10 Villains That Are More Popular Than Their Hero Counterparts

Every protagonist needs a formidable antagonist - someone who takes the danger to the next level and challenges the hero to be better. Sometimes, however, these villains end up being more than just fearsome and become iconic personalities in their own right.

The Joker

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The Clown Prince of Crime. The Harlequin of Hate. The Ace of Knaves. Whichever name you use to describe him, you know the Joker’s the yin to Batman’s yang. There’s no villain quite like him who riles up the Bat and the Internet community so vehemently (just ask Jared Leto). Every piece of news about this aficionado of purple and green just seems that much bigger than anything else.

Undoubtedly, the height of Mr. J’s popularity came when the late Heath Ledger’s performance of him in The Dark Knight earned him a posthumous Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor. Not only did he steal the show in the film, but he also inspired a whole new generation of Halloween getup. He put a smile on our faces and carved out a legacy as one of the finest comic book movie villains of all-time.

Whenever the news of a Batman reboot hits the airwaves, the first question is, who’ll be the Joker? Naturally, like any good Internet conversation, it turns into insults and controversy, since he’s such a beloved character in the DC universe. The Bat is famous, but the Joker will always be infamous. He’s a different class of criminal, you know.


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Author
Sergio Pereira
SERGIO PEREIRA is a speculative fiction writer from Johannesburg, South Africa. He has a strong interest in comic books, film, music and comedy. When he's not reading or writing, he enjoys a game of Pro Evolution Soccer, watching football, catching up on films, and playing with his dog. His short stories have appeared in various magazines and anthologies, such as Devolution Z, Death Throes, Centum Press's 100 Voices, and Tales from the Lake: Vol. 3 from Crystal Lake Publishing.