Villains Wanted
We all know Hollywood loves a good supervillain—which is exactly why we're surprised to find that some of the greatest comic book villains of all time are still waiting for their big break. Nonetheless, true comic fans know these characters deserve the spotlight. They've terrorized heroes on the page for decades, creating memorable storylines and intense conflicts that would translate perfectly to the big screen. So, let’s find out who these antagonists are.
Spiral Powers Scenes (Wolverine and The X-men) by Alex Geek
1. Mister Sinister
Despite decades of fan anticipation, this genetic manipulator remains absent from the silver screen. Created by Chris Claremont in the 1980s, Sinister's obsession with mutant DNA makes him a natural antagonist for the MCU's inevitable X-Men reboot. His Victorian aesthetics and futuristic science would create amazing visual opportunities.
2. Baron Heinrich Zemo
The scientist-turned-masked supervillain, Zemo, carries a legacy that still haunts the Marvel Universe. His Formula X permanently bonded his iconic hood to his face after a confrontation with Captain America during WWII. While his son appears in the MCU, the original Baron's machinations deserve cinematic exploration.
Baron Zemo Tribute by Goblin Tribute Maker
3. Brainiac
The alien AI who shrinks cities for his collection would require a massive visual effects budget, which might explain his cinematic absence. Superman's second-most important villain (after Lex Luthor) has appeared in animated films and TV shows, including Krypton, but never in theaters. Warner Bros. has reportedly considered him for multiple Superman projects that ultimately went in different directions.
Injustice 2 - Introducing Brainiac! by Injustice
4. Clayface
What makes Clayface cinematically challenging is precisely what makes him fascinating—his amorphous, shape-shifting nature demands advanced CGI. Initially introduced in Detective Comics #40 (1940), the character has evolved through many incarnations. His tragic backstory as failed actor Basil Karlo offers emotional depth rarely explored in Batman films.
Clayface took his revenge by Those Golden Days of 90
5. Omega Red
The fall of the Soviet Union temporarily diminished this Cold War-era villain's relevance, but his terrifying death factor abilities remain best suited for R-rated adaptations. Crafted by Jim Lee and John Byrne in 1992, this Russian super-soldier with carbonadium tentacles has a personal vendetta against Wolverine.
[Marvel Future Fight] Omega Red Gameplay by Setsunaza
6. The Batman Who Laughs
How would audiences react to seeing Batman as the villain? In recent comics, this terrifying amalgamation emerged from the Dark Multiverse, gaining an immediate fan following. The character represents Bruce Wayne, who is infected by Joker Venom. He retains Batman's intelligence while adopting the Joker's sadism and moral void. Such a complex character needs precise storytelling.
The Batman Who Laughs by Injustice 2 Mobile
7. Onslaught
The 1990s saw a psychic monstrosity nearly destroy the Marvel Universe after emerging from Professor X's subconscious combined with Magneto's darkness. First appearing in X-Men #53 (1996), Onslaught catalyzed the Heroes Reborn storyline. His unprecedented power levels would make him an Avengers-level threat rather than confine him to an X-Men movie.
How To Use ONSLAUGHT Easily | Full Breakdown | Marvel Contest Of Champions by PepiPepo MCOC
8. Spiral
Six arms make for really complicated fight choreography. This possibly explains Spiral's absence from X-Men films thus far. Initially shown as Ricochet Rita, a stuntwoman transformed by Mojo's dimension, her time-manipulation abilities and magical prowess make her quite dangerous. The character's body modification themes and connection to the bizarre Mojoverse seem like big narrative challenges.
9. King Hyperion
Let’s talk about the Squadron Supreme universe, which contains this Superman analog gone wrong. Unlike the heroic Hyperion variants, this version destroyed multiple universes in his quest for power. His introduction would require establishing the Squadron Supreme concept first.
Hyperion - All Powers from Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes by All Powers Explained
10. Vandal Savage
The DC villain with the longest resume (literally) has influenced human history since the prehistoric era after exposure to a mysterious meteorite. First appearing in Green Lantern #10 (1944), this immortal caveman has fought heroes across numerous time periods. Vandal’s longevity and strategic brilliance make him ideal for historical epics.
Vandal Savage Origin Story | Justice League Doom (2012) Movie Clip by Kyle Neterer
11. Black Hand
A recurring Green Lantern villain, Black Hand is a master of death and necromancy. He played a pivotal role in the Blackest Night storyline, leading the Black Lantern Corps and wielding the power of the Black Lantern ring to resurrect the dead. His dark, macabre nature would make for a compelling antagonist.
DC Universe Classics BLACK HAND Figure Review by AnthonysCustoms
12. Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom possesses immense physical strength and resistance to injury, first appearing in Strange Tales #89 (1961). He is a member of the ancient Makluan race from the planet Kakaranathara. These aliens are dragon-like beings who travel the cosmos in a ship disguised as a mountain. Now, who wouldn’t want to see that?
MARVEL'S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Fin Fang Foom Dragon Boss Fight 4K ULTRA HD by GameClips
13. The Adversary
This mysterious entity imprisoned fairy tale characters by forcing them into our world. The central antagonist from Bill Willingham's Fables series takes over primal fear. If Warner Bros. somehow adapts this beloved Vertigo after numerous failed attempts, all those meta-narrative techniques would be amazing.
Storm Vs The Adversary | X-Men '97 by HeroSync
14. Johnny Sorrow
Behind that mask lies a horrifying face. Once a silent film actor, Sorrow was transformed after an interdimensional accident. He has repeatedly fought the Justice Society, often as the leader of the Injustice Society. However, Sorrow’s Lovecraftian horror elements might make him a challenging character to portray.
LEGO DC Super Villains Custom Builds - Johnny Sorrow (DC Comics) by Lucas Green
15. Prince Robot IV
Do you ever consider how challenging it would be to portray a royal with a television for a head? This character from Brian K. Vaughan's Saga represents the complexity of modern warfare. A reluctant soldier caught between duty and morality, and his internal conflict is displayed on his monitor head!
Saga PRINCE ROBOT IV Funko Pop review by John Carlos McCaster
16. Judge Death
"The crime is life, the sentence is death!"Here, we have an undead lawman from an alternate dimension who believes existence itself violates the law. Judge Death, created by John Wagner for 2000 AD comics, is one of those unique villains that just needs to be on the big screen.
Judge Dredd: Superfiend // Episode 3: Judge Death [BOOTLEG UNIVERSE] by Adi Shankar
17. White Rabbit
Through this underutilized villain, Lewis Carroll's influence extends surprisingly far into Spider-Man's rogues gallery. Lorina Dodson combines Alice in Wonderland aesthetics with genuine criminal genius. Her whimsical approach masks serious psychological disturbance as she organizes complex crimes following literary themes. Since female villains remain underrepresented in superhero movies, this is much needed.
18. Madame Masque
A prominent Iron Man villain, Madame Masque is a skilled combatant. Apart from that, she is also a criminal mastermind with a tragic backstory. Her dual identity as Whitney Frost and obsession with beauty and power could bring about a nuanced, character-driven story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The great quotes of: Madame Masque by Friendly96
19. Graviton
Franklin Hall turning into a gravity-manipulating villain would be brilliant to watch. He was mentioned briefly in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but a proper movie about Graviton could feature great action scenes to amaze fans. Plus, his background in science adds a cool dynamic to his god-like powers.
Avengers vs Graviton | The Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes by Heroes Pakage
20. Annihilus
The Negative Zone harbors no bigger threat than this insectoid conqueror wielding the Ultimate Weapon. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee developed this cosmic horror in 1968, yet he remains absent from the silver screen. Apparently, his "Annihilation Wave" storyline decimated Marvel's cosmic scenario and made him Thanos-level dangerous.
