What is the weakest version of Superman?

Weakest version of Superman that can clear the HST?

What’s the weakest version of Superman that can solo the HST(Naruto, One Piece and Bleach)? As far as I know New 52 Superman is the weakest that could do it.

What are your thoughts?

Thewizardguy

While Superman’s physical abilities quite rapidly surpass those of any HST characters, the entire HST contains such a ludicrous amount of Hax, that most forms are almost guaranteed to come across something they can’t shrug off. Naruto has it’s mind-control, Bleach has Yhwach the Hax-King, and most Superman forms have no answer for One Piece’s logia users. There are a variety of people with attacks that ignore durability, or make it functionally impossible to dodge. And while he may be able to find ways to deal with each of these characters individually, allowing all of them to work together opens up a wide variety of combinations that make them harder to deal with. And the sheer magnitude of Hax attacks makes them far harder to avoid.

I’m thinking you’d need at least Post-Crisis supes.

Changer of ways

Perhaps Injustice Superman or maybe red son?

The Big Elk

Snip.

Superman (depending of the version) can just destroy the planet. That is an instant death for 99% of the cast from these series.

VunderGuy

Banned

Superman (depending of the version) can just destroy the planet. That is an instant death for 99% of the cast from these series.

I motion for Reeve-Routh verse Superman being the weakest since, aside from some good old, Silver Age inspired casual time hax, he was massively hypersonic to light speed and could do stuff like this:

Moving the moon rather quickly and moving a floating chunk of his own weakness the size of an island all the way into space rather quickly.

zerox4

Banned
Cosmic armor supes godstomps.

Martianhunter

The world is a strange place.

Super Awesome Happy Funtime

In regards to brainwashing Superman, yea, as far as I am aware, most versions of superman know a form of kryptonian defensive mental kun fu.

Thewizardguy

Superman (depending of the version) can just destroy the planet. That is an instant death for 99% of the cast from these series.

That’s not going to bother any of One Piece’s Logia users, who are all immune to physical damage. The ones who can’t fly will just float around in space.

It’s also not going to bother the Shinigami, who can survive in space, or the Quincy, who can retreat into another dimension.

I’m uncertain on Naruto characters, but I recall them fighting on the moon. So their high-tiers should be fine. As well as the magical bunny lady, who has her own private pocket dimension.

There are just a number of characters here who can’t really be killed without Hax. Like Enel, who’s literally made of lightning. How do you kill that? Or Ace, who’s made of fire. Or Inuzami, who is made of actual light. Without Hax, those are going to be fine.

Also, Haxlord Yhwach’s future manipulation is going to make hurting him in any way. functionally impossible. The dude can retcon his own death.

Q99

Some hax is hard to deal with, but Logia’s easy, they’re still made of various substances. If you can trap electricity, you can beat Enel. Lava, Akainu. Ice, Aokiji, and so on. Heat vision, super breath, and sometimes even just strength will do, or using cleverness and superspeed- finding rubber and trapping Enel with it is not that hard for him.

Plus a lot of Supermen have access to supertech containment in the Fortress of Solitude or JLA HQ. Someone made of electricity is..

Thewizardguy

Plus a lot of Supermen have access to supertech containment in the Fortress of Solitude or JLA HQ. Someone made of electricity is..

Containment might be possible for a couple of them, but this is all of HST working together. if he traps Enel in rubber, someone with fire powers might break him out. Airtight containment might work on some of the others, but even then someone like Kaguya can just portal them out. And that requires Supes to figure out their absurd weaknesses in the first place. And he needs to do all of this while also avoiding various anti-durability attacks. Such as the truth-seeking orb, the various forms of mind control, Crocodile’s ability to completely dehydrate his targets.

If he destroys the Earth, he removes many of his opponents but limits the materials he has access to. Because the Fortress of Solitude would be similarly destroyed.

You would need AT LEAST post-crisis supes. No other version can pull through, in my not-so-humble opinion.

VisitorExanimate

One of the biggest threats would have to be Lille if he quickly uses his X-Axis for intangibility, because those spatial shots are pretty effect for a massive defense deference.

Kay Os

the Hot Take Vortex

Superman (depending of the version) can just destroy the planet. That is an instant death for 99% of the cast from these series.

Both Naruto and One piece characters have shown the ability to operate in space, so maybe they might be able to survive the hit if they’re very, very lucky.

9th Ninja Pirate

Hoot hoot

Cosmic spiderman.
Edit: sorry thought the thread said spiderman.
Don’t know about supes to say.

Nerx

22nd Century robots protecting both worlds

Banned
Smallville seems good, dude is ftl

Megadeath

Cosmic armor supes godstomps.
Which in no way answers the question of which is the weakest superman who can win.

Xadlin

Judge Magister of Hell

Banned

Since this is the whole HST vs supes, I assume he’s bloodlusted.
The weakest would be reeves supes. He can go super mad and go back in time, which makes him MFTL, has his heat rays, amnesia kiss.
If supes encases Enskede in ribber, in superspeed, he can just toss him into space while focusing on freezeblowing all fire user to ice, and if it came to it, heat raying the strongest ones, or giving them a moon-punch. He has taken hits from Zod and Nuclear man(copy of supes), which none in the HST is on the same scale.

Thewizardguy

The time-travel thing is NOT a quantifiable speed feat. He reversed the direction of the earth’s rotation, which SOMEHOW turned back time. Please don’t tell me you’re going to claim that somehow proves anything, other than that Reeves superman operates on a rather absurd set of physical laws.

TheCultivator

I’m thinking you’d need at least Post-Crisis supes.

naruto has no such thing as mind control, that is not how genjutsu works it uses charkra as a source to mess with the users brain, is nothing like mind control via hax or some invisible energy, due to superman radiation is highly unlikely it would even work as he has no charkra and it would then be Sun force/radiation vs charkra inside his system plus normal genjutsu even a genin can see they are under it, for god sake naruto was able to understand he was under itachi illusion when they fought at 30%, as long as charkra in the system goes into flux then genjutsu is automatical release and any kyptonian is absorbing the sun energy 24/7

One piece logia are not omnipotent if he is fighting a fire logia all he needs is water or a stronger fire to hurt the user, if its lightning then get Rubber or something non conductive, ice get fire, etc, Logia just transforms the user into nature/element, many ways to hurt logia besides haki, as for yhwach well that is true hax,

Superman Parodies Ranked Worst To Best

Superman is as simple and perfect as a comic book superhero can be, and that’s not a bad thing. Whether it’s his iconic appearance or his unwavering dedication to truth, justice and the American way, people love the Man of Steel.

But any popular character with such longevity is bound to have an ample amount of spoofs and imitators. That is most definitely the case with the Last Son of Krypton, with several characters taking a cue from him. No two variants of Superman are the same, as all of them contain a radically different look, tone and even presentation. From television to movies both live action and animated there have been many costumed heroes, and even villains, who have taken a page or two from Superman’s playbook.

It’s important to determine the strengths of these interpretations and just how well they flip the script on the Man of Steel. With all that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best spoofs, warped interpretations, and parodies of Superman.

The Ghost (Doctor Who)

It’s amazing to think that despite having 13 incarnations and 50 years of stories, the Doctor has never interacted with a caped superhero. That all changed in the 12th Christmas special from the modern era of «Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio.»

A strength of «Doctor Who» from its inception has been its ability to tribute other styles and genres. In this instance, the long running series finally chose to dip into the ever growing superhero genre. The episode concerns a child named Grant who, due to the unintentional sci-fi meddling of our favorite Time Lord, gains superpowers. This leads to the Doctor keeping tabs on Grant throughout his young life to make sure he’s not using his abilities for anything nefarious. It turns out quite the opposite has occurred as Grant, in his adulthood, has become a superhero known as The Ghost.

Best known for his work on «Shameless,» Justin Chatwin brought a very affable almost Clark Kent quality to his portrayal of Grant/The Ghost. His chosen costume is sadly not very impressive, as it’s more in line with Batman than Superman in terms of design. It doesn’t evoke any real sense of hope like Superman’s costume, instead looking more like a costume from «Sky High.»

GizmoDuck (DuckTales/Darkwing Duck)

Gizmo was first introduced as a recurring character in DuckTales as Scrooge’s accountant and the security for his riches. Eventually he would end up appearing as a guest character on the follow-up series «Darkwing Duck.» Gizmo’s rather goodie two shoes personality stands in sharp contrast to Drake Mallard AKA Darkwing’s more braggadocios tendencies.

GizmoDuck’s alter ego Fenton Crackshell is very similar to Clark Kent due to his overly positive demeanor and almost obsessive need to do good regardless of the situation. Also, much like Superman, he stands in contrast to another superhero who he is constantly butting heads with. The hero in this instance being the titular Darkwing Duck, the resident protector for the City of St. Canard. The two are constantly seeking to upstage the other and prove the validity of their respective methods. A defining aspect of Superman and Batman’s relationship is how they would ultimately put their differences aside in the pursuit of justice.

While the visual comparisons are minimal, Superman being a humanoid alien and GizmoDuck being . a duck, the latter definitely serves as a fitting tribute to the former. Superman is always labeled as the ultimate boy scout and GizmoDuck simply takes that descriptor to its logical and most comical conclusion.

Metro Man (MegaMind)

Dreamworks has always stayed relevant due to their outside-the-box thinking, often taking more risks than some of their competition. Case in point the 2010s superhero comedy «Megamind,» with many choosing it as a favorite Dreamworks property alongside «Kung Fu Panda» and «How To Train Your Dragon».

The film concerns the titular villain Megamind (Will Ferrell) who, much like his heroic adversary Metro Man (Brad Pitt), is the lone survivor of an alien world. This is, of course a, very on-the-nose reference to Superman’s origin. The twist here is that one of them is a powerless but hyper-intelligent blue skinned weirdo and the other is a macho picture-perfect stud. While the movie predominantly focuses on Megamind and his antics, they still take time to give Metro Man some development of his own.

Metro Man, presumed dead for most of the film, is revealed to be alive and living under the radar. He doesn’t return triumphantly to help save the day at the end. He appears in the final scene, just a face in the crowd, content that his former adversary is Metro City’s new protector. One of Superman’s defining traits is his unflinching dedication to justice and to helping the citizens of Metropolis. Knowing that makes it even funnier to see this version be totally content with being a bearded loner who plays the guitar.

Hyperion (Squadron Supreme)

The Squadron hails from another dimension where they were brainwashed by a super villain to take over the United States. After disposing of their enemy, they find the nation on the verge of collapse. They opt to take over the world and use their powers to eliminate hunger, war, and other issues. This, of course, doesn’t pan out for the better, and leads to several shocking developments throughout the story. Hyperion, much like the other members of the Squadron, is a distorted parody of Superman. They both have science fiction backstories detailing their arrival from an alternate world, and both are made even stronger by being on earth.

Despite the obvious similarities, Hyperion rarely gets brought up when talking about evil versions of Superman. When compared to the likes of Ultraman or the Russian «Red Son» Superman, Hyperion is a more interesting character.

Brandon Breyer (Brightburn)

An alien spacecraft crash lands on earth and is found by a humble husband and wife. Inside is a healthy baby boy who the couple see fit to adopt and raise as their own. When the child comes of age his interstellar origins manifest in the form of flight and super strength. It’s at this point that he becomes a crazed murderous psychopath and goes on a rampage.

Wait, did you think we were talking about Clark Kent? You’ve clearly not met young Brandon Breyer (Jackson A. Dunn) from «Brightburn.» His backstory is almost the same as Superman’s, right down to the space pod. But Brandon was not sent to earth for good — rather he was sent to «Take the World». Brandon is one of the more unique Superman variants, especially considering the fact he is a literal child with a body count. It’s also a horrifying idea to take someone with Superman’s power set and make them into a legitimate slasher villain. Brandon’s actions in this movie range from the creepy to just down right sickening.

What earns Brandon a spot here, in addition to his disturbing actions, is the idea that he represents. Specifically, the idea that the DC Universe got lucky that Krypton was a progressive and kind place, one that instilled Kal-El with noble ambitions. «Brightburn» shows what it’d be like if Kal-El was sent here with far more sinister and gruesome intentions.

Nolan Grayson AKA Omni Man (Invincible)

You really think this list will be complete without Omni Man? Think, reader, think!

The animated adaptation of «Invincible» is one of the newest additions here and it’s generated lots of buzz. Of particular note are its shocking twists and turns concerning Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) and his father Nolan AKA Omni Man (JK Simmons). The show, in just the first episode, hits the ground running by showing us just how ruthless Omni Man truly is. Not only does he kill off the Guardians of the Globe, but he later nearly wipes out an entire alien race in mere moments.

Whenever Batman talks about the prospect of Superman turning evil, this is more than likely what he pictures. «Invincible,» and the character of Omni Man, have been the basis for much discussion and coverage since the conclusion of its first season. Omni Man represents the strength of the writing for «Invincible,» in that it takes something we know and subverts it in a shocking way. In this case, it takes the idea of having Superman for a father and makes it utterly horrifying. The nature of Omni Man’s parenting towards Mark in the finale especially shows just how cold and callous he can be.

It’s as brutal and heartbreaking a development as Robert Kirkman, creator of «The Walking Dead,» can provide.

All Might (My Hero Academia)

He is . here! «My Hero Academia» has taken the world by storm in recent years. It shows the story of young Izuku Midoriya, who looks to follow in the footsteps of his world’s number one hero: All Might AKA Toshinori Yagi.

All Might is a perfect parody of Superman due to his uncompromising good ideals, bright colors, and dynamite smile. It’s a character that so easily could have been one note but is elevated by stellar voice work. Christopher Sabat and Kenta Miyake, the respective English and Japanese voices for All Might, both bring intense energy and somber kindness to the role.

After capturing All Might’s heart with his selfless nature, Deku becomes his protegee and the next holder of his powers. All Might also serves as a teacher for Deku and his friends at the hero school known as UA. This, of course, makes Deku and his fellow heroes in training a target for various villains throughout the show. The dynamic between Deku and All Might is a major factor for the show’s widespread appeal and almost immediate success. The comparisons to Superman are intentional and very appropriate considering the importance of All Might in the show’s world. The use of red, yellow, and blue on his costume count as a visually charming homage to Superman’s famous look. All Might is also proclaimed as both the embodiment of good and a symbol of peace, just as Superman is within the DC Universe.

Homelander (The Boys)

While Omni Man and Brandon Breyer are both solid, Homelander from «The Boys» is the best Superman parody in modern pop culture right now. He is also the best example of how to write a dark deconstruction of the Man of Steel.

Homelander (Antony Starr) is the show’s main antagonist, despite being widely recognized as the world’s finest superhero. He is Vought International’s golden boy and the leader of the show’s version of the Seven, the show’s take on the Justice League. As far as the public knows, he is a super powered all American do-gooder — when the truth couldn’t be anymore the opposite. Homelander was the result of horrific laboratory experiments to create superheroes or, as the show calls them, Supes. What resulted was an uber-powerful but emotionally broken, power hungry, love starved psychopath. His actions include lasering people’s heads off and allowing a plane full of people to die.

People have been comparing him to Omni Man from «Invincible» and debating who is actually the more heinous person. Both are hailed as the best superhero despite their true nature, and neither will be winning father of the year anytime soon. However, what makes Homelander the best Superman parody is just how well Starr showcases Homelander’s broken psyche. It’s horrifying to consider that someone that the world views as a kind hero is one of the most emotionally damaged people imaginable.

The Panel Biter

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Friday, August 26, 2016

The Stan of Steel

Did you know Stan Lee once created his own version of the DC Universe? Yeah, no joke. Stan «I birthed Marvel Comics» Lee wrote his own versions of Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, and-The Big Blue Boyscout himself-Superman! So why don’t we take a look at this Z-Lister? Today we’re talking about Stan Lee’s Superman!

So, here’s a little background. We all know Stan Lee, he’s the guy who-along with artist Jack Kirby-created a majority of Marvel Comic’s most popular characters back in the 1960’s. Around the 80’s and 90’s Stan was more involved with Marvel’s film and animation, and in the early 2000’s he started lending a hand outside Marvel by offering help to international comic book publishers. In 2001, Stan Lee teamed up with DC Comics to do a short series called «Just Imagine» which featured several stories starring well-known DC Comics heroes under the creative influence of Stan Lee. It was an interesting experiment, to take a man so commonly associated with another company’s style and formula and to apply it to more traditional comic book characters. This was also 2001, shortly after DC Comics and Marvel Comics had their big crossover «Marvel vs DC» which-in the 90’s-scored both companies a lot of money. It was also before either company had really focused on cinematic franchises for the sake of longevity or primary profit. It was the Goldilocks time for DC and Marvel.

In the third issue of «Just Imagine» Stan Lee and John Buscema created their Superman. In Stan’s version, Superman was originally a police officer named Salden on planet Krypton. Rather than being a newborn, Salden was a grown man with a lover and a duty to uphold the law. Trouble was, Salden was the weakest fighter on the Kryptonian police force. Salden had attempted to arrest a dangerous Kryptonian criminal, but had trapped himself and the criminal in a rocket as a result. The rocket had been launched into space and landed on Earth, dropping the criminal somewhere on the planet along the way. When Salden landed he discovered the gravity on Earth was weaker than that of Krypton. This meant Salden’s body was stronger and faster on Earth than on Krypton. Realizing Earth’s space travel technology wasn’t nearly advanced enough to bring him back home, Salden decided to use his newfound power and a «Flying Harness» from his planet to rid the Earth of crime, poverty, war, and any other global problem. Not because it was a responsible thing to do, but because by ridding the Earth of these problems he could make it possible for Earth’s scientists to focus on space travel. As «The Superman», Salden finds and defeats the Kryptonian criminal and continues his quest to advance Earth’s travel capabilities so he could get home.

A «Flying Harness»? I understand Stan Lee doesn’t know how Superman flies, but come on, man! Stan’s version of Superman has a couple of features I actually really like, especially as someone who’s seen a lot-seriously, a lot-of versions of Superman. This Superman starts as an adult, he’s the weakest cop on his world, but the strongest man on ours, this Superman also has the background of being a police officer so it’s justifiable as to why he doesn’t misuse the power he gets on Earth. What I don’t like is the characterization of this Superman. We don’t enough personal background to say «he misses his girl», in fact the biggest fact we know about Superman in relation to his home is that he was ridiculed for being weak. If you’re stronger on Earth and Earthlings are intrigued by you, why leave? Why give up the thing you wanted? I suppose that’s the lesson of this Superman’s quest. That getting power comes with cost, but he doesn’t accept Earth as his home by the end. He just begrudgingly decides to settle for Earth until they can send him back. I guess when you take away the «Why» as to who Superman is, he isn’t as interesting. Anyone can make an evil Superman or a snobby Superman, but for the opportunity he got I don’t think Stan Lee really explored what he could have done with the greatest superhero in history. Also, why does he have oven mitts!?