Top 11 Supervillains Who Might Be Right

Supervillains are often considered characters who don’t have good bone in their bodies. They are stereotyped in a way that prevents anyone from seeing them as anything but criminals. In most cases, this is justifiably so. Most are violent, selfish, erratic, and abusive. Although most supervillain wants are unjust, there are occasions where their wants are justified.

In fact, in some instances, I’d argue that even the noblest of superheroes could and would act like some of these supervillains. These supervillains act the way they do because they’re trying to better the world around them the only way they know how. Who are they, you ask? Good question. Here’s our list of the 11 best supervillains that might be right about their cause.

11. Kaecilius 

Let me know if you’ve heard the expression, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander?” If you haven’t, the expression is meant as a metaphor for what’s good for you is good for me. It’s a really good way to live a life filled with equality. Unfortunately for Kaecilius, he learned that although some people preach it, they don’t always adhere to it.

Kaecilius wanted nothing more than to bring his wife and daughter back from death. He learned that Dark Magic provided a way for this to happen. As a student of The Ancient One, Kaecilius was forbidden to use them. When he discovered that The Ancient One was using Dark Magic to keep herself alive, Kaecilius was forced to take drastic measures. What kind of measures? He used them to summon Dormammu. As a victim of hypocrisy, it’s no wonder he did what he did.

10. Kilmonger

What if you had or knew someone who could eradicate most problems in the world? What if that person lived in an advanced civilization and that advanced civilization was governed by an individual afraid to open their borders to the world around them? Worse yet, what if that person was afraid even to say that the civilization even existed? Kilmonger is from Wakanda, and Wakanda is that civilization. 

Wakanda’s leader, T’Challa, fears what would happen if the outside world found its existence. He fears that his people will be threatened and his country will be plundered for its secrets. Kilmonger, on the other hand, wants Wakanda to be known to the outside world so that he can hold it hostage and rule it in return for Wakanda’s secrets. He wants the outside world to use its technology, science, and medicine. He wants to eradicate suffering, but only at the expense of his own gain. Selfish? Maybe.Wrong. I’m not so sure. Like the others on this supervillains who might be right list, Kilmonger’s methods were wrong, not his thoughts.

9. Gorr, The God Butcher

Gorr was a creature born without a father and in a world without a name. Due to the extreme nature of his upbringing, he lived a life that very few would ever choose to live. Through his torment, he was taught that if he were to pray to the Gods, they would one day answer his call and help him. This never happened.

Instead, Gorr learned that the Gods whom he trusted to help sat upon their thrones, ignoring him. Worse yet, they did it while drinking, dancing, and having a good time. This enraged Gorr, and instead of peacefully questioning their ignorance, he lashed out and attacked Thor.

8. Lex Luthor

Question. What happens when an alien travels to Earth, does nothing but good and captivates the world? Answer. Superman happens. Question. What happens when one individual challenges the idea that the alien has only good intentions? Answer. Lex Luthor happens. Lex Luthor is the antithesis of Superman. Unwilling to believe an alien has only good intentions for Earth, Lex Luthor wages a personal war against him. This war has resulted in some of the greatest stories and battles in the history of comic books. 

Lex is one of the wealthiest people in all of DC and uses it for the betterment of only himself. He, without fear of sounding cliche, wants to rule the world. That is, he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants. He’s selfish, greedy, manipulative, and vile. Even saying all of that, it’s not wrong that he’s skeptical of an alien coming to his planet 

7. Catwoman

If stealing from the rich to give to the poor is a crime (by the way, yes, it is), then Catwoman is a criminal. As a criminal, she had also been labeled a supervillain. Catwoman is DC’s Robin Hood. She’s a master thief who has, at numerous times in her past, used her abilities as a thief to help those in need. For example, when Ed Brubaker took over the character, he sought to a) ground and make her relatable, b) return her to Gotham, and c) have her stand up and care for the people of the East Side.

Of the three things, nothing pushed her character as far as having her care for the people of the East Side. Not only did it show the readers she could be interesting, but it also pushed the Robin Hood-esque characteristics that she would eventually become known for.

6. Ozymandias

We live in a time when humans are tearing themselves apart over their differences. Wars are started, and people die because humans can’t find a way to treat each other equally and respectfully. As a result, there is more divide amongst people than I have ever seen in my lifetime. Ozymandias looked to stop this. However, like the others on this supervillains who might be right list, his methods were a little off. 

Instead of a political rally or a peaceful protest, Ozymandias faked an alien invasion. He hoped that the impending invasion would force the people of Earth to unite. I’m not condoning or implying that his actions were justified. I am, however, saying that they were very effective. 

5. Ra’s al Ghul

In simple explanations, Ra’s al Ghul only wants what’s best for the world around him. Living for as many years as he has, Ra’s has grown tired of the destruction caused by humans. He lived through the Industrial Age… the age when humans began taking in excess from the environment. He watched as trees were cut down, buildings erected, and clouds of smoke littered the airways. Due to this, he began despising humans. He wanted to live in a world of natural beauty and not one that humans were creating. 

Unfortunately, he has taken to extreme measures to see this happen. Ra’s has killed, tortured, maimed, and brutalized his way to make his dream a reality. This, of course, is never the proper way to get any point across. As a consequence, Ra’s is a supervillain. And as a supervillain, it’s easy to put him on this list of supervillains who might be right list.

4. Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is different from many other enemies in Batman’s rogues gallery. Unlike, let’s say, the Joker, who uses violence and chaos as a mechanism for his villainy, Poison Ivy is focused on real-world problems that have the reader questioning whether or not the things she is doing are actually wrong. At her core, Pamela Isley wants what’s best for the world around her. She, as her name suggests, is a character obsessed with the conservation and protection of the environment. No different than Ra’s al Ghul, she is an Eco-Terrorist.

For reference, the United States F.B.I. defines eco-terrorism as “…the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature.” Ivy wants what’s best for the environment. Unfortunately, like Ra’s, what’s best for the Ivy isn’t always what’s best for humanity.

3. Darth Vader

Darth Vader is easily one of history’s most popular and recognizable villains. Not only is he the face of one of the biggest franchises in the world, but he’s also the reason that the franchise was able to create 11 movies, multiple television shows, and more books than I can count.

Although Darth Vader is a Sith and Sith are often considered evil, at his core, all he wanted to do was save his family. He grew up a slave, vowed to free his mother after becoming a Jedi, returned only to find her captive and near death, started a forbidden relationship, and had visions of his wife dying. Unable to face his losses, he sought to prevent her death. To do this, he turned to the Sith. Anakin Skywalker only ever wanted to save his family. As a father and husband, I can’t exactly blame him for his actions.

2. Thanos

Science is beginning to show what Thanos has understood all along. This world (Earth) and many others are at a tipping point. Populations are becoming very large and are trending towards becoming unsustainable. When this happens, the most likely scenario is war, violence, and mass genocide. Ironically, these are exactly the methods that Thanos employed in the MCU’s Infinity War saga.

Thanos is ahead of his time in his thinking. Even though his measures involved the most terrible of actions, as he said, “I am inevitable.” Thanos knows that, left to their own devices, species all around the universe will ultimately tear themselves apart to ensure survival. The history of humans has shown this on more than one occasion. Where he went wrong is forcing this to happen rather than explaining with examples that it is happening and will continue to happen. Overpopulation is a big issue; unfortunately, it’s one that nobody has an answer for. 

1. Magneto

Magneto has a history as long as the X-Men. Not only did he first appear alongside many of them in issue 1, but he’s also as well, if not more well known than many of them. While Professor X and his X-Men believe in harmony between mutants and humans, Magneto believes that one (mutants) should rule over the other. He believes that as a superior race, it is the duty and responsibility of mutants to rise up and force their will against humans. Although his thoughts are extreme, in a sense, why he wants it isn’t wrong.

As a species with a much smaller population, mutants have been hated, discriminated against, and hunted by humans for being different. They are the focal point of racism, and discrimination, as a result, has gone through horrors that no being should have to go through. Magneto is tired of this and wants nothing more than for mutants to get the respect and kindness they deserve.

While his tactics, measures, and belief of superiority are extreme and unethical, his reasons for doing it aren’t. Magneto is right in his desire for equality.