History MagnificentBastard / DCUniverse

* ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}'':
** [[Characters/BatmanLadyShiva Lady Shiva]], mother of Cassandra Cain, is the best [[ProfessionalKiller assassin]] and [[WorldsBestWarrior best martial artist in the world]]. Once she lost her beloved sister at the hands of David Cain, Shiva was forced to bear Cain's child, who she intended to use to one day surpass her. Shiva regularly guides other heroes and villains alike to become stronger, with a cult around her that worships her as a goddess. Shiva only uses them as pawns in her own schemes, and when she meets her daughter Cassandra she slowly guides her to become Shiva's own ultimate opponent, admitting that she had Cassandra to one day surpass and kill her. Shiva remains one of [[Creator/DCComics DC]]'s boldest and most complex villains, always charismatic and dangerous no matter where she appears.
** [[EvilCounterpart Charise Carnes]] is Batgirl's ArchEnemy and a dark reflection of what she could become. Losing her family to her psychopathic boyfriend, Charise allowed herself to take the fall so that she could go to prison and gain insight into the criminal mind. After gaining the necessary data Charise arranged to be acquitted before enacting a [[BestServedCold brutal revenge]] on her family's killer. While using her vast wealth to revitalize the Cherry Hill District, Charise also took up the moniker of "[[KnightTemplar Knightfall]]" and enacted [[VigilanteMan brutal vigilante justice]] on the criminal underworld with the aid of her followers the Disgraced. Arrested after her first clash with Batgirl, Charise uses her connections to beat the charges before continuing her war with Batgirl. Attempting to use an army of mercenaries to wipe out every criminal in Gotham, Charise's plan was only thwarted when Batgirl put herself in debt to the spy Obscura and uploaded her information to the internet. Realizing what she had become, Charise [[GracefulLoser gracefully accepts defeat]] and even reveals to Batgirl that she did not in fact kill her brother.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': The Creator/DCComics incarnation of Chief Judge Fargo is the founder and the head of the New Justice System, which was created to bring "the perfect justice" to Mega City One after Fargo grows tired of the rampant corruption within it. Firing all the Judges to create chaos on the streets and leading to the Ministry of Fear to add fear to the population, Fargo implemented Justice Machines after two days, so that people would witness the difference between "Chaos" and "Order" and trust him. Failing to eliminate the President, due to his refusal to have Judge Dredd killed, Fargo got his plans back on track after Booth killed the President instead, outmaneuvering Dredd and putting him in suspended animation, before he became the only police power in the city. After Booth reduced the world to a Nuclear Wasteland and became a tyrant, Fargo has people accept his leadership and wages a war on Booth, eventually defeating him and taking full control of Mega City One. Completing his creation of the perfect justice system, Fargo became a legend, bringing justice to the city at last, being brought down only by his desire to make Dredd his successor and expectation for him to follow his plan.

* ''ComicBook/{{Justice}}'': [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]] is the only supervillain who avoided [[Characters/SupermanBrainiac Brainiac]]'s mind control worms, by using a forcefield of his own creation. Deciding to work alongside Brainiac, Lex serves as the figurehead of their plan to have the villains perform humanitarian actions and [[VillainWithGoodPublicity use the popular goodwill]] to slander the Justice League and create utopian artificial cities to lure millions of humans. Managing to hack the Justice League's satellite, Lex uses the information to perform coordinated attacks that put many heroes out of commission, with some fatally injured. When the League discovers Brainiac's plan to destroy the Earth using the Worldwide Nuclear Stockpile and forcibly roboticize the people in the cities, Lex is seemingly defeated, but later reveals that he has created a AI copy that hacks Brainiac's systems to force Brainiac to escape, confessing that his goal was to become the hero that saved Earth.

[[Folder:Crossovers]]

* Examples from ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' and ''Series/SupermanAndLois'' can be found [[MagnificentBastard/LiveActionTV here]].

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* Examples done in crossover can be found [[MagnificentBastard/ComicBooks here]].

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* Examples from ''Series/SupermanAndLois'' can be found [[MagnificentBastard/LiveActionTV here]].

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* ComicBook/ActionComics (Issues#505 & 506): [[FriendToAllChildren Orn-Zu]] is a Kryptonian scientist who predicted the planet's destruction and was mocked for his ideas. He invented an invincible robot with hypnotic powers, the Jorlan, to befriend Krypton's children, kindap them from their families, and spirit them to safety before Krypton's destruction. The plan failed, and a SecretlyDying Orn-Zu was sent to the PhantomZone. Decades later, he learns that the Jorlan has reached Earth and, due to its programming, is trying to abduct Earth's children in a manner that will inadvertently kill them. Orn-Zu convinces Superman to release him to stop the Jorlan, but then reveals that the only way to do so is to frame Superman for killing him as his illness overcomes him. This causes the Jorlan to abandon its original mission to avenge its creator, with a dying Orn-Zu apologizing to a sympathetic Superman for potentially condeming him to being chased across the universe for the rest of his life to distract the Jorlan from its mission.

** Action Comics' issues 505-506: [[FriendToAllChildren Orn-Zu]] is a Kryptonian scientist who predicted the planet's destruction and was mocked for his ideas. He invented an invincible robot with hypnotic powers, the Jorlan, to befriend Krypton's children, kidnap them from their families, and spirit them to safety before Krypton's destruction. The plan failed, and a SecretlyDying Orn-Zu was sent to the PhantomZone. Decades later, he learns that the Jorlan has reached Earth and, due to its programming, is trying to abduct Earth's children in a manner that will inadvertently kill them. Orn-Zu convinces Superman to release him to stop the Jorlan, but then reveals that the only way to do so is to frame Superman for killing him as his illness overcomes him. This causes the Jorlan to abandon its original mission to avenge its creator, with a dying Orn-Zu apologizing to a sympathetic Superman for potentially condemning him to being chased across the universe for the rest of his life to distract the Jorlan from its mission.

* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': ''The Men of Tomorrow'' arc: [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ulysses]]--born as Neil Quinn--is send to the Great World by his parents to save him from a deadly experiment. HappilyAdopted by the people of the Great World, Ulysses develops powers and helps to ensure their survival. To do this, Ulysses travels to many worlds and [[EngineeredHeroics poses as a messianic hero]] to trick millions of people to travel to the Great World to be [[HumanSacrifice sacrificed]] to stabilize the planet. Eventually doing his routine on Earth, Ulysses works alongside Superman while also meeting his own biological parents and enjoying his time on Earth. Continuing his mission, Ulysses gathers millions and captures Superman, stopping the sacrifice because his parents were among the masses and deciding to evacuate his people to Earth instead. When the Great World explodes because of a tragic miscalculation, Ulysses attempts to murder Superman, pushing Clark to his limits. Defeated and incarcerated, Ulysses continues to love his parents and despite rejecting reconciliation with Superman, Ulysses is seen [[AntagonistInMourning mourning him]] after he dies.

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* ''ComicBook/DoomsdayClock'': In the sequel to ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', Adrian "[[Characters/WatchmenOzymandias Ozymandias]]" Veidt is as deadly as ever. When the exposure of his crimes brings the world to the edge of war, he immediately sets about trying to find Dr. Manhattan to persuade him to come home and fix everything. Manipulating the second Rorschach into aiding him by pretending to have cancer and playing up his guilt, he has Rorschach II rescue the criminal duo Mime and Marionette before traveling to the Creator/DCUniverse. Overcoming numerous obstacles he successfully summons Dr. Manhattan to try and persuade him to return. When Dr. Manhattan refuses to come home Ozymandias brings the world to the edge of war and engineers the defeat of the entire superhero community at the hands of Dr. Manhattan, all to ensure that [[Characters/SupermanTheCharacter Superman]] will be able to meet Dr. Manhattan and persuade him to do the right thing. While he is ultimately jailed for his crimes, Ozymandias's plan does ultimately ensure the survival of two worlds.

* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'': [[DistaffCounterpart Lady Johanna Constantine]], ancestor of [[Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine John]], grew up on the streets after her parents were hanged for treason. Bearing a child she nicknamed "Mouse" and raised as a boy and her "brother" to keep her safe, Johanna regains her family titles after tricking her way into possessing Pandora's Box, even if Mouse is lost in its recovery. Johanna later attempts to trap Dream of the Endless for her own purposes, spared when Dream requires a favor of her. Johanna is able to steal into Revolutionary-Era France, tricking UsefulNotes/MaximilienRobespierre and his entire Committee to recover the head of Dream's son, Orpheus, leaving a legacy of adventure and manipulation behind her as she goes.
* ''ComicBook/{{Starman}}'': Richard Swift, {{ComicBook/The Shade|DCComics}}, became immortal and an avatar of the Darklands in the 1800s. Becoming a genius thief and assassin to enrich and excite himself, Swift would also wipe out the Ludlow assassin family out, having many adventures before settling in Opal City. Acting as enemy and eventually friend to the new Starman Jack Knight, Swift fights to save Opal City, outwitting his opponents with signature flair before finally managing to defeat his nemesis Simon Culp as Culp seeks to utterly annihilate Opal City to spite Swift.

->''"I'm a respectable'' '''''businessman''''' ''-- I don't make '''deals''' with criminal madmen... but the way I see it, after'' '''''tonight -- you''''' ''owe'' '''''me!''''' ''Oh, and [[ComicBook/TheJoker Joker]] -- I always'' '''''collect''''' ''my'' '''''debts.'''"''

** ComicBook/LadyShiva, mother of Cassandra Cain, is the best [[ProfessionalKiller assassin]] and [[WorldsBestWarrior best martial artist in the world]]. Once she lost her beloved sister at the hands of David Cain, Shiva was forced to bear Cain's child, who she intended to use to one day surpass her. Shiva regularly guides other heroes and villains alike to become stronger, with a cult around her that worships her as a goddess. Shiva only uses them as pawns in her own schemes, and when she meets her daughter Cassandra she slowly guides her to become Shiva's own ultimate opponent, admitting that she had Cassandra to one day surpass and kill her. Shiva remains one of [[Creator/DCComics DC]]'s boldest and most complex villains, always charismatic and dangerous no matter where she appears.

* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': [[HerosEvilPredecessor Thaal Sinestro]] is Hal Jordan's [[{{archenemy}} personal nemesis]], and both a [[FallenHero former Green Lantern]] and planetary dictator. Convinced that the Green Lanterns have failed in their mission of bringing order and security to the universe, Sinestro formed his own Sinestro Corps, and led them into a war against the Green Lanterns, who were only able to defeat Sinestro by resorting to lethal force--the very result the renegade Lantern had been aiming for. Since then Sinestro has changed allegiances multiple times, always with the intention of [[WellIntentionedExtremist bringing his vision of stability to the DCU]], whether it wants it or not.

* ''ComicBook/NewGods'': Kanto is ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}'s personal assassin and one of his trusted inner circle. Born Iluthin, Kanto was subjected in training to a brutal gauntlet which he survived in an unprecedented feat. Fleeing Apokolips to Reinaissance Italy, his beloved was murdered by his predecessor Kanto-13. Iluthin challenged his enemy, poisoning him with a clever trick to disable him first before taking his name and place. The chief nemesis to Mr. Miracle, Kanto is ever able to challenge and trick the infamous escape artist while sharing a mutual respect. Kanto is frequently able to outwit and disable a multitude of heroes while still being so loyal to Darkseid that he refuses to ever take the throne himself even when Darkseid is indisposed.
* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'': [[DistaffCounterpart Lady Johanna Constantine]], ancestor of [[ComicBook/JohnConstantine John]], grew up on the streets after her parents were hanged for treason. Bearing a child she nicknamed "Mouse" and raised as a boy and her "brother" to keep her safe, Johanna regains her family titles after tricking her way into possessing Pandora's Box, even if Mouse is lost in its recovery. Johanna later attempts to trap Dream of the Endless for her own purposes, spared when Dream requires a favor of her. Johanna is able to steal into Revolutionary-Era France, tricking UsefulNotes/MaximilienRobespierre and his entire Committee to recover the head of Dream's son, Orpheus, leaving a legacy of adventure and manipulation behind her as she goes.
* ''ComicBook/{{Starman}}'': Richard Swift, the ComicBook/{{Shade}}, became immortal and an avatar of the Darklands in the 1800s. Becoming a genius thief and assassin to enrich and excite himself, Swift would also wipe out the Ludlow assassin family out, having many adventures before settling in Opal City. Acting as enemy and eventually friend to the new Starman Jack Knight, Swift fights to save Opal City, outwitting his opponents with signature flair before finally managing to defeat his nemesis Simon Culp as Culp seeks to utterly annihilate Opal City to spite Swift.
* ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'': ComicBook/AmandaWaller, also known as "The Wall" is a genius specialist who is ruthlessly dedicated to [[KnightTemplar protecting her country]] by any means necessary. Forming the Suicide Squad, Waller sends them on mission after mission, making endless plans to eliminate their targets and to complete their missions, while not hesitating to sacrifice them. Known for a ruthless, intimidating nature, Waller is one of the few who can even intimidate Batman and when she finds herself being taken over by the Thinker cap, she shatters it as not to let anything else control her. Waller is even one of the [[NervesOfSteel few mortals capable of staring down Darkseid himself]], and whenever she falls from power, she knows all she has to do is wait for when they give her authority again out of the inevitable need for someone like Waller to do the work nobody else will.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** The original iteration of [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor]] himself has been frustrating Superman with his scientific acumen and brilliant intellect since the 1940s, and has run the gamut from DiabolicalMastermind to MadScientist to CorruptCorporateExecutive to PresidentEvil and back, surviving every setback and always running the Man of Steel close. Firmly established as the leader of Earth's supervillain community, Luthor has led numerous incarnations of the Injustice Gang, Legion of Doom, and Secret Society of Supervillains, and has taken all-comers, emerging victorious over the likes of Brainiac, General Zod, Grodd and Vandal Savage to claim the title of Superman and one of DC Earth's most deadly villains, even briefly becoming a godlike being. Every bit as unstoppable as his archenemy, Luthor has proven time and again that his incredible mind is more than a match for Superman's physical might.

* ''ComicBook/DoomsdayClock'': In the sequel to ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', Adrian "[[Characters/WatchmenOzymandias Ozymandias]]" Veidt is as deadly as ever. When the exposure of his crimes brings the world to the edge of war, he immediately sets about trying to find Dr. Manhattan to persuade him to come home and fix everything. Manipulating the second Rorschach into aiding him by pretending to have cancer and playing up his guilt, he has Rorschach II rescue the criminal duo Mime and Marionette before traveling to the Creator/DCUniverse. Overcoming numerous obstacles he successfully summons Dr. Manhattan to try and persuade him to return. When Dr. Manhattan refuses to come home Ozymandias brings the world to the edge of war and engineers the defeat of the entire superhero community at the hands of Dr. Manhattan, all to ensure that ComicBook/{{Superman}} will be able to meet Dr. Manhattan and persuade him to do the right thing. While he is ultimately jailed for his crimes, Ozymandias's plan does ultimately ensure the survival of two worlds.

* ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'': [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]] is a brilliant scientist at S.T.A.R labs seeking to defeat Superman, the "alien", to prove himself and humanity superior to all others. Having the [[ColonyDrop satellite Sputnik plummet to Metropolis]] to trick Superman into saving the city, Luthor harvests his genetic material to create a clone he then unleashes for his plans, later assisting the Russian ComicBook/{{Batman}} against Superman from the shadows. Later becoming President and saving America from ruin and continuing to plot against Superman, Luthor eventually breaks the would-be benevolent dictator with the phrase "Why don't you just put the whole WORLD in a BOTTLE, Superman?" This triggers Superman into [[HeroicSacrifice giving his life]] to stop ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, allowing Luthor to craft a "Global United States" with an unparalleled era of peace and prosperity.

* ''ComicBook/{{Lucifer}}'': [[VillainProtagonist Lucifer Morningstar]] is the endlessly proud, brilliant and dangerous [[{{Satan}} Devil]]. Seeking his freedom from creation, Lucifer deals with endless threats to his new Creation and his safety, constantly outplaying and destroying them. Even in places where he is powerless, such as the Japanese underworld Yomi, Lucifer sees through every trap against him and defeats his supposed hosts. When struck down by another trap, Lucifer returns to life by manipulating his niece Elaine Belloc into sacrificing her life for him and promptly outsmarts and destroys the angel Amenadiel who seeks to destroy him when he is still recovering before returning Elaine to life to repay his debt. Pursuing his freedom from all Creation, Lucifer constantly demonstrates why he is the king of manipulation, second only to God himself.

* ''ComicBook/AmericaVsTheJusticeSociety'': [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Batman himself]], after emerging from within Bruce's consciousness, began preparations for a conflict with Per Degaton he believed he would not live to see. After piecing together Degaton's comments with Professor Zee's 100th birthday, Batman writes a diary [[MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning to be published after his death]], accusing his JSA companions of collaborating with the Nazis and having them arrested for treason. By going into deep detail in his journal, Batman ensures [[BatmanGambit the JSA tells the stories he wants them to]], continuously bringing up Degaton's name his former ward Dick Grayson puts the pieces together himself. When the JSA follows him and sees Zee accuse Degaton of his murder, Degaton commits suicide on the spot, fulfilling Batman's mission from beyond the grave.
* ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'':
** [[EvilTeacher Professor Merlin]], the "[[EvilMentor Dean of Deviltry]]", is the first of Green Arrow's villains to ever escape the legendary archer. As the lead professor of the "[[AcademyOfEvil Crime College]]", Merlin runs a tight carjacking operation, having stolen thousands of dollars in merchandise over the years. When Green Arrow catches on to him, Merlin stays one step ahead of him, catching him off guard and even [[CombatPragmatist breaking his bow]] during their confrontation before escaping. Later recruited by the Hand, Merlin is hired to steal gold from Cactus Mike, managing to fend off Green Arrow the entire time and even [[PragmaticVillainy letting the hero go]] when his goal is in his sights.
** ''More Fun Comics'':
*** [[BadassTeacher Professor Million]] is a genius mathematics college professor who often turns to crime for the most understandable, kind reasons. In his initial outing, Million pulls off a brilliant crime spree planned down to the last seconds so as to amass money to pay for a new class in the college, and later carries out more heists by training a group of thugs in archery to face down Green Arrow himself, hoping this time to pay for the scholarships of poorer students. [[KarmaHoudini Consistently forgiven]] by Green Arrow thanks to his affable nature, genuine motives and refusal to harm innocents, Million uses criminal means to save men from {{Frame Up}}s two separate times and helps Green Arrow take down the true culprits, establishing himself as one of the [[FriendlyEnemy friendliest]], smartest, yet least evil villains the archer ever faced.
*** Issue #79, "The Boomerang": [[KnightOfCerebus The Boomerang]], formerly an attorney named [[AmoralAttorney Martin Flint]], is a [[BestServedCold revenger for hire]] who specializes in karmic vengeance. Introduced managing to have a judge's door electrocute him at the same time that someone he sentenced to death is electrocuted, the Boomerang is later hired to judge Warden Lawson, having him break rocks just like his prison's chain gangs. Managing to trick Green Arrow and Speedy into joining him, Boomerang later pulls a complex gambit to trick Green Arrow into thinking he's retreating, when in reality he's simply biding his time to "rescue" him. Coming closer to killing Green Arrow than any other villain he faced, Boomerang later falls in the water during the battle, leaving Speedy certain that he'll one day return for them.
*** Issue #94, "Guardians of Injustice": [[ImpersonatingAnOfficer "Honest" Herman]] earns his moniker from the many robberies he's successfully gotten away with, with no officer of the law ever [[PlausibleDeniability able to prove he's guilty]]. Deciding to step up his game, Herman literally buys out an entire town, makes himself Sheriff and appoints a KangarooCourt to reward crime and punish the innocent, making himself rich with the town as his own private kingdom. Honest Herman evades Green Arrow numerous times and forces him to contend with the court system he's built around the entire town.
*** Issue #96, "The Weather Prophet": [[ClockKing The Timer]] is a meteorologist who uses his supreme predictions of the weather to commit crimes, introduced doing so by robbing a loan company and driving straight into an unpredicted snow storm, surviving thanks to the skid chains on his car. Later robbing a jewelry store, the Timer then escapes from Green Arrow and Speedy thanks to a nearby river flooding, allowing him to [[CrazyPrepared use a boat he'd planted the previous day]]. The Timer then tricks a plane leaving the treasury into diverting to an airfield he's taken for himself, outsmarting the heroes along the way and even cutting the lights on the airfield when the try to land, causing their plane to crash.
*** Issue #106, "Consultant in Crime": [[TheManBehindTheMan The Specialist]] is the titular "[[ExpertConsultant Consultant in Crime]]" whom every villain goes to in order to ensure a perfect caper. Hired by Pug to steal a jewel from a man's apartment, the Specialist [[FalseFlagOperation fakes a fire inside]] to draw the tenants out, then has those with children stand aside as he casually robs the target, knowing that they will protect their most prized possessions. Escaping from Green Arrow's grasp using the smoking apartment, the Specialist later poses as a member of the health board who convinces a ringmaster that his rhino suffers from the fictional Tyrikosis disease, just so that he can have him sold to another circus for more money.

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
** [[ClassyCatBurglar Selina Kyle]] was once a simple street orphan who built herself into the charming, wealthy, brilliant cat burglar ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, who pulls off daring heists as much for kicks as for money. Constantly matching wits with Batman and forming a [[DatingCatwoman lasting mutual attraction]], Selina also proves to be one of the most intelligent individuals in Gotham, even outwitting Bane to betray him to ComicBook/{{Azrael}} and frequently using others for her schemes. Also defined by her love for those close to her, Selina even brought down and killed Roman Sionis when he targeted her loved ones.
** ComicBook/RasAlGhul is Batman's most powerful foe, and the only one to be his intellectual peer. Having lived for centuries, Ra's and the secret societies he controls have accumulated wealth to rival nations, and can purchase influence accordingly. Never short on hidden bases and armies of henchmen, Ra's has brought Gotham City to its knees, and has even challenged the Justice League of America, incorporating Batman's own failsafes into his plot to destroy the JLA. A master planner who pays attention to every little detail, Ra's exemplifies the fact that time is less meaningful when you can afford to wait--and Ra's can afford to wait a long, long time.
** ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul comes into her own following [[VillainousLegacy her father's death]], beecoming one of the few to ever pull one over on [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]], exposing his crimes to the public and transferring his assets way. Talia later takes over the League of Assassins and upon Batman's death, she purges the remnants of the Black Glove, revealing she has installed a device within her own son to allow herself to control him when needed. After Bruce Wayne's reemergence, Talia masterminds 'Leviathan' to wage war against him, bringing Gotham to the brink of destruction, even resulting in Damian's death and Bruce's near demise as well, with Talia being one of the few to ever push him to the brink, showing herself as truly her father's daughter.
** [[GeniusBruiser Bane]] appears to be a hulking brute, but is in reality far craftier than he appears. In his first appearance in the ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' storyline, Bane achieved fame by psychologically manipulating Batman to drive him to the mental and physical brink before revealing Bane had deduced his secret identity. Ambushing Batman, Bane snapped his back over Bane's knee and proceeded to reign over Gotham until his defeat. Since then, Bane has been acknowledged by even Ra's Al-Ghul as one of the few men worthy to succeed him and has learned from every defeat to rise stronger than before. As a member of the ComicBook/SecretSix, Bane displays a [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes deep affection for his surrogate daughter]] Scandal Savage and shows a [[EvilVirtues deep sense of honor and loyalty]] to his team until the end when realizing his potential again, Bane manipulates them into one grand battle and defeat to shed all attachments and emerge stronger than before. Of all Batman's foes, only Bane has the distinction of being the man who once broke the bat himself.
** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Great White Shark]], aka [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Warren White]], was once a scummy embezzler defined by smugness and cowardice, but after a few weeks in Arkham subjected to torment and mutilation from fellow prisoners, [[TookALevelInBadass White became a real threat]]. Stumbling upon an Arkham besieged by demons from Hell, White immediately fought back ghostly figures and deviously manipulated the demons into promising him a high position in Hell upon death while simultaneously dooming them all to be one another's torturers. White slowly but surely became a powerful crime boss of Gotham [[MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll from the comfort of his Arkham cell]], using hired guns and machinations to drive Penguin out of the city, frame Two-Face for slayings of rivals, and getting Batman himself to unwittingly do White's dirty work. Priding himself on being the "only shark in Gotham", White was one of the less prominent crime lords Batman faced, but nonetheless one of the most clever.
** [[CardCarryingVillain Sherman Fine]], known to Gotham's criminal community as "[[ShadyRealEstateAgent the Broker]]," is a well-dressed, [[AffablyEvil affable]] real estate agent who deals specifically in [[SupervillainLair supplying hideouts to supervillains]]. Dealing with the worst of the worst Gotham has to offer with tact and creativity, the Broker [[OneHundredPercentAdorationRating pleases all of his clients]] and knows exactly what they need, knowing there will always be a market for villains seeking lairs and preying on that to make himself fortunes. Staring down and threatening any villains who try to renege on payment and willing to take beatings from Batman himself, the Broker has standards against the villains he deals with, but nonetheless views his operations as strictly business.
** [[EvilCounterpart Judson Caspian]] is "the Reaper", a {{vigilante|Man}} whose mere presence drove crime down to miniscule levels 20 years ago, and who has returned in the present to finish his work. Killing his way through the criminal element of Gotham and even weeding out corrupt cops, the Reaper uses his unique gadgets and tactical expertise to distract entire gangs from him picking them off one by one. The Reaper [[LetsYouAndHimFight orchestrates a massive war]] between the corrupt cops of Gotham and a massive mob force, and after taking out most of his targets--including the infamous Joe Chill--the Reaper gives Batman an intense fight before allowing himself to die in a blaze of glory, proclaiming that Batman will be suitable heir to his legacy of fighting crime while urging the hero to embrace his darkness.

* ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'' Vol. 4, issues #1-6: [[ProfessionalKiller Nix]] is a MasterOfDisguise who can blend into any crowd and strike from any distance. Introduced disguising herself as a construction worker using a stolen truck, Nix manages to kill Commissioner Nudocerdo and flee without being caught, with the police not even being able to identify her gender. Appearing again disguised as a journalist wielding a gun hidden in a tape recorder, Nix once again escapes, only being found by Green Arrow by complete accident; when he chases her, she forces him off by stabbing a civilian, knowing that [[SadisticChoice he'll save the victim instead of chase her]]. Even when he exploits her need for a mask in their final battle, Nix escapes once more while he's distracted, [[KarmaHoudini escaping justice for her crimes]] in the process.

* ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'' (vol. 5, [[ComicBook/GreenArrowJeffLemire Jeff Lemire run]]):
** [[HiddenAgendaHero The Magus]] is the mysterious leader of the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Mask Clan]] who proves to be Oliver's most crucial ally against [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Komodo/Simon Lacroix]]. Having previously worked with Robert Queen to subvert the mad archer's rise to power by [[DeathFakedforYou faking Robert's death]], Magus returns in the present day to continue his mission, starting by forcing Oliver to accept his teachings. Through various methods like [[GoodIsNotNice drugging him and leaving him alone in the desert]], Magus forces Oliver to accept his role, all while allying the other Clans for the incoming war. Using his powers, Magus distracts Komodo with Oliver's face before taking on his army, coordinating with Katana to subvert his plans to destroy Europe before accepting Oliver's choice to return to Seattle.
** [[AdventurerArchaeologist Robert Queen]], believed to have been killed by Komodo, is in truth still alive and orchestrated Oliver's journey to heroism. Having predicted that Simon would betray him, Robert allied with Magus to fake his death, allowing him to search for the mystical [[LegendaryWeapon Green Arrow]] for years. In order to prepare Oliver for his role, Robert orchestrated his imprisonment on the island, including his torture and the final battle to the death between the two, ensuring Oliver's transformation into the Green Arrow. Resurfacing in the present day, Robert not only takes down the leader of the Shield Clan, but escapes the island himself to fight Komodo head-on, ultimately getting Oliver the Green Arrow artifact and [[HeroicSacrifice dying to protect his daughter]].
** [[GeniusBruiser Richard Dragon]] was once Ricardo Diaz, Jr., the son of a master criminal who was defeated by the Green Arrow. Wanting to humiliate the archer in his father's name, Diaz traveled to the League of Assassins and trained under the original [[WorldsBestWarrior Richard Dragon]], eventually killing his master and taking his name out of respect. Arriving in Seattle, Dragon takes over the city's underworld within days, killing everyone in his way and gaining such power that he can walk right into the police station without hassle. Even when Green Arrow returns to the city, Dragon stays one step ahead at all times, taking advantage of his genius intellect and brilliant [[EnemyScan analytical abilities]] to attack weak points and strike strong. Although he's ultimately defeated, he escapes, ultimately completing his goal to prove himself far more than the average thug.

* ''ComicBook/BatmanLastKnightOnEarth'': [[FallenHero Omega]] is in reality the original [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]], having managed to survive most of humanity's turn to evil through sheer force of will. Embittered and deciding to use more extreme measures to save humanity from itself, Bruce reinvents himself as the [[EvilOverlord conqueror Omega]], defeating and slaying [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]] and [[HeroKiller any hero or villain that stood in his way]], in the process gaining control over the Anti-Life Equation and using it to rule over Gotham and the rest of the United States' eastern seaboard; planning to extend the Equation's signal worldwide using a captive [[ComicBook/MartianManhunter Martian Manhunter]]. Knowing that [[SecretlyDying he would soon die due to old age and his injuries]], Omega orders the creation of a clone of Bruce Wayne to either replace him or stop him. When the clone escapes and becomes a new Batman, Omega anticipates an attack and ambushes him and the disembodied head of [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker the Joker]], nearly killing the Clown Prince of Crime. Facing Batman in a climactic showdown atop Wayne Manor, Omega holds his own against his younger duplicate, although he is mortally wounded, taking one last look at the city before he dies.

* ''ComicBook/TalesFromTheDarkMultiverse'':
** ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' retelling: [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]], known here as [[GeniusCripple Batman the Broken]], proves himself to be far more competent that everyone expects from him. After being reduced to a head and torso by [[ComicBook/{{Azrael}} Saint Batman]], Bruce refuses to give him the validation he seeks, instead calmly explaining why he is doomed to fail in his goal. Upon being rescued by Tourne and Lady Shiva, Bruce attacks the former Batcave with them, tricking one of Jean-Paul's CoDragons into killing the other before killing him himself. When Jean-Paul is defeated, Bruce reveals that he's come to realize that he can't save Gotham through the methods he previously tried and kills his two allies on the spot, going on to publicly display Jean-Paul's body so he can begin [[WellIntentionedExtremist rebuilding Gotham from the ground up]].
** ''ComicBook/BatmanHush'' retelling: [[BestServedCold Batman the Silenced]], real name [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]], upon learning that [[EvilFormerFriend Thomas Elliot]] orchestrated the death of his parents and the downfall of his family, decided to enact his revenge. After Thomas imprisoned him in a mental asylum, Bruce hired [[ComicBook/TheJoker Jack Napier]] to help him pretend to be dead, after which he dressed as a Bat and hunted down people who had any hand in the corruption of Gotham and the fall of his family. Stalking and [[MindRape tormenting Thomas]] through the story, Bruce lured him to the abandoned Wayne Manor and dragged him to his basement, where he kept his foes in inhumane conditions, and revealed that he knows Thomas' involvement in the death of his parents. Making Thomas suffer for his sins, Bruce ended up victorious, with the ownership of Wayne Industries going to Alfred, who is loyal to him, and Court of Owls being unable to beat him.

** ''More Fun Comics'' #75 & ''Leading Comics'' #1: [[EvilTeacher Professor Merlin]], the "[[EvilMentor Dean of Deviltry]]", is the first of Green Arrow's villains to ever escape the legendary archer. As the lead professor of the "[[AcademyOfEvil Crime College]]", Merlin runs a tight carjacking operation, having stolen thousands of dollars in merchandise over the years. When Green Arrow catches on to him, Merlin stays one step ahead of him, catching him off guard and even [[CombatPragmatist breaking his bow]] during their confrontation before escaping. Later recruited by the Hand, Merlin is hired to steal gold from Cactus Mike, managing to fend off Green Arrow the entire time and even [[PragmaticVillainy letting the hero go]] when his goal is in his sights.
** ''More Fun Comics'' #79, "The Boomerang": [[KnightOfCerebus The Boomerang]], formerly an attorney named [[AmoralAttorney Martin Flint]], is a [[BestServedCold revenger for hire]] who specializes in karmic vengeance. Introduced managing to have a judge's door electrocute him at the same time that someone he sentenced to death is electrocuted, the Boomerang is later hired to judge Warden Lawson, having him break rocks just like his prison's chain gangs. Managing to trick Green Arrow and Speedy into joining him, Boomerang later pulls a complex gambit to trick Green Arrow into thinking he's retreating, when in reality he's simply biding his time to "rescue" him. Coming closer to killing Green Arrow than any other villain he faced, Boomerang later falls in the water during the battle, leaving Speedy certain that he'll one day return for them.

* Examples done in crossover with Creator/MarvelComics can be found [[MagnificentBastard/ComicBooks here]].

* ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'''s ''More Fun Comics'' #75 & ''Leading Comics'' #1: [[EvilTeacher Professor Merlin]], the "[[EvilMentor Dean of Deviltry]]", is the first of Green Arrow's villains to ever escape the legendary archer. As the lead professor of the "[[AcademyOfEvil Crime College]]", Merlin runs a tight carjacking operation, having stolen thousands of dollars in merchandise over the years. When Green Arrow catches on to him, Merlin stays one step ahead of him, catching him off guard and even [[CombatPragmatist breaking his bow]] during their confrontation before escaping. Later recruited by the Hand, Merlin is hired to steal gold from Cactus Mike, managing to fend off Green Arrow the entire time and even [[PragmaticVillainy letting the hero go]] when his goal is in his sights.

* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'':
** [[HerosEvilPredecessor Thaal Sinestro]] is Hal Jordan's [[{{archenemy}} personal nemesis]], and both a [[FallenHero former Green Lantern]] and planetary dictator. Convinced that the Green Lanterns have failed in their mission of bringing order and security to the universe, Sinestro formed his own Sinestro Corps, and led them into a war against the Green Lanterns, who were only able to defeat Sinestro by resorting to lethal force--the very result the renegade Lantern had been aiming for. Since then Sinestro has changed allegiances multiple times, always with the intention of [[WellIntentionedExtremist bringing his vision of stability to the DCU]], whether it wants it or not.
** Vol. 4, issues #1-6: [[ProfessionalKiller Nix]] is a MasterOfDisguise who can blend into any crowd and strike from any distance. Introduced disguising herself as a construction worker using a stolen truck, Nix manages to kill Commissioner Nudocerdo and flee without being caught, with the police not even being able to identify her gender. Appearing again disguised as a journalist wielding a gun hidden in a tape recorder, Nix once again escapes, only being found by Green Arrow by complete accident; when he chases her, she forces him off by stabbing a civilian, knowing that [[SadisticChoice he'll save the victim instead of chase her]]. Even when he exploits her need for a mask in their final battle, Nix escapes once more while he's distracted, [[KarmaHoudini escaping justice for her crimes]] in the process.

* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}/WesternAnimation/ElmerFudd Special'' ("Pway for Me" & "Rabbit Season"), by Kelley Jones & Lee Weeks: [[FakingTheDead Silver St. Cloud]], in this darker reimagining of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'', was the former lover of both [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]] and later Elmer Fudd, but upon discovering the violent double lives the men are living, Silver decides she wants no part of it. She hires a lowlife named [[WesternAnimation/BugsBunny Bugs]] to fake her death in order to get away from Elmer, while leaving instructions for Bugs to tell Elmer that Bruce Wayne hired the assassination. This leads Elmer Fudd to attempt assassination on Bruce Wayne, pitting the two men against each other. When they discover they have been played, both seek out Bugs, before Silver reveals she is still alive and explains the truth before departing.

* ''[[ComicBook/SupermanVsPredator Superman vs. Predator]]'', by David Michelinie & Alex Maleev: The [[BloodKnight Yautja]] of this setting, a cunning Predator only referred to as the "sky devil", staked out its territory in ''La Jungla de Las Sombras'' after crash-landing there. For years the sky devil has meticulously [[GeniusBruiser outwitted and killed]] every soldier who comes to investigate the island, and when its technology is misappropriated by a genocidal scientist and his mercenaries, the Predator begins killing them all. The sky devil is even good enough to take on a depowered Superman, and honorable enough to realize that Superman is not his foe in the end, taking out both the scientist and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] before sacrificing himself to destroy their superweapon.

* ''ComicBook/{{Hex}}'', by Michael Fleisher: ComicBook/{{Batman}}, here a man named Cohen, survived the nuclear apocalypse only to witness his parents gunned down by a mob. Developing a hatred of all firearms, Cohen utilized his knowledge of [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]]'s tenure as Batman to take up the cowl himself, declaring a one-man war on every gun in New York. Though he targets anyone with a firearm without caring why they have it, Batman singlehandedly restores order to New York, monitoring the Combine and street thugs alike with ruthless efficiency. After being manipulated into attacking ComicBook/JonahHex, Batman soon pieces together who sent him and stops the Combine's Terminator invasion, managing to destroy two of them without weapons of his own [[HeroicSacrifice at the potential cost of his own life]].

* ''[[ComicBook/HellblazerRiseAndFall Hellblazer Rise and Fall]]'', by Creator/TomTaylor: [[Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine John Constantine]] is once again depicted as a charming, manipulative UnscrupulousHero. John rises from humble origins to become a master manipulator who can even outplay Lucifer Morningstar and sets up various gambits to succeed in his goal. Over the series, Constantine tricks James, the father of the child host of the demon Despondeo into threatening the host to release Despondeo and then killing James to release Despondeo when he attempts to bodyjack James in turn. Having Lucifer Morningstar help him resolve his DaddyIssues with a "talk", Constantine tricks Despondeo into possessing him and is able to torture him into submission with the pure joy of his soul. Using Despondeo to give him the codes to all of his rich clientele, Constantine transfers their money back to the residents of the UK to give hope once more to the region.