10 Most Impressive DC Villain Entrances In Movies & TV

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Throughout the history of the DC Universe, there have been many villain introductions that are considered particularly impressive. As the heroes and villains of DC comics rank among some of the most iconic figures in pop culture, there have been many movies and TV shows adapting them to the screen. The movies of the DCEU alone brought numerous villains to life in live-action, with many more having been adapted in unrelated TV shows and movies as well.
With some many excellent antagonists appearing, it’s only fitting that they receive appropriately impressive entrances. For example, the characters of the Arrowverse faced off against many fascinating adversaries, with especially memorable scenes introducing the DC villains to audiences. In both film and TV, there is a rich history of truly fascinating and fear-inspiring debuts for these characters, marking their importance in the world alongside the heroes of the DC Universe.
10 Lex Luthor In Superman & Lois Superman & Lois, season 3, episode 12, "Injustice" Many actors have played Lex Luthor in live-action, and each version tends to differ somewhat drastically from the rest. Superman & Lois’s Lex Luthor wasn’t introduced until partway through season 3 of the show, setting him apart from many incarnations of the villain. As Superman’s nemesis, Luthor is often among the first villains introduced alongside any new iteration of the Man of Steel, but Superman & Lois’ was only introduced upon his release from prison.
The manner in which Luthor was introduced to the cast of Superman & Lois was perfect. Shown confidently running his prison, the scene establishes just how brilliant and tough Luthor is. It also reveals a more rugged bearded appearance than the traditional, with the pounding soundtrack of the scene only underpinning the edge that has allowed Superman & Lois’s Lex Luthor to thrive even in such a harsh environment.
9 General Zod In Man of Steel Man Of Steel (2013) Coming as it did at the very beginning of the DCEU’s movie timeline, it was critical for Man of Steel to establish the tone for the entire franchise. The film’s opening sequence was more sci-fi epic than it was traditional superhero fare, with the destruction of Krypton raging on shortly after the birth of Kal-El. While Jor-El pleads with Krypton’s ruling council, the forces of General Zod blast into the chamber and seize control of the planet.
The nature of Zod’s introduction is a perfect representation of his character. He marches in, leading his troops through smoke and rubble, and confidently announces himself as Krypton’s new ruler. He responds to objections from the council by killing the dissenter, further establishing his ruthlessness. It’s a scene that communicates his military bearing, his fearsome temper, and his unnerving charisma all in a few brief moments, making it an excellent introduction.
8 Lex Luthor In Smallville Smallville, season 1, episode 1, "Pilot" Smallville stands out as a unique origin story not just for Superman, but for many of his villains. The show’s introduction of Lex Luthor comes about when a young Clark Kent saves his life, forming the basis of a friendship that the audience always knew would be destined to sour. The scene established just how different Smallville’s Lex Luthor would be from the traditionally villainous depictions of the character, marking it as especially intriguing.
However, Smallville also opted to give Lex another more subtle introduction. After teasing his future as a villain and gradually exposing his dark side, there was one critical moment when he fully embraced the darkness within. The scene in which Lex confronts his father sees his jealousy of Clark Kent boil over into unbridled rage, prompting him to commit patricide in a scene that dramatically introduced the more recognizable villainous version of Lex Luthor.
7 Black Manta In Aquaman Aquaman (2018) As one of the most successful movies of the DCEU, it’s unsurprising that Aquaman contains one of the franchise’s best villain introductions. However, it’s not the film’s primary antagonist that claims the best debut – it"s Black Manta, who only served as Aquaman’s secondary villain. His introduction sees him attacking a submarine alongside his father, and unexpectedly encountering Aquaman, resulting in his father’s death and a vow that he will get revenge on the hero.
The submarine sequence is brilliantly shot to be claustrophobic and visually striking, but it’s the human element of the scene that makes it so impressive. Even among the high-stakes action, Yahya Abdul Mateen II’s character stands out as vulnerable and sympathetic, with the scene serving as both a great introduction and powerfully emotional. It establishes the human side of Black Manta and his hatred of Aquaman, and though it wasn’t fully explored until Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, his introduction stands out as exceptional.
6 Zoom In The Flash The Flash, season 2, episode 6, "Enter Zoom" Over the show’s run, the cast of The Flash featured many excellent villains. Season 2 saw the introduction of Zoom to the Arrowverse show, with his first full appearance as a villain coming in the episode “Enter Zoom”. A speedster whose identity is shrouded in mystery, Zoom is exposed as a true threat during his full introduction to the show, which sees him take down Barry Allen.
Zoom’s design combined with the voice of Tony Todd makes him an especially sinister villain. Even more so, the manner in which he tells the Flash: “Never forget – I am the fastest man alive” is truly chill-inducing, but the villain’s introduction is also excellent on other levels. The manner in which he overpowers Barry is utterly devastating, and seeing the hero so swiftly placed at the mercy of Zoom makes it a memorably dark and impressive villain introduction.
5 Bane In The Dark Knight Rises The Dark Knight Rises (2012) As the final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises had the impossible task of living up to 2008’s The Dark Knight. The movie starts by introducing its villain: Tom Hardy’s Bane, reimagined to be a more realistic figure that would fit more organically within Nolan’s Gotham. The way in which Bane is introduced is as memorable as it is impressive.
In The Dark Knight Rises’ very first action sequence, Bane infiltrates a CIA aircraft by disguising himself as one of his own henchmen, kidnapping a nuclear scientist, then escaping from the crashing plane while in the air. It’s a scene that perfectly executes Nolan’s vision, with Hardy’s performance introducing Bane as both a physically powerful and tactically brilliant villain. His imposing stature, his masterful plan, and his hauntingly unnerving voice all serve to make it one of DC’s best villain introductions.
4 Penguin In Gotham Gotham, season 1, episode 1, "Pilot" As a prequel series following the early career of James Gordan in pre-Batman Gotham City, Gotham’s story had a unique hook in that it provided origin stories for a wealth of Batman characters. One of the show’s primary figures is Oswald Cobblepot, introduced a low-level criminal who gradually rises to become the powerful crime boss known as the Penguin. His first appearance comes in Gotham’s pilot, and it’s one of the show’s most underrated character introductions.
The first time Gotham shows Penguin, he’s essentially in the background of a scene, holding the umbrella of a more powerful criminal. It immediately becomes clear that no one in Gotham takes Penguin seriously, with the future villain being ridiculed and humiliated by everyone around him. It’s an introduction that promises a fascinating journey to show Penguin achieving his true villainous potential, and one that Gotham was able to deliver on over its five-season run.
3 Darkseid In Zack Snyder's Justice League Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) After the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the director’s true vision for the film was hailed as far superior to the theatrical version released in 2017. One of the many additions to the Snyder Cut that was absent from the theatrical film was the villain Darkseid, who was only alluded to in the original. Though Darkseid is the over-arching antagonist, his direct role in the film’s narrative is limited. Even so, his introduction is excellent.
Having already established Steppenwolf as a major threat, having Darkseid reveal himself and force the prideful Steppenwolf into subservience was subtly brilliant. It immediately hinted at the disparity in the power levels of the two villains, as well as cementing the dynamic between them. The visual effects in the scene are also exceptional, further establishing Darkseid’s introduction as a foreboding and memorable scene despite his limited role in the movie.
2 Reverse Flash In The Flash The Flash, season 1, episode 9, "The Man in the Yellow Suit" As one of the most iconic Flash villains in the DC Universe, getting the Reverse-Flash"s introduction just right was crucially important. Coming in the ninth episode of The Flash, Reverse-Flash"s debut occurred early on, long before his identity was revealed to Barry Allen’s eponymous hero. The scene that fully introduces the Reverse-Flash stands out as especially noteworthy, not just in its execution but in the potential it outlines for the show itself.
After glimpsing the Reverse-Flash on a rooftop, Barry gives chase at full speed. The show’s first real instance of two speedsters facing off was brought to life in staggering fashion, with the visual effects as stunning as any major blockbuster. The mystery of Reverse-Flash"s identity combined with his dark and ominous taunting make the scene both hugely memorable and an excellent representation of how well the Arrowverse understood the characters it was adapting.
1 The Joker In The Dark Knight The Dark Knight (2008) There is no DC villain as iconic as the Joker, and one of the most beloved interpretations of the character also offered up perhaps the best villain introductions in DC movie history. The opening scene of The Dark Knight shows a group of criminals disguised as clowns robbing a bank, only for them to begin picking each other off one by one, on the orders of the Joker. It’s a scene that establishes Heath Ledger’s Joker as one of the darkest and most interesting movie villains of all time.
The Joker revealing himself to have been a part of the job from the start, ruthlessly murdering his own henchmen, is an exceptional piece of storytelling. It communicates so much about the villain’s chaotic bent and his calculating streak, all as part of one of the best bank heist scenes in movie history. As such, it stands out as the best villain introduction in the movies and TV shows of the DC Universe.
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