It is no news that Marvel and DC have held a monopoly over the superhero genre of comics for years. Though, this does not mean there have been no other comics being published focusing on a variety of different characters, ranging from heroes to even anti-heroes and villains. These are the 10 strongest comic characters outside the Marvel or DC Universe.
10 Strongest Comic Characters Outside the Marvel or DC Universe
Supershock
Supershock is an extremely high-level Power – an individual with superhuman abilities – in the Powers universe. The Powers universe was created by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming and published as a creator-owned series of comic books.
In this universe, Powers is used as a more general term to encompass any individual with superhuman abilities, regardless of if they are a superhero or supervillain. Supershock, however, is one of the good guys. This hero’s origins are a little difficult to trace. Supershocks’s mysterious powers allow him to render himself invisible to normal human beings, hence many of the times he has saved humanity from a threat are mistaken for some form of divine intervention.
With the increasing number of Powers in the world, Supershock formed a civilian identity of Geoff and officially took on the mantle of Supershock. Supershock was responsible for creating the very first superhero team along with a fellow superhero, Ultrabright. This collaboration of the superpowered individuals is known as the Unity.
Savage Dragon
The Savage Dragon comics were created by Erik Larsen and published under Image Comics. The comics focus on the titular character of Savage Dragon who is a police officer with distinguished superpowers.
The Savage Dragon’s past is unknown and his earliest memory is of waking up in a burning field. This giant, green-skinned hero puts his powers to good use by using them to defeat the other superpowered villains that have been terrorizing the city. The Savage Dragon’s powers include superhuman strength, reflexes and speed, along with accelerated regeneration.
Invincible
The Invincible is another comic series published under Image Comics and was created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. This comic follows the story of Mark Grayson, a half-human, half-alien superhero. His father, Nolan Grayson, belonged to the alien race of Vitrumites from a planet known as Vitrium.
Mark Grayson’s powers come largely from her hybrid alien DNA. Mark was also a part of the teen team with other superpowered individuals like Atom Eve and Robot. As Invincible, Mark also put his powers together with his father and thwarted an alien invasion.
The Mask
This Character is extremely well-known due to the film by the same name starring Jim Carrey in the main role. But before it became a film adaptation, The Mask was a comic series published under Dark Horse Comics.
The Mask does not refer to a specific person, but rather to the object itself. Whoever wears the Mask of Loki becomes endowed with superhuman powers. Though these powers seem to come at a cost as the mask also leads the wearer towards insanity and violence. Some of the well-known wearers of the Mask are Stanley Ipkiss, Ace Ventura and Arthur Neuman among many others.
Hellboy
The character Hellboy was created by the writer Mike Mignola, who also illustrated the comics. The series saw many spin-offs, and companion series over the years to come.
Hellboy came into existence when an evil mystic Grigori Rasputin summoned him from the underworld. As he grew, Hellboy’s body matured faster than his mind did, hence, even when he looked like a middle-aged man, he, sometimes acted like a child. With time, Hellboy became a field agent for the B.P.R.D. and went to fight numerous enemies.
Homelander
The universe in these comics differs from the other, because the superheroes in this world are sometimes corrupt, due to their celebrity status. Homelander is the primary antagonist of the comics. He leads a team called ‘The Seven’ against the Boys, who despite being a little corrupt, still look out for the greater good. Homelander’s powers include superhuman strength, X-ray vision, heat vision and many more.
Samaritan
The Samaritan is a hero from the Astro City comics created by Kurt Busiek. The comics began publishing in 1995.
The Samaritan is a superhero from the future who was sent back in time to save the planet from descending into destruction. However, this journey into the past changes his physical composition and grants him superpowers. Once he arrives on Earth, he beans changing historical events, for instance, saving the crew of a space shuttle called the ‘Challenger’ from certain death and is deemed a ‘Good Samaritan’. The Samaritan’s powers include flight, reality-warping and dimension travel.
The Plutonian
The comic series ‘Irredeemable’ was created by Mark Waid and illustrated by Peter Krause and Diego Barreto and was published under Boom! Publications. The series follows the corruption arc of the world’s greatest hero, Plutonian.
Once a good guy, who saved the Earth countless times and fought off countless villains, Daniel Hartigan, better known as his superhero alias Plutonian, let his powers and ego get to his head. Thus, began the hero’s fall from grace. Plutonian’s powers include X-ray vision, superhuman strength and reflexes.
Max Faraday
Max Faraday is the main protagonist of the comic series Divine Right, created by Jim Lee and published by Wildstorm publications.
Max Faraday is just a normal Computer Science student until he comes into contact with something mystic and receives powers. Unaware of his newly acquired powers, the manifestations of evil begin attacking him. Slowly, Max Faraday learns the scope of his powers and how to control them.
Spawn
Spawn featured in the monthly comics published by Image Publications of the same name created by Todd McFarlane.
Al Simmons was an exceptional officer of the United States Marine Corps. and even went on to become Lieutenant. However, during a mission, Simmons was killed by one of his fellow mercenaries.
Simmons returned to Earth in the form of a Hellspawn. With almost no memories, and vaguely magical powers, he begins to wander the Earth. As Hellspawn, Al follows more in the footsteps of anti-heroes and vigilantes than a proper hero.
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