Last week, we listed 10 risible superheroes who have less-than-desirable catchphrases.

Of course, the noble brotherhood of supervillains isn't exempt from catchphrase hell, either. Here's 10 who are deep in that semantic pit.

Doctor Sivana

Catchphrase:
"Curses! Foiled again!"

Why it's a problem:
Let's look past the fact that it's a phrase that has become the biggest supervillain cliche ever, and get right down to the heart of the matter. This is a catchphrase based on failure. For it to be known as one's catchphrase, then, is to imply that that person is always going to fail, and expects to do so. It pegs the speaker as a loser and a defeatist. That's no way to go through life. Plus, what do you do if you actually win one? You have nothing to say.

So, Doctor Sivana, I propose that you find a new lease on life and begin loudly shouting, "I won!" even if you're beaten so badly that you'll have to eat and breathe through tubes for a month. You'll feel better, and people will remember you as a winner, even though, let's face it, you aren't.

Venom

Catchphrase:
"We are Venom!"

Why it's a problem:
Look, it's fine to introduce yourself by your supervillain handle after the accident that makes you into a man-eating creature of living goop or even upon your first encounter with your arch-nemesis, but after that, well, it just comes off as kind of self-indulgent and, frankly, redundant.

Yes, we know you're Venom. Why not use those ever-important pre-battle moments for saying something that will really have an effect on your nemesis rather than just reminding him of your name, you know, just in case he forgot the name of the opposite number who's bugging him, like, every week? Might we suggest, "Fuck you, Parker?"

General Zod

Catchphrase:
"Kneel before Zod!"

Why it's a problem:
If it existed purely in a vacuum, there would be nothing wrong with this supervillain catchphrase. It's got a pitch-perfect level of arrogance mixed in with domination of subordinates and clear delusions of grandeur. It even manages to get his name in there without seeming forced (take note, Venom).

No, this is a case, like with many okay-to-good movies and bands, where the fans just ruined it. As soon as "Kneel before Zod" became the battle cry of message-board nerds who thought themselves the winner of a forum argument, it was dead. So very dead.

Galactus

Catchphrase:
"I HUNGER!"

Why it's a problem:
Well, it's certainly not too wordy. No, this catchphrase seems to suffer from the opposite problem: It sounds like something a toddler would say.

And that would be fine if Galactus was supposed to be some kind of giant intergalactic infant like the one at the end of "2001," going around eating planets. But he isn't. He's "the most awesome living entity in the cosmos." You'd think, then, he could manage something a little more erudite than three syllables, shouted loudly.

The Riddler

Catchphrase:
"Riddle me this..."

Why it's a problem:
Simply, it doesn't make any goddamn sense.

I know it's supposed to be an original twist on "answer me this" or "solve these riddles three" or whatever, but riddle just isn't a verb. At least, not in the sense that the Riddler tries to use it. I mean, you can riddle someone with bullets or even with riddles, but never, ever (or at least not in the last couple centuries) has the word riddle meant, "the act of solving a riddle." Even if it was a verb in that context, wouldn't it mean, like, asking a riddle?

My head hurts.

Dr. Claw

Catchphrase:
"I'll get you next time, Gadget...next time!"

Why it's a problem:
While Dr. Claw avoids the pitfall of the aforementioned Dr. Sivana, there is one big flaw here. This is what we call a "dependent catchphrase." That is to say, it relies on the existence of another character, usually a hero (in this case, Inspector Gadget).

Dependent catchphrases are awfully limiting, in that they tend to only allow villains to face off against just one hero. What's especially bad about this one is the assumption that there will, in fact, be a next time, with the implication that Dr. Claw expects another 30-minute gag-fest in which an incompetent cyborg, a young girl and a bipedal dog best him, when he probably should simply be considering ways to burn their house down one night and get the whole thing over with.

The Blob

Catchphrase:
"Nothing can move the Blob!"

Why it's a problem:
It is patently, on-its-face false.

Sure, it's difficult to gain enough momentum to topple the Blob. It may even be tough for the average Joe to acquire the leverage to lift him up or push him forward. But something can absolutely move him. I mean, he can walk, right? So the Blob can move himself. No other test is needed. Something can, in fact, move the blob. Case closed.

Hydra

Catchphrases:
"Hail Hydra!", "Cut off one head, and two more will take its place"

Why they're a problem:
It's confusing. What exactly are they hailing? Themselves? Madame Hydra? The mythical creature with nine heads? Hell if I know.

As for their other phrase, it's an appropriate, if maybe a little-too-on-the-nose, allusion to the mythical Hydra. But boy, it's a mouthful, isn't it? Would it be too much to sacrifice literary reference for directness? "You cannot defeat us!" seems like it would get the point across pretty well.

Harley Quinn

Catchphrase:
"Mistah J"

Why it's a problem:
This is another example of the dependent catchphrase, but of a different variety. Where Dr. Claw's relies on the existence of a hero, this one is dependent on the existence of a so-called "boss villain," forever locking in the speaker as a "number two."

So if the young Ms. Quinn ever wants to set out on her own in this white-knuckle, claw-your-way-to-the-top business we call villainy, she'd better find something new.

Juggernaut

Catchphrases:
"Nothing can stop the Juggernaut", "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!"

Why they're a problem:
To quickly debunk phrase, No. 1: The Juggernaut can stop himself, therefore the phrase is not true. Although it does make one wonder what would happen if an "unstoppable" force (Juggernaut) met an "immovable" object (Blob). Take note, Marvel writers.

As for the second one, I know it's not really something that's ever been used in comics, but it got popular enough to make it into a (terrible) movie, so it counts. And here's all I'll say about it: It is very, very stupid.

KingOblivionPhD@the-iss.com