When it comes to comic book characters, none is more popular than comics, live-action film/television, or animated form.
Of course, every hero needs an equally compelling villain, and Superman is no exception. The classic Superman villains we all know and love have shown up in several different mediums. Some have translated well to live-action while others have thrived in animation, and the best versions of each are what we’ll explore in this article.
Animation: Mxyzptlk
Mxyzptlk is a classic Superman villain that you just can’t help but love, and he has a long history in animation. However, the most well-known version came in Superman: The Animated Series, voiced by Gilbert Gottfried. Mostly played for laughs, Mxyzptlk showed up specifically to torment Superman, using his reality-bending superpowers to play life-threatening tricks on The Man of Tomorrow.
In live-action, the character has been less successful. Supergirl have all tried to depict Mxyzptlk with varying degrees of mediocrity. But due to their drastic changes to the villain, the tone of the original has never translated well. Smallville, for example, turned him into a Russian foreign exchange student with mind control.
Live-Action: Toyman
Toyman is one of Superman’s deadliest villains. First appearing in the Golden Age of comics, the most well-known version is Winslow Schott. Although he’s appeared in live-action before Smallville, this version, played by Chris Gauthier, added darkness to the villain that perfectly fit the darker tone of Smallville’s later seasons.
Animated, the character has been all over the map in of quality and faithfulness. In some instances, it’s Winslow Schott Jr., and in others, his father. But whichever version it is, he is never fleshed out enough to be anything more than just a gimmick.
Animation: Bizarro
Originally debuting in the Monster, in live-action versions, he has always been portrayed by whichever actor plays Superman.
Although this is a practical and inexpensive way to deliver the character, it never truly felt like the villain as initially conceived by Otto Binder and George Papp. In animation, the limitations are endless, and therefore the character’s faithfulness to the source material shines through.
Live-Action: Metallo
Metallo is one of the most well-known Superman villains, dating back to the late 50s. In most versions, he’s a former reporter who suffers a deadly accident, is experimented on, and turned into a Superman-killing cyborg with a kryptonite heart.
Although animated projects have handled the character well enough, Smallville’s take was the first time the villain seemed to come alive on the screen. Played by Brian Austin Green, this version was a former war reporter working for the Daily Planet. Green’s performance, along with the terrific practical effects, elevated the character beyond previous iterations.
Animation: Doomsday
Infamous for being the only villain to kill the Man of Steel, Doomsday was introduced in the seminal “Death of Superman” storyline. Nothing more than an unstoppable, monstrous alien being, the sheer scope and ferocity of the villain is difficult to translate to live-action.
Smallville attempted to reinvent Doomsday as a tragic villain named Davis Bloome. Davis would suffer blackouts and then go on killing sprees, losing all memory of what he had done. The few times his Doomsday form was shown, it was merely a stunt man in an unconvincing suit. Although the attempt was appreciated, it failed to capture the essence of Doomsday in the same way as animated versions such as in Superman: Doomsday, adding so much depth that he seemed like an entirely different character.
Live-Action: Brainiac
Although there are several terrific versions of the character across the board, the versions in Smallville and the Syfy channel’s short-lived (and under-appreciated) show Krypton are the definitive versions.
On Smallville, James Marsters’ performance is mysterious, nuanced, and compelling. He brings the character to life in a way we hadn’t yet seen in live-action. On Krypton, Blake Ritson delivers a phenomenal performance. Coupled with superb makeup effects, Krypton finally provides a fully-realized version of the classic villain that we’ve never seen in previous iterations.
Animation: Cyborg Superman
Cyborg Superman is faithfully brought to life in the DCAU in The Death of Superman and its sequel, The Reign of the Supermen. Unlike a previous animated attempt called Superman: Doomsday, these films more accurately adapt the seminal comic book and truly capture the Cyborg Superman character.
Live-action wise, the only version we’ve seen comes from Supergirl and is profoundly altered to fit the narrative of that show. Played by David Harewood, this version has his identity stolen by Martian Manhunter after his supposed death. He then returns as a cyborg to seek revenge. Because of budget restraints, he is never fully realized as his comic book or animated counterpart.
Live-Action: Zod
General Zod has been used the most in live-action, dating back to the original Superman movies from the late 70s and early 80s. Played by Terrance Stamp, General Zod’s first foray into live-action was a rousing success, giving fans what many would consider the best version of the character. When Zack Snyder was hired to deliver a rebooted Superman film, the result was the vastly under-appreciated Man of Steel.
Snyder gives us even more back story for the classic villain, diving deep into the history of Krypton and Zod’s tragic relationship with Jor-El. Portrayed by Michael Shannon, it’s hard not to smile during his scenes. It’s also worth mentioning the Krypton version of Zod, played by Colin Salmon. This version of Zod is the uncle of Superman, adding a familial twist to their relationship that is unique and fresh.
Animation: Darkseid
The Darkseid is the ruler of the planet Apokolips and a literal God. The only live-action attempt at this other-worldly villain came in the form of Smallville’s tenth and final season. Although it was serviceable, and ultimately worked within the context of that universe, he was merely a non-corporeal being and never fully realized.
The limitations of budget television hindered Smallville’s version, and since that’s the only live-action version we’ve seen, Darkseid’s history in animation is much more compelling. The war between Darkseid’s planet, Apokolips, and its sister planet, New Genisis is something you can’t properly capture in any other medium other than animation (however, hopefully, Warner Brother’s will change that).
Lex Luthor (Live Action)
He is Superman’s greatest nemesis. One of the most recognizable and popular villains of all time, Lex Luthor is the epicenter of, what seems like, all Superman stories. Although Clancy Brown’s animated voice work is synonymous with the character, it’s Michael Rosenbaum’s incredible performance as Luthor in Smallville that has become the most widely-praised version of Luthor.
Smallville’s twist, creating a confidant and best friend to a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling), added a layer to the villain that we never knew we needed. Adding to it is Lex’s never-before-seen relationship with his father, played by the always-wonderful John Glover. The dynamic and chemistry between the two actors is something no other version has gotten close to emulating. It’s arguably the best part of the show. And, in spite of the mixed reviews of Jesse's Eisenberg's portrayal in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the live-action version of Lex Luthor reigns over the animated version.