When all the games are said and done, which Justice League hero would stand as the champion in a superpowered version of Netflix's Squid Game? While Earth's all-star team of heroes is well acquainted with high stakes, few have ever faced tasks so simple as the ones in the twisted new South Korean drama. With only children's games to prove their prowess, which Leaguers will fall, and which will be crowned champion?
The hit Netflix series centers around people invited to take part in a strange competition where they stand to win an enticing prize—or lose their lives. With only their purest skills and abilities, all characters must face off in a series of six simple games. Upon entering, all contestants are dressed in jumpsuits, meaning that no weapons, armor, or magic items may be used.
All six challenges must be completed sequentially to win, meaning that extreme skill in one game does not necessarily mean that the hero will even be able to compete in that round. For example, Batman's manipulation and detection skills would give him an extreme advantage in round four, however, he would have little chance against the likes of Superman in round three's tug-of-war. Under these conditions, which Justice League hero would win Squid Game?
A Test of Patience
The first two rounds are tests of control, dexterity, and patience. Round one is the worldwide classic, "red light, green light," requiring contestants to stop on a dime and maintain a still position. Any significant movement will result in a loss and heroes such as Aquaman, Hawkgirl, and Kyle Rayner would likely be a little too hot-headed to succeed, especially when compared to heroes with immense physical control such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, etc. However, even if these characters made it past the first round, there is no guarantee that they could survive round two. In this game, players are each given a brittle circle of honeycomb candy, with a shape stamped in the middle. Each Leaguer must remove the excess candy, and reveal the shape using a sewing needle. If the shape breaks or the player fails to perform the task in under ten minutes, they are killed. Several heroes might struggle with this, but Aquaman in particular would have a very hard time. The king of Atlantis is often portrayed in the comics with only one hand. While this would make for quite the spectacle, he would need a miracle to make it to round three.
Tug-of-War
Round three pits the remaining physical powerhouses against one another in a game of tug-of-war. This test of strength generally eliminates most of the physically weaker heroes, although it's possible that someone like Hawkman or Plastic Man could make it through depending on their team. However, for such characters, this round could spell disaster if they are left without a reliable backup. Green Lantern, Batman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, and many others would have no guarantee of passing this round against the likes of Superman, Shazam, and Wonder Woman. This is what makes the later intelligence-based rounds interesting, as the heroes who compete there are selected only from among the strongest.
Don't Lose Your Marbles
In round four, each Leaguer is given a bag of marbles and a partner. They may decide the rules of whatever game they wish. Whoever takes all of their partner's marbles without the use of force wins, and their partner is killed. While some may be able to conquer by intelligence and charisma, some characters carry abilities that put them at a laughable advantage. Mystical powers and/or telepathic abilities would make this game child's play for the likes of Zatanna or Martian Manhunter. Cheating at the determined game is not prohibited, and characters employ this tactic in the show. Therefore a simple spell could be used to rig almost any game of chance, and mind control could be employed to force a partner into just handing over the marbles.
Watch Your Step
In game five, players must hop across a bridge made of glass panes, some tempered, and some brittle. Jumping onto normal glass will result in the player falling to their death. This will be played under the assumption that the heroes are prohibited from flying or otherwise avoiding stepping on the glass, as this would defeat the whole point for most of the remaining Leaguers. The only reliable method in the show is to try to distinguish between the tempered and normal panes due to subtle surface imperfections. Essentially, this tests the most intelligent and observant heroes. Many characters such as Superman, Manhunter, and Cyborg have the necessary analytical skills to make this distinction, however, many otherwise powerful individuals simply lack the perception. For example, the Flash, and Atom would have to take a chance.
Squid Game
This leads to the gruesome finale and the only round in which combat prowess actually matters. The sixth and final game is the South Korean classic, "squid game." Players in this version are assigned an offensive or defensive position, and the offensive player must try and reach a small circle marked at the end of a court. The defensive player must stop them, trying to force them outside of the court to win. Any level of violence is allowed in the squid game, and the players are armed with steak knives in the show. The only heroes remaining at this point are those who possess great control, dexterity, strength, manipulation skills, and attention to detail. The frontrunners could include Superman, with his super intelligence, and unparalleled might; Shazam, with his well-rounded set of abilities, including strength, power, and wisdom; or Zatanna, whose wide-ranging magical abilities are adaptable to any situation. Only the most balanced of heroes could make it this far, and one stands out from above the rest.
A Champion is Crowned
Martian Manhunter is not only the most powerful telepath in the world, a physical powerhouse, and a super-genius with incomparable perception, but he is the one being Superman fears the most in combat. In JLA #86 by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen, David Barron, and Ken Lopez, Manhunter goes rogue, and an alternate personality of his vows to burn the Earth. As the Justice League deliberates about what to do, Superman calls J'onn J'onzz the "most powerful being on the face of the Earth," and Batman questions why the Martian doesn't simply "kill us all with a thought." Martian Manhunter truly has what it take to win the final round and the whole competition.
Among all Justice League members, there are many potential candidates for a Squid Game winner. However, Martian Manhunter is so perfectly suited for every single challenge that there is simply no better argument. He certainly has the reaction time and control necessary for red light, green light. He could use a variety of methods to solve the honeycomb problem, including atomic-level telekinesis, laser vision, or simply using his dexterity to break it like a normal person. He is one of the strongest members of the League, placing him in the top tier for tug-of-war. He is a telepath capable of penetrating even the strongest minds in DC, making him unbeatable at marbles. He can see across the entire spectrum of light with his Martian vision, so the glass panes would pose no real threat. Finally, after effortlessly passing every single round, he is one of the only characters who can strike fear into the heart of every other hero. Martian Manhunter is the best candidate to be the champion of the Justice League edition of Squid Game, although it's doubtful that Korean currency is accepted on Mars.