# Strongest Superheroes (plural) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640 "2010-05-25T00:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bramma23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bramma23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bramma23)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/1 "2010-05-25T00:04:58Z")
I don’t know much about superheroes, but I figure Superman is the runaway leader in terms of strength. So, who else are some of the strongest superheroes? who rounds out the top 10 or 20? Hulk? Colossus? Beast? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/2 "2010-05-25T00:19:20Z")
From Marvel: Hulk (She-Hulk?) Thor (Thunderstrike? Beta Ray Bill?) Colossus Juggernaut Namor Wonder Man Thing Gladiator Silver Surfer Sentry Ms. Marvel Hyperion Rogue? These are just heroes. There’re plenty of villains with similar levels of strength. ---
**Author:** ![bramma23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bramma23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bramma23)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/3 "2010-05-25T00:23:07Z")
You can add villains too if you want. I really meant comic book characters in general but I just typed heroes by default. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/4 "2010-05-25T00:24:53Z")
I’ve always thought that the Hulk was, by far, stronger than any other character in the Marvel universe. By a long shot. His strength is only limited by his anger. If you keep him going in a fight his strength will just continue to climb without ever hitting a ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/5 "2010-05-25T00:30:10Z")
Hulk is the strongest, so far as I remember. I believe the big three, muscle-wise, are Hulk \> Thor \> Juggernaut, though Sentry, a Silver Age Superman pastiche, may be stronger than all of them at his peak. I’m not sure. Silver Surfer and Gladiator are at the next level, I think, then things get really fuzzy. > [@bramma23](#): > > You can add villains too if you want. I really meant comic book characters in general but I just typed heroes by default. Then you can add Apocalypse Thanos Ultron Mephisto Onslaught Abomination Absorbing Man Galactus Void? etc. I don’t know a thing about DC beyond its Big Seven ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/6 "2010-05-25T00:38:31Z")
Galactus, as long as he’s recently fed. Hungry, the writers could probably have Aunt May bean him with a rolling pin. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/7 "2010-05-25T03:27:51Z")
Marvel Universe uses a [“Strength Level”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strength_level) system. “Strength 1000” is the highest class, which means “unlimited.” Hulk, Thor, and eternals generally are the only ones in this class. The DC universe uses a scale up to 100, which is virtually the same. Iirc, heroes in this class include Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman (in water.) ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/8 "2010-05-25T03:35:13Z")
A lot of these things change so much from writer to writer to writer, plot to plot, year to year, etc. It’s the like space ships which move at the Speed of Plot. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/9 "2010-05-25T03:54:00Z")
I’m not a superhero or comic book fan by a longshot, so this may not be what you are looking for. But when I think of “strong and nothing else,” I think of two characters: 1. The Tick 2. Mr. Incredible (from The Incredibles) ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sealemon2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/10 "2010-05-25T04:05:20Z")
From the DC side: Superman Wonder Woman Martian Manhunter Captain Marvel (“Shazam!”) Cyborg Power Girl Troia Aquaman Steel Hourman Orion Big Bertha Supergirl I guess you could count Green Lantern…he’s used the ring before to enhance his strength. There are also comic level types who can basically give themselves super strength, but it’s not what they’re necessarily known for (Like The Specter). Strangely enough Plastic Man can also give himself some impressive strength by forming the right shape. Villian Side: Bizzaro Black Adam Doomsday various White Martians Mongul Kalibak Superboy Prime Solomon Grundy Giganta and plenty of others. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sealemon2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/11 "2010-05-25T04:07:33Z")
Since it’s established canon that the Hulk has no upper limit to his strength, that means that Hulk really IS the strongest there is, although it would take a real mad on to reach the [power level of…say…Superboy Prime (although World War hulk made it clear that it can be done) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/12 "2010-05-25T04:08:10Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Marvel Universe uses a [“Strength Level”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strength_level) system. “Strength 1000” is the highest class, which means “unlimited.” Hulk, Thor, and eternals generally are the only ones in this class. From when I was reading Marvel back in the 80s and 90s, the big hitters were Hulk, Thor, and Hercules (and, as has been pointed out, Hulk could probably pass the gods, if he got mad enough). At the next rung down, you had guys like the Thing, Colossus, and Wonder Man. I can’t remember where Galactus would get put on that scale…as has been already noted, it probably depended on (a) how recently he’d eaten, and (b) the needs of the plot of that particular story. I suppose that the Beyonder (ugh) could be mentioned, though, IIRC, he was fundamentally infinitely powerful, as he represented the entirety of an alternate reality, or some such rubbish. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/13 "2010-05-25T04:09:22Z")
Then there’s the [Impossible Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impossible_Man) who theoretically could be as strong as anyone he observes or I guess, even imagines. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/14 "2010-05-25T04:41:27Z")
The “most powerful” characters in the Marvel universe don’t have their powers measured in strength. As mentioned, the Beyonder, the Impossible Man, and the Molecule Man could theoretically kill anyone, including the eternals, Galacticus, the Hulk, etc. using their powers, but without using “strength” to do it. These characters generally have powers that can reform matter at the sub-atomic level and/or on a galactic scale. And then, there’s a whole group of “magic” characters, who have their strength measured on another scale, that may or may not be compatible with the other groups. For example, Dr. Strange can basically do anything with magic, in effect, being as powerful as the Beyonder. And then, there’s the “psychic” characters who use telekinesis or mental powers that are just as powerful as anyone mentioned above. In fact, Charles Xavier routinely spanks the Juggernaut to such a point that the Juggernaut uses not one but two helmets to protect himself from psychic attacks. But, if we limit this discussion to brute strength only, the Marvel classification is just as good as any. Basically, it’s just like the number of bench presses someone can do at the NFL combine. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/15 "2010-05-25T04:49:07Z")
> [@Sealemon2.0](#): > > Superman > Wonder Woman > Martian Manhunter > Captain Marvel (“Shazam!”) > Cyborg > Power Girl > Troia > Aquaman > Steel > Hourman > Orion > Big Bertha > Supergirl I’m not sure Hourman, Steel, or Cyborg belong on that list - they’re strong, but not nearly as strong as the others (I’d probably put Aquaman as the lower limit of the top tier). Hourman’s definitely a lower tier - closer to Bane than to Superman. (Venom being a Miraclo derivative, and all.) And I assume you mean Big Barda, not Big Bertha. Others in the top tier, both heroes and villains: Mon-El/Valor/M’onel - Daxamites have the same powerset as Kryptonians, only their weakness is lead, not Kryptonite. Ultra Boy - has the same power set as Kryptonians and Daxamites, but can only use one at a time (and his ‘penetra-vision’ is stymied by copper, not lead). Doesn’t seem to be dependent on solar radiation, and is no more vulnerable to lead or Kryptonite than an ordinary human. Every OTHER Kryptonian character - of which, currently, 4 major ones are alive, aside from those already mentioned - Zod, Ursa, Non, and Lor-Zod/Chris Kent. Superboy is iffy - does he have Kryptonian strength, or is it just his tactile telekinesis? It used to be the latter, but more recently, he started developing actual Kryptonian powers. Functionally, though, it’s not much of a difference. Lobo - the Main Man can throw down with Superman. All 3 Marvels are pretty close to the same level (although, currently, only Freddy, formerly Captain Marvel, jr, or CM3, now Shazam, is still around). Osiris - essentially the Freddy to Black Adam’s Billy. Darkseid - though he rarely needs to use it. Parasite - depending who he’s eaten, recently. Some versions of the android Brainiac/Brainiac drones are at that level, as they have to deal with Superman. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/16 "2010-05-25T12:25:57Z")
I don’t know if he’s still in any continuity, but back in the Silver Age the strongest superhero in the DC universe was definitely **Duplicate Boy**. They used him sparingly, because he could obviously wipe anyone else off the map. What the heck can you do with such a character that has any possibility of dramatic tension? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplicate\_Boy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplicate_Boy) Answer: One story pitted him against **Bouncing Boy** (as a romantic rival). One of the few cases where both were appropriate – the most powerful vs. the least powerful. As i understand it, there are other characters now who have powers that sound like descriptions of stock derivatives who are arguably more powerful (“His power is the ability to be greater than anyone else’s power”), which seems like cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/17 "2010-05-25T13:31:06Z")
Meh…all wimps. Try the Saint of Killers on for size. Note he killed God and the Devil and has, among other things, survived a nuclear strike dropped directly on him. > [@](#): > > The Saint of Killers is completely impervious to harm. Bullets bounce off him, a direct hit from a tank doesn’t affect him, being underneath a collapsing mountain simply means digging himself out, and being hit in the chest with a nuclear missile causes no damage to him or his clothes. He can easily knock away tanks with a simple kick and he can be hit by a speeding truck without flinching. He is an expert marksman able to draw his guns at superhuman speeds. He possesses a pair of Walker Colt revolvers fashioned from the Angel of Death’s sword. They possess unlimited ammunition, never jamming or needing to be reloaded. They always hit their mark (except when Custer uses the Word to tell him to miss), even piercing modern tank armor to reach the intended target, and always inflict fatal injuries or death regardless of circumstance or nature of the victim (including angels and demons). Even God and the Devil are not immune to the bullets, considering that the Saint has killed them both (the only being ever to have survived being shot by the Saint was Cassidy, but Garth Ennis later admitted that he was still working out the character of the Saint at that point and was a technical mistake). Anyone holding one of the guns can see the spirits of the many people that the Saint has personally killed. > > SOURCE: [List of Preacher characters - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Preacher_characters#Saint_of_Killers) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/18 "2010-05-25T13:35:57Z")
Captain Marvel fights Superman to a draw in _Kingdom Come_, but Cap’s powers are magical, so that might not be a true apples-to-apples comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/19 "2010-05-25T13:36:54Z")
Missed edit window: Perhaps Jesse Custer is more powerful though: > [@](#): > > When his soul becomes merged with the angel-demon entity Genesis, its powers, that of which is greater than God’s, are focused into what Jesse Custer refers to as “The Word of God.” When he uses the Word, his eyes turn red and his voice sounds like “nails scraping against [your] soul.” Although, no one can resist his commands, his victims must be able to understand them, meaning that those who do not speak English cannot be commanded by him. Jesse prefers to keep his Word in reserve, using it only when necessary. > > SOURCE: [List of Preacher characters - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Preacher_characters#Jesse_Custer) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640/20 "2010-05-25T13:38:49Z")
Val Armorr, the original [Karate Kid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_Kid_(comics)), fought Superboy to a standstil in his first appearance. And remember, he had to develop his powers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-superheroes-plural/540640.md?page=2)