10 Most Powerful Metahumans in DC Comics
In the world of DC Comics, a Metahuman is a human that’s been given superpowers. The DC Universe is chalked full of Metahumans. Metahumans are to DC what Mutants are to Marvel. They are a way for the company to consistently add new characters without having to explain how what, or who they are. There are dozens of them and the population grows by the day. Like Mutants, some are more powerful than others. That’s our focus today… the 10 most powerful Metahumans in DC comics. So without further ado, let’s take a look at our list.
10. Clayface
Although there have been many versions of Clayface (8 in total), all of them share one basic trait… they can all shapeshift.
Clayface first appeared in Detective Comics #40 and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. This version of the character was actually small-time actor Basil Karlo. Karlo sought out revenge after learning that a movie that he was set to act in was moving forward without him. To do this he grabbed the mask of Clayface (a character he portrayed in another film) and began killing off members of the cast and crew. This would’ve worked had Batman and Robin not shown up and stopped him.
The next version, Matt Hagen, received his powers after becoming exposed to a pool of radioactive protoplasm. This version proved to be fruitful for DC as he remained the company’s Clayface for multiple decades.
9. Killer Frost
Similar to Clayface, there have been multiple characters to take on the persona of Killer Frost. Each version of the character, however, has roughly the same power set…the ability to convert heat to waves of cold energy. This allows her to become as cold as, well, ice. Once sub-zero both her durability and strength increase, she can project blasts of ice from her body, and she’s able to turn anything she touches into ice.
Killer Frost is a little bit of an anomaly on this list. Unlike most who choose either a life of heroism or villainy, Killer Frost is neither. Instead, she is an anti-hero that chooses not to side with either.
8. Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage is almost as old as Superman. First appearing in Green Lantern #10 back in December of 1943, he was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell.
Vandal Savage is immensely powerful. In addition to his superhuman strength, durability, and speed, he’s also immortal, nearly invulnerable, is one of the best tacticians and strategists in DC, has an intellect that many drool over, and is one of the best fighters alive. He’s as deadly as he is old. He received his power after a meteor exploded above him and released strange gases into the air.
Throughout his history, he conquered worlds under the names Curtis Knox, Cain, Ghengis Khan, and more. He is said to be tens of thousands of years old. Some even say that his history begins all the way back during the Cro-Magnum era.
7. Livewire
Just like Harley Quinn, Livewire didn’t first appear on the pages of a comic book. She actually first appeared and was created for Superman: The Animated Series. This appearance happened in 1997 and it wasn’t until 2006 that she finally debuted on a comic book page.
As her name implies, Livewire is a being who is able to do anything she wants with electricity. She can absorb it, project it, use it to travel, and take control of electronic devices. She’s so powerful that she can take control of entire city blocks and grids. Livewire has proven herself capable of kicking Superman back with one of her electric blasts.
By comic book standards, Livewire is a relatively new character. This, however, doesn’t mean that she’s not powerful enough to be one of the most powerful Metahumans in DC.
6. Firestorm
What makes Firestorm unique as compared to everyone else on this list is that he’s actually two people in one.
The original Firestorm was the creation of Gerry Conway and Al Migrom. In his initial appearances, Firestorm is both high schooler Ronnie Raymond and Physicist Martin Stein. The two received the ability to become Firestorm after they were caught in a nuclear explosion.
As Firestorm, it’s Ronnie Raymond who’s mainly in control. This means that Ronnie controls the body, mind, and spirit of Firestorm while Martin Stein is relegated to being a mind in Ronnie’s mind. If this sounds confusing, it kind of is. Think of it like this. Ronnie controls Firestorm and Martin acts as his conscience and mentor.
5. Vibe
Vibe is one of the few characters in DC powerful enough to stop The Flash. He doesn’t, however, stop him with brute force, intelligence or weaponry. Vibe has the power to control seismic vibrations. He’s so in tune with his power that he can create seismic vibrations that disrupt the Speed Force. If this doesn’t sound impressive, think about this. Very few characters have the power to access the Speed Force, let alone disrupt it.
Amanda Waller has been quoted as saying that Vibe “might be one of the most powerful super-humans on the planet. He wields vibrational powers that could in theory shake the Earth apart. And he’s the only person we know of who can find and track inter-dimensional breaches.” As the years have gone by, Vibe has become more and more powerful. Because of this, there’s no telling just how powerful he’s yet to become.
4. Reverse Flash
Reverse Flash, like The Flash, is a Speedster. As a Speedster, he has the ability to run, move, and process information faster than anyone. While this makes learning and robbing banks relatively easy, it’s not the reason he’s on this list of powerful Metahumans. Flashpoint is.
It wasn’t until Flashpoint that the world learned how just powerful Reverse Flash is. In Flashpoint, he traveled back through time, changed the past, and altered the future. Instead of a semi-peaceful world, the future was suddenly a bleak dystopia where Aquaman and Wonder Woman were sworn enemies, Thomas Wayne was Batman, Barry Allen was powerless, and Martha Wayne was the Joker.
What I’m saying is that because of Reverse-Flash, DC Comics will never and has never been the same.
3. The Flash
Most don’t even need to be a fan of comics to have heard the name The Flash before. Barry Allen is the quintessential speedster and personifies what it means to live life in the fast lane. While not the first Flash character, Barry Allen is the most important.
Throughout his history, he has sacrificed everything for the greater good, lost love, and done so because that’s what heroes do. He even disappeared for decades for his beliefs. Barry Allen is everything the Flash stands for because, well, he wrote the book on what it means to be the Flash. Including him on my most powerful Metahumans list was easier than waking up in the morning.
2. Poison Ivy
I have a special place in my heart for Poison Ivy. Above everything she is one of the greatest Batman enemies of all time, she’s also one of the most complicated. Let me explain.
Many supervillains have motives rooted in power and prosperity. Not Poison Ivy. While most of us see the world on a superficial level, Poison Ivy sees it for what and how it actually is. Poisoned. The world around her … the world around you and I, is dying. Ivy knows this and takes drastic measures to see it reversed. As an environmentalist, albeit an extreme one, Ivy isn’t wrong to want what she wants. And what she wants is a future worth living in. To do this, she uses her unbelievable control over the environment and all the plant life it contains.
I ask, is that so wrong?
1. Wally West
If you ever thought that Barry Allen was the fastest superhero at DC, allow me to educate you. He’s not. Wally West aka Kid Flash is.
And why? Simple. Because, while others use the Speed Force, Wally has become one with it. And what does that mean? Wally West is so fast that he has covered over 7,000 miles in just under 7 seconds. 7,000 miles! 11265 kilometers! 36,960,000 feet! Wally West is the living definition of fast… and he’s a Metahuman. As one, it was a no-brainer to include him here.
And that’s it. Our list of strongest metahumans in DC comics. If you’re interested in more DC top lists, check out our list of important DC Silver Age characters!
