Top 10 Teenage Superheroes (Marvel & DC)

Not all superheroes are adults. Some, like the ones listed below, are barely able to drive, let alone be superheroes. The below list counts down the best of the best teenagers in comic book history. Some first appeared as many as five decades ago, while others were less than one decade ago. No matter when they debuted, they all have one thing in common…they have changed the landscape of what it means to be a teenage superhero. Let’s take a look at our list of the best teenage superheroes.

10. Aqualad

Garth is the near equivalent of Arthur Curry. He has superhuman strength, is able to breathe underwater, has accelerated recovery, is able to manipulate the currents of water, possesses telepathy with all sea life, and can dimensionally travel. Like Roy Harper (spoiler alert), Garth has also been a member of one of the most important superhero teams in DC, the Teen Titans.

Over the years, Garth has separated himself from the Aqualad moniker. For a time, he went by the name of Tempest. Different from his time as Aqualad, Tempest Garth also gained the ability to control both the temperature of the water and control the water around him. In addition, he could emit a destructive force from his eyes. This came at a cost, however. With these new powers, Garth lost the ability to communicate with marine life.

Even without the ability to talk to fish, Tempest is insanely powerful. Therefore, he’s definitely one of my superheroes as are teenagers.

9. Beast Boy

Beast Boy first appeared on the pages of The Doom Patrol #99 back in November of 1965. As the adopted son of Elasti-Girl and Mento, Beast Boy first appeared as a member of the Doom Patrol. He quickly, however, changed affiliations when he joined the Teen Titans.

Arguably the most famous of all the Teen Titans, Beast Boy’s ability to shapeshift is second to none. Different from other shapeshifters, Beast Boy almost always takes the form of an animal. The drawback of this (if I can call it that) is that even though he can become any animal he can think of, the animal he becomes always retains his green skin. Even still, a man capable of becoming a lion, tiger, or dinosaur at any given moment poses a huge threat to his enemies.

8. Nova (Sam Alexander)

Created by the legendary Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness and first appearing in Marvel Point One #1 in 2011, Sam Alexander’s version of Nova didn’t get his own series until almost two years later. As a member of the Nova Corps, Sam Alexander has superhuman durability and strength. He can also fly, has the ability to understand almost any language, projects energy blasts, is telepathic and can create forcefields.

Sam, like his predecessor Richard Richard, is and was a teenager when he was recruited to the Nova Corps. Due to this, he easily lands on my list of superheroes who are teenagers.

7. Kate Bishop

Kate Bishop first appeared in Young Avengers #1 in 2005. She is the creation of Jim Cheung and Allan Heinberg.

Kate Bishop is the daughter of publishing Baron, Derek Bishop. Due to this, she was born into a life many can only dream of. By all accounts, Kate could’ve lived out her life on the family fortune but chose not to. Instead, she chose to take after her mother who had spent her life contributing to various charitable causes. 

Kate’s path to Hawkeye started the night that she was attacked in Central Park. Although the details of the attack aren’t precisely known, it’s believed that this instance caused Kate to learn various forms of combat. That is, instead of allowing the attack to cause paranoia, Kate looked at it in a positive light and gave herself a reason to better herself. Along with all the combat training, Kate also learned archery, fencing, and sword fighting. Due to the immense amount of training, she became extremely proficient in most types of weapons. This includes, but was not limited to bows and arrows, and swords.

6. Ms. Marvel

As a teenager, Kamala was exposed to the Terrigen Mists. Her exposure did two important things. First, it encased her in a cocoon. Second, after she was released from the cocoon, she learned that she was an Inhuman and the Mists unlocked her dormant ability. While in the cocoon, Kamala was approached, in her dream, by her idol, Carol Danvers. Carol asked her who she wanted to be and she quickly responded you. 

Kamala is a polymorph. This means that she can grow, shrink, and expand her body to any size and shape imaginable. As such, she had been able to carry heavy objects. As a shapeshifter, she can also change her form to any being she can think of. 

5. Damian Wayne

Although Damian Wayne first appeared inside the pages of Batman: Son of the Demon back in 1987, it wasn’t until 20 years later that he began to make an impact in Batman’s life.

Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. As the son of Talia al Ghul, he also makes him the grandson of one of Batman’s greatest enemies, Ra’s al Ghul. Rather than being birthed naturally, Damian was grown in a lab. This happened with the expectation that under careful genetic guidance, Damian would grow up and surpass his father in both abilities and intelligence. Shortly after his birth, Damian was taken to the League of Assassins where he was left to be taught and trained as an assassin.

One decade later, Talia told Bruce that he had a son. After her confession, she brought him to live at Wayne Manor. She did this in an attempt to disrupt both his everyday life and his life as Batman. This, however, backfired after Bruce accepted his fatherly responsibilities and took the boy in. Of all the superheroes who are teenagers, none are as lethal as Damian.

4. Raven

Raven is one of the most important magic users in DC. She’s able to do practically anything she can dream up, has a father who’s an inter-dimensional terror, is a longtime member of the Teen Titans, and is one of the most important characters of the last 25 years. 

As the daughter of Trigon, Raven is able to manipulate, control, and generate shadows and darkness. In addition, she can control time, energy, and emotions. She’s also able to project bolts of energy, create fireballs from her cloak, and amplify one of the Seven Deadly Sins (Pride). Lastly, although uncontrollable, Raven has a degree of precognition. Raven is immensely powerful and was a lock to make this list of superheroes who are teenagers.

3. Spider-Man (Miles Morales)

As one of the most popular characters created in the last 15 years, Miles Morales should be on this list and every other one like it. 

Miles Morales launched into the scene in June of 2011. He proved to be so popular that by 2018 he was starring in his own movie, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Similar to the Peter Parker version of Spider-Man, Miles is able to stick to walls, has superhuman strength, speed, and durability, and possesses precognition. Where he differs is that he is also able to emit an electric shock from his body. 

Miles isn’t only one of the most popular characters created in the last 15 years, he’s also one of the most important. This is so much that if Marvel were to ever retire Peter Parker he could easily step in and make the world forget that Peter even existed.

2. Supergirl

Supergirl first appeared in Action Comics #252 back in 1959. She was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. Kara is the daughter of Zor-El and Alura Zor-El and like her famous cousin, Cal-El, she comes from the planet Krypton.

Supergirl has an extensive list of powers. She possesses superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, hearing, and agility. She also has infrared, telescopic, x-ray, heat, microscopic, and electromagnetic vision. In addition, she is nearly invulnerable, can fly, has a healing factor, and possesses both freeze and wind breath. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

When Supergirl was sent into the galaxy in a pod to escape Krypton’s destruction, she was almost of age. This meant that she left as a teenager. As a teenager and the female equivalent of Superman, adding her to this countdown was as easy as counting 1-2-3.

1. Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Barbara Gordon first appeared on the pages of Detective Comics #359 back in January of 1967. She was created by William Dozier, Carmine Infantino, and Julius Schwartz.

A little different than most comic book characters, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl was the by-product of the Adam West-led Television Show wanting a new female character to act as a counterpart to Batman. The request wasn’t limited to television, either. DC Editor, Julius Schwartz hoped that the television show could introduce the new character at the same time as the comic book. So, Batgirl was introduced during the third season of the show and in Detective Comics #359. 

In her first story, Barbara was en route to a costume ball dressed as a female version of Batman. Her costume, which included a black bodysuit, yellow gloves, a utility belt, a cape, boots, a cowl, and a bat symbol, would remain unchanged for the next many years. The story saw Barbara successfully stop the villain Killer Moth from kidnapping Bruce Wayne…as a teenager.