List of Astro City Characters - Villains

Villains

• Andy Tugliewski – A member of a carjacking gang stopped by the Confessor and Altar Boy.
• The Anti-Bodies - Human-shaped black energy beings who defend the Silver Brain; possibly aspects of the Brain himself.
• The Assemblyman - A twisted robotics genius hired by El Hombre in 1973 to manufacture a crisis and help restore the hero's fortunes; his betrayal ensured El Hombre's downfall.
• Aunt Acid - British crimemistress who once employed the Mock Turtle.
• Bamboo (Kuo Tse-Shi) - Asian crimemistress active in the 1970s, based in Fujitani Bay, Astro City. Daughter of international crime lord Lord Talon. Antagonist of Jack-in-the-Box, the Silver Agent, Hellhound and others. Apparently had a romance with the Black Rapier.
• The Birdman - Crime boss active in the late 1970s, possibly in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
• The Bishop - Armored British-based villain, a member of the Red Queen's resurrected Chessmen, and the only one allowed to escape the debacle of the Chessmen's ill-fated assault on Kiefer Square.
• The Black Mask Killer - Serial murderer of various supervillains of the Kiefer Square area, so-called by area residents. Ultimately revealed as the Conquistador.
• Block - Villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. Partner and clueless follower of Tackle.
• Boilermaker - Villain cited as a suitable sparring partner for the Confessor. Only mentioned, not seen. May only be imaginary as part of a conversation between bar patrons.
• The Box (featured) - Future son of Jack-in-the-Box II, an alternate version of the Jackson and Jerome Johnson. An insane cyborg vigilante.
• Braintrust - Villain with several brains and a mechanical body. Active in the 1970s. Employed the Dominos.
• The Brass Monkey (featured) - A living metallic simian statue with a human mind.
• Bridwell (viewpoint) - An Enelsian spy gathering intelligence on Earth's heroes; enamored of humanity's better instincts, but ultimately disgusted by its baser ones. Later impersonated Crackerjack in order to discredit him in the run-up to the Enelsian invasion; captured and exposed by Altar Boy, he escaped due to the grandstanding of Crackerjack. Name and encyclopedic knowledge based on E. Nelson Bridwell.
• The Chain (given name Gordon) - Villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Was able to shift his mind into a metal body made of links, which he could always pull back together provided that the brain-link was unhurt. Busted to bits. One of the series' few gay characters, he was survived by his lover, an African-American man.
• Clever Dick - Schoolboy-themed and pimply British crime lord who hired the Mock Turtle to destroy the operation of rival crime lord the Red Queen. Initially conceived as "Spotted Dick", after the name of a raisin-studded British dessert.
• The Conquerlord - A would-be world-ruler who attacked the U.N. and was defeated by Honor Guard.
• The Conquistador - A mysterious armored villain who hired villains from Kiefer Square and elsewhere as part of a grand scheme to discredit America's superheroes; secretly the disgraced hero El Hombre, his actual intention was to establish a new heroic reputation for himself by thwarting the scheme in the proposed guise of El Guerrerro. To protect his secret he murdered those of his hirelings he suspected of having learned too much, thus becoming the dreaded Black Mask Killer. His larger plot was uncovered through the efforts of Steeljack.
• Cutlass - A pirate-themed villainess active in the 1970s as a member of the Terrifying Three.
• The Deacon (Deke McManus) - Head of the crime families of Astro City in the 1990s; despite years of investigation, has never been convicted of any crime. While speculated to be a reuse of the (now public domain) Holyoke Publishing supervillain of the same name (arch-enemy of Cat-Man and Kitten), any similarity is apparently coincidental. Busiek has suggested "Deke" may be a contraction of "Declan," in a nod to musician Elvis Costello.
• Demolitia - Large supervillainess, clad in a suit of armor, welds a wrecking ball and jackhammer, and leads a group called the Unholy Alliance.
• Derelikt - A space wanderer, opponent of the First Family, current whereabouts unknown.
• The Devil's Own – A villain or possibly a group of villains defeated by the Crossbreed in Montana.
• The Deuce – A crime boss active in Astro City in the 1970s. Employed the Shaders. Killed, possibly by people taking orders from Deke MacManus
• Doc Toxic – A villain who fought the Experimentals.
• Dr. Deezer - A criminal scientist. Died in 1958.
• Dr. Ganss - A criminal scientist who turned Carl Donewicz into Steeljack about 1970 and linked Jason Aubrey to interdimensional dark energy in 1984. Creator of the Dynamoids.
• Dr. Gearbox (Anton Teodor Girbachs) - A criminal robotics scientist active in the 1960s. Father of Elaine Girbachs. Deceased.
• Dr. Nautilus - A criminal scientist who created Tentacus.
• Dr. Saturday - A villain who uses toys based on Saturday morning cartoons to com.mit his crimes.
• The Dragon Shogun (Leyasu Takamura) - Crime lord and leader of the Dragon Society. Fathered twins who inherited his power and in time became the Jade Dragons. Deceased.
• Andrew "Eyes" Eisenstein (viewpoint) - A small-time crook who discovers Jack-in-the-Box's secret identity. Currently lives in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• Ersatz Ed - A villain defeated by the Astro-Naut in 1943.
• Donnelly Fergusson - Aillain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. Rumored to have been the Scarlet Snake in the 1940s; now a broker linking criminal "muscle" to prospective employers.
• Fever - A villain who targets women.
• Flame-thrower - A pyromaniac villain. A member of the Unholy Alliance.
• The Fog - Gaseous villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
• Foxie Loxy - A gun-toting thug and member, possibly head, of the Menagerie Gang. It is not entirely certain that he uses the name "Foxie Loxy"; Quarrel, who calls him that, may just be making a snide joke.
• Garrity – Criminal fought by the second Confessor.
• Getaway - Los Angeles-based villain of the 1970s who dressed as a wild West outlaw and possessed super-speed; an antagonist of El Hombre.
• Glue Gun - Villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. He once invaded Butler's, where he was defeated by busboy Brian Kinney prior to his debut as Altar Boy.
• Glowworm (featured) - A glowing villain with energy-projecting powers and a long, eel-like tail in place of his lower body. A member of the Unholy Alliance. Apparently an African-American man prior to his accident.
• Gnomicron - A mystically powered mechanical warrior created by the Mountain Gnomes.
• Goldenboy - A pretty-boy villain with metallic golden skin and hair who targets women using his enhanced charisma; he leads a cult who worships him as a god-king.
• Goldenglove (I) (Maxie Costello) - Boxing-themed villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Utilized alien power gloves with various capabilities. Active since the late 1960s, his villainous career had lasted more than 30 years when he was killed in 1998. Father of Goldenglove (II).
• Goldenglove (II) (Yolanda Costello) - A 15-year-old daughter of Goldenglove (I), she attempted to use her father's weaponry to launch a career as a sneak thief. Taken in hand by Detective Ruiz and steered toward the Astro City Irregulars, she may reform.
• The Gunslinger – An internationally wanted assassin, half American and half Vietnamese, who dressed as a hi-tech cowboy and utilized teleporting firearms and jet boots. Captured by the Confessor.
• Handgun (Chester Morisi) - Villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Specialized in gimmick glove or prosthetic hand weaponry.
• The Headmaster of Crime - British crime lord who once employed the Mock Turtle.
• Headstone – An Astro City crime lord who once employed Sean Hanrahan as one of his lieutenants.
• Los Hermanos - Los Angeles-based villain of the 1970s who could duplicate himself; an antagonist of El Hombre.
• Hollowpoint - Astro City-based villain of the 1980s; the Pale Horseman's first victim.
• The Human Weasel - A short, wiry villain with weasel-like physical characteristics.
• Infidel - Samaritan's greatest enemy, Infidel is an African-slave-turned-immortal-sorcerer from the past who ruled the futuristic wasteland of the 36th century. As a result of Samaritan's quest to save the future, Infidel's empire was made to have never existed. Infidel faced the hero, and, unable to beat him, instead tried to recreate the world without Samaritan, the first of several such attempts. After their battles escalated to the point where they temporarily destroyed reality, the enemies called a truce. Since neither could kill the other, they instead opted to meet once a year for dinner, take each other's measure and attempt to persuade the other to change perspective.
• Insectra - Villainess, opponent of the First Family, currently in custody.
• The Jackdaw - Villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
• The Jackson (featured) - Future son of Jack-in-the-Box II, an alternate version of the Box and Jerome Johnson. A fanatic feral vigilante.
• Jitterjack the Divided Man - Top PYRAMID assassin and mob enforcer, operated out of Chicago in the 1970s. A fusion of two men with multiplied speed, senses and strength but becoming mad in the process. Kept subdued by PYRAMID handlers.
• Johnny Dark - Crime boss active in the late 1970s, possibly in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
• The Junkman (Hiram Potterstone) (viewpoint) - An aged villain seeking vengeance on society for age discrimination. Recycles and enhances his weaponry from discarded trash. His primary antagonist, Jack-in-the-Box, has a similar background and skill set. Their origin, inventive genius, and use of gimmicks have interesting parallels.
• Karnus - Cult leader and devotee of Shirak the Devourer, active in 1959.
• Kaspian - Prince of the Beastmen of Eastern Europe and natural father of the heroes Nick and Natalie Furst. Fought the Praetor in Astro City's city hall in October 1972.
• King Missile - Missile-themed flying antagonist of Samaritan.
• The Kirlian Man - Villain, an acquaintance of the Mock Turtle from whom the latter first learned about Kiefer Square. An antagonist of Supersonic.
• Korrga - A gorilla outfitted like a Roman legionary, a movie menace brought to life by Professor Borzoi in 1946 to fight the Gentleman. Destroyed by Looney Leo.
• Kratorr the Invincible - A living moon rock, ruler of a race of similar creatures based on the moon. His name notwithstanding, he has been defeated by the First Family nine or ten times, beginning in 1954.
• L. S. Deviant - Villain possessed of a "tropogenic field" that triggers unpredictable physical transformations in those nearby, as well as other reality changes. In September, 1972, with his powers augmented by alien "puppeteers," his tropogenic field temporarily blanketed the world, causing widespread chaos and panic, with lingering psychological trauma to the population. This incident is considered the beginning of Astro City's "Dark Age." Defeated by Honor Guard.
• Lady Lethal - An antagonist of Supersonic. Only mentioned and not seen.
• The Living Nightmare (featured) - Monstrous creature composed of peoples' subconscious fears made real, the Nightmare has been both hero and villain at times, and is currently a mindless, random force of nature destroying everything in its path. Similar in standing and history to The Incredible Hulk.
• Longhorn - Villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. A minotaur-like monster.
• Lord Sovereign (Jason Aubrey) - A PYRAMID agent who shot the parents of Charles and Royal Williams. Eventually pursued by the brothers, he was linked to the same dark energy as the Pale Horseman by Dr. Ganss and intended to rebuild PYRAMID under his rule using remains of the Sekhmet Stone. Disappeared along with the Pale Horseman as the dimensional rift closed.
• Lord Volcanus - Tuler of the Insiders, a race of volcanic lava men. Possibly a Mayan deity.
• The Lummox – A blue-skinned behemoth, not based in Astro City, but who comes there to visit Bruiser's.
• The Mad Maharajah - Villainous despot; an antagonist of the Silver Agent.
• Madame Majestrix - Villainous ruler of the undersea Monstro City and mother of the heroic Rex of the First Family.
• Mechanimator - Villain who attacked St. Louis as part of the Conquistador's grand scheme.
• Microplex - Villain who used small robot bodies, antagonist of Jack-in-the-Box.
• The Middleman - A smuggler and gunrunner specializing in acquiring the weaponry of defeated villains and fencing them to other villains.
• The Mock Turtle (Dr. Martin "Marty" Chefwick) (viewpoint) - British engineer who created an armored environment suit, who stole his invention from his employers when he discovered they intended it to be tested and used by another man, thus launching his villainous career. Later took refuge in Astro City's Kiefer Square; caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Inspired by the character from Alice in Wonderland.
• Morningstar - Villain who battled the original Jack-In-The-Box September 8, 1976.
• Mr. Teleport - An antagonist of Supersonic. Only mentioned and not seen.
• Muscleman - Villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
• The Myth-Master - Armored villain who fought Honor Guard in 1964; actually the disguised Looney Leo, acting as the pawn of Zzardo.
• Nostradamien, the Bad Dreamer (Damien Teller) - A freelance clairvoyant whose powers only work for criminals, or at least those who are consumed by dark thoughts. Uses his powers to help his clients plan crimes, but is rumored to sometimes abandon and betray them to the authorities when he's made enough profit from them.
• Omniac - An artificial intelligence utilized by Praetor to further his villainous schemes.
• Omnius Rex - Giant cosmic entity, sealed in a green gem and at least at that point needed a human host to manifest. Fought Starfighter in the 1970s.
• The Otter - A small time criminal who uses a bionic otter suit, with a tail.
• The Platinum Blonde - Los Angeles-based villainess of the 1970s; a sultry robot who was an antagonist of El Hombre.
• The Platypus; Platypus Joe (Josef Andros Platapopulous) - Astro City-based crimeboss of the 1970s. Employed Royal Williams and Deke McManus and was backed by PYRAMID. Betrayed and killed by McManus.
• Praetor - A high-tech, armored villain, possibly an alien, like a Roman legionary in appearance. Opponent of the First Family. Fought Kaspian in Astro City's city hall in October 1972.
• Professor Borzoi - Villain active in 1946, arch-enemy of the Gentleman.
• Prospero - Villain, opponent of Jack-in-the-Box, currently incarcerated.
• Quarrel (I) (Doolittle Taggart) - Supervillain of the 1970s, father of the heroine Quarrel (II), he was a sharp-shooting crossbowman with trick quarrels. Was a member of the Terrifying Three. Now deceased.
• The Red Dahlia - An antagonist of Supersonic. Only mentioned, not seen.
• The Red Queen (given name Lucia) - Childhood acquaintance of the Mock Turtle who exploited their relationship to become a criminal mastermind in Britain; her scheme was ruined when Clever Dick turned the clueless Turtle against her.
• Sagra - Criminal technology user. Commanded a team of ninjas equipped with flying harnesses. Fought the Jade Dragons in the winter of 1976 and allegedly had some hand in the death of the Dragon Shogun.
• The Scarlet Snake - Criminal mastermind of the 1940s; in the 1990s, Donnelly Fergusson was rumored to have been him.
• The Sekhmet Stone - Secretly head of PYRAMID until the 1980s. Stealing the powers of the Apollo Eleven, he became the Incarnate but was destroyed by the Point Man using the Innocent Gun.
• Sean Hanrahan – Villain, the original Queen's Bishop in the Chessmen; later one of Headstone's lieutenants. Incarcerated in 1987, and paroled in April, 1992.
• Senhor Technico - A Brazilian supervillain, opponent of the Birds of Paradise.
• The Shadow Hill Killer – A serial killer whose ritual murder victims were discovered at the outskirts of Shadow Hill; apparently an evil cosmic Cthulhu-like being ultimately defeated by the Hanged Man.
• Shirak the Devourer (featured) - A shark-like demon from another dimension that attempted to invade the Earth in 1959 and 1964. He was stopped in one of the first (and rather odd) missions of the newly formed Honor Guard.
• The Silver Brain (featured) - A scientist who became pure brain, whose goal is to enslave the world. Imprisoned by the Samaritan in the Mentoverse, and banished back there by the First Family after he escaped.
• Slamburger (featured) - A bulky, powerful villain with mottled red skin and hot, sulfurous breath. A member of the Unholy Alliance with whom he was caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme in 1998. Apparently an acquaintance of Steeljack, he may have originally been a resident of Kiefer Square.
• Spice - A whip-wielding, dominatrix-type villainess, formerly partners with Sugar. A member of the Unholy Alliance.
• Steel Devil - A robotic thief wielding a trident that fires energy blasts.
• The Steel Scimitar - From the same nation as the Mad Maharajah. Only mentioned, not seen.
• Strangematter - Villain caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
• Sugar - A villainess who formerly partnered with Spice. Now deceased.
• The Supreme Commandrix – Leader of the Enelsian invasion fleet.
• Tackle - Villainess resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Partner of Block; she was the brains of the duo.
• Temblor – Villain defeated by the Crossbreed in San Francisco.
• Tidal Waif – Villainess prevented from flooding Honolulu under a tidal wave by Samaritan.
• The Time-Keeper (featured) - A time-stopping villain from the 1940s who nearly destroyed time itself in an attempt to rid the world of superheroes. A typical expample of the themed (if mostly non-super) villains of the period.
• The Toff - Aristocratic British crime lord who once employed the Mock Turtle.
• Tommy Gunn (Thomas Aloysius Gunn) - Crime lord with a prosthetic firearm hand. Active in the 1970s. killed, possibly by people taking orders from Deke MacManus
• Ugly Max - Villain, opponent of the First Family, currently catatonic.
• The Underlord - Criminal mastermind, opponent of Jack-in-the-Box, active in the 1980s. He blew up Torres Island in 1983.
• White Lightning - Villain with electrical powers, opponent of Samaritan.
• The Wolfhound (surname Kenneally) - Villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. Apparently able to shapeshift into the form of a large wolf or dog; possibly a werewolf.
• Wotan - An ax-wielding giant capable of flight, clad like an ancient Norseman. The name is conjectured by the prominent "W" symbols at the top of his boots.
• Wrestla – A massive, powerful female villain, not based in Astro City, but who comes there to visit Bruiser's.
• The Xenoform - A huge, homicidal, shape-shifting alien entity, currently confined.
• Zzardo - Alien villain, arch-foe of Honor Guard, who used Looney Leo as a pawn and proxy to attack the hero group. Active circa 1963-64.