Over the years Superman’s power levels have fluctuated. At some points nothing less than a bursting shell could penetrate his skin. At other times he’s been able to juggle planets.
In the latest instalment of our “Great Debate” feature, we ask the question…
Should Superman be the Most Powerful Being in the DC Universe?
Yes
We’ve learned in the TV series “Superman & Lois” that on that earth Superman is the only super powered hero. There might have been other heroes. Green Arrow, maybe even a Bat character, though other then Oliver Queen’s name being mentioned we haven’t heard of any other super heroes. So on the earth this show takes place in Superman is the only super powered hero. I love that! This shows us why Superman is so important. The world and perhaps the universe look to Clark as their personal superhero. He’s a true beacon of hope on a planet that needs to know whatever may happen (war, natural disasters, powerful villains) that they have a hero they know will be there to give everything he’s got in protecting them. It makes Superman the icon he should always have been in any universe (the Arrowverse and beyond).
So why shouldn’t the greater DC Universe (mainly the comic books) be the same? I can give a list as long as my arm how many super powered heroes there are in DC. And I love many of them. But the point we’re making is without those heroes would the DC Universe still feel safe and protected if Superman was the one and only super powered being? Of course they would. Does this mean ground level heroes like Batman and Green Arrow who are super in their own right, just not super powered, wouldn’t exist? Perhaps. But Superman is the one fighting Mongul and Brainiac and saving us from tidal waves and other natural and intergalactic disasters.
During the Golden Age it was quite a while before Superman started interacting with other heroes. Even then it was few and far between. Superman was the star of earth. Whether he was stopping wife beaters, throwing a car full of gangsters through the sky, or taking care of some monstrous threats, the world depended on him. They didn’t need other heroes to swoop in and stop a volcano. They had Superman and he’s all they needed to feel safe and secure. So why not now?
In the 21st century with all the heck being released on this earth, especially the earth the DCU inhabits, could Superman take care of these threats without other beings of power coming in to lend a hand? Yes, he could. The problem is creators feel intimidated and feel Superman is difficult to write because he’s not relatable. Please enough of this boo hoo hoo. Writers have taken Superman to great heights and have told incredible stories. So why can’t DC make a bold decision and make Superman truly the only super powered hero in the DC Universe? Okay, I know they’re not getting rid of their other super characters nor do I want them to. But if they did could Superman be there to take care of business all on his own? Of course! I love superheroes but sometimes I think we’re inundated with these characters. What would the comic book world be like if Superman was the one and only? I know, I’ve been tongue and cheek about some of this but I still feel at least in the world of DC comics that Superman could be the only super powered hero. The hero we can look up to. And know no matter what this world throws our way we only need one guy to make it better. Superman!
No
Without a doubt, Superman is one of the strongest characters in the DC Universe. For some reason, there’s this tendency to make him the most powerful. Sometimes, it comes from writers stretching his abilities for a climactic ending to a story. Other times, it’s us as Superman fans wanting the character to be the best and strongest at everything. “Superman is way faster than The Flash!” “Of course he could do that, he’s Superman!” The tendency to make Superman’s power unlimited makes him a weaker character. As much as we love him, Superman should not be the most powerful being in the DC Universe.
In making Clark infinitely powerful, the number of compelling stories that can be told significantly decreases. It’s the same issue that plagued the Superman of the Silver Age – if the guy can push a planet or blow out a star like a birthday candle, how can you have stakes? If he’s all-powerful, he becomes less interesting because the reader knows he’ll win without struggle. That seems to be the most prominent complaint about the character from non-fans, and Superman’s powers have been largely in check for a while. We know he’ll (almost) always win, but if there’s no question, then why bother reading? The stories and Superman would become stale and boring.
Further, it becomes pointless to have the Justice League if we know that Clark could handle everything himself. Why would he need a team if he could take down Darkseid and his parademon army alone? Why would there be need for any superheroes in the DC Universe?
There need to be limits and rules to the extent of Superman’s powers. He shouldn’t be able to pull a new ability out of his back pocket at any given moment because the situation demands it. Additionally, his strength levels should stay consistent from issue to issue and writer to writer. A character with no limits is boring, and a hero with no obstacles isn’t compelling. Yes, Superman is a strong character, but he shouldn’t be able to lift an entire continent. I’m not saying I want him to be as – for lack of a better word – weak as he was in the Golden Age. I just don’t think that Superman should have the strength of a god.
I’m sure I sound like a broken record, but there aren’t that many ways to argue this point. It should be obvious why Superman’s strength should have limits. A character without limits will quickly lose the investment of the audience. There would be no legitimate threats or villains or obstacles that could actually slow Superman down. Why would potential new readers want to check the character out if there’s no genuine threat or possibility that he could lose? We see the complaints from non-fans all the time that Superman is overpowered. Having him be the most powerful being in the DC Universe would only legitimize that. While he wouldn’t totally fit the definition, a limitless and all-powerful Superman would be venturing dangerously into Gary Stu territory. I’m not saying I don’t want him to be strong – he’s Superman, after all! – but there need to be limits to his powers.
Many thanks to our Great Debaters – Marc Lax and Mario Bennese.
I had to remember my old passwords for this. But I believe Superman shouldn’t be the MOST powerful being in his universe… at least at the start. The way his creators portrayed him, he’s supposed to be impressive but not invincible. Every single version of Superman, even the Silver Age version that everyone believes was invulnerable, always ended up not being the most powerful ever. That doesn’t mean, however, that he can’t eventually be the most powerful. I always subscribed to the idea that Clark gets stronger as he ages. So while he might not be the strongest when he… Read more »
I say yes but to a certain degree. Should he be the most powerful hero? Yes. But should he be more powerful than Darksied or Brainiac (true form) or can push/move the moon or Doomsday or so powerful that he doesn’t need the Justice League but puts up with them? No. I believe another issue is this all because he’s powerful doesn’t mean he doesn’t need help. For example while not as strong as Superman Wonder Woman stands a better chance on winning a fight because she is a better fighter/warrior. Superman may be smarter than Batman (another debate you… Read more »
Wonder Woman needs to deflect bullets because they hurt her. Superman doesn’t need to do so. I don’t care how “skilled” you are, you’re losing that fight.
I don’t know which side to pick on this one. On the one hand if Superman is the most powerful being then what kind of obstacles could he overcome? But then I also feel that he should be because he’s the greatest superhero. Not that his powers make him a hero, he is a hero because of his actions. But Superman should be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and fly. He should be bullet proof and able to bend steel in his bare hands and… Read more »
That’s why I say he should be the most powerful hero. But you should put obstacles in front of him to face where strength and power won’t just win the day. Where he has to use his words and brain. Like in All-Star Superman where he talked a girl off the ledge. Another good example is what the purpose of Grounded was supposed to be. But as far as being powerful yes he should be the most powerful like in JLU the speech he gave to Darkseid about how much he has to hold back every day. But I still… Read more »
How about for the next debate, “should Superman have any weaknesses?”
I still think it should be about Superman’s intellect given he’s almost on par with Lex but that is rarely shown expect in For Tomorrow where he created paradise in the Phantom Zone out of nothing & in All-Star Superman.
I’ve never seen any substantiation to the argument that Superman is the most powerful character in the DC Universe. In fact, I wouldn’t even rank him amongst the top 20. There are plenty of characters that can take his full strength and give it back with interests, like Doomsday, Bizarro, General Zod, Brainiac and, of course, a certain lord of Apokolips.
The question is too simplistic. Powers in any superhero universe are typically not an apples-to-apples comparison, and a major element in battles with adversaries is how the two sides use their powers. Emperor Joker is an example of Superman facing an adversary so infinitely powerful that his own abilities are of no use, except for his mind and his will. Some comic writers complain that Superman’s powers make it difficult to write believable conflict. My answer? They’re not thinking hard enough. Jeph Loeb says that the character’s true vulnerability is not Kryptonite but his heart – he cares too much.… Read more »