These female villains are noted for their dedicated time on the comic pages and the turmoil that they put famous DC heroes in. It takes experience and guts to be an iconic female villain, and these characters are the best of the best for their feats and the legacy that expands with every year in the comics.
Updated by Jake Fillery on January 15, 2023: Comic books have harbored some of the best female villains in fiction for decades, but even more recently, DC female villains have become greater threats than before. More characters are being further developed, either intimately or in their desire to harm others.
There are some great female DC villains, and DC Comics truly thrives when they allow these characters out of Arkham Asylum and other prisons. These DC women are sure to provide entertainment and thrills to readers, and challenge heroes.
13 Talia Al Ghul
A true challenge for Batman is Talia al Ghul. Not only is she the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, head of the Demon and user of the Lazarus Pit, but she has all of his finances, skills, battle knowledge, deranged sense of morality, and more. Talia makes herself a great adversary of her fighting abilities and her love for Batman.
What makes Talia al Ghul a compelling villain is her loyalty and hatred to her father, and the fact that she is the mother of Bruce Wayne’s child, Damian Wayne. Talia has cemented herself into the Wayne bloodline with Damian as the heir to Batman and the Demon.
12 Enchantress
Magic users are often underappreciated in DC Comics, but Enchantress will make people remember just how fearful they should be of magic. Enchantress is a magic-wielding super-villain, and what makes her most interesting is the fact that she is nigh immortal, and uses the innocent woman, June Moone, as a vessel for her great power.
As the host, June Moone is a lovely woman, but when Enchantress breaks out, Earth will pay with its blood for confining her. Enchantress has battled many and has recently seen a lot of fame alongside the Suicide Squad.
11 Amanda Waller
As far as DC villains female go, Amanda Waller is perhaps the one with the most power and grit. Although her power is not physical, that does not stop some iterations of the character from having great combat abilities. Amanda Waller has ultimate government power.
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Although Waller may not be strictly a villain, her morality certainly is gray enough to class her as such. Waller does not care which of her agents dies, as they are all assets to her. She even works with and gives plea deals to villains, showing how methodical she is.
10 Punchline
With only two years of history, Punchline is quickly becoming an iconic villain. Not only in Gotham City, but in the DC mythos. Alexis Kaye has had her past explored and continues to be a threat to the Bat-Family in Gotham City, through manipulation of the public, and her sharp mind.
When Harley Quinn broke free from the deranged relationship of Gotham’s iconic villainous coupling of The Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime went solo on his tirade against Batman. That was until the intelligent and obsessive Punchline became the Joker’s new right-hand woman, a new duo to plunge Gotham into chaos.
9 Cheetah
A villain who battles with Wonder Woman, and lives to tell the tale is an iconic villain indeed. Dr. Barbara Minerva was a British archaeologist, empowered by the plant god Urzkartaga, or cursed, to turn her into a cannibalistic cheetah woman. With an intense speed, strength, and desire for Wonder Woman’s death, Cheetah is a true threat to the DC Universe.
Cheetah has a great intellect, which matches the other powers she has, like strength and durability. However, being a Cheetah comes at its disadvantages, as she certainly must not enjoy the furballs that may arise when she has to groom.
8 Granny Goodness
There have been many “big bad” for the DC Universe over the years. However, perhaps none is more famed than that Darkseid. Some characters live only to serve Darkseid and his army, and one of the most loyal beings in his command is Granny Goodness, a cruel lieutenant, and despot of Apokolips.
Granny Goodness’ might come from the years of devotion to Darkseid, and how she is a capable warrior, despite the deceiving appearance of her age and name. She trains those at the Orphanage and commands the Female Furies, which has seen members like Supergirl and Big Barda.
7 Lady Shiva
Renowned in the DC Universe as the world’s greatest martial artist, and one of the deadliest women to exist, Lady Shiva has been shown as a ruthless villain. What makes Shiva so dangerous, is that she serves only herself, meaning that her interests alone could be a threat to both heroes and villains that get in her way.
One of the many reasons that Shiva is so iconic is not only because of her fighting ability but her daughter, Cassandra Cain. Cassandra Cain became Batgirl and is perhaps one of the few martial artists that could best Batman in a hand-to-hand fight, including her mother.
6 Catwoman
In more modern times, Catwoman has become quite the anti-hero. She’s been the long-time love interest of Batman, and the two share a rather complicated, and convoluted future. However, what makes Catwoman so special is that she is not defined purely for her relationship with Batman, but the villainous acts around the world.
Catwoman is in essence, a masterful thief. There isn’t anything she can’t get her hands on. She’s fought heroes and villains and usually comes out on top, richer than before. She’s one of the more complex characters in Batman’s rogue gallery.
5 Grail
Few characters have such a terrible fate of being prophecized to cause ultimate destruction. Grail is the daughter of Darkseid, a title that would intimidate all that Grail comes across. However, Grail is more than just her father’s daughter. Grail even helped stir in motion the events of the Darkseid War, in which she helped the Anti-Monitor declare war on Darkseid.
Even after Darkseid’s death, she was not free from her father and decided to use the newborn Darkseid for her gain. Only Grail can be so cruel and sadistic as to raise her father into an even worse monster than he already was, and to seek the death of all gods.
4 Killer Frost
Killer Frost has made some chilling rounds through the DC Universe. She has battled countless heroes and even joined forces with the Suicide Squad at one time or another. As a scientist, she exhibits great intelligence and harbors intense cryogenic powers that can rival even the coldest of villains.
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In recent years, Killer Frost has reformed into becoming a hero, but her past is far riper for villainy than her present. When Killer Frost was a villain, nothing would stop her cold, cold heart as she battled members of the Justice League with ease.
3 Harley Quinn
Starting as a character in Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn was the Joker’s sidekick and has since become a figurehead in the DC Universe, with her comics outliving her appearance in a cartoon. Harley Quinn is a renowned comic character for her evolution, with years of villainy behind her, she is one of the most ruthless and crazed anti-heroes around.
When she was a villain, Harley Quinn was quite the threat. Many underestimated her due to her whimsical personality, and often quirky insanity. However, she has been quite the menace to not only America but to the world thanks to her time in the Suicide Squad.
2 Superwoman
Superwoman may have a name reminiscent of the always-good Superman, but she is far from it. Superwoman originates from Earth-3 and brings with her all manners of evil. As a member of the Crime Syndicate, Superwoman is this Earth’s version of Wonder Woman, but far darker, and has the identity of Lois Lane.
Not only is Superwoman’s powers greatly threatening, but her impact on the Prime-Earth that the main DC continuity follows has been sent to reckoning thanks to Superwoman. At one point, she birthed the child to Mazahs, which would later become the new Darkseid.
1 Poison Ivy
As far as villainy goes, Poison Ivy proudly boasts of how good it feels to be bad. What makes Poison Ivy so iconic is her empowerment of femininity. Her motives often always involve the betterment of nature and the Green. In recent years, her environmental crusade has seen a rise of supporters online, but many that understand, lack the realization that she would have them turn to plant food.
There are few tethers to the human world that Poison Ivy loves, like her relationship with Harley Quinn. However, despite the change in morality for Harley, Poison Ivy remains a proud villain, who is defined by her power as mother nature, rather than her love or relationships with others.
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