10 Greatest Comics Told From the Villain’s Point of View (Because Sometimes Evil Tells the Best Story)

For decades, comic books have pitted heroes against villains, but increasingly, we’re seeing stories told *from* the villain’s perspective. Characters like Doctor Doom in Marvel and Lex Luthor and the Joker in DC are particularly compelling, and their adventures offer rich storytelling opportunities. These stories might appear within the hero’s comic, or sometimes, publishers create separate series to explore the villains’ motivations and strengths. It’s also exciting to see lesser-known villains finally get their moment in the spotlight.

This collection showcases the best comic book stories that offer a fresh perspective by telling the tale from the villain’s side – from well-known evildoers to lesser-known characters finally getting their moment in the spotlight.

10) Books of Doom (2005)

Ed Brubaker’s *Books of Doom* is a six-issue Doctor Doom miniseries from 2005 where Doom recounts his life story in an interview, insisting he has perfect recall – even to his time in the womb, potentially due to his mother’s mystical practices. The series details Doom’s ascent to power in Latveria from his own point of view, offering a compelling look at how even villains can see themselves as heroes. What truly sets it apart is a surprising twist at the end, solidifying it as a classic Doctor Doom tale and revealing the man behind the mask of the Latverian dictator.

9) Blue Beetle Vol. 6 #8

One of the most unique stories in DC Comics history appears in *Blue Beetle* Vol. 6 #8, which tells a tale from the perspective of a small-time criminal. The story follows Ed Buckley, an ordinary man on his way to a job interview at Kord Industries. Unfortunately, Ted Kord turned him down, claiming they didn’t have any openings. Afterward, Ed was approached by the villain known as the Calculator, who threatened him into helping with a crime. The entire issue is shown through Ed’s eyes as he and the criminals attempt their plan, only to be thwarted by the Blue Beetle. What made this story special was its portrayal of criminals – it showed that they aren’t always evil, and that even Ted Kord was willing to help Ed once he understood the situation.

8) The Superior Foes of Spider-Man

As a huge comic book fan, I have to say that *The Superior Foes of Spider-Man* is a total gem. It’s seriously one of the funniest and smartest superhero comics I’ve ever read. The story centers around Boomerang, Shocker, Beetle, Overdrive, and Speed Demon – a bunch of Spider-Man’s lesser-known enemies who are convinced they’re his biggest threats. They’re trying to revive the Sinister Six, but they’re hilariously stuck because they can’t find a sixth villain to join their team. The series follows their attempts to pull off a big heist, and what’s amazing is that Spider-Man barely shows up! It ran for 17 issues and honestly, it’s one of the funniest things Marvel’s put out in years. The writing by Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber is just brilliant – watching these guys bumble around, constantly bickering and overestimating their own importance, is pure gold.

7) Arkham Asylum: Living Hell

Dan Slott’s *Arkham Asylum: Living Hell* tells the story of Warren White, a petty criminal who tries to avoid punishment by faking insanity. His plan backfires, landing him in the notorious Arkham Asylum, where a real nightmare begins. While Arkham is famous for housing iconic villains like the Joker and Mr. Freeze, the story focuses on what happens to an ordinary criminal within its walls. The journey from the prison transport, shared with villains like the Riddler and Scarecrow, is just the beginning. The narrative jumps between different villains’ experiences, culminating in a rescue by Batman. Ultimately, it’s a compelling story about being thrown into the worst possible place, and it shows how Arkham Asylum can *create* villains just as easily as it attempts to rehabilitate them, transforming Warren White into the Great White Shark.

6) Fantastic Four #51

A groundbreaking comic book issue, *Fantastic Four* #51, was one of the first to tell a story from the villain’s perspective and is still considered a classic. Interestingly, the villain in this story remains nameless. Motivated by envy of Reed Richards’ success, he invents a machine to swap bodies with Ben Grimm, becoming The Thing. His attempt to kill Reed Richards leads both of them to the Negative Zone, where his beliefs are challenged. Titled “This Man… This Monster!”, this issue is a standout *Fantastic Four* story, even among the well-known arcs featuring the Inhumans and Galactus.

5) Batman: Vengeance of Bane

As a critic, I always appreciate a well-done origin story, and *Batman: Vengeance of Bane* delivers. This film is where we first meet Bane, and it’s crucial because it sets everything up for the *Knightfall* saga. What really struck me was how the story is told from Bane’s perspective. We see his incredibly harsh upbringing – born in prison due to his father’s crimes, and essentially robbed of a normal life. Seeing his mother alongside him, raising him *in* prison, really hammers home how little chance he had to become anything other than a villain. It’s not about excusing his actions, but understanding them. More importantly, it makes him a genuinely terrifying adversary, and honestly, it made *Knightfall* that much more impactful knowing where he came from and just how dangerous he truly is.

4) Loki (2004)

Long before Loki became a beloved character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a comic book series of the same name explored his story. Published in 2004, this four-issue miniseries by Robert Rodi and Esad Ribić begins with Loki unexpectedly becoming the ruler of Asgard. Despite holding the powerful Thor and Sif captive, Loki quickly discovers that ruling isn’t what he imagined, and he faces opposition from all sides. The series offers a compelling perspective on the villain’s point of view, as Loki is forced to make a difficult choice, only to lose control of his own destiny. This early look at the character helps explain why Loki became so popular, both in the comics and later in the movies.

3) Daredevil #181

For fans of Daredevil, issue #181 is a landmark moment in the comic’s history. It’s famous for depicting the tragic death of Elektra at the hands of Bullseye, a moment that deeply impacted Daredevil and fueled his intense rivalry with the assassin. What’s often forgotten is that the story is uniquely told from Bullseye’s perspective. We see his escape from prison and his pursuit of Elektra, with his thoughts and motivations driving the narrative even when Daredevil and Matt Murdock are present. This offered a rare and unsettling glimpse into the mind of a sociopath.

2) Batman Annual #11

A truly strange, but surprisingly well-done, comic book story told from the villain’s perspective appeared in *Batman Annual* #11, focusing on the character Clayface. The story, titled “Mortal Clay,” featured Preston Payne, the third incarnation of Clayface. What makes it unsettling is that this version of Clayface lives inside a department store, obsessively watching over and protecting a mannequin he loves, named Helena. When Clayface begins killing people he suspects are having an affair with Helena, Batman investigates and figures out what’s happening. Surprisingly, Batman then offers to help Clayface, realizing the villain has lost his mind. It was a poignant story about a man who had lost everything and desperately clung to the last thing he believed he had, even if it was an illusion.

1) Kraven’s Last Hunt

Many consider *Kraven’s Last Hunt* to be the greatest comic book story ever told from the villain’s side. It was the final story featuring the original Kraven the Hunter, and the title perfectly describes the plot: Kraven attempting to finally capture Spider-Man, the one target he’s pursued his entire life. The story is uniquely told through Kraven’s eyes, showing his meticulous planning and eventual victory over Spider-Man. However, after taking Spider-Man’s place, Kraven finds that achieving his lifelong goal leaves him empty, leading him to end his own life. It’s a deeply tragic tale of obsession, a man willing to do anything to fulfill a dream, only to discover he had no purpose beyond it. Despite being a villain’s story, it remains one of Marvel’s most heartbreaking narratives.

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2025-09-15 19:32