10 Green Arrow Villains Who Would Make Batman Think Twice Before Crossing

Batman may have the more famous rogues’ gallery, but Green Arrow has a coterie of supervillains that would prove challenging even for DC’s greatest hero. There’s no doubt that the Dark Knight has some of the coolest antagonists, but people often sleep on the Emerald Archer’s colorful criminals.

For decades, Green Arrow has fought accusations that he’s a ‘rip-off’ of Batman, (then again, Oliver calling his headquarters the ‘Arrow Cave’ never helped). But despite the similarities to Batman, Green Arrow has lived a very different life, and gone up against supervillains that would prove challenging even to the Caped Crusader.

10 Komodo

One of the Most Dangerous Rival Archers Green Arrow Ever Faced

It should come as no surprise that, as the world’s best archer, Green Arrow has faced a lot of villains who also know how to wield a bow and arrow. During the New 52 era, DC Comics decided to put Queen’s skills to the test and gave him a nemesis named Simon Lacroix, aka Komodo. Lacroix was mentored by Oliver’s father, Robert, who was the leader of the elusive Arrow Clan. However, Simon ultimately betrayed Robert and later turned his attention to Oliver Queen.

Like Green Arrow, Komodo is a deadly and efficient archer. He’s also trained himself to peak physical condition and is incredibly smart, able to mastermind plots that nearly took out Green Arrow. Komodo might not be the most well-known Green Arrow villain, but he’s certainly one of the most insidious.

9 China White

A Brilliant and Deadly Drug-Runner

The DC Universe is filled with criminals who run all sorts of illegal contraband, such as drugs and guns. But in Green Arrow’s world, there’s no more well-known international smuggler than China White. Before Oliver Queen took up the mantle of Green Arrow, White manipulated Queen into financing her heroin operation, and later attempted to kill him when he became a threat to her trade.

Aside from the illegal nature of her operation, China White’s work is inhumane and uses slave labor to create the heroin she supplies to the world. White is also an incredibly skilled fighter, excelling in both martial arts and firearms. While she’s not as powerful as some of Green Arrow’s other foes, her ruthlessness and manipulative nature makes her one of the most dangerous members of his rogues’ gallery.

8 Brick

One of the Most Powerful Crime Lords Around

Crime lords are a real problem in any major city in the DC Universe. And sure, Gotham has A-list crime bosses like the Penguin, Two-Face, and Black Mask. But in Star City, one foe managed to become a powerful kingpin thanks to his uncompromising nature, ingenuity, and his surprising powers. Daniel Brickewell, aka Brick, is a metahuman who has rocky, invulnerable skin that’s not only able to stand up to Green Arrow’s best trick arrows, but surface-to-air missiles.

Brick’s real power, however, is his mind, and he quickly rose through Star City’s underworld from a mere henchman to one of the most powerful criminals the city has ever seen. While the Dark Knight is used to fighting crime bosses, Brick is a much different and more dangerous kingpin than the likes of Gotham’s criminal heads.

7 The Ninth Circle

This Sinister Organization Funds Crime Worldwide

Everyone knows that Batman has gone up against a number of sinister, secret organizations, such as the Court of Owls, the Black Glove, and the Order of St. Dumas. But Green Arrow’s no stranger to taking on shadowy cabals that go against everything the hero stands for. During the “Rebirth” era of DC, fans were introduced to the Ninth Circle, a multinational enclave and bank that funds crime all across the world.

As a staunch leftist, Green Arrow hates everything that the Ninth Circle stands for. But what makes the organization worse (and more personal) for Oliver is that the cabal was actually founded by Green Arrow’s ancestor, Robin Queen. Oliver has yet to take down the Ninth Circle, as their sinister reach extends far beyond what he, or even Batman, are capable of.

6 Onomatopoeia

This Killer Has Stalked and Killed Dozens of Vigilantes

This psychopath is unique, as Onomatopoeia has intentionally gone after both Green Arrow and Batman. Onomatopoeia is a serial killer that exclusively targets street-level vigilantes. Aside from his gimmick of mimicking the sound effects of things around him, this killer is notable his intense determination to kill his targets at any cost. Onomatopoeia isn’t the most powerful villain that Batman or Green Arrow has faced, but he’s willing to put himself through hell in order to get his victims.

Onomatopoeia first came after Green Arrow family, where he attempted to kill Connor Hawke. However, he failed and eventually moved onto trying to take out Batman. Though he’s yet to claim either of these heroes’ masks to add to his trophy collection, Onomatopoeia is still at large, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

5 Constantine Drakon

One of the DCU's Most Deadly Martial Artists

While Green Arrow is one of the best archers around, he’s not as skilled when it comes to martial arts, which puts him in danger when it comes to foes like Constantine Drakon. From an early age, Drakon was proficient at killing, and as he grew, he honed that ability and eventually became an assassin. He eventually came to Star City when he was hired to eliminate monsters created by an illegal vaccine. There, Drakon met Green Arrow, and their first battle ended in a humiliating defeat for the latter.

Drakon is an extremely dangerous individual. Aside from his amazing fighting ability, he’s very good with firearms and projectile weapons. Not to mention he’s quicker than most people, even fast enough to catch arrows midair. Team Arrow has gone up against a lot of powerful martial artists, but none are as skilled as Constantine Drakon.

4 Merlyn

An Archer Who With Green Arrow's Aim, But No Morals

Every hero in the DC Universe has a villain that serves as their dark reflection, and in Green Arrow’s case, that would be Malcolm Merlyn, aka the Dark Archer. Merlyn was once a circus performer who excelled at archery (to the point that it inspired a young Oliver Queen). However, Merlyn eventually fell in with the League of assassins, who honed his skills and turned him into one of the most ruthless assassins around. Merlyn was eventually approached by Green Arrow, who asked to be taught to be a better archer.

The two ultimately fell out once Green Arrow discovered Merlyn’s assassin ways, igniting a bitter rivalry that’s lasted decades. Merlyn has resented Oliver and tried numerous times to ruin his life and kill him. As obsessed as the Joker is with Batman, it’s nothing compared to how much Merlyn hates Green Arrow.

3 Prometheus

A Foe Who Once Took Out the Entire Justice League

One of the most dangerous foes the Justice League has ever encountered, Prometheus was, by all accounts, an ‘Anti-Batman’ whose life of crime began when he witnessed his criminal parents being gunned down by the police. Prometheus traveled the world and trained himself to become an indomitable force for evil and plotted to destroy the Justice League, which he nearly did when he invaded the Watchtower.

However, Prometheus really drew Green Arrow’s ire in Cry for Justice, after he sliced off Arsenal’s arm and blew up Star City (killing Roy Harper’s daughter, Lian). Prometheus managed to escape the law, but Green Arrow broke his code and brought Prometheus down by shooting him in the head with an arrow. Of all the villains that have hurt Green Arrow, Prometheus pushed Oliver Queen to a point no one else could.

2 Count Vertigo

Green Arrow's Nemesis Can Throw Anyone Off Their Game

Few would argue that Werner Zytle, aka Count Vertigo, isn’t one of the Emerald Archer’s greatest nemeses. As his name implies, Zytle is indeed royalty, the last living descendant of Vlatava’s royal family. The count was also born with an inner ear problem and received an implant to treat it. However, this implant gave Count Vertigo the power to send out waves that can cause dizzying effects in others, as well as hypnotize them or make them see illusions that aren’t actually there.

Count Vertigo has found himself on the wrong side of the law quite a bit and gone up against Green Arrow numerous times. And thanks to Vertigo’s implant, he can throw the best archer around off his game if Queen’s not quick enough. Batman has similarly faced Count Vertigo and seen just how dangerous the royal really is.

1 Amanda Waller

A Mastermind Who Nearly Eliminated Earth's Metahumans

To be fair, Amanda Waller isn’t just one of Green Arrow’s foes, she’s a threat to the entire DC Universe. Waller is a manipulative, high-ranking government official who utilizes blackmail and coercion to get what she wants. Waller manipulated Green Arrow into working with her as part of her efforts to take down the DC Universe’s metahumans during Absolute Power. With no other choice, Green Arrow went deep undercover and worked side-by-side with Waller as she went after every superhero and villain on Earth.

Amanda Waller isn’t a fighter, but she’s incredibly smart when it comes to manipulating others, even heroes, to do her bidding. Worse, she’s just as cruel as she is intelligent and doesn’t hesitate to gamble with people’s lives, even executing anyone she has to in order to get what she wants from heroes like Batman or Green Arrow.