The MCU may have had good reasons for undermining some of the superhero's most iconic powers, but it's still a disappointment for some fans that Ms. Marvel is without some of her best shapeshifting abilities in the Disney+ show. Although there's room for her to discover more powers in the future, even if she ends up sticking to hard light manipulation, there are plenty of other shapeshifting comic book superheroes.
There are so many, in fact, that comic fans of Ranker had a tough time deciding between some all-time favorite heroes, including Mister Fantastic and Teen Titan's Beast Boy. Which shapeshifting super beings ranked the highest?
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Mister Fantastic
One of the most iconic shapeshifters in comic book history, Reed Richards in his superhero guise of Mister Fantastic has been using his body-morphing abilities to head up the Fantastic 4 since the 60s. Though his powers mean he can manipulate and stretch himself in absurdly useful ways, his power is limited and he's usually at his best in his leadership role in the group.
Having already appeared in two ill-fated movie adaptations, John Krasinski is the latest actor to take on the role of the blue-suited shapeshifter.
Copycat
A former member of the X-Force, Copycat is often overshadowed in a world that contains Mystique, who makes for a charismatic antagonist, but she's nevertheless one of the more interesting shapeshifting heroes from the X-Men universe. The two share very similar powers, however, using their shapeshifting to change their appearance to that of a particular human at will, and they both have naturally blue skin.
They also both tend to end up using these powers to go into hiding after making powerful enemies, with Copycat even having the boldness to imitate other X-Force members at times. Though her similarity to Mystique holds her back somewhat, the silver-haired shapeshifter still has plenty of fans.
Ms. Marvel
Introduced in 2014 as a relatable comic book superhero fan that became a superhero herself, Kamala Khan recently received even more popularity thanks to the amazing ongoing Disney+ MCU show. Although that version of Ms. Marvel focuses on her hard light-wielding abilities, the comic book version has her using shapeshifting powers in some awesome and iconic ways.
One of the most famous of these includes her ability to "embiggen" her hand to deliver a huge punch when needed. Interestingly, though she can give herself the appearance of anyone, most famously her hero, Carol Danvers, she can also heal herself by shifting back into her ordinary Kamala appearance.
Plastic Man
Perhaps best known outside of comics for his appearance in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Plastic Man is a shapeshifting icon from the golden age of Quality Comics. His ability to stretch his body almost limitlessly is suitably ridiculous for such an over-the-top, sunglass-wearing superhero, and it means he often becomes the center of attention in any scene he's in.
Also able to change his body into the shape of everyday objects, Plastic Man's powers make for some hilarious situations that almost no other heroes could find themselves in. Of course, no matter what shape he transforms into, he manages to keep his iconic sunglasses, and it's no surprise that his distinct style appealed to plenty of fans.
Morph
Though his alias Kevin Sydney has been around for longer, the character was first introduced under the name "Morph" in the X-Men animated series in the 90s, which is a show that turns 30 this year. Despite having the incredibly powerful ability to instantly adopt the guise of any given person, Morph tends to be a less serious character, often shown using his power for childish jokes.
Morph is also shown as able to maintain the guise of a human for a long time, despite his distinctively inhuman normal appearance, which he makes use of to remain incognito. Though he isn't as well-known as some other X-Men shapeshifters, plenty of comic fans have fond associations with the character.
Metamorpho
Not to be confused with Morph, Metamorpho is a shapeshifter from the DC Comics Universe. A prominent member of The Outsiders, Metamorpho's sometimes intimidating multicolor appearance stands in contrast to his heroic nature. It's lucky for Batman and the other Outsiders that this is the case, as he boasts some powerful abilities.
The colors of his appearance reflect different elemental substances that allow him to go beyond merely shifting between different physical objects and become liquid or gas. In his gaseous form, he can even achieve a unique kind of flight that most other shapeshifters can only dream of. His unique skill set helps him stand out amongst the other shape-shifting heroes.
Husk
The younger sister of X-Men's Cannonball, Husk, also known as Paige Guthrie, was on the verge of believing she may not have a mutation before discovering the rather disturbing ability to shed her own skin. Luckily, there's more to it than that, as beneath her skin is a new layer or form she can adopt.
What that form is can be random, but when Husk controls it, she is able to imitate a huge variety of substances including metal, wood, and diamond. Shedding her skin not only removes surface injuries, but also gives her new power related to her new form. Though she may not have the best all-out fighting ability among the X-men, Husk's fascinating powers make her stand apart.
Miss Martian
A member of the Teen Titans, Megan Morse is, as her superhero name suggests, a Martian refugee, and that's where her powers arise from. Her Martian physiology allows her to control her physical form down to the molecular level which naturally leads to some pretty extensive shapeshifting powers.
This includes elongating parts of her body and even growing and shrinking herself to adapt to the situation she's in. Along with the other incredible abilities that come with her alien origins, it means Miss Martian is one of the most powerful DC heroes. Though shape-shifting is only a small part of what she does, that doesn't stop her from being one of the most popular.
Martian Manhunter
One of the founding members of DC's Justice League, Martian Manhunter is an icon in his own right. Shapeshifting is also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the powers of one of the DC Universe's most powerful beings. Even his shapeshifting powers are some of the most extensive, including the ability to elongate limbs at will and take on the guise of a human to blend in.
His shifting works on a molecular level, also allowing him to grow and shrink almost without limit. The character had a resurgence in popularity thanks to his role in Zack Snyder's Justice League, and though that movie divided critics and fans, Martian Manhunter's appearance in martian form was one point that fans of the immensely powerful character appreciated.
Beast Boy
One of the main characters of the Teen Titans, it's no surprise that Beast Boy is a popular choice for comic book fans. Though often portrayed as a lighthearted character, his powers aren't to be underestimated. His unique shapeshifting ability allows Beast Boy to transform into any animal on Earth, including those of the past like his favorite dinosaurs.
Whilst this technically makes him less powerful than many other superhero shape-shifters, the limitations of this ability allow for more creative uses of it, and that's what sets Beast Boy apart. His personality and his powers work in perfect tandem to produce a truly iconic character and it's easy to see why many fans on Ranker agreed that Beast Boy is the top shapeshifter.