10 Times Superman Got Completely Beaten in a Fight, Ranked by How Badly It Probably Hurt

Superman is central to the entire DC Multiverse – he’s the hero who started it all. He embodies hope, and essentially powers everything (except for Absolute Earth). Everyone looks to him for guidance and expects him to be the one to save the day, and he usually does. Throughout his history, Superman has consistently risen to the challenge, but he hasn’t always won. While he typically bounces back to save the world, he’s definitely faced some devastating defeats.

Superman faces incredibly powerful and dangerous enemies. While he’s famous for being nearly indestructible, some villains have managed to defeat him, and a few have even come close to killing him. These battles have pushed Superman to his limits, and here are ten times he was truly beaten – and it definitely wasn’t easy.

10) Zod, Ursa, and Non Beating Him in “Last Son”

“Last Son” was a great Superman story that reintroduced classic villains General Zod, Ursa, and Non. After escaping the Phantom Zone, they began hunting Lor-Zod, the son of Zod and Ursa who helped them escape. This led to a massive fight with Superman, which he surprisingly lost. Despite being at his strongest, Superman was overwhelmed by the three Kryptonians, knocked unconscious, and even thrown into the Phantom Zone himself. To overcome this, he was forced to team up with Lex Luthor’s team of Superman enemies to ultimately succeed.

9) Batman Beating Superman in The Dark Knight Returns

In 2026, Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns will celebrate its 40th anniversary, and the iconic fight between Batman and Superman is still widely discussed. Batman managed to lure a vulnerable Superman – weakened by a nuclear blast – to Gotham City. There, he unleashed a relentless assault, utilizing everything from a Kryptonite arrow and the city’s power grid to acid, sonic weaponry, and sheer physical force. Superman was already in rough shape, and Batman’s attacks only worsened it. Ultimately, Batman knocked Superman unconscious, likely to the Man of Steel’s relief, ending his suffering.

8) Alfred Beating Injustice Superman

Many dedicated DC Comics fans don’t love the Injustice storyline, largely because it’s excessively dark and violent. The story, based on the video game, centers around a brutal war between a corrupted Superman and Batman, forcing all the heroes and villains to pick a side. A particularly shocking moment occurs when Superman loses his powers and is relentlessly beaten by Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler. It’s considered one of the most brutal attacks ever inflicted on Superman, and it was incredibly painful to witness. Alfred truly went all-out, making this beating as infamous as it was agonizing.

7) Perpetua Defeating the Justice League

As a huge DC fan, the fight between the Justice League and Perpetua in Justice League (Vol. 4) was insane! She kept kicking their butts, and the last time was really bad – she totally wrecked the entire multiverse! It was a cliffhanger, so when Dark Knights: Death Metal started, it was a huge shock. Superman was captured and basically used as a battery for Metropokolips, so he was out of commission for a long time. Perpetua just completely dominated the team, and Superman took a beating, though at least he survived. It was rough, though – Batman actually died, and only came back because of a Black Lantern ring!

6) The Anti-Monitor Beating Him Almost to Death in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7

The Anti-Monitor is a massively powerful and dangerous villain in the DC Universe, a fact clearly demonstrated during the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline. In issue #7, the heroes confronted him, with Superman leading the charge. This was the preCrisis* version of Superman, incredibly strong and capable of moving planets with ease. Despite his power, the Anti-Monitor brutally defeated him, inflicting a severe beating that forced Supergirl to intervene. Superman was nearly killed and would have perished if not for his cousin’s sacrifice, making it one of the most devastating defeats he’s ever suffered.

5) Gog’s Superman Killing Spree

The comic series Kingdom Come is a classic from the 1990s, but many fans are unaware that it had a follow-up. The Kingdom delved into the story of Gog, the character responsible for turning Magog into the aggressive villain seen in the original story, who aimed to eliminate Superman. Gog repeatedly killed Superman, resetting the day each time to do it again and again. Superman has faced death in many different ways throughout the comics, and in some instances, he even accepted his fate.

4) Superman’s Death in Batman: The Last Knight on Earth

In Batman: Last Knight on Earth, the story depicts a grim future ruled by a villain called Omega. Before any direct conflict, Superman was cleverly defeated by Lex Luthor. Luthor lured Superman into a public televised debate and sprung a deadly Kryptonite trap. The spikes were strategically placed to inflict maximum pain, severely damaging Superman’s internal organs and tissues, resulting in a great deal of suffering.

3) Wonder Woman Killing Superman in Wonder Woman: Dead Earth

Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is a truly incredible comic book, packed with thrilling action thanks to writer and artist Daniel Warren Johnson. A standout moment is the epic battle between Wonder Woman and Superman, a fight so intense it destroys the entire planet. Ultimately, Wonder Woman defeats and kills Superman. As the greatest warrior of Themyscira, Diana knows exactly how to inflict damage, and Superman endures a brutal struggle before finally succumbing – even having his heart ripped out likely felt like an eternity for him.

2) “Death of Superman”

“Death of Superman” is a famous story because it truly shows how much damage Superman endured. If you’re not convinced he was severely injured, it’s worth revisiting the story! Superman fought Doomsday relentlessly, taking a beating long before their final battle in Metropolis. He likely suffered numerous broken bones, internal injuries, and torn muscles. Despite the incredible pain, he fought with courage until the very end.

1) The Death of Earth-Two Superman in Infinite Crisis

Many fans consider the Superman from Earth-Two to be the definitive version of the character. He reappeared during the Infinite Crisis storyline after previously triumphing over the Anti-Monitor in Crisis on Infinite Earths. He discovered that Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three and Superboy-Prime were plotting to destroy and rebuild the multiverse. Joining the fight against them, he ultimately confronted Superboy-Prime alongside the main Superman. During a brutal battle, they forced Prime through the red sun of Krypton and onto the planet Mogo, severely weakening the elder Superman. Superboy-Prime then tragically killed him in a violent and agonizing death, arguably the most painful death any version of Superman has ever suffered, and likely exacerbated by the effects of the red sun.

2026-06-06 19:11