Batman's nemesis 'The Joker' has fought off X-Men baddie 'Magneto' to be named the world's best-loved villain.
The character, which first appeared in a 1940 Batman comic, has gone through numerous incarnations and has been played on the big screen by Jack Nicholson and then by Heath Ledger in the 2008 film The Dark Knight which won the actor a posthumous Oscar, Contactmusic reported.
'The Joker' was placed atop the new poll conducted by a computer games company, beating 'Magneto' played by Ian McKellen in the X-Men film franchise into second spot.
Third place was taken by Spider-Man's arch-enemy the 'Green Goblin', brought to life by Willem Dafoe in the 2002 blockbuster.
Star Wars villain 'Jabba the Hutt' came in fourth and Superman's nemesis Lex Luther rounded out the top five.