10 Villains Superman Has NEVER Defeated

Just because you're the "World's Greatest" doesn't mean you can't have a couple slip ups.

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DC Comics

When serious villains need defeating in the DC universe, you'll usually find Superman helping defeat them. Like him or hate him, it's not exactly a secret that the Man of Steel is one of the strongest superheroes in all of comic books, and that this means you're likely to be crushed like a particularly thin Rivita if you try to fight him.

But not every villain has faced a pummelling from the all-American alien. In fact, plenty of bad guys have come up against Supes several times and gotten off pretty much scot-free on every single occasion.

The reasons for managing to avoid catching Clark Kent's steel hands vary. Many villains have plans that can't be foiled by Superman just beating them up - not to mention the fact that our wonder boy is just one person, and so can't thwart every evil scheme.

Though sometimes, you can avoid ever facing the righteous fury of Superman by... just being lucky, really. Sure, these villains likely spend their every waking minute wondering if a red and blue outfit is going to appear and then flying them into the sky for a beatdown - but that kind of paranoia might be worth the bragging rights of knowing Supes never quite managed to catch you.

10. Maxwell Lord

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DC Comics

Maxwell Lord is one villain that Superman will never get to defeat, because, well... he doesn't really seem to exist anymore, as the last time we ever saw him in a comic was in 2011.

During the events of Justice League: Generation Lost, Maxwell manages to mind control Superman into attacking both Batman and Wonder Woman. In retaliation, Wonder Woman snapped Lord's neck, which would break Supes free, but also cause conflict between DC's "big three", as both the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight were furious the Diana would stoop to murdering him. Superman was likely also a little mad he didn't get his own chance to beat Maxwell, but that's neither here nor there.

Because you can't keep a good villain down for long - even in the underworld - the smug criminal would come back to life after the events of Blackest Night. Hilariously, he'd come back and then try to reform his ways, meaning even been brought back from the dead didn't give the spaceman change to have a spot of revenge.

Contributor
Contributor

I like my comics like I like my coffee - in huge, unquestionably unhealthy doses.