Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about how strong Superman is as a character. James Gunn, who’s in charge of DC Studios, admitted he had trouble writing a new Superman movie because he didn’t feel a strong connection to the character. He felt Superman’s power, while impressive, wasn’t tied to any real inner struggle, which is difficult for writers to work with. Gunn ultimately found a way forward by starting the movie with Superman losing a fight – showing him vulnerable for the first time ever in a film. While some fans didn’t like this idea, preferring their heroes to be perfect, it was Gunn’s approach to making the character relatable.
Look, if you’re not excited about where DC is heading, that’s totally fine! There’s a ton of great Superman content out there that doesn’t rely on huge, dramatic battles. Honestly, sometimes it’s just fun to see him be powerful! That got me thinking, so I decided to rank every animated version of Superman, purely based on how powerful they are. It’s a deep dive for us Superman fans!
14) Super Friends
Saturday morning cartoons were hugely popular in the 1970s and 80s, and Super Friends was one of the best. The show brought together DC Comics heroes to save the world from danger. What set it apart was that the heroes didn’t always rely on fighting. Superman and his teammates often tried to talk things out with the villains first. While this taught viewers a good lesson, it sometimes made Superman seem less powerful.
13) Superman
The early Superman shorts from the 1940s faced a similar challenge. Because of the limitations of the technology available then, they couldn’t create very complex stories for Superman. He mostly just flew around offering assistance, but the plots never required him to really push himself or struggle to win a fight or save the day.
12) The Dark Knight Returns
The animated movie based on Frank Miller’s classic story, The Dark Knight Returns, presents a Superman who is past his prime. He’s older and not as physically fit, which puts him at a disadvantage when he challenges Batman, arguably the most intelligent person alive. Although he’s still incredibly strong, he doesn’t have much else going for him in their fight.
11) All-Star Superman
Unlike many superhero movies, All-Star Superman isn’t concerned with setting up sequels. The story begins with Superman absorbing a dangerous amount of solar energy, which initially boosts his powers but ultimately leads to his mortality. This film focuses more on Superman as a person, rather than his heroic feats, making it a different kind of superhero story – one that doesn’t necessarily showcase his incredible strength.
10) Justice League Action
When Superman works with a team, he has strong support ready to help whenever he needs it. But in Justice League Action, with heroes like Wonder Woman and Batman always present, he doesn’t get many opportunities to truly showcase his power. He has a few standout moments, like his battle with Steppenwolf, which are enough to place him in the top 10.
9) Legion of Super Heroes
With so many DC superhero shows available, it’s easy to miss some gems. One that often gets overlooked is Legion of Super Heroes, which features a young Superman traveling to the future to train and team up with the Legion. Throughout its two seasons, Superman has plenty of opportunities to prove himself in solo fights – his battle against the Controller is a standout example – and he consistently rises to the challenge.
8) Superman: Red Son
Imagine a world where Superman didn’t land in Kansas, but in the Soviet Union. In Superman: Red Son, he rises to power there, facing off against familiar foes like Lex Luthor and Brainiac. Ultimately, Superman must team up with Luthor to defeat Brainiac. Though he always wins, the Man of Steel isn’t without his struggles and takes some serious hits along the way.
7) Young Justice
Rather than focusing on well-known Justice League heroes, the show Young Justice centers on their sidekicks. Superman still appears, mentoring Superboy and assisting in world-saving efforts multiple times. The challenging fights against villains like the Light and the Reach demonstrate that Superman is incredibly powerful when the situation demands it.
6) My Adventures With Superman
Many Superman shows focus solely on the hero, but some also give important roles to the supporting characters. My Adventures With Superman features Clark Kent working alongside Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen to protect Metropolis. While these friends get to be heroes too, things aren’t always easy. Superman still faces tough villains like Brainiac and his cousin, Kara Zor-El, proving he’s both a powerful fighter and a fun-loving hero.
5) Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
When Superman and Batman team up, you’re almost guaranteed an exciting adventure. In Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Lex Luthor tricks everyone into believing Superman committed a crime, and sends other superheroes to hunt him down. The follow-up, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, raises the stakes even higher with the introduction of the villain Darkseid. Both stories showcase Superman’s strength and determination, making this pairing a standout in the top five.
4) Superman: Doomsday
Darkseid combines the traits of Lex Luthor and Doomsday, but Doomsday remains a more purely physical danger – a relentless, unthinking force of destruction. In the story Superman: Doomsday, Superman defeats Doomsday, but at the cost of his own life. He later returns and fights a clone created by Lex Luthor, even while weakened. This demonstrates that Superman’s strength isn’t just about raw power; his intelligence and strategy are also crucial.
3) Injustice
In the comics, Superman frequently loses control as a way to create dramatic tension and give his opponents a chance. In the game Injustice, he snaps after The Joker kills Lois Lane. Once he decides to take over the world, he’s unstoppable, even by other versions of himself. He only stops fighting when the remaining heroes manage to remind him of his own goodness.
2) DCAMU Superman
The DC Animated Movie Universe is wrapping up its first phase with a bittersweet ending, as The Flash goes back in time to create a new timeline. Superman starts strong, successfully battling villains with the Justice League, and could be considered the best. However, his actions in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War ultimately let his world fall apart, a key difference compared to the next hero on this list.
1) DCAU Superman
It’s no surprise that Superman from the DC Animated Universe ranks highly, as he’s featured in many episodes and fights almost every major DC villain, including Doomsday and Lex Luthor. However, his battle with Darkseid is particularly memorable. He directly confronts Darkseid, expressing satisfaction at finally facing an equal opponent and challenging the ruler of Apokolips.
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2025-11-03 02:14