by 1. The Joker
FIRST APPEARANCE: BATMAN #1 (1940)
Here at What Culture we love The Joker. What self-respecting comic book fan doesn’t? Really? Anybody?
Single-handedly responsible for almost all of the bad things that have ever befallen Bruce Wayne – including the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd and paralysing Barbara Gordon – The Joker first appeared way back in 1940 and was created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson.
His origins have never been all that clear, but he is most commonly believed to have been a petty criminal by the name of The Red Hood who was left hideously disfigured after an impromptu swim in a bath vat of toxic waste.
Over the years The Joker has been depicted most successfully as a homicidal maniac, who despite the ridiculous body count he has amassed over the years (over 2000 men, women and children) has avoided having his own life ended by the system he opposes due to his apparent”insanity”.
But Arkham Asylum isn’t strong enough to hold a villain like The Joker as seen by his countless escapes, and it isn’t long before the streets of Gotham run red with blood and laughter.
He has no super powers and yet he remains one of, if not the most dangerous and dastardly foe of The Dark Knight – his polar opposite. Where villains like Magneto or Lex Luthor fall flat in comparison is The Joker’s ability to get the upper hand over Batman time after time with his personality alone.
His unpredictable and homicidal nature makes him one of the most feared super villains in the entire DC Universe as well as the whole of comics. Simply put, The Joker is just plain terrifying and we love him for it.
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This article was first posted on October 6, 2013
30 Comments
No Deadpool.. otherwise a very god list
Yeah – the simple justification for that being the Deadpool ISN’T A VILLAIN.
Nice contribution though. Would you like a lollipop?
Deadpool doesn’t deserve to be on any list with the word “greatest” in it unless it also contains the word “annoying.”
Was worried going in to this that it was going to be just a generic list of the usual suspects and expected to read the first few pages and leave. Soon as I seen Mr. Gone, my interest was piqued.
Totally with you on the Mr. Gone thing. Loved the inclusion of characters from Preacher as well. Kudos all round.
great list
What about Jim Jaspers?
Nice to see Herr Starr and the Saint of Killers but the grandma was the worst of the lot in Preacher
Pretty decent list for the most part, but the inclusion of Ultron and Kang the Conqueror so much earlier than characters like Doomsday is kinda crazy…Doomsday is the literal personification of a plot device, DC wanted to create a big sales event by killing Superman, so they created a creature who himself was created for the purpose…since his initial appearance there have been very few instances of the character being fleshed out or used in a decent manner, whereas Ultron & Kang have been the antagonists in decades of seminal Avengers stories, and they both hold a universal relevance in fear of machines and the nature of ever swiftly passing time….Doomsday is just a monster that punched things hard and shouted a lot.
Awesome list, bro. Agree with mostly all of the selections here. Although I must say Ultron and Electro should definitely be pushed further up the list.
did I miss Dr. Doom ?
No he’s on there.
This was such a great list till Green Goblin,he should be in the top 5,Bane is better than him?
Agreed. If anything, Bane should take Gob’s position as #15, with Gob’s in the Top 10.
top 10 are right on the money
Wrong Zoom(in the picture). That’s Professor Zoom.
Have you not been keeping up with walking dead? Negan is great. definitely needs a place on this list.
“Galactus is probably the most powerful villain in the history of comics”
Not even kind of, sort of, or vaugely close to true. Hell, Lucifer Morningstar is also on this list, and he would smoke Galactus like a cheap cigarette.
I know people debate whether Ozy is really a villain or not, but having a brainless, one dimensional brute like Juggernaut ahead of him? Not so sure about that one. Love Ghul being so high, he’s one of my favorites, and tends to be overrated and overlooked by many, but having him so high makes me question your placement of Ozy even more. In a way, both strive for utilitarianism by sacrificing large groups of people for the sake of the survival of the planet. Putting Ghul so high, given his limited reach in a gallery full of villains, while having Ozy, a singular villain that fools an entire planet, so low seems inconsistent. Strange is once again criminally underrated, as along with his cold, calculating logic, he has the same psychosis and obsessive tendencies that make the Joker such a great villain, but his delusions of grandeur just direct them in a far less effective way. Freeze is underrated too; he does seem silly in many interpretations of him, but some, including the tragic and dark ones seen more recently in the Arkham video games, portray him more serious, tragic, and arguably more powerful than The Penguin and other famous villains. Otherwise a fantastic list, especially the entire top 10.
I’d take issue with your characterizing the Juggernaut as a “brainless, one-dimensional brute.” He is most definitely a very fleshed-out character, with a complete origin story and an arc that has seen him be both a hero and a villain. I consider him one of the greats. I know you’re comparing him to Ozymandias specifically, and who is a “greater villain” among the two I couldn’t begin trying to guess (it’s really apples and oranges), but the Juggernaut is a fairly well-formed character.
Before I continue with this list… Killer Croc CAN be given the Nolan treatment: as a big fellow suffering from a severe case of ichthyosis.
More likely he would suit a batman film universe that is similar in tone to TASM…serious but can have it’s comic book elements. Having a guy with ichthyosis would be a let down.
Dark Phoenix deserve to be above Bane and Magneto is a far greater villain, and far more complex, than Lex Luthor.
Magneto’s description reads as if he was originally placed second.
I would have placed Green Goblin above all of Spidey’s foes but otherwise I appreciate that a list such as this can’t please everyone so good job!
I’m sorry I like you guys alot but I really think this list is majorly flawed !
Where are characters like Black Manta and Ocean Master ? Is it because you guys hate Aquaman ? and Why is Captain Cold So low ? Where is Grodd ? Where is Circe ?
I like Lex being so high because of what he represents: the very worst humanity has to offer as a species. He’s a brilliant, ultra-rich elitist that doesn’t just want to rule the world, he wants humanity to WANT him ruling the world. He wants to prove that his mind alone can best even a god that can hurl planets and shoot fire from his eyes.
I wouldn’t mind Magneto being ahead of him though. lol
Still missing the Enchantress, Mangog, Time Trapper, The Fatal Five, Maximus the Mad, the Mole Man, Morbius, Justin Hammer, Obadiah Stane, Mordru, Dormammu, Hela…how about the Burglar who launched Spider-Man’s career? Keep in mind, TOAD and KILLER CROC made this list!
Oh yeah…and LOBO!
always joker, magneto or lex
Definitely the best list that I have seen. I do feel that Magneto is more deserving of the number two spot than Luther due to his plot, but I can understand putting Superman’s greatest adversary ahead. No doubt that the Joker should be number one.