History SerialKiller / ComicBooks

* ComicBook/{{Carnage}} from ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' is one of these; his alter ego Cletus Kasady was one even before he came in contact with the symbiote. (He had been convicted of eleven murders, but he bragged of a dozen more that the police couldn't find evidence for.) Early in his villainous career, he would leave the message "Carnage Rules!" written in his victim's blood (or with his own) at the site of each murder.
* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'': In ''Comicbook/ManyHappyReturns'', two different Supergirls faced up to Xenon, a serial killer of Supergirls throughout the Multiverse and Hypertime. It's implied he's already killed a good number of them, and he is shown murdering a slightly South American-esque Supergirl.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' storyline ''ComicBook/TheGreatPhantomPeril'' introduces Faora Hu-Ul, a Kryptonian criminal who was sentenced to three hundred Sun-cycles (four hundred twenty years) in the PhantomZone for murdering twenty-three persons.
* One story from Creator/AlanMoore's famous run on ''Comicbook/SwampThing'' was told from the perspective of a serial killer who called himself the Bogeyman. His career comes to an abrupt and anticlimactic end when he runs across the eponymous plant-man.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' storyline ''ComicBook/TheGreatPhantomPeril'' introduces Faora Hu-Ul, a Kryptonian criminal who was sentenced to three-hundred years in the PhantomZone for murdering twenty-three persons.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Actually a fairly mundane type of villain in the dystopian urban setting. Recurring bad guy PJ Maybe, a mastermind-level [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]], is probably the most famous example, but there have been regular serial killers, [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalistic]] serial killers, [[GenuineHumanHide skin-stealing]] serial killers, SnuffFilm serial killers, a [[DepravedDentist dentist]] serial killer, robot-hating serial killers, and a ''[[ExaggeratedTrope serial]]'' serial killer. There was even a secret club of serial killers who tried to set a new record by having all of their members go on a killing spree at the same time, unleashing a murder wave in Mega-City One that ended with their leader trying to detonate a nuclear bomb.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Actually a fairly mundane type of villain in the dystopian urban setting. Recurring bad guy PJ Maybe, a mastermind-level [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]], is probably the most famous example, but there have been regular serial killers, [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalistic]] serial killers, [[GenuineHumanHide skin-stealing]] serial killers, SnuffFilm serial killers, a [[DepravedDentist dentist]] serial killer, and robot-hating serial killers. There was even a secret club of serial killers who tried to set a new record by having all of their members go on a killing spree at the same time, unleashing a murder wave in Mega-City One that ended with their leader trying to detonate a nuclear bomb.

** This is eventually taken UpToEleven in ''ComicBook/ThePunisherBorn'', set during Castle's last tour in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, where he is depicted as a SociopathicSoldier in love with war to the point of not being able to cope with the fact that the Americans are retreating from UsefulNotes/VietNam and [[spoiler:it is revealed that he was committing random murders way before his family's massacre. Finally, he hears a mysterious voice in his head throughout the series, that may or may not be a manifestation of his psychosis...]]

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** Batman has dealt with many of them, and several members of his {{rogues gallery}} fall into the category from time to time. The most recurring ones are ComicBook/TheJoker (best described as a serial mass murderer and domestic terrorist) and Victor Zsasz (a straightforward example). But by far the most notable serial killers in Batman history (by virtue of their actions being the main plot of a mini-series) are [[ComicBook/TheLongHalloween Holiday]] and [[ComicBook/DarkVictory The Hangman]].

* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' has an issue where a bunch of serial killers have a convention, in the style of a comic book or sci-fi convention. They advertise it as a convention for the [[IncrediblyLamePun cereal]] industry. [[spoiler:The escaped nightmare who draws the plot's attention there is the Corinthian -- who became one of these for his own amusement in Morpheus' absence. For over half a century.]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Foolkiller}}'' is on a mission to do ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Although he often falls into {{Vigilante}} territory, he's not limited to criminals. The character points out frequently that many of the biggest "fools" have the protection of the "letter of the law" if not the "spirit of the law".

*** Dr. Psycho fits the Sexual Sadist type, as he loves torturing people both physically and mentally before killing them. He was the first Wonder Woman villain to permanently kill a member of her recurring supporting cast. His ''ComicBook/PostCrisis'' iteration would add cannibalism to the list of things her enjoys doing to his victims.

** Batman has dealt with many of them, and several members of his {{rogues gallery}} fall into the category from time to time. The most recurring ones are ComicBook/TheJoker (best described as a serial mass murderer and domestic terrorist) and Victor Zsasz (a straightforward example). But by far the most notable serial killers in Batman history (by virtue of their actions being the main plot of a mini-series) are [[ComicBook/TheLongHalloween Holiday]] and [[ComicBook/DarkVictory The Hangman]].

** Batman has dealt with many of them, and several members of his {{rogues gallery}} fall into the category from time to time. The most recurring ones are ComicBook/TheJoker (obviously) and Victor Zsasz. But by far the most notable serial killers in Batman history (by virtue of their actions being the main plot of a mini-series) are [[ComicBook/TheLongHalloween Holiday]] and [[ComicBook/DarkVictory The Hangman]].

** Batman has dealt with many of them, and several members of his {{rogues gallery}} fall into the category from time to time. The most recurring ones are SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker (obviously) and Victor Zsasz. But by far the most notable serial killers in Batman history (by virtue of their actions being the main plot of a mini-series) are [[ComicBook/TheLongHalloween Holiday]] and [[ComicBook/DarkVictory The Hangman]].

* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'', in addition to regular ''Batman'' villains, introduces Jane Doe, who kills people to take their identity and life, and Doodlebug, who drains people of their blood for [[MadArtist his paintings]] [[spoiler:but also to free several demons trapped beneath Arkham Asylum]].
* Franchise/{{Batman}} has dealt with many of them, and several members of his {{rogues gallery}} fall into the category from time to time. The most recurring ones are SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker (obviously) and Victor Zsasz. But by far the most notable serial killers in Batman history (by virtue of their actions being the main plot of a mini-series) are [[ComicBook/TheLongHalloween Holiday]] and [[ComicBook/DarkVictory The Hangman]].

* ComicBook/{{Carnage}} from Franchise/SpiderMan is one of these; his alter ego Cletus Kasady was one even before he came in contact with the symbiote. (He had been convicted of eleven murders, but he bragged of a dozen more that the police couldn't find evidence for.) Early in his villainous career, he would leave the message "Carnage Rules!" written in his victim's blood (or with his own) at the site of each murder.
* Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}: In ''Comicbook/ManyHappyReturns'', two different Supergirls faced up to Xenon, a serial killer of Supergirls throughout the Multiverse and Hypertime. It's implied he's already killed a good number of them, and he is shown murdering a slightly South American-esque Supergirl.

* Onomatopoeia, a mask-wearing Serial Killer introduced in a ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'' story and later seen in ''Batman: Cacophany'', targets BadassNormal vigilantes. He isn't against killing other people such as prostitutes either. The creepiest element of his character is one shared by more than a few RealLife serial killers: he leads a double life as a loving and seemingly normal family man with a wife and two kids. He handwaves the injuries he gets as sports accidents and has a secret trophy room in his house with the masks of the vigilantes he killed.
* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Frank Castle's characterization varies DependingOnTheWriter, but during Creator/GarthEnnis's run on ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'' he is basically described as a serial killer who kills criminals.
** This is eventually taken UpToEleven in ''ComicBook/ThePunisherBorn'', set during Castle's last tour in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, where he is depicted as a SociopathicSoldier in love with war to the point of not being able to cope with the fact that the Americans are retreating from UsefulNotes/VietNam and [[spoiler:it is revealed that he was committing random murders way before his family's massacre. Finally, he hears a mysterious voice in his head throughout the series, that may or may not be a manifestation of his psychosis...]]
* ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumLivingHell'', in addition to regular ''Batman'' villains, introduces Jane Doe, who kills people to take their identity and life, and Doodlebug, who drains people of their blood for [[MadArtist his paintings]] [[spoiler:but also to free several demons trapped beneath Arkham Asylum]].

* ''ComicBook/{{Foolkiller}}'' is on a mission to do ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Although he often falls into {{Vigilante}} territory, he's not limited to criminals. The character points out frequently that many of the biggest "fools" have the protection of the "letter of the law" if not the "spirit of the law".
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Actually a fairly mundane type of villain in the dystopian urban setting. Recurring bad guy PJ Maybe, a mastermind-level [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]], is probably the most famous example, but there have been regular serial killers, [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalistic]] serial killers, [[GenuineHumanHide skin-stealing]] serial killers, SnuffFilm serial killers, a [[DepravedDentist dentist]] serial killer, and robot-hating serial killers. There was even a secret club of serial killers who tried to set a new record by having all of their members go on a killing spree at the same time, unleashing a murder wave in Mega-City One that ended with their leader trying to detonate a nuclear bomb.
* The Penny Murderer from ''ComicBook/BrodysGhost'' is a murderer of young women, whose modus operandi is to strangle them and leave pennies on their foreheads. The series centers around Brody tracking him down and putting an end to his murders, with the ghostly Talia's help.
* In ''ComicBook/LadyRawhide: It Can't Happen Here'', Lady Rawhide battles a serial killer with a similar M.O. to UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper (although the story is set several decades prior to Saucy Jack's reign of terror).
* One of ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'s early villains, Billy Kincaid, was a particularly vile one of these who targeted children, posing as an ice cream man in a BadHumorTruck to get close to them before kidnapping and murdering them in truly horrific fashion. Back before he became Spawn, Al Simmons had been hired to take the bastard out by the father of his latest victim, but the police got to Billy before Simmons could, and all evidence of his serial killing was systematically destroyed afterward, topped off by Simmons's then-boss Jason Wynn telling him basically to forget about it. When Spawn catches up to Billy following the latter's release from the local mental institution and the murder of two more kids, his end is anything but pretty.

* One of ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'s early villains, Billy Kincaid, was a particularly vile one of these who targeted children, posing as an ice cream man in a BadHumorTruck to get close to them before kidnapping and murdering them in truly horrific fashion. Back when Spawn was a human assassin, he had been hired to take the bastard out by the father of his latest victim, but the police got to Billy before Simmons could, and all evidence of his serial killing was systematically destroyed afterward, topped off by Simmons's then-boss Jason Wynn telling him basically to forget about it. When Spawn catches up to Billy following the latter's release from the local mental institution and the murder of two more kids, his end is anything but pretty.

* One of ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'s early villains, Billy Kincaid, was a particularly vile one of these who targeted children, posing as an ice cream man in a BadHumorTruck to get close to them before kidnapping and murdering them in truly horrific fashion. Back when Spawn was a human assassin, he had been hired to take the bastard out by the father of his latest victim, but the police got to Billy before Simmons could, and all evidence of his serial killing was systematically destroyed afterward, topped off by Simmons's then-boss Jason Wynn telling him basically to forget about it. When Spawn catches up to Billy following his release from the local mental institution and the murder of two more kids, his end is anything but pretty.

* One of ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'s early villains, Billy Kincaid, was a particularly vile one of these who targeted children, posing as an ice cream man in a BadHumorTruck to get close to them before kidnapping and murdering them in truly horrific fashion. Back when Spawn was a human assassin, he had been hired to take the bastard out by the father of his latest victim, but the police got to Billy before Simmons could, and all evidence of his serial killing was systematically destroyed afterward, topped off by Simmons's then-boss Jason Wynn telling him basically to forget about it. When Spawn catches up to Billy, his end is anything but pretty.

* One of {{Spawn}}'s early villains, Billy Kincaid, was a particularly vile one of these who targeted children, posing as an ice cream man in a BadHumorTruck to get close to them before kidnapping and murdering them in truly horrific fashion. Back when Spawn was a human assassin, he had been hired to take the bastard out by the father of his latest victim, but the police got to Billy before Simmons could, and all evidence of his serial killing was systematically destroyed afterward, topped off by Simmons's then-boss Jason Wynn telling him basically to forget about it. When Spawn catches up to Billy, his end is anything but pretty.