The 20 Greatest Superheroes Of All Time, Ranked

Wade Wilson was initially intended to be a parody of Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke from DC Comics. In 1991's The New Mutants #98, Deadpool made his first appearance as the villain before distinguishing himself as a kind character.

This disfigured hired gun is undoubtedly popular due to his peculiar sense of humor and unpredictable behavior, earning him the moniker "Merc with a Mouth." One of the few characters that routinely break the fourth wall and addresses the reader directly is Wade Wilson.

This superhero is Man of Steel's cousin and female counterpart. She made her debut in Action Comics #252 in 1959. She came to Earth after her home planet, Argo City, which had survived the destruction of Krypton, became unable to support life. 

Although she first served as a supporting character, she soon had her own adventures and added some much-needed female strength to the DC line-up. Although Supergirl's past after Crisis on Infinite Earths was subject to numerous retcons, her core values have remained unmistakable over the years.

The first appearance of Frank Castle was published in Amazing Spider-Man #129 in 1974. He was originally intended to be a separate anti-hero but was eventually recast as a death-loving vigilante paid to kill Spider-Man. He decides to revenge on those who would harm others in order to atone for the death of his family.

Along with his distinctive skull insignia, he stands out for using regular weaponry and using extreme violence. The Punisher is anything but conventional when it comes to superheroes, but he is just as legendary and important as any of his less lethal, cape-wearing peers.

It is evident that Mort Weisinger and George Papp referenced Bruce Wayne when they developed The Green Arrow, also known as Oliver Queen. He is, in particular, a multi-millionaire playboy and business entrepreneur by day and a vigilante against crime at night. He has a Robin Hood complex and uses trick arrows as his gadgets, which is the main distinction.

After being betrayed and left on a barren island, Queen, who made his debut in 1941's More Fun Comics #73, assumed the identity of Green Arrow. Thanks in great part to his television series, The Emerald Archer has subsequently gone on to become one of DC's roster's most recognizable heroes.

Although the Human Torch technically predates Marvel's First Family by a few decades, the Fantastic Four are rightfully credited with reviving the superhero genre in the early 1960s. In Marvel Comics #1 from 1939, an android named the Human Torch made his or her debut.

Even though he was technically a different character, Johnny Storm has become one of the most known comic book characters of all time after taking the role in 1961's Fantastic Four #1.

J'onn J'onzz, one of the wildest yet most fascinating characters in comics, made his debut in Detective Comics #225 in 1955. This green-skinned alien policeman joined the Justice League as a founding member after teleporting from Mars to Earth and used his incredible strength, speed, telekinesis, telepathy, and shape-shifting skills to help defend the people of Earth.

While he first comes off as cold, there is a lot more going on underneath the surface than he lets on. As a fundamental member of the Justice League, he maintains the team together through thick and thin.

This superhero has endured years of mockery for his ridiculous abilities and origin tale, but lately, he has gained recognition as a strong figure with compelling tales and a rich mythological past as the son of Atlantis. In 1941's More Fun Comics #73,

Aquaman made his debut. Arthur Curry, the half-human King of the Sea, has the ability to communicate with all underwater life. As a result, he constantly battles those who would injure or pollute his environment, as well as those who want Atlantis and the surface world to go to war.

The Man Without Fear made his debut in Daredevil #1 in 1964, wearing a completely different suit than the one for which he is most known. As a result of being blinded as a child by radioactive material, Matt Murdock instead developed enhanced sonar-like senses.

He works as a lawyer during the day and utilizes his talent at night to shield the people of Hell's Kitchen from the criminals who frequently evade the legal system.

Robin is the only ally who can rival his partner's fame. He originally debuted alongside the Caped Crusader in Detective Comics #38 in 1940 and is best known as Batman's Boy Wonder.

Though numerous characters have taken on the role of the pantsless acrobat, it was the original Dick Greyson who eventually adopted the autonomous crime-fighting persona, Nightwing, and became an immensely popular figure in his own right.

This green anger-fueled Gama ray giant, the comic book equivalent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, made his debut in 1962's The Incredible Hulk #1. Bruce Banner, the result of a lab accident, must always maintain his composure; else, he transforms into an angry being of unstoppable strength that enjoys smashing things.

Despite being a member of the Avengers, his typical antics involve escaping from law enforcement officers who want to limit the harm he causes when he goes off the wagon.

The Scarlet Speedster has been portrayed by a number of individuals, just like many other superheroes on the DC Roster. The first Flash, Jay Garrick, a superhero best renowned for his super speed, debuted in 1940's Flash Comics #1, and like the other incarnations that would come after him, he acquired his abilities as a result of an incident in a research lab.

Since that time, Barry Allen has carried the mantle until his passing in Crisis on Infinite Earths, at which point his teenage sidekick Wally West has taken over as the new Flash. Everyone has a favorite version of the Flash since he can use the Speed Force to defy every physical rule that has been established.

The fact that this superhero is an actual thunder god gives him superpowers! The hammer-wielding royal immortal took it upon himself to defend Earth, specifically from his half-brother Loki, thanks to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962's Journey Into Mystery #83, making the leap from mythological entity to comic book superhero.

Thanks to Chris Hemsworth's flawless portrayal of the God of Thunder, Thor was able to finally gain widespread appeal by utilizing the diversity of Norse mythology to create a hero unlike any other.

The Lantern is a DC superhero that has a lifetime JLA membership. Hal Jordan is the most well-known character to take on the role of the Lantern. He is one of several cosmic guardians, who fights with pure willpower materialized into physical form.

He is given an alien power ring and a lantern to power it. While Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, originally appeared in All-American Comics #16 in 1940, Hal first appeared in the media in 1959. John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, and others have all held the title of Earth's Green Lantern, each adding their own distinct characteristics to the iconic character.

There is no more patriotic hero in Marvel's roster. Steve Rogers, who first appeared in 1941's Captain America Comics #1, was a soldier during WWII who was augmented with super soldier serum and turned into a symbol for the free world to rally behind.

Rogers crashed into the Arctic and became a Popsicle for several decades, most renowned for his unbreakable shield. When he was discovered, he received a warm welcome and was elected to the Avengers, returning this Golden Age hero into the Silver Age and the Marvel Universe as we know it.

Since her debut in 1941's All-Star Comics #8, this feminist hero has been fighting evil. Diana, Princess of the Amazons, has superhuman strength, impenetrable bracelets, a magical lasso, a boomerang tiara, and an invisible jet.

She has outstanding combat skills and is a core member of the Justice League, and she is dressed in the design of the American flag to pay homage to the nation she wished to help.

This millionaire playboy philanthropist first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963, before getting a makeover in issue #48. He began as a weapons producer but changed his mind after suffering a terrible injury and being kidnapped.

He uses his knowledge to create magnificent suits of armor that he uses to safeguard the globe, both solo and as a key member of the Avengers. His reputation increased following his 2008 solo film and a flawless performance by Robert Downey Jr. The film also served as the catalyst for the MCU, and the rest, as they say, is history.

He is the greatest in the world at what he does. But his specialty isn't really nice. There are other wonderful X-Men heroes, but the most iconic and beloved is Logan, an unabashed Canadian.

This regenerating immortal with retractable Adamantium Claws made his debut in 1974's The Incredible Hulk #181 and has enjoyed unexplainable amounts of popularity over the years. His unshaven appearance and caustic personality have assured that he has remained the Marvel universe's ultimate badass.

Kal-El of Krypton, the caped hero who started it all, stands for truth, justice, and the American way of life. Superman, co-created by an American writer and a Canadian artist, did not make his comic book debut until 1938's Action Comics #1. Because of the superpowers bestowed upon him by the yellow Sun of Earth, this alien became mankind's greatest guardian.

Clark Kent, the mild-mannered Daily Planet reporter, is also a well-known alter persona of his. Superman is synonymous with heroism and established the template for all modern superheroes.

Our highest-rated Marvel character, Spider-Man, set off a huge trend when he debuted in the Silver Age, that of teenagers always getting stuck playing sidekick.

Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Peter Parker appeared in 1962's Amazing Fantasy #15, and the radioactive spider's bite allowed him to not only confront incredible supervillains but also explore themes of power, loss, and responsibility. all while being a character that was relatable to younger readers. He's one of the most unique characters in the comics and one that still resonates with fans young and old.

It was a difficult decision, but taking the top spot was the Dark Knight. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the Caped Crusader appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. The secret identity of Bruce Wayne, an orphaned billionaire, Batman is the masked guardian of Gotham City, sometimes working with the assistance of his companion Robin.

While he's best recognized for his solo adventures, he's sometimes teamed up with Superman and other DC heroes to form the Justice League. As a dark, fascinating, and complex superhero, despite the fact that he has no superpowers, Batman takes the top spot for being the most popular and timeless superhero of all. all the superheroes of the golden age. And on top of that, he gets to join the Greatest Rogues Gallery in comics.

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