The Greatest Super-Villain Groups of DC Comics

DC Comics is famous for its spectacular super-villains. Batman has The Joker, Deathstroke, The Riddler, and more. Superman has Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Darkseid, and others. The Flash has Eobard Thawne, Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, and so on!

However, what happens when these villains collaborate? Well, they create incredible super-villain groups, the likes of which we’ve never seen! Let’s explore some of the greatest villain groups in all of DC Comics.

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Secret Society of Super-Villains

A year into the creation of the Justice League, Darkseid recognized just how powerful and troublesome heroes could become. Immediately, he began strategizing. Darkseid contacted individual Justice League enemies and built a team of powerful villains. His team included Lex Luthor, Gorilla Grodd, the Manhunter, and others.

However, other versions of the team would prove even more deadly. Alexander Luthor Jr. recruited the Calculator, Doctor Psycho, Deathstroke, Talia al Ghul, and Black Adam. In fact, he gathered over 500 villains as a part of his Society. Later, Deathstroke himself would violently take over the Society and use it in his own agenda against the Titans as well as all super heroes on the planet.

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Secret Six

There have been several versions of the Secret Six team. Each version of the team has a different leader, from the mysterious Mockingbird to a new version lead by Bane. Bane’s team includes Black Alice, King Shark, Dwarfstar, Lady Vic, and Giganta. Interestingly, each version of the Secret Six seems to be strangely compassionate for a league of villains. Their desire for freedom helps them fight alongside countless underdogs. Eventually, they’re used as pawns in Amanda Waller’s schemes.

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Legion of Doom

The Legion of Doom has an origin story similar to Harley Quinn — they originated in an animated series! The team was initially launched as a villainous counterpart to the Super Friends. Soon enough, they made their way into the comics and became a true force to be reckoned with.

One of the most popular iterations of the team featured art and stories from Alex Ross. This team included Black Manta, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, The Joker, Sinestro, Bizarro, Black Adam, Poison Ivy, and others. Nearly every villain in the comics banded together to save the world from nuclear annihilation. Once again, DC explores the good intentions behind these villainous characters in an interesting way.

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Sinestro Corps

Thaal Sinestro was one of the greatest Green Lanterns of all time. Still, he wanted to help more. His dream was to make the universe safer and better for everyone. However, his version of “safer” and “better” meant that he was the ruler. He used fear to control peoples’ lives.

With fear, he could harness a more accessible power than hope when fighting alongside the entity known as Parallax. Eventually, he would recruit people who could use fear to his cause. Members of the Sinestro Corps, including Superboy Prime and Cyborg Superman, fight for order in a chaotic universe.

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Female Furies

Darkseid has an elite team of assassins and fighters who pull inspiration directly from Greek mythology. They are called the Furies, trained from a young age by Granny Goodness (one of Darkseid’s minions). The team has featured Big Barda, Bernadeth, Lashina, Stomper, Mad Harriet, and others.

For the most part, these warriors are fiercely loyal to Apokolips because each of them was abused and forced into compliance by Darkseid and Granny Goodness. Beyond that, many heroes have even been tricked into joining the team. Wonder Woman, Catwoman, and Batwoman have all been a part of the Female Furies in the past.

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Court of Owls

Gotham City has a dark criminal underworld. It’s no wonder Batman has his hands full keeping the city safe — especially with mob bosses like The Penguin and Black Mask. However, the real puppet masters pulling the strings are a secret society called the Court of Owls.

For generations, they have been ruling Gotham and they have ties to nearly every major family. Both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are wrapped up in the evil group. Worst of all, their owl masks keep them perfectly anonymous. Anyone could be a part of the Court of Owls, and Batman would never even recognize them.

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Crime Syndicate

The Crime Syndicate of America is an evil version of the Justice League from Earth 3. Unlike the Justice League, they don’t hold back. They take whatever they want, and kill whoever is in their way.

What’s most uncanny is each member is quite literally an  evil version of the heroes we know and love. Ultraman is a dark Superman. Superwoman is an evil Wonder Woman. Sea King is an unhinged Aquaman. Power Ring is a power-crazed Green Lantern. Owlman is a heartless Batman. The Martian is Martian Manhunter gone mad. Johnny Quick is The Flash gone rogue. Grid is a living virus that took over Cyborg’s body. Each represents the terror such power could create if left unchecked.

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League of Assassins

The League of Assassins is a group of villains formed by Ra’s al Ghul. Ra’s created the League in order to rid the world of evil. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to heal the world, including bending world governments and powerful people to his every whim. As long as the ends justify the means, Ra’s kills indiscriminately. Nothing is off limits for him.

To make matters worse, Ra’s al Ghul has been running the League of Assassins for hundreds of years. There is even a splinter group, the League of Shadows, run by Lady Shiva. Every time Ra’s nears death, he is revived and rejuvenated by the Lazarus Pit. However, it’s that very same process that makes him a bit more insane with every resurrection.

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Which DC Comics super-villain group is your favorite? And which group should we have included in this list?

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