An antagonist can be classed on three orthogonal parameters: * How much danger they, or their plans, pose. * How effective they are. * How much the audience is supposed to hate them. This is a method of quantifying the first one. Superman is locked in a battle with Lex Luthor, who is threatening to melt the polar icecaps and flood the world. Meanwhile, in Gotham, the Joker is going to gas the city and meanwhile in space, the Green Lantern is getting ready to defend against the invading Sinestro Corps. All of these examples have villains that are exhibiting differing levels of threat.