With conversations arising concerning the second season of Hawkeye, most likely to premier in 2023 after Echo, it also brings up conversations about superheroes who don't have powers and how they measure up in a world where mutants, super soldiers, and aliens exist. Clint Barton, a key player in the superhero world, holds his own without powers, and he is not the only one. Sometimes, the most impressive superheroes are the ones who fight bad guys and protect the Earth without powers.
These superheroes might not be as flashy as heroes like the Hulk or Captain America, but the fact that they're just normal people fighting a superhero's fight just makes them all the more impressive, and some might argue even more powerful.
Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff has always stood out as an Avenger, fighting alongside powerful heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Scarlet Witch. Even though she does not exactly have superpowers, Romanoff is nothing short of a deadly foe. Trained in the Red Room, Romanoff worked with the KGB before defecting to the United States.
Romanoff's skill set is highly extensive and valuable. She has been trained in martial arts, gymnastics, tactical skills, hand-to-hand combat, acrobatics, weapons knowledge, disguises, languages, computer hacking, espionage, and stealth. To put it simply, there is little that she cannot do. Her extensive training and experience make her a powerful ally and a terrifying opponent.
Shang-Chi
As one of the MCU's newest heroes, Shang-Chi quickly captivated fans with his incredible martial arts skills and impressive prowess in hand-to-hand combat. Shang-Chi will certainly prove to be a lethal asset to the Avengers.
Shang-Chi was trained by his father in martial arts, combat, and tactical skills since his birth. His talents and experience rival that of Black Widow, as he was also taught how to efficiently assassinate and eliminate targets. Without the Ten Rings, Shang-Chi is a deadly force to be reckoned with. It should be noted that in the comics, Shang-Chi does temporarily gain superpowers on a few occasions.
Falcon/Captain America
Considering his background, his credentials, his allies, and the fact that he eventually assumes the Captain America mantle, it's easy to forget that Sam Wilson is just a normal guy. But that's exactly what he is. In the comics, Wilson and Captain America met by chance and defeated Red Skull together. Wilson became Steve Rogers's partner, joining the Avengers and taking over the Captain America mantle.
Sam Wilson is Captain America without the super-soldier serum. His "power" is his jet-powered flight wings. Wilson has a military background, and he was also trained in martial arts, gymnastics, and aerialist by Captain America. This combination of skills makes Wilson a powerful ally, despite his lack of superpowers.
Iron Man
Tony Stark. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, normal person. Iron Man is probably one of the most famous superheroes who doesn't have any powers. When he was conducting business outside of the U.S., Stark was kidnapped by terrorists, who demanded that he build weapons for them. Stark refused, and he built a suit of armor to help him escape and thus, Iron Man was born.
Stark eventually founded the Avengers, and in the comics, he managed to keep his identity secret for most of his superhero career. His greatest strengths are his superior intellect, engineering skills, business and tactical knowledge, unarmed combat, and advanced marksmanship. With his ever-evolving plethora of Iron Man suits, Stark plays a key role in the superhero world. All without powers.
Hawkeye
Clint Barton is likely one of the first characters that come to mind when the subject of superheroes without powers comes up. Despite his lack of powers, Hawkeye might be one of the most dangerous members of the Avengers. Barton was a circus performer in his early life, using his archery skills to make a living. He led a life of crime as Natasha Romanoff's partner, but he had a change of heart and joined the Avengers.
Clint Barton has operated under many different names over the years. Despite that, his impressive skill set has remained the same. Barton is a master archer, acrobat, martial artist, tactician, weapons designer, pilot, and marksman. Even without powers, Barton has been extremely active and crucial in the Avengers and in the superhero world.
Ant-Man
Although Ant-Man tends to get overlooked and overshadowed by some of the flashier superheroes, the fact that he does not have powers and operates solely via technology makes him stand out. The original Ant-Man, Henry Pym, is particularly impressive since he both discovered and invented all the technology he uses to fight crime. Pym discovered Pym Particles, inventing the Ant-Man suit, which allows him to grow and shrink at will.
Pym is a brilliant engineer, biochemist, and physicist, and he is skilled in combat and martial arts. One can argue that Hank Pym's power is his impressive intellect and the fact that he is able to invent gadgets and suits to help him be a superhero. While that is most certainly true, the fact still remains that he does not have traditional superpowers, and yet he operates on the same playing field as heroes that do have superpowers.
Kate Bishop
Kate Bishop's skills may be similar to her mentor, Hawkeye's, but their backgrounds are completely different. The daughter of wealthy parents, Bishop joined the Young Avengers when she had very limited experience, honing her skills on the job. Widely considered one of the world's greatest archers, Bishop trained in martial arts, sword fighting, fencing, and weaponry.
With absolutely no powers and inefficient combat experience, Bishop simply decided to join the Young Avengers, which is an impressive feat. Heroes like Captain America and Iron Man have called on her to aid them in their missions. Bishop even adopted the Hawkeye mantle when Captain America officially gave it to her -- extremely impressive for a "normal" girl.
Nick Fury
Nick Fury isn't thought of as a hero, but he should be. Even though he might not be flashy, he deserves credit for playing the game as well as he does. Fury has a military background, and in the comics, he fought in World War II, leading the Howling Commandos and fighting alongside Steve Rogers. After the war, Fury worked for the CIA and then for SHIELD.
With such extensive experience, Fury is certainly one of the most pivotal people in the superhero world, and he does it all without powers. Fury is a master martial artist, strategist, marksman, military operator, and tactician. The fact that these are the only "powers" to his name makes his accomplishments all the more impressive.
The Punisher
Frank Castle, otherwise known as the Punisher, might be a vigilante, but even though his methods may be gruesome, he partners with a lot of heroes and has dedicated his life to destroying organized crime. The Punisher is like the Batman of Marvel: to him, the ends justify the means. Castle turned to a life of vigilantism after his wife and two children were murdered after witnessing a Mafia assassination.
Castle is an impressive human being. In addition to being a phenomenal athlete, he is a skilled martial artist, weapons master, marksman, and pilot. Castle also has a military background, completing Navy SEALS and Special Forces training. The Punisher, despite his questionable tactics, is a dominant player in the world of superheroes, even though he's just a "normal" guy.
War Machine
If Tony Stark deserves a title as one of the best superheroes without powers, then so does James Rhodes. Rhodes, an engineer for Stark Industries, was trusted by Stark to use his technology, getting his own suit and operating under the name War Machine. He also adopted the Iron Man mantle multiple times. But behind that metal suit is simply another normal guy.
Rhodes has many skills that help him be the hero that he is. He is a talented engineer, aviator, marksman, combatant, and tactician. As someone who is trusted by Stark and as a member of the government, Rhodes possesses invaluable information that helps him and others protect the world. The Iron Man shoes are large, and Rhodes fills them easily, even without superpowers.