The Key

A criminal chemist who used psycho-chemicals to enhance his own mind to superhuman levels, the Key became obsessed with unlocking the secrets of the universe — and with defeating the Justice League of America, whom he viewed as the ultimate lock to be cracked.

Hatched from the imagination of Silver Age architects Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, The Key made their sinister entrance in Justice League of America #41 back in 1965 — stepping onto a stage already crowded with the very best of the DC universe, from Green Lantern and The Flash to Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. That's rarefied company for any villain to keep, and The Key has kept it across a remarkable span of nearly six decades, turning up in titles as varied as Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam! and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. With two collector-recognized key issues to their name and a presence stretching all the way to 2025, this is a Silver Age original who has genuinely stood the test of time — exactly the kind of deep-cut DC figure that rewards the curious collector who digs past the first tier.