Random Famous Supervillains Whose Powers Don’t Work The Way You Think (14 items)

(#8) Mystique
- X-Men: Legacy
What You Thought Her Superpower Does: Mystique, AKA Raven Darkholme, is one of the most consistent and prominent X-Men antagonists. Raven has duked it out with Xavier's students across all forms of media, including comics, TV shows, and films. She's a shapeshifter who can turn into any human being.

What Her Superpower Actually Does: Mystique's mutant ability allows her to alter her body on a cellular level. Thus, she can mimic any humanoid (or semi-humanoid appearances) and their clothing (yes, Mystique is naked at all times and morphs her body to resemble clothes). Because Mystique can alter her cells, she can manipulate her own body without necessarily changing her appearance to resemble someone else, like when she moves her organs around in her body or grows an extra limb or two.
(#6) Taskmaster

What You Thought His Superpower Does: Taskmaster has one of the more interesting superpowers in comics history. He can mimic any ability he sees - meaning that if Taskmaster watches an expert swordsman in combat, Taskmaster becomes an expert swordsman.

What His Superpower Actually Does: Taskmaster was born with an ability known as photographic reflexes. Thus, he truly can mimic any ability he sees, but that's not all he's capable of. Thanks to an injection of an evil super-soldier serum, Taskmaster has the physical ability to go up against the various heroes and villains his mercenary lifestyle brings him up against.
(#2) Joker
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
What You Thought His Superpower Does: The average fan can't be blamed for not fully understanding the Clown Prince of Crime's power levels. Almost no character in comic book history has varied throughout their appearances as much as the Joker. Sometimes he's a mobster, and sometimes he's a horrific lunatic stalker. In general, aided by most of his appearances, the average fan seems to believe there is nothing extra-human about the Joker. He has the strength and intelligence of a normal man; he's just a lunatic.

What His Superpower Actually Does: In Grant Morrison's esteemed series Arkham Asylum, it is revealed Joker has a condition known as super-sanity. Basically, the Joker has no real personality of his own and chooses a new personality to inhabit each and every day. This not only accounts for Joker's unique brand of bonkers but also the massive discrepancies between his various incarnations.
(#5) Poison Ivy

What You Thought Her Superpower Does: Poison Ivy is one of the all-time great Batman villains. Through a psychic connection to plants, she can command them to grow or strike at will. Also, she has a poisonous kiss that comes into play more than one would think and has control over men through the use of pheromones.

What Her Superpower Actually Does: Poison Ivy has a plethora of plant-related abilities thanks to her connection to The Green. Fans of Swamp Thing comics will instantly recognize The Green as the elemental force that connects all plant life. A select few characters, like Ivy and Swamp Thing, can connect to The Green, and thus, communicate with and command plant life.
(#12) Bane

What You Thought His Superpower Does: Bane is the ultimate Batman bruiser. Out of every ghoul in the incredibly dangerous Gotham rogues' gallery, no other villain compares to Bane when it comes to sheer physical strength. He's best known for picking Batman up and brutally shattering the Bat's back across his knee.

What His Superpower Actually Does: Bane is much more than just a physical powerhouse. He uses an advanced stimulant known as Venom (unrelated to the symbiote) to enhance every single physical function in his body. His reflexes, speed, healing ability, stamina, and durability are all superhuman.
(#14) Green Goblin
- Marvel 1602
What You Thought His Superpower Does: Norman Osborn is known for running Oscorp, being the father of Harry, and also having a wild alter ego called the Green Goblin. The Goblin's often shown using his various gadgets, like his glider and pumpkin bombs, but there's more to the Goblin than the weapons he fights with.

What His Superpower Actually Does: Norman Osborn developed the Goblin Formula to rival the Super-Soldier Serum taken by Captain America. Taking the formula didn't just make Osborn bonkers; it did actually succeed in mimicking the physical augmentations given to Rogers by the Super-Soldier Serum. Osborn has enhanced strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and durability, plus a healing factor.