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 both Jack Nicholson and the late Heath Ledger.

The Joker was placed top of the new poll by a computer games company, beating Magneto - played by Sir Ian McKellen in the X-Men film franchise - into second.

Third place was taken by Spider-Man's psychotic arch-enemy the Green Goblin, brought to life by Willem Dafoe in the 2002 webslinger blockbuster.

Star Wars villain Jabba the Hutt came in fourth and Superman's nemesis Lex Luther rounded out the top five.