DC Comics are home to some of the most diverse and interesting characters. Yes, there are fascinating, layered heroes, from Batman to Wonder Woman. Well known to audiences around the world, these heroes are ripe for dissection and examination. But so too are their evil equivalents. DC has some of the most outrageously nefarious and underhanded villains. The rogues’ gallery of Batman is renown for its extensive and enigmatic collection of bad guys. Each hero is challenged by their nemesis, their values and strength challenged by equally well drawn out characters.
Because of their complexity, the supervillains of DC are an interesting bunch to examine and group into the Myers-Briggs Personality Types®. This system is a way to label and group people, and even find out what makes them tick. Below is a look at the Myers-Briggs® types of some of DC’s most notorious evil-doers.
10. HARVEY DENT (TWO-FACE) - ENTP
Harvey is a tricky one to categorise simply because of his two distinct personalities. This duality is represented on his half-acid-burn-scarred face and in his actions sometimes. He’s a pretty bad guy and sometimes he’s even worse. Constantly in a battle with himself, Harvey’s actions are even more thought out than those of most other villains.
For this reason, Harvey is an ENTP type. These types are known for their intellect and ability to debate. Harvey is incredibly smart and calculating and his divisive personalities mean he’s always in constant debate about just how bad to be.
9. ZOD - INFJ
Zod is a military man. Having come all the way from Krypton to give Superman a run for his money, he’s proven to be a calculating and impressive foe. His strength is equalled by his military precision and calculating ways.
Because of this Zod is an INFJ type. These types are idealists, with strong convictions in their beliefs and often regarded as quite inspirational. Sure, Zod might be a bad guy but in order to lead his troops, he needs an element of this inspirational quality.
8. ARES - ISTJ
The actual God of War, Ares has been an important foe for Wonder Woman over the years. As a god, Ares has been around for an extremely long time and holds some pretty archaic, old-school values in high regard. These traits make him an ISTJ type.
These types are often thought to be living in the past, emphasizing tradition and repeating long-held beliefs. They are extremely serious and when it comes to war there’s nothing Ares takes more seriously.
7. HARLEY QUINN - ENFP
Less traditional is the maniacal Harley Quinn. This character has risen in popularity over the years, most recently due to Margot Robbie’s portrayal in the otherwise lackluster Suicide Squad. She’s equal parts hysterical, cunning, damaged and unpredictable. Her motivations often come from an anarchist origin and make her even scarier for her lack of reasoning. She’s extremely extroverted and runs on base instinct most of the time.
These qualities make her an ENFP type. She’s spontaneous and in touch with her feelings, perhaps a little too in touch as her feelings can dominate her reactions. She’s an individual and resists assimilation at all costs.
6. EOBARD THAWNE (REVERSE FLASH) - INTP
Eobard Thawne is an incredibly intelligent and impulsive villain. Having used his suit to gain the same speedy abilities as the Flash while also figuring out how to travel through time, he’s sprinting towards a live a life of crime.
Thawne is an INTP type. They’re clever, known for their exemplary knowledge but also their impulsive natures. They often leap, or sprint ahead, without looking.
5. BLACK MANTA - ENFJ
Black Manta is one of Aquaman’s greatest and most determined foes. He lives by a code all of his own but is still led by his intuition and allows his feelings to encroach upon his reasoning. Still, he remains principled, even if his principles are questionable, they’re his own and he’s sticking to them. This determination to remain true to his beliefs and his mission are what make Black Manta an ENFJ type.
This type relies on their ethical reasoning but is still in touch with their feelings. Black Manta might seem the least ethical of people but his own code is what determines the path of his actions and strengthens his determination to defeat Aquaman.
4. DARKSEID - ENTJ
Darkseid is one of the DC Universe’s biggest bad guys. He’s come up against Superman and the Justice league time and again, his impact has been felt across the universe. One of the strongest beings to ever exist he is a staunchly determined leader, who wants nothing more than to eradicate free will and impose his own rule upon all living things.
Tackling an entire universe takes an army and a particular set of skills. In order to harness the powers of his troops Darkseid has to be a strong and willful leader and this ability to lead is what makes him an ENTJ type.
3. CATWOMAN - ESTP
Cat woman is one of the most complex characters from the world of DC. While she straddles the line between villain and hero often, for the purposes of this list we will classify her as a villain. What makes this character so likable and so open to interpretation is the underlying commonalities to the character. She’s tricky and smart, she’s tough and aware, worn down by oppression, with a taste for the better things in life, and always she’s a feeling human underneath all that latex. Her humanity it what makes her so fun to see and easy to relate to. Because of these reasons she’s an ESTP type.
These types are doers, they get out in the world, comfortable on their own and able to function independently, they are active in manifesting their own destiny. Determined and perceptive Catwoman is able to read a person and a situation, which makes for a great cat burglar. She’s complicated and messy but she’s never passive.
2. LEX LUTHOR - INTJ
Lex is another villain who’s seen many iterations over the years. However, he’s always smart, always cunning and imaginative. As a human attempting to beat a being with such power as Superman, he’s had to rely on his brains and strategic thinking to come up with plans to outdo the Kryptonian.
This makes Lex an INTJ type. Known for their logical, strategic minds, they’re great planners and have vivid imaginations, allowing for the belief that anything is possible with the right plan. Even defeating Superman.
1. JOKER - ESFP
Here he is. The jewel in the crown of DC super-villainy. The Joker has captured the fascination of people more than any other DC villain and there’s a reason people find this bad guy so fascinating. Firstly there’s his showmanship. The Joker loves attention, while other baddies might hide in the shadows, the Joker puts it all out there. He takes no shame in his despicable actions. He likes to put on a show and is very theatrical. He is also spontaneous, reactive and unpredictable.
The Joker is an ESFP type. These types like to be looked at, they enjoy holding the attention of others and it’s often hard to tell what they’re going to do next. It’s this unpredictable nature and flamboyance that make the Joker so entertaining to watch and so fascinating.
