10 Best Superman Villains Who Could Be Heroes If They Wanted

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Superman was once known as the “Last Son of Krypton,” but the group of heroes associated with him has grown significantly. Now, he regularly fights alongside characters like Connor Kent, Supergirl, his son Jon Kent, Steel, and even a version of Superwoman named Lana Lang. Interestingly, Superman has also found himself working with some of his former enemies, particularly .

According to James Gunn and DC Studios, the upcoming *Superman* sequel, *Man of Tomorrow* (2025), will feature a surprising team-up: Superman and Lex Luthor working together. Interestingly, many of Superman’s classic enemies – like Bizarro and Brainiac – have the potential to become heroes. They could choose to change their ways and help Superman and the Justice League instead of causing trouble for Earth.

Lex Luthor Has Helped Superman & Even Joined The Justice League

Most people know Lex Luthor as Superman’s arch-enemy, but it’s surprising to many – particularly those who aren’t comic book readers – that the two have actually worked together on numerous occasions.

Lex, in his own way, really does want to save Metropolis.

After the Superman of the New 52 storyline died, Lex Luthor notably wore armor displaying Superman’s symbol and even became a member of the Justice League. This sets a precedent for James Gunn’s upcoming *Superman* movie (2025), suggesting Lex Luthor is uniquely positioned among Superman’s enemies to potentially become a hero.

Bizarro Joined Red Hood & The Outlaws In DC Rebirth

Bizarro is a duplicate of Superman, and has even been portrayed as an alien from a strange dimension with a cubic planet. During the ‘Forever Evil’ storyline in the New 52 comics, Lex Luthor created Bizarro to assist him and other villains in defending Earth from an invasion by the Crime Syndicate.

Bizarro later teamed up with Red Hood and Artemis in the DC Rebirth era, forming the Outlaws – a group known as DC’s “Dark Trinity.” While not the sharpest, Bizarro usually has good intentions and is inspired to do good by the heroes around him. Essentially, he becomes a hero when he fights alongside them.

Parasite Could Steal Villains’ Powers To Help The Man Of Steel

Honestly, Parasite isn’t super strong on his own. What makes him so dangerous – and frankly, scary – is his ability to just *take* powers from other people. It’s like watching a leech, especially when he gets a hold of someone like Superman. He just drains them, and then *he’s* the one with all the power. It’s a really unsettling ability!

Parasite has the potential to be a major asset as a superhero. Imagine him working with the Justice League – he could absorb the powers of any enemy they face, making him incredibly useful in any situation. The main challenge would be controlling him and preventing the power from corrupting him, which has been a recurring problem.

Lobo Should Be A Bounty Hunter Exclusively Hired By The Justice League

Lobo is a highly skilled bounty hunter in the DC Universe, known for his relentless pursuit of his targets. He’ll travel across the galaxy to find them and isn’t afraid to eliminate anyone who tries to stop him. This uncompromising attitude frequently brings him into conflict with heroes like Superman and the Justice League.

Lobo works as a hired gun, but the Justice League would be much stronger if they could consistently call on him for help. They’d just need to keep him from going too far. When they’ve teamed up before, like during their escape from an alien ship in *Superman: The Animated Series*, Lobo and Superman have actually worked really well together.

Eradicator Could Be Superman’s Kryptonian AI Ally

Following Superman’s death in battle with Doomsday, the Eradicator disguised itself as him. This happened during the “Reign of the Supermen” storyline, and the Eradicator’s base of operations was located in the Fortress of Solitude.

During the DC Rebirth storyline, the Eradicator reappeared, targeting Superman’s son, Jon Kent. This led Lois Lane to take drastic measures, using the powerful Hellbat armor to try and stop him. If the Eradicator’s programming could be adjusted, it would become a helpful tool for Superman and his allies – essentially, an AI assistant like Iron Man’s J.A.R.V.I.S., providing support when needed.

Kalibak Should Betray Darkseid & Help Superman Instead

Kalibak is the son of the powerful Darkseid, and he typically fights alongside his father during attacks on the New Gods of New Genesis or invasions of Earth. Despite his loyalty, Darkseid doesn’t appreciate or even like Kalibak.

Kalibak has always been overshadowed by stronger warriors like Steppenwolf and hasn’t reached the level of his brother, Orion. He’d be better off leaving his father and the planet Apokolips. If Kalibak teamed up with Superman and the Justice League, he could provide valuable knowledge as a New God – joining Mister Miracle and Barda in helping to fight Darkseid from the inside.

Toyman Could Invent Things To Help Superman

Okay, so the Toyman isn’t exactly Superman’s biggest threat, but don’t let that fool you! His toys aren’t just silly – they can seriously mess up Metropolis and, even worse, hurt the people Superman cares about. Honestly, I always thought if he ever turned good, he could actually *help* Superman a lot – imagine the tech he could build if he used his skills for good!

As a huge Superman fan, I’ve always thought it’s cool how characters like John Henry Irons, aka Steel, add so much to the mythos. He’s a genius engineer with access to all that incredible Kryptonian tech at the Fortress of Solitude. But honestly, I wish they’d explore the potential of villains helping Superman more! Imagine if someone like the Toyman, with his knack for gadgets, actually *wanted* to help. He could build amazing armor or devices for Superman – things that could be a lifesaver if Superman ever lost his powers, which, let’s be real, happens surprisingly often!

Magog’s Origin Was Revealed In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest

In the world of *Kingdom Come*, a character named Magog killed the Joker after the Joker attacked the *Daily Planet* and killed everyone within. While many hailed Magog as a hero for taking such decisive action, it ultimately led Superman to retire.

Mark Waid also wrote the story of Magog, a young hero who admired Superman. While Magog often used too much force, he had the potential to become a valuable teammate. Later stories in *World’s Finest* suggest he could still change for the better and find redemption.

Mister Mxyzptlk Helped Batman & Superman In World’s Finest

Mister Mxyzptlk is a mischievous, powerful being from another dimension. He can change reality itself, making him nearly all-powerful in the DC Universe. Superman frequently needs to outsmart him to send him back home, though Mxyzptlk has occasionally assisted Superman when he feels like it.

A recent storyline in the *Batman/Superman: World’s Finest* comic saw the mischievous Mister Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite joining forces to assist Superman and Batman against a powerful enemy from another dimension. The story featured fun interactions between Mxyzptlk and Jimmy Olsen, and Mxyzptlk briefly shared his incredible powers with the heroes to help them defeat the villain.

Brainiac Could Save The DC Universe He Wants To Capture

It would be difficult to portray Brainiac as a hero, but it’s not impossible. His descendant will ultimately become a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future.

Brainiac roams the universe, driven by his core programming or a larger purpose, and collects what remains of dying civilizations, ultimately seeking to gather all knowledge. If he ever chose to use his advanced technology for good instead of collecting, he could become a valuable ally to the Justice League and a powerful partner for the Green Lantern Corps in their fights across the galaxy.

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2025-10-13 05:46