5 Superman Villains That Have Never Been In A Film, But Should Be!

Jan 25

Let’s face it, Superman is the most recognizable and iconic hero in the world. Since he first came into the world in Action Comics #1 in 1938, the Man of Steel was not the epitome of comic book fiction and hope, but also the epitome of superheroism. So it is no surprise that as times and media changed, Superman changed with them, going from comic panels and radio plays to cartoons and movies.

Despite all these adaptions and changes, audiences are forced to watch the Man of Steel battle the same villains, especially in the movies like the Lex Luthors, General Zods, and Darkseids. Fans want to see Superman fight a new villain and with the revamp of the DC Comics films under James Gunn, what better time is there to think of new approaches and “what could be?”

Here’s a list of five villains that should appear in the next Superman film!

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5. Metallo

Some people will tell you that it doesn’t matter how a person looks, it is the kindness of their heart that matters. It is what is inside that counts. Well, those people have never met Metallo.

John Corben was a decorated U. S. military sergeant, serving under General Sam Lane (aka. Lois Lane’s father). Soon thereafter, Corben was recruited into a military experiment dubbed “Project Steel Soldier,” believing that he could win Lois Lane’s affection. As is often the case with experiments in comic books, things went very wrong for Corben when Brainiac hijacks the experiment, sending him on a rampage against Superman. After some time in a coma and a vicious spat with General Lane, Corben left the army and signed on with the Secret Society of Supervillains, dubbing himself “Metallo.”

Metallo is unique in the fact that he is one of the few villains that Superman is opposed to physically as well as ideologically. Metallo is an evil-doer, thus an anti-agent of Superman’s ideals of “truth and justice.” He is also powered by Kryptonite energy, Superman’s greatest weakness.

Introducing him into a film would require Superman to fight beyond the normal “wham, bam, pow!” seen in other Superman properties. Furthermore, Metallo could serve as a tension point for Superman’s relationship with his father-in-law, General Sam Lane, due to the latter’s role in Metallo’s creation. Metallo might seem like a suped-up thug, but with the right screenplay, even a thug can seem like a universal threat.

4. Rogol Zaar

Many evil-doers will say that a little bloodshed is necessary. For some, it is just a part of their job. For others, well, let’s just say they could curb it a bit.

Rogol Zaar is the most recent villain on this list, debuting in Man of Steel #1 (2018), but this bloodthirsty warlord was quick to make a bloody impact on DC lore. Originally a servant of the Galactic Circle, a group of Illuminati-like alien leaders, Zaar was known across the galaxy for his fearsome strength and unmatched battle prowess. But underneath this veneer of strength, Zaar was consumed by his hatred for Kryptonians, whom he viewed as a potential threat to the galaxy. After unsuccessfully petitioning the Circle to “stop” Krypton, Zaar took matters into his own hands and destroyed Krypton. Even then, Zaar was unsatisfied, choosing to dedicate his life to hunting down any surviving Kryptonians, bringing him into conflict with Superman and Supergirl.

The creation of Rogol Zaar completely retconned the destruction of Krypton and Superman’s resulting feelings of solitude and grief. Including him in a Superman film would not only bring new stakes for the Last Son of Krypton, but could also introduce Supergirl, who played a heavy role in Zaar’s defeat in the comics. Supergirl or not, any film with Rogol Zaar is guaranteed to bring levels of emotion and ferocity never before seen in a Superman film.

3. Mister Mxyzptlk

Not all villains are out to conquer the world or watch it burn. Some just like to have fun! Why murder a hero when you can mess with them a little instead? And no one in DC Comics likes messing with heroes like Mister Mxyzptlk!

Introduced in Superman #30 (1944), Mister Mxyzptlk is one of Superman’s oldest foes and a denizen of the Fifth Dimension. This gives Mxyzptlk the power to warp reality virtually without any limitation, which arguably makes him Superman’s most powerful enemy. As opposed to other villains in the Man of Steel’s rogues’ gallery, Mxyzptlk uses his powers to cause mischief and pranks, with Superman on the receiving end of most of them.

Mister Mxyzptlk’s quirky sense of humor and powers have made him a fan favorite, but they could also make him difficult to adapt. Since Mxyzptlk is more accustomed to making mischief rather than evil, it is possible that a film with him as the antagonist might not have the stakes that other Superman movies have. On top of that, some are concerned that James Gunn’s “unique” sense of humor could detract from the Superman projects he is working on. In spite of this, many fans are hopeful to see everyone’s favorite(?) Fifth Dimensional imp on the big screen one day.

2. Mongul

Panem et circunses, the Roman idea that so long as the people were distracted by spectacles, sports, and food, they would never revolt against a leader. Well, replace that food with “gore” and circuses with “sheer, bloody conquest,” and you’ve got Mongul of Warworld.

Mongul debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 (1980) as an alien warlord obsessed with conquering and proving his strength. To that end, he hijacked a mobile planetoid dubbed “Warworld” and set out across space, slaughtering countless innocents and forcibly recruiting others into Warworld’s 24/7 gladiatorial games. These conflicts put him into the crosshairs of powerful beings like Superman, Supergirl, Brainiac, and even the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps, conflicts that Mongul relished and even thrived within. But despite his tremendous power, ferocity, and cunning, the warlord loses every time.

Mongul is a lesser-known DC Comics villain, with some going so far as to call him a “Discount Darkseid” for his similar appearance and motives to the Lord of Apokalips. Nonetheless, Mongul’s capacity for evil, slaughter, and growing popularity within DC Comics properties make him an ideal antagonist to use at some point down the line. Perhaps a team-up film between Green Lantern and the Superman family? Either way, much like the populace of Rome, DC fans will be expecting one hell of a show.

1. Brainiac

Superman encounters Brainiac — Image Source: DC Database

Sometimes a villain is more brains than brawn. Sometimes, their amount of “brain” is so great, it is almost ludicrous. Brainiac is one of the latter.

Appearing originally as a devious, alien prankster in Action Comics #242 (1958), Brainiac was re-invented in the post-Crisis era as Vril Dox, a brilliant scientist from the planet Colu who became obsessed with collecting all the knowledge within the universe. This hunger for knowledge soon became Dox's undoing, resulting in him augmenting his body and mind to the point that “Vril Dox” ceased to exist and only “Brainiac” remained—a sociopathic, android creature driven by its desire for technological supremacy and domination over everything.

Brainiac remains one of Superman’s most powerful enemies, and certainly the smartest, often requiring the Man of Steel to call upon the Justice League to help him bring Brainiac down. This big-brained planet-buster has been adapted in all kinds of animation (JL: Unlimited), video games (Injustice II), and television (Krypton) but has never been adapted to film. Will James Gunn's plans to focus on Superman also include an appearance from Brainiac?

It makes sense that as DC Comics’ most iconic hero, Superman would have a massive rogues gallery. With the DC filmscape expecting a massive reboot and fans cautiously clamoring for more, the question remains: who of these five will be the first to be adapted into film?

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