Who is really the most powerful DC superhero?

[the G-man]

It's never been definitively established how long he holds a charge, however a pattern has emerged from my forty years of (mostly silver and bronze age) comics reading:
1. It would take a long time for his powers to fade if he left a yellow sun system unless he comes into contact with a red sun system. Therefore, he can fly between solar systems as long as they are yellow sun systems
2. A red sun, however, neutralizes the yellow radiation almost instantly and he loses his powers almost immediately.
3. Leaving a red sun system, assuming he had a yellow sun charge recently prior to that, he regains his powers almost immediately.

 

[the G-man]

Also, while I think Superman is clearly the most powerful in terms of having the widest range of abilities, I think a valid argument could be made that Captain Marvel is actually more physically powerful.

Cap is as strong, fast and invunerable as Superman and can also fly. Furthermore, because Cap's powers are magic based he can actually hurt Supes in ways that Superman can't hurt him.

Ultimately, Cap's only real weakness is when he turns back into Billy.

 

[mswood]

G-Man the question is power, not who wins in a fight.

And Captain Marvel isn't as over all powerful as Superman.

And Captain MArvel's power set seems to vary a lot more between writers then Superman's seems to.

And in many encounters (though not all) I don't see Captain Marvel as Strong, as Invulnerable or as Fast as Superman. In fact in most of his books I have read his power levels seem closer to Wonder Women (minus being more resistant to damage), both given speed by the same or similar being (it's been both).

And as far as Captain Marvel, are his powers gifted by magic or magic themselves. Wonder Woman for example has her power set from the gods, and they aren't "Magic powers". Anymore then Darkseid's abilities or the Oan's are based on magic (they aren't).

That's the same thoughts that Busiek had to make for Thor versus Superman. Thor's powers, and his hammer. For example Thor's hammer is enchanted with special abilities. But for example it summons and controls weather. But is it just magically summoned or is it magic weather?

 

[Myasishchev]

Also, while I think Superman is clearly the most powerful in terms of having the widest range of abilities, I think a valid argument could be made that Captain Marvel is actually more physically powerful.

Cap is as strong, fast and invunerable as Superman and can also fly. Furthermore, because Cap's powers are magic based he can actually hurt Supes in ways that Superman can't hurt him.

Ultimately, Cap's only real weakness is when he turns back into Billy.

Super-ventriloquism tricks Billy's pagan gods. He reverts to human form. Superman crushes his vocal folds like bubble wrap, but takes him out for ice cream as a sort of consolation prize.

 

[FordSVT]

Batman can be devious which isn't really a trait associated with Superman. Batman could pretty much plan out everything needed to defeat Superman before engaging him, thus negating Supes' superprocessing advantage.

The "given enough time to prepare" argument is so old it's a meme. With that argument, given enough time to prepare, Batman can take out ANYONE. Then again.... given enough time to prepare, pretty much ANYONE with a lot of money and intelligence could take on almost anyone, and it can always be turned around: why couldn't Superman, of all beings, take out Bruce Wayne/Batman with six months of secret preparation? Of course he could!

Batman is a skilled man, but he's a man. Throw him in an open pit with almost any super-powered hero who's out to clean his clock and he'll be screwed. Now, against a human being, even a peak-human level human, I'd always give Bats even odds or better. He's in perfect condition and is an extremely resourceful and skilled fighter. As written, he'd make any UFC champ eat a bag of dicks in about 15 seconds.

 

[Nerys Myk]

G-Man the question is power, not who wins in a fight.

And Captain Marvel isn't as over all powerful as Superman.

And Captain MArvel's power set seems to vary a lot more between writers then Superman's seems to.

And in many encounters (though not all) I don't see Captain Marvel as Strong, as Invulnerable or as Fast as Superman. In fact in most of his books I have read his power levels seem closer to Wonder Women (minus being more resistant to damage), both given speed by the same or similar being (it's been both).

And as far as Captain Marvel, are his powers gifted by magic or magic themselves. Wonder Woman for example has her power set from the gods, and they aren't "Magic powers". Anymore then Darkseid's abilities or the Oan's are based on magic (they aren't).

That's the same thoughts that Busiek had to make for Thor versus Superman. Thor's powers, and his hammer. For example Thor's hammer is enchanted with special abilities. But for example it summons and controls weather. But is it just magically summoned or is it magic weather?

Correct. Getting hit buy a guy who strength comes from a magical source is not the same as getting hit by a spell from a magic user. The weakness is that Superman has no defense against magic, just like any one else who is not skilled in the mystic arts. Batman has the same weakness as does Alfred. Dr Fate, not so much.

 

[Thestral]

When not jobbing, I'd say Spectre.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Wouldn't that be true of Batman? So, he's subdued The Flash... then what? None of these heroes are planning on killing.... So...

Tell that to Darkside.

 

[mswood]

Well just because its written in a book doesn't mean it makes sense.

Even a skilled writer does stupid things.

And from a written stand point its awesome to think that a man, can take down a God. But realistically its stupid beyond measure.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Superman...is Superman. He wins.

 

[Skellington]

There's always someone stronger.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Than Superman? Nah.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Yeah, its kinda his thing.

 

[CaptainJack]

I wonder what would happen if Captain Marvel zapped him right between the eyes-ah...?

 

[Trevacious]

If he was of a mind to do so, he could laugh and show 'em all the back of his hand.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQs4EygqK1Y[/yt]

 

[CaptainJack]

all the children sing...

 

[DarthTom]

It's something I've been thinking about and come to the conclusion that Batman is quite capable of defeating any other DC superhero.

Superman can alter the timeline. The ability to change the past - present - future and know outside of the time continum what's happening and have the ability to change it I'd think would make any superhero instantly the most powerful.

 

[sojourner]

Yes, he can change (and only the silver age version) what he perceives as the past/present/future, but I have never seen any indication of him having the power to "know outside the time continuum what's happening".

 

[DarthTom]

Yes, he can change (and only the silver age version) what he perceives as the past/present/future, but I have never seen any indication of him having the power to "know outside the time continuum what's happening".

Still that's a mighty powerful super power. In Trek for example their ability to time tavel and correct mistakes is only solved as a plot device by having the future time travel police try to stop it but it still creates problems.

With the super heros all Superman has to do is keep recorrecting mistakes by reversing the timeline as seen in the film Superman I.

 

[Skellington]

Two can play at the correcting-the-timeline game. If a time-travelling enemy finds out when, where and how he arrives on Earth then he could be in trouble.

Also on the subject of rewriting the past, there's no way he could defeat Morpheus, who is basically the boss of all stories and could retroactively turn Supes into a fictional character.