Shazam might seem like your average superhero—dazzling costume, wide grin, lightning bolt and all—but the world he battles to save is far from average. Billy Batson’s exploits find him battling some of the strangest, most perilous, and most unforgettable rogues ever seen in the comic book universe. From scientists driven mad by power to supernatural creatures and ancient warriors, Shazam’s foes have challenged not only his brawn, but his heart, brain, and conscience. Here’s a look at 10 of the most iconic, influential, and downright entertaining villains ever to challenge the World’s Mightiest Mortal.
10. Ibac
Stanley “Stinky” Printwhistle doesn’t exactly scream “supervillain”—until he transforms into Ibac. By uttering a name made from the initials of some of history’s most notorious tyrants (Ivan the Terrible, Borgia, Attila, and Caligula), he becomes the embodiment of cruelty and destruction. Ibac isn’t only a hulking savage—hell, he’s fueled by humanity’s worst. He’s an unadulterated source of evil, providing Shazam with a clean-cut villain to defeat, and a reminder of the shadowy aspect that can reside in a person’s heart.
9. Mister Atom
If you’ve ever wanted to see a superhero go toe-to-toe with a nuclear-powered robot bent on annihilation, Mister Atom delivers. A walking reactor with artificial intelligence, this towering machine doesn’t care about conquest—it wants to destroy. His design screams Golden Age sci-fi, and every encounter with him feels like a cinematic clash of titans. With no soul to appeal to, no emotion to reason with, Mister Atom is chaos in steel form.
8. Sabbac
Take Shazam’s origin—magic word, sudden transformation—and twist it into a nightmare, and you’ve got Sabbac. When Timothy Karnes speaks his enchanted word, he’s infused with the powers of six demons. The result? A fire-breathing, devil-horned monster who thrives on destruction. Originally introduced as a Nazi occultist, Sabbac represents the darker side of magical power: a reminder that words can unlock both wonder and horror.
7. King Kull
Half-barbarian, half-caveman, all danger—King Kull is a prehistoric barbarian of a lost people who believes that modern humanity’s had its moment. With superhuman strength rivaling that of Shazam and a desire for world conquest, Kull blends pulp adventure with comic book-style villainy. He’s been played for humor with his larger-than-life character in the past, but believe it or not, his violent worldview and brute strength make him a frightening menace when he’s not being underestimated.
6. The Seven Deadly Sins
They’re not metaphors—they’re monsters. The Seven Deadly Sins, those grotesque, lurking demons, embody humanity’s lowest impulses. Pride, Envy, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust are not just thematic adversaries—they corrupt and affect people, turning them into vessels of anarchy. Whenever they break free from their mystical jail, the Rock of Eternity, things quickly go awry. Shazam doesn’t merely battle them—he must stand against them.
5. Captain Nazi
Some are not so much threatened by magic or monsters. Captain Nazi is an embodiment of undiluted hate—Albrecht Krieger, a supremacist ideology-fueled genetically upgraded war machine. One of his most heinous crimes—battering Freddy Freeman and murdering his grandfather—catalyzed the creation of Captain Marvel Jr. He might be lacking in flair compared to some of the magical villains, but his effects are highly personal and devastating, keeping Shazam’s universe rooted in hard reality human malevolence.
4. The Society of Evil Monsters
Imagine the most outrageous villain team-up possible—then multiply it by two. The Monster Society of Evil is an ever-changing lineup of villains brought together by Mister Mind, from classic villains such as Doctor Sivana and Black Adam to crocodile men and dictators of history. The result? Unadulterated comic book chaos. Whether it’s takeovers or sheer devastation, these bad guys are all about one thing: inundating Shazam with sheer villainous diversity.
3. Doctor Sivana
What if Lex Luthor’s twisted cousin was obsessed with magic instead of Superman? That’s Doctor Sivana in a nutshell. He’s genial, resentful, and perpetually inventive. As one of Shazam’s longest-running villains, he’s always plotting to outwit Billy Batson, viewing himself as the real genius in a world governed by childish heroes and magical mumbo-jumbo. His blend of mad science and relentless spite makes him the quintessential “brains over brawn” villain.
2. Mister Mind
On first impression, he’s a joke—a short, worm-like alien sporting glasses. But Mister Mind is anything but harmless. A mind-controlling, genius-level telepath with the powers of mind manipulation and forming lethal partnerships, Mister Mind is the creator of the Monster Society of Evil and living proof that sometimes the greatest threats in life arrive in small packages. His mixture of surrealism and danger makes him one of Shazam’s strangest—and most memorable—adversaries.
1. Black Adam
Few supervillains rival their hero as well as Black Adam rivals Shazam. Originally selected by the same magical abilities that gave power to Billy Batson, Teth-Adam was warped by his conception of justice. Cruel, arrogant, and extremely powerful, Black Adam isn’t only a foe—he’s an alternate version of what Shazam could be if he were to abandon his moral code. He’s been a bad guy, an antihero, even a king—but he’s always the most fascinating threat in Shazam’s universe. With ancient powers and a troubled history, Black Adam embodies what it means to be a complex, dangerous opposite.
Shazam’s villains are as unhinged, magical, and varied as the hero himself. From classic monsters to nuclearroids, his rogues’ gallery punishes more than just his brawn—they challenge the principles that make Billy Batson a real hero. Reading them in the comics or watching them on TV, these bad guys are a lot of the reason Shazam’s tales keep imaginations ignited.