The coolest villains that shot or slashed their way out of comic-books into movies...

10. Dorian Tyrell

Keep that mask away from him. The Mask , adapted from the Dark Horse Comics graphic novel, arrived in cinemas in 1994 and features a magnificent turn - or should that be gurn - from Jim Carrey. Main villain  Dorian Tyrell, played by Peter ‘Zed’ Greene, is the gangster frustrated by the green-faced menace. What makes him scarier is the fact you know what he has done to Marsellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction. In his own form, Tyrell isn’t as dangerous. But add a Loki mask and havoc shall be wreaked. Red-eyed and barmy, ‘Loki’ Tyrell causes Carrey problems but it’s what's inside that counts. I love a moralistic ending, me. Cool but dangerous.

9. Ozymandias

I want an Antartic getaway. A criminal mastermind with more power than Rupert Murdoch. Many fans are unhappy with Zack Snyder’s take on Alan Moore’s and Dave Gibbons’ graphic novel masterpiece Watchmen, but as a cool criminal, he is up there. He dupes everyone including Dr Manhattan, who can see into the future. Not as cool as Rorshach, but then I wouldn’t class him as a villain. He is the smartest man in the world, which can’t be a bad accolade.

8. Xerxes

Nice jewellery. Frank Miller’s 300 places those scantily clad Spartans up against an emperor in the making who doesn’t accept no for an answer. A Persian ruler who took divine right a bit too seriously and jewellery as well, he's a tough cookie to come up against. Apart from the bling, Xerxes strange but enthralling voice is what places him on this here list. As brave and damn right heroic Leonidas and his men are, Xerxes wins.

7. Doctor Octopus

Scientist-cum-robotic-madman. Beginning as a sympathetic character in Spiderman 2, unlike in his comic-book origins, Otto Octavius is brought to beautifully-conflicted  life by British thesp Alfred Molina. Once a compassionate man who loved his wife, Octavius is transformed by his extra robotic arms, which take on a life of their own. Hell-bent on making Spiderman’s existence a misery, Doc Ock plans to recreate the experiment which caused all of the problems. One of the better villains to be portrayed from the Spiderman movie franchise, Ock is both menacing and super-intelligent.

6. Lex Luthor

He doesn’t like people from Krypton. Whether played by Gene Hackman or Kevin Spacey, the follically-challenged genius is the proverbial pain in Superman’s backside - another meglomaniac who has an unhealthy obsession with his adversary. Spacey’s Luthor in particular has a real personal hatred towards the son of Krypton for his treatment by the Man Of Steel in the Donner/Lester 70s and 80s movies. So what’s cool about being the arch-nemesis to an alien who is vunerable to a green glowing rock? He has a cool name, much better than 'Clark' and he has no superpowers - just his own nouse. Impressive.

5. Obadiah Stane

Megalomaniac businessman. Tony Stark’s number two, who secretly wants to overthrow the arrogant playboy and even resorts by dealing with Afghan militants. Played by Jeff ‘The Dude’ Bridges with impressive facial fuzz, you just have to look at the posters and it doesn’t take Einstein to work out this man is not on the level. Jealous of Stark's clandestine superhero activities (and powers), Stane decides to create his own metal suit and become the collosal Ironmonger. Bridges plays Stane with enough charm that part of you wants him to succeed just because he is the Dude.    

4. Magneto

Iron Man better keep his distance. Sir Ian McKellen is the man behind the helmet for all three X-men movies to date. An actor who delivers his lines with aplomb and recounts Magneto’s lines as if they were Shakespeare. A compassionate but deadly man who strives for a different dream from that of his friend Charles Xavier. What’s not cool about being able to create a magnetic field and move the golden gate bridge? I rest my case, which is made out of leather, not metal.

3. The Salesman

Don’t get in a lift with him. Another silent killer known as ‘The Man’ in the screenplay for Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel Sin City, he's played with excellent creepiness by Josh Hartnett. Here's a man who can carry off a debonair 40’s film noir-style voiceover. Not that serial killers are cool but many characters from Sin City could be seen as villains, I mean Marv takes the law into his own dirty hands...? He's as suave as his villain-name would suggest.

2. Karl Ruprecht Kroenen

Silent but deadly. Handy with swords that eject from his sleeves, Kroenen isn’t the main adversary to Hellboy in Gullermo Del Toro’s 2004 film. He also has to tackle Rasputin and the immortal hellhound. A Nazi scientist in the comic book series, Del Toro updated his role to Hitler’s top assassin. He may be a relation to the clockwork enemies Doctor Who faced in The Girl in the Fireplace. The quiet ones should always be watched with caution.

1. The Joker

The yin to Batman’s yang. Jack Nicholson first donned the white make-up and purple suit for Tim Burton’s Batman, wherein Burton gave the character a back story. Instead Christopher Nolan jumps straight in with The Dark Knight's unexplained nutter who uses sadistic card tricks. As cool as a row of cucumbers in a fridge, because you just wouldn’t mess with this maniac. If you want to hear a truly spine-chilling maniacal laugh, look no further than Mark Hamill who lends his voice to the cartoons and the videogame Batman: Arkham Asylum. Too cool for a very crazy school.

See also:

Top 10 most mishandled comic book characters in film

8 Reasons Why The Riddler in Batman 3 Would Be a Bad Idea

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