Superman-level characters

[Ghost Shark]

So how may "Superman"-level characters exist in the DCU now?

Superman
Kingdom Come Superman
Supergirl
Wonder Woman
Mon-El
Phantom Zone criminals
100,000 Krypstonians (as per solicitations)
Ultra Boy
Ultraman (Earth 3 and anti-matter versions)
Icon (from Milestone)
Captain Marvel
Cap Jr.
Mary Marvel
Black Adam
Martian Manhunter (He'll be back eventually)
Orion
Darkseid
Apollo
Majestic


Any more? As much as I love some of these characters, do you feel this robs Superman of his uniqueness?

Just curious as to your thoughts.

[shadow knight]

Alot of the people you listed aren't Superman level. WW, Apollo, Cap Marvel jr and MM aren't Superman level. While they are quite powerful Superman is considerably more powerful.

[Ghost Shark]

Depends on whose writing them, I've found. I'm commenting more on the similarity of power levels and how it makes Superman seem less super overall. Not to mention, more variety in powers and levels thereof is sorely needed in the DCU.

[tyoung]

and doesn't, or didn't Marvel Jr and Mary Marvel draw their powers from Captain Marvel and when they did it made him a bit weaker since he was sharing?

I don't know it makes Superman any less 'super' I think what makes it interesting is the weaknesses..

Superman comes in to save the day, but someone whips out some kryptonite and it sidelines him (it seems that stuff has become much easier to get your hands on in recent) Martian Manhunter swoops in but a bit of fire takes him out...

its interesting to see how the weaknesses will be exploited..how a god will basically be turned impotent...but at the same time it seems to happen all too easily...

one of the most memorable moments in comics for me was in an issue of something..it had Superman and Superboy....i think Superboy was out of his time somehow and to fix it Superman flew into Superboy at high speed...i think they phrased it the irresistible force meeting the immovable object...and it ended up ripping a hole in time..or something...

I get a kick out of the near infinite power levels at times...

it wasn't until i started getting into Manga and anime that it really got crazy, most notably with series like Dragonball with Goku always getting stronger and stronger until they could destroy a planet with a flick of their finger...

but even as strong as they got there was always a force to come in and challenge them...

i initially thought it was crazy, but i thought the resolution of the series was really well handled. with then acknowledging that that was always going to be an issue so the main hero was 'killed' off, but not really...

i dunno..i enjoyed that...that the fighting, at least for him, wasn't malicious, but ultimately was about testing himself and wanting to become better and it was overall fun...

they always sort of complain about not knowing how to write Superman...most of our mainstream characters always seem so full of angst...i have to wonder if they're having any fun being themselves or if they wake up some days and just dread having to put the costume on because of the drudge...

tho i think Captain Marvel would be the coolest...who wouldn't want to shout SHAZAM! and have that magic lightning bolt...lol..

sorry..im rambling...lol..

[Shazam69]

"and doesn't, or didn't Marvel Jr and Mary Marvel draw their powers from Captain Marvel and when they did it made him a bit weaker since he was sharing?"

uhmmm, no this has been retconed away. This no longer happens. It was a terrible idea to begin with. One of the very few problems I had with The Power of Shazam series. But as I said, they did away with that concept.

Mike

[foxley]

Don't forget Bizarro.

[Kage Kisaragi]

Power Girl
Starfire (She can go one on one with Wonder Woman)

you can add as another two.

[Calybos]

And the entire population of the planet Daxam, under a yellow sun.

[Hypestyle]

hmm... I want to see Icon battle General Zod...

[Samuraixsithlord]

Power Girl
Starfire (She can go one on one with Wonder Woman)

you can add as another two.

Superman is just a little bit more powerful then Powergirl.

Were did Starfire go one on one with WW? If you're talking about Teen Titans WW was holding back, she even said so herself. Plus Superman took Star out in two panels in the first arc of Superman/Batman

[pryde15]

Night Girl is as strong as Superman, when she is not in direct sunlight.

[foxley]

If we're just going for pure strength and not other powers then you can add:

Doomsday
Mongul (and Mongal)

[Kage Kisaragi]

Superman is just a little bit more powerful then Powergirl.

Were did Starfire go one on one with WW? If you're talking about Teen Titans WW was holding back, she even said so herself. Plus Superman took Star out in two panels in the first arc of Superman/Batman

You asked for Superman level characters. Half the people you mentioned on your own list would get clobbered by Superman, if 1.) He doesn't hold back. 2.) There are no circumstances for him to be weaker than normal.

A little bit more powerful hardly disqualifies Power Girl when you have Supergirl sitting right there. Also regardless of Wonder Woman holding back or not Kori IS ALWAYS holding back less we wouldn't have a planet earth anymore. See Kori vs Brainiac.

Um, Superman and Batman take out everyone in Superman & Batman, its why its called World's Finest. Because they beat the crap out of everyone else regardless. Apparently working together under misguided influence both can rule the entire planet and pose a threat to even Darksied. :eek:

Not trying to be snippy by the way.

[JCAll]

If we're just going for pure strength and not other powers then you can add:

Doomsday
Mongul (and Mongal)

Lobo
Etrigan, maybe

But once we start breaking him down into individual powers it's going to get ridiculous.

[JCAll]

Um, Superman and Batman take out everyone in Superman & Batman, its why its called World's Finest. Because they beat the crap out of everyone else regardless. Apparently working together under misguided influence both can rule the entire planet and pose a threat to even Darksied. :eek:

That Kryptonite powered Doomsday sure beat the crap out of them. Well, Superman, he just trashed Batman's stuff.

[Kage Kisaragi]

That Kryptonite powered Doomsday sure beat the crap out of them. Well, Superman, he just trashed Batman's stuff.

Yeah and then what happen. Batman and the master detective called his mom and dad and that as they say was that. Sounds like the typical school yard fight doesn't.

K Boy: Man, I'm kicking your arse Super dupe.
Superman: I will not let you bully me just because I get nauseous around you. *burp!* uuhhh my stomach.
K Boy: I'm gonna make your hurl.
Batman: Leave my buddy alone or else!
K Boy: Or else what?
Batman: Mr and Mrs Kryptonite, your son is picking on people again!
K Boy: Ahh, dude you suck. You called my parents?! *runs away to mommy*

[Libaax]

Martian Manhunter powers are very similer to Supes and some of his are even superior. His weakness is similar to Supes too in a way it can make him impotent as easy.


The one i have read atleast should be as powerful as Supes or near him.

Just because he isnt Superman popular and not a icon doesnt make his powers less....

[Xero]

It's a shorter list.

Superman
Shango (African Thor)
Atlas
Lobo
Captain Marvel
Wonder Woman
Power Girl
Hercules
Martian Manhunter
Icon (Icon is tough, but not Superman tough)
Captain Atom
The Shield (yep he was Archie's Superman)
Jemm Son of Saturn
The Olympian

[JohnRD]

Alot of the people you listed aren't Superman level. WW, Apollo, Cap Marvel jr and MM aren't Superman level. While they are quite powerful Superman is considerably more powerful.


Actually Martian Manhunter was at one point supposed to be more powerful than Superman.

[krammocon]

Superman is just a little bit more powerful then Powergirl.

Umm excuse me... Power Girl is a more mature, developed and experienced Supergirl, so If you don't consider her as Superman-level then what the hell is Supergirl doing on that list!

Oh well, half of the list on 1st post aren't even close to Superman-level, so there. :rolleyes:

[Stanlos]

Alot of the people you listed aren't Superman level. WW, Apollo, Cap Marvel jr and MM aren't Superman level. While they are quite powerful Superman is considerably more powerful.


Really? Because Superman books and Captain Marvel books and Wonder Woman books all agree that Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, and J'onn J'onzz are indeed Superman level characters.

[Stanlos]

Umm excuse me... Power Girl is a more mature, developed and experienced Supergirl, so If you don't consider her as Superman-level then what the hell is Supergirl doing on that list!

Oh well, half of the list on 1st post aren't even close to Superman-level, so there. :rolleyes:

I recall reading that among the femmes of the DCU, Peege was ranked below Supergirl. Supergirl ranked higher than all of the ladies except Wonder Woman.

[Stanlos]

Superman is just a little bit more powerful then Powergirl.

Were did Starfire go one on one with WW? If you're talking about Teen Titans WW was holding back, she even said so herself. Plus Superman took Star out in two panels in the first arc of Superman/Batman

Does anyone know how strong (lifting strength) is these days? Previously, she wasn't as strong as Donna Troy. If I remember right, she was more 'enhanced strength' than superstrength in those dayes. A Byrne issue of Titans pegged her at as strong as two or three weight lifters. What is she like now?

[Kage Kisaragi]

I recall reading that among the femmes of the DCU, Peegee was ranked below Supergirl. Supergirl ranked higher than all of the ladies except Wonder Woman.

Except that Supergirl and Power Girl have fought on two occasion and neither showed signs of having the upper hand against the other. (PeeGee's level were in flux for quiet a number of years and were only recently restored to New Earth Kryptonian levels.) Not only that but she bested Wonder Woman once already (I don't care what anyone says sneak attack or not, she had the power to knock her out which means shes a threat to WW.)

[Kage Kisaragi]

Does anyone know how strong (lifting strength) is these days? Previously, she wasn't as strong as Donna Troy. If I remember right, she was more 'enhanced strength' than superstrength in those dayes. A Byrne issue of Titans pegged her at as strong as two or three weight lifters. What is she like now?

Her physical strength is mentioned as being far more powerful or overwhelmingly more powerful than Cyborg. Cyborg is in 5 metric tons range. Also Super Human Strength and Super Strength are interchangable, obviously the Gorillas of Gorilla City have enhanced strength or super strength but they don't say they have Super Human Strength because they aren't humans or is a base gorillas strength comparable to a base human.

I checked another website. (DC Database and they have Cyborg at 15 Tons.)

Also if you go by some of the comments and reactions of other Titans, you quickly get the impression that Kori is quiet strong. Superboy once referenced her as possibly able to decapitate him and the other titans whether this was a actual indication of her strength level or threat level or not is up for interpretation or he could have just been jesting, but it should be pointed out that Conner himself is very much nigh indestructible by normal means.

[K-DoG7p7]

there are many on Supermans level.. but only one above..


Batman!

[Samuraixsithlord]

Does anyone know how strong (lifting strength) is these days? Previously, she wasn't as strong as Donna Troy. If I remember right, she was more 'enhanced strength' than superstrength in those dayes. A Byrne issue of Titans pegged her at as strong as two or three weight lifters. What is she like now?

The thing with Pee Gee is that due to her trans-dimentional nature her powers would shift and change all the time.

Since Infinate Crisis, it looks like her powers have finally mellowed out.

I'd say she's slightly stronger the Supergirl because she's older and she has more muscle mass.

[Samuraixsithlord]

Umm excuse me... Power Girl is a more mature, developed and experienced Supergirl, so If you don't consider her as Superman-level then what the hell is Supergirl doing on that list!

Oh well, half of the list on 1st post aren't even close to Superman-level, so there. :rolleyes:

Well i'm looking at Male and Female Kryptonians like I look at Male and Female humans and I assume that the Male Kryptonians are stronger then the female. Not to say tha women are inferior all you feminists out their. It's just simple genetics, men are stronger then women

Plus Kryptonians get stronger as they get older and Clark is older then Power Girl. Kingdom Come Superman is currently the strongest version of Superman on New Earth.

The older Superman from Superman/Batman easily manhandled his younger self to

[Kage Kisaragi]

Well i'm looking at Male and Female Kryptonians like I look at Male and Female humans and I assume that the Male Kryptonians are stronger then the female. Not to say tha women are inferior all you feminists out their. It's just simple genetics, men are stronger then women

Plus Kryptonians get stronger as they get older and Clark is older then Power Girl. Kingdom Come Superman is currently the strongest version of Superman on New Earth.

The older Superman from Superman/Batman easily manhandled his younger self to

This is all true to a degree, and I'll even admit at one point Kara did ask Karen "How strong are you?"

[K-DoG7p7]

Well i'm looking at Male and Female Kryptonians like I look at Male and Female humans and I assume that the Male Kryptonians are stronger then the female. Not to say tha women are inferior all you feminists out their. It's just simple genetics, men are stronger then women


then again.. look at the animal kingdom and you see that.. while yes.. in general Males are stronger.. the females however are usually faster and stuff

[Samuraixsithlord]

the females however are usually faster and stuff

How do you mean? If you mean sprinting then men could run faster then women, because men have more muscle mass, men can produce more energy. If you are talking reflexes, men and women are about the same.

Again not to upset any women out their, there's nothing physically that a woman can do that a man can't do better. Again this is just simple genetics.

[Kage Kisaragi]

From Superman to Animal Kingdom, just more proof you never know which way these threads will go.

[robbieglenn]

Some people have gotta resist the temptation to fight for literally no reason....:smile:

[Samuraixsithlord]

Captain Marvel can beat Superman. Some of you are just in pathetic denile about that.

By holding onto him and saying shazam over and over again.

[carabas]

In Morrison's JLA, he once just suckerpunched Superman. One-hit KO.

[Spiffy]

Captain Marvel can beat Superman. Some of you are just in pathetic denile about that.
I might debate that if I had any idea what "denile" is.

Okay, how about asking a question. Which VERSION of Superman?

[frostedone]

What issue was the Starfire vs Brainiac fight in?

[Kage Kisaragi]

What issue was the Starfire vs Brainiac fight in?

Starfire fought along side the rest of the Outsiders/Titans when their cross over had them fighting against Brainiac 8, Brainiac, Superboy and Lex Luthor. Star took out Brainiac with practically one attack.

[Spiffy]

Silver Age Superman
The version who could tow planets around behind him and fly through suns?

Yeah. I'm thinking that version was written as more powerful than I've ever read Captain Marvel. On one level it makes no sense, since someone who's powers came from Gods should probably be stronger than someone who's merely relocated between solar systems, then again, Wonder Woman got her powers from Gods too, and she's not more powerful.

[Samuraixsithlord]

I think Superman could beat Captain Marvel.

Post-Crisis Superman is stronger then Cap, The only thing is Superman always holds back.

Another thing is that Billy is a kid, He's not to much for tactical thinking, and he doesn't seem to be very cunning.

and as for Cap taking out Superman in one hit, he sucker punched him when Superman wasn't paying attention. The Thing sucker punched the Hulk and knocked him out, does that mean The Thing can beat him in a fight?

[The_Professor]

In direct reply to the original post...

So how may "Superman"-level characters exist in the DCU now?

Superman
Kingdom Come Superman
Supergirl
Wonder Woman
Mon-El
Phantom Zone criminals
100,000 Krypstonians (as per solicitations)
Ultra Boy
Ultraman (Earth 3 and anti-matter versions)
Icon (from Milestone)
Captain Marvel
Cap Jr.
Mary Marvel
Black Adam
Martian Manhunter (He'll be back eventually)
Orion
Darkseid
Apollo
Majestic


Any more? As much as I love some of these characters, do you feel this robs Superman of his uniqueness?

Just curious as to your thoughts.

...one particular name that stands out in the crowd:

Doctor Manhattan

[frostedone]

Don't forget Metallo(?) and Doomsday.

[The_Professor]

....hmmm.... actually, would dr. manhattan be above and beyond the 'superman-level'?

[Samuraixsithlord]

....hmmm.... actually, would dr. manhattan be above and beyond the 'superman-level'?

Dr. Manhatten didn't really get any screen time with his powers in Watchman. Sure he can do some cool stuff, but nothing that Captain Atom couldn't do

[The_Professor]

Dr. Manhatten didn't really get any screen time with his powers in Watchman. Sure he can do some cool stuff, but nothing that Captain Atom couldn't do

Good point. Though that doesn't nullify Dr. M. :wink:

Wouldn't either of those 2 characters be above and beyond the "superman-level"?

I'm a huge fan of Superman, though I won't play favorites <lol> just because he might be my favorite (or one of them, at least)... I still believe the Dr. M. "type" is above and beyond that "-level". :smile:

[Damiean Dark]

Manhattan is far more powerful imo

Control over space and time,
Regeneration,
Energy and matter manipulation,
Flight,
Immortality,Superhuman strength, speed and durability,
Intangibility,
Precognition,
Teleportation,
Self-duplication,
Superhuman growth

[The_Professor]

To help keep this thread from either getting off subject from the OP, or from turning into a 'versus' thread, like Cptn. Atom vs Doc M., I think I'll go ahead and "bump" the Watchmen thread (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=232715). :tongue: (...it's in this section of the forums).

Though I'm sure if someone wants to create a "versus" thread for those 2, that would spark some interesting replies! :evilsmile:

[Paul Newell]

To help keep this thread from either getting off subject from the OP, or from turning into a 'versus' thread, like Cptn. Atom vs Doc M., I think I'll go ahead and "bump" the Watchmen thread (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=232715). :tongue: (...it's in this section of the forums).

Though I'm sure if someone wants to create a "versus" thread for those 2, that would spark some interesting replies! :evilsmile:
Just to let you know, all VS. threads go to Rumbles, which is their home.

[The_Professor]

Just to let you know, all VS. threads go to Rumbles, which is their home.

Yep, I just posted a "vs" thread on those 2 characters in rumbles. ;)

[JCAll]

Manhattan is far more powerful imo

Control over space and time,
Regeneration,
Energy and matter manipulation,
Flight,
Immortality,Superhuman strength, speed and durability,
Intangibility,
Precognition,
Teleportation,
Self-duplication,
Superhuman growth

Doc M. can't control SpaceTime. He can see the future and past as if they were the present, but is hopelessly bound to them. And he never displayed any speed, strength, or durability to rival Superman. His only real feat of strength is when he went giant and took down a wall.

The rest is right.

And Cap Atom would wipe the floor with him. Ask Earth 51. Oh wait, you can't.

[comicstar100]

I would mark Triumph up their with him, he fought supes toe to toe

[kane]

We have to take into account that in Busiek's run Superman got an upgrade, so even if some characters were on his level (or almost on his level) before they should be far weaker than him now.

[The_Professor]

We have to take into account that in Busieks run Superman got an upgrade, so even if some characters were on his level (or almost on his level) before they should be far weaker than him now.

Busieks?

...

[kane]

Busieks?

...
(Kurt) Busiek's :smile: