direct currentComicshas its fair share of powerful superheroes capable of lifting entire buildings off the ground and catching planes falling from the sky. No matter what threats arise on Earth or elsewhere, a hero with incredible powers and super strength always appears and makes the impossible a reality.
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Whether it's Superman, Wonder Woman, Shazam, or any number of super-powered aliens and cosmic gods, DC has a host of the most powerful superheroes in existence. Whether their strength comes from innate traits in their biology, magical blessings, or powerful man-made enhancements, DC's strongest heroes are capable of feats the common people can only dream of.
Updated May 25, 2022 by Scoot Allan:The DC Universe is full of different sets of powers, although one of the most common shared abilities is super strength. However, there are many levels of super strength that set the heroes apart. Characters like Superman are far above heroes like Hourman, but both are known for their incredible strength. Fans of characters like Black Adam and entities like The Specter often wonder who DC's most powerful superhero is.
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30 Rex Tyler aka Hourman
First impression:adventure comics#48 by writer Ken Fitch, draftsman, inker and marker Bernard Baily and editor Vincent Sullivan
Rex Tyler used the drug Miraclo to become the original Hourman in 1940. Miraclo allowed Hourman to become super strong for an hour. A longtime member of the Justice Society of America, he wasn't always the strongest member of his own team, but he sure could pack a punch.
The drug Miraclo proved to be addictive, but once Rex gave up, he realized his body had internalized the medication's effects. This allowed him to call for an hour without the help of the drug. For a brief period of time, the character went from being able to lift cars over his head to facing Black Adam on an equal footing.
29 Cassie Sandsmark aka Wonder Girl
First impression:Wonder Woman Vol.2 #105 by writer/artist/inker John Byrne, colorist Patricia Mulvihill, and editors Paul Kupperberg and Jason Hernandez-Rosenblatt
Many of the most iconic superheroes have their own sidekicks. Wonder Woman has teamed up with two different Wonder Girls over the years. Introduced as the daughter of Zeus and a true demigoddess, Cassie Sandsmark possesses incredible powers as Wonder Girl. However, she is slightly less powerful than her predecessor, Donna Troy.
Since his passage through teams likeYoung Justice and the Teen Titans, Cassie became a stronger and more effective heroine. She has shown the ability to overpower her teammate Superboy and has destroyed powerful villains such as Major Force and Mammoth of the Fearsome Five.
28 Edward Walker aka Loose Cannon
First impression:Action Comics Annual Vol. quinzeby writer Jeph Loeb, artist Lee Moder, inkers Joe Rubinstein, José Marzan, Jr. and Terry Beatty, colorist Tom Ziuko, letterer Albert DeGuzman and editor Mike Carlin
In the early 1990s, DC Comics used the "Bloodlines" crossover as an excuse to create a bevy of new superheroes and villains. These "New Bloods" were empowered when alien parasites attacked them. Eager to have their own version of the Hulk, DC introduced Loose Cannon, a police officer named Eddie Walker who gained incredible superpowers.
Eddie has taken on a huge, hulking form when he gets incredibly angry. Loose Cannon had several stages in its transformation. When he was initially angry, his skin was bluish, but as he became angrier, it changed hue. The next phase was purple, followed by red until, finally, his skin turned completely white. Like most New Bloods, Eddie was quickly forgotten.
27 Al Rothstein aka Atom Smasher
First Appearance (as Nuklon):All-Star Squad Vol. 1#25, by writer Roy Thomas, artist Jerry Ordway, inker Mike Machlan, colorist Gene D'Angelo, letterer David Cody Weiss and editor Roy Thomas
A frequent member of the Justice Society of America, Al Rothstein, has the ability to grow in size and can change his density and strength directly proportional to that size. If he reaches a height of 60 feet, his abilities will be equal to the strength of a 60-foot person.
Standing over two meters tall even in its natural state, the Atom Smasher possesses a vast amount of untapped power. He has been shown to be able to tear jet planes out of the sky with ease, and can compete with almost anyone with superpowers. Atom Smasher fought Power Girl, Solomon Grundy, Martian Manhunter and Black Adam.
26 Freddy Freeman aka Shazam Jr.
First impression:Whiz Comics Vol 1#25 by writer/colorist/editor Ed Herron and pencillers/inkers C.C. Beck and MacRaboy
Superhero comics love their sidekicks, but Freddy Freeman has the distinction of being one of the first to debut. After Batman got Robin in 1940, Captain Marvel got Captain Marvel Jr. just a year later. Just as the Wizard imbued Billy Batson with Shazam's power, the Cap imparted a portion of his power to Freddy.
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Freddy eventually took over Shazam's role when Billy became the new wizard. Like Shazam, Freddy managed to join the Justice League for a short time. The New 52 reboot of the Shazam Family introduced a new version of Freddy who became Shazam Jr. along with the rest of his foster siblings who shared Shazam's powers.
25 Conner Kent aka Superboy
First impression:adventures of superman vol. 1#500 by writer Jerry Ordway, penciler Tom Grummett, inker Doug Hazlewood, colorist Glenn Whitmore, letterer Albert DeGuzman, and editors Jennifer Frank and Mike Carlin
After Superman lost his life in battle with Doomsday, Cadmus decided to clone the Man of Steel to ensure that Metropolis would always have a protector. Superboy has many of the same superpowers as his mentor, as well as an additional ability called haptic telekinesis, which allowed him some control over everything he touched.
Unfortunately, Conner has had a lot of hardships throughout his career. He discovered that he was partially cloned from Lex Luthor. So they killed him in battle. Connor then rewrote his entire history during the New 52. The character endedback in the pages of Young Justice, and their strength levels have only increased since their previous appearances.
24 Jo Nah aka Ultra Boy
First Appearance: "The Powerpuff Boy!" inSuperboy Vol 1 #98by writer Jerry Siegel, cartoonist Curt Swan, inker George Klein, letterer Milt Snapinn, and editor Mort Weisinger
In the distant future, young heroes from across the universe have banded together to form the Legion of Super-Heroes. When the team needs a little boost, they call on Jo Nah from Rimbor, better known as the mighty superhero Ultra Boy. Of all the Legionnaires with all their different powers, he is easily among the strongest of them all.
While many of these characters use the natural abilities of their alien heritage to protect the citizens of the United Planets, Ultra Boy received his powers from exposure to radiation. He has all of the same abilities as Superman, but Jo Nah can only use one of those powers at a time.
23 Carter Hall aka Hawkman
First impression:comics flash vol. 1#1 by Gardner Fox writer, penciler, inker, and marker Harry Lampert and editor Sheldon Mayer
There have been a few different versions of Hawkman over the years, although the current version is a human named Carter Hall. However, Hall has reincarnated several times since he was first exposed to an alien element known as Nth Metal when he was known as Prince Khufu.
Hawkman wielded powerful weapons and wore armor made from Nth Metal that increased his strength and durability. However, exposure over the centuries has permanently increased his strength. Paired with the powerful metal Nth, Hawkman became capable of holding his own against powerhouses such as Black Adam and Superman.
22 Free Barda, also known as Big Barda
First impression:Mister Miracle Vol. 1#4 by writer/artist/editor Jack Kirby and inker Vince Coletta
The New Gods of New Genesis and Apokolips are some of the most powerful cosmic entities in the DC Universe. They may pale in comparison to Darkseid, but they each have their own strength levels and unique abilities. One of the most powerful among these New Gods is Big Barda, who was trained from a young age to be the leader of Darkseid's elite warriors, the Female Furies.
Big Barda eventually rebelled against its controllers, escaped Apokolips, and joined New Genesis. Big Barda and Mister Miracle were married and living together on Earth, but they entered the fray when necessary. Over the years, Big Barda has proven to be one of the fiercest warriors in the DC Universe, her strength and fighting skills rivaling Wonder Woman's skills.
21 Mary Marvel aka Lady Shazam
First Appearance: "Captain Marvel introduces Mary Marvel" ofCaptain Marvel Adventures Vol. 1#18 by writer Otto Binder, penciller/inker Marc Swayze and editor Al Allard
Mary Marvel holds the distinction of being the first female sequel to a male superhero, preceding Supergirl by over a decade. Like his twin brother Billy Batson, he has been involved in the world of magicians and magic words. By calling Shazam by name, he can gain the same powers as his brother.
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Mary also received her powers from sources other than Shazam. Black Adam had already given her his power, making her more prone to violence. Darkseid further manipulated Mary's powers, turning her into a purely evil entity that could overwhelm someone as strong as Wonder Woman. Going by Lady Shazam in the current continuity, Mary previously took over as Shazam.
20 Buddy Blank aka OMAC
First impression:OMAC Vol. 1#1 by writer/artist/editor Jack Kirby, inker/marker Mike Royer and editor Steve Sherman
There have been several interpretations of the OMAC over the years, but they have all exerted incredible physical force. The original, Buddy Blank, was created by Jack Kirby and was introduced to the apocalyptic wasteland that is later revealed to be where Kamandi lives. The character worked with the sentient satellite Brother Eye as the One Man Army Corps.
A new version of OMAC known as Kevin Kho was introduced in 2011. This incarnation proved to be much more powerful than the original. On more than one occasion, this OMAC has gotten out of hand and wreaked havoc among its own allies. He destroyed the Justice League International at one point and viciously defeated the likes of Power Girl and Steel.
19 Koriand'r aka Starfire
First Appearance: "Teen Titans: Where Nightmares Begin!" inDC Comics Presents Vol. 1#26 by writer Marv Wolfman, artist George Pérez, inker Dick Giordano, colorist Adrienne Roy, letterer Ben Oda and editor Len Wein
Although Starfire's strength has been written inconsistently over the years, she is still one of theThe Strongest Superheroes in the DC Universe. She was Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran before the slavers took her and experimented on her.
Princess Koriand'r developed the ability to produce powerful energy beams that allowed her to escape to Earth. He started a new life with the Titans as Starfire, although the New 52 version first appeared with the Red Hood as an Outlaw. Able to absorb solar energy, Starfire has faced Superman on more than one occasion.
18 Jon Kent aka Superman
First impression:Convergence: Superman Vol 1.#2 by writer/artist Dan Jurgens, inker Norm Rapmund, colorist Brad Anderson, letterer Tom Napolitano, and editors Brittany Holzherr and Marie Javins
Comic book fans have always wondered what it would be like if Superman had a child. Severalother worldsstories that explored this idea. However, DC's Renaissance era introduced Jonathan Samuel Kent, a 10-year-old boy trying to figure out who he was and where he was in the larger DC Universe.
Jonathan had all of his father's superpowers, just to a lesser extent. However, after traveling through space and time with his grandfather, he returned as an adult. Jon Kent has taken on the role of Superman on Earth, while his father runs bigger businesses across the galaxy and multiverse. Even as he grew up, Jon used his skills and strength in ways his father never did.
17 Donna Troy aka Wonder Girl
First apparition:The Brave and the Bold Vol 1#60, by writer Bob Haney, artist/inker Bruno Premiani and editor George Kashdan
Donna Troy was originally a younger version of Diana, but she ended up becoming her own character with no origin to speak of. As a result, several creators have tried to understand her place in the DCU with varying success. However, no matter where Donna goes, she is always extremely strong.
Donna was an orphan, so she was bonded to the Titans of Myth, then she was a magical duplicate of Diana, and so it was established that she was created to fight her former mentor. With abilities similar to Wonder Woman's, Donna Troy has established herself as one of the strongest members of the superhero community, capable of taking on almost any villain on her own.
sixteen Orin aka Arthur Curry aka Aquaman
First impression:Adventure Comics Vol. 1#260 by writer Jerry Coleman, penciler/inker John Sikela and editor Mort Weisinger
While Aquaman is usually associated with his powers to communicate with marine life and the ability to swim really, really fast, he can also pack a punch during the heat of battle. Aquaman has to be incredibly strong to swim freely and survive in the vast depths of the ocean that Atlantis is.
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In the grand scheme of things, Aquaman's strength is pretty impressive. On one notable occasion, he even punched Superman in the face. Instead of breaking his hand, as would any normal person who attempted this would, Aquaman launched the Man of Steel into the air.
15 bizarro
First impression:Superboy vol. 1#68 by writer Otto Binder, penciler/inker George Papp and editor Mort Weisinger
Originally presented as Superman's imperfect copy, Bizarro has all of Superman's abilities (albeit often reversed), but without the intelligence or common sense that comes with the real deal. Whether he hailed from the alternate universe Bizarro World or was a failed genetic clone of the great man, Bizarro possessed the kind of raw power that only Superman could match.
Emlittle red riding hood and the bandits, the group included a clone of Superman with irrepressible power. Bizarro became super-intelligent, allowing him to use his abilities as efficiently as possible. However, there was still one Bizarro who lived in Bizarro World. Superman fought him and the two looked evenly matched despite Bizarro's reversed powers such as cold vision and hot breath.
14 lobo
First impression:Omega Men Vol. 1#3 by writer Roger Slifer, penciler Keith Giffen, inker Mike DeCarlo, colorist Anthony Tollin, letterer John Costanza, and editor Marv Wolfman
As the Last Czarnian, Lobo had the power to destroy his entire race. Living the life of a bounty hunter, it's hard to really consider him a superhero. However, Batman recruited Lobo into his Justice League of America despite the terrible things Lobo had done.
In addition to his uncanny ability to heal any injury imaginable, Lobo possesses an enormous amount of physical strength. When he doesn't let his weapons do the talking, Main Man uses his muscles to take on opponents as strong as Superman. Lobo battled the Green and Red Lanterns and even managed to defeat the mighty New Gods.
13 Lar Gand aka Mon-El aka Valor
First impression:Superboy vol. 1#89 by writer Robert Bernstein, penciller/inker George Papp and editor Mort Weisinger
The Daxamites are an evolutionary offshoot of the Kryptonians. Like their cousins, they gain incredible powers when exposed to Earth's yellow sun. The superhero Mon-El traveled to Earth when a young Clark Kent was still living in Smallville. When exposed to lead, Mon-El had to be placed in the Phantom Zone until cured and recruited into the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Although Daxamites are not considered as strong as Kryptonians, they can still hold their own. Mon-El has shown that he can take on any member of the Superman family in a fight. He's wiped the floor with the likes of Supergirl, Superboy, and even the big man himself from time to time.
12 Diana aka Wonder Woman
First Appearance: "Introducing Wonder Woman" byAll-Star Comics vol. 1No. 8 by writer William Moulton Marston and artist/inker Harry G. Peter
Whether she was made from clay by her mother or the secret daughter of the Greek god Zeus, Wonder Woman remains one of the most powerful superheroes in the DC Universe. Gifted with the powers of the gods, she has many of the same abilities as Superman, including strength, speed, and durability. However, Wonder Woman's Amazonian training also makes her a fierce warrior.
Whether Diana could beat Superman in a fight is a perennial debate among comic book fans. While she has shown herself capable of hurting him, she doesn't have the same raw power. Instead, Wonder Woman dominates her opponents through a combination of her special abilities, superior tactics, and special equipment bestowed on her by the gods.
11 Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl
First Appearance: "Supergirl of Krypton!" inAction Comics Vol. 1#252 by writer Otto Binder, penciler/inker Al Plastino, and editor Mort Weisinger
There have been many versions of Supergirl over the years, but none have been remembered as fondly asKara Zor-El, cousin of Superman. While Kal-El was hurled to Earth as a child from dying Krypton, Supergirl was hurled from Argo City as a teenager. He was trapped in suspended animation until he finally reached Earth, where he absorbed a ton of solar radiation.
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Given her inexperience in using her incredible powers, Supergirl can sometimes seem more powerful than Superman. However, despite her tendency to go all out, she is still getting used to being a superhero. With all of Superman's powers under a yellow sun, Supergirl might even bring out the best in her cousin if she's not careful.