Superman is probably the most important hero in the DC Universe. He’s the spiritual leader of the heroes, taking point in all of their greatest battles. He leads by example and from the front, using his plethora of powers to take down some of the most dangerous foes imaginable. He’s been clutch for the heroes in every battle and there are few out there who can match him.
However, that doesn’t mean he’s the toughest hero around. While it seems improbable, there are actually a good amount of heroes out there who can take a greater beating than Superman. It’s something that’s hard to fathom but the proof is in the pudding.
10 The Flash Can Phase Through Any Attacks
This one is sort of a technicality but it does count. The Flash’s superspeed allows him a lot of powers, some of which are greater than others. One of his best powers is the ability to vibrate through matter, allowing him to pretty much take no damage from his foes. This is a pretty good thing for him; as fast as he is, his villains have gotten good enough fighting him that he’s always in danger.
With this ability, the Flash could walk right through punches that would knock Superman into next week and go toe to toe with foes that would easily beat the Man of Steel – they could never hit the Scarlet Speedster.
9 Resurrection Man’s Powers Allow Him To Come Back From Any Beating
This one is another technicality, but it counts. Resurrection Man is a little-known DC hero who has an intriguing superpower – every time he dies, he comes back to life with a different superpower. After any beating he takes, he immediately resurrects with a new superpower and if he resurrects “right,” he has the potential to be the most powerful being on Earth.
So while a beating that would kill Superman would also kill him, he would immediately come back from it, ready to fight again and with a new superpower. Nothing can keep him down, so any beating he takes is ineffectual – he’ll just come back.
8 One Version Of Superman Can Take A Greater Beating Than The Original
Jon Kent burst on the scene and was an instant fan favorite. The son of Superman went through a lot in his life and has come out the other side a greater hero than ever, graduating from Superboy to Superman. While he has a lot of the same powers as his father, it’s been revealed that he’s actually more powerful in some ways than his father, meaning he can take more of a beating.
Several times, against alien attackers brought over by an experiment conducted by Amanda Waller, Clark was hurt in battle while Jon wasn’t even affected. He’s even able to use his heat vision differently than his father. Jon is proving to be more powerful than his father, meaning he can take a greater beating.
7 Swamp Thing Is Pretty Much Immune To Most Damage
As guardian of the Green, Swamp Thing is one of the most powerful beings on the planet. In fact, every time Superman and Swamp Thing have clashed, Swamp Thing has always won the fight. Swamp Thing creates his body from plant matter, so technically, he can’t take the kind of beating that Superman could. However, the fact that he can always make more bodies means he can come back from any beating immediately.
This regeneration ability allows Swamp Thing to shrug off most physical attacks – they aren’t going to do anything to him in the long run because he’ll simply get another body and be back in the fight.
6 Doctor Fate Is Way More Powerful And Durable Than He Gets Credit For
Doctor Fate is the greatest sorcerer on Earth. There have been many Doctor Fates over the years and all of them have one thing in common – the power of Nabu. Nabu resides in the Helmet of Fate and is a Lord of Order, one of the most powerful beings in all of creation. Nabu’s powers grants Doctor Fate amazing abilities and those powers make Doctor Fate a fearsome foe.
Because of the magic of Nabu, Doctor Fate can take shots that would destroy Superman. Fate can go intangible if he needs to, change the density of his or, depending on the host, her body, or use the power of Nabu to survive just about anything. On top of that, the Helmet itself has proven nigh indestructible.
5 Black Adam Has Proven Able To Stand Against The Most Powerful Foes
Black Adam has taken a long road from villain to hero, having recently joined the Justice League. As one of the most dangerous anti-heroes in the DC Universe, Black Adam made a name for himself fighting heroes and villains and due to the nature of his powers, can almost certainly take more damage than Superman.
The power of the Wizard completely changes the recipient, so it’s no longer really their body. Black Adam has been shown to take incalculable amounts of damage without even flinching – he rarely even bleeds. It stands to reason that his body is an indestructible energy construct that is more durable than Superman’s.
4 Shazam Has Stood Up To Superman’s Strongest Shots Without Flinching
If Black Adam is more durable than Superman, then Shazam is as well. In fact, it stands to reason that Shazam is probably more powerful than Black Adam, as the Wizard’s current chosen one, Shazam’s power is “fresher” than Adam’s. Beyond that, Superman and Shazam have faced off against each other and Shazam has been able to take everything thrown at him by the Man of Steel.
Seeing as how Billy is a kid and Shazam is an adult, the magical nature of his body is such that it’s pretty much indestructible – much like Adam, Shazam rarely bleeds.
3 Plastic Man Is One Of The Most Powerful Beings On Earth
Once, when Plastic Man was a member of the JLA, he was trapped thousands of years in the past on the bottom of the ocean. In the present, the League found him and were able to resuscitate him. At the time, Batman made a simple proclamation – Plastic Man is the most powerful being on Earth. He’s pretty much completely indestructible and can transform into anything.
Plastic Man can’t be hurt. He can be knocked around but no one has ever found a way to actually defeat him. His skin has never been pierced since he gained his powers and there’s never been an injury he can’t come back from. Beatings that could kill Superman wouldn’t phase him.
2 Orion Is The Toughest Of The New Gods
Orion is known as the Dog of War and is probably the toughest New God. While it’s debatable on whether or not he’s stronger than his father Darkseid, he is prophesied to defeat him and he pretty much has no weaknesses, unlike Superman. His status as a New God also makes him tougher than Superman – gods trump Kryptonians.
Orion can take massive amounts of abuse, even able to fight his father without flinching. Superman is tough but he even he knows to steer clear of the Dog of War. Anyone who is supposed to take out Darkseid is next level.
1 The Spectre Can’t Be Destroyed
The Spectre is God’s Angel of Vengeance and is one of the most powerful heroes ever. For reference, he was able to hold back the Anti-Monitor at the height of his power, something no one else proved capable of. He can alter reality in any way he sees fit and fighting him is pretty much a one-way ticket to getting beat on – he’s just so powerful that he can’t be phased by most assaults.
The few times the Spectre has actually been defeated is by beings so beyond anyone Superman has fought, it’s inconceivable. The Spectre was once convinced to destroy the magical forces of the world and the only thing that saved the world was him being put into a new host body to control him. There’s no way to beat him in a fight, unlike Superman.
About The Author
