Time for the big reveal…

We had a blast with this second-ever Flash Villain contest (first was in 2021, and you can read it here). With no shortage of real-world villains in our modern era, there was comfort in the opportunity to delve deeply into your fictional ones. We appreciated seeing such a variety of takes on the villain/antihero theme, with some truly grim stories making it into our Top 10. But others subverted expectations, with some poignant entries making it in. One even made us laugh. 

We like stories that surprise us, and as always, it was a joy to read what you all cooked up. 

But enough yammering.  

Close-but-no-cigar shortlist shout-outs go to:

Andrei Atanasov
Joyce Bingham
Andrea DeAngelis (2)
Christopher Frew
Liz Fyne
Kris Grabarek
Saoirse Laing
Eoin Nordman
Madeleine Pelletier
Aeryn Rudel
Emily Shipman
Aza Smith
Stephen Venuti
Dana Wall
Alpheus Williams

The Top 10 that you’ll find below will be published
in our forthcoming Flash Villain mega-issue.

10th: “Catwoman Ponders the Intangibles While Drinking a Whiskey Sour at McDevitt’s Ale House in Gotham City” by Beth Sherman

9th: “It’s a Living” by Cindy Pereira

8th: “Happenings at Mel’s Grocery” by Michael Carter

7th: “Potter’s Field” by Aza Smith

6th: “Daddy’s Girl” by Colin Alexander

5th: “Gina” by Rebecca Klassen

4th: “What to Do When Your Loved One Is Abducted” by Emily Livingstone

And now for the three stories that really hit the spot…

3rd Prize ($100)

“Rattlesnake Mothers Don’t Nurse Their Young”
by Colin Alexander

2nd Prize ($200)

“The Entertainer”
by Nicki Blake

1st Prize ($300)

“Girl Number One”
by AD Schweiss

Congrats to the winners and a huge thanks to everyone who participated in our Flash Villain 2025 contest! 

Check back by the end of the week for the Flash Villain mega-issue.