The ISS villain ratings division has done several recent studies concerning the lameness of some supervillains and the badassery of some who have no superpowers whatsoever.

Now, we look at those villains who are often dismissed as b-listers or second stringers, but who really ought to get another chance at being in the upper tier of modern supervillainy. These villains may not be the ones who are headlining the summer blockbusters, but to us, they're among the best we have.

The Penguin

Who is he?: Oswald Cobblepot is a fat, short little fella who was born to high-society parents who babied him. He constantly carries and umbrella because his overbearing mother forced him to carry one after his father died of pneumonia he contracted after standing in the rain for too long. The character is probably the best-known on this list, though the version of The Penguin most people know is the silly, exploding-umbrella-distributing Penguin from the 1960s "Batman" TV show. You can't take anyone who wears a purple hat seriously. Also, there was the movie version, who ran for mayor for some reason.

Why doesn't he suck?: Two words: Legitimate business. This aspect of the Penguin was largely left out of "Batman Returns" and the various Batman TV shows, but it's the thing about him that gives him a leg up on almost every other supervillain in Gotham (it also helps that he's not batshit insane like everyone else). If Batman beats him up, then he's beating up the well-respected owner of the Iceberg Lounge (where he just happens to fence lots of stolen shit). Because of his front, The Penguin controlled just about all the commerce in the city when after was leveled by an earthquake. That's power, friends.

Red Ghost

Who is he?: Ivan Kragoff was a Soviet scientist working on beating the Americans to the the moon. He figured his best bet in achieving that goal was getting together some apes he could train to go there with him. He figured he might as well get some superpowers on the way, too, so he flew through some cosmic rays (just like the Fantastic Four did), giving himself the power to turn intangible and giving his apes super-strength, shape-shifting powers and gravity-controlling abilities.

Why doesn't he suck?: Okay, on its face, the idea of a brilliant scientist traveling around with super-powered gorillas seems ridiculous, I know. But consider this: 1) He did actually make it to the moon, which isn't too shabby and 2) he would have beaten the Fantastic Four while on the moon if it hadn't been for Reed Richards cheating and making a gun that would paralyze him. And, come on, think about the whole super-powered gorillas thing again. Upon reflection, that's fucking awesome.

Manchester Black

Who is he?: Great Britain's own Manchester Black was a relatively short-lived character who served as leader of The Elite, a vigilante group that killed their enemies so they didn't have to deal with them later. Not a whole lot is known about him, but he pretty clearly was abused as a kid. He had strong telekinetic powers, but doesn't anymore because he killed himself, unfortunately.

Why doesn't he suck?: He gave Superman a stroke. Yep, when ol' blue tights tried to stop The Elite from killing people they didn't like, Manchester Black used his powers to squeeze the blood vessels in Superman's brain and, ta-da, stroke city. I mean, Superman got better, but still. Later, Black made Superman come this close to killing him, nearly proving the big boy scout was a huge hypocrite. Nice.

Mysterio

Who is he?: Quentin Beck was a special effects guru and stuntman until he realized that wasn't going to get him anywhere. He wanted to be famous, though, so, he decided to put those abilities to good use and go make Spider-Man's life really difficult.

Why doesn't he suck?: Mysterio is often considered to be a b-list Spider-Man villain who hung out with the Sinister Six and lost fights with the Power Pack, but consider these facts:

• He once made Spider-Man think he was six inches tall
• He has made dealings with real-deal demons
• He has faked Aunt May's death numerous times

Vandal Savage

Who is he?: A lowly caveman who gained immortality and a huge IQ from the radiation from a meteorite (lucky bastard), Savage has tormented heroes and anybody else who got in his way for more than 50,000 years. He doesn't care much about human life and may have been the first cannibal. Also, he possibly built Stonehenge, which you'd think he'd go back and fix after all these years.

Why doesn't he suck?: Well, if you couldn't figure it out from the description above, I'm not sure I can convince you. I call Savage underrated because he's just not well-known enough. I mean, it's probably because he primarily fights the second-string superheroes in the Justice Society of America. He needs to step up and take on the Justice League more often. You've been alive for 50,000 years, son, get your head in the game! That said, he was pretty badass in the "Justice League" cartoon, where he was apparently the last surviving human (because he killed everyone else, natch).

Hate-Monger

Who is he?: A clone of Adolf Hitler created by scientist Arnim Zola, Hate-Monger takes on the Fantastic Four, Captain America and other heroes. Other versions of the Hate-Monger have popped up (notably a Punisher villain who hated illegal immigration) but the one true Monger was a clone of the evil, evil man with the silly, silly mustache himself.

Why doesn't he suck?: His name is stupid and his origin is kind of dumb, but you can't deny his weaponry: A gun that makes people hate other people. There's nothing quite like the direct approach. Sure, you could make people hate each other with propaganda or effective rhetoric, but why go to all that trouble? Just shoot them with a hate-causing gun. It's beautiful in its simplicity.

Bane

Who is he?: He's the hulking brute who broke Batman's back. He got so huge and strong because he was forced to take a super-drug called venom when he was a child. The poor guy's balls are probably like raisins, which, frankly, would lead anybody to have a complex.

Why doesn't he suck?: Well, you wouldn't know why if all you've seen is his appearances in movies and on TV. In "Batman: The Animated Series" Bane was basically a drug pusher who happened to be gigantic, in "Batman and Robin," he could barely speak. And yes, admittedly, he looks as dumb as just about every other character created in the early '90s. But the TV and movie pretty different from the comics character who plotted, successfully, to wear Batman down by busting every villain out of Arkham Asylum. After months of non-stop crimefighting, Batman was so wiped out that Bane could just pick him up and snap him over his knee. (Take that, douchebag!) Also, Ra's Al Ghul picked Bane as his heir for a short time, so that speaks pretty highly of the guy, since Batman had previously held that dubious honor.

Korvac

Who is he?: Michael Korvac was an under-appreciated computer technician working in the distant future until one day aliens conquered the solar system. He figured it would be cool to betray the human race and hang out with them instead of people. But he quickly became bored with that job, though, and in return he ended up with his torso grafted onto a weird computer thingy. Later, he stole the power cosmic from Galactus, because he just couldn't seem to stop fucking up people's shit.

Why doesn't he suck?: Now largely forgotten since he basically died in 1978 (he came back a couple times), Korvac managed to do something every Kang and Thanos has failed to do (okay, Thanos basically did do it once): He killed all of the Avengers. And here's the kicker: He did it when they discovered he was hiding out in a suburban neighborhood, posing with is cosmic ladyfriend as a nice young couple, waiting for the right time to take over the universe. And you thought your neighbors were weird. Right? Am I right, folks?

Gentleman Ghost

Who is he?: "Gentleman" Jim Craddock grew up poor and fatherless, leading him to steal from 19th-Century English nobility (and really, who better to steal from)? He later traveled to America, to steal from different people, when a couple of gunslingers decided they didn't like his type and hung him by the neck until dead. But you know, Gentleman Jim just didn't feel like leaving this mortal coil, and so he arose as a dashingly-attired invisible phantom, with a monocle and top hat and everything.

Why doesn't he suck?: He's not a well-known supervillain at all, but that's a crime, because, let me repeat this, he is an invisible ghost who wears a tuxedo, top hat and monocle. And sometimes, he rides a flaming horse! And he spends his free time annoying the shit out of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Thanks, Bob Kanigher. Thanks.

KingOblivionPhD@the-iss.com