It ’s not easy bringing forward baddie forDC ’s Superman , as the Man of Steel has so many powers that he can be nigh unbeatable . He ’s been challenged by the likes of Lex Luthor , Darkseid , Brainiac , among others , who are well - known as part of his knave ’s verandah .   However , there have been other antagonists who have given Superman a difficult time and have the capacitance to be larger threats .

regrettably , a lack of mainstream adaptations and fewer solo story have have these baddies to be comparatively nameless to larger audiences . Some other antagonists are very pop , but the dynamic they have with Superman has been downplayed   and a closer look will reveal that they do deserve to be considered among his archenemies .

Lobo

Lobo has develop into being an anti - hero , which has resulted in his original antagonism going under the radar . Initially , he and Superman had frequent clashes due to Lobo ’s destination of targeting him after accepting contracts to take him down .

Lobo has been successful in battling Superman mainly because the latter is unable to understand Lobo ’s chaotic personality , as he finds pleasure in fighting and ignore logic . This kind of clash in mentality is why Lobo deserves more recognition for the way he can both annoy and fight the Man of Steel . It ’s worth remembering that Lobo ’s also attempt to replace Superman inJustice League Unlimitedas he test to force himself into the team after the Man of Steel shortly disappeared .

Starro

Starro is n’t consider a mainline scoundrel for the Man of Steel due to a lack of power move . However , he ’s not just perplex Superman , he ’s taken him down with all his friends as well . know to mainstream audiences due to his coming into court inThe Suicide Squad , some fans may not have realized thatStarro has almost beaten the Justice Leaguemore than several times .

Starro pretend the Man of Steel a act more since his powers of mind control are something Superman is ill - equip against . InBatman Beyond , Starro was testify to have kept Superman in his ascendancy for several year until the titular hero saved him , and it ’s an interesting moral force between the two as Superman ’s innate goodness hold out against Starro ’s immorality .

The Joker

The Joker has never been an underrated supervillain but he has been downplayed in his antagonism of Superman due to his long tie as a Batman villain . However , The Joker ’s ability to get under Superman ’s tegument is n’t appreciated as much for its effectiveness , as he ’s successfully forced Superman to vacate his way .

This was well seen in thepopularInjusticeplotline ( which is certainly worth a movie adaptationfor its gossamer tone ) . Here , The Joker killed Lois Lane and twist Superman into an out-and-out tyrant , accomplishing the Joker ’s goal of corrupting him . The dynamic between these two is entertaining on its own but has n’t been in as much focus as it deserves .

Bloodsport

The effectualness this villain had against Superman is something onlycomic book sports fan are cognisant of about Bloodsport . It ’s too bad this has n’t been well - known to mainstream audiences , as Bloodsport successfully shot the Man of Steel with a Kryptonite bullet inSuperman vol . 2 # 4 .

He ’s chiefly underrated due to being a normal human , yet this is why he should be more famed as he was able to kill the exceedingly herculean Kryptonian . Superman had to ask Bloodsport ’s brother to call him off , exhibit just how intimidate he think the baddie to be .

Livewire

It ’s not talked about enough that Livewire was so intriguing for an animated Superman villain that she ’s transition into the comedian . First appear inSuperman : The Animated Series , Livewire has proven to be a unique antagonist as she is someone that Superman ca n’t just plug away due to her superhuman abilities .

Livewire ’s power to take over any variety of electronics and lam into any media point has caused Superman to be clueless over how to attack her and it ’s underrated how the Man of Steel has had to use his intellect to defeat her rather than his powers .   Her rancour of Superman is also interesting since she believes he deliberately caused an electrical surge to work into her , which has lead to her becoming a villain .

Parasite

sponge is another villain who forces Superman to be on his guard duty and has made him frightening of their encounters . His magnate of drain out spirit energies has enabled him to go toe to toe with Superman after absorbing his power , which makes their fight entertaining as Superman ca n’t easily sweep over him .

It generally move unnoticed that Parasite is ordinarily the villain Superman engage in battles between villain and the Justice League , as the former is one of the few who can get the cliff on the Man of Steel . The character has play this role very well for many years and it ’s too bad he does n’t get as many solo moments to radiate .

Toyman

It ’s always a dissimilar experience to see Superman being bamboozled , specially by an foe who does n’t have powers . Toyman ’s advancement in robotics have been show to be so extreme that he creates toys that have placed Superman in virulent game where he ’s been forced to escape .

His greatest accomplishment was inJustice League Unlimited , where Toyman fired an energy blast at Superman that vaporized him and transport him into the time to come . There are n’t too many unorthodoxSupermanstories , which make Toyman a suitable exception . Still , the villain does n’t get enough packaging for make this aspect potential .

Professor Hamilton

It was shameful at the time of the departure ofAdventures of Superman # 636 , where it was revealed that Professor Hamilton was the villain Ruin , who used red Krypton sun to round Superman . Having been a long - running ally of the Man of Steel , it was a immense moment that the once good-hearted scientist was an antagonist .

His villainy is underrated for how big of a betrayal he doled out to Superman , as the latter did n’t see a tight acquaintance turn on him . InJustice League Unlimited , he volitionally joined Cadmus to experiment on Supergirl , becoming disillusion with superpowered beingness in general . There are very few characters who have emotionally antagonized Superman this room , which mainstream fans should know more about .

Mongul

Mongul is n’t underrated when it come to the comics , as he ’s been a long - running foeman , but he ’s somehow been underrepresented in live - action and other media . As the ruler of Warworld , he ’s host gladiatorial plot from across the universe , even forcing Superman to fight in them .

This is the form of setup that would do work very well in a moving picture or goggle box serial publication , yet Mongul has n’t been made use of in this bod , and consultation at big are n’t too aware of him . That ’s not the best means to go about a character who can physically overpower Superman and turn him into his controlled paladin .

Mister Mxyzptlk

creditworthy for bringing forward some of theweirdest amusing book arcs for Superman , Mister Mxyzptlk is a deceiver deity , illustrious for being one of the few villains to easily be more powerful than Superman . As a reality - curve ball , he can do whatever he want to Superman and get away with it .

The problem with his presentation has been recent stories adapting him into a comic relief rather than showing his true threat . Initially Mister Mxyzptlk caused total havoc to antagonise Superman and the latter had to either quest him to undo it or prove and trick him . He has the potentiality to be the greatest adversary Superman has ever had , which is why it ’s a ignominy Mister Mxyzptlk ’s depicting is limited and his overwhelm Superman is n’t widely lie with .

NEXT : Superman ’s Main Comic Book Villains , Ranked Lamest To Coolest

How Goku can beat Superman, explained.

Lex Luthot comic and live action

James Gunn’s Superman and Krypto comic

Superman tussles with Lobo Superman kills The Joker

Superman fighting Lobo

Superman is surrounded by Starro

Superman kills Joker in Injustice comic.

Superman vs Bloodsport on Action Comics 702

Livewire gets into Superman’s face

Parasite about to attack Superman

Toyman plays with a bowling ball in Justice League Unlimited

Professor Hamilton sits in Cadmus headquarters in Justice League Unlimited

Mongul fights Superman in the comcis

Mr Mxyzptlk looks down on Superman in his dimension

Superman