Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, with the various iterations of this hero showing off boundless power and a zeal to serve as a noble bastion of goodness. No matter how massive the threat may be, Superman never shies away from saving innocents while stopping his enemies in their tracks. It’s easy to say that Superman isn’t an interesting character because of his godlike powers, but many DC villains have given him a run for his money. The fact that Apocalypse has caused Superman’s death shows that even a superhero as strong as him has his weaknesses.
So, it’s easy to see why a lot of powerful Marvel villains can either give Superman a run for his money or kill him outright. This depends on which version of Superman people bring into the conversation, with some iterations of this hero like Cosmic Armor Superman and Prime One Million being so powerful that they can change reality, restructure planets, and save the universe when no one else can. For the sake of forming an argument, the DC Animated Universe Superman’s strength will be used to judge his power in a fight against some of the toughest Marvel supervillains.
5 Galactus
A Godlike Being Who Consumes Planets To Fuel His Power
- First Appearance:Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966)
- Created By: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Galactus is one of the most iconic supervillains of all time that fans familiar with the X-Men know all about. What makes this character so unique is that Galactus commits acts of genocide not out of a need to do evil but simply because his hunger compels him. It’s the price he pays for wielding cosmic power the likes of which can’t be comprehended.
It’s easy to see why a version of Superman without any cosmic power of his own would struggle against such an immense foe. The DCAU Superman’s powers will seem puny and insignificant to a being like Galactus, and the only reason why he’d even destroy this hero is out of sheer annoyance instead of wanting to inflict harm on him.
4 Thanos
With The Infinity Stones, Superman Is Toast
- First Appearance:The Invincible Iron Man #55 (February 1973)
- Created By: Jim Starlin & Mike Friedrich
People who wondered how powerful Thanos was understood the full extent of his powers when he gathered the Infinity Stones and used them to wipe out half of the universe in the MCU. It was a traumatic event that sent shockwaves through pop culture, with the heroes losing for the first time after a string of movies where fans celebrated their victory time and time again. Being able to take on the might of characters like Captain Marvel and Thor showed just how powerful this villain is, and the Infinity Gauntlet makes him a force to be reckoned with.
So, it’s easy to see why the DCAU Superman can have a lot of trouble against his foe, even if most fans will give the edge to Superman in this closely-fought content. It’s when Thanos gets his hands on the Infinity Gauntlet that the Last Son of Krypton will find himself toast, with Thanos using any one of the stones to tear into Superman and leave him helpless to withstand a gruesome assault.
3 Dormammu
A Demon Who Can Destroy The Entire Universe At Full Power
- First Appearance: Strange Tales #126 (November 1964)
- Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
There’s a reason why Doctor Strange needed to exploit a time loop to stop Dormammu since he knew from the get-go that a loss was inevitable if he tried to face this creature head-on. It gave MCU fans a taste of this demon’s powers. If Dormammu decides to get serious, he can wipe out the entire universe in one fell swoop. This makes it easy to understand why Superman won’t be able to come out victorious against such a mighty foe, especially when it comes to the DCAU variant of this hero.
To make things worse, it’s well-documented that Superman is vulnerable to magic. This will make this fight a potentially one-sided conflict where the DCAU Superman will barely be able to get a hit in before Dormammu uses his destructive to burn this heroic figure and turn him into a pile of ashes.
2 Beyonder
A Ridiculously Powerful Being Who Dwarfs Superman In Every Way
- First Appearance: Secret Wars II #2 (May 1985)
- Created By: Jim Shooter & Mike Zeck
Regardless of how powerful Superman may be, there’s no point of him trying to fight against an entity so powerful that he wields the power of multiple universes in the palm of his hand. This power is a huge reason why many people look at the Beyonder as one of the most intimidating villains that Marvel has ever conjured. The DCAU Superman won’t be able to land a single punch before being warped out of reality by this cosmic being.
It may be one of the most unfair fantasy matchups, but this is more of a testament to the respect Superman wields. Aside from the DCAU variant, numerous versions of Superman will have a tough time dealing with the Beyonder, even if this villain has been nerfed somewhat following Jim Shooter’s departure from Marvel.
1 Mephisto
A Powerful Magical Being Who Can Exploit Superman’s Weakness
- First Appearance:Silver Surfer #3 (December 1968)
- Created By: Stan Lee & John Buscema
An immortal demon who can wield powerful magic, it’s easy to see why Mephisto is one of the best candidates who can give Superman a run for his money, if not defeat him outright. The Son of Krypton is weak to magic, and the DCAU variant of this hero will have a tough time dishing out consistent damage on a villain with immense regenerative powers.
While it’s true that Mephisto’s power is at its highest when he’s in his realm, that doesn’t mean Superman will have an easy time if they fight on Earth or some other neutral battleground. Mephisto’s magic is going to be a pain for the Kryptonian to deal with, and his demise may be a foregone conclusion by the time this battle starts.
