7 Underrated DC Villains Who Deserve to Be Major Threats

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For nearly a century, DC Comics has published superhero stories. Over that time, the challenges faced by their heroes have dramatically changed – starting with street-level crime and evolving into battles against universe-threatening monsters. Both heroes and villains have become more powerful and committed to their beliefs. While teams like the Justice League use incredible abilities and unwavering determination to fight back against evil, villains possess equally formidable strength and cleverness, often pushing the boundaries of reality. From the god-like villain Darkseid to the relatable flaws of Lex Luthor, these antagonists have repeatedly endangered the entire multiverse.

While iconic villains rightfully get a lot of attention, there are many other DC characters who could be truly terrifying threats and deserve their own spotlight. We’re going to highlight seven of these underrated villains – clever, powerful individuals with hidden depths – and explore how they could become major antagonists if given the chance to lead their own stories.

7) Ultra-Humanite

Ultra-Humanite was the very first supervillain, appearing in a 1938 Superman comic. He’s essentially the predecessor to Lex Luthor, setting the stage for the kinds of villains Superman would face, but he’s still a formidable threat on his own. Driven by pure malice, Ultra-Humanite wants to conquer everything simply to prove his superior intellect. He’s a master of taking over other bodies and currently inhabits a massive, psychic, albino gorilla – which is pretty cool! With a longer history of villainy than anyone else, Ultra-Humanite has the experience and planning skills to prove that classic villains can still challenge newer, more modern threats.

6) Black Hand

William Hand is a compelling villain in the Green Lantern universe. He started as a man fixated on death who built a device to steal a Green Lantern’s power, but has evolved into the host for the Black Lantern ring and the embodiment of death itself, Nekron. While he was incredibly frightening during the Blackest Night storyline, that was largely driven by Nekron’s plans. I’d love to see Black Hand take the lead in his own event. His disturbed mind and power to drain life with a single touch would be perfect for a truly terrifying, horror-focused story. With the right opportunity, he could be a major threat again, reaching the same level of fear he once inspired.

5) Trigon

You might be surprised to see Trigon on a list of underrated villains, but think about it: when did he last really make an impact? He’s incredibly powerful – essentially the DC Universe’s version of the devil – but for a long time, he’s mostly appeared in side stories or alternate universes just to remind us how great he is. It’s time Trigon stopped focusing solely on Raven and became a major threat to the entire DC Universe. Whether that happens in a story centered on the Titans or through him unleashing his power on the world, Trigon is already a popular villain. He just needs a compelling storyline to showcase his potential.

4) Anton Arcane

Anton Arcane is Swamp Thing’s greatest enemy. Where Swamp Thing defends the natural world, Arcane embodies its decay. He’s a truly evil character who delights in causing suffering and aims to conquer the entire world, making him a formidable villain. Arcane’s wickedness is so extreme that he became a demon after enduring torment in Hell. His twisted mind and relentless desire for destruction highlight the courage and goodness of the heroes who oppose him.

3) Neron

Neron is a powerful demon lord from Hell, and he’s consistently shown himself to be a truly terrifying villain. He gains power by offering enhancements and granting wishes in exchange for people’s souls, all while relentlessly trying to create chaos and destruction. He’s invaded Earth with hellish forces multiple times and deserves another showcase of his power. His desire to escape Hell by corrupting a truly pure soul creates a compelling story, especially when focused on DC’s most innocent heroes. With the right storyline, Neron has the potential to become DC’s most frightening and iconic villain.

2) Veronica Cale

As a huge Wonder Woman fan, I’ve always thought Veronica Cale is a seriously compelling villain – she’s basically Wonder Woman’s Lex Luthor! She’s getting a lot of attention right now as the big bad in Absolute Wonder Woman and for forming that twisted Absolute Justice League, but honestly, I’d love to see her classic version get her due. What makes Cale so interesting is that she truly believes she’s the one who embodies what Wonder Woman should be – she built herself up from nothing, fighting against all odds. And naturally, she resents Diana, seeing her as someone who was just born with everything. It’s a shame, because despite being incredibly intelligent and manipulative, she hasn’t really gotten to leave her mark as a major villain yet.

Let’s leverage the fact that people often underestimate her. We could have her suddenly appear as the mastermind behind a plot to defeat the world’s heroes. This would finally give a lesser-known villain a chance to be the star, and it would also allow Wonder Woman to take charge as the leader fighting against her. We need more Wonder Woman stories, and this is a great way to both create one and give her a compelling new enemy.

1) Psycho-Pirate

Psycho-Pirate is a surprisingly overlooked character in the DC Universe. He’s a dangerous villain who uses a special mask – the Medusa Mask – to control the emotions of others, and he enjoys inflicting pain. This mask is incredibly powerful, even appearing as a key item in the video game DC K.O., but it comes with a dark side: the wearer must constantly drain emotions from others to maintain their own power. Despite this, Psycho-Pirate has played a significant role in some of DC’s biggest storylines, including both Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis.

Despite playing a key role in both major Crisis events and being incredibly powerful and villainous, Psycho-Pirate has never been the central figure in his own big story. This seems strange, considering he’s been involved in world-ending events for years. His power to manipulate emotions would be a particularly interesting challenge for DC’s heroes, many of whom rely on their emotions for strength. Psycho-Pirate could truly cause chaos in the DC Universe, and it’s time we see the full extent of his abilities.

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2026-01-01 01:11