7 DC Heroes Who Fought Superman And Won

However, despite his godlike powers, the Man of Steel is not infallible. Whether driven by mind control, trickery, or ideological differences, Superman has occasionally found himself trading blows with his closest allies. When those moments arise, brute force rarely decides the outcome; instead, strategy, raw willpower, and the exploitation of fundamental weaknesses turn the tide against Earth’s mightiest hero.

Defeating the Man of Steel is no easy feat and requires more than luck. Through expert tactics, magical enhancements, and meticulous preparation, these heroes were able to achieve the impossible: bring the Man of Steel to his knees. This article highlights seven DC heroes who fought Superman and came out on top, from street-level strategists to magical powerhouses.

Green Lantern

Equipped with the universe’s strongest weapon, Green Lantern should not be underestimated. Though no match for Superman physically, the ring gives him a structural advantage: it is limited only by the user’s imagination and willpower, letting him create any construct he wishes. Hal Jordan has the greatest willpower of any Green Lantern and is a force to be reckoned with.

In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4, he scored a decisive victory, cementing his place as one of DC’s powerhouses. In this story, the Devil Nezha possessed Green Lantern and used magic to mimic his ring, making his constructs deal considerable damage to Superman. Superman’s invulnerability was bypassed, and the magic weakened him, allowing Hal to beat him into the ground.

Superman had to be saved by Batman, cementing Hal’s victory against the Man of Steel. Though external forces amped him, this fight showed that Hal Jordan was someone capable of going toe-to-toe with Superman. This shows that effectively exploiting Superman’s weakness can turn the tide of battle, even when he is faced with a weaker opponent.

.

Supergirl

As a fellow Kryptonian, Kara Zor-El possesses all of Superman’s signature abilities without any of his restraint. While Superman was raised on Earth, on a quiet farm, constantly trying to blend in and restrain his abilities to avoid hurting others, Kara is the complete opposite. She spent her formative years on Krypton, making her less adept at holding back.

There are times when it is said that the Woman of Tomorrow may even be stronger than Superman. She proved her physical superiority in Supergirl (2011) #2, after crash-landing on Earth, by spending much of their fight punching Superman through the Great Wall of China. Superman tried to calm her down, but Kara dominated him in their fight.

Shazam (Billy Batson)

Shazam has powers similar to the Man of Steel, but his abilities come from divine magic, one of Superman’s known vulnerabilities. Billy Batson received his powers from the ancient wizard Shazam, drawing on the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, and the power of Zeus. Superman’s lack of magical defenses gives Billy a chance to win.

One of their most explosive encounters occurred in Kingdom Come, where a brainwashed Billy Batson fights an older, more seasoned Superman. Knowing that a physical brawl would not favor him, Shazam focused on weaponizing the divine lightning bolt that transforms him. He grabbed Superman and repeatedly shouted his magic word, “Shazam,” dealing devastating damage to Superman.

The lightning, being a pure magical force, bypassed Superman’s durability, leaving him severely bloodied, dazed, and near collapse. To stop Shazam’s relentless magical assault, Superman had to resort to a desperate tactical grapple, just to cover Billy’s mouth and prevent him from uttering the magic word again.

Martian Manhunter

Among Earth’s powerhouse heroes, J’onn J’onzz is one of the few beings Superman openly fears encountering in direct combat. Though Superman may be unmatched in physical power, Martian Manhunter counters his greatest strengths with superstrength and Kryptonian-level durability, density control, shape-shifting, and planetary-scale telepathy, making him one of Earth’s most dangerous superheroes.

In the 2003 JLA storyline Trial by Fire, J’onn used phase-shifting to let Superman’s punches pass through him, neutralizing the Kryptonian’s main offensive capability while striking back with great physical and telekinetic force. Moreover, with his mastery of telepathy, J’onn can end fights without throwing a single punch, and his broad range of abilities gives him the edge over Superman.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is one of the few characters who can contest Superman in strength. Diana Prince, a warrior born and raised on Paradise Island, was blessed by the Olympian gods with physical strength that rivals a Kryptonian’s power. Her martial arts skill, magical weaponry, and warrior’s mindset make her a formidable opponent for Superman.

The two had a definitive battle in Wonder Woman #219 (2005), where Maxwell Lord took full psychic control of Superman’s mind and directed him to kill his closest allies. With Batman already taken out, Diana had to face Superman alone with nothing but her combat ability and her will. Using pure martial skill, Diana was able to take down Superman.

With Superman briefly taken out of the equation, Diana neutralized the root threat controlling him. After reaching Maxwell Lord, she used her Lasso of Truth to demand how to break the telepathic hold, to which Lord chillingly replied that the only solution is to end his life. Without hesitation, Diana snapped his neck, freeing Superman permanently.

Captain Atom

Captain Atom is a lesser-known DC powerhouse. Air Force officer Nathaniel Adam became Captain Atom after a military nuclear test bonded his body to an alien metal shell linked to the Quantum Field. He gained super strength, flight, energy, and matter manipulation, and the ability to manipulate reality at the atomic level as a walking nuclear reactor.

His energy and matter transmutation make him an exceptionally deadly opponent for Superman. In DC K.O.: Superman vs Captain Atom #1, Captain Atom completely decimated Superman, demonstrating that he could siphon the solar energy powering Superman’s cells, taking away all the powers he gains from exposure to the yellow sun and leaving him vulnerable.

Captain Atom killed the Man of Steel in the first round, and even though Superman came back for subsequent rounds, this fight showcased just how dangerous Captain Atom can be. Captain Atom rarely gets a chance to shine, but when his abilities are on full display, he is undeniably a Superman-level threat.

Batman

Batman and Superman have one of the most endearing friendships and gripping rivalries in comics. The two have clashed on occasion for several reasons, and in those moments, Batman has shocked fans by not only holding his own but also defeating the Man of Steel. Superman may possess unparalleled strength, but Batman’s strength lies in his brilliant tactical mind.

Their most famous showdown appears in Frank Miller’s iconic The Dark Knight Returns, where an aging Batman battles a Superman working for the US government. Wearing a heavily armored exo-suit, Batman taps Gotham’s municipal electrical grid to shock Superman into submission, then enlists Oliver Queen to fire an arrow containing synthesized Kryptonite to weaken Superman for the decisive blow.

Batman would defeat Superman again in Scott Snyder’s 2014 arc Batman: Endgame, proving his tactical genius against a Justice League corrupted by the Joker. He wore the “Justice Buster”, whose microscopic pods contained red sun plasma. Even after the suit was ripped apart, Batman ended the fight by spitting synthetic Kryptonite polymer directly into Clark’s eye at point-blank range.