7 Most Powerful Kryptonians in DC Comics (Who Aren’t Superman)

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Superman is DC Comics’ most iconic hero, widely considered the most powerful in their universe. His Kryptonian biology absorbs energy from the sun, giving him incredible abilities that adapt to any challenge. These powers include super strength, the ability to withstand almost any attack, flight, heat vision, enhanced senses, super speed, and freezing breath. He’s an immensely powerful figure who has repeatedly saved the multiverse, both independently and as a member of the Justice League.

Superman isn’t the only powerful being from the planet Krypton in the DC Universe. While many different versions of Superman exist, other Kryptonians have appeared over time, sometimes as his friends and sometimes as his foes. Here are seven of the most powerful Kryptonians besides Superman himself – excluding characters like Superboy-Prime and Jon Kent, who are essentially different versions of Superman – and they use their incredible abilities for both good and evil.

7) Superboy (Kon-El)

Kon-El is a version of Superman from a possible future, and while not the original Kal-El, he’s considered the best Superboy. He first appeared after the “Death of Superman” storyline as a clone created by Project Cadmus. To make the cloning process work, Cadmus used genetic material from Lex Luthor. Initially, Kon-El’s powers came from a special ability called tactile telekinesis – an energy field around his body that gave him super strength, invulnerability, and flight. Over time, he’s also developed more traditional Kryptonian powers, but he still retains tactile telekinesis, which sets him apart from other Kryptonians in the DC universe. While not as powerful as Superman, Kon-El has even managed to hold his own against Superboy-Prime, a significant accomplishment.

6) Jax-Ur

Jax-Ur was a Kryptonian scientist with a dangerous and unstable mind. He was infamous for conducting cruel experiments, and was banished to the Phantom Zone after destroying Krypton’s moon, Wrethgor. Following Krypton’s destruction, he repeatedly attempted to escape the Phantom Zone, bringing him into conflict with Superman. Like other Kryptonians, he possesses a range of superpowers, and has occasionally teamed up with General Zod and later, Rogol Zaar. Over the years, Superman has defeated Jax-Ur on multiple occasions. Though not a major villain, Jax-Ur disappeared after the Crisis event, but reappeared when elements of the preCrisis universe were restored following Infinite Crisis*. He remains one of the more compelling of the Kryptonian adversaries.

5) Jor-El

Jor-El is Superman’s father. When Krypton was destroyed, he sent his infant son to Earth. People believed Jor-El died with his planet, but he actually survived thanks to Doctor Manhattan. He arrived on Earth, gained powers from the sun, and went by the name Mr. Oz. Eventually, he contacted Superman, initially acting as an antagonist before attempting to make amends. Later, Jor-El traveled the universe with Lois and Jon Kent, but lost contact with Jon during their journey. He aided in the fight against Rogol Zaar, a being he created, but was ultimately held accountable for his actions as Mr. Oz and sent back to witness Krypton’s destruction.

4) Bizarro

It’s easy to see why people compare Bizarro to Superman – he’s often shown as either Superman from another world or a copy of him. However, because he goes by the name Bizarro, he’s considered a separate character. Like Superman, Bizarro is a Kryptonian with similar powers, but many of his abilities are reversed – he breathes fire instead of ice, for example. This makes him one of Superman’s biggest threats. Bizarro is incredibly strong and fast, and they’ve battled many times. While he can be funny, his unstable emotions make him a truly dangerous opponent.

3) Power Girl

Power Girl, also known as Kara Zor-L, comes from Earth-Two. Her story is much like Supergirl’s, but she landed on a different Earth and was raised by her older cousin, Kal-L, along with his parents, Clark and Lois. She managed to survive when multiple universes were destroyed and has been a member of several superhero teams, including the Justice League International and the Justice Society. It’s hard to say exactly how powerful she is. Kryptonians from before the Crisis were incredibly strong, but those from Earth-Two sometimes weren’t as powerful. While she probably can’t move planets, she’s still more powerful than most heroes and other Kryptonians because of how much solar energy she’s absorbed.

2) General Zod

General Zod is the most famous villain from Krypton, appearing in multiple movies and animated shows. Once a great soldier and even an ally of Jor-El, Zod believed Krypton faced destruction. Instead of letting it fall, he tried to seize control and force a solution, which led to his exile in the Phantom Zone. He eventually escaped and became Superman’s enemy, believing Kryptonians shouldn’t care about humanity. Zod is incredibly powerful, often matching or exceeding Superman’s strength, and his military background gives him a strategic edge in combat. Though he’s currently lost his powers, it’s likely he’ll regain them and resume his quest to rebuild Krypton.

1) Supergirl

Supergirl is a major hero in the DC universe. As a teenager, she escaped the destruction of Krypton when a piece of the planet, Argo City, was launched into space. She and the other Kryptonians worked to survive, and eventually her father built a ship to send her to Earth. There, she was found by her cousin and became Supergirl. Her exact strength is difficult to measure; when she reappeared in the 2000s, it was suggested she could even be more powerful than Superman, potentially making her the strongest Kryptonian alive today.

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2025-11-01 01:11