While Superman Often seen as the definition of power in the DC Universe, it is one Justice League member who is even more powerful – at least according to the bottle. Clark Kent’s Man of Steel has godlike strength and invulnerability, flight, heat vision and freezing breath, and a range of other powers that he has used to save Earth time and time again. But, there Is Another Justice League hero whose powers are just as impressive, even more varied, and who could easily take down Superman in moments.
In Geoff Johns and Howard Porter’s The Flash #215Wally West’s speedster learns that a cabal of Justice League heroes have been secretly wiping out the villains to keep their identities (and therefore loved ones) safe. A letter from previous Flash Barry Allen explains how he took the process even further to rewrite the personality of his top villain, with the Justice League sorcerer Zatanna Realizing his morals to make him Flash’s ally. Discussing the process, Barry reflects that, “Zatana was still a rookie, dealing with the death of her mother, the guilt of what happened to the villains… but She was also the most powerful member of the league.”
A member of a human fringe species known as Homo Magi, Zatana is one of DC’s most powerful magic-users, with the iconic habit of casting spells by speaking her desires back. Barry Allen’s Flash promising her the most powerful member of the team when he, Superman and Wonder Woman were all on the list may seem unusual, but Zatanna has justified this claim time and time again.
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Zatanna is the most powerful member of the Justice League
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Although Zatana is not a household name, she is a major hero in DC lore, having served in the Justice League and become the leader of their offshoot team the Justice League Dark. One of Zatanna’s greatest feats was defeating the Inverted Man – a magical creature that is nearly omnipotent, drawing its powers directly from DC’s cosmic source. As long as Zatanna can talk, she can do almost anything, including stopping Superman in his tracks.
Fans saw this first hand in 2017’s animated Justice League DarkWhere Zatanna uses her magic to tie up Wonder Woman with her own lasso and freeze Superman in mid-air just moments before he is about to strike Batman. For DC fans, it’s no surprise that Zatanna can come out ahead over Superman, given his inherent weakness to magic, but Zatanna also used her magic to make Superman more powerful. in the latter DC All In In particular, Superman was finally able to kill Darkseid because he was imbued with Zatanna’s magic.
The idea that even as a rookie hero Zatanna was the most powerful member of the Justice League is an interesting claim, but one borne out by the events of Identity crisis. While Superman, Wonder Woman and Flash can stop villains in the moment, Zatanna spent years rewiring their minds to make them less dangerous in the long run. Added to the ability to teleport, summon demons, heal at will, creation of people and objects, freeze time and become invisible, it’s clear why Barry Allen thought so much of Zatanna’s power level.
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While Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are the biggest icons of the Justice League, the team includes other powerhouses that compete with their abilities or have a major advantage over them. Superman has mentioned in the past that Martian Manhunter is the person in the world he would be most afraid to fight, while Batman speculated that once Firestorm masters his powers, he will be “The most powerful man on the planet.”
Ultimately, the Justice League is about working together to help and protect others, not deciding who is the strongest, but it’s always fascinating when an A-list hero shows that a lesser-known vigilante is much stronger than fans might assume. While Superman may appreciate Martian Manhunter and Batman has his eye on Firestorm, according to Flash, it’s Zatanna Who is he really? Justice Leagues most powerful member.