The First 10 Members of the Squadron Supreme, Ranked by Power

In 1985, Marvel Comics explored a fascinating concept: what if a team of incredibly powerful heroes decided to take control of the world? This idea wasn’t entirely new, though. The heroic team known as the Squadron Supreme first appeared in a 1971 Avengers comic as a counterpart to the villainous Squadron Sinister, who aimed to conquer the Marvel Universe. While members of the Squadron Supreme had appeared in other comics, their official team dynamic was established in a 1985 series by Mark Gruenwald and others. This series marked a turning point, transforming the Squadron Supreme from world protectors to world rulers. It was known for its shocking deaths of heroes—a common trait in Gruenwald’s work—and contains some of the team’s most iconic moments in Marvel history.

Here is a look at the first 10 members of the Squadron Supreme in Marvel Comics, ranked by power.

10) Nighthawk

Nighthawk is the hero Kyle Richmond, and his villainous counterpart was a prominent member of the original Defenders team. This evil version of Nighthawk first appeared in Avengers comics in 1969, before another version from a different universe showed up. He’s essentially the Squadron Sinister’s version of Batman: a hero who relies on skill and technology rather than superpowers, using a winged suit equipped with claws and other gadgets to fight crime. In a later storyline, he was the only one to oppose Hyperion’s plan for a perfect society, believing a leader should serve the people, not control them. He bravely fought against Hyperion, but ultimately died in that conflict.

9) Golden Archer

Golden Archer is actually Wyatt McDonald, a hero who originally fought crime as Hawkeye on Earth-712. He later changed his name. Similar to Green Arrow, he relies on specialized trick arrows. While he doesn’t have any superpowers, he’s a highly skilled archer, athlete, and hand-to-hand combatant, making him a more formidable fighter than Nighthawk. Ultimately, he’s kicked off the team after it’s revealed he manipulated Lady Lark’s feelings using behavior modification technology. He is later killed by Blue Eagle during the final battle.

8) Lady Lark

Lady Lark is actually Linda Lewis, a pop singer from an alternate Earth (Earth-712). An accident damaged her vocal cords, but a doctor named Dr. Decibel repaired them, unexpectedly giving her sonic superpowers instead of just a singing voice. She’s similar to the Black Canary and Hawkgirl characters, but part of the Squadron Supreme team. Lady Lark can create powerful sonic blasts and screams, and also uses disorienting high-frequency sounds to make enemies dizzy. Notably, she was once the victim of a sexual assault by Golden Archer, but her greater powers make her the superior hero in this version of the team.

7) Tom Thumb

Tom Thumb, whose real name is Thomas Thompson, is a brilliant scientist trapped in the body of a dwarf. He joined the superhero team, the Squadron Supreme, filling a role similar to DC Comics’ Atom. As the team’s chief scientist and inventor, he created all the technology for the Utopia Project, their ambitious plan to reshape the world. Though he lacks superpowers, his incredible intelligence makes him a valuable asset. Sadly, he died from brain cancer, keeping his illness a secret from his teammates so he could continue working until the very end.

6) Amphibian

Amphibian, born on Earth-712 to a human mother and Atlantean father, is a founding member of the superhero team, the Squadron Supreme. Essentially their version of Aquaman, he possesses incredible strength and can withstand immense pressure, swim at superhuman speeds, and even communicate with sea creatures using his mind. Like Aquaman, though, he gets sick if he spends too much time on land. He becomes dissatisfied with the team’s ‘Utopia Project’ and chooses to leave instead of taking sides in a conflict. While very powerful, he isn’t considered one of the top-tier heroes on his world.

5) Nuke

Nuke, whose real name is Albert Gaines, is the Squadron Supreme’s equivalent of the hero Firestorm. He gained his powers – the ability to create, control, and release nuclear energy, as well as fly using nuclear power – after being exposed to radioactive materials at a power plant. He joined the team after a battle with the Overmind, but his story became one of the team’s most heartbreaking. Nuke’s powers unintentionally harmed his parents, and when even the team’s healer, Tom Thumb, couldn’t save them, he spiraled out of control. Doctor Spectrum was forced to contain him in an energy bubble, but Nuke continued to fight, ultimately exhausting the air supply and suffocating. This tragic event deeply damaged the Squadron Supreme’s reputation.

4) Whizzer

Originally known as Blur, Whizzer is this team’s equivalent of the Flash. Stanley Stewart developed super-speed after running through an unusual fog, and he was a key founding member of the Squadron Supreme. He can run incredibly fast – even up walls and across water – and can create whirling vortexes by running in circles. To maintain his powers, though, he needs to consume a massive amount of food. This gives him exceptional speed, agility, and allows him to strategically maneuver in combat, making him a powerful asset, as seen in the Redeemers’ battles.

3) Doctor Spectrum

Joseph Ledger, known as Doctor Spectrum, received his abilities from an alien gem called the Power Prism. He earned the Prism from Skymaster, a Skrullian alien he saved, and it allows him to create solid-light objects like blasts and shields. He can also fly, become invisible, and control machines, all through the power of his mind. As one of the original members of the Squadron, he strongly supported Hyperion’s Utopia Project. He demonstrated his strength when he was responsible for the death of Nuke, a particularly shocking event for the team.

2) Power Princess

As a huge superhero movie fan, I’m always fascinated by alternate versions of classic characters. In the Squadron Supreme, they have their own take on Wonder Woman – it’s Power Princess, Zarda. But here’s the twist: instead of being an Amazon like Wonder Woman, she’s a Utopian, which is basically their version of the Inhumans from the main Marvel universe. That means she got her powers from Kree genetic experiments! She’s incredibly strong, fast, agile, and can fly. Plus, she ages super slowly – she’s centuries old! She can even drain life force and create this amazing, nearly indestructible shield. While she’s the best fighter on the team, there’s actually someone even more powerful – which is pretty wild when you consider everything she can do!

1) Hyperion

Hyperion is the strongest member of the Squadron Supreme, similar to Superman. Originally named Mark Milton, he’s the sole survivor of an ancient race from another Earth (Earth-712), raised by the Milton family. He’s the clear leader of the team and possesses incredible abilities, including immense strength, flight at around 3,000 mph, near-invulnerability (able to withstand attacks from someone like Thor), rapid healing, and heat vision reaching over 12,000°F. He spearheaded the Utopia Project, a plan where the Squadron took control of their world. A version of him from Earth-13034 once even managed to hold two entire worlds apart during a catastrophic event, though he ultimately perished.

2026-05-26 19:13