Superman’s rouges gallery is so underrated. Apart from Lex Luther, Zod and Bizrro, it feels like the other villains like Toyman, Metallo, Parasite and Brainiac aren’t considered anywhere near as iconic. And have rarely gotten much adaptation rep outside of Superman tv shows. And I think that’s a real shame.
Most great rogues galleries have one or two overriding themes running through them. Spider-Man, the hero given powers in a scientific accident, often fights villains given powers through scientific accidents: showing what Peter could've become (Green Goblin, Hobgoblin, Venom, Carnage, Electro, Sandman...). They also tend towards animal personas (Doctor Octopus, Rhino, Lizard, Scorpion, Vulture...). Batman, the dark and brooding hero, often fights villains that are reflections of his own psyche (Joker, Two-Face, Riddler, Hush, Wraith, Prometheus, Hugo Strange, Scarecrow...). Flash - a fun sci-fi hero - fights largely bank robbers (who rarely kill) using fun sci-fi gadgets (Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Golden Glider, Mirror Master, The Turtle, The Top, The second Trickster, Captain Boomerang, Weather Wizard...), with his few more deadly enemies shunned by his other rogues for taking things too far (Reverse Flash, Grodd, Abra Kadabra...). Superman's rogues gallery seems to be mostly made up of two types of villains: the first being the human villains who don't appreciate the better parts of their humanity that the alien Superman (paradoxically) so embraces, turning their backs on a birthright that Superman works to be worthy of but they take for granted (Luthor, Toyman, Prankster, the Bloodsports, Hi Tech, Intergang, Ultra Humanite, Killgrave, all the other mad scientist types). The other group I'd consider monsters. Superman, the classic hero, protects us from monsters (Brainiac, Parasite, Metallo, Titano, Doomsday, Darkseid, Wordbringer, Dominous, Imperiex, Cerberus, Bloodthirst, Zod and the Phantom Zone villains, Mongul, The Galactic Golem, Atomic Skull...). He also seems to have the most evil doubles (all the different Bizarros, Bizarro World, Ultraman, Cyborg Superman, Nuclear Man, Composite Superman, Sand Superman, The Thing From 40,000 AD, Russian Zod, Superboy Prime...).
One Superman rogue I would mention is Metallo, who, in my opinion, contrast Superman when comes to "masculinity". While Superman embodies qualities such as kindness and compassion (aspects that some people think make him soft) and never asks reward for his good work, John Corben embodies the ideals of "toxic masculinity". He's agressive, rude and possessive, thinking he should be respect just because of superficial stuff like his good look or the fact he's a soldier (in some versions). But, when Superman arrives and achives all the things he wanted (being respect by people and gainning Lois attention), Corben response is to try to become stronger as Superman and beat him in physical fight. even if means becoming a cyborg.
0:40 In the case of Bizarro, I think he represents more a reflection Superman struggle with loneliness and his desire to fit in. While Clark, despite feeling alone sometimes, has friends and family who accepted him for who he is, Bizarro is unable to achive the same acceptance from others because of his physical apperance (and his backwards way of thinking just makes things worse)
I think that's a very reasonable interpretation. It's like Superman struggles to fit in with humans sometimes but ultimately is able to find his place, while Bizarro is just TOO different in appearance and behavior and how he thinks that he can't ever fit in, and has to find a new place away from humanity. Maybe he embodies Superman's deep fear of being too different from humanity to ever fully integrate. It's ironic that Bizarro is more alien to humans than Superman is, despite him being created on Earth and Superman being an actual alien. You've given me something to think about, thanks for sharing.
If only I wasn't triggered by his backwards speech. I don't find it endearing, wished he had a translator. Other than that great character concept that can be adapted in a lot of fun ways
I suppose the Prankster is the counter to Superman’s humility. Superman is a flashy figure and does big feats. But it’s never for his own self-aggrandizement. He does it to inspire the best in people. The Prankster loves an audience for its own sake. He loves to have all eyes on him to the point of pulling bigger and more dangerous pranks.
What does Metallo represent? Superman's heart? What does Zod represent? The thing Superman doesn't want to be? What does Livewire represent? Superman's self-control? What does doomsday represent? Superman's end?
@@S3rp3nte you're partially right, but I don't believe all of krypton was a military dictatorship. He would still have his biological family. But Zod can be very "persuasive". As for Darkside, I believe he represents his "superior". Someone he will never surpass in power, but must overcome regardless. Actually, I think Darkside might actually represent his status as a god. People compare Superman to a god, while Darkside IS a God.
@@nexik680 While not a dictatorship, Krypton in most versions its usually potrayed to be advance scientifically but culturally wise they were decadent. With strict hierarchy (with houses and clans) and with some xenophobic tendencies as they view themselves as better than others. What i say that Zod could represent a Clark that embraced only his kryptonian side, without the human side balancing out, which allowed him to avoid the same flaw mindset of his people.
Thank you, your videos are by far the best DC videos I've found in months of research. You dove into the core and the appeal for newcomers like me. you reminded me why I love Superheroes with your videos
@@ourmidnightgarden Seriously, you totally changed my view on his rogues gallery. Selflessness is so ingrained in Superhero media that it makes since it stemmed from Superman
I struggled in researching Superman over the last few months because the sheer volume of works, not being a fan of the comic book medium and the weirdness around this character's fanbase and haters on social media.
I always assume that the best rogue's galleries are based on a key principle: a core if you will. For Batman you have all people with an obsession, something that led them outside society (exactly like Batman) so they try to impose themselves and their obsession on everyone else (differently from Batman). For Superman is rather simple: science-fiction tropes. You have Lex Luthor and Toyman (the mad scientists since this is what Luthor was before Crisis on Infinite Earths), Bizarro (the malformed and "evil" clone), Metallo (the cyborg), Mr.Mxyzptlk (the strange being from another dimension), Brainiac (literally the definition of the alien that comes to Earth to study us taken to the extreme) and so on.
I always thought the theme between Superman and Batman's rogue's gallery is that while Batman rogues gallery is based on mental illness, Superman's rogues gallery is based on selfishness. (having the power to do great good and make the world better, but instead using it to help themselves.)
Thank you, I've been researching Superman for months now for creative projects, really digging into it without much guidance. This explanation helps me SO much!
Just discovered this channel and I LOVE the premise of your channel, and this video is like a cherry on top as I love Superman villains and thinks his rogues gallery is the best
Just started this but thanks for making this video Superman has a rogue's gallery of his own that I wish films and shows would use more. Riot, El Encantadora, Massacre, Bloodsport does anybody remember Mr. Z I do believe some villains need a rework but I wish to see Ultra humanite and or toyman in the live action films?
Thanks for watching and always being so supportive. If you're curious about Ultra-Humanite in live-action, he was at least on the Stargirl TV series I believe, in the third season. Pretty rough CGI on him though. Toyman would be super cool to see in a movie, especially with any giant goofy-looking toys that he makes.
Good catch. I hadn't thought much about the color schemes before, but there do seem to be lots of purples and greens. Parasite is purple, Brainiac is green, Metallo has notable green components, Bizarro sometimes wears purple, Mxy has purple on him, etc. They must go well with the red and blue.
I didn’t realise that Superman villains represent the negative aspect on superman’s personality but can you say the same for Spider-Man and the Flash’s villains?
I think the mirror thing is something that arises naturally in a lot of stories, so I wouldn't be surprised if many other villains are inversions of their heroes. I've never been the biggest reader of Spidey or Flash, so off the top of my head I can't think of much mirroring there. Maybe for Peter there's something with how a bunch of his villains are scientists like him, but obviously use their skills for evil -- particularly their engineering skills (so, for example, Doc Ock's arms could be a mirror to Spidey's web-shooters).
Please make a mirror psychology analysis for either Batman’s villains, Captain Marvel’s villains, Wonder Woman’s villains, the Flash’s villains, the Green Lantern Corps’ villains, Captain America’s villains, the Fantastic Four’s villains, the Hulk’s villains, Spider-Man’s villains, Thor’s villains, Doctor Strange’s villains, Iron Man’s villains, the X-Men’s villains, Wolverine’s villains, or Deadpool’s villains.
I really appreciate the support and the interest in future videos, thank you! I'm not sure I've spent enough time thinking about any other rogues galleries to analyze them yet, but I'll certainly do so if I can find interesting things to explore.
I 2nd the Wonder Woman villain gallery core theme exploration video. Really dig into their psychology like you did here. Batman is great but I crave other Heroes
He’s not really a Superman villain. He first appeared in Omega Men and then JLI. By the time Lobo appeared in STAS, he had already had his own solo series. He was more like that show’s first guest star.
It's always been my impression that Livewire was originally intended to be an evil Lois - a shock jock instead of a reporter.
Hmmmm nice
Superman’s rouges gallery is so underrated. Apart from Lex Luther, Zod and Bizrro, it feels like the other villains like Toyman, Metallo, Parasite and Brainiac aren’t considered anywhere near as iconic. And have rarely gotten much adaptation rep outside of Superman tv shows. And I think that’s a real shame.
Brainiac is definitely more well known than Zod, as he should.
@@SerosJokerevery live action superman has zod
Most great rogues galleries have one or two overriding themes running through them. Spider-Man, the hero given powers in a scientific accident, often fights villains given powers through scientific accidents: showing what Peter could've become (Green Goblin, Hobgoblin, Venom, Carnage, Electro, Sandman...). They also tend towards animal personas (Doctor Octopus, Rhino, Lizard, Scorpion, Vulture...). Batman, the dark and brooding hero, often fights villains that are reflections of his own psyche (Joker, Two-Face, Riddler, Hush, Wraith, Prometheus, Hugo Strange, Scarecrow...). Flash - a fun sci-fi hero - fights largely bank robbers (who rarely kill) using fun sci-fi gadgets (Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Golden Glider, Mirror Master, The Turtle, The Top, The second Trickster, Captain Boomerang, Weather Wizard...), with his few more deadly enemies shunned by his other rogues for taking things too far (Reverse Flash, Grodd, Abra Kadabra...).
Superman's rogues gallery seems to be mostly made up of two types of villains: the first being the human villains who don't appreciate the better parts of their humanity that the alien Superman (paradoxically) so embraces, turning their backs on a birthright that Superman works to be worthy of but they take for granted (Luthor, Toyman, Prankster, the Bloodsports, Hi Tech, Intergang, Ultra Humanite, Killgrave, all the other mad scientist types). The other group I'd consider monsters. Superman, the classic hero, protects us from monsters (Brainiac, Parasite, Metallo, Titano, Doomsday, Darkseid, Wordbringer, Dominous, Imperiex, Cerberus, Bloodthirst, Zod and the Phantom Zone villains, Mongul, The Galactic Golem, Atomic Skull...). He also seems to have the most evil doubles (all the different Bizarros, Bizarro World, Ultraman, Cyborg Superman, Nuclear Man, Composite Superman, Sand Superman, The Thing From 40,000 AD, Russian Zod, Superboy Prime...).
One Superman rogue I would mention is Metallo, who, in my opinion, contrast Superman when comes to "masculinity". While Superman embodies qualities such as kindness and compassion (aspects that some people think make him soft) and never asks reward for his good work, John Corben embodies the ideals of "toxic masculinity". He's agressive, rude and possessive, thinking he should be respect just because of superficial stuff like his good look or the fact he's a soldier (in some versions). But, when Superman arrives and achives all the things he wanted (being respect by people and gainning Lois attention), Corben response is to try to become stronger as Superman and beat him in physical fight. even if means becoming a cyborg.
Dig the take. Don't dig the use of toxic masculinity unironically and without asterisks.
@@VunderGuywhy?
0:40 In the case of Bizarro, I think he represents more a reflection Superman struggle with loneliness and his desire to fit in. While Clark, despite feeling alone sometimes, has friends and family who accepted him for who he is, Bizarro is unable to achive the same acceptance from others because of his physical apperance (and his backwards way of thinking just makes things worse)
I think that's a very reasonable interpretation. It's like Superman struggles to fit in with humans sometimes but ultimately is able to find his place, while Bizarro is just TOO different in appearance and behavior and how he thinks that he can't ever fit in, and has to find a new place away from humanity. Maybe he embodies Superman's deep fear of being too different from humanity to ever fully integrate. It's ironic that Bizarro is more alien to humans than Superman is, despite him being created on Earth and Superman being an actual alien. You've given me something to think about, thanks for sharing.
If only I wasn't triggered by his backwards speech. I don't find it endearing, wished he had a translator. Other than that great character concept that can be adapted in a lot of fun ways
I suppose the Prankster is the counter to Superman’s humility. Superman is a flashy figure and does big feats. But it’s never for his own self-aggrandizement. He does it to inspire the best in people. The Prankster loves an audience for its own sake. He loves to have all eyes on him to the point of pulling bigger and more
dangerous pranks.
Very interesting idea. Acting for recognition vs acting nobly. Thank you for sharing :)
What does Metallo represent? Superman's heart?
What does Zod represent?
The thing Superman doesn't want to be?
What does Livewire represent?
Superman's self-control?
What does doomsday represent?
Superman's end?
Zod would represent what Clark could have been if he did grew up at Krypton, if he fully embrace his kryptonian heritage.
And what about Darkseid?
@@S3rp3nte you're partially right, but I don't believe all of krypton was a military dictatorship. He would still have his biological family. But Zod can be very "persuasive".
As for Darkside, I believe he represents his "superior". Someone he will never surpass in power, but must overcome regardless.
Actually, I think Darkside might actually represent his status as a god. People compare Superman to a god, while Darkside IS a God.
@@nexik680 While not a dictatorship, Krypton in most versions its usually potrayed to be advance scientifically but culturally wise they were decadent.
With strict hierarchy (with houses and clans) and with some xenophobic tendencies as they view themselves as better than others.
What i say that Zod could represent a Clark that embraced only his kryptonian side, without the human side balancing out, which allowed him to avoid the same flaw mindset of his people.
@S3rp3nte True, but what I'm trying to say is not all of "his people" were monsters. (Which is something he always has to prove.)
Thank you, your videos are by far the best DC videos I've found in months of research. You dove into the core and the appeal for newcomers like me. you reminded me why I love Superheroes with your videos
I truly appreciate this feedback, thank you so much. It means the world to me that you've enjoyed this :)
@@ourmidnightgarden Seriously, you totally changed my view on his rogues gallery. Selflessness is so ingrained in Superhero media that it makes since it stemmed from Superman
I struggled in researching Superman over the last few months because the sheer volume of works, not being a fan of the comic book medium and the weirdness around this character's fanbase and haters on social media.
I always assume that the best rogue's galleries are based on a key principle: a core if you will.
For Batman you have all people with an obsession, something that led them outside society (exactly like Batman) so they try to impose themselves and their obsession on everyone else (differently from Batman).
For Superman is rather simple: science-fiction tropes.
You have Lex Luthor and Toyman (the mad scientists since this is what Luthor was before Crisis on Infinite Earths), Bizarro (the malformed and "evil" clone), Metallo (the cyborg), Mr.Mxyzptlk (the strange being from another dimension), Brainiac (literally the definition of the alien that comes to Earth to study us taken to the extreme) and so on.
Very good way to look at it, never considered that before. I appreciate you sharing.
I always thought the theme between Superman and Batman's rogue's gallery is that while Batman rogues gallery is based on mental illness, Superman's rogues gallery is based on selfishness. (having the power to do great good and make the world better, but instead using it to help themselves.)
Thank you, I've been researching Superman for months now for creative projects, really digging into it without much guidance.
This explanation helps me SO much!
Just discovered this channel and I LOVE the premise of your channel, and this video is like a cherry on top as I love Superman villains and thinks his rogues gallery is the best
Thanks! Very glad you're enjoying :) Superman's rogues' gallery is one of my favorites too.
Excellent breakdown!
Thought-provoking video as always.
This is a great analysis. Thank you!
Just started this but thanks for making this video Superman has a rogue's gallery of his own that I wish films and shows would use more. Riot, El Encantadora, Massacre, Bloodsport does anybody remember Mr. Z I do believe some villains need a rework but I wish to see Ultra humanite and or toyman in the live action films?
Thanks for watching and always being so supportive. If you're curious about Ultra-Humanite in live-action, he was at least on the Stargirl TV series I believe, in the third season. Pretty rough CGI on him though. Toyman would be super cool to see in a movie, especially with any giant goofy-looking toys that he makes.
Not that strong of a connection, but Lex's green and purple color scheme mirrors the red and yellow of Superman's emblem.
Good catch. I hadn't thought much about the color schemes before, but there do seem to be lots of purples and greens. Parasite is purple, Brainiac is green, Metallo has notable green components, Bizarro sometimes wears purple, Mxy has purple on him, etc. They must go well with the red and blue.
Spiderman too, green goblin, mysterio, sandman, vulture, electro. Colour theory is important!@@ourmidnightgarden
I didn’t realise that Superman villains represent the negative aspect on superman’s personality but can you say the same for Spider-Man and the Flash’s villains?
I think the mirror thing is something that arises naturally in a lot of stories, so I wouldn't be surprised if many other villains are inversions of their heroes. I've never been the biggest reader of Spidey or Flash, so off the top of my head I can't think of much mirroring there. Maybe for Peter there's something with how a bunch of his villains are scientists like him, but obviously use their skills for evil -- particularly their engineering skills (so, for example, Doc Ock's arms could be a mirror to Spidey's web-shooters).
Great video, I love that you factored pre crisis into your analysis
Thank you! Pre-Crisis Superman stories are some of my favorite for the character.
Please make a mirror psychology analysis for either Batman’s villains, Captain Marvel’s villains, Wonder Woman’s villains, the Flash’s villains, the Green Lantern Corps’ villains, Captain America’s villains, the Fantastic Four’s villains, the Hulk’s villains, Spider-Man’s villains, Thor’s villains, Doctor Strange’s villains, Iron Man’s villains, the X-Men’s villains, Wolverine’s villains, or Deadpool’s villains.
I really appreciate the support and the interest in future videos, thank you! I'm not sure I've spent enough time thinking about any other rogues galleries to analyze them yet, but I'll certainly do so if I can find interesting things to explore.
I 2nd the Wonder Woman villain gallery core theme exploration video. Really dig into their psychology like you did here. Batman is great but I crave other Heroes
Psychology of Ultraman Earth-3
i belive lex luthor is more like a mirror to being a hero. like, he wants to be loved and rule the world for a "good messure"
You done forgot about The Main Man.
He’s not really a Superman villain. He first appeared in Omega Men and then JLI. By the time Lobo appeared in STAS, he had already had his own solo series. He was more like that show’s first guest star.
Great video and mxyzptlk isn’t really a villain he just acts goofy and annoying