Which Superhero has the best rogues gallery?

[Uncle Yusuf]

I'm really stuck between Batman and Spider-Man. There aren't many others I think who have a more prolific set of villains than these two iconic comic book characters. Perhaps The Flash, but that's it. What do you guys and gals think? Is there any other comic book character to match these two as far as rogue galleries go?

[leonmallett]

I'm really stuck between Batman and Spider-Man. There aren't many others I think who have a more prolific set of villains than these two iconic comic book characters. Perhaps The Flash, but that's it. What do you guys and gals think? Is there any other comic book character to match these two as far as rogue galleries go?

I think the top tier is Batman and Spider-man simply due to depth of quality among their villains.

I don't think that the Flash's Rogues represent the same depth of quality.

[Burrito Boy]

Spider-Man for sure. I'm really not a Spider-Man fan but I love Doc Ock and The Vulture. Then there's Green Goblin, Rhino, Sandman, Electro, Mysterio, The Lizard, Kraven, Venom, Carnage...the list goes on and on.

As for Batman, I really only like The Penguin and Clayface. Oh, and Killer Croc. "Then I hit him with a rock!" Other than those three, I find Batman villains to be pretty lame. Including The Joker.

[dave]

Batman. No contest.

Spider-Man only has Doc Ock and Green Goblin.

[leonmallett]

Batman. No contest.

Spider-Man only has Doc Ock and Green Goblin.

That would be like saying Batman only has the Joker, surely?

Electro, Lizard, Venom, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Kraven, Mysterio, Rhino, Silvermane, Vulture, Shocker, Kingpin are all pretty recognisable, and when going to lesser villains, both Bats and Spidey have their fair sahre of lesser lights (captain Stingaree? The Cavalier?).

[X-O HoboJoe]

Captain Mar-Vell. Because Thanos, that's why.

[Chiclo]

Batman. No contest.

Spider-Man only has Doc Ock and Green Goblin.

That would be like saying Batman only has the Joker, surely?

Electro, Lizard, Venom, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Kraven, Mysterio, Rhino, Silvermane, Vulture, Shocker, Kingpin are all pretty recognisable, and when going to lesser villains, both Bats and Spidey have their fair sahre of lesser lights (captain Stingaree? The Cavalier?).

Paste Pot Pete definitely belongs on that list.

[iwantvaliant]

Rogue galleries were much more interesting when issues were stand alone. I remember as a kid being so excited to see who was on the cover of this month's Batman. Now if you don't like a certain villain you think in your head "Oh great, I got four months of the Mad Hatter?"

Anyway, my choices in order are are Batman, Spider-Man, Flash, Superman, Legion of Super-Heroes and X-Men.

Least favorite - Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

[erwinrafael]

For me, it is Daredevil. His rogues gallery is so tied up with his life that they become essential to making his stories compelling. They actually are integral to the "world' of Daredevil. Just to name the big ones: Kingpin, Bullseye, Elektra, the Hand, the Owl, Mister Fear, Gladiator, Typhoid Mary, etc. Under a good writer (like Bendis), even Sammy Silke and the Yakuza become good villains. And now we have new villains that are promising: Lady Bullseye and Ikari.

[X-O HoboJoe]

The FF. Most vast.

[Elveen]

I think everyone is missing the obvious answer.......

It's 007, James Bond.

Jaws, Odd Job, Blowfeld, Dr No, Mr Big, goldfinger, Scarmanga, the crazy chick with the blade in her shoe..... Just to name a few.
It's hands down 007.

[dave]

That would be like saying Batman only has the Joker, surely?

First, stop calling me Shirley.

Electro, Lizard, Venom, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Kraven, Mysterio, Rhino, Silvermane, Vulture, Shocker, Kingpin are all pretty recognisable, and when going to lesser villains, both Bats and Spidey have their fair share of lesser lights (captain Stingaree? The Cavalier?).

Venom and Carnage are essentially the same villain, but I'll grant Venom, reluctantly. There's really not much there. "I hate Spider-Man" is the only motivation.

Most of those villains are B level at best. Rhino? Really? I haven't ever read a good Rhino story, and I love the Rhino as an animal, so I root for this villain, but he's not a great villain.

Batman's rogues have back stories and have been fleshed out better.

Just Joker and Catwoman alone make his gallery number 1.

Hobgoblin is just a Green Goblin rehas, Sandman is a joke. Lizard and Vulture are just Doc Ock done poorly.

[lorddunlow]

I guess I'll weigh in, especially considering my favorite of the big 2 are Spiderman and Batman. While Spiderman is my favorite character, beating Batman by a long shot, I think Batman has more depth in his rogue gallery with more complex and interesting villains.

The reason why both rogue galleries are above and beyond better than those of any other character is that most of their villains are close friends/acquaintances that have either come to their current predicament or a loved has been lost because of the direct actions of the hero. (Not all of them obviously, but a lot). That is interesting to start with. The Lizard is one of the best in that aspect.

Taken as a whole, though, Spiderman's villains seem to follow a typical Marvel mutant/scientific explanation of their origin, while Batman's villains seem more psychotic/neurotic in a very interesting way. Batman's villains are a thinking man's villains.

The other reason that I like Batman's villains better is that they are more similar to the aspects of Batman and Spiderman that draw me to those characters. Both Batman and Spiderman are very believable people. Batman's villains are very believable as people, whereas Spiderman's seem to be more of your typical comic book villain who has no life outside of hating Spiderman. (Again, there are exceptions for both, but overall it holds true as a generalization.)

[dave]

Oh, one more thing, I agree that The Kingpin is a terrific villain, but I count him as Daredevil's foe more than Spidey's.

They just stuck him in Spidey stories because they know how lacking his rogues gallery was.

[leonmallett]

Oh, one more thing, I agree that The Kingpin is a terrific villain, but I count him as Daredevil's foe more than Spidey's.

They just stuck him in Spidey stories because they know how lacking his rogues gallery was.

You do know where he appeared first, right?

[leonmallett]

That would be like saying Batman only has the Joker, surely?

First, stop calling me Shirley.

Electro, Lizard, Venom, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Kraven, Mysterio, Rhino, Silvermane, Vulture, Shocker, Kingpin are all pretty recognisable, and when going to lesser villains, both Bats and Spidey have their fair share of lesser lights (captain Stingaree? The Cavalier?).

Venom and Carnage are essentially the same villain, but I'll grant Venom, reluctantly. There's really not much there. "I hate Spider-Man" is the only motivation.

Most of those villains are B level at best. Rhino? Really? I haven't ever read a good Rhino story, and I love the Rhino as an animal, so I root for this villain, but he's not a great villain.

Batman's rogues have back stories and have been fleshed out better.

Just Joker and Catwoman alone make his gallery number 1.

Hobgoblin is just a Green Goblin rehas, Sandman is a joke. Lizard and Vulture are just Doc Ock done poorly.

The point I was making is that pretty much either Batman or Spider-man has a couple of top tier villains, and the rest are B and C listers. However for both, arguably their B and C lists are more interesting than most other villains.

Name a poor Spidey villains and it is easy to name a poor Batman villain in turn. It will be down to personal taste ultimately.

[Cyberstrike]

1) Superman
2) Batman
3) The Flash
4) Spider-Man

[nycjadie]

Off the top of my head:

Joker, Catwoman, Two Face, Penguin, Riddler, Ra's al ghul, Clayface, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Court of Owls, Bane, Killer Croc, Hush, Strange, Mad Hatter, Dr. Freeze, Man-Bat, Harley Quinn, Talia al Ghul.

No contest. Batman has the best rogues gallery. I've never been remotely creeped out by a Spiderman villain.

[dave]

Off the top of my head:

Joker, Catwoman, Two Face, Penguin, Riddler, Ra's al ghul, Clayface, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Court of Owls, Bane, Killer Croc, Hush, Strange, Mad Hatter, Dr. Freeze, Man-Bat, Harley Quinn, Talia al Ghul.

No contest. Batman has the best rogues gallery. I've never been remotely creeped out by a Spiderman villain.

I pretty much agree here, except that I would label Clayface, Ivy, Mad Hatter and Killer Croc as second tier, but look at all those others...That's quite a list.

Still Batman, hands down for me.

I like Scarface quite a bit, but not sure if he's above the second tier.

[Brother Darque]

Batman.




and my personal favorite is The Flash's rogues.

[maraxusofkeld]

I'm suprised no one mentioned the X-men with the likes of Sinister, Magneto, Apocalypse, Sabertooth, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Sauron, Lady Deathstrike, Dark Phoenix, Dark Beast, Sentinels, Archangel, Hellfire Club, Omega Red, Stryfe, Phalanx, and Juggernaut.

[dave]

Who?

[lorddunlow]

Who?

[comicsyte95]

in no order
DC
Superman
Batman
Flash

Marvel
Spider-man
X-Men
Fantastic Four

[dave]

Not sure if any of you guys saw this, but I thought I'd post it...even though...they're wrong of course.

http://www.newsarama.com/15497-the-10-g ... -time.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like #10 though. Great start.