The Top 10 Marvel Superheroes That Have Doctorates
For all the superheroes that rely on brawn instead of brain, there are just as many who rely on brain instead of brawn. That is, there are more heroes than can be counted that are intelligent beyond measure. These superheroes have spent the better part of their lives bettering themselves through education, practice, education, practice, and more education. These superheroes believe the way to win any battle is by outsmarting your opponents. And if their track record is to be believed, then they are right.
Now, understand that for every superhero that has immersed themselves in education, there are a select few who have taken it to the extreme. These heroes, unlike their overly educated counterparts, believe that the only way to live a full life is to never stop learning. These heroes either have multiple doctorates, degrees, and diplomas or they have the field equivalent of them all.
But who are they? Good question and if you’ll permit me a moment, I’d like to answer it for you. Here are the top 10 Marvel superheroes that have doctorates.
List of top 10 Marvel superheroes that have doctorates:
10. Cecilia Reyes
First appearing in 1997, Cecilia Reyes, while not being the most popular of mutants, has extensive medical training. In fact, she’s often the go-to if friends fall ill or require surgery.
Cecilia is hesitant to become a superhero and claims the only thing she wants is to help those around her. If you think about it, this makes sense and here’s why. Her power allows her to envelope herself and any near her in a protective force field. I’m sure that you can see how practical this is if she were treating a fallen friend on the battlefield?
9. Daredevil
If you’re thinking that Daredevil doesn’t have a Ph.D. in anything you’d be partially right. While he doesn’t have a Ph.D. in the traditional sense, he does have a Ph.D. equivalent in law.
Matt Murdock is one of the most intelligent superheroes in Marvel Comics. In fact, he’s so intelligent that his battle can be won inside and outside the courtroom. That’s right. Matt spends his days locking up the same criminals he (Daredevil) turns over to justice at night. For this very reason, Daredevil might be the most effective superhero in the entire Marvel Universe.
8. She-Hulk
Much like Daredevil, She-Hulk spends her daytime locking criminals behind bars. Also like Daredevil, she is a lawyer and a darn good one at that.
Jennifer Walters, better known as She-Hulk is the cousin to Bruce Banner. On one fateful day after being shot, Jennifer found herself in a hospital in need of a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, of all the people in the hospital, no one except her visiting cousin Bruce had her blood type. At first hesitant to help her for fear of contaminating her blood with the Hulk, he reluctantly gave in.
As a consequence of the transfusion, Jennifer’s blood reacted with the Hulk and she turned into the incredibly strong and powerful She-Hulk. Her transformation, however, doesn’t mean that she doesn’t retain her intelligence. It’s quite the contrary. As She-Hulk, she’s just as intelligent and as such, belongs on this list of Marvel superheroes that have doctorates list.
7. Beast
Dr. Hank McCoy says it all. Not only does Beast have a doctorate to his name, but he’s also the visionary behind many of the advancements that the X-Men have made over the years.
Beast is the go-to authority on mutation and as such, is in high demand by mutants and people alike. His knowledge is second to perhaps Charles Xavier and like Charles, does everything in his power to bridge the gap between Homo Sapiens and Home Superior. While many might call his great strength and heightened reflexes his greatest attributes, most know his greatest attribute as his high-level intelligence.
6. Ant-Man
Like Beast of the X-Men, Dr. Henry Pym is the brainchild of many advancements the Avengers have made. Certainly Tony Stark has a lot to do with their funding and technology but it’s Dr. Pym who has had the most life-changing inventions. Just look at Ultron.
Although not his intention, Ultron is the Avengers’ greatest enemy. He thinks like a human, acts like a terrorist, and has caused more pain and suffering in the world of the Avengers than anyone. Remember, this is a group that consists of Baron Zemo, Whiplash, Whirlwind, Kang, and Taskmaster.
Dr. Henry Pym is one of many Marvel superheroes that have doctorates and any list like this isn’t complete without him.
5. Dr. Strange
Due to the widespread success of his time in the MCU, Dr. Strange’s story is extremely well-known. The good Doctor was once a famed neuro-surgeon who, due to his own recklessness, wound up in a car accident. As a result of the accident, Strange was left unable to properly use his hands, thereby leaving him unable to perform as a doctor.
It’s here that he seeks out the Ancient One and under his tutelage, becomes one of Earth’s most deadly superheroes.
Dr. Strange is the one superhero that no villain wants to anger. Above being able to call upon a slew of awe-inspiring magic, he has stood tall against enemies that would leave lesser heroes with a brown streak in their underwear.
4. The Incredible Hulk
Dr. Bruce Banner is the in-house specialist on Gamma Radiation. After all, not only did he study it and tried to harness its power, but he also got an up-close look at the effects it has on people at the cellular level.
For any who don’t know (and I can’t imagine why), Bruce Banner is the Incredible Hulk. As the Hulk, he’s one of, if not the most feared being within the core group of Avengers. He is, and I quote, the “strongest there is”, can jump further than most fliers can fly, and easily gets angry…and it’s the anger that enemies need to worry about.
Remember, the madder Hulk gets, the strongest Hulk gets.
3. Charles Xavier
It should come as no surprise that Charles Xavier is on this list of Marvel superheroes that have doctorates. Charles Xavier has doctorates in Education, Psychology, and Genetics. His selection of doctorates is anything but random. Each of his doctorates was hand-selected so that he may fulfill his dream of mutants and humans living together in harmony.
Charles Xavier is the leader of the X-Men, has more money than most can imagine, turned an innocent school into a playground for mutants to learn to use their powers for good and is the reason that mutants haven’t been eradicated from existence. Of all the superheroes that have doctorates on this list, none embody what it means to be good like Charles Xavier does.
2. Reed Richards
Very few characters in Marvel rival the brain power of Reed Richards. Reed has invented some of the most powerful weapons in existence, is the brainchild behind the Baxter Building, has built most vehicles the Fantastic Four uses, is a member of the Illuminati, and is the reason that he and his three friends have superpowers. Reed is the authority on most difficult problems, the husband of Sue Storm, and the sworn enemy of Dr. Doom.
On top of everything already stated, Reed possesses multiple doctorates from various schools. Of the schools, the most impressive are Columbia and Harvard.
1. Black Panther
Very few characters in Marvel Comics have the educational pedigree that Black Panther has. Black Panther possesses not one, not two, but five doctorates.
- Engineering
- Economics
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
To say that Black Panther is a genius does a massive disservice to the character. He is as intelligent as the most intelligent people on this list.
And you know what?
His various doctorates make complete sense. Wakanda is the most advanced nation in the world and it didn’t get that way by asking do you want fries with that?”
And that’s it. The top 10 Marvel superheroes that have doctorates. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Who would make your Marvel superheroes that have doctorates list?
