Let’s be real: Superman isn’t just another hero—he’s the measuring stick for every superhero. Faster than a speeding bullet, stronger than pretty much anything, and nearly impossible to stop… unless, of course, you’re one of the few who’ve done it.
Despite all that brute strength, the Man of Steel has suffered some significant Ls down the years at the hands of folks who had brains, magic, fury, or simply the right strategy at the right moment. From DC’s big boys to some surprise dark horses from the MCU, 10 characters have shown that even Superman has his weaknesses.
10. Starfire (DC)
Underestimated due to her Teen Titans background, Starfire is anything but soft. With the power to absorb and redirect ultraviolet energy, she is speedier, more powerful, and—most importantly—able to weaken Superman by siphoning off his source of solar power. She’s even battled Wonder Woman to a standstill, which places her squarely in “don’t mess with me” country. Given the right environment (i.e., a battlefield drenched in sunlight), Starfire might be able to get Clark Kent sweating—and then some.
9. Iron Man (MCU)
In theory, Tony Stark doesn’t stand a chance. But toss him some prep time? Entirely different story. Iron Man’s got the brains (and budget) to design a Kryptonite-infused suit or gadget that can level the playing field. Just as Lex Luthor did, Stark knows how to manipulate weakness with merciless pragmatism. A single surprise strike with the right technology, and Superman is flying headfirst into a trap. Don’t count on a genius holding a grudge.
8. Alfred Pennyworth (DC)
Hard to believe, but Batman’s trusted butler once beat up Superman so badly that he’d never forget it. In the Injustice series, Alfred takes a pill that enhances his powers to superhuman levels and kills Superman after he injures Bruce Wayne. The scene is shocking, visceral, and strangely gratifying. Who’d have known that the tea-brewing chap was also capable of packing Kryptonian-stickling punches?
7. The Hulk (MCU)
It’s the argument that refuses to die: Hulk versus Superman. The majority of crossover shows favor Supes, but if you drive Hulk hard enough—let his anger spin out and his power increase without end—he’s a damned near unstoppable juggernaut. With an absurdly good healing factor and strength keyed to his anger, Hulk could utterly manhandle Superman in a no-holds-barred fight. It may take a few devastated cities, but it could happen.
6. Doctor Strange (MCU)
One of Superman’s greatest vulnerabilities is magic, and Doctor Strange is the master of magical deception. The Sorcerer Supreme might send Superman into a red sun realm, warp time against him, or trap him in a mind loop. Strange doesn’t require raw power—he only has to cast the proper spell at the proper time. When the battlefield is under your control, even a Kryptonian must walk carefully.
5. Wonder Woman (DC)
She’s not only Superman’s equal—on some days, she’s his superior. Born to be a warrior, blessed by the gods, Diana has defeated Clark more than once in the comics. Her tactics, quickness, and capacity for capitalizing on Superman’s indecisiveness make her a formidable opponent on the battlefield. When Diana is engaged, she’s fighting to win—and that means even Superman must play his best game.
4. Thanos (MCU)
Without the Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos is a cosmic-level threat anyway. With it? He can snap his fingers and wipe out half the universe—Superman included. Even without magic, Thanos has beaten Hulk and Thor, so he might be able to beat Superman in hand-to-hand combat. And if he introduces the Gauntlet to the mix? One snap, and the Man of Steel is dust.
3. Batman (DC)
No one has defeated Superman more often—or more strategically—than Batman. Bruce Wayne is not stronger or faster, but he’s always ten steps ahead. Thanks to Kryptonite projectiles, psychological warfare, and battlefield strategy, Batman has consistently managed to halt Clark in his tracks. If Superman is the ultimate power, Batman is the ultimate check. It’s not power—it’s preparation.
2. Scarlet Witch (MCU)
Wanda Maximoff doesn’t only warp reality—she redefines it. Her chaos magic would be a destroyer of Superman’s world in mere seconds. Mind control, illusions, dimensional warping—she’s all of those things, and all of them things Superman has trouble resisting. If the Scarlet Witch had a mind to kill him, she could do it without even sweating. Magic + reality warping = Kryptonian hell.
1. Doomsday (DC)
The man who did the unimaginable: murdered Superman. As a creature of raw fury and evolution, Doomsday never stops, never exhausts itself, and cannot be killed twice in the same manner. Their battle in the Death of Superman maxi-series is legendary, and concludes with the deaths of both combatants. If Superman’s ever had a physical equal, it’s Doomsday—the monster created to destroy, and constructed to destroy him.
Superman might be the gold standard of superheroes, but he’s far from untouchable. Whether it’s brute force, magical trickery, or a butler with a grudge, there are more than a few ways to take down the Last Son of Krypton. So next time someone says, “Nobody can beat Superman,” you’ll know better.