Humans have been terrified and fascinated by monsters for thousands of years. Since the release of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in 1818, monsters have become a conduit for imagination for many creators, novelists and filmmakers alike. Today, some of the most popular fictional monsters exist in comics.
The freakish look of most comic book monsters is often accompanied by great power. And as the old Uncle Ben quote goes, with great power, comes greater responsibility. It's really what the monster chooses to do with the power that sets them apart. Some are as malevolent as they look, while others choose to be champions of good. Regardless of their intentions, fans always seem eager to see which monster has the most power, for no other reason other than it's just plain cool. We're going to try to shed some light on the question of just who (or what) is the most powerful monster in comics is but first, some parameters... For the purpose of this list, we're going to be excluding mutant-born monsters and godlike monsters.
Now that we've got that out of the way, here are the 15 Most Powerful Comic Book Monsters, Ranked.
15. Vermin
We start things off with a classic example of the tragic monster. Vermin made his debut in the pages of Marvel comics back in 1982.
Edward Whelan had a tough enough life living on the streets of New York as a homeless man, but an encounter with the super villain Baron Zemo made things worse. Zemo captured Edward and preformed a procedure that genetically altered him into a giant rat-man.
Vermin has tangled with Captain America and Spider-Man and fared decently well against them. Vermin's unpredictable savagery proved to be a handful to deal with, especially for Spider-Man. Vermin has enhanced strength, agility and speed. His razor sharp teeth and nails are able to cut through most soft metals, and his sense of smell is heightened. Vermin can also command any rat to do his bidding. This has allowed him to attack with an army of rats at his disposal.
Vermin's intellectual capacity, however, is that of a traumatized child, which puts him at a disadvantage against a more strategic opponent. He's still every incredibly dangerous, though.
14. Man-Bat
In contrast to Vermin, Kirk Langstrrom was the cause of his own metamorphosis. Man-Bat is a classic villain from Batman's rogue gallery who made his debut in the pages of DC comics in 1970.
Dr. Kirk Langstrom created the Man-Bat serum in attempt to cure his growing deafness. He was desperately trying to harness the ability bats have to see in the dark, via echolocation. Langstrom tested the serum on himself with unexpected results, to say the least. The serum mixed poorly with his own chemical makeup and Langstrom was transformed into the hideous Man-Bat.
Man-Bat has proven to be a formidable foe, particularity for the Dark Knight. Batman's attempt to reason with Man-Bat have proven difficult in the past, forcing him to take a more scientific and strategic approach. Man-Bat possesses deadly claws/fangs, enhanced strength, speed and the ability to fly. His sonar ability makes his attacks and movements especially accurate in the night.
Typically, Man-Bat is unable to reason or retain the intelligence of his human form, making him more like a wild animal. Still, he continues to pack a punch and terrorize the Gotham City skylines.
13. Killer Croc
Waylon Jones grew up as a child with a genetic disease that steadily transformed him into a crocodile-like monster. He's another popular villain from the pages of Batman, and made his debut in 1984.
Creator interpretation for Killer Croc has varied greatly over the years. Some versions showcase him as an average man with a hideous deformity, while other versions present Croc as a superpowered, monstrous freak of nature. These days, the latter is considered the norm, and this entry will focus on that version.
Croc had a tough childhood, and given his appearance, why wouldn't he? He killed at a young age, and was behind bars by the time he was twenty. Croc became a hardened criminal and began his rivalry with Batman upon his release from jail. Croc has gradually become more mentally unstable after each clash against Batman.
Killer Croc is a monstrous beast, standing at nearly eight feet tall. He possesses super-human strength, dense skin, razor sharp claws, and teeth powerful enough to bite through chains. Croc is also an expert wrestler from his days as a sideshow freak in the carnival. Croc has an average intellect, but it's his temper and savageness that have led to his defeat against Batman, and others like him.
12. Lizard
Much like DC's Man-Bat, Lizard is a victim of his own desperation. For years, Dr. Curt Connors sought a way to regenerate his amputated arm. His research led him to experiment with lizards, due to their ability to regenerate their own limbs. He was able to develop a serum that could restore his arm, but that also turned him into a giant lizard-man. Hell of a side effect.
This longtime ally and enemy of Spider-Man made his debut for Marvel comics in 1963. At first, Lizard had limited intellectual capacity but this quickly changed. Connors was eventually able to retain his human intelligence while in his reptilian form, making him all the more dangerous. As Lizard, his mission remained singular; to turn all humans into lizards.
Lizard has superhuman strength, speed, and stamina. He has sharp claws and a powerful tail that can cause a lot of damage. Lizard can also control any reptile telepathically. It's Dr. Connors' close friendship with Peter Parker/Spider-Man that makes him such a tough adversary. Spidey knows that Connors has no control of what Lizard does, and he tends to empathize with Connors, which can be costly.
Over the years, Connors has developed ways to neutralize the beast within him, even at the cost of his arm.
11. Clayface
There have been at least eight different people that have gone by the alter-ego Clayface. The two most important are arguably Basil Karlo and Matt Hagen. In 1992, Batman: The Animated Series presented their version as a combination of both characters, but kept the name Matthew Hagen. This version of Clayface was later featured in the Batman Adventures comic series and will be the focus of this entry.
Clayface is a giant mass of malleable clay that can transform, and take the appearance of anyone. Clayface can increase in size and stretch out his clay the same way that Mr. Fantastic can stretch out his body. He can form any weapon his mind conceives and he possesses enhanced strength. He's practically invulnerable to physical harm. Clayface is able to retain his intelligence when in his mutated form.
His biggest weakness is that he cannot sustain any form for a long period of time without severely taxing himself. This has saved Batman on many occasions. Clayface is powerful enough to present a lot of problems to some of DC's strongest characters, including Superman.
10. Man-Thing
The infernal Man-Thing made his debut in the pages of Marvel comics in 1971. Man-Thing is Marvel's answer to DC's own mass of muck and vegetation, who will make an appearance on this list later.
Ted Sallis was working on recreating the Super-Soldier serum. Fearing his work would fall into the wrong hands, Sallis injected himself with the serum and crashed into a swamp. The energies of the swamp, combined with his serum, turned Sallis into Man-Thing.
Man-Thing cannot speak and has little capacity for intelligent thought. He is instead empathetically attuned to his surroundings. Fear causes him great physical pain, and so Man-Thing must leave his swampland in order to put an end to the source of fear. Man-Thing is often seen as a force for good, but can illicit fear and violence because of his freakish appearance and inability to communicate.
He's practically indestructible, seemingly feeling little to no pain from physical attacks. Other people's fear not only hurts him, but changes his chemical makeup so that his touch burns anyone who feels fear in his presence. Man-Thing's enhanced strength makes him a formidable adversary, particularly when he's enraged. Finally, his ability to control the Nexus Of All Realities allows him to travel to different dimensions, but he's always drawn back to the swamp.
9. Abomination
Emil Blonsky's hunger for power led him to become a monster. The Abomination made his Marvel appearance in 1967. He's essentially the evil version of the Hulk.
Blonsky was a soldier who admired the Hulk, and craved his power. When presented with the opportunity, Blonsky infected himself with triple the radiation that the Hulk went through, giving him twice the strength, but a more reptilian look. His goal became to battle the Hulk for control of the world.
Abomination is actually stronger than the Hulk-- at least at first. His strength is difficult to fully determine as it has never been taken to its limits. Abomination does not get stronger as he get angrier but he does maintain his high level of intelligence. Perhaps the most impressive power that the Abomination has is his invulnerability. He can take abuse like few others. His armored reptilian hide enables him to withstand just about any attack. If he does get hurt, his healing factor compensates. The strength in his legs enable him to leap distances of up to two miles or more.
It's safe to say that anyone in a battle with Abomination is in it for the long haul.
8. Solomon Grundy
This monster got his name from an old nursery rhyme ("Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday."). Grundy made his first appearance way back in 1944.
Cyrus Gold's tortured life ended at the hands of the Mob in 1894. His body was dumped in Slaughter Swamp, just outside of Gotham City. Forty years later, a pale, zombie-like mammoth of a monster arose. He carried no memories from his past life and lived only for death and destruction. His first defeat came at the hands of Alan Scott,the golden age Green Lantern, but Solomon Grundy kept returning.
Grundy possesses superhuman strength and invulnerability. He doesn't require food or sleep, and has incredible stamina. At times, he could battle Superman and withstand even his blows. Grundy can die, but he has the ability to resurrect from each of those deaths. With each resurrection, he comes back stronger and with a different personality.
Most times, he's nothing but a simpleton, while other times he comes back possessing average intelligence. Solomon Grundy is practically an immortal because you can never truly get rid of him.
7. Fin Fang Foom
One of Iron Man's toughest enemies, the fearsome Fin Fang Foom made his Marvel comics debut in 1961. At first glance, he appears to be just a giant dragon, but Fin Fang Foom is actually an alien dragon from the planet Kakaranathara.
Fin Fang Foom left his planet in search of new ones to conquer. He discovered Earth and settled in China. He lay dormant for several years, until he was awakened by a teenage boy who sought to use the dragon's power for his own means. Of course, Fin Fang Foom could not be controlled for long.
Through the years, Fin Fang Foom has battled the likes of Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk. His incredible size and strength makes him one of the most physically intimidating monsters in the Marvel universe.
Thanks to his massive wings, Fin Fang Foom is possibly the fastest monster on this list; able to fly at supersonic speeds. He can take his share of damage, while also being resistant to extreme cold and heat. One of his favorite weapons is an acid mist that he expels from his mouth. He even has limited telepathic abilities.
Fin Fang Foom's high-level intellect make him no dummy either. It's safe to say that Fin Fang Foom is the full package of size, strength, speed, and smarts.
6. The Thing
This orange-skinned member of the Fantastic Four is often the fan favorite of the group. The Thing made his first appearance in the pages of Marvel's Fantastic Four back in 1961.
Ben Grimm was an astronaut who agreed to pilot a space mission with his three friends (Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm). While on their mission, their ship was bombarded with dangerous levels of cosmic radiation, resulting in each gaining unique powers. Ben got the rawest deal of the three; he was the only member of the four whose appearance drastically changed into that of a rock monster. Soon after, Ben and the others created the Fantastic Four, and Ben took the new moniker, the Thing.
The Thing is a kind-hearted guy but you don't want to get on his bad side. Some of his most famous battles were against the Hulk. The Thing possesses superhuman strength, endurance, and stamina. His rock-like skin allows him to be extremely durable. He can withstand a barrage of powerful attacks, and can even survive in space and in the depths of the ocean. The Thing also doesn't age while in his rock form, giving him near immortality.
5. Parasite
This longtime rival of Superman is one of the most difficult for the Man of Steel to fight against. Parasite made his DC comics debut in 1966.
Rudy Jones started as a maintenance worker with small-time criminal ambitions. While working at S.T.A.R. labs, Jones attempted to steal scientific waste and sell it illegally on the black market. Jones stupidly opened one of the containers and, as a result, totally irradiated his body. This transformed his body chemistry so much that, in order to survive, he had to absorb the life force of other living beings. He took the name Parasite and set out to feast on the ultimate meal.
Parasite is able to absorb any superhero's powers through his touch. The more powerful the hero, the better. Parasite can alter his body's shape and size in relation to the power he absorbs. No one is immune to his touch. The downside is that Parasite also absorbs the being's weaknesses and memories. Parasite still maintains enhanced strength and agility even without his absorbing powers. This guy gives "hangry" a whole new meaning.
4. Arcane
A longtime rival of Swamp Thing, and perhaps the most frightening and ghastly monster on this list, Anton Arcane made his DC debut in 1973.
Anton Arcane was a brilliant, but misguided scientist who was obsessed with discovering the key to immortality. His experiments led him down some macabre paths. Arcane began experimenting with dead bodies and was eventually able to create an army of decayed soldiers known as the Un-Men. He became a frequent rival to Swamp Thing, losing many of their early battles. Arcane's quest for revenge against Swamp Thing drove him to push the envelope even further. To achieve his goal of immortality, Arcane made a deal with the Lords of Hell. During DC's New 52, Arcane became the avatar of death/the rot.
Arcane has a gifted intellect, and can control and manipulate any form of death and decay. He is able to spread decay around the world like a virus. His body can vary in size and strength, and it is nearly impossible to completely destroy him. He is able to grow mouths for every limb that is lost.
Anton Arcane and his horde of Un-Men are the stuff of nightmares. He is evil incarnate, and his reach has next to no limits.
3. Hulk
You knew we had to get to the Green Goliath at some point. Arguably the most popular comic book monster of all time, the Incredible Hulk first appeared in 1962.
In his efforts to save his friend, Bruce Banner was hit by a bomb of gamma radiation. The effects turned him into the mindless beast known as Hulk, which has since evolved to gain intelligence in varying degrees. Hulk has fought with nearly every super-powered being that matters. He even went a few rounds with Superman.
Hulk is widely considered one of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe. He has the unique ability to increase in strength as he gets angrier, making him very difficult to defeat. He's relentless in his attack and his body can withstand a great deal of punishment. In the eighties, it was discovered that the Hulk also had a healing factor. For his size, Hulk is incredibly fast. He can run upwards of 250 miles an hour and jump great distances.
The savage version of Hulk is stronger, but the merged Banner/Hulk, is the most dangerous. Merging Banner's mind with the Hulk made him more calculating and strategic. As powerful as the Hulk is, he can be defeated; it's just really damn hard.
2. Doomsday
Doomsday is a monster who was created to be the perfect killing machine. He made his mark back in 1992, in the pages of Superman:Man of Steel.
Doomsday holds the distinction of being the only one to ever kill Superman. Both characters literally beat each other to death. Doomsday also decimated the entire Justice League, and nearly crippled Blue Beetle. He's beat the hell out of Darkseid, Waverider, and many more.
Doomsday was actually a test tube baby created on Krypton. His creators killed and resurrected him so many times that Doomsday developed a unique ability to resurrect himself unassisted. Once he became strong enough, he turned on his creators, killing them all.
He possesses extraordinary super strength, and seems to get stronger when confronted in battle. Anyone that decides to go one on one with Doomsday does so at their peril. Doomsday also possesses invulnerability, accelerated healing, and enhanced speed.
His most lethal trait is his ability to self-regenerate after death. If anyone is lucky enough to defeat him, they won't be able to do it again. Each time he is defeated, he regenerates with enhanced strength and invulnerability. His one weakness is his limited intellect.
1. Swamp Thing
Perhaps placing Swamp Thing at #1 on our list is surprising, but his place is warranted once you evaluate his power levels. Swamp Thing made his DC debut back in 1971.
Alec Holland was yet another scientist that was trying to perfect a restorative formula. An explosion in his lab doused him with chemicals and he jumped into the Louisiana swamp. A creature arose, carrying the memories of Alec Holland. With the aid of John Constantine, Swamp Thing became a force to be reckoned with. The New 52, retconned Swamp Thing, but made him no less powerful. Swamp Thing is gentle giant that hardly ever becomes clouded with rage. He often holds back against his adversaries but when they piss him off, watch out.
Swamp Thing has complete control of all vegetation and plant life in the world. He possesses tremendous strength and regenerative powers. Swamp Thing is able to manifest himself wherever there is organic life, even in the vastness of space. He can alter his body's size and shape at will. Swamp Thing is also a self-sustaining creature that does not require conventional food. The New 52 introduced the ability to create wings and fly.
There seems to be no way to fully destroy Swamp Thing. As long as there is even a speck of plant life, he's there. He even walked into the realm of hell and rescued his girlfriend! Just be glad that he's on the side of good.
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Who do you think is the most powerful comic book monster?