Let’s be real—the Marvel vs. DC argument is the pop culture equivalent of Coke vs. Pepsi, and nothing sparks a fan war faster than this question: Can anyone in Marvel defeat Superman? He’s a sun-powered demigod with a jawline chiseled for comic book covers, but even the Man of Steel isn’t unstoppable. Weaknesses like magic, Kryptonite, and a vulnerability to telepathy leave just enough room for a few Marvel heavy-hitters to give him serious trouble. Here are nine Marvel characters who could go toe-to-toe with Superman—and in some cases, take him out entirely.
9. Hulk
The Hulk is more than a huge green rage robot—he’s a force of nature whose power increases exponentially with his rage. While Superman’s strength will have a ceiling, Hulk’s does not. His footsteps in World War Hulk shook cities and destroyed some of Marvel’s most powerful heroes. If Superman can’t knock him out quickly, Hulk’s growing rage could make the difference.
8. Cloak
Cloak does not shout “Superman killer,” but his abilities are a perfect set for a shocking upset. His body is a living gateway to the Darkforce Dimension, an environment devoid of sunlight—Superman’s primary source of power. If Cloak were to contain him there, Superman would lose use of his powers in no time, making the battle a one-sided affair in Cloak’s favor.
7. Black Bolt
Few characters have fewer words and are more dangerous. Black Bolt’s voice is a doomsday device—a whisper can topple mountains, and a scream could raze cities to the ground. Superman could take a lot, but even he would be no match for the raw, shock-like energy of Black Bolt’s full vocal capacity. A single yell could finish the battle before it has even started.
6. Rogue
Rogue’s powers as a mutant are basic yet deadly: with a touch, she can suck the powers of Superman—and all the rest that defines him. She once took on Captain Marvel’s powers permanently, and she could do the same with Superman. If she can get her hands on him, the Man of Steel might be rendered helpless while Rogue takes his whole bag of tricks with her.
5. Radioactive Man
Kryptonite damages Superman due to its radiation signature. Bring on Radioactive Man, a nemesis who can control radiation at will—specifically, the same frequency Kryptonite radiates. He doesn’t require a glowing boulder to incapacitate Superman; he is the glowing boulder. One strategic energy blast, and Superman may be on his knees before the battle even begins.
4. Legion
David Haller, also known as Legion, is the son of Professor X and perhaps the most unpredictable mutant in Marvel history. Every one of his hundreds of personalities possesses a different, usually reality-altering ability—some can manipulate time, others can reorder matter. Superman can fly and is super-strong, but how do you defeat a person who can alter the rules of physics at will or erase you from reality with a blink?
3. Professor X
Superman’s brain might be as quick as a lightning bolt, but telepathic resistance is no exception. Professor Charles Xavier, the most powerful telepath in the Marvel Universe, could knock him out without so much as raising a finger. With Cerebro’s assistance, he might be able to stop Superman before things even get started—no punches having been thrown.
2. Doctor Strange
Magic is Superman’s greatest vulnerability, and Doctor Strange is Marvel’s mystic master. From astral projection to banish spells, Strange possesses technology that Superman can’t match with raw power. He can teleport Superman to a world where the sun never shines, immobilize him with magical force, or redefine the very laws of the battlefield.
1. Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff isn’t only strong—she’s a reality glitch walking. Scarlet Witch can rearrange entire universes with a thought, such as in House of M, where she rewrote reality itself. Against such reality-warping magic, Superman’s god-like powers are irrelevant. She could cause the sun to disappear, fill the air with Kryptonite radiation, or get him to think he never even had powers.
Superman may be DC’s greatest bruiser, but Marvel has plenty of heroes who could take him down—and even beat him—under the right conditions. Whether via magic, mind manipulation, or raw cosmic mayhem, these Marvel heroes show the Man of Steel has his vulnerabilities. So the next time someone says Superman can’t lose, simply direct them to this list—and let the argument begin.