dangerous enemies. This alien from the planet Kalanor seized control of his own world and then set out to conquer the universe. Despero is an incredibly powerful telepath, able to control entire planets with his mind. He’s taken over many worlds, including Thanagar, the home planet of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Combining his immense strength – on par with Superman – and his telepathic powers that rival Martian Manhunter, Despero is a truly formidable foe. Given his long history with the League, many fans believe it’s time for Despero to return as a powerful, universe-level villain.

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2025-10-27 20:15