10 Greatest Marvel And DC Comics Superheroes Of All-Time

Everyone has their own favourite superhero, but of the thousands of characters created by Marvel and DC, which ones are truly the best? Well, this is a definitive ranking of the 10 greatest of all-time...

By JoshWilding - Mar 13, 2016 09:03 AM EST

Filed Under: Marvel Comics

Ask 100 comic book fans the same question, and you'll almost certainly get 100 different answers. However, that's a guarantee when it comes to "Who is the greatest superhero of all-time?", and it's not hard to see why. After all, everyone had the one character who made them fall in love with this genre, but when you step back and look at things objectively, who really is the best superhero ever?

That's not an easy question to answer, but it wouldn't be any fun it was!

Here, you will find the ten characters - ranked in order - who I believe to be the greatest of all-time. Featuring names from the worlds of Marvel and DC (there's no bias here, don't worry), it wasn't easy picking just ten OR selecting the superhero who placed at #1, but hopefully you'll understand where I'm coming from with each of these iconic creations. To get started, simply hit NEXT!

10. Wolverine

The funny thing about Wolverine is that even if you're not a massive fan of the character, there's a very good chance that you love at least one of his adventures. This mutant has been through so much over the years that there really is something for everyone, whether it's a classic like the Japan Saga or a modern great like Old Man Logan.

While I'm not necessarily saying that Wolverine is the best X-Man (for me, that's a title which goes to Cyclops), his lasting appeal as a member of that team - and many others - as well as a solo hero speaks volumes, and while Marvel currently have him on the bench, here's hoping James Howlett is back in action pretty soon.

Sue Storm may not be the "coolest" member of the Fantastic Four or the one most beloved by fans, but she IS a great character. Created during a sexist period in which she was known as The Invisible "Girl" and often portrayed as little more than a damsel in distress, Sue has gone on to prove herself as the most powerful member of this team, and the glue which holds Marvel's very dysfunctional First Family together.

A wife, mother, sister, and friend, The Invisible Woman is pretty damn inspirational when you think about it, and of Marvel's many great female characters, I think it's fair to say that she ultimately stands out as being the best, despite not being the most iconic.

Back Next

8. Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr.'s stint as Iron Man has not only had a massive impact on the superhero movie genre, but also how Tony Stark is portrayed in the comic books. However, even before the Armoured Avenger underwent something of a personality shift, he was still a pretty damn awesome character.

A founding member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Iron Man may have been a B-List tier hero for many years, but he's one of Stan Lee's best creations, years ahead of his time, and still bringing a fascinating technological edge to the Marvel Universe. Sure, he was an asshole during Civil War, but if you can forgive him for that, I think you'll agree with this assessment.

Back Next

7. Superman

So, you were probably expecting Superman to place a little higher than this, right? To be blunt, I'm not a massive fan of the Man of Steel, but he is a character with plenty of amazing moments, and his importance to the success of superhero comic books can't be denied.

When you picture an archetypical "superhero", it's Superman who first comes to mind, and regardless of whether you love the classic John Byrne Supes or the edgier New 52 version, chances are that you'll appreciate him for one reason or another. The Justice League wouldn't be the same without him, that's for sure, and he's one of the only characters who even those who don't read comics are familiar with.

Back Next

6. Daredevil

Even now he's starring in a critically acclaimed Netflix series, is Daredevil really on the A-List? Honestly, the fact he's always flown under that top tier of superheroes is what's made him so great, especially when you look at the work of writers like Frank Miller, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, and Mark Waid.

One of the only heroes with a true disability, Matt Murdock's battle with depression also grounds him in reality in a way even his dark and gritty adventures don't. His rogues gallery is also one of the most underrated in comics, and The Man Without Fear's battles with the likes of Bullseye and The Kingpin are often much better than the flashy stuff you get in other titles!

Back Next

5. The Flash

Depending on how old you are or just your own personal preference, "The Flash" could refer to either Barry Allen or Wally West. Regardless of which version of The Fastest Man Alive you call your own, their adventures both together and apart are undeniably among the best in comic book history.

From Wally's war with Zoom to Barry's many trips through time and an ultimate sacrifice in the iconic Crisis on Infinite Earths, The Flash has become synonymous with quality storytelling, and he's by far the best speedster on the stands every month (sorry, Quicksilver). Unlike many other heroes, Barry and Wally don't really have a dark side; they're just good guys.

Back Next

4. Captain America

Captain America is a tough character to write, especially as many writers tend to go a overboard with his patriotic side. However, that all changed when Ed Brubaker gave him a modern makeover in a run which still stands out as the best yet featuring the character.

Even before then though, Steve Rogers has had plenty of great moments, and while Stan Lee didn't create him, he may as well have because everything changed for Cap when he became an Avenger. Whether it's assembling a cooky quartet, standing up to Thanos, or protecting his fellow heroes by standing up to the government, Steve is a symbol for not just what makes America great, but greatness itself.

Back Next

3. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman may not have had much luck in live-action (something which is hopefully going to change later this month), but can you honesty think of a greater female character in comics? With a fascinating origin story - both before and after The New 52 reboot - Diana Prince has a ton of mythology behind her and a lot of great stories which span decades.

A feminist symbol to begin with, Wonder Woman has become much more than that, and is a hero who both young girls AND boys can now look up to. A member of the Justice League and an irreplaceable part of The Trinity, the DC Universe wouldn't be the same without her, and, well, neither would the superhero genre.

Back Next

2. Spider-Man

Placing Spider-Man on this list was tough. He's MY favourite superhero, but I know that doesn't necessarily mean he's a great character. However, common sense says that he is, something which has really been evident from day one; simply put, the wall-crawler is easily Marvel's best creation.

Despite loss after loss, Spidey keeps on fighting, never giving up and always doing what's right. Still, he's not a goody two shoes and is just as flawed as the rest of us. Yes, he has spectacular powers and has gone so far as saving the entire planet on occasion, but Peter Parker is also Marvel's most human hero. It's that which make his adventures timeless, and he'll certainly outlive us all.

Back Next

1. Batman

Who else? You can go through literally every era of Batman comics and pick out multiple tales which have well-deserved "classic" status, with tales like The Killing Joke, Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, and even Scott Snyder's current run all bringing something truly special to the table.

Bruce Wayne is a character like no other; he may be absurdly wealthy and ridiculously well trained, but he's still just a man. However, that doesn't stop him from standing every bit as tall as the rest of the Justice League and frequently overcoming the kind of odds his superpowered teammates couldn't even begin to fathom. There's just no one and nothing else like The Batman.

Do you agree with this ranking of the all-time greatest Marvel and DC superheroes? Have we missed any of your favourites? As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Back

MIGUEL O'HARA - SPIDER-MAN 2099 Connecting Cover Pits The Future Wall-Crawler Against Marvel's Monsters

Recommended For You:

Marvel Comics Teases Plans For KID VENOM Series But It's Definitely Not What You Expected

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

339 Comments

Related Headlines

Marvel Comics

MIGUEL O'HARA - SPIDER-MAN 2099 Connecting Cover Pits The Future Wall-Crawler Against Marvel's Monsters

JoshWilding

18 hours ago

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics Teases Plans For KID VENOM Series But It's Definitely Not What You Expected

JoshWilding

2 days ago

Marvel Comics

Marvel Spotlights Wyatt Wingfoot, Kushala, And The Spirit Rider In Native American Heritage Month Covers

JoshWilding

4 days ago

Related Headlines

Marvel Comics

MIGUEL O'HARA - SPIDER-MAN 2099 Connecting Cover Pits The Future Wall-Crawler Against Marvel's Monsters

JoshWilding

18 hours ago

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics Teases Plans For KID VENOM Series But It's Definitely Not What You Expected

JoshWilding

2 days ago

Marvel Comics

Marvel Spotlights Wyatt Wingfoot, Kushala, And The Spirit Rider In Native American Heritage Month Covers

JoshWilding

4 days ago

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics Reveals New Look At ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 And Its Roster Of Avengers (Ultimates?)

JoshWilding

4 days ago

Marvel Comics

ULTIMATE INVASION #4 Sets The Stage For Marvel Comics' New Ultimate Universe - SPOILERS

JoshWilding

Sep 27, 2023 10:09 AM

Marvel Comics

Anime & Manga

JUJUTSU KAISEN 2, SPY X FAMILY Included In CRUNCHYROLL's Fall 2023 Anime Watch List

JPD

1 hour ago

Deadpool 3

DEADPOOL 3 Fan Art Sees Singer Taylor Swift Become The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dazzler

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Latest Headlines

Action

THE BEEKEEPER: Jason Statham Is Out For Vengeance In Badass Official Trailer For David Ayer's Latest

RohanPatel

6 mins ago

Anime & Manga

JUJUTSU KAISEN 2, SPY X FAMILY Included In CRUNCHYROLL's Fall 2023 Anime Watch List

JPD

1 hour ago

Deadpool 3

DEADPOOL 3 Fan Art Sees Singer Taylor Swift Become The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dazzler

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Spider-Man PS4

NEW Insomniac Games MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 Figpins Featuring Venom and Miles Morales Have Been Released

JonathanDan

1 hour ago

Superman: Legacy

SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director Reveals Comics Decorating Art Department - Did Any Of These Inspire The Movie?

MarkCassidy

2 hours ago

Star Wars

STAR WARS: Deleted Social Media Post May Confirmed Lucasfilm's Plans For AHSOKA Season 2

JoshWilding

3 hours ago

Hot Headlines

108 comments

ARROW And SUPERGIRL Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg Arrested & Charged With Forcible Touching

MarkCassidy

17 hours ago EST

53 comments

Henry Cavill or Tyler Hoechlin? Whose SUPERMAN Is Better?

JonathanDan

23 hours ago EST

53 comments

GEN V: Did You Catch THE BOYS Spin-Off's Not-So-Subtle Dig At WANDAVISION?

MarkCassidy

1 day ago EST

51 comments

LOKI Season 2 Review; "Mind-Bending, Monumental, And Utterly Marvellous"

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

51 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

ONCE UPON A STUDIO: Animated Icons Meet For The First Time In Gorgeous New Stills From Disney Short

More Cartoons & Animated ►

ONE PUNCH MAN: WORLD Mobile Game Opens Pre-Registration

More Anime & Manga ►

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Hits Theaters Later This Week

More Horror ►

Jason Statham Is THE BEEKEEPER In Action-Packed New Trailer For David Ayer's Next Film

More Action Movies & TV ►

WWE Reveals Stacked Card For NXT As The Show Goes Head-To-Head With AEW For First Time Since 2021

More Pro Wrestling ►

AHSOKA Season Finale Spoiler Review: A Thrilling, But Ultimately Frustrating Conclusion

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

10 Greatest Marvel And DC Comics Superheroes Of All-Time

Everyone has their own favourite superhero, but of the thousands of characters created by Marvel and DC, which ones are truly the best? Well, this is a definitive ranking of the 10 greatest of all-time...

10. Wolverine

9. The Invisible Woman

8. Iron Man

7. Superman

6. Daredevil

5. The Flash

4. Captain America

3. Wonder Woman

2. Spider-Man

1. Batman

MIGUEL O'HARA - SPIDER-MAN 2099 Connecting Cover Pits The Future Wall-Crawler Against Marvel's Monsters

Marvel Comics Teases Plans For KID VENOM Series But It's Definitely Not What You Expected

MIGUEL O'HARA - SPIDER-MAN 2099 Connecting Cover Pits The Future Wall-Crawler Against Marvel's Monsters

Marvel Comics Teases Plans For KID VENOM Series But It's Definitely Not What You Expected

Marvel Spotlights Wyatt Wingfoot, Kushala, And The Spirit Rider In Native American Heritage Month Covers

MIGUEL O'HARA - SPIDER-MAN 2099 Connecting Cover Pits The Future Wall-Crawler Against Marvel's Monsters

Marvel Comics Teases Plans For KID VENOM Series But It's Definitely Not What You Expected

Marvel Spotlights Wyatt Wingfoot, Kushala, And The Spirit Rider In Native American Heritage Month Covers

Marvel Comics Reveals New Look At ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 And Its Roster Of Avengers (Ultimates?)

ULTIMATE INVASION #4 Sets The Stage For Marvel Comics' New Ultimate Universe - SPOILERS

Marvel Comics Is Bringing Back GIANT-SIZE Comics In 2024 Starting With GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-MAN #1

Popular Headlines

Patrick Stewart Says STAR TREK: NEMESIS Co-Star Tom Hardy "Wouldn't Engage With Any Of Us On A Social Level"

ARROW And SUPERGIRL Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg Arrested & Charged With Forcible Touching

DOCTOR STRANGE Director Scott Derrickson Says He Left Sequel To Avoid Making "A Monstrosity"

LOKI Season 2 Reactions Are In - Find Out What Critics Are Saying About The First 4 Episodes

THE ACOLYTE Leaked Trailer Description Promises Plenty Of Jedi And Lightsaber Action

THE BEEKEEPER: Jason Statham Is Out For Vengeance In Badass Official Trailer For David Ayer's Latest

JUJUTSU KAISEN 2, SPY X FAMILY Included In CRUNCHYROLL's Fall 2023 Anime Watch List

DEADPOOL 3 Fan Art Sees Singer Taylor Swift Become The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dazzler

THE BEEKEEPER: Jason Statham Is Out For Vengeance In Badass Official Trailer For David Ayer's Latest

JUJUTSU KAISEN 2, SPY X FAMILY Included In CRUNCHYROLL's Fall 2023 Anime Watch List

DEADPOOL 3 Fan Art Sees Singer Taylor Swift Become The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dazzler

NEW Insomniac Games MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 Figpins Featuring Venom and Miles Morales Have Been Released

SUPERMAN: LEGACY Director Reveals Comics Decorating Art Department - Did Any Of These Inspire The Movie?

STAR WARS: Deleted Social Media Post May Confirmed Lucasfilm's Plans For AHSOKA Season 2

Hot Headlines

ARROW And SUPERGIRL Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg Arrested & Charged With Forcible Touching

Henry Cavill or Tyler Hoechlin? Whose SUPERMAN Is Better?

GEN V: Did You Catch THE BOYS Spin-Off's Not-So-Subtle Dig At WANDAVISION?

LOKI Season 2 Review; "Mind-Bending, Monumental, And Utterly Marvellous"

DOCTOR STRANGE Director Scott Derrickson Says He Left Sequel To Avoid Making "A Monstrosity"

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

AHSOKA Season Finale Spoiler Review: A Thrilling, But Ultimately Frustrating Conclusion

AHSOKA Stars Pay Touching Tribute To The Late Ray Stevenson Following Finale: "Forever Your Wolf"

AHSOKA: Who Is Abeloth? Season Finale Seemingly Introduces The STAR WARS Franchise's New Big Bad - SPOILERS

Cartoons & Animated Features

ONCE UPON A STUDIO: Animated Icons Meet For The First Time In Gorgeous New Stills From Disney Short

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE COMPLETE SERIES Available For Pre-Order

LEGO JURASSIC PARK: THE UNOFFICIAL RETELLING Comes To PEACOCK This Month

Gaming

ONE PUNCH MAN: WORLD Mobile Game Opens Pre-Registration

Gain New Strengths In Old Friends With FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE PATCH 6.5 "GROWING LIGHT"

SPIDER-MAN 2: Full List Of Trophies Revealed As Todd McFarlane Weighs In On Harry Osborn As Venom - SPOILERS

Anime & Manga

THE RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO SEASON 3 Airs This Week And Here's What You Need To Know

CRUNCHYROLL Announces Fall 2023 Anime Lineup For Dubs, Subs And More

Pre-Orders Open For Special Artbook Celebrating ATTACK ON TITAN

Horror

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Hits Theaters Later This Week

SAW X Post-Credits Scene Explained: Do Any Familiar Faces From The Past Return? - SPOILERS

Freeform's 31 Nights Of Halloween Full 2023 Schedule

Action Movies & TV

Jason Statham Is THE BEEKEEPER In Action-Packed New Trailer For David Ayer's Next Film

ARGYLLE: Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard & More Star In First Trailer For Matthew Vaughn's Latest

EXPEND4BLES Exclusive Interview With Stunt Coordinator Alan Ng On The Film's Best Fight Sequences

Pro Wrestling & MMA News

WWE Reveals Stacked Card For NXT As The Show Goes Head-To-Head With AEW For First Time Since 2021

Jade Cargill's WWE Brand Reportedly Revealed; Former AEW Star Expected To Be Backstage At FASTLANE

Adam Copeland Plans To End Wrestling Career In AEW With Christian Cage; Better Explains Why He Left WWE

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

AHSOKA Season Finale Spoiler Review: A Thrilling, But Ultimately Frustrating Conclusion

AHSOKA Stars Pay Touching Tribute To The Late Ray Stevenson Following Finale: "Forever Your Wolf"

AHSOKA: Who Is Abeloth? Season Finale Seemingly Introduces The STAR WARS Franchise's New Big Bad - SPOILERS

RED SONJA Producer Shares Update On "Darker" Reboot Of Sword-And-Sorcery Adventure

Will AHSOKA Season 2 Be Released Before Dave Filoni's STAR WARS Movie? Insider Weighs In

AHSOKA Finally Reveals The Truth About Baylan Skoll With A Scene That Changes EVERYTHING - SPOILERS

Cartoons & Animated Features