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Summary
DC’sJustice Leagueand the larger DC Universe are inhabit by some of the most iconic and powerful characters in fiction , from Superman and Wonder Woman to Batman and Robin . These heroes have undergone a variety of change throughout their history thanks to out - of - continuity Elseworlds narration and retcons .
One of the best way superheroes can beexplored is through darker versions of themselves — either their perfect opposites or their own declination to evil . DC ’s heroes have been reimagined as everything from crime bosses to cosmic tyrants in stories that shook up the existence and reel in dedicated readers . While some of these part are only a minor step up in abilities , others represent the peak of what their respective hero can be . view a protagonist ’s gloam from grace often reminds readers of what makes them gravid to begin with , just as their dark opposites .
10Sky Tyrant
First Appearance:Hawkman#16 by Robert Venditti, Pat Olliffe, Tom Palmer, Jeremiah Shipper, and Richard Starkings
During DC’sYear of the Villainevent , the Batman Who Laughs was forced into a competition with Apex Lex . On one hand , the Jokerized Dark Knight taint several fundamental Cuban sandwich with his toxin , as Lex upgraded fundamental villains in his United States Army . Among the former was Hawkman , who reverted to his Earth-3 counterpart , the Sky Tyrant . This change take place just as Carter Hall was learning the truth behind his rebirth ability .
A feat even Bruce Wayne could n’t accomplish .
Sky Tyrant was portrayed as sadistic and needlessly violent , let in in one return ofHawkmanwhere he attempted to crash a aeroplane just to spite the consciousness of Carter Hall . Fortunately , however , the fighter was able to claw back controller of his body — a feat even Bruce Wayne could n’t carry through .
9Black Flash
First Appearance:The Flash#138 by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Ron Wagner, John Nyberg, Tom McCraw, and Gaspar Saladino
DC has its share of gods and unique take up on the forces of the world . One of the eeriest of these is Black Flash , effectivelythe Grim Reaper of the DCU ’s speedsters , since the normal version of Death is too slow for them . Upon expiry , Black Flash returns these heroes ' life force play to the Speed Force and has been witnessed by characters like Wally West and Max Mercury .
Black Flash is one of the most terrific beings in the DCU .
Fans often theorize that Black Flash is actually Black Racer , created by Jack Kirby in his Fourth World saga , but various comic book creators altercate this claim . Several characters have fill the function of the Specter Speedster , from Barry Allen to Eobard Thawne . Not only does Black Flash have enhanced interlingual rendition of traditional speedster power , he ’s also one of the most terrific being in the DCU . During Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’sDeath Metalevent , a Joker variation of the villain debut .
Shazam might not be join to the Speed Force , but the amphetamine of Mercury helps him pull off a feat that would even move the Fastest Man Alive .
8Dick Grayson: Vampire King
First Appearance:DC vs. Vampires#2 by James Tynion IV, Matthew Rosenberg, Otto Schmidt, and Tom Napolitano
DC vs. Vampirestakes readersinto an Elseworlds universe where a cloak-and-dagger kingdom of vampires start their programme to appropriate the public . The lamia attain their coup by infiltrating the Justice League itself , begin with turning Hal Jordan into a creature of the Nox . Along the way , it ’s explained that they ’re conduce by a undercover Vampire King , whose identity is leave a enigma until the conquest is underway — when Nightwing is revealed as the dark lord .
The vampires ' story is continued in a raw continuation , DC vs. Vampires : World War Vby Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt , which set in motion August 2024 from DC Comics .
Dick Grayson ’s reveal as the Vampire Kingisn’t just the darkest he ’s ever been , it ’s also the most powerful . Through his newly - acquired strength and bloodthirsty nature , he murdered Batman and made an foe out of the Bat - Family . Under his leaders , the vampires bring man to the edge of extinction .
7Superwoman
First Appearance:Justice League of America#29 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Bernard Sachs, and Gaspar Saladino
Earth-3 is defined by its inversion of heroes and villain , with the Justice League beingreimagined as the Crime Syndicate , a Mafia - trend enterprise that hold the satellite . Just as on Earth - Prime , the squad has its own Trinity , made up of Ultra - Man ( Superman ) , Owlman ( Batman ) and Superwoman ( Wonder Woman ) . Where the other two exhibit exaggerated traits of their heroic counterpart , Superwoman is written as a conniving operator .
Superwoman is one of the most sadistic villains in the entire Multiverse , demonstrated by her repeated depiction as a dominatrix . The baddie typically like to tease and excruciate her enemy before in conclusion killing them , and she works well as an everting of every aspect of Diana Prince .
6The Floronic Man
First Appearance:The Flash#245 by Cary Bates, Irv Novick, and Frank McLaughlin
Swamp Thing is among the most hefty beings in the DCU , and as an avatar of the Green , he is effectively a defender of one of the central elementary forces of nature . However , he ’s far from the only character with domination over plant life , and is rivaled by bothPoison Ivy and the Floronic Man . However , as Ivy has steady become an antihero , theFloronic Man has grow into a more dangerous counterpartto the Protector of the Green .
The Floronic Man actually began as Plant - Master , a baddie to the Atom . However , after consume part of Swamp Thing ’s flesh , he formulate his own control over the elemental forces . Since then , he has assumed the role of both Avatar of the Green and of the Rot , with the latter becoming one of Circe ’s Injustice League Dark villains , who spread a pest of decay . He is also a major foe of Poison Ivy and played a large role in her update pedigree tale .
For more on Poison Ivy and the Floronic Man ’s twisted human relationship , check out the ongoing and honour - winningPoison Ivyseries by G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara , available now both on stands and in collected editions from DC Comics .
The DCU ’s upcoming Swamp Thing movie could revivify the Justice League Dark project that has persist in developing hell on earth for so many years .
5Doctor Hate
First Appearance:Knight Terrors: Night’s End#1 by Joshua Williamson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Trevor Hairsine, Howard Porter, Stefano Nesi, Rain Beredo, and Troy Peteri
Doctor Fate is among the most powerful magicians in the DCU , thanks to the front of Nabu , a Lord of Order . DuringDC’sKnight Terrorsevent , the Helmet of Fate was taken by Amanda Waller , who pass on it tothe demonic half of the Teen Titans hero Raven . Thanks to the Nightmare Stone , she transformed into Doctor Hate , a villain who aided Waller in her plan to become potentate of the United States .
Doctor Hate answer as a dark version of both Raven and Doctor Fate , coalesce the maximum voltage of both characters to form one benighted agentive role of chaos . Using her witching power , she squeeze Beast Boy to diffuse his plague , turn the great unwashed around the country into animal - human hybrids during the consequentialTitans : Beast Worldevent helm by Tom Taylor , Ivan Reis , and Lucas Meyer .
answer finally make out to light in the modish result of Beast World , propose readers an account of how Doctor Hate has been Raven this entire fourth dimension .
4King Shazam
First Appearance:Batman / Superman#1 by Joshua Williamson, David Marquez, Alejandro Sánchez, and John J. Hill
After pervert the creative thinker of Hawkman to his causal agency , Batman Who Laughs targets none other than the Chamion of Shazam , causingthe Big Red Cheeseto turn of events into a supervillain . This transformation is the most interesting of all the Jokerizations , asthe villain maintained the adolescent immatureness of Batson , something he convey into villainy before promptly attack the gods who power him .
Although Black Adam may be the first character who comes to mind as a dismal version of Shazam , the psychologically - destabilizing event of the Joker toxin made King Shazam even more dangerous . With all the might of the gods coupled with the unrestrained chaos of the Joker , the villain handle to turn his babe Mary into the same monster he ’d become .
3Parallax Hal Jordan
First Appearance:Green Lantern#50 by Ron Marz, Darryl Banks, Romeo Tanghal, Steve Mattsson, and Albert De Guzman
Throughout the Silver and Bronze Ages of DC , Green Lantern Hal Jordan served as the Prime Minister blank space - based superhero , protecting the worlds of Sector-2814 . That start to change during the early 1990s , when the destruction of Coast City caused Hal to turn to villainy when the Guardians denied him the ability to resurrect his home . In response , he mutilate several of his fellow Corps members and then turned his attention on the Guardians .
AlthoughParallax was afterward retconned into a parasitic baddie manipulate Hal ’s state of mind , that was n’t always the case . Throughout the nineties , Hal was very much a full - blown villain in his own right , one who soaked up so much of the Guardians ' power that he became almost a deity . While this version of the character did assay salvation , Hal did n’t return to his Green Lantern roots untilGreen Lantern : Rebirthby Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver .
DC has officially confirmed the " Greatest Green Lantern " forward of the new live - action Lanterns serial set in James Gunn ’s upcoming DCU .
2Overman
First Appearance:52#52 by Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Mark Waid, Greg Rucka, Eddy Barrows, Mike McKone, Chris Batista, Keith Giffen, Pat Olliffe, Justiniano, Darick Robertson, Andy Lanning, Walden Wong, Rodney Ramos, Drew Geraci, Alex Sinclair, Hi-Fi, David Baron, and Ken Lopez
On Earth - X , Nazi Germany prevailed during the Second World War , leading to a concluded fascist takeover — include of the metahuman population . Aside from Uncle Sam and his squad of Freedom Fighters , the world is ruled over without resistance thanks to the major power of character likeOverman , a Nazi variation of Superman .
It does n’t get much worse than a hot - tempered Man of Steel who pledge to fascism .
1The Batman Who Laughs
First Appearance:Dark Days: The Casting#1 by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Jim Lee, John Romita Jr., Andy Kubert, Scott Williams, Danny Miki, Klaus Janson, Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper, and Steve Wands
Batman Who Laughs briefly became the most brawny being in the DCU when he transferred his cognisance into a Doctor Manhattan organic structure , effectively becoming a god . Resembling a mash - up ofHellraiser’sCenobites and2000 AD’sJudge Death , the villain come terrifyingly close to unmaking reality itself and will likely proceed to wait on as a majorJustice Leaguevillain for years to come .
