Few DC characters can match Superman in strength, but even the Man of Steel would have to recognize that one villain surpasses him completely, and has the track record to prove it. When we say this villain is three times stronger than Superman, keep in mind that’s actually a very conservative estimate.
While DC Comics rarely provides quantitative power rankings for its characters, one crisis event has done much of the heavy lifting, giving us evidence to conclude that one of the Man of Steel’s deadliest villains is at least two to three times stronger than Kal-El. If you’re a die-hard DC fan, you likely already know the infamous event we’re referring to: 2006’s Infinite Crisis.
This storyline explored the collapse and reshaping of the multiverse, with Alexander Luthor Jr. and Superboy-Prime at the center, as Jr. recruits Prime to help create the “perfect Earth” through carnage and bloodshed. The event also made it unmistakably clear that Superboy-Prime far surpasses Superman in strength.
Superboy-Prime vs. Superboy: One of Prime’s First Kryptonian Casualties
Main Cover by Dan Mora for Superman #36 (2026)
Superboy Prime replaces Clark Kent as the Man of Steel in Superman #36
Those who read Infinite Crisis will remember that Prime fought multiple Supermen during the event, with none able to defeat him on their own. Two fights in particular stand out as showcases of Superboy-Prime’s unmatched Kryptonian power. The first of these notable fights takes place between him and Superboy Conner Kent in Geoff Johns’s Infinite Crisis #6.
In this fight, Conner confronts Superboy-Prime at Luthor’s multiverse tower, which was creating alternate Earths. The two Superboys fight brutally, but it is clear throughout that Prime has the raw power advantage. Realizing the fate of the universe depends on the tower being destroyed, Conner tackles Superboy-Prime directly into the tower’s core machinery.
Conner’s intent is to kill two birds with one stone. While he successfully destroys the tower, he loses his life, and Prime, though severely injured, survives. This serves as one tally mark in Prime’s favor when assessing his power levels compared to other Kryptonians. However, it is his fight against Kal-L and Kal-El that truly proves he is stronger than Earth-Prime’s Man of Steel.
Themyscira · Amazonian Trial Edition How Well Do You Know Wonder Woman?
01 Wonder Woman is an Amazonian princess who left her hidden island homeland to help humanity during a great conflict. What is the name of the island paradise where the Amazons live?
✓ Correct! Themyscira, also known as Paradise Island, is the hidden homeland of the Amazons — a race of immortal warrior women blessed by the Greek gods. Shielded from the outside world for millennia, it is where Diana was raised and trained before venturing into the world of men.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Themyscira. Atlantis is the underwater kingdom of Aquaman, Asgard is Thor’s realm in Norse mythology, and Olympus is the home of the Greek gods. Themyscira is the hidden paradise where the Amazons have lived for thousands of years.
02 In DC Comics’ classic origin, Wonder Woman was formed from clay by her mother and given life by the Greek gods. Who is Wonder Woman’s mother, the Queen of the Amazons?
✓ Correct! Queen Hippolyta is Wonder Woman’s mother and the ruler of the Amazons. In the classic origin, she sculpted baby Diana from clay and the gods breathed life into her. Hippolyta is a fierce warrior and wise leader who has guided the Amazons for centuries.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Hippolyta. Hera is the queen of the Olympian gods, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, and Artemis is a fellow Amazon warrior (and sometimes rival to Diana). Hippolyta is Diana’s mother and the beloved Queen of the Amazons.
03 Wonder Woman wields a magical golden weapon that forces anyone bound by it to tell the truth. This iconic weapon is one of the most recognizable in all of comics. What is it called?
✓ Correct! The Lasso of Truth (also known as the Golden Perfect) was forged by the god Hephaestus from the Golden Girdle of Gaea. Anyone bound by it is compelled to speak only the truth. It is virtually indestructible and can also restore lost memories and dispel illusions.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is the Lasso of Truth. While the lasso is sometimes connected to Hestia in certain continuities, its official and iconic name is the Lasso of Truth — Wonder Woman’s most signature weapon and a symbol of her commitment to honesty and justice.
04 Wonder Woman’s most iconic arch-nemesis is a powerful figure from Greek mythology who represents war and conflict. In many storylines, this villain is the god of war himself. Who is Wonder Woman’s greatest enemy?
✓ Correct! Ares, the Greek god of war, is Wonder Woman’s most mythologically significant foe. As a champion of peace, Diana stands in direct opposition to everything Ares represents. Their conflict is the eternal struggle between peace and war, compassion and destruction.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Ares. Circe is a powerful sorceress and recurring villain, Cheetah is one of Diana’s most personal enemies, and Hades is the god of the underworld. But Ares — the god of war — is Wonder Woman’s ultimate mythological nemesis.
05 Gal Gadot portrayed Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films starting in 2016. In her first solo film, Wonder Woman (2017), Diana travels to the world of men during which historical conflict?
✓ Correct! The 2017 Wonder Woman film set Diana’s first adventure during World War I, a deliberate departure from her comic book origins which were tied to World War II. Director Patty Jenkins chose WWI to emphasize the senseless horror of war and Diana’s idealistic belief that humanity is worth saving.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is World War I. While Wonder Woman’s original 1941 comic debut was set during WWII, the 2017 film moved the timeline back to WWI. Diana leaves Themyscira with pilot Steve Trevor to fight in “the war to end all wars,” believing Ares is behind the conflict.
06 Wonder Woman wears a pair of iconic silver accessories on her wrists that can deflect bullets, energy blasts, and virtually any projectile. What are these indestructible accessories called?
✓ Correct! The Bracelets of Submission are indestructible gauntlets worn by all Amazons as a reminder of their past enslavement by Hercules. Wonder Woman’s pair are particularly powerful — forged from the remnants of Zeus’s Aegis shield in some versions — and she uses them to deflect virtually any attack.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is the Bracelets of Submission. The Gauntlets of Atlas grant super strength in some storylines but are a different item. Wonder Woman’s iconic silver wrist guards — the Bracelets of Submission — are among the most recognizable accessories in comic book history.
07 Wonder Woman first appeared in DC Comics in 1941, created by a psychologist who was also the inventor of a real-world device. Who created Wonder Woman?
✓ Correct! William Moulton Marston, a psychologist who also invented an early form of the lie detector (polygraph), created Wonder Woman. He designed her as a feminist icon — a hero who would triumph through love and truth rather than violence. The Lasso of Truth was directly inspired by his polygraph work.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is William Moulton Marston. Stan Lee co-created Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, Bob Kane co-created Batman, and Jack Kirby co-created many Marvel and DC characters. Marston, a Harvard-trained psychologist and lie detector inventor, created Wonder Woman in 1941.
08 The Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman’s most enduring villains — a woman who transforms into a powerful cheetah-like being. In the DCEU film Wonder Woman 1984, which actress portrayed Barbara Minerva/Cheetah?
✓ Correct! Kristen Wiig, best known for comedy roles in Bridesmaids and Saturday Night Live, took on the dramatic role of Barbara Minerva in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Her character starts as a shy, overlooked archaeologist who gradually transforms into the savage Cheetah after wishing for Diana’s power.
✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Kristen Wiig. Robin Wright played Antiope (Diana’s aunt and training mentor), Connie Nielsen played Queen Hippolyta, and Lucy Davis played Etta Candy (Steve Trevor’s secretary). Kristen Wiig portrayed the villainous Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984.
Trial Complete Your Amazonian Rank
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Are you worthy of the Lasso of Truth — or still in training on Themyscira?
Superboy-Prime Took on TWO Supermen at Once, AND Killed One
Comic Page Comes from Joshua Williamson’s Superman #36 (2026)
Superman #36 Superboy-Prime
Geoff Johns’ Infinite Crisis #7 sees Superboy-Prime face off against two Supermen at once: Kal-L, the Golden Age Superman, and Kal-El, the main universe’s Superman. Neither can defeat Prime individually, so they are forced to fight together. Even in a two-on-one battle, Superboy-Prime nearly comes out victorious.
In fact, he essentially kills Kal-L, who dies from injuries sustained during the fight. Kal-El is severely injured but survives. Prime also survives, though severely weakened, and is eventually captured and imprisoned. Despite ultimately losing to the two Supermen, it still took two to defeat him. Not to mention his victory in his fight against Conner Kent.
Superman is the strongest superhero alive, but fans have almost never seen him unleash his full strength. What you need to know.
If Prime had not been ganged up on by multiple Supermen, he likely could have defeated them all in one-on-one fights, even Earth-Prime’s Superman. It is therefore not an exaggeration to say he is at least two to three times stronger than Kal-El since he took on Superboy and then two Supermen at once. This is a conservative estimate, especially considering his reality-breaking punches.
Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora’s Superman #36, which was released March 25, 2026, recently reaffirmed this fact, with Mr. Terrific remarking that Prime “can break reality with a single punch.” While Earth-Prime Superman’s punches are formidable, they have yet to reach Prime’s level.
Superboy-Prime’s reality-shattering punches have had huge impacts on the DC Universe, including resurrecting Jason Todd and altering the timeline in ways that affected major heroes like Donna Troy.
Given the evidence that Superboy-Prime has reality-shattering punches and has taken on multiple Supermen, it is safe to say that even Superman himself would admit Prime is at least two to three times stronger than him.
In Williamson and Mora’s ongoing Superman run, Superboy-Prime is filling in for a missing Clark Kent and is currently playing the role of hero rather than villain.
Superman #36 from DC Comics is now available to read!
