# Worst. Supervillain. Ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809 "2004-07-12T23:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/21 "2004-07-13T03:05:06Z")
Well, as far as recurring villians that were originally thought of as a good idea, I’m gonna go with The Vulture. He’s super-power? BEING OLD AND BITTER! Oh, and he has a suit that makes him fly. You know what? Half of spider-man’s enemies fly and have other powers too! Flying, by itself, is not a legitimate reason to be a super-villian! ---
**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:** [July 13, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/22 "2004-07-13T03:05:54Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > Around that same time, Spider-Man fought another, even dumber villain, called Red Nine, who looked like an idiot football player with no helmet. I remember Red 9! He loved the three Fs - Football, Fighting and Women. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/23 "2004-07-13T03:07:49Z")
> [@Murcielago](#): > > The first one that comes to mind is Spidey’s enemy, [“The Spot.”](http://www.samruby.com/Villains/Spot/spot.htm) It was like the writers saw the “Sea of Holes” sequence in the animated _Yellow Submarine_ and thought it was a great concept for a character. > > It wasn’t. I remember that guy. Spidey laughed right in the guy’s face when he announced himself. I think among Marvel villains, the Spot might take the cake. For runner-up, I give you … [The Answer](http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/answersp.htm)! Yes, his schtick was that no matter what a hero could throw at him, he had the “answer” and could counter the attack. Someone should’ve locked him and Batman (“Dude, Batman could totally beat Kali, the Lord of the Nazgul, and everyone from ‘Kill All Monsters’ all at once— **as long as he was prepared!** ”) in a room together and let them anticipate each other to death. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/24 "2004-07-13T03:17:43Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I think among Marvel villains, the Spot might take the cake. For runner-up, I give you … [The Answer](http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/answersp.htm)! Hey…he might have a lame name, but his costume’s better than most of those mentioned, and that’s a pretty kickass power. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/25 "2004-07-13T04:17:52Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Oh, and he has a suit that makes him fly. You know what? Half of spider-man’s enemies fly and have other powers too! Flying, by itself, is not a legitimate reason to be a super-villian! Tell me about it…Y’know, just once, I’d like to see one of these guys get taken down with a Punt Gun. (Or maybe a Stinger missile, now that we’re in the 21st century.) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/26 "2004-07-13T04:22:15Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I remember Red 9! He loved the three Fs - Football, Fighting and Women. [Well… he might not have been all over that last “F” as he was only 16 years old](http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/red9spdm.htm) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/27 "2004-07-13T05:17:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I had to make do with [The Rhinoceros](http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/reviews/spiderman_super_stories/006-c.html). That was probably why Stan Lee turned it down. 🙂 How about **Hammerhead**? He was just like the Rhinoceros, only stupider-looking. Plus, he had his own crime syndicate, which he intimidated into following his lead via the ingenious and terrifying method of … um … ramming head-first into walls. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/28 "2004-07-13T06:27:15Z")
Morgan Macneil Hardy–a character who was a world threat because the writer (J. Marc deMatteis, originator of many lame-o villains) said so. I never felt threatened by him. Of the Lee and Kirby canon, I’d have to go with the Trapster. I _like_ the Vulture! While the other Spidey villains are avatars of eeeevil, he’s in it for money and kicks. My kind of bad guy! ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/29 "2004-07-13T07:05:26Z")
…and a sympathy vote for Spider-Man foe [Fancy Dan](http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/fancy_dan.html) of the Enforcers, whose “powers” consist of fast footwork and being good at judo. Not bad for a normal human, but pitting him against Spider-Man is an embarrassment – as if his stereotypical mobster outfit wasn’t embarrassing enough. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/30 "2004-07-13T07:08:25Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Of the Lee and Kirby canon, I’d have to go with the Trapster. He’s even lamer in his earlier identity of [Paste-Pot Pete,](http://www.geocities.com/marvel_oops/trapster/strange_tales124.jpg) and deserves to be soundly mocked for both the name and the costume. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2004, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/31 "2004-07-13T07:20:19Z")
Look out! It’s the [The Purple Pile-Driver!](http://nightwing.superman.ws/collectibles/swanartpage.htm) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/32 "2004-07-13T07:57:50Z")
Continuing with the purple motif, let’s have a lukewarm smattering of applause for the short-lived, yet somehow ineffectual [Purple Beetle!](http://www.salon.com/comics/comics4961223.html) ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/33 "2004-07-13T08:09:12Z")
Tsk. What about the **Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak** , evil arch-nemesis of Strawberry Shortcake? Let’s all sing: Ha cha cha cha cha CHA, cha cha cha cha cha. Yah! As for lame supervillains, you don’t get much worse than [Goody Two Shoes and his Atomic Boots](http://image2.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/87322062574.7.GIF) in the Days of Yore when Marvel engaged in wonderously profound silliness like Assistant Editors Month. The lead story – already funny – is funnier by a factor of 100 if you read Goody’s dialogue in an Arnold Schwarzeneggar accent. The back up, featuring John Byrne, is pretty funny, too. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/34 "2004-07-13T12:29:45Z")
I agree some of these are pretty stupid. But the Answer and the Calculator sound pretty awesome powers - if only they were used intellegently. And I like the spot. I think he looks cool, and being a living portal is great! Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/35 "2004-07-13T12:39:34Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > DC also has WAY too many super-gorillas. OK, there’s Grodd, Nnamdi, Solovar, (and the other gorillas of Gorilla City) Ultra-Humanite (sort of), and Monsieur Mallah, that I can think of…still that’s pushing the number of super-gorillas a little far. But on the side of good, they have Detective Chimp… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/36 "2004-07-13T12:42:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Tengu > DC also has WAY too many super-gorillas. OK, there’s Grodd, Nnamdi, Solovar, (and the other gorillas of Gorilla City) Ultra-Humanite (sort of), and Monsieur Mallah, that I can think of…still that’s pushing the number of super-gorillas a little far. > > But on the side of good, they have Detective Chimp… Not to mention **Sam Simeon** of **Angel and the Ape**. If you can, get hold of the limited 4- or 5-issue series that Phil Foglio did of them about a decade back. Absolutely wonderful stuff – and he manages to tie together Angel and the Ape, the Inferior Five, and the Gorilla City in interesting ways. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/37 "2004-07-13T12:47:53Z")
Crazy Quilt. So lame, he wasn’t even known as a Batman villain - he was a **Robin** villain. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/38 "2004-07-13T14:15:55Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > **Turner D Century**. > > A foppish dandy who had a handlebar moustache, wore an outdated suit and straw hat and carried an umbrella. He didn’t like young people and would set them on fire using his umbrella. He also had a flying bicycle built for two, the back seat of which was occupied by a mannequin he dressed up in an old-fashioned pink dress and bonnet. > > He had created an old-fashioned “horn” that when used would kill everyone under the age of 65. But it didn’t work, so Spiderman just beat him senseless and they threw him in prison. I can’t believe I got beaten to the punch on Turner D. Century. Bonus points for anyone who can tell us how Turner met his gruesome end (no googling!). ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/39 "2004-07-13T14:45:20Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I can’t believe I got beaten to the punch on Turner D. Century. Bonus points for anyone who can tell us how Turner met his gruesome end (no googling!). Spoiler alert: Scourge! PUM… spak. Hey, someone beat me to the “ten eyed man”. I always thought that this guy was some sort of joke between writers. “Hey, lets create the lamest villan we can think of, and then act like he’s some sort of badass, and see how many people buy it.” ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809/40 "2004-07-13T14:49:13Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > …and now that I think about it, during the seventies, I seem to remember a whole horde of villains that, despite cosmic power, earthshaking potency, and might beyond the comprehension of mortal man… > > …folded up like card tables when Spidey or Batman or someone threw Hostess Fruit Pies at them… Nostalgia and coffee out the nose! You owe me a new keyboard, **MW-K**! Let us not forget the awesome power of Hostess Cup Cakes against… [THE FOE](http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/foehosts.htm)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-supervillain-ever/254809.md?page=3)