WARNING: Contains Spoilers for ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025)!DC’s new Absolute Universe has been reimagining the publisher’s most iconic heroes and villains with dark new twists and origins, sometimes making them more powerful than ever, as one rogue proves by delivering a crushing defeat to Superman. And if not for the intervention of another character, this Man of Steel-defeating villain would have ed Doomsday in his “I Killed Superman” club. 356p1o

For a hero who’s often seen as nearly invulnerable, Superman has a surprisingly long history of dying. Time and again, the Man of Steel has been pushed to the edge, and sometimes even beyond. But who are the rare characters powerful or cunning enough to actually bring Superman to his knees, or even claim his final breath?

Few debates in the DC fandom spark as much ion as the question of which hero is better: Batman or Superman. ers on both sides bring compelling arguments, each backed by decades of storytelling and iconic moments. However, there is an undeniable fact that the Dark Knight has contributed more to the Justice League as a whole, making him arguably the most important Trinity member.

WARNING: Contains Spoilers for ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025)!

There is no denying that Superman is one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe and stands as one of the Justice League’s top powerhouses. However, crowning him as DC’s strongest hero would be a mistake, especially when another hero has not only matched the Man of Steel blow for blow but has also defeated him. Now, DC explicitly confirms this hero’s dominance by officially labeling him as “the most powerful weapon on the planet.”

Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld has an idea for a Superman story, and he plans on making it a reality once the rights to the legendary character hit the public domain in 2034. Liefeld just made a contentious exit from Marvel Comics after decades of on/off collaboration, and while fans likely shouldn’t expect to find him working for DC anytime soon, a Superman story isn’t entirely off the table.

As natural as it is to see Supermanand Batman as two sides of the same coin, Clark Kent’s dynamic with Bruce Wayne ultimately does a disservice to the Man of Tomorrow. While both heroes are two of the strongest pillars of the DC Universe, Superman is missing out on something incredibly important thanks to his particular relationship with Batman.

For over eight decades, Marvel and DC have been rivals - now, thanks to X-Men, the House of Ideas finally has a hero who can match Superman's raw strength. When it comes to physical strength in superhero fiction, there's no beating Superman. And while Marvel has its fair share of reality-warpers and magic s who could defeat the Man of Steel, it's never been able to top his strength. Indeed, heroes including Hulk and Thor have battled Superman in the past, never quite measuring up.

With a wild new codename, DC just reinvented one of Batman's most iconic villains - now as a serious threat to Superman. DC's new Absolute Universe has totally reinvented some major characters, turning Joker into an evil billionaire and Mister Freeze into a literal monster. Now, it's the turn of Batman's big-screen mentor and recurring villain, with a rebirth worthy of the Man of Steel.

WARNING: Contains Spoilers for Superman #26 (2025)!