Apart from Lex Luthor, Superman's film appearances have barely tapped a rich array of villains from the comics. Assuming that Superman Returns warrants a sequel, director Bryan Singer might consider bringing in Bizarro, Toyman, Brainiac, Mxyzptlk, or any number of colorful characters who've taken on the Man Of Steel over the years. Then again, it might not be the best idea to dip too deep into the rogues' gallery, lest movie-Superman end up fighting one of the following not-so-spectacular foes that comic-Superman has taken on over the years.
Capitalism
Appeared in: Issues throughout the late '30s and early '40s
Bio: Superman's first adventures find him up against a fair number of gangland types, but also evil businessmen, crooked weapons dealers, graft-happy politicians, negligent mine operators, and other persecutors of the little guy.
Memorable quote: Mine-company exec from Action Comics #3: "There are no safety hazards in my mine. But if there were—What of it? I'm a businessman, not a humanitarian!"
Why it's unlikely to make it to the movies: Lex Luthor has mutated from an evil scientist to an arch-capitalist over the decades, so the basic sentiment remains. But the blatantly leftist political sympathies of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster have faded as Superman has become less of a rage-filled activist and more of a benevolent caretaker.
Tire Racketeers
Appeared in: World's Finest #15 (Fall 1944)
Bio: In "The Rubber Band," Clark Kent leaves work to discover that his tires have been stolen. But rather than taking on the bad guys directly, he tracks down a customer who's purchased stolen tires in order to get around wartime rubber rationing. ("I'm only one of thousands determined not to let the war upset my everyday conveniences," the man says.) Superman informs the man that patronage of black markets sabotages the U.S. war effort. Then, to convince him further, he flies the guy to the South Pacific front just in time to overhear some soldiers talking about how important it is for civilians to make sacrifices. Ashamed, the man decides to rat out his bootleg rubber source.
