Avoiding the usual D.C./Marvel bias, the list should be something like this:
1. Silver Surfer & Green Lantern (both have been written as having enormous versatility, although more recently we usually see simple blasts ...but they have the power to do everything from igniting suns to rewriting DNA);
2. Thor (another character that has been written recently as significantly less than what he could be, but in decades past the 'god' in 'God of thunder' used to be more pronounced, and he would do mighty feats with Mjolnir. More recently though he's fallen to the usual comic book writer nonsense of 'let's beat each other up,' and made him into a hammer wielding version of Hulk, which is why he is number two and not part of number 1.)
3. Iron Man and Martian Manhunter. For Tony Stark - an armor for everything, and while not as powerful as any of the individuals on the list, the question is about versatility and not power. For MM - he has super strength, super speed, force breath, force vision, enhanced senses (basically, he has been shown with many of the abilities your typical Kryptonian has ...apart from ice breath if I recall correctly). All of these at very high levels (not as high as a Kryptonian, but still prodigious). Add to those abilities high level telepathy, high level shape shifting, high level density/intangibility, a highly strategic mind (like Batman, he had plans for bringing down the JLA), and if push comes to shove in his DNA he has a literal monster hiding there in the form of the burning.
4. Finally, Superman. Many abilities, all of them at significantly high levels. Additionally, in Superman Unchained (where he faced an adversary called Wraith), it was shown that there are still additional powers for Superman to get as he absorbs more solar energy in the years and decades ahead. He is extremely powerful, and has many ways to end a fight, but this is about how many tools you have available rather than the power of those tools. He comes last.
SS-In many ways GL & SS are mirror images of each other in abilities, I rate SS higher due to his greater versatility and to be honest he doesn't appear as often as GL so his writers have a ready made excuse for forgetting what he's capable of.
MM
GL-The problem with GL most of their abilities have steadily been disregarded over the last 30 odd yrs.
Thor-The problem with Thor is most of his abilities have steadily been disregarded over the last 25 odd yrs.
IM-I was extremely tempted to put him last given he has to switch Armor to uses most of his abilities. But the thread stipulations outweighs any personal bias.
SM-I think people are sleeping on SM abilities, specially his potential and creative use of his powers to duplicate other abilities like weather control, explosive sunburst & sonic scream which is considerably more powerful than anyone else baring Black Bolt. Nevertheless I can't go with potential.
Originally posted by shadowknight
SS-In many ways GL & SS are mirror images of each other in abilities, I rate SS higher due to his greater versatility and to be honest he doesn't appear as often as GL so his writers have a ready made excuse for forgetting what he's capable of.MM
GL-The problem with GL most of their abilities have steadily been disregarded over the last 30 odd yrs.
Thor-The problem with Thor is most of his abilities have steadily been disregarded over the last 25 odd yrs.
IM-I was extremely tempted to put him last given he has to switch Armor to uses most of his abilities. But the thread stipulations outweighs any personal bias.
SM-I think people are sleeping on SM abilities, specially his potential and creative use of his powers to duplicate other abilities like weather control, explosive sunburst & sonic scream which is considerably more powerful than anyone else baring Black Bolt. Nevertheless I can't go with potential.
Exactly. You're ranking is different from mine, but I agree with it completely. It is also quite sad how neutered Green Lanterns and Thor have become.
Green Lanters went from wielding the 'most powerful weapon in the universe,' capable of literally anything the wielder could imagine (anything, with the exception of yellow stuff and the need for a recharge), to now simply creating shields (that can be broken by any brick) and shooting blasts (that can be tanked by any brick).
Thor went from being able to do crazy stuff with Mjolnir (cosmic level magic), to simply being the equivalent of a handsome Hulk with a hammer (in terms of how he fights in a thoroughly one-dimensional 'smash' manner).
As for Superman ...also agree. There's a battle I participated in a decade ago where I used Superman's dense body, speed and the eartt's magnetic field to show how with total use of his ice breath he could create a planetary EMP ....throws days when KMC had real debates ...These days it is all about 'smash'
Anyway, I fully agree. He has great potential, but in this list he comes last.
Ps: I just remembered a comic from years ago where, I believe a dreaming Superman, realized that by simply spitting he could destroy Lex Luthor's battle armor ...one spit ..
Re: Versatility battle
Originally posted by Damborgson
List then in order as to who has the widest array of abilities-Iron Man (all armors)
-Superman
-Martian Man hunter
-Thor
-Green Lantern (Hal)
-Silver Surfer.
Hmm.
1.SS
2.GL, potentially Thor w/ Mjolnir.
3.MM the jobber he is.
4.IM, if he could combine the abilities of all his armors in one he'd be higher.
5.SM, he has the least amount of abilities though he still has many, and he's top tier in all of them. Heck he maybe has more abilities than IM in a lot of instances (ie. Strength, flight, reaction and travel speed, sight, hearing, vibration abilities, heat vision, screaming, breath, etc.)
Just my opinion. Feel free to critique.
Edit: I just saw IM has all armors. In that case i'll switch him with MM. Though, the gap between 2 and 3 isn't humongous.
Re: Re: Versatility battle
Originally posted by meep-meep
Hmm.1.SS
2.GL, potentially Thor w/ Mjolnir.
3.MM the jobber he is.
4.IM, if he could combine the abilities of all his armors in one he'd be higher.
5.SM, he has the least amount of abilities though he still has many, and he's top tier in all of them. Heck he maybe has more abilities than IM in a lot of instances (ie. Strength, flight, reaction and travel speed, sight, hearing, vibration abilities, heat vision, screaming, breath, etc.)Just my opinion. Feel free to critique.
Edit: I just saw IM has all armors. In that case i'll switch him with MM. Though, the gap between 2 and 3 isn't humongous.
explain to me ok? to me. how are those characters more versatile than superman 1 million
Re: Re: Re: Versatility battle
Originally posted by Dareangel
explain to me ok? to me. how are those characters more versatile than superman 1 million
I don't know if you're serious or trolling, but assuming you're serious ...it would help if Superman 1 Million was on the original list. However, since he is not, he is not being ranked.
Re: Re: Re: Versatility battle
Originally posted by Dareangel
explain to me ok? to me. how are those characters more versatile than superman 1 million
...
Originally posted by spetznaz
I don't know if you're serious or trolling, but assuming you're serious ...it would help if Superman 1 Million was on the original list. However, since he is not, he is not being ranked.
👆
Re: Re: Re: Versatility battle
Originally posted by DareangelI could also add Bronze Age SM who had most the abilities of MM+ a few more. There's also Sentry who's basically a Swiss army knife of SH abilities. But I respected the thread limits and didn't include them.😒 Respect the thread limits or move on.
explain to me ok? to me. how are those characters more versatile than superman 1 million