7 Superheroes Based on Actual Ancient Mythologies from Around the World

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Throughout history, stories have always featured heroic figures battling against evil. From ancient myths to today’s popular culture, these characters appear in every society. Superheroes are essentially the modern take on these legendary heroes, boasting incredible powers and achieving extraordinary things. It’s no accident that many comic book writers at DC and Marvel have directly borrowed from classic heroes and gods. These characters, whether reimagined from ancient tales or powered by mythological sources, ensure these old stories continue to be known and enjoyed by new generations.

Across cultures from China to Greece, fascinating new superheroes are emerging, drawing their backgrounds and abilities from the rich stories and legends of folklore and mythology.

7) Monkey Prince

Monkey Prince, a relatively new superhero from DC Comics, is a clone of Sun Wukong, the famous Monkey King from Chinese legends. Sun Wukong is incredibly powerful, said to be able to fight all of Heaven’s soldiers on his own. Marcus Shugei-Shen, as Monkey Prince is known, has inherited many of his ‘father’s’ powers, like super strength, the ability to change shape, fly, create clones from his hair, withstand damage, heal quickly, and even live forever. He also uses Jingu Bang, a magical staff that can change size whenever he needs it to. Initially a loner, Marcus has grown into a playful trickster, just like the original Monkey King, and now proudly represents Chinese mythology as a superhero.

6) Black Knight

Dane Whitman, known as the Black Knight in Marvel Comics, comes from a long line of heroes, tracing back to the legendary King Arthur. His ancestor, Sir Percival, was a noble knight of the Round Table, famous for his purity and loyalty. He was a key figure in the search for the Holy Grail. However, in the Marvel universe, Percival was also the original Black Knight, possessing the magical Ebony Blade – a weapon that was eventually inherited by Dane. Now, as the third Black Knight, Dane continues the legacy, bringing the tales of Camelot into the present with his enchanted armor and weapons.

5) Moon Knight

Marc Spector, also known as Moon Knight, was a soldier for hire who almost died during a mission in Sudan, near Egypt. While severely wounded in an ancient temple, he was rescued by Khonshu, the Egyptian moon god, who turned him into his earthly representative, Moon Knight. This connection to Khonshu boosts Marc’s mental abilities and even allows him to return from death. Rooted in Egyptian beliefs where Khonshu was seen as a protector of nighttime travelers, Marc now continues this role by safeguarding the vulnerable from harm.

4) Hercules

Marvel’s Hercules is their take on the classic Greek/Roman hero, often considered one of history’s greatest. His story closely follows the original myths: he’s the son of Zeus and a human woman, possesses immense strength, and completed twelve legendary tasks to earn his place among the immortals. Today, Hercules is a powerful and confident warrior, ranking among Marvel’s strongest heroes – able to go toe-to-toe with characters like Thor and the Hulk. He typically fights with a mace, which he uses effectively against villains. Having served with both the Avengers and the Defenders, Hercules is the second most well-known divine superhero in Marvel Comics.

3) Shazam

Billy Batson, known as Shazam, received incredible powers from a powerful wizard. These powers come from figures in Greek, Roman, and biblical stories – the very letters in the name “Shazam” stand for Solomon’s wisdom, Hercules’ strength, Atlas’ stamina, Zeus’ power, Achilles’ courage, and Mercury’s speed. When Billy shouts “Shazam,” he transforms and becomes a remarkably strong hero in the DC Universe, capable of challenging even Superman.

2) Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman, whose real name is Diana, has strong connections to Greek mythology. She comes from Themyscira, a hidden island inhabited by powerful female warriors called Amazons. Her mother, Queen Hippolyta, is a figure from those same ancient Greek stories – a legendary warrior herself. Like in the original myths, the Amazons were known for their incredible strength and fighting skills. Many of Wonder Woman’s enemies, such as Ares, Circe, and Medusa, are also well-known characters from Greek legends. Interestingly, “Diana” is also the name of the Roman goddess of the hunt. Recently, DC Comics has further emphasized Diana’s mythological background by making her the daughter of Zeus, the king of the gods.

1) Thor

I’ve always been a huge fan of Thor! He’s one of the most recognizable characters out there, and it’s amazing how Marvel took this ancient Norse god and made him such a fantastic hero. They’ve definitely changed some things about his story and powers, but they’ve kept the core of who he is – a brave protector of Asgard, Earth, and all the realms. Plus, he still loves his drink! What’s really cool is how much Marvel draws from Norse mythology – you can really see it in Thor’s powers, like that incredible hammer Mjolnir and the storms he can summon, and in the whole world they’ve built around him. It’s a perfect example of how they use mythology to create such compelling characters and stories.

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2025-11-04 23:14