10 Superman Villains Who Belong In the DCU

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The all-new DCU has been building momentum for quite some time now, and with Superman, one of the DC Universe’s most iconic heroes, receiving the first solo movie of the new universe, fans are excited to see what the future holds for the heroes and villains of the comics giant’s roster. While heroes like Supergirl, Batman, and Green Lantern, as well as villains like Lex Luthor and Lobo, have already been confirmed to appear in the future, there is an endless supply of characters that deserve space in the new universe.

James Gunn has been spearheading the new DCU, and his film Superman will hit theaters in July 2025. DC fans are excited to see their favorite characters on the big screen, and the DCU has promised to introduce characters from the comics that have rarely been seen outside of their original medium. Many Superman villains, in particular, have yet to receive proper live-action treatment, and the DCU is the perfect place to fix that issue.

10

Bizarro Is Superman’s Mirrored Duplicate

Seeing the Failed Clone of the Man of Steel Would Rock the DCU

One of Superman’s most beloved and compelling foes, the often sympathetic Bizarro is the perfect character to join James Gunn’s DCU. Gunn’s previous works have been packed with characters like Bizarro—outcasts shunned from society simply trying to understand their place in the world. While there have been numerous versions of Bizarro, the most obvious pick for the DCU would be the clone created by Lex Luthor, as the corporate foe of the Man of Steel has already been firmly established as a major threat to this DCU’s Superman.

As often a misunderstood attempted hero as he is a genuine villain, Bizarro’s appearance in the DCU could bring depth and heart to the world in ways that fans would latch on to. With all the powers of the Man of Steel himself, Bizarro would be a strong match for Superman physically, and the idea of a shattered mirror version of the Kryptonian hero is extremely compelling and a perfect way to explore the inner workings of Superman’s own psyche.

9

Toyman Is More of a Threat Than Expected

Superman Facing Off Against the Sinister Toyman Could Spell Trouble for Metropolis

Winslow Schott, aka Toyman, is one of Superman’s oldest foes. Despite his somewhat silly name and villainous gimmick, Toyman is exceptionally dangerous. With a brilliant mind capable of creating highly dangerous, high-tech “toys,” Schott is a genuine threat to the citizens of Superman’s city of Metropolis.

Though Toyman doesn’t pose much of a physical threat to Superman himself, his ability to out-think the Man of Steel could allow him to target the people closest to the hero. Toyman wouldn’t necessarily need to be the main antagonist of a Superman film in the DCU, but putting him in the universe as a secondary foe that acts in the background would be a perfect utilization of his talents.

8

Zod Would Bring Krypton’s Past to Light

The Arrival of General Zod in the DCU Would Challenge Superman on New Levels

Though he was previously the central antagonist of both Superman II and Man of Steel, General Zod is a vital part of Superman’s mythos and shouldn’t be left by the wayside. While it’s not necessary for him to be the lead villain of a Superman film again, leaving Zod out of the DCU entirely would be a major mistake. He is so powerful that he can take on characters beyond the Man of Steel, which is why Zod is still a worthy addition to the DCU.

Even if he doesn’t fight Superman directly in his own film, Zod could certainly pop up in the surrounding projects of the DCU, from the likes of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow to something like James Gunn’s animated series Creature Commandos. Zod has previously faced off against teams like the Suicide Squad, so putting him in that context might bring a new angle to the familiar character.

The Fifth-Dimensional Imp Would Be the Perfect DCU Addition

With the all-new DCU taking a more “comic-booky” approach to its projects, the character of Mr. Mxyzptlk would be a no-brainer addition. Hilarious and annoying and able to conjure up anything he can think of, Mxyzptlk is hugely powerful and could spell serious trouble (or at least annoyance) for Superman.

With James Gunn’s track record of embracing sillier characters from comic books, Mr. Mxyzptlk seems like a strong possibility for the DCU’s world of Superman and his supporting cast. The arrival of the Man of Steel’s fifth-dimensional imp enemy could even hint at the later introduction of the fan-favorite Bat-Mite.

6

Livewire Would Add a Shock to the DCU

The Electric Enemy of Superman Would Light Up Metropolis

Originally appearing in the beloved Superman: The Animated Series, Livewire is one of the Man of Steel’s most interesting foes. She is not as large-scale a villain as some of his other enemies. Still, Livewire has proven to be a consistent thorn in the side of the Man of Steel for years, and her appearance in the DCU would spell trouble for the citizens of Metropolis that Superman cares for.

Though his power levels in the DCU have yet to be officially established, Superman is often able to actually be somewhat injured by Livewire’s electric attacks, and this simple fact alone makes her a larger threat than most common crooks in the DC Universe. Perhaps best suited for a supporting role under the command of a villain like Lex Luthor, Livewire certainly deserves a spot in the new DCU.

5

Mongul Would Bring Warworld to the DCU

The Intergalactic Tyrant Would Be a Frightening Match for Superman

The sworn enemy of Superman and the tyrannical ruler of Warworld—an artificial, planet-like station that abducts beings from across the galaxy to fight in gladiator battles—Mongul is one of the most formidable threats to the Man of Steel in the entire DC Comics Universe. With so many science-fiction-oriented avenues to explore with the new DCU, Mongul would be a perfect way to bring Superman into deep space to face off against more cosmic foes.

Mongul is so threatening that he could serve as a major villain across multiple DC films and projects. He isn’t just another Superman foe, and he shouldn’t be laughed off. The Warworld leader poses a significant danger to every being in the DC Universe.

The Kryptonite-Powered Maniac Would Weaken the Man of Steel

Metallo is one of Superman’s most iconic foes and has a striking visual design. Beyond that, he has a personal connection to the Man of Steel: Metallo’s terrifying power source is a fragment of Krypton itself.

He’s an ideal character to embody humanity’s distrust of Superman and could serve perfectly as a minor physical antagonist while Superman contends with the larger schemes of a bigger threat. While someone like Lex Luthor or Brainiac plots behind the scenes, Metallo takes on the dirty work, setting the stage for epic battles with the DCU’s Superman.

3

Manchester Black Would Shake Superman’s Beliefs

The Leader of the Elite Would Challenge Superman on a Psychological Level

Featured in the iconic Superman storyline What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and The American Way, Manchester Black is a British telepath and telekinetic who can face off against Superman on a physical and mental level.

Rooted in doubt and disillusionment with Superman’s methods, Manchester Black is the perfect character to reflect common criticisms of the Man of Steel—such as the belief that he’s antiquated, out of touch, or no longer relevant. These themes are deeply important to explore in Superman stories, and Manchester Black is an excellent catalyst for such discussions.

2

Parasite Would Get Under Superman’s Skin

The Power-Dampening Monster Could Truly Threaten the Man of Steel

Rudy Jones, aka Parasite, is a terrifying Superman foe who is able to sap the powers and life energy from any being that he physically touches. Thanks to these powers, Parasite can actually stand up against the incredibly powerful Superman. One of Superman’s most iconic foes, Parasite’s appearance in any DC story spells trouble for whoever he sets his sights on.

Not only can Parasite take away Superman’s powers and use them against him, but he can also absorb the memories and knowledge of his victims. This means he could theoretically uncover the secrets of the Man of Steel, including his secret identity as Clark Kent, a reporter for the Daily Planet. Parasite is an iconic Superman villain, and his place in the DCU is all but assured.

1

Brainiac Is a Planetary Threat

The Terrifying Alien Collector Could Bring Superman and His Allies Together

While Lex Luthor is Superman’s archnemesis and greatest earthly threat, Brainiac is certainly his greatest intergalactic foe. With incredible physical and mental abilities, Brainiac is often depicted as more than the Man of Steel can handle on his own, opening up the possibility of the DCU’s Superman teaming up with a myriad of other heroes and allies.

One exciting aspect of Brainiac’s potential introduction to the DCU is the bottle city of Kandor, a shrunken city from Krypton that Brainiac stole and preserved aboard his spacecraft. This connection to Superman’s past life would be extremely compelling and would add a wonderful emotional impact to the DCU’s central character.

“}]] With James Gunn’s Superman film on the horizon, fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a number of Superman’s greatest foes to the brand-new DCU.  Read More