4 DC Villains That Can Probably Beat David Corenswet’s Superman

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Superman, in the DC Universe, embodies immense strength. His powers like flying, super strength, and heat vision come from being exposed to Earth’s yellow sun. Even though he’s incredibly powerful, it’s hard for DC Comics to find worthy opponents that can challenge him significantly. However, James Gunn, head of DC Studios, wants a grittier Superman in the new movies. Inexperience is Superman’s major weakness in this new film series, as he has only a few years of crime-fighting experience under his belt. Lex Luthor exploits this lack of experience and attacks him relentlessly.

In other words, Superman wouldn’t have been successful in stopping Luthor’s plot to harm him and ruin his reputation without the assistance of allies such as Mister Terrific and Krypto. Other villains are likely to follow suit and develop strategies aimed at pushing Superman to his limits. Here are four DC villains that might just outsmart David Corenswet’s Superman.

1) Bane

As a devoted cinephile, I’d like to share my take on the opening scene of “Superman.” The film kicks off with our beloved Superman lying defeated following an encounter with the Hammer of Boravia. An intriguing prologue unfolds, revealing this is the first time Superman has ever tasted defeat within the DCU. The extent of the damage leaves him no choice but to retreat to his Fortress of Solitude for recovery.

The fascinating twist in this confrontation stems from the fact that the Hammer’s creator, none other than Lex Luthor, had engineered a Kryptonian clone intent on wreaking havoc on Superman’s doppelganger – an unsettling and intriguing turn of events for any Superman aficionado.

Although Bane, a formidable antagonist from Batman’s rogue gallery, might not match the physical strength of Superman or Ultraman, his intellectual prowess can be daunting. Unfortunately, in live-action adaptations, Bane’s intelligence doesn’t always shine as brightly as it should. As for now, the DC Universe’s earliest champion hasn’t fully matured yet, making him an easy target for Bane. Fueled by the Venom drug, Bane could potentially inflict severe harm, possibly even breaking a member of the Justice League.

2) Black Adam

In my humble opinion as a film critic, Lex Luthor is caught off guard in Gunn’s latest masterpiece. Unlike other times, he doesn’t seem to know Superman’s deepest secrets. Consequently, Luthor finds himself needing every ounce of strategy to have a fighting chance against the Man of Steel.

However, had Lex Luthor been privy to his opponent’s vulnerability towards magic, I believe that the outcome of their battle would have been drastically different, and the conflict might have been resolved much sooner.

Similar to Captain Marvel, who derives his powers from the Wizard Shazam, Black Adam possesses similar abilities. Unlike Captain Marvel, however, Black Adam tends to use his immense strength for malicious deeds instead of noble pursuits. Once he realizes that his magic provides him an advantage over Superman, Black Adam will likely unleash his power and potentially overwhelm the Man of Steel.

3) Ra’s al Ghul

It takes Superman a while to understand that Luthor is responsible for the Hammer of Boravia and the odd occurrences in Metropolis, as he tends to believe the best in people and doesn’t suspect anyone of targeting him. However, Luthor isn’t the only villainous mastermind in the DC Universe who has a penchant for challenging heroes.

Without a shadow of a doubt, an experienced Batman could defeat DC Universe’s Superman. The Caped Crusader gains valuable insights from Ra’s al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassins. If Superman catches Ra’s attention, this villain won’t hesitate to eliminate him. He’ll construct Kryptonite weapons or devise ways to increase his own power so he can teach Superman a hard lesson.

4) Sinestro

In the comic book “Superman”, it’s Green Lantern character Guy Gardner who often clashes with Clark Kent’s alter ego due to their contrasting personalities. Despite Superman’s extraordinary strength, Guy isn’t easily intimidated when he perceives a confrontation brewing. Although some may view him as overly arrogant, his possession of a powerful power ring should not be underestimated.

Sinestro was once part of the Green Lantern group, but he disagrees with the teachings of the Guardians of the Universe. He then forms his own team, called the Sinestro Corps. If Superman manages to provoke Sinestro and his followers, it’s likely going to be a tough battle for him.

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2025-08-21 18:16