As one of the oldest and most iconic comic book publishers, DC Comics has introduced some of the most legendary supervillains of all time. From psychopathic clowns to megalomaniac billionaires, DC’s rogues gallery is filled with complex and compelling antagonists who have become just as beloved and renowned as the heroes they fight against. But among this extensive cast of supervillains spanning over eight decades, who is considered the oldest? Let’s take a deeper look into DC’s history to uncover the answer.
When Did DC Comics Begin Publishing?
To find DC’s oldest supervillain, we must first look at the origins of DC Comics itself. DC Comics, originally known as National Allied Publications, was founded by Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1934. That year, the company published New Fun #1, the first comic book consisting solely of original material rather than newspaper comic strip reprints. This milestone issue introduced the first DC superhero, Doctor Occult, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster before their iconic Superman character.
It wasn’t until 1937 that the company officially became Detective Comics, Inc. after Wheeler-Nicholson formed a partnership with Jack Liebowitz. Later that year, Detective Comics #1 was published, which not only contained the first appearance of Batman but also introduced Slam Bradley, a detective character created by Siegel and Shuster. So any villain debuted prior to 1937 could potentially be considered DC’s oldest.
The Golden Age Villains (1930s and 1940s)
During the Golden Age of comic books spanning the late 1930s through the late 1940s, DC introduced some of their earliest supervillains who would become classic rogues for their flagship superheroes.
The Ultra-Humanite
One of the first recurring DC villains was the Ultra-Humanite, who first appeared in Action Comics #13 in 1939. As the bald-headed archenemy of Superman, the Ultra-Humanite was designed to contrast Superman’s strength with a frail but intelligent body. Although he possessed the body of a paralyzed elderly man, his intellect made him a formidable foe who could transplant his brain into other bodies. The Ultra-Humanite distinguished himself as likely the first comic book supervillain driven not by greed but by a desire for world domination.
The Joker
Batman’s greatest nemesis, the Joker, made his first appearance in Batman #1 in 1940. With his chalk-white skin, green hair, and macabre grin, the self-styled “Clown Prince of Crime” became an instant icon as Batman’s first villain to use a gimmick. The Joker came to define insanity and psychopathy among comic book villains, terrorizing Gotham City with his violent pranks and sadistic sense of humor. Although the Golden Age Joker lacked the complex characterization of later interpretations, he pioneered the concept of the arch-nemesis in comics.
Lex Luthor
Superman’s arch-foe Lex Luthor was introduced in Action Comics #23 in 1940. Originally conceived as a mad scientist with a full head of red hair, Luthor began as just another villain-of-the-week rather than Superman’s principal antagonist. But over time, he evolved into Superman’s polar opposite as a power-hungry corporate billionaire without superhuman abilities. The diabolical mind that lurked behind Luthor’s prominent intellect would make him one of the most sophisticated DC villains, especially in the 1980s reboot of the character.
Early Candidates for DC’s Oldest Villain
Based on the earliest appearances of these inaugural DC villains during the Golden Age, the Ultra-Humanite or the Joker could potentially qualify as DC’s oldest supervillain. A strong case could be made for the following contenders:
The Ultra-Humanite
- First appeared in Action Comics #13 (June 1939)
- Pre-dates the Joker by over a year
- One of the earliest recurring comic book villains
- Designed to contrast Superman’s strength with intellect
The Joker
- First appeared in Batman #1 (Spring 1940)
- Batman’s first villain with an outlandish gimmick
- Instantly iconic as Batman’s archenemy and a personification of insanity
- Still one of the most renowned comic villains after 80+ years
Based solely on their earliest appearances, the Ultra-Humanite pre-dates the Joker by over a year and is considered the first recurring comic book supervillain. However, the Joker would go on to far eclipse the Ultra-Humanite in popularity and impact on DC Comics over the following decades.
The Real Contender: Vandal Savage
Yet the actual oldest DC villain did not originate during the Golden Age, but instead pre-dated most of DC Comics itself. That distinction goes to the immortal caveman Vandal Savage, who first appeared in Green Lantern #10 in 1943. Although this places him after both the Ultra-Humanite and Joker’s first appearances, what makes Vandal Savage stand apart is his immortality that dates back thousands of years before any other DC villain.
Vandal Savage’s Origin
Vandal Savage originated during prehistoric times as the primitive caveman Vandar Adg, leader of the Blood Tribe. After bathing in the radiation from a mysterious meteorite, Vandar Adg gained incredible intellect along with immortality, living through the centuries under various names including Cheops (builder of the Great Pyramids) and Julius Caesar. By modern times, he became known as Vandal Savage, an ingenious caveman-turned-conqueror obsessed with world domination and opposed by the Justice Society of America (JSA).
Why Vandal Savage Qualifies as DC’s Oldest Villain
Although Vandal Savage was introduced in 1943, six years after the first appearance of the Joker, he has the distinction of being technically thousands of years old due to having lived since prehistoric times. As DC’s immortal caveman villain, Vandal Savage’s chronological history spans over 50,000 years, long before any other DC villain was born. That incredible longevity solidly qualifies Vandal Savage as the incontestable oldest supervillain in DC Comics.
While the Joker and Lex Luthor are often considered Batman and Superman’s definitive arch-nemeses, their criminal careers still only date back to the 1940s Golden Age of comics. The Joker and Luthor essentially represent the “oldest” villains from a publishing perspective, as they were among the earliest villains introduced for DC’s most iconic superheroes. But from an in-universe chronological perspective, Vandal Savage stands alone as DC’s oldest villain by a massive margin.
Vandal Savage’s Enduring Legacy
Since his 1943 debut, Vandal Savage has remained a formidable villain able to confront the JSA, the Justice League, and newer generation heroes like the Teen Titans. As one of DC’s most recurrent Golden Age villains, Vandal Savage has evolved from a typical world conqueror into a more layered and nuanced immortal being. His enhanced intellect makes him a Strategist who can manipulate societies over generations rather than simply smash them through force.
Vandal Savage’s agelessness provides him a unique perspective as a witness to humanity’s full history. He sees most human life as fleeting and insignificant next to his own endless existence. Coupled with his intellect and amorality, Vandal Savage brings compelling philosophical questions about morality and valuing life when one’s lifespan is limitless. This has allowed writers to develop him beyond a typical world-conquering villain into a more complex adversary.
Notable Storylines
Some of Vandal Savage’s most notable storylines that have defined him through the decades include:
- Justice League: Doom – Savage masterminds a plan to defeat the Justice League by analyzing each member’s weaknesses.
- DC One Million – In the 853rd century, Savage is still alive but depleted after centuries of cloning new bodies.
- DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – In this TV series, Savage is portrayed as an immortal threat manipulating history whom the team must take down.
- Flashpoint Paradox – In an alternate timeline, Savage takes over the planet and kills billions of people, including the Immortal Man.
Vandal Savage will likely continue to be a prime villain in DC Comics for decades to come. His extensive history and ageless nature provide plenty of story potential to keep this classic villain always relevant.
Conclusion
Although DC has introduced many iconic supervillains over the past eight decades, Vandal Savage stands apart as definitively the oldest. While the Joker and Lex Luthor emerged as two of the earliest DC villains in the 1930s-40s Golden Age, Vandal Savage’s immortality makes him thousands of years older. As the caveman-turned-conqueror who gained enhanced intellect and indestructibility from a meteorite, Vandal Savage’s chronology stretches back over 50,000 years before any other DC villain existed. This incredible longevity solidly establishes Vandal Savage as the incontestable oldest supervillain in the extensive history of DC Comics.