When it comes to heroes like Superman, their rogues galleries are full of powerful and iconic villains. Some of the most well-known foes to vex the Man of Steel include General Zod, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Bizarro and Doomsday. While these antagonists are instantly recognizable to fans of DC Comics, some of Superman's other opponents are a lot less renown.
From the outright offensive second Bloodsport to incredibly powerful cosmic threats, Superman has faced enemies that were quickly forgotten once they were introduced. Most of them lack any presence in outside media, further keeping them irrelevant in the Man of Steel's world. The irony for some is that they're actually related to other, much more popular characters.
10 Bloodsport II
The villainous Bloodsport (an assassin known for employing kryptonite bullets against Superman) was never a major villain in the eyes of most. This changed somewhat after 2021's The Suicide Squad, wherein popular actor Idris Elba played Robert DuBois, the original Bloodsport. While he's now more mainstream, his successor in the comics hasn't been used very often.
Alexander Trent was the second Bloodsport, and a vile racist who stoked racial tension in his area. Ironically, his predecessor was a black man, with the two even having a deadly boxing match against each other. Since he was killed off, this take on Bloodsport has never been brought back.
9 Atomic Skull
The first Atomic Skull was introduced in the Bronze Age of Comics and was clearly meant to be a major new threat. Running the organization SKULL, he (alongside Parasite and a few others) were the most prominent new foes to face Superman during that era. Despite this, he never amounted to much in comics and failed to become a mainstream player in the hero's overall mythos.
The post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity did little to change this, with Atomic Skull never attaining a significant degree of popularity. Even with a few appearances in outside media, most Superman fans regard him as a fairly overlooked part of the Man of Steel's rogues gallery.
8 Dominus
Dominus was an alien priest who used incredible psionic power to rebuild himself into a more powerful form while trapped in the Phantom Zone. Hyped as one of Superman's greatest threats, this villain's main claim to fame came by way of using his abilities to prey upon the Man of Steel's fears. When they finally clashed, it was in an awesome battle on the psychic plane that utilized a Kryptonian martial art.
Sadly, this didn't give Dominus much longevity. Modern stories almost never mention him, and he lacks any adaptations so far. He easily has the capability to challenge Superman mentally and physically, but this hasn't been enough to establish this villain as a major threat.
7 Khyber
Khyber was another character meant to be a big threat to Superman, with his legendary evil going back for centuries. This advanced ancient assassin was known by Ra's al Ghul and even the violent Black Adam, and he threatened to send the Earth into turmoil by manipulating Superman. This was a potential variation of the "evil Superman" trope, but it didn't come to pass.
With the threat of Khyber seemingly avoided after a few brief issues, the character was never mentioned again. This was definitely a wasted opportunity, and it doomed the villain to obscurity. Even with a legacy that reached back far beyond Superman's arrival on Earth, Khyber's importance was relatively short-lived.
6 Equus
Equus was created by writer Brian Azzarrello and artist Jim Lee as part of their "For Tomorrow" storyline in the main Superman comic. A disfigured experimental cyborg, Equus was genetically enhanced and given claws that put him on Superman's level. The most prominent threat in the series, he went on to make a scant few appearances afterward.
Despite this hype and the Jim Lee art that showcased him, Equues was never a major character. Most only remember him for his role in "For Tomorrow," a story that's mostly regarded as only being good because of its art. It didn't help that Equus looked like a '90s comics reject, further diminishing his potential.
5 Metalo
Although he seems to share a name with the kryptonite-powered cyborg Metallo, Metalo (with one L) is a completely different villain. Debuting in the Golden Age of Comics, this Metalo was a scientist who donned an armored costume while also using a "strength serum." This allowed him to fight Superman on his own level.
Despite being a sort of predecessor to the more mainstream Metallo, Metalo isn't considered a major part of Superman's history. He's largely forgotten or not known at all, especially since he lacks the familiar kryptonite gimmick. When it comes to metallic Superman foes, it seems John Corben is the only one with a heart of gold.
4 Archer
Another Golden Age foe, The Archer (whose real name was Quigley) started a crime spree in Metropolis. Using his archery skills, he evaded the police and took to hunting humans instead of animals. Unsurprisingly, Superman made quick work of him, stopping him from shooting Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.
His costume made him a lot like the Golden Age version of Green Arrow. Additionally, Archer had next to no notoriety as a villain, especially since he debuted in an era where Superman's enemies were fairly forgettable crooks. He's had a few somewhat laughable appearances since then, but nothing that's put him in the mainstream.
3 La Encantodora
Using the mystical "Mists of Ibella" and fake kryptonite, Encantadora was a sultry and bothersome foe. Constantly flirting with Superman, she used a nano-bot (injected via kiss) that nearly killed the Man of Steel. After realizing how vile her actions were, she ended up saving Superman's life.
Once her magical power source was done away, this villainess never appeared again. The sonic wraith Silver Banshee has served as a better fit as the main magic-based threat to Supes, while Maxima is a better temptress. Thus, La Encantadora has been largely forgotten like a bad kiss.
2 The Adversary
First showing up in the year 2000, The Adversary was a powerful, seemingly mystical being whose strength was tied to the demonic Satanus. In actuality, he was a normal, wheelchair-bound neighbor who lived near Lois and Clark. Superman saved him from the demon's realm, unceremoniously ending his career as a short-lived villain.
With a generic name and a backstory too reminiscent of other DC foes, The Adversary didn't fare well among more iconic Superman enemies. Only appearing in six issues, he was emblematic of an era in which Superman comics had begun to tread water. Needless to say, few fans are clamoring for his return - if they remember him at all. Oddly enough, he actually appeared briefly in the DC Animated Universe.
1 Terra-Man
Terra-Man was another Bronze Age foe who amounted to nothing, despite being made to fight Superman. Living in the Old West and being taken in by a criminal alien, he aged slowly and used alien technology to become an intergalactic scourge. The concept arguably made him perfect to fight Superman, but the spaghetti Western theme came across as too gimmicky.
A modern version of the character changed him into a radical environmentalist, which definitely missed a lot of his potential. He's almost never used, with even Superman's biggest fans forgetting him. Though he may have been created to make a big name for himself among the Man of Steel's enemies, he was ultimately just a man with no name.