Superman: Villains #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka, Jody Houser Artist: Bryan Hitch Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: March 4, 2020 Cover Price: $5.99 Critic Reviews: 12 User Reviews: 20
7.2Critic Rating
3.7User Rating

The Man of Steel's greatest villains react to the biggest news to ever rock the DC Universe. Lex Luthor, Mongul, Toyman, The Joker, and more of the world's greatest villains must come to grips with how the world changes now that the truth has been revealed by Superman. Some of comics' most unique and creative voices unite to tell a story that changes all the rules.

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Carl Bryan Mar 4, 2020

    Given that I wanted this issue to be over 100 pages long, I still hope there are more editions! Keep 'em coming. I like the sand between the rocks. It works! Read Full Review

  • 9.4
    Comic Watch - Cody White Mar 9, 2020

    Superman: Villains #1(Bendis) takes an insightful look at the reactions of various Superman villains' to the revelation of his secret identity. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Mar 4, 2020

    It's a great character-driven comic with an amazing all-star cast of artists bringing it to life. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Black Nerd Problems - Morgan Hampton Mar 6, 2020

    Superman:Villains #1 provides us with an unfiltered look at the impact that Superman's Clark Kent reveal has on his loved ones, and those he's been fighting with for so long. If you've ever wanted to see how Lex Luthor is taking the news that Superman is just a regular degular guy, this is the book for you. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    But Why Tho? - Derrick Pittman Mar 4, 2020

    Superman: Villains #1 sets the tone for a wild ride. While there are a lot of writers on this issue, it is unclear exactly who penned what and in what scenes but their amalgamation is great at staying on course with the tone of the story, surprise, and confusion. However, the mix of artwork sometimes works, but sometimes it doesn't. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Mar 6, 2020

    The problem is that it doesn't gel. And it feels like a donut: A lot of nice things on the outside, but there is nothing in the center. Read Full Review

  • 6.9
    Multiversity Comics - Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr Mar 9, 2020

    "Superman: Villains" #1 is a highlight reel of moments with Superman's rogue gallery but is ultimately a wonderful idea that fails to fully connect. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett Mar 4, 2020

    The overall issue serves as a reminder for how many different ways Superman's world is portrayed today and there isn't a complete miss throughout the entire collection, but enough missteps make this one one-shot with mileage that's bound to vary wildly. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Comic Crusaders - Kevin Given Mar 9, 2020

    This issue seems to be setting us up for something big, not only in the pages of Superman but also Supergirl and Action comics too. We've got the different creative styles all intertwining to bring us various tales within the rogue's gallery of Superman and the different reactions to several developments in Smallville, Metropolis and beyond. It's great set-up in what appears to be a new chapter in the Man of Steel's life. And it is a splendid issue with dynamite"to be continued! (***8.3) Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Mar 6, 2020

    Realize this, in a book called Superman Villain, a book looking specifically at his foes response to his Truth, Kara is the lead in a story. Supergirl is a Superman villain right now. That is inherently wrong. It is simply terrible. And yet, once again, here we are. Same as it ever was. That is such a monumental failure for me, on all levels, that I can't help but have it muddy my feelings on the rest of the book. Read Full Review

  • 5.5
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Mar 4, 2020

    The Villains one-shot was something that I was really looking for because there are so many great Superman villains that I wanted to see reactions from, but ultimately what we get is setup for Bendis stories, with Bendis characters and the classic villains that I was looking for here, are left behind or just used as jokes here. The art is a mixed bag because of the number of artists here and by the end, I was just kind of shocked at how much everyone dropped the ball at making something fun out of this issue. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Mar 4, 2020

    This didnt feel like a significant detour from the main Superman titles to warrant packaging as a special. Most Superman fans will manage just fine if they skip this on. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    sebastianorellana95 Mar 6, 2020

    I hope Supergirl go with The Legion of Superheroes after the end of her comic, maybe in a relaunch of that title or in a new title of Supergirl & The Legion of Superheroes. And also will be good that Superman recuperate his secret identity again since he had again his parents.

  • 7.0
    Simon DelMonte Mar 5, 2020

    Much more scattered then the Heroes special. The chain of events with Leone and the Invisible Mafia was good but should have been played out in Action Comics. The reveal that the Kents are indeed alive should have been in a book not about villains. And the scene with Lex, while funny (Fraction?) forgot that Lex isn't a businessman anymore.

  • 5.5
    egonnn244 Mar 8, 2020

    "The whole time Lexy"

    Just like Heroes, this one has good parts (Rucka), ok parts and bad parts. But all of those stories could've been told in already existing books. Because of that, both specials feel redundant and unnecessary.

    DC, please, get your #$%@ together. Coordinate more and stop giving so much creative freedom to Snyder, Bendis and King.

  • 5.0

    Some short but sweet stories, some meh stories. Overall I am disappointed.

  • 4.0
    pizzamain Mar 8, 2020

    DUH

  • 3.0
    Spacey Medicine Apr 26, 2020

    The best part was Joker phoning Lex Luthor 99 times to troll him about Superman. Everything else was pretty much on the expected level.

  • 3.0
    Watchtower022 Mar 5, 2020

    Continuity issues, overall fairly dull and a waste. Some good art and a few good moments but not enough to outshine the bad.

  • 3.0
    Nihilist Mar 4, 2020

    This comic looks like a good metaphore of what's happening with DC these days. It's a disorganized mess with no real plan nor plot. There are ideas, but they're not really utilized. There are ongoing story arcs, but no one really cares about them. Look at poor Supergirl, she's been in a limbo for a while now, constantly flying around, listening to her ex crush talking about how she disappeared, and crying in result, but not progresssing as a character at all. Seems like things went out of editorial's control, and are spiraling down in their own directions like parts of a plane crashed mid-flight. Too many cooks in the kitchen, man, each trying to do their own thing with different results and reception, all clashing with each other stylistic more

  • 2.5
    Psycamorean Mar 25, 2020

    What an exhausting comic.

  • 2.5
    M1sf1r3 Mar 6, 2020

    Prelude:
    I really enjoyed Superman: Heroes so let's see how the Villains go.

    The Good:
    Some cool scenes.

    The Bad:
    I'm sorry the art is just horrible for most of the issue.

    Story is mostly boring.

    Conclusion:
    In the few small parts when it worked it was great but most of the time I couldn't enjoy it at all.

  • 1.0
    RKS Mar 7, 2020

    The fact that it took four adults to write this is sad. It's disjointed and not very good. The art is laughably bad at points as well.

  • 1.0
    RBL Mar 4, 2020

    Is this a joke? THIS is meant to be meaningful, like Joker’s 90+ voice mails to Luthor “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”.

    What a waste of paper, they said villains would be changing their ways with the reveal and what they delivered was... Toyman.

    I wonder how much longer they will run Superman into the ground.

  • 6.0
    KittyNone Mar 9, 2020

  • 5.0
    Swift Planet Jan 13, 2021

  • 5.0
    Grifter Mar 5, 2020

  • 4.0
    KnM May 12, 2022

  • 3.0
    Adsun22 Feb 7, 2021

  • 3.0
    Radar Apr 22, 2020

  • 2.0
    superstan52 Mar 4, 2020

  • 1.0
    KErtneY Jul 13, 2020

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