Superman isn’t just the first superhero-he’s the blueprint. Decades have come and gone, with DC remaking the Man of Steel in dozens of forms. He has been reimagined in alternate universes, twisted timelines, political what-ifs, and full-blown cosmic entities. And the fans are still talking: Which version of Superman is the strongest? Whether they’re fighting gods, shattering worlds, or dominating whole dimensions, these Supermen show the S-shield doesn’t merely represent “hope”—sometimes, it represents “holy hell, he’s powerful.” Here’s a list of the 10 most powerful Supermen to ever fly through the multiverse.
10. Steel (John Henry Irons)
When Superman perished fighting Doomsday, Metropolis did not fall—because John Henry Irons rose to the challenge. With no powers of his own like the Kryptonians, Steel used his genius engineering brain, creating a suit of powered armor and using a massive hammer as a salute to Superman. His technology, intelligence, and pure willpower have secured him among DC’s most revered heroes. As Screen Rant points out, he’s not super-powered, but he’s super in all the ways that matter.
9. Lex Luthor as Superman
It sounds crazy, but for a short spell, Lex Luthor became Superman after the New 52 one bit the dust. With Apokoliptian-boosted armor that had energy blasts, shields, and flight, Lex became a hero, sort of. He even became the ruler of Apokolips at one point. Naturally, Lex being Lex, it did not stay that way. CBR points to how this iteration demonstrates how dangerous Lex becomes when he has power and direction behind him.
8. Brutal
Born in the Earth-2 universe, Brutaal is a corrupted Superman clone infused with Darkseid’s Omega energy. No empathy, no conscience—just raw, terrifying power. He led Apokolips’ armies and obliterated entire teams of heroes. GameRant mentions he wiped out Green Lantern and Atom simultaneously, making him one of the most brutal takes on Superman we’ve ever seen.
7. Red Son Superman
What if Kal-El’s pod had come down in Soviet Russia rather than Smallville? That’s the essence of Red Son, which retcons Superman as a defender of the USSR. Still virtuous, but informed by communist principles, this one is incredibly powerful—and irrevocably dedicated to the state. He battles Wonder Woman, Green Lantern legions, and even Batman (with a Russian spin). GameRant deems him one of the most intriguing and powerful alternate versions of Superman.
6. Injustice Superman
In the world of Injustice, the Joker plays the ultimate cruel joke: he forces Superman to kill Lois Lane—and their unborn baby. The loss unleashes something in Clark, and he turns into a despot, ruling with an iron fist and peace through violence. He kills Shazam, battles his old pals, and governs the planet Earth. This Superman, GameRant suggests, is what happens when he ceases to pull his punches—and ceases to care.
5. Kingdom Come Superman
Following a galaxy of irresponsible younger heroes goes haywire, Kingdom Come Superman emerges from retirement—and he’s stronger than ever. A century of absorbing solar power has rendered him virtually unbeatable, even to Kryptonite. He withstood a nuclear blast and yet can still battle mind-controlled Shazam. GameRant attributes his veteran strength and ethical stability as major factors in his topping this list.
4. Calvin Ellis
Earth-23’s Superman is not only a hero—he’s also President of the United States. CalvinEllis combines political smarts and Kryptonian strength, and he handles both jobs with ease. When Superdoomsday comes to town, Calvin has no problem with him—he takes him out.GameRant showcases how Ellis balances power, leadership, and charisma to become one of the most capable Supermen in the multiverse.
3. Silver Age Superman
In the wild, anything-can-happen Silver Age of comics, Superman was pretty much unstoppable. He tumbled planets, sneezed solar systems away, and could come up with new powers on a whim—super-ventriloquism being a possible one. There weren’t many rules, and his powers matched. GameRant points out that his godly feats were so over-the-top, DC rebooted him just to keep things grounded.
2. Superboy-Prime
Don’t let the title fool you—Superboy-Prime is a walking catastrophe. From a universe where superheroes only really exist in comic books, he invades the DC Universe and decides that he should be the actual Superman. He’s mercilessly overpowered, almost unkillable, and fueled by delusion. He’s defeated numerous iterations of Superman and killed prominent heroes. GameRant has labeled him one of the most frightening villains in DC history.
1. The World Forger
All the way at the top is a cosmic being so powerful, he forges reality itself. The World Forger, better known as Alpheus, is Perpetua’s firstborn and can forge whole multiverses. He temporarily assumes Superman’s body in a perfect timeline. Holding the Crisis Anvil, he can forge—or destroy—realities. GameRant puts him atop the power level, referring to him as a literal builder of the DC multiverse.
From great engineers and Soviet heroes to fallen gods and cosmic architects, Superman’s legend lives far beyond one dude in a cape. Whether he’s wielding a hammer or smelting new worlds, each iteration brings another level of depth to the myth—and demonstrates that Superman’s strength is not just about brawn. It’s about will, ethics, and what happens when you push a god too hard.