# Who can beat up Superman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029 "2009-07-23T19:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/21 "2009-07-23T22:36:22Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Even though they are Marvel characters, is there a possibility the Hulk or the Thing could beat up Superman? Are there any similarly-sized DC characters, and if so, how did they fare against Superman? Thing wouldn’t stand a chance, being in the lower tier of the high end powers. He’s in the class of Colossus, Iron Man, Hercules, etc. Hulk would have the edge in raw power as he’s held together a planet (!!) and he’s essentially unkillable. He just lacks the variety of powers. I’d give the edge to Supes overall. Thor lacks speed, but has magic and has currently demonstrated the strength closer to a god’s level when he spanked Extremis enhanced Iron Man without even breathing hard. I’d think he could beat Superman. Silver Surfer could destroy Superman without trying: cosmic class powers, faster than light travel, etc. Farther out on the cosmic scale, Gladiator _could_ do it. While it’s true he’s almost a purple mohawked Superman, his powers are derived from his confidence. If he belives he can beat Superman, he can. I’d also give Nova (now Nova Prime) the nod. He’s got the speed if not the strength and durability, and his depth of energy based attacks would turn the tables. Of questionable mention is the Sentry. He’s got the power of a bajillion exploding suns (really Bendis?), but the get up and go of a bajillion stoned couch potatoes. I think he could beat Superman as long as Wapner wasn’t on. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/22 "2009-07-23T23:36:09Z")
As usual, I have to mention **The Spectre** , who was omnipotent (and could use magic, if need be). ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/23 "2009-07-23T23:49:50Z")
**Samaritan** , from **Astro City** probably could beat him up. Of course, he’s a mirror image of Supes, but not only does he seem to be more intelligent but also more powerful. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/24 "2009-07-23T23:54:42Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > You wouldn’t call it ass-kicking, but Ambush Bug messed him up at least once. Accidentally. With some red kryptonite. Ah, the hysterical comic where the red kryptonite made them switch bodies, and Ambush Bug decided that he was therefore supposed to ACT like Superman - as he saw the role. Ambush Bug as Superman, holding a viillain by the throat : “Are you aware that I could crush your skull like an eggshell?” Supervillain \< tiny voice \> : “Please don’t crush my skull like an eggshell.” I especially liked the part where he turned on Superman’s heat vision accidentally - then looked around wildly to try to see what was setting everything on fire. ---
**Author:** ![mj\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@mj\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mj_2)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/25 "2009-07-24T02:40:03Z")
> [@hroark2112](#): > > Chuck Norris. > > Everyone knows this. My hat is off to hroark2112. Not everyone knows this but I do my friend. I do. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/26 "2009-07-24T03:08:45Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Captain Marvel (Billy Batson version) was as strong, as invulnerable, and nearly as fast. Nearly as fast? I remember Superman explicitly matching the Speed of Mercury post-crisis, but (a) not exceeding it, and (b) mentioning that it made his teeth rattle uncomfortably. I’m not sure either was definitively established as having an edge. That said, both Captain Marvel and Superman have punched each other unconscious, albeit with sneak attacks; in one of their rare straight-up fistfights, Supes – bleeding on Cap’s knuckles – thought to himself that “Marvel’s powers are based on magic. Toe-to-toe he has the advantage.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/27 "2009-07-24T03:27:07Z")
In the original crossover, Lex Luthor amplified Spider-Man’s strength to the point where he could (temporarily) fight Superman to a standstill. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/28 "2009-07-24T03:31:48Z")
From the other side of the sea, Son Goku could probably beat him to a pulp without breaking a sweat (even if Superman proves more powerful than I suspect Goku could easily do a side-along Instant Transmission to a nice planet in the middle of nowhere with a red sun or something, maybe even the Asteroid Field that was once krypton if he knew where it was before the battle). ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/29 "2009-07-24T03:43:48Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Nearly as fast? I remember Superman explicitly matching the Speed of Mercury post-crisis, but (a) not exceeding it, and (b) mentioning that it made his teeth rattle uncomfortably. I’m not sure either was definitively established as having an edge. In Alex Ross’ _Justice_, Captain Marvel is straight-up faster than Superman, and Supes is the first to admit it. In that story, Superman’s powers are limited by what is physically possible; Captain Marvel, fueled by magic, has no such restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/30 "2009-07-24T23:53:04Z")
**Popeye** could kick Superman’s ass in a New York minute, every day and twice on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/31 "2009-07-24T23:57:32Z")
> [@DLuxN8R-13](#): > > **Popeye** could kick Superman’s ass in a New York minute, every day and twice on Sunday. There is actually a Popeye correlary in the Superman mythos- [Captain Strong](http://www.oddballcomics.com/article.php?story=archive2003-01-06). However, he and Superman are friends. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/32 "2009-07-25T00:11:41Z")
D\_Odds: > [@](#): > > Karate Kid beat Superboy to gain admittance into the Legion of Super Heroes. Karate Kid _out-fought_ Superboy _briefly_ until Superboy used his powers to get the better of him once and for all. He threw Superboy around a bit but never hurt him. However, his skill impressed Superboy enough that Superboy supported him for membership which he obviously attained. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/33 "2009-07-25T00:49:08Z")
Flash once knocked a White martian out cold by punching him at light speed; White Martians are the equal of superman (As a matter of fact, White Martiancs kicekd Superman’s ass)…so therefore Flash _could_ beat Superman. ---
**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/34 "2009-07-25T03:09:21Z")
Mongul (the son) hinted at Supes problem in “Our Worlds at War”: Supe usually outclasses 99% of his foes, so he just shows up, lets them get out some frustration by hitting/shooting him, and then just uses an ability or two to subdue them. Mongul tells him that to fight the upcoming battle he needs to learn to go all out. Travel at near light speed while using his strength, heat vision, freeze breath, flight, etc all in tandem. If he trained more this way he would be much more formidable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/35 "2009-07-25T03:16:08Z")
A _sane_ Plastic Man could do it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/36 "2009-07-25T05:11:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > A _sane_ Plastic Man could do it. And that happens how often? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/37 "2009-07-25T05:16:19Z")
Majestic (crossover) , Atlas, and Supreme and maybe Hyperion on good days. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/38 "2009-07-25T05:20:23Z")
The villian Nemesis Kid could have; he had the magical ability to better any one opponent. He killed Karate Kid by instantly become a better hand to hand fighter, and mentioned that he could “kill Mon-El”, who had Superman level power. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/39 "2009-07-25T14:16:48Z")
I can,just as soon as I get my hands on a Kryptonite suit. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029/40 "2009-07-25T14:29:51Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I nominate Thor. With _Mjolnir_, of course. I admit I know little about the comic book version of Thor, but I don’t see how he could lose _any_ slugging match. I mean, not only is he a god, but he is the strongest\* of the gods. \*Okay, his son Magni is as strong as he is, but still. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-beat-up-superman/504029.md?page=3)