15 DC Characters Who Can Fight Superman & Win

Custom Image by Hannah Diffey Updated Sep 19, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things comics, books, anime, and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature. Her published works can be found on Screen Rant, FinanceBuzz, She Reads, and She Writes. Sign in to your ScreenRant account There are few characters in DC Comics who can stand toe-to-toe with Superman, let alone defeat him. The Man of Steel has an almost ridiculous combination of super strength, speed, flight, heat vision, invulnerability and other Kryptonian abilities that allows him to overpower most heroes and villains in the DC Universe. Even so, Superman has never been completely unbeatable. The important thing to remember is that defeating Superman does not always require being stronger than him. His famous weaknesses, particularly Kryptonite, red-sun radiation and magic, give certain opponents a significant advantage. Other characters have found ways around his durability by controlling his mind, draining his powers, overwhelming him physically or exploiting abilities that Superman simply doesn't have a reliable defense against. Across different DC continuities, Superman has been beaten, incapacitated, depowered and even killed by a surprisingly wide range of characters. Some victories lasted only moments, while others completely changed the course of a story. These are 15 DC characters who have demonstrated that the Man of Steel can, under the right circumstances, be brought down. 15 Maxwell Lord Defeated Superman Like No One Else Wonder Woman #219 by Greg Rucka, Rags Morales, David Lopez, Tom Derenick, Georges Jeanty, Karl Kerschl, Mark Propst, Bit, Dexter Vines, Bob Petrecca, Nelson, Richard Horie and Tanya Horie, Todd Klein. Maxwell Lord only beat Superman once, but he beat him in a way that almost no one else has. Using his telepathic powers, Maxwell Lord defeated Superman better than Lex ever had. It took Max several months of planning, but he eventually managed to brainwash Superman so thoroughly, that removing the brainwashing would likely cause Superman to die. Because of this, the only solution was for Wonder Woman to kill Max, ending her control over Superman. While Max didn't defeat Superman in a direct fight, he managed to take complete and utter control of Superman's mind to such a degree that even Martian Manhunter said it simply couldn't be undone. It's a terrifying situation that Max was able to bring down one of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe without throwing a single punch. 14 Lex Luthor Has Defeated Superman Several Times Batman: Last Knight on Earth #2 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia, & Tom Napolitano Lex Luthor is Superman's oldest enemy, and as such, has had the most chances to defeat him. From ingenious deathtraps to giant robots and kryptonite gadgets, Lex has spent almost his entire time in comics looking for ways to kill or injure Superman. Perhaps the most heartbreaking version if this though was in Batman: Last Knight on Earth where Lex Luthor finally invites Superman to a debate to end their rivalry once and for all. Lex Luthor uses Starro to link every mind on Earth so that humanity can collectively decide if they side with Superman or Lex, and the loser would be executed. Despite Lex's impassioned speech about how humanity should side with doom, Lex was ultimately convinced by Superman's speech. Unfortunately, humanity sided with Lex and Superman was suddenly and brutally executed on the spot. 13 Parasite Can Steal Superman's Powers Action Comics #340 by Jim Shooter and Al Plastino One of Superman's most dangerous matchups is a villain whose entire power set is designed around taking an opponent's strength away. Parasite can absorb energy from living beings, and Superman's enormous reservoir of Kryptonian power gives him an especially valuable target. In his first appearance, Parasite discovers that draining Superman can leave the Man of Steel almost completely powerless. That makes Parasite particularly dangerous because Superman's normal advantages can actually become a liability. In Action Comics #340, Parasite absorbs enough of Superman's power to leave him helpless and falling from the sky. The villain has repeatedly demonstrated similar abilities over the decades, establishing himself as one of the rare enemies who can potentially weaken Superman simply by fighting him. 12 Godzilla Defeated Superman With One Attack Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #4 by Brian Buccellato and Christian Duce While most people might assume that Superman would beat Godzilla in a fight, that actually wasn't the case. When the two fought, Godzilla didn't just beat Superman, he outright killed him. Godzilla's atomic breath was so powerful that it seemingly killed Superman, as it removed his regeneration and left him with no pulse. While this isn't likely how most people would have assumed this confrontation would go, there's actually history for it. Superman has never done particularly well with radiation. This was first seen way back in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. In this storyline, Superman takes the full force of an atomic bomb. The blast leaves him practically powerless and on the verge of death, only able to survive by sucking the sunlight out of a nearby flower field. If a simple atomic bomb could do this, it's no surprise that Godzilla's atomic breath could defeat Superman in a single blow. 11 Failsafe Defeated Superman Twice Batman #128 by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, and Leonardo Romero Batman is infamous for creating contingency plans to defeat both his friends and villains. This took a drastic turn in the creation of the android Failsafe. Superman went up against Failsafe twice and lost both times. The first time had Failsafe using kryptonite blades stored in his body to easily and quickly take Superman down. The second the two fought, Superman came prepared. He arrived in a containment suit that made him immune to Kryptonite, and yet this didn't matter in the slightest. Failsafe used pressure points on Superman's body to cause Superman's heat vision to go out of control. This is one of the few occasions where Superman was defeated by the same opponent in two different ways. It's very likely that Failsafe would have other options to bring down the Man of Steel again if he ever had to. 10 Brainiac Has Shown He's More Than Capable Of Beating Superman Justice League: No Justice #1 by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Francis Manapul, Hi-fi, and AndWorld Design. Brainiac is one of the smartest beings in the universe, and he's proved this time and time again by taking on Superman and the League in interesting ways. One of the best examples of Brainiac's ability to defeat Superman was first seen back in Justice League: No Justice #1. In this story, Brainiac defeats the entire Justice League, Superman included, after invading Earth. He does this absurd feat with absolute ease as well, and he even manages to capture Superman with no problem. The only reason Earth survives is that it's revealed that Brainiac was simply demonstrating how unprepared the Justice League and Earth's other heroes were for the coming threat. So, while Brainiac wasn't really taking this fight seriously, he still demonstrated that he could absolutely destroy not just Superman, but every single other hero on Earth, anytime he wanted. 9 Eclipso Can Turn Superman's Power Against Him Action Comics Annual #4 by Dan Vado, Chris Wozniak, Karl Altstaetter, Trevor Scott, Karl Kesel and Steve Mitchell Eclipso represents an entirely different kind of threat because Superman does not necessarily have to lose a fight before Eclipso wins. During The Darkness Within, Eclipso manages to possess Superman, turning the Man of Steel into a weapon that can be used against everyone around him. Superman voluntarily allows himself to be possessed in an attempt to save a hostage, but once Eclipso takes control, the situation becomes extremely dangerous. Captain Marvel is eventually forced to fight the possessed Superman, and the battle highlights why magical opponents are such a problem for Kryptonians. Because Superman is vulnerable to magic, Captain Marvel is able to inflict meaningful damage while Eclipso controls his body. The point isn't that Eclipso is simply stronger than Superman; it's that his supernatural abilities give him a way to bypass Superman's usual physical advantages entirely. 8 Darkseid Beat Superman In A More Indirect Way Superman: Up in the Sky #5 by Tom King, Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, Brad Anderson, and Clayton Cowles. Darkseid is a terrifying enemy and he's encountered Superman several times. While Darkseid definitely has the phyiscal power to defeat Superman, that usually only happens in Elseworlds stories. But one example of Darkseid defeating Superman absolutely happened in canon, and it was a much better victory than a physical one. While traveling through the universe to find a young girl that's been kidnapped, Superman ends up coming to Darkseid to ask him for information. Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition SupermanTrivia Challenge 🌏OriginsLast son ☠VillainsKneel! ⚡PowersInvincible 🎥FilmsBelieve 💫LegacyHope UP, UP AND AWAY! → 01 Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet? AThanagar BKrypton CApokolips DOa ✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story. NEXT → 02 Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she? ADiana Prince BLana Lang CLois Lane DCat Grant ✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner. NEXT → 03 Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called? AKryptonite BVibranium CNth Metal DRed Sun Ore ✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness. NEXT → 04 In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor? AHenry Cavill BBrandon Routh CTom Welling DChristopher Reeve ✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman. NEXT → 05 Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he? ABrainiac BLex Luthor CDarkseid DDoomsday ✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror. NEXT → 06 After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up? AGotham City BMetropolis CSmallville, Kansas DCoast City ✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm. NEXT → 07 As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper? ADaily Planet BDaily Bugle CMetropolis Star DGotham Gazette ✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home. NEXT → 08 This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain? ABizarro BParasite CMetallo DGeneral Zod ✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013). ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record / 8 Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth? ↻ FLY AGAIN Darkseid promises to provide the information, but only if Superman kills someone for Darkseid. Naturally, Superman agrees to do it, and ends up lying to Darkseid about it. When Darkseid calls him out on this, Superman remarks that there's only two options. Either Superman killed the alien, or he lied about it and broke his word. Either way, Darkseid gains a moral victory over Superman, which Darkseid is all too happy to agree with. 7 Silver Banshee's Magic Can Kill Superman Action Comics #595 by John Byrne, Keith Williams, Tom Ziuko and John Costanza Silver Banshee is another Superman opponent who proves that immense physical durability does not protect him from everything. Her signature ability is her deadly supernatural voice, and during her debut in Action Comics #595, Superman discovers just how dangerous it is when confronting her. Her scream is powerful enough that the story presents Superman as dead, forcing the heroes to find another way to stop her. What makes Banshee such an interesting Superman matchup is that she does not need to overpower him physically. Her abilities come from a supernatural curse, allowing her to attack Superman through a method that his Kryptonian durability is poorly suited to withstand. DC has continued to portray Silver Banshee as a serious threat to Superman, including later stories in which her powers receive significant upgrades. 6 Shazam Can Turn Superman's Magic Weakness Against Him Kingdom Come #4 by Mark Waid and Alex Ross Superman may be one of DC's most powerful heroes, but magic has never been one of his strengths. Shazam, formerly known as Captain Marvel, is an especially dangerous opponent because virtually every part of his arsenal is infused with magic. His incredible strength and speed are already enough to keep pace with Superman, while his magical lightning gives him a weapon Superman cannot simply shrug off. Their confrontation in Kingdom Come #4 is one of the clearest demonstrations of this advantage. Shazam repeatedly uses his magical lightning against Superman, exploiting a weakness that conventional physical attacks cannot. Superman ultimately finds a way to stop Billy Batson by using his speed and forcing him away from the lightning, but the battle establishes just how dangerous Shazam can be when Superman has no easy answer to his magic.