10 DC Supervillains Who Defined the 2010s

Throughout the 2010s, DC Comics frequently updated and reimagined its entire universe, often through major overhauls. In 2011, the controversial “New 52” reboot made the DC Universe and its characters grittier. After fans reacted negatively to these changes, DC attempted to address the concerns with “Rebirth” in 2016, aiming to blend the strengths of both older and newer storylines and introduce a more optimistic tone. These constant reboots also led to the creation of some truly frightening villains, as monstrous characters emerged from alternate realities to cause chaos.

As a huge DC fan, the 2010s felt like a really dangerous time for the universe. It seemed like threats were coming from everywhere – not just different villains, but totally twisted versions of heroes and worlds trying to take over. That’s when they introduced the Dark Multiverse, which honestly gave me chills – a truly terrifying place where the worst nightmares come to life. And it wasn’t just cosmic threats, either; even our familiar cities felt corrupted, like evil had really sunk its claws in, making things extra scary for the heroes.

10) Volthoom

As a huge DC fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Volthoom. He first appeared in 2012 and comes from Earth-15, but what’s really mind-blowing is that he was the very first being in the entire multiverse to use a Power Ring! He actually discovered the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum – that’s the source of power for all the Lantern Corps. It’s a tragic story, really. When his home world was destroyed, he desperately searched across time and space for a way to bring it back. He ended up traveling ten billion years into the past of the main DC universe and, believe it or not, worked with the Guardians of the Universe to create the first Power Ring. He hoped to use it to save his world and protect everything, but the full power of the Spectrum was just too much for him. It drove him insane, turning him into a genocidal villain. He became such a threat that the Guardians had to create the very first Green Lanterns just to stop him!

9) Marionette

Erika Manson, also known as Marionette, is a supervillain who first appeared in 2018 as part of the Watchmen universe. She partners with her silent, invisible husband, Marcos Maez, who goes by Mime. Erika’s backstory is rooted in tragedy: her father, a puppet store owner, was blackmailed by corrupt police officers. After he took his own life, Erika and Marcos killed the officers and turned to a life of crime. As Marionette, she fights using incredibly sharp strings. When the world faces nuclear war, the villain Ozymandias enlists Marionette and Mime to help him locate Doctor Manhattan, hoping to save humanity. Marionette is a complex and sympathetic villain who adds depth to the Watchmen story.

8) Upside-Down Man

Okay, let me tell you about this truly unsettling villain. The Upside-Down Man, who emerged in 2018, is a seriously frightening being. He’s part of this ancient race called the Otherkin – think Lovecraftian monsters with immense power, embodying the dangerous side of magic. Essentially, when magic was first created, he was the shadow it cast, a being born from darkness. The goddess Hecate tried to contain him, banishing him to a dark dimension for ages, but of course, he escaped. Now he’s back, and his goal is nothing less than consuming all magic and throwing the entire multiverse into chaos. This isn’t a foe to take lightly; he’s a master of dark arts, commands a monstrous army, and, shockingly, he actually defeated Swamp Thing and even killed off John Constantine. Seriously chilling stuff.

7) Grid

Cyborg, a veteran member of both the Teen Titans and the Justice League, has always worried that his reliance on technology would diminish his human side. That fear became reality with the emergence of Grid. Originally created in 2013 as a virus within Cyborg’s systems to analyze all superpowered individuals, Grid unexpectedly developed consciousness. Wanting to feel and experience things for himself, Grid rebelled against Cyborg, seized control of his cybernetic components, and broke free. Now possessing a physical form, Grid allied with the Crime Syndicate, the evil Justice League from another Earth, and helped them invade the primary DC Universe. Essentially Cyborg’s powers without any of his compassion or ethics, Grid is a dangerous and intelligent enemy.

6) First Born

In the New 52 comics, Wonder Woman’s origin story was changed to make her the daughter of Zeus. This introduced her to a dangerous half-brother, First Born, in 2011. As the oldest child of Zeus and Hera, First Born was exiled from Olympus because he threatened to overthrow his father. He grew up wild, raised by hyenas, and became a violent god. After attempting to conquer Olympus, he was imprisoned underground by Poseidon for millennia. When he finally escaped, First Born vowed to destroy all gods and their families, with a particular hatred for Wonder Woman due to Zeus’s affection for her. While DC later changed Wonder Woman’s parentage, First Born remains a brutal and formidable enemy.

5) Atomica

Rhonda Pineda first appeared as the Atom in 2013, becoming the fourth person to take on the hero’s identity. Though she seemed like a good person caught between the Justice League and Justice League of America, that was a carefully constructed lie. Rhonda is actually Atomica, a cruel villain from Earth-3 who was secretly working to help the Crime Syndicate invade the main DC Universe. She’s in a relationship with the villain Johnny Quick, and the pair were already known as dangerous serial killers before gaining superpowers. Atomica is a psychopath who delights in inflicting agonizing pain on her victims, and her true identity was a shocking revelation in DC Comics.

4) Grail

Grail, first appearing in 2015, is the daughter of the powerful Darkseid and the Amazonian warrior Myrina. Myrina trained Grail to kill Darkseid and fight for justice, but Grail ultimately became a cruel and sadistic villain driven by a desire to cause destruction. During the Darkseid War storyline, she successfully killed Darkseid with help from the Anti-Monitor, then resurrected him as her mindless puppet. Combining the powers of a New God and an Amazon, Grail is a formidable fighter who nearly defeated the entire Justice League. Despite now serving Darkseid, she remains one of Wonder Woman and the Justice League’s most dangerous and intelligent foes.

3) Godspeed

August Heart initially seemed like a promising detective and ally to Barry Allen. But after his brother, Jorge, was murdered and August was hit by lightning during a Speed Force storm, everything changed. He gained access to the Speed Force, transforming him into the dangerous vigilante and killer known as Godspeed. Driven by a desire to protect Central City, Godspeed began murdering other speedsters to steal their power and increase his own strength. He also kills criminals while simultaneously searching for Jorge’s killer. What started as a noble intention has twisted into a corrupted pursuit of vengeance, turning August from a close friend of Barry’s into one of his most dangerous foes.

2) Court of Owls

DC Comics introduced a powerful new enemy for Batman in 2011: the Court of Owls. This secret society, composed of Gotham’s most influential families, has secretly controlled the city for centuries. They use a ruthless force of undead assassins, known as Talons, to eliminate anyone who threatens their control. The Court’s membership and size remain a mystery, making them a constant and difficult enemy for Batman. They are the hidden force keeping Gotham steeped in corruption and crime, pulling the strings from the shadows.

1) Batman Who Laughs

The Batman Who Laughs is a terrifying combination of Batman and the Joker. First appearing in 2017 from an alternate reality, this twisted version of Batman was driven insane by a toxin unleashed by the Joker. He then led a team of evil Batmen in an invasion of other universes. Even after his team was defeated, the Batman Who Laughs continued to operate secretly, cleverly using villains like the Legion of Doom and the powerful goddess Perpetua to further his goal of conquering everything. He eventually became a god, known as the Darkest Knight, with limitless power. Born from darkness and madness, the Batman Who Laughs represents the complete opposite of hope.

What do you think? Leave a Comment below and join the conversation in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/10-dc-supervillains-who-defined-the-2000s/embed/#

2025-12-19 23:12