As Superman dominated the world with its release, we have seen a massive spike in the following of Big Blue. The version of Superman we got to see in the movie was not exactly all-powerful and was beaten multiple times in the movie itself. Now, since DCU’s Superman is said to be the most comic-accurate Superman we have ever seen, it’s only logical to think that in DC Comics, Superman has been bested by several characters. So, here, let’s take a look at all the characters who beat Superman in DC Comics.
12. Alfred Pennyworth
Yes, even the ever-loyal Alfred Pennyworth has technically beaten Superman, though not in the way you’d expect. In Injustice: Gods Among Us #36, the usually mild-mannered butler gets a boost from a super-soldier pill, and for one glorious moment, he turns into a Kryptonian nightmare for the Man of Steel.
When Superman comes to the Batcave to confront Batman, Alfred doesn’t just stand his ground; he wrecks him, headbutting and stomping the Last Son of Krypton into the floor like he’s scolding a misbehaving guest. It’s equal parts shocking and satisfying, proving that even without the cowl, some members of the Bat-family can still deliver a beating Clark won’t forget, and for Bruce, it was another proof why Alfred is called “Pennyworth”.
11. Maxwell Lord
Maxwell Lord’s win over Superman in Wonder Woman #219 (2005) is as terrifying as it is clever. Using his metahuman ability to control minds, Lord doesn’t just fight Superman; he turns him into a living weapon, making him believe his closest allies are deadly enemies. Under Lord’s control, Superman nearly kills Batman and takes on Wonder Woman in a city-leveling battle.
The only reason it ends is because Diana, realizing there’s no breaking Lord’s hold, snaps his neck on the spot. It’s one of the rare times someone didn’t need kryptonite, magic, or brute force to “beat” Superman, just a disturbingly good understanding of how to weaponize his mind against him.
10. Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman has gone toe-to-toe with Superman more than once, but her most definitive win comes in Wonder Woman #219 (2005), the same brutal showdown sparked by Maxwell Lord’s mind control. With Clark seeing her as Doomsday, Diana doesn’t hold back, matching his speed, strength, and skill in a fight that almost leveled the city.
But what makes Diana the winner isn’t raw power; it’s her warrior’s edge. She takes him down decisively, proving that while Superman might be the strongest, she’s the better fighter when it comes to pure combat skill. It’s a clash that cemented her as someone Clark should never underestimate.
9. Orion
Orion’s biggest win over Superman comes in Superman #654 (2006), and it’s pure New God dominance. The son of Darkseid doesn’t just match Clark punch for punch; he outright overpowers him, using his brutal warrior training and raw strength to put the Man of Steel on the defensive. Their fight is short but vicious, with Orion making it clear that he’s not just Superman’s equal, he might be his better. It’s a reminder that while Clark is Earth’s mightiest hero, the gods of New Genesis play in an entirely different weight class.
8. Captain Atom
Captain Atom’s most iconic takedown of Superman happens in Superman/Batman #20 (2005), and it’s a masterclass in how raw power plus strategy can humble the Man of Steel. After absorbing a massive amount of energy, Atom hits Superman with blasts that bypass his durability.
The fight isn’t just about muscle; it’s about Atom’s ability to weaponize his unique quantum powers in ways Clark can’t counter. By the end, Superman was defeated, proving that when you’re dealing with a living nuclear reactor who can go toe-to-toe in strength and outmatch you in energy projection, even the all-powerful Kryptonian can find himself cooked.
7. Shazam
Shazam’s standout win over Superman comes in Kingdom Come #4 (1996), and it’s truly a god-tier spectacle. Under Lex Luthor’s influence, Billy Batson unleashes the full fury of the magical lightning that fuels him and is also one of Superman’s biggest weaknesses.
The two trade blows that could level cities, but every time Clark gains ground, Shazam calls down another lightning strike, staggering him again and again. In the end, it’s not brute force that makes this fight unforgettable; it’s the fact that Shazam pushes Superman to the absolute brink, proving that when magic’s in play, even the Man of Steel can be brought to his knees.
6. Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor’s most iconic win over Superman is pure brains-over-brawn, and it plays out brilliantly in All-Star Superman #5 (2005). After temporarily gaining Superman’s powers through a serum, Lex doesn’t just fight him; he excels in finally being his equal, matching Clark’s strength, speed, and heat vision blow for blow.
But the real victory is psychological. Lex taunts him, exposes his vulnerabilities, and for a brief moment, lives out his lifelong dream of proving he’s the better man. It’s the ultimate reminder that when Lex Luthor has the power to match his genius, even Superman can find himself outplayed and overpowered.
5. Darkseid
Darkseid’s most memorable victory over Superman comes in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010), adapting elements from Superman/Batman #12 (2004). When the two clash on Apokolips, Darkseid doesn’t just overpower Clark; he dismantles him, mixing godlike strength with devastating Omega Beams that even Superman can’t shrug off.
The fight is brutal and one-sided, with every punch and blast reminding you that Darkseid isn’t just another strongman; he’s a god of tyranny who treats Superman like a pawn in his cosmic chess game, and by the end of this confrontation, Clark is beaten into the ground.
4. Failsafe
Failsafe’s domination of Superman in Batman #128 (2022) is a testament to Batman’s precision, and it is terrifying. Built by Batman as a last-resort weapon to neutralize himself if he ever crossed the line, Failsafe is an unstoppable, hyper-intelligent machine that knows exactly how to take down any hero, Kryptonian or otherwise.
When Superman steps in to stop it, the AI doesn’t hesitate, countering his every move with surgical precision and using tech and tactics specifically designed to exploit his weaknesses. The fight isn’t even close, and Failsafe drops him hard, proving that Batman’s contingency plans don’t just work; they work too well.
3. Brainiac
Brainiac’s most definitive win over Superman comes in Action Comics #867 (2008), during Geoff Johns’ modern reimagining of the character. This isn’t the watered-down version Clark had tangled with before; this is the real Brainiac, who is armed with technology far beyond Kryptonian comprehension.
When they finally meet face-to-face, Brainiac’s enhanced strength and advanced weaponry overwhelm Superman, pinning him down and showing that brute force isn’t his only edge; it’s the fact that he’s already predicted every one of Clark’s moves before the fight even starts. It’s a chilling reminder that against a mind like Brainiac’s, even Superman can fall short.
2. Batman
Batman has beaten Superman more than any other DC character has, and the most famous win over Superman comes in The Dark Knight Returns #4 (1986), and it’s the ultimate “brains beat brawn” showcase. Older, grittier, and running on pure willpower, Bruce faces Clark in a Gotham showdown armed with a powered exosuit, synthetic kryptonite, and a lifetime’s worth of knowing exactly how his friend thinks.
The fight is brutal and personal, with every move designed to chip away at Superman’s strength until Batman is standing over him, delivering that iconic line about being the one man who beat him. It’s not just a victory, it’s a statement that with enough prep and determination, even gods can bleed.
1. Doomsday
Doomsday’s most legendary win over Superman is the brutal fight we saw in Superman #75 (1992), the climactic chapter of The Death of Superman. There’s no strategy, just two unstoppable forces going berserk on each other until neither can stand.
Doomsday shrugs off everything Clark throws at him and matches his strength and savagery blow for blow, and with one final, devastating strike, the monster drops Superman for good. It’s the fight that proved unrelenting brutality could bring down even the Man of Steel, and it remains one of the most shocking moments in comic book history.
