7 Powers Even DC Forgot Justice Leaguers Had

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The heroes of the Justice League of America possess incredible abilities, many of which are surprisingly unknown, even to comic book fans. First appearing in The Brave and the Bold #28 in 1960, the League was formed when DC’s most powerful heroes united to defend Earth from an alien invasion. After successfully stopping the threat, they decided to continue working together for future crises that required a team effort. Over the past 60+ years of stories, various writers have given these heroes unique powers that aren’t often showcased, leaving many DC fans unaware of the full extent of their abilities.

Here is a look at seven powers across the Justice League that even DC forgot the characters have.

7) Superman Has Mind Control Powers

Okay, so this is a deep cut for comic book fans, but it turns out Superman has always had telepathic powers! I was digging through the archives and found an instance way back in Superman #45 from 1947 where he literally forced an alien to remove a device from their head using his mind. Now, while incredibly powerful, it feels… off, right? Mind control is usually the domain of the bad guys, not the beacon of hope. It’s a Professor X power, not a Superman power, if you ask me. It raises some interesting questions about how he’s used his abilities over the years.

Superman has demonstrated psychic abilities in various comics and films throughout the years. For example, in some older stories, he could identify callers simply by looking at the phone. The movie Superman II showed him using a kiss to erase Lois Lane’s memory of his secret identity. Despite these instances, DC Comics rarely explores or utilizes Superman’s mental powers anymore.

6) Aquaman Has Latent Magical Abilities

Aquaman secretly has magical powers connected to his royal family history in Atlantis. He usually uses these powers with items like his trident and other magical objects. But sometimes, in comics, he’s shown using magic without any tools, proving the power comes from within him, not just from Atlantean technology.

Aquaman is highly resistant to magic, able to withstand powerful spells and magical boosts because of a natural magical connection he possesses. This effectively negates one of Superman’s key vulnerabilities. It’s a significant, often overlooked power for Aquaman, and DC Comics writers haven’t fully explored its potential in recent stories, leaving a wealth of abilities largely untapped.

5) Flash Can Share Speed With Others

As a huge Flash fan, it’s amazing to me how much depth there is to the Speed Force! It took a while, but we eventually learned that The Flash could actually share his speed with others. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t the original Flash, Barry Allen, who discovered this. It was Wally West, when he took on the mantle, who first showed us this incredible ability – he could literally give other speedsters a boost!

In issue #160 of The Flash, written by Brian Augustyn and illustrated by Scott Kolins, the Flash was shown taking speed away from his opponents. Later, members of the Flash Family discovered they could pool their Speed Force powers, sharing energy between them to boost their abilities before big fights.

4) Martian Manhunter Can Take Control of Animals

As a huge DC fan, I’ve always been amazed by Martian Manhunter. He’s seriously up there with the strongest heroes – right alongside Superman, honestly. But it’s not just brute strength; he’s the most powerful telepath on the planet! And the shapeshifting? Incredible. He can become anyone or anything, even animals, though you don’t see that much in the comics. I always thought it was cool he could turn into a dog to sneak around, but he actually has another, lesser-known ability too.

Martian Manhunter’s telepathy is incredibly powerful, allowing him to control the minds of almost anything, including animals. A notable example of this ability occurred in issue #87 of JLA, when he mentally controlled Superman’s dog, Krypto, while battling Fernus.

3) Green Lantern’s Ring Can Translate Any Language

The Green Lantern’s power ring is famous for creating objects to fight with, but it can do much more. While it’s often used to make shields and protective barriers, many fans don’t realize it also instantly translates any language in the universe. There are a few limits to this ability, but it’s a surprisingly useful feature.

Green Lantern rings aren’t just for translating languages. They can also build entire miniature worlds and even allow time travel. These rings can create anything from simple weapons to complex machines, and the only real limit to their power is how creative the wearer is.

2) Wonder Woman Can Talk to Animals

Wonder Woman possesses a lesser-known ability: she can talk to animals. This power comes from a blessing given to her by Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Fans have seen this skill demonstrated in both Wonder Woman comic books and the classic television series starring Lynda Carter, where Diana frequently communicated with creatures.

Wonder Woman recently demonstrated her ability to communicate with animals in Are You Afraid of Darkseid? #1, successfully learning information about missing children while working with Vixen. This adds to previous displays of the power, like when she spoke with aliens on Themyscira, further showcasing its impressive range.

1) Superman Can Turn Invisible

Okay, so we all know Superman is incredibly fast, right? But here’s something interesting I noticed – he has a power that’s basically the Flash’s phasing ability! The Flash can vibrate his molecules so quickly he goes through things. It turns out Superman can do something very similar with his own superspeed. It’s never really showcased in the movies, but it totally makes sense given how fast he is, and it’s a cool connection to another DC hero. It’s a bit of a hidden power that I wish they’d explore more!

Superman can become invisible by vibrating his molecules incredibly fast – he demonstrated this in the comic Superman #175 back in 2001 while fighting Doomsday. When he does this, he’s not just unseen, but untouchable, making it impossible for opponents like Doomsday to land a blow. He doesn’t rely on this ability often, preferring direct, physical confrontations.

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2026-04-13 01:13