# What do you think is the first villain most think of when they think of these superheroes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2016, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512 "2016-11-03T07:57:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/21 "2016-11-03T20:44:43Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > First villain I think of for Flash is Captain Cold, probably because of his Legion of Doom membership in the “Challenge of the Super Friends” (where I first saw was introduced to the Flash.) > > Same goes for Wonder Woman (Cheetah) and Aquaman (Black Manta). That’s how I’d do it, too, growing up with the Legion of Doom, rather than comic books. Then again, I would defer to comic experts. I would never think Riddler and Solomon Grundy were Batman’s arch-enemy over Joker or Penguin. And I wouldn’t have known from the show that Gorilla Grodd was a Flash enemy. Pretty sure on Apache Chief vs Giganta, though… except Wiki said she was originally a Wonder Woman foe. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/22 "2016-11-03T20:50:07Z")
I’d say the same as the OP for the first part. Kingpin would take me to Spiderman because he first appeared there. Deathstroke I barely recall, never much of a DC fan except for Supes and the Bat. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/23 "2016-11-03T20:54:31Z")
Deathstroke is just a ripoff of Deadpool anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/24 "2016-11-03T21:06:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Deathstroke is just a ripoff of Deadpool anyway. Other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/25 "2016-11-03T21:36:51Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Other way around. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/26 "2016-11-03T22:25:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The Flash is a special case because he has a arch enemy _group_-The Rogues Gallery. So does Spider-Man: The Sinister Six. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/27 "2016-11-03T23:52:34Z")
Trancephalic: > [@](#): > > Also Captain Marvel/Shazam=Mister Mind, the best super villain ever concieved! Mister Mind might indeed be the greatest villain ever conceived, but the iconic Captain Marvel/Shazam villain is Doctor Sivana. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/28 "2016-11-04T00:22:37Z")
We’re in agreement that for the **Fantastic Four** , it’s **Dr. Doom** over **Galactus**? I personally preferred the F4 vs Galactus match-up but that’s not what is being asked. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/29 "2016-11-04T01:25:24Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > We’re in agreement that for the **Fantastic Four** , it’s **Dr. Doom** over **Galactus**? > > I personally preferred the F4 vs Galactus match-up but that’s not what is being asked. Oh, yeah, it’s clearly Doom. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/30 "2016-11-04T01:40:44Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > Also Captain Marvel/Shazam=Mister Mind, the best super villain ever concieved! Not a bad choice, but the main villain for the Big Red Cheese is Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/31 "2016-11-04T01:59:07Z")
It has been 20 years since I was into comic books but from what I recall Silver surfer - Thanos Professor X - Magneto Fantastic four - Doctor Doom (Doctor Doom was one of the best characters) Wolverine - Sabretooth ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/32 "2016-11-04T02:32:48Z")
I’m going to break a bit with convention, here. The Spider-Man villain with which the general public is most acquainted is **Whoever he’s currently fighting in the newspaper strip**. The number of people who know the character from the newspaper strip (which one can consume for no effort greater than just happening to idly glance at it while reading other funnies) is probably an order of magnitude greater than those who know him from movies, comic books, or TV shows, all of which require at least some active effort to pursue. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/33 "2016-11-04T04:10:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m going to break a bit with convention, here. The Spider-Man villain with which the general public is most acquainted is **Whoever he’s currently fighting in the newspaper strip**. The number of people who know the character from the newspaper strip (which one can consume for no effort greater than just happening to idly glance at it while reading other funnies) is probably an order of magnitude greater than those who know him from movies, comic books, or TV shows, all of which require at least some active effort to pursue. In today’s media market? :dubious: Anyway, I do follow the Spider-Man strip (a bit) and I couldn’t tell you who the villain is in it right now. I know they’ve got Ant-Man (both of them!) guest starring in it right now, but I’m drawing a complete blank on the villain. It’s a bald white guy who’s not the Kingpin, but that’s about it. It’s not a terribly memorable incarnation of the character in general. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/34 "2016-11-04T04:26:44Z")
Man, I was always jealous of people who got stuff like spiderman and Simpsons in their newspapers. We got stuff like Hi and Louis. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/35 "2016-11-04T04:50:10Z")
One of those progressive newspapers, huh? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/36 "2016-11-04T04:50:36Z")
The Legion of Superheroes group has, as I see it, three potentials. The Legion of Super-Villains, natch, the Fatal Five, and the Time Trapper. I’d have to say the Fatal Five, because three legion members have been KIA and the Five were involved with two of them. OK, they didn’t actually kill Ferro Lad themselves, but they were there when it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/37 "2016-11-04T05:31:29Z")
For me its Spiderman/Green Goblin but some of the youngins of a certain generation might days might associate Spiderman with Venom. What about Wonder Woman? She’s got Cheeta, but Cheeta never seemed to quite have the wherewithal to be the arch nemesis for a heroine of Wonder Woman’s stature. Going by the old comics (with which I’m most familiar) I might elect Ares. Most people probably know her best from the TV series but then she had a different villian every episode. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/38 "2016-11-04T06:14:56Z")
But see, Venom doesn’t really qualify as a villain. He’s (They’re?) only out for Spider-Man’s blood, otherwise he’s(they’re?) superheroing like Spider-Man, just more brutal and sardonic. On that note: Venom=Carnage. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/39 "2016-11-04T06:35:03Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Who is Green Arrow’s primary villain? Honestly, I’ve no idea. I’m not even sure I could name even a handful of his recurring enemies, but I was never a fan of the comic character nor a watcher of _Arrow_. For Arrow it would be Merlyn. Different backstory than the show but they at least got the name right. 😛 > [@Don\_Draper](#): > > First villain I think of for Flash is Captain Cold, probably because of his Legion of Doom membership in the “Challenge of the Super Friends” (where I first saw was introduced to the Flash.) > > Same goes for Wonder Woman (Cheetah) and Aquaman (Black Manta). For Flash I’d think it was Reverse Flash. Although the entire Rogues Gallery is a good match, I don’t think it is in the popular mind the way Reverse Flash is. Wonder Woman & Aquaman are exactly right, but again, I don’t know how much the world at large knows about the heroes, never mind their foes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512/40 "2016-11-04T15:32:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m going to break a bit with convention, here. The Spider-Man villain with which the general public is most acquainted is **Whoever he’s currently fighting in the newspaper strip**. The number of people who know the character from the newspaper strip (which one can consume for no effort greater than just happening to idly glance at it while reading other funnies) is probably an order of magnitude greater than those who know him from movies, comic books, or TV shows, all of which require at least some active effort to pursue. There was some point in time where that was true. The comic strip started after the great popularity of the comic books and far more people followed Spidey that way for a while. Now I think far more people are familiar with the movies than the comic strip which must be declining along with newspapers in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-is-the-first-villain-most-think-of-when-they-think-of-these-superheroes/770512.md?page=3)