10 Most Powerful DC Characters Right Now (Ranked Weakest to Strongest)

Since the dawn of the Golden Age of comic books, DC Comics has stood out among the best publishers in the industry thanks to heroes like Batman and Superman. While the publisher often does some of its best work through street-level heroes, DC also boasts some of the most outrageously over-powered characters in fiction. From cosmic deities to heroes with almost unmatched strength, the publisher is arguably more stacked with power than even Marvel.

DC is arguably better known for its powerful cosmic and magical heroes than any publisher in the industry, and has often taken pride in its handling of these figures, spawning rivalries that span millennia, involving gods, monsters and fantastical creatures from other dimensions. While some of the company’s most powerful characters have been notably absent in recent years, others continue to make their presence known in current events. These are just some of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe right now.

Related

10 Best Batman Comics To Read Right NOW

Batman has one of the richest histories in comics. Currently, there are plenty of key and entertaining Bat-books that deserve a read from fans.

10 The Phantom Stranger

First Appearance: Phantom Stranger #1 (John Broome & Carmine Infantino)

As perhaps the most enigmatic character in the DCU, the Phantom Stranger wanders Earth offering his assistance to those in need. During the Silver Age, he often protected the vulnerable from threats of the supernatural world, taking on evil spirits, witches, curses and more. Since then, he has made his presence known during various Crisis events, typically serving among the magical users to stave off the forces of darkness. In Titans #9 (Tom Taylor & Lucas Meyer), the hero made his first appearance since Lazarus Planet, confirming his return to the Quintessence team of DC’s most powerful beings.

The Phantom Stranger’s mastery over magic is only rivaled by his wisdom, which has been accumulated over thousands of years of existence. Many readers subscribe to his origin as a cursed Judas Iscariot, damned to walk the Earth for all time. He has the ability to manipulate reality, counteract powerful spells and teleport, being one of the few heroes to casually associate with Darkseid without breaking a sweat. His only vulnerability appears to be characters like Spectre, who are powered by the Presence — seemingly confirming the Judas theory.

9 Swamp Thing

First Appearance: House of Secrets #92 (Len Wein & Bernie Wrightson)

As an elemental force influenced by the Parliament of Trees, Swamp Thing is the Protector of the Green, using various dead humans as its host to guard the welfare of the natural world. Most famously controlled by Alec Holland, the hero learned to manipulate the Green, allowing him to call upon the trees to aid him in battle. During the events of Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths, he proved a key asset in defeating the Great Darkness.

Swamp Thing is practically invulnerable, capable of resurrecting a new body for himself from any plant life anywhere in the universe, so long as its a part of the Green. This has even allowed him to visit other planets. As a master over one of the core elements of the universe, the hero could prove disastrous should he be so inclined — and the havoc wrought by malevolent avatars of the Rot have shown just how powerful these beings can be.

8 Amazo (And Amanda Waller)

First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #30 (Gardner Fox & Mike Sekowsky)

Created by Professor Ivo, Amazo was designed to be an android capable of copying the abilities of anyone it comes into contact with. This ability meant the machine could effectively become a one-man Justice League, ensuring it would always be the perfect match, physically at least, for its opponent.

Recently, Amanda Waller cemented her own status as one of DC’s most powerful characters by deploying a small army of Amazos, and using her resources to counter the world’s heroes. Taking on characters like Wonder Woman and Superman, the android continues to prove itself the most dangerous machine in the DCU. The heroes typically have to resort to the one thing the robot can’t replicate: their intelligence.

Related

DC’s New Evil Justice League Assemble in a ‘Team Photo’ So Breathtaking, We’re Almost Cheering for Them

Absolute Power is nearly here, but before DC Comics’ big summer event kicks off, see the new ‘Justice League’ assemble in a creepy new cover.

7 Superman

First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster)

Superman has, since his creation at the dawn of the Golden Age, consistently ranked among the most powerful beings in the DCU — at least, under a red sun. With seemingly infinite strength that has allowed him to bench press planets, the hero is a walking, one-man army, with speed to match the Flash, the endurance of a god and the mind of a supercomputer.

Superman continues to lead the pack as far as DC’s superheroes are concerned, and received a power boost in the wake of the events of the “Warworld Saga.” Despite a vulnerability to magic, Kryptonite and red suns, the hero has always found a way to overcome his opponents.

6 Metron

New Gods #1 (Jack Kirby)

Created by Jack Kirby, The New Gods are a race of god-like beings, who derive various powers from the Source. In Metron’s case, he is a being defined by his intelligence, which he uses to construct various technologies for the characters of Apokolips and New Genesis, such as the Mother Boxes. Through his Mobius Chair, he has become the god of knowledge in the DCU.

Metron’s vast knowledge makes him borderline omnipotent, an underrated power that has allowed him to avoid some of the worst crises in the DCU. It has also made him indispensable to both sides of the New Gods. When Batman took control of his chair, its sheer power became clear as the hero became the new god of knowledge, allowing him to prevent crimes before they happened.

5 The Spectre

First Appearance: More Fun Comics #52 (Jerry Siegel & Bernard Baily)

As DC’s Spirit of Vengeance, the Spectre has long been responsible for meting out justice against the wicked, and often does so in creative fashion. The character was once a demon, Aztar, who sought forgiveness from God, who turned him into an instrument of justice. The character has taken several hosts, most famously Jim Corrigan, a detective possessed by the spirit.

The Spectre is a being who exists outside the tangible plane of reality, and can alter matter and time itself, with powers that transcend the understanding of regular heroes. In comparison to an advanced magic user like Zatanna or Constantine, Spectre makes their abilities seem like common parlor tricks. He recently demonstrated this through his assistance in defeating the Great Darkness during Dark Crisis.

4 Mr Mxyzptlk

First Appearance: Superman #30 (Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster)

Mr Mxyzptlk is among Superman’s oldest and, according to some readers, most irritating enemies. Motivated less by malice and more by mischief, this imp from the Fifth Dimension often appears in the DCU to taunt the Man of Steel, and can only be sent home if he says his own name backwards. Like other imps, he can alter reality at will, being able to teleport and manipulate matter.

Mr Mxyzptlk has recently appeared alongside Bat-mite to Batman and Superman in the pages of World’s Finest, where the two imps formed their own version of the dynamic duo. Previously, the villain also triggered a multiversal crossover when he swapped the heroes of DC with those of Jeff Lemire’s Black Hammer, proving — at least in one series — that his powers span beyond DC.

Related

10 Best Justice League Comics To Read Right NOW

The Justice League have endured some of the biggest challenges in comics, and this has held true since DC’s Rebirth event in 2016.

3 Darkseid & Highfather

First Appearance: New Gods #1 (Jack Kirby)

As opposite ends of the same spectrum of power derived from the Source, Darkseid and Highfather represent the embodiments of evil and good, respectively. Where Darkseid rules the hellscape planet of Apokolips and seeks to dominate the will of life in the universe, Highfather assumes a role inspired by various biblical figures, like Moses and God himself. The villain is more terrifying in one key respect: His Omega Beams can literally erase people from existence.

Darkseid has presented one of the greatest threats in the DCU, often appearing as a villain to Superman and the Justice League, who expend all their might just to stall him. In the lead up to Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths (Josh Williamson & Daniel Sampere), the villain attempted to fend off the encroaching Great Darkness, later being used as its pawn. The villain, along with Highfather, is immortal, and derives his power directly from the Source.

2 Trigon

First Appearance: New Teen Titans #2 (Marv Wolfman & George Perez)

One of DC’s several personifications of evil, Trigon is an extra-dimensional demon, and is best thought of as DC’s answer to the Devil. The father of Teen Titan Raven, the villain is one of the most persistent threats to the multiverse, and has conquered millions of worlds in his dimension. Should he ever take full form in Earth-Prime, he’d present a threat too great for even Superman to stop.

Trigon is the most powerful villain in the Teen Titans’ rogues gallery, possessing superhuman speed, strength and stamina — not to mention near absolute invulnerability. To make matters worse, he’s practically immortal, always coming back no matter how crushing the defeat. In Titans #9, the villain took possession of his daughter, tricking the young heroes and putting Raven on par with Darkseid.

1 The Presence

First Appearance: More Fun Comics #52 (Jerry Siegel & Bernard Baily)

The Presence has, since its first appearance, effective served as the DCU’s answer to God. The character has assumed several forms, but is most often depicted as either a gentlemanly figure in a suit, a giant cosmic hand or a source of bright light and disembodied voice in the sky. While the likes of Doctor Manhattan and Phantom Stranger can alter reality, the Presence creates it.

The Presence has come to heroes in times of need, offering spiritual, moral and, through the Spectre, direct assistance. Famously, he was responsible for granting Hawkman his immortality, turning Jim Corrigan into Spectre and, of course, the creation of the universe. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, and is the all-encompassing force that binds the DCU.